Nicole Zhu

Jan 28, 2024 | medium.com | Nicole Zhu

A decade of reading 52 books in 52 weeks! I never thought that when I started this “challenge” back in 2014 as a college student that I would keep it up for so long. 2024 was a year of major life changes, which made me reprioritize reading. Writing workshops and classes made me think more critically about the books I read, and I felt more connected to literary communities.

Oct 13, 2023 | aaww.org | Nicole Zhu

They numb my ass, but it isn’t enough. The infection runs deep, too deep for the lidocaine to reach, the doctor explains. All the WebMD pages and comment threads told me the lidocaine injections would be the worst part. Fire in your veins / hurts like a motherfucker / seriously thought i was going to pass out. I’m facedown on the exam table, my pants trapped around my knees. The vinyl is cold against my skin, and I try to wriggle away from the patch of cracked upholstery against my hip.

Sep 6, 2023 | bookshop.org | Nicole Zhu |Jessie Ren Marshall

(Author) FORMAT Paperback$17.99$16.73(English) Pre-Order   Ships Apr 02, 2024 Buy new or used from an indie through our partner Biblio: Price Condition Seller Full of wry humor, sharp social commentary, and an irrepressible sense of hope, a ferociously feminist debut short story collection from award-winning playwright Jessie Ren Marshall.

Aug 31, 2023 | nicoledonut.com | Nicole Zhu

This past weekend, I took a Tin House craft intensive with Elaine Hsieh Chou on what film and TV can teach us about stories and novels. An optional part of our homework was listening to an episode of Scriptnotes, a podcast hosted by John August (Charlie’s Angels, Big Fish) and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us), called “How to Write a Movie.” My partner is a screenwriter and I’ve often overheard him listening to this podcast in the shower, so it was fun to finally listen to a full episode.

Aug 18, 2023 | nicoledonut.com | Nicole Zhu

In July, I spent 1.5 weeks at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference in Tennessee. I learned so much from my instructors and cohort, a dizzying array of special topics classes, readings, and lectures. I’ve jokingly called it “writer summer camp” because of the lakeside bonfires, ghost walks, and early morning hikes where we casually foraged for chanterelle mushrooms. But along with the camp vibes came the initial anxiety of meeting new people and making friends.