Nikki

On the Edge of Somewhere

Standing on the edge of somewhere Looking out at the great unknown Wondering what’s out there This somewhere that I stand on Is the place my journey led to The path that guides me It’s hidden where it leads to This somewhere must be Where I am supposed to be Before the path starts aContinue reading “On the Edge of Somewhere”

The Advice Went the Wrong Way

I Remind Myself

I remind myself that I am brave even though I’m terrified. I remind myself that I am strong even though I feel small. I remind myself that I am fierce despite how I shake on the inside. I remind myself that I make a difference even though I don’t see progress. I remind myself thatContinue reading “I Remind Myself”

Not to Copy

Anyone can be an artist, they say. Anyone can paint or draw. It’s all about expressing yourself. Creating something with your own hand. It’s not about making a replica. Taking a photo and creating the same thing.But taking the inspiration from that photo to create it your way. I remember in an art class IContinue reading “Not to Copy”

Looking Back

Out of curiousness, I pulled a planner off the wall. People always ask “Where do you want to be in 10 years?” well, I looked back 10 years. What changed? What was I doing? On September 24, 2015 I was still in college. It was a Thursday, so I had classes: Animal Science and PhysicsContinue reading “Looking Back”

The Horizon

The tides are turningThe captain jumped shipThere’s fog on the horizonAnd the deck is quite slick A crewmate holds the railTrying to hold in their supperSomeone’s on the crow’s nestSomeone’s cleaning out the scupper The sails are setBut the compass just spinsNo one knows which direction to begin The tides lurch the shipQuaking creaks inContinue reading “The Horizon”

Writer’s Worst Outage

You’re in the thick of it. Writing on your laptop with the scenes dancing around in your head. While midnight creeps upon you, you write the perfect description of a ghost that can control plants. It lives in an eerie forest, mist swirling around. No sunlight shines…ever. The characters are in a distrustful village. They’reContinue reading “Writer’s Worst Outage”

Fine is…

There’s an automatic word that comes to mind when I think of this question. One that’s easy to slip on the lips. A lie that often doesn’t get taken back. If I gave up a word, it would be “fine.” Not in the sense of fine dining, but in the sense that “everything’s fine.” FineContinue reading “Fine is…”

The Role of a Character

If you haven’t seen the new live action Lilo and Stitch movie, you might not want to read this. Stories have characters. It’s hard to have a story without them. The job of a writer, movie producer, game developer, etc. is to weave a story where every character has a purpose. If they don’t, thenContinue reading “The Role of a Character”

2nd Place

Growing up, my family and I would play a lot of games. Board games and card games, but mostly video games. More often than not, I found myself in 2nd place. Second player, second one across the finish line. Second highest score. Second to last one standing in the brawl. It got to the pointContinue reading “2nd Place”