About a year ago, I reached out to four writers whose work I admire and asked, basically, what would you write about if you could write about anything you want, and be well paid for your effort? Over the next five months, you will see how those writers and I answered that question with a series of longform essays (10,000 words or more), called Roxane Gay Presents, in partnership with Everand (the digital subscription arm of Scribd).
First up is Julia Turshen's "Built for This: The Quiet Strength of Powerlifting.” In this essay, Julia writes about her journey into the world of powerlifting and how it helped her develop a different, less fraught relationship with food, exercise, and her body. It was a pleasure working with Julia to really dig into the writing and find the beating heart of this essay. She did a remarkable revision that really made this piece sing.
I hope you see, in these words, Julia’s authenticity, ferocious heart, and how wholly she commits to the things and people she cares about. And when you’re done with this essay, check out her newsletter “Keep Calm and Cook On,” or her excellent cookbooks, “Simply Julia,” and “Small Victories,” and “Now & Again.”
You can read the ESSAY or listen to the AUDIOBOOK, read by Julia herself. If you’re new to Everand, you can sign up for a free sixty-day trial.
The rest of the essays in the series will be published between February and May. On February 28th, Randa Jarrar offers a unique instruction manual for single motherhood shaped by her characteristic intelligence and flair. March 27th, we’ll be taking a trip with Gabrielle Bellot as she writes about how she embraced psychedelics and learned a great deal about living better. Elaine Castillo writes about becoming a dog person and has crafted a really interesting cultural history of dog training, which you can enjoy on April 24th. Finally, I will be publishing an essay, “Stand Your Ground,” about guns, American gun culture, grief, and Black feminism on May 29th. I hope you’ll read along because these writers open up whole new worlds with their words.