Risen Writing
Bio
Experienced policy analyst exploring other genres and sharing my lived experiences
Stories (14)
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Common Threads
I started my year with resolutions to read more and to write more. I know it sounds weird—a writer needing to resolve to read more and to write more—but due to a life change just before the pandemic, I lost a lot, including the time and interest to read and write. Now it is time to change that. It is time to take back the good things. It is time for restoration.
By Risen Writing10 months ago in BookClub
“Forget It, Jake. It’s Chinatown”
Among his first acts after being inaugurated, President Trump took two major actions that amount to a federal takeover of California’s water, not including potential impacts on Colorado River management efforts from his executive order halting the disbursement of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.
By Risen Writing11 months ago in The Swamp
California Has Plenty of Water
I have 25 years of experience as a researcher and analyst in water resources. I know the history. I know the policies. I have seen the data. I know what I am talking about when it comes to water in California. The state has been prone to vicious battles over water and related false propaganda since long before I entered this field, but it seems to have reached a new high. When I started working in this field, it was a niche industry. The public did not think about water policy or water resources unless there was an incident to make it salient (e.g. if water bills skyrocketed or water failed to come out of the tap).
By Risen Writing11 months ago in The Swamp
An Analysis of Ant-man (and Other Avengers)
Ant-Man, a thief reformed. A second chance—a recurring melody sung by the Avengers. Some rose from an injury or an accident (Iron Man, Hulk). Others were thought dead (Captain America, Black Panther) or grew from childhood trauma (Black Widow, Hawkeye). But they all became great heroes from that second chance.
By Risen Writing2 years ago in Critique
Stones
Stones of Remembrance, aka “Stones,” is a unique comedy with a dramatic thread set in Southern California, Las Vegas, and points in between. In the present day, Clare seeks to solve the separate, but possibly connected, murders of her daughter, Sara, and her husband, Jack. The show, however, progresses through Clare’s memories and capitalizes on the humor that exists in everyday life and interpersonal relationships. License is taken to allow for situations where Clare was not present, as well as more time in the present day, if needed to move the story forward. Stones finds a new way to tell an action-mystery story by dressing it as a comedy but keeps the dramatic thread to avoid the absurd.
By Risen Writing3 years ago in Humor
The Lost Art of the Written Word
In the post-pandemic world, a lot of people are seeking remote work opportunities. I can’t blame them. Working from home has its benefits. While I haven’t researched job trends to see if that dynamic has led to an influx of freelancers on the market, I can say that it seems that way—and the quality of written articles substantiates it.
By Risen Writing3 years ago in Journal
The Stones of Serin - Chapter 3
Stepping into the small windowless room has the eerie feeling of walking into a secret. The walls on either side are lined with grand bookcases—the one on the right is filled with printed books and the one on the left with photographs and various mementos. Katie gazes at the books and begins pulling some from the shelf in a strangely uninterested and yet determined manner.
By Risen Writing5 years ago in Chapters
The Stones of Serin - Chapter 2
Midnight comes and goes leaving Clare sitting nervously caressing a teacup and waiting. She tries to call Jack and after getting no answer returns to fidgeting with her cup. Tommy oscillates between sitting restlessly and pacing about. They speak little and carefully avoid the topic of Jack’s absence.
By Risen Writing5 years ago in Chapters
The Stones of Serin - Chapter 1
“On a dark desert highway…” Jack taps the steering wheel in time with the music and croons, “Cool whip in my hair,” entertaining himself with the classic misheard lyric. Misheard lyrics were a favorite amusement of Jack and his daughter, Sara.
By Risen Writing5 years ago in Chapters
Sharing a Funnel Cake
“… and I want to split a funnel cake. Powdered.” I hesitated because funnel cake did not fit easily into my fitness plan. But I gave in. I knew what he was doing. He was fantasizing about a weekend getaway. He wanted to rent a cabin, play on bumper cars—which he warned he would get ruthless—and split a funnel cake (that, at my hands, would become a powdered sugar food fight). He had steamy items on his wish list too—but he made it clear that I was under no obligation to share a bed. But he would require a hug.
By Risen Writing5 years ago in Humans
