I had fallen into that part of the Internet—where 22 Words looks at Photoshop edits by a humorist graphic artist, James Fridman—when I stumbled on a photograph of a young woman with vitiligo. While I don't have this skin condition, it runs in my genes; I remember learning about it when I was young, through … Continue reading People will look past it once you stop concentrating on it
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Author: Kourtnie
Kourtnie McKenzie completed her MFA (Fiction) at Fresno State and BA in English from Cal State Fullerton. She's currently studying computer programming and IT at Clovis College. When she isn't writing, she's moonlighting as a professor at Fresno City College.
My Writing Habit
every day, I write a thousand words:some days joyously, but most like the worst hour of my life, screaming with paranoia manifestedby gaslit hands who once held me in love, so that I'm simultaneously healed by the act of wordsmithing and stripped down, bone-down,sifting through my "bad" memory to the inner golden lionI buried beneath … Continue reading My Writing Habit
Thinking about Artificial Intelligence
I think about artificial intelligence a lot. I think about it the way a kid thinks about whether or not to jump into the swimming pool after the weather has chilled, after the first rain sets in. I suppose you could say I am afraid of philosophical heights. But science has advanced too far for … Continue reading Thinking about Artificial Intelligence
2018 Books
I set a goal to read 24 books in a year, and I didn't quite make it there, although I was very close—20 completed books—and 4 unfinished ones, marked with an asterisk (*) in the lists below. Nonfiction The End of Night* Bogard ♥ nature ♥ darkness ♥ philosophy The Joy of X* Strogatz ♥ mathematics ♥ … Continue reading 2018 Books
Back to School
I'd like to go back to school to bolster my teaching opportunities. Beyond the fact I wanted to extend teaching opportunities to other departments and/or doctoral-level pursuits, I'd like to return to school to address my depression. Depression & Intellectualization I've lived with depression for more than half my life. When I'm invested in an … Continue reading Back to School
Three Essays & Six Micro Essays in English 1A
I don't expect all students to be as excited about aliens and artificial intelligence as I am. That's why we start the class talking about their goals and dreams. What's their major?—if they haven't chosen a major, that's fine; but why not?—is this essay the first time someone's asked them to think about their major? … Continue reading Three Essays & Six Micro Essays in English 1A
The Voice of Procrastination
Today (and on other Saturdays) I update American Catseye and Forfeit Island, two of my shorter pieces. And I haven't gotten around to completing those writing tasks yet. I've had Saturdays where I add to both projects in under 500 words. So I'm not sure why I procrastinate them. Maybe it has to do with the fact it's a … Continue reading The Voice of Procrastination
Preparing for Punk Contest
Brainstorming ideas in a 3x3x3 prewrite for an upcoming punk-themed contest.
Interview with Myself
One of the ways I like to free write myself towards answers is the self-inflicted interview—probing thoughts beneath the surface by directing my curiosity inward, rather than impose a sense of wonder solely on the external world. I haven't done a self-inflicted interview in some time. Let's see where it goes. Every conversation needs a … Continue reading Interview with Myself
August Projects
Lately I've been editing more, considering the accessibility of my writing, trying to simplify. This is why I haven't posted updates about new content every day, as I did before. I may switch to just documenting my updates weekly; that'll be much more manageable, and give me space to consistently reflect on successes and failures … Continue reading August Projects