Stevi Vaughn
Bio
My existence has been made of experiences that just don’t happen to ordinary people. Stories that I yearn to share with the world, but right now I'm just trying to live each day at a time, expressing my creativity where I can.
Stories (11/0)
Searching For My Word
There is a certain word that I find repulsive, and that is concerning. There’s nothing wrong with this word or its definition, it’s more so a personal reflection that makes me feel this disgust. In fact, it is a word that defines me, but the word, that which leaves a distasteful pallet, just sounds, well, gross. Trashy and tacky to my tongue, leaving the question as to if it is really the word or if it is that I am repelled by myself. If I am truly repulsed for being defined by such a harmless word, then what can I do to gain pride in this and have satisfaction in knowing that it describes me? Unfortunately, as I sit here writing this, admitting it to myself, the repulsion takes over. What if I could find a new word to replace this? Would that make it any better? Could it be, by writing this, by the end, that I will no longer feel this way?
By Stevi Vaughn2 years ago in Pride
Faulkner and Hemingway
Although their styles differ, in comparing Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying to Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants,” one can see that they share similar use of literary elements with narratives that are equally effective in their own rights. Written in documentary style, Hemingway’s technique remains indifferent to both characters, with no access to their thoughts or emotional interpretation in their words. This differs from Faulkner's "stream-of-consciousness" style, which is written as though he is inside the mind of his characters.
By Stevi Vaughn2 years ago in Geeks
Trying To Find My Word
There is a certain word that I find repulsive, and that is concerning. There’s nothing wrong with this word or its definition, it’s more so a personal reflection that makes me feel this disgust. In fact, it is a word that defines me, but the word, that which leaves a distasteful pallet, just sounds, well, gross. Trashy and tacky to my tongue, leaving the question as to if it’s really the word or if it’s that I am repelled by myself. If I am truly repulsed for being such a harmless word, then what can I do to gain pride in being this, taking satisfaction in knowing that it defines me? Unfortunately, as I sit here writing this, admitting it to myself, the repulsion takes over. What if I could find a new word to replace this? Would that make it any better? Could it be, by writing this, by the end, that I will no longer feel this way?
By Stevi Vaughn2 years ago in Pride
There Will Be A Day
While the character of Marshmallow on Bob’s Burgers is criticized for many reasons (played by a cisgender white male) I give props to this show for the addition of this character, and she is one of my all-time faves. If I were told that I could play the voice of a trans male who was not white like me, and I did that voice better than anyone they could find, I would do it in a heartbeat to positively represent the transgender community. However, that’s a long work around for my intentions of writing this. What I love most about this character (aside from the fact that she’s just an awesome gal) is that Bob crushes on her. There are several scenes eluding to this, one being when he tells the butcher “I’m straight…well mostly”. This genius cartoon has love for everyone and shows that we have (if we choose) to be a lot further along in acceptance of all.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Pride
Poetic Intimacy
While the time span of 1960-1990 saw vast historical and cultural changes against the backdrop of women seeking equality, there is one word that can be used to describe the difference in female poetry written throughout these decades. Intimacy is the key definer of these generations. I feel that there are four poems that can specifically show how intimacy defines poetry during these eras, with a difference in intimacy through experience and definition found in each poetic generation.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Education
The Birthday That Wouldn't Be Forgotten
Every year as a child Ida’s mother would make her famous chocolate cake for both of Ida’s sisters, but when her birthday came, all that she got was a rice cake with more of a chocolate scent than a flavor, and the same lecture as the year before.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Fiction
Summer Without Sunlight
When summer break from school approached and all of the neighborhood kids were outside playing with her siblings, it never seemed fair that Layla could not do the same. She knew other kids that had allergies, who could take medicine and still play outside, but her allergy was different. There was no medicine that she could take, because her allergy was to sunlight. Layla was born with a rare illness known as xeroderma pigmentosum, or XP as she told people, because pronouncing it wasn’t so easy. She had to protect her skin not only from the sun, but from anything that emitted ultraviolet light, including some lightbulbs, which could harm her skin very quickly.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Fiction
My COVID Slumber Party
I remember the surreal day that we were put on lock down. I was so clueless I honestly didn't even know corona was a thing. And there I was questioning if we were even aloud to go to the grocery store, learning how to create a makeshift sterilized mask, using hand sanitizer until my skin was dry, and questioning every time I bit my fingernails if I had caught the dreaded corona!
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Humans
Finding The New Forward
-I joined the $1 for one month promotion of Vocal when I saw an ad for a challenge that I felt “called” to write about. I believed so strongly in my story that I subscribed merely to enter that contest, and to my core I knew I would win. During my writing process and while I waited to see who had won, I worked with universal powers through the Laws of Attraction like no other. There was no doubt in my mind that I could possibly lose, but drum roll please, I lost. I didn’t even get considered for the “should reads”. However, I had already swore that I was going to get the most out of that single dollar month that I could, and I promised myself that I would somehow find time to write weekly and make my reoccurring subscription worth it. I vowed to follow all the articles that could be found for advice on being a profitable Vocal writer, and I made it a point to be successful with this.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Humans
Soul Searching With Scissors
For several years I have found scissors to have a unique significance in my life, as they are, without a doubt, a contraption that I could not live without. Meticulous cutting in my process as a collage artist is essential for all creations I produce. While I have tried using craft knives, I feel that the motions of my hands with scissors allow a more therapeutic aspect. Cutting and curving through the images that I work with soothe my soul, healing me in a way that cannot be compared with any other tool. The process of the scissors sliding and looping as I work allow me to travel beyond the stresses of life and into worlds in which I create within my mind through my collection of pictures and patterns. Not only do I see my scissors as therapeutic, but they are the source from which my creativity is channeled into the medium of art in which I choose to express myself. If I was told that I had to throw all my art supplies away but could keep only one tool, I would without question choose my scissors, as I see them as a noteworthy tool in both my creative and personal healing process.
By Stevi Vaughn3 years ago in Humans
