Lauren Alwan
@laurenalwan.bsky.social
fiction/essays • O.Henry Prize Stories • novel in progress • Notable BAE • WTAW Press board • laurenalwan.com
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Lauren Alwan
@laurenalwan.bsky.social
· Nov 15
“The world can be impatient with slow writers. Nearly a decade after Jeffrey Eugenides published Middlesex, Dwight Garner wrote…’It has been a long, lonely vigil. We’d nearly forgotten he was out there.’” My essay on writing that takes time, at The Millions themillions.com/2024/03/the-...
The Virtue of Slow Writers
The slow writer embraces the protracted and unpredictable timeline, seeing it not as fraught or frustrating but an opportunity for openness and discovery.
themillions.com
Re-upping this because things take time
Agave in bloom. One of the taller ones I’ve seen, easily 15 feet. #flowerreport #california
November 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Agave in bloom. One of the taller ones I’ve seen, easily 15 feet. #flowerreport #california
My favorite perspective of Updike might be that of childhood. His descriptions of parents/grandparents as seen by a child narrator are mysterious and strange in a way similar to Bendix.
John Updike wrote stand-alone poetry in addition to that intertwining his prose. Here is his tribute to a Bendix, the first automatic home washing machine. And I love his use of the word "jugged" meaning imprisoned, with an overtone of a rabbit stewed or boiled in a covered pot.
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
My favorite perspective of Updike might be that of childhood. His descriptions of parents/grandparents as seen by a child narrator are mysterious and strange in a way similar to Bendix.
My #SundaySentence comes from Zohran Mamdami, whose remarks in Puerto Rico this week were inspired by Malcolm X’s words of inequality and social justice: “If you are not at the table, you may find yourself on the menu.”
November 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
My #SundaySentence comes from Zohran Mamdami, whose remarks in Puerto Rico this week were inspired by Malcolm X’s words of inequality and social justice: “If you are not at the table, you may find yourself on the menu.”
So happy to see these fall blueberries 💙 #FlowerReport #California
November 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
So happy to see these fall blueberries 💙 #FlowerReport #California
This year’s special elections are NOT over.
Tennessee’s special general election runs November 12-26, and Dems could make Aftyn Behn the 219th blue vote in Congress.
donate if you’re able or share to help Tennessee Dems flip this seat!
www.aftynforcongress.com
Tennessee’s special general election runs November 12-26, and Dems could make Aftyn Behn the 219th blue vote in Congress.
donate if you’re able or share to help Tennessee Dems flip this seat!
www.aftynforcongress.com
Aftyn for Congress
FEED KIDS. FIX ROADS. FUND HOSPITALS.
www.aftynforcongress.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This year’s special elections are NOT over.
Tennessee’s special general election runs November 12-26, and Dems could make Aftyn Behn the 219th blue vote in Congress.
donate if you’re able or share to help Tennessee Dems flip this seat!
www.aftynforcongress.com
Tennessee’s special general election runs November 12-26, and Dems could make Aftyn Behn the 219th blue vote in Congress.
donate if you’re able or share to help Tennessee Dems flip this seat!
www.aftynforcongress.com
“Red grit in her slippers, yellow-gray evening in her hair, shrieking birds, darkening tombs, Sonia fell into her own depression and thought that this, here, was the end of love, surely.” Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
November 2, 2025 at 6:07 PM
“Red grit in her slippers, yellow-gray evening in her hair, shrieking birds, darkening tombs, Sonia fell into her own depression and thought that this, here, was the end of love, surely.” Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
A Halloween #flowerreport from Barcelona—the eerie but beautiful metalwork holly on the columns outside Sagrada Familia.
October 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A Halloween #flowerreport from Barcelona—the eerie but beautiful metalwork holly on the columns outside Sagrada Familia.
SF Bay Area, the ICE scourge arrives 10/23. We need to protect our communities and keep our neighbors safe.
October 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
SF Bay Area, the ICE scourge arrives 10/23. We need to protect our communities and keep our neighbors safe.
nbd, just skulking around the breakfast bar at our hotel in Lisbon ✨
October 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
nbd, just skulking around the breakfast bar at our hotel in Lisbon ✨
An unconventional #flowerreport from Portugal—this blossom-and-vine-entwined chandelier from the Palacio Nationale da Pena in Sintra ✨
October 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM
An unconventional #flowerreport from Portugal—this blossom-and-vine-entwined chandelier from the Palacio Nationale da Pena in Sintra ✨
“Whenever he walked up the creaking mast of stairs to their seagull’s nest apartment, he was surprised anew by Ulla’s elfin beauty, by the pine floors, by the white Ikea couch, by the Western lightness and comfort that was, apparently, his.
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
October 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
“Whenever he walked up the creaking mast of stairs to their seagull’s nest apartment, he was surprised anew by Ulla’s elfin beauty, by the pine floors, by the white Ikea couch, by the Western lightness and comfort that was, apparently, his.
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
West of Barcelona near Les Borges Blanques. Spain and California are twin landscapes—except for the castles.
October 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
West of Barcelona near Les Borges Blanques. Spain and California are twin landscapes—except for the castles.
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
Pay attention to the language that will be used by much of the media.
The Global Sumud Flotilla never entered Israeli waters.
They are in international waters attempting to reach Palestinian waters.
Israel is once again breaking international law
The Global Sumud Flotilla never entered Israeli waters.
They are in international waters attempting to reach Palestinian waters.
Israel is once again breaking international law
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pay attention to the language that will be used by much of the media.
The Global Sumud Flotilla never entered Israeli waters.
They are in international waters attempting to reach Palestinian waters.
Israel is once again breaking international law
The Global Sumud Flotilla never entered Israeli waters.
They are in international waters attempting to reach Palestinian waters.
Israel is once again breaking international law
The IDF belongs in The Hague.
On the Gaza flotilla live stream, one by one, boats are intercepted by IDF & blasted with water cannons until comms are jammed & the feed for each boat goes down.
Israel is illegally kidnapping civilians on international waters, & they're preventing the world from witnessing.
Israel is illegally kidnapping civilians on international waters, & they're preventing the world from witnessing.
October 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The IDF belongs in The Hague.
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
Exhibit A at The Hague just dropped
Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."
September 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Exhibit A at The Hague just dropped
Infuriating
September 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Infuriating
“It was essential to remain close to those who had caused you harm so that the ghost of guilt might breathe through their dreams, that their guilt might slowly mature to its fullest potential.” Kiran Desai, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, #SundaySentence
September 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
“It was essential to remain close to those who had caused you harm so that the ghost of guilt might breathe through their dreams, that their guilt might slowly mature to its fullest potential.” Kiran Desai, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, #SundaySentence
New crop of autumn raspberries. These canes produce in early summer and again in fall ✨. #flowerreport #california
September 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
New crop of autumn raspberries. These canes produce in early summer and again in fall ✨. #flowerreport #california
The year I painted this watercolor portrait of place, the internet was an obscure DOS platform, artists still documented their work in 35 mm slides, and Altadena (at center), was a sleepy hamlet untouched by fire.
September 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The year I painted this watercolor portrait of place, the internet was an obscure DOS platform, artists still documented their work in 35 mm slides, and Altadena (at center), was a sleepy hamlet untouched by fire.
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
This is a damning anecdote from Rep Jim McGovern. He tells me that during debate over Trump's big budget bill, House Rs privately admitted to him that it would screw over their own constituents, yet they had to vote for it anyway.
Read all of it. He wrecks them:
newrepublic.com/article/1999...
Read all of it. He wrecks them:
newrepublic.com/article/1999...
September 4, 2025 at 12:23 PM
This is a damning anecdote from Rep Jim McGovern. He tells me that during debate over Trump's big budget bill, House Rs privately admitted to him that it would screw over their own constituents, yet they had to vote for it anyway.
Read all of it. He wrecks them:
newrepublic.com/article/1999...
Read all of it. He wrecks them:
newrepublic.com/article/1999...
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
Can’t express in words how big this rally in Chicago is. The president’s fascist goon squad is not welcome here.
September 6, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Can’t express in words how big this rally in Chicago is. The president’s fascist goon squad is not welcome here.
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
Know your rights, Illinois.
Stay safe and stay informed.
Stay safe and stay informed.
September 6, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Know your rights, Illinois.
Stay safe and stay informed.
Stay safe and stay informed.
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
JB Pritzker: “Don’t come to Chicago. Don’t bring military troops to the streets of an American city. We will go to court to stop you and the people of Chicago won’t stand for it. The people of America won’t stand for it.”
September 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
JB Pritzker: “Don’t come to Chicago. Don’t bring military troops to the streets of an American city. We will go to court to stop you and the people of Chicago won’t stand for it. The people of America won’t stand for it.”
From a series of still life drawings where objects morphed into figures lol
September 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
From a series of still life drawings where objects morphed into figures lol
Reposted by Lauren Alwan
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
September 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 28, the number is 100%.
Happy Labor Day.