Kristen Roedel

On Becoming “Homeless”

Photograph of a dark window, which overlooks a very green and very rainy lawn. Between the two windows, a tall tree is obscured.

Last night, I said goodbye to my childhood home forever. Ever since I began teaching diasporic world literatures, I’ve been toying with the concept of “home.” I asked my students–a diverse bunch from all around the world–how they would define home. In attempts to get them to think more deeply, I told them how IContinue reading “On Becoming “Homeless””

Un-Becoming a People Pleaser

Photograph of a woman standing in the middle of an overgrown, dried out field. She holds a black umbrella over her head, wears a black rimmed hat, a black trench coat, and black boots. She holds a black briefcase. The sky is dark and gloomy.

I’ve lived nearly 32 years in service to others. Taught to “do the right thing,” to “be the bigger person,” to do what everyone else had done before me, and to “wait my turn” to live the way I wanted to, you can’t even begin imagine how angry I was–am–when I realized that my innate desire to help others and my chronic aversion to conflict had not only been used for others’ sole benefit but in order to keep me “in my place.”

On Becoming Political

The disorder peculiar to my country (the United States) is its citizens’ inability to care about anything but themselves. I blame this on the Christian principles of “aspir[ing] to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs […] so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).Continue reading “On Becoming Political”

On Becoming a Bride, or Everything NOT to Ask Queer Couples Getting Married

The identities of the individuals discussed have been disguised in order to protect their businesses. My then wife-to-be and I were sitting in side-by-side styling chairs at the salon for our trial hair and makeup session for our wedding day. The makeup artist had just introduced herself, and although I had told the salon overContinue reading “On Becoming a Bride, or Everything NOT to Ask Queer Couples Getting Married”

On Becoming the Only Queer in the Family

“It hurt. It hurt like hell. But it didn’t matter, if no one knew.” — Nella Larsen, Passing

On Becoming Me (An Intro)

“The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering. I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.” –Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 52 I already know I’ll regret setting all down in writing, attached toContinue reading “On Becoming Me (An Intro)”

“Dressing Yourself” as Method: Meditations on Queer Daughterhood

This essay was originally composed in May 2019 for Professor Lisa Diedrich’s Feminist Interdisciplinary Histories and Methods course at Stony Brook University. The essay appears in its original form. “Definitely, too,” Nella Larsen writes in her 1928 novella Quicksand, “it conveyed to Helga her exact status in her new environment. A decoration. A curio. AContinue reading ““Dressing Yourself” as Method: Meditations on Queer Daughterhood”

DEATH RATTLE: Chapter 1

An image of a cemetery. In the foreground is an empty weathered wooden chair. Behind the chair is a headstone with a flowering plant in front of it. The grass is sparse.

Dear readers and friends, Today is a big day! Please join me in celebrating the publication of DEATH RATTLE: Chapter 1 in The Writing Disorder, an online literary journal! This excerpt is especially important to me because it is the oldest section of my novel–it pays tribute to the short story that DEATH RATTLE wasContinue reading “DEATH RATTLE: Chapter 1”

Death Rattle

A photo of a cemetery. In the foreground are three headstones reading "Howell" and two reading "De Beauchamp." Two tall trees stand in the background, blocking the light of a setting sun.

Mortician Neil Aldridge is used to grief, but he struggles to comfort his wife, Anna, who’s reeling from multiple miscarriages. Teaching elementary school art has paid for their Long Island home and fertility treatments, but it has transformed what Anna once loved (children and art) into a mockery of her existence. When their dreams ofContinue reading “Death Rattle”

Double Publication Alert: Novel Excerpt & Literary Autobiography

An image of the back of a 1960s red Volkswagen Beetle as it drives away down a leaf-strewn road. The road is lined with tall trees.

Celebrate with me! My first Death Rattle excerpt was published today! This passage explores the protagonist’s difficulty with maintaining a relationship with his father under the constraints of working class life and the American Dream. Read “Neil Aldridge, Sr.” here. The literary magazine has also published my literary autobiography, “Escapes,” which you can read here.Continue reading “Double Publication Alert: Novel Excerpt & Literary Autobiography”

Upcoming Publication: The Writing Disorder

An image of a wooden tabletop from above. In the center, the image reads: "Death Rattle: Chapter 1. The Writing Disorder." Around the text lay a blue typewriter, an open empty notebook, a box of film slides, a pair of glasses, an old book, and a pinecone.

I’m pleased to announce that The Writing Disorder, an online literary journal, will be publishing the first chapter of my first novel, Death Rattle, in late September, 2020! I cannot wait for you all to read it! Thank you all for your overwhelming support and kindness. Click here to read Chapter 1 now. View all ofContinue reading “Upcoming Publication: The Writing Disorder”

“A Body Bag Will Do”: The Misogyny of Lovelife’s “Your New Beloved”

The cover image of the band Lovelife's single "Your New Beloved." Across the top is a black banner reading "Lovelife" in bold white lettering. Beneath the band name, it reads the song titles on the single: "1. Heaven 2. The Key 3. Your New Beloved 4. Invisible." Beneath the song titles it reads "The Fourth Floor Aug ~ Oct MMXII". Below all the text is an image of a tall stone arch leading to a bridge. The bridge is lined with railroad tracks. At its center stands a chubby boy.

“We aren’t platinum selling artists yet, so a hot girl in a body bag will do.” – Lee Newell, lead singer of Lovelife, to MTV (2013) Yes, you read that correctly. Spotify introduced me to this wonderful synth-pop band under a week ago with this track. I instantly gravitated toward the deep electronic waves – aContinue reading ““A Body Bag Will Do”: The Misogyny of Lovelife’s “Your New Beloved””

Spike Jonze’s “Her”: Critiquing America’s Love Affair with Hollywood

A movie poster advertising Spike Jonze's film "Her." On the right side of the image is actor Joaquin Phoneix staring seriously into the camera. He wears a bright coral shirt. The background is a bright coral similar to his shirt. On the left, the image reads: "Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, and Scarlett Johansson." Beneath the actors' names is the film title, "Her," in lowercase letters. The tagline beneath the film title reads "A Spike Jonze Love Story."

The world’s love affair with celebrities has gotten out of hand. I’ll admit that I’m a part of this massive head-over-heels, obsessive group of individuals (ranging from 12 to mid-fifties and beyond) that craves a three-hour block on Tumblr (or Reddit, or Buzzfeed), to scroll through images, GIFs, Avengers fan fiction, and even interviewsContinue reading “Spike Jonze’s “Her”: Critiquing America’s Love Affair with Hollywood”

All Publications

A close-up photograph of dusty red roses bejeweled in dew droplets.

DEATH RATTLE: Chapter 1 (DEATH RATTLE excerpt) The Writing Disorder September 22, 2020 Read here. “NEIL ALDRIDGE, SR.” (DEATH RATTLE excerpt) Litbreak Magazine June 22, 2020 Read here. “ESCAPES: A Literary Autobiography” (nonfiction) Litbreak Magazine June 22, 2020 Read here.

Author Archives: Kristen Roedel

On Becoming “Homeless”

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Un-Becoming a People Pleaser

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On Becoming Political

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On Becoming a Bride, or Everything NOT to Ask Queer Couples Getting Married

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On Becoming the Only Queer in the Family

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On Becoming Me (An Intro)

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“Dressing Yourself” as Method: Meditations on Queer Daughterhood

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DEATH RATTLE: Chapter 1

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Death Rattle

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Double Publication Alert: Novel Excerpt & Literary Autobiography

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Upcoming Publication: The Writing Disorder

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“A Body Bag Will Do”: The Misogyny of Lovelife’s “Your New Beloved”

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Spike Jonze’s “Her”: Critiquing America’s Love Affair with Hollywood

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All Publications

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