Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
The Lamentably Short Life of Kathryn Susanne West
The year was 1985. I remember sitting in the empty and dry bathtub, hugging my knees, and thinking my time was up. I was going to die. I was bleeding internally. It was only a matter of time. I had accomplished little in my short life. Now I probably had only hours to reconcile the meaning of my time on Earth, and hope that I would make it into heaven.
By Kathryn Susanne Sterling5 years ago in Viva
Judy Reed the first black woman to receive a US patent
You probably never heard of Judy Reed but she left a mark on society as the first African American female on record to ever receive a US patent. American society loves to announce when someone has been the first in a category. Specifically, since Joe Biden has become president we have been introduced to members of his cabinet who are the first African American, black woman, Native American, Hindu, Catholic, and LBGT to hold their respective offices. Their names will go down in history just like Judy Reed, although there actually is not much that is known about this black female innovator.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Viva
Shady Suitors of the Black Book
The tall, shapely lady strolled into the bar, with such confidence, those who didn’t know better would be certain she owned the place. Instead, the locals knew she was a woman thrice-scorned, who suddenly made millions turning those stories into best-selling thrillers - using the stories of her three perpetrators to publicly and indirectly mock them. She never used their real names, of course, but those who knew the men knew exactly who she was referring to.
By Elle P. Brown5 years ago in Viva
3 Obscure Classic Novels About Women
Rebellious, outspoken women were not a normal part of the culture during the previous centuries. From Shakespeare's romantic interests of Juliet, Cressida, Hermia and others, there have been obedient and quiet women. But famously, Shakespeare's more complex characters have also been women, in the forms of the violent Lady Macbeth, the outspoken Titania, the almost machiavellian Portia and even the powerful Cleopatra.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Viva
Open Letter to Joss Whedon
Dear Joss Whedon; You have broken my heart. I embraced you as a genius, a hero, a feminist. I invited you into my home, introduced my children to you. I brought you into my classroom, introduced my students to you. Used your speaking in my speech class, your stories as narrative examples. I was proud to be a fan, not just because of your creative gifts, but because of the beliefs you shared about women. Your strong female characters were an inspiration to me. You were a successful artist who not only created worlds I loved but lifted those around you. I noticed the actors who followed you from one series to another, and I respected your dedication to helping those artists grow. In my mind my dedication to your work was both noble and warranted. Revising my belief in you is acutely painful. It isn’t just painful watching you, who I idolized, fall from the throne where I placed you, but horrifying realizing what I did to keep you there.
By Timber Holmes5 years ago in Viva
What You Need to Know About the Luteal Phase
During my teenage years and early twenties, I never once considered what was actually happening inside my body during my period. All I knew was that once a month, every month, for what seemed like my entire life — I would bleed.
By Kaushik Manavadariya5 years ago in Viva
