My story today involves a pretty bad break-up.

Most people can't help but bring their work home with them, and the narrator in The Book Critic Dumps His Girlfriend is no different.

As he parts ways with his girlfriend, the book critic can't help but give her some advice on how to be a better character and a better writer overall.
She had hooked him with her backstory: She was adopted as a teenager with the ambition to travel the world to write a novel about discovering hope in poverty-stricken villages. She balanced work and a full social calendar with her volunteering at the local animal shelter on weekends. But after investing months in their relationship, he was faced with her shame – that her character was destined to be static.
It takes some close listening to find out what went wrong in their relationship, but the book critic eventually gets around to making his point.

Tell me about your worst break-up in the comments.
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.
subscribe to us on iTunes

My story: The Book Critic Dumps His Girlfriend

Once upon a time, adults loved stories, too.

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

My story today is centered around the idea that many people make their permanent homes in places where most people only vacation.
There were never any curtains here. Something about the beach air made people forget that sunlight could be blocked out and that morning would come anyway.
Where do you like to go to get away from it all? Tell me in the comments.
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.

My Story: The Whimsical Whale on the Corner

My story today is about the way we can put our trust in perfect strangers - like our hair stylists.
Maralyn insisted on maintaining the often-seen short spiky hairdo that older woman gravitated toward when they give up. She resisted Hannah’s efforts to soften her face with another style. Hannah regretted missing out on the chance to dye all those spikes Barbie pink.
What is it about certain strangers that makes us feel like we can trust them? Tell me in the comments.
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.

My Story: Instructions for Care

My story today revolves around something most of us thoroughly enjoy – sleep. But what if you didn't need to sleep anymore. How would you spend that extra time in your day?
Stella had started a late-night crafting group and she kept sending me pictures of hip homemade wreaths, hand-stamped stationary and throw pillows with inappropriate phrases stitched on them. Her pictures came at all hours of the night and there were clusters of them waiting for my attention in the morning.
What did you dream of last night? Tell me in the comments.
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.

My Story: At Night I Dream of Mermaids

My story today echoes in silence - from children, from heartbeats and from the things that we do not say to the people we love.
At pickup time my sister is late. Or rather she is always late for our agreed-upon pickup time, but since she is consistently late, maybe she is actually on time. She looks tired despite the day off, so we do not talk.
What are you putting off saying to the people you love?
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.

My Story: The Days Between Heartbeats

My story today is built around the idea of strangers on the bus. The shared intimacy of taking a long trip together can take its toll on people - both for the good and the bad:
A thin young man in his mid-20s flopped down next to Robyn and immediately assumed the wide-legged spread all men assume while seated. Robyn watched him under lowered lids: The wider the parting of the legs, the more space he was trying to claim for himself. Being fat and taking up more space was one thing, spreading out your knees to take over an unrealistic amount of real estate for your crotch was another. Robyn thought some guys were really only one evolutionary step above peeing on their territory.
Listen to Bus People and tell me about the worst bus trip you've ever taken.
That’s my story. Tell me one of yours.

My story: The Book Critic Dumps His Girlfriend

Download our free app to listen on your phone