Second Prize, 2017 Literal Latte Essay Award.
“Write about what you know,” my journalism teacher, Mrs. Orsini admonished. What did she mean by that? It was rather like being told, “Work for a living!” At fourteen such exhortations were meaningless. I stared, both fascinated and repelled, at Mrs. Orsini’s long painted toenails. She was married to a podiatrist, she had told us girls. Why would anyone choose that field? What induced her to marry such a man?
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The Anthology
Check out The Literal Latte Anthology — great selections from our first 15 years!
Readers’ Comments
- On "The Enormous Typewriter": Wow. This is very good. I hear Pirsig struggling with Phaedrus. Props. – oldironnow
Jan 19 - On "Wild Horses": I love your first sentence. Having worked in hospitals for years it is very refreshing to imagine the flu as a passenger; real tangible alive. – Avigail Halberg
Jan 14 - On "Love Trouble": great story... funny and weirdly erotic... – kathleen seltzer
Dec 11 - On "My Own Personal Mr. Crabtree": I forgot to add, many thanks for a brilliant read. – Chris
Dec 08 - On "My Own Personal Mr. Crabtree": I've lived in Clyst St Mary for nearly 40 years. The pond is still there, though it looks very overgrown. I've always wanted to try... – Chris
Dec 08 - On "The Mysterious Crotch-Grabbing Handshake: Hard Lessons in Vietnam": I laughed very hard at this post. I am vietnamese and it is a cultural thing. Its not sexual and is only done to the... – Don
Dec 06 - On "Dog Trail": Very moving. I think any dog lover can relate... I'll love my Filip a little more tonight after reading this. – Rob B.
Oct 01 - On "...": Hello Colleen! What a nice surprise to receive your warm comment so long after ". . ." was published. Thank you for reading my essay... – Lia Woodall
Sep 10 - On "...": Lia, . Having just found and experienced your essay, I need to tell you three things: 1.) I hope you have found happiness again. 2.)... – Colleen McMahon
Sep 06
- On "The Enormous Typewriter": Wow. This is very good. I hear Pirsig struggling with Phaedrus. Props. – oldironnow
