Review of Chantal Chuba’s “Six Months Later”

Thoroughness and comprehension: ➕

Stretching of creative muscles: ➕

Using the right tools for the job: ✔️

Chantal Chuba, Off the bat, I could tell you were writing something you truly care about. There’s a characteristic in your writing that when you’re invested in a subject, you can sense the soul in it, especially in your technique of world building:

“Of course I brought my Volvo with me when I moved. Fantasies of driving up and down Michigan avenue with a trunk full of shopping bags corrupted me into thinking that Chicago is a car-friendly city.”

I also enjoyed the article you linked to on Detroit’s public transit situation; it was a great addition and thoughtful footnote. This quote from the linked article set the tone of your writing and would have been a great thing to add into your own writing, perhaps in the opening paragraph or before the “There’s people in Chicago” section.

“Detroit is a car city, no doubt,” [Bill Bradley, columnist at Next City] adds. “But there are more low-income people in the city sans cars than [most] might think.”

This would set up the fish out of water situation you find yourself navigating. Another detail I’d prefer is the “Chicago neighborhood stereotypes” to be an actionable link.

This was a strong piece of writing that explored a vulnerable subject, and a passion behind what you are writing about. Fantastic work.