Writing That Brings Escape During Unsettling Times

In my newspaper writing days at the Tampa Tribune, I once wrote a feature article about old movie serials, an inconsequential but fun piece of journalism. Unfortunately, the article was scheduled to appear on the front of the features section on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2001. 

A few days before that publication date, terrorists attacked the United States. By the time Sunday rolled around and the article appeared in all its derring-do splash, the country was not in the mood for something so frivolous — or so I thought. In a guest essay for the Brevity Blog, I explore how sometimes what we write can offer hope and escape even in times of darkness. Read the full essay here.