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Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · 5d

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sonali Kolhatkar @ruwithsonali.bsky.social wrote about getting a preventive double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation and has a family history of breast and other cancers, including the complex aftermath:
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...

Photo of Sonali Kolhatkar
Confessions of a Breast Cancer Previvor
The complications of my preventative mastectomy were far deeper than I expected
opensecretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · 5d

I was so happy my copy of Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt arrived a day early, another bonus of pre-ordering from @bookshop.org. As someone who constantly feels overwhelmed, I’m so looking forward to reading this and learning how to manage my tendency to overcommit.

Book Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · 6d

Yesterday was a day of several firsts: first essay in The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com, first time getting gas by myself, first time my daughter pet a bunny or goat or horse at a farm tour. Read the essay at
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...

Rachel Kramer Bussel holding copy of The Wall Street Journal

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · 16d

For @nytimes.com I wrote about why and how people splurge on experiences and things, and how to splurge responsibly.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...

Splurging? In This Economy? Here’s How to Do It Right.

www.nytimes.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · 25d

A hoarder doing a decluttering project? Yes! I put all my feelings of overwhelm lately into this post that I hope signals the start of something new and positive. rachelkramerbussel.substack.com/p/my-year-of...

Messy desk and text My year of decluttering by Rachel Kramer Bussel

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Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · 29d

What’s the difference between being alone and loneliness? Discuss it in Open Secrets Book Club on memoir in essays The Loneliness Files by @athenadixon.bsky.social published by @tinhouse.bsky.social. You can ask Athena questions on September 30 at 8:30 pm ET: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/open-secre...

Open secrets magazine book club
Opensecretsmagazine.com
“I think alone is sexy. Mysterious in its heaviness. Alone seems like a choice. Loneliness doesn’t. This seems like I’ve been forgotten, passed over, discarded.”
Photo of Athena Dixon and the loneliness files cover

Open secrets magazine book club
September 30, 8:30 pm EST
Substack live
Opensecretsmagazine.com
Photo of Athena Dixon and the loneliness files cover

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Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · Sep 2

Judith Lam Tang writes in her essay “I Was a Bigoted Speech Therapist” about how she went from thinking “How can we make them refer to a single person? It’s too confusing!” to teaching her students about gender respectfully without relying on stereotypes.
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/bigoted-sp...

I Was a Bigoted Speech Therapist
As my views on gender evolved, so did how I taught kids about pronouns
opensecretsmagazine.com

"I taught children to look at a person and make assumptions about their gender based on their physical appearance: the length and style of their hair, the clothing they wore, whether they were wearing makeup, and what they were doing."
Judith Lam Tang
I Was a Bigoted Speech Therapist
opensecretsmagazine.com

"I understood racism very well, but hadn’t considered other marginalized identities, especially queer and trans identities. I realized that I couldn’t actually be antiracist without being anti-oppression for everyone."
Judith Lam Tang
I Was a Bigoted Speech Therapist
opensecretsmagazine.com

"Ultimately, I want to demonstrate—to my students and myself—that I’m a human who is capable of change, who is capable of learning. I grew up thinking in a certain way because that’s what I was taught. I didn’t know any different, and I didn’t know any better."
Judith Lam Tang
I Was a Bigoted Speech Therapist
opensecretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Sep 2

Anyone else feel guilty for not working when you’re on vacation, or just me? My latest The ADHD Diaries column @opensecretsmag.bsky.social is all about that: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/is-adhd-wh...

Is ADHD Why I Have Trouble Taking Real Vacations?
I loved being away from my laptop, but not the guilt that accompanied it
opensecretsmagazine.com

Is ADHD Why I Have Trouble Taking Real Vacations?
“I resent having the kind of brain that insists that any vacation time should be tempered with work in order to “deserve” it. I always think that the next vacation will be the one where I’m somehow magically caught up on every single task so that I can be truly off the clock.”
opensecretsmagazine.com

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Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · Aug 29

Watch our Q&A with Open Secrets EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social and writer Brenden O'Donnell on his experience dating a gay Catholic celibate man he met on Grindr, and what he learned from the relationship: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/interview-...

Watch: Q&A with Brenden O’Donnell on Dating a Gay Catholic Celibate Man, Relationships, and Spirituality

Our first Substack Live Q&A

opensecretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Aug 12

Brief life update: I'm not here much because I'm running after my adorable but energetic daughter most of the day. But I'm still writing my newsletter, running @opensecretsmag.bsky.social & plotting projects in between meal planning & swimming lessons & making up songs about filing baby nails.

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Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · Aug 12

Have a personal essay about your hard truths and deepest secrets, or about a pivotal moment in your life? Or flash nonfiction about one of your possessions? Check out our latest writing guidelines and submit by September 30! Please share widely. opensecretsmagazine.com/p/lit-mag-pe...

Paid Call for Submissions for Personal Essays by Humans About the Human Experience (No AI Writing Allowed)

Send us your essays sharing the story only you can tell (and why generative AI submissions will not be considered)

opensecretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Jun 1

Few sights make me happier than a wavy guy. Even made up for going to a “farmers market” where there was only one produce vendor and I’m pretty sure they don’t grow their own produce.

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · May 27

This @ejdickson.bsky.social article on “SkinnyTok” influencer Liv Schmidt is excellent, sad, & infuriating. As someone whose best friend died of anorexia complications, it’s hard to read about eating disorders, but so important. She didn’t think she’d die, but she did. www.thecut.com/article/infl...

The Influencer Inspiring Girls to Eat As Little As Possible

In Liv Schmidt’s subscriber-only group chat, her followers — some of them in high school — encourage one another to achieve their weight-loss goals.

www.thecut.com

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Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · May 20

What’s it like to be a liberal Tesla owner in Brooklyn who opposes Elon Musk’s political positions and is now despised for her vehicle choice despite making the purchase in 2020 for environmental reasons? Find out in @sammithewriter.bsky.social's bold essay. opensecretsmagazine.com/p/brooklyn-t...

I'm a Tesla-Driving Liberal

Cue the tiniest violin in the world

opensecretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · May 12

Looking forward to talking to Darcey Gohring at wisdomandwords.substack.com today at 1 pm ET about essay writing and Open Secrets Magazine! Subscribe to Wisdom and Words to watch and check out all of Darcey’s other great interviews!

Photo of Rachel Kramer Bussel
The Writer’s Corner
Rachel Kramer Bussel
on
The Secrets to Writing Personal Essays That Get Published
Live May 12, 1 pm EST
wisdomandwords.substack.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · May 3

Had to snap a quick selfie before one of the biggest days of my life. See you later at Open Secrets Live!

Rachel Kramer Bussel smiling in New York City

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · May 1

So excited to interview Jane Pratt on Saturday and host over 40 speakers! Click through or see the thread for details. There’s a few tickets left!

Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · May 1

Jane Pratt of Sassy fame, now editor of Anotehr Jane Pratt Thing, is our Open Secrets Live opening keynote speaker on May 3, in conversation with Open Secrets Magazine editor @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social, on Why Readers Care About What Happened to You. opensecretsmagazine.com/p/open-secre...

Open Secrets Magazine Live! Opening keynote speaker Jane Pratt, why readers care about what happened to you

Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Apr 30

Reading books to my baby that I loved as a kid is soul-affirming in a way I didn’t expect. We only got through 2 page before she wanted to flip back to the cover but I feel much calmer after spending a few minutes with Frances. The Linwood, NJ library has a whole stack of delightful oversized books

Oversized version of the children’s book Bread and Jam for Frances

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · Apr 2

Sen. Cory Booker has the floor.

The image is a screenshot of a social media post by Laurie Hardman (@LaurieLyricalG
), posted 14 hours ago. The post features a photo of a sidewalk with a message written in white chalk: "THIS IS NOT A LEFT OR RIGHT MOMENT, IT IS A RIGHT OR WRONG MOMENT," attributed to "- SEN. CORY BOOKER." The photo is credited to @karinschall
.

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Camryn Garrett @dancingofpens.bsky.social · Mar 27

Reminder that I'm teaching a workshop next month and there are three spots left if you want to join us! writingworkshops.com/products/a-g...

What is Voice? A Guide to Discovering and Sharpening Your Voice

If you've ever been confused about what a writer's voice is or concerned about finding your voice as a writer, this course is for you at WritingWorkshops.com.

writingworkshops.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Apr 2

How fun is this book arch at the Linwood, NJ public library? Looking forward to my next visit!

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Amy Shearn @amyshearn.bsky.social · Apr 1

I wrote for @literaryhub.bsky.social about how I killed my book group (accidentally!)

lithub.com/can-writers-...

Can Writers Ever Remember How to Read For Fun?

“Don’t worry,” one of the other moms assured me when I joined the book group. “It’ll be a Slow-Readers Book Club. We’ll give ourselves, like, three months per book.” This sounded doable. I really d…

lithub.com

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Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · Mar 29

Do you have a personal story you want to tell about how your life has been influence by the climate? Here's our personal essay guidelines. Deadline is May 31, 2025, and we pay $50/essay: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/paying-cal...

Paid Call for Personal Essays on Climate Change and Climate Issues

Open Secrets Magazine will publish at least one personal essay per month by in a new Climate category

opensecretsmagazine.com

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Open Secrets Magazine @opensecretsmag.bsky.social · Mar 29

What does it feel like to live through multiple smoke seasons in the Pacific Northwest? @ambrown.bsky.social answers this and more in his essay about the personal impact of climate change for our Climate vertical: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/smoke-seas...

Image of a grey sky and tree and house. Text: What It Feels Like to Live in “Satan’s Ashtray” During Smoke Season
A history of my adaptation to the Pacific Northwest’s grim new weather caused by climate change, opensecxretsmagazine.com

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Rachel Kramer Bussel @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social · Mar 25

I wrote this ode to @thatemilyfarris.bsky.social ADHD memoir I'll Just Be Five More Minutes last year. Seemed Women’s History Month worthy for @opensecretsmag.bsky.social since it’s part of my professional history.

Likes/comments/shares are appreciated.
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/adhd-memoi...

How an ADHD Memoir Helped Me Stop Feeling Guilty About Not Promoting My Short Story Collection

Emily Farris' 'I'll Just Be Five More Minutes: And Other Tales from My ADHD Brain' taught me the connection between dopamine, burnout, and my creative work and gave me professional camaraderie

opensecretsmagazine.com

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