TAYLOR ENGLE ANDERSON BRAIN

Writing is isolating work. It is solitary by nature. It requires you to sit still and live inside your own head for long stretches of time. It’s a beautiful thing, but it can also be intense and overwhelming. When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be a writer, full stop. I imagined a life of books, quiet rooms and endless drafts. But over time (and into a 10-year professional writing career), I have realized that full-time writing demands a deep interior life. You have to

After winter’s contraction, spring arrives as a physiological uprising: light returns, sap rises, soil softens. The world moves from preservation to possibility. The follicular phase mirrors this exactly.  Biologically, the follicular phase begins on the first day of menstruation and lasts until ovulation. Estrogen rises. Energy builds. The brain becomes more verbal, more curious, more socially oriented. There is often increased motivation, clarity, and a desire to initiate.

“What does a soulmate feel like?” asked The Skeptic Who Wanted to Believe. She answered with a bright smile she couldn’t contain:  “It’s the eternal bottom of an exhale.” She means ultimate release:  Giving everything away, everything you have,  with the trust, with faith, with belief that it will return to you— And then doing it again the very next day.

In the long gallery of medieval Europe, few went as hard in the paint as Hildegard von Bingen. Born in 1098 in the Rhineland, she was a Benedictine abbess (can any of us say the same?), visionary mystic, composer, natural philosopher, medical writer, and political correspondent at a time when women were rarely encouraged to be anything at all. Hildegard did not so much transcend her era as bend it, using its language of faith to articulate a defiantly original intellect. She

This is a fiction piece, inspired by losing my father in 2021. As he was leaving his body, he ludicrously, deliriously asked us to help him escape the hospital so he could go on his own terms. That didn't happen—but in this story, it does. I submitted this piece to a writing contest. It was not accepted, so I’m taking control of my voice and publishing it here. I’ve stopped treating rejection as a verdict. I’m less interested now in knocking on doors and more interested in le

Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in different rooms, seasons, moods, and small moments.  It happens at kitchen tables and park benches, in crowded cafés and quiet bedrooms at midnight.  Sometimes it shows up when you invite it. Sometimes it sneaks in when you stop trying so hard. The environment we write in shapes not just what we create, but how we access it. Our words are influenced by light, sound, pressure, people, and even how safe or seen we feel in the

I’ve never had one writing playlist. I have many: for different moods, different tasks, different versions of me. I love music. It’s essential to me, a big part of how I move through the world. I’m a Pisces, so my life often feels like a movie soundtrack. Music is emotional for me. It sets the tone, it changes how I experience time, and it definitely  affects how I work. So instead of having one go-to “writing playlist,” I choose my music based on what I’m working on and what

Winter creeps in slowly, draping the world in gray light, longer nights, and a magnetic pull toward blankets and hot drinks.  Despite the joy of the holidays, this season can feel like a challenge. Energy dips, motivation wanes, and the usual spark of inspiration seems to hide beneath layers of cold air and early sunsets. But winter isn’t a death sentence for creativity. It just requires a different rhythm and level of focus. Just like the seasons outside, our bodies, minds,

How storytelling connects you to your deeper self. Writing has a way of pulling the most surprising things out of you. It’s why I’ve always been so drawn to it as a form of expression: it’s a bridge to your inner life, a way to connect with your higher self and bring clarity, balance, and creativity into your everyday. One of the most powerful ways I’ve deepened this practice is through morning pages, which is part of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way . Every morning, I sit do

In today’s digital world, being a talented writer doesn’t feel like enough anymore. Your words might be brilliant, but if no one knows who you are, they can easily get lost in the noise of oversaturation.  But even in a chaotic digital world, you can carve out your peaceful little corner. Building a personal brand as a writer isn’t just about marketing or chasing followers: it’s about claiming your voice, showing up in ways that feel authentic, and connecting with readers who

Journaling is one of the simplest and most powerful tools for self-reflection, creativity, and discovering your own voice. Over the years, I’ve developed a daily practice that keeps me connected to myself, my stories, and the world around me. I want to share that with you. Here are nine ways to take your journaling practice deeper: 1. Journal Fictionally Step into your character’s mind. Write as if you are them: what they see, feel, and think. I do this every day with my crea

Why breaks are essential for maintaining your writing spark.  We glorify the grind, but creativity requires contrast, and rest is not a reward; it’s part of the process. If your writing feels flat, uninspired, or forced, it might be time to stop doing and start being.  Here are seven ways to shake it up with ease: 1. Go for a walk. Let your mind drift. Observe something beautiful. Look at trees, strangers, shadows, sunlight. Sometimes, the best ideas float in when you're not

It’s summer in South County, and sure, you’ve got to be prepared for the odd (somewhat terrifying) wildfire. But otherwise, it’s where everyone wants to be .  At least that’s what we tell ourselves. Aren’t we lucky? Aren’t we blessed? California is just the best.  Although a SoCal summer is truly inimitable, it’s also not the only place to be from June to September. When I lived in Brooklyn, the annual post-spring anthem was, “We OUTSIIIIIDE!” And we were, almost nonstop, unt

After releasing my women’s magazine , which celebrated feminine relationships and connection (and included resources on syncing your life to your menstrual cycle ), my husband and I poured ourselves into creating a magazine for men: centered on mental health, creativity, strength, softness, and truth.  We wanted to make something that felt real. Something that could help men feel comfortable being vulnerable; something that made men feel supported and inspired. We wanted to r

“We are energetic beings,” a voice resounds, “interconnected like a giant web. We are all one, reflections of each other’s states.” A crowd shares in a disbelieving laughter that begs the question: Who’s this crackpot? “False. We are all ‘His children,’ created in His image. At the same time, we are fallen and flawed, and He is our only chance at redemption,” a rival voice declares. A large portion of the crowd sign off on this one; the idea of an exclusive, male-led salvatio

This weekend, I had the privilege of exhibiting as an author at AWP  in LA—a dreamlike space where book lovers, introverts, and creative souls gathered in full force to share, create, and connect. Imagine an entire convention center buzzing with literary energy, brimming with writers, publishers, and readers: a fever dream of book nerd heaven. The vibes: Creativity with a touch of gentle chaos Walking through the LA Convention Center, you could feel the passion in the air. Ta

This is an excerpt from A Magazine For Women (He Can Read Too), a special-edition literary magazine I created for International Women's Month. For full access to all of the stories, poems, menstrual cycle-syncing resources, and works of art and photography, click here  for your print and/or digital copy. Spread out across the country, seven women go about their lives.  Stilettos smack against the streets of Manhattan. They are attached to a sharp-featured woman who is making

This project started with me writing down some prominent relationships women experience in life: partner-partner, mother-daughter, the gentle dynamic of a group of friends who feel like sisters. I then created fictional worlds around the standout sentiments, like how it feels to fall in love with yourself through someone else, or to find out you’re about to perpetuate life. As you read the magazine and follow the cycles of womanhood, you’ll begin to see it: we were always su

Sometimes it just feels good to break a rule. Creating something the “right” way is rewarding, but the ability to flip “right” on its head and stand on the decision? That’s the first and most necessary step to evolution, and it’s happening in every art form you know and love. Think: jazz improv, abstract Pollocks and Rothkos, Pulp Fiction- esque films that reject chronological storytelling, the so-bad-it’s-good singing style of punk rock. While every art form begins with a fo

In a world where most people follow the path laid before them, My Private Professor  founder Sona Shah chose to forge her own. Leaving behind a years-long career in law to pursue her true passion for tutoring and education, her unlikely journey is a testament to the power that can unfold when a woman fearlessly follows her true calling. Photo Credit: Teresa Renee Rogers Photography From law to education: A journey rooted in passion Shah began her professional career as an att