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Summer Scratch

Aug 27
A blonde white woman in a pink rhinestone suit sits at a black grand piano on a dark stage.

Dolly Parton Loved Being Dolly Parton

It was one of the most important aspects of her art.
5 min read
Aug 19
Photo of an author signing with Robert and Ina Caro on one side of the table and fans photographing Robert signing a book on the other. In the foreground, two women lean in close to talk.

I Want a Literary Wife

But the economy won't support it.
8 min read
Aug 12
A 17th-century woodcut showing a pact being made between witches and a winged Devil.

Legacy Media Wants to Hire You (No, Not You)

Not me either, but that's OK.
5 min read
Aug 05
a blue, watery background with images of Kim Cross's books collaged with some cutouts of her articles, with a photo of Kim in the middle.

The Scratch Interview #7: Kim Cross on Caregiving and Freelancing

“Freelance rates, by the way, haven't gone up since 1985. That's when magazines started paying $2 a word.”
18 min read
Jul 29
The top of a brown moving box that reads "Bedroom: Rahawa Books"

A Summer of Books and Boxes

No one hates books more than someone who loves books too much and has to pack them for a move.
6 min read
Jul 22
A collage of covers to the books mentioned in the post below, hovering around a star that reads "Scratch Summer Reading Recs."

What We're Reading This Season

Or whatever else you want, really. No judgement from us.
9 min read
Jul 15
Two small children lay next to a woman on a beach towel.

How Much Work Will I Do On My Summer Vacation?

And is it wrong if I kind of enjoy it?
6 min read
Jul 08
Scrabble game tiles that spell out the word "S-U-M-M-E-R" set against a wooden background

Summer State of Mind

Scratch’s summer vacation (kind of)
8 min read