Hello there.

I’m Jen Howard, an independent writer, editor, and journalist based in Washington, DC. My book CLUTTER: AN UNTIDY HISTORY (Belt Publishing) is out in paperback; Kirkus Reviews called it “quick-witted and insightful…a keen assessment of one of society’s secret shames and its little-understood consequences.” Check it out.

Above: This is a photo of me @ 8 years old. As a kid, when I wasn’t getting (respectfully!) up close and personal with birds, bugs, turtles, or other critters, I had my nose in a book. That pretty much describes my life now, too: if I’m not reading or writing, I’m outside looking at cool things.

This monthly newsletter is an extension of all three pursuits—a diary of notes and observations. It features updates on what I’m working on and thinking about, and what I’ve read, watched, and/or published lately. Warning: I share photos of my family’s adorable rescue dogs and cats from time to time.

More about me: I’ve been a contributing editor and columnist at the Washington Post and a senior reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education, where I covered the humanities, libraries, and publishing. You might also have seen my work in the New York Times, the TLS, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Lit Hub, Slate, EdSurge, Humanities, Fine Books & Collections, etc. I’ve also published fiction in VQR, the anthology D.C. Noir, and other places.

If social media’s your thing, you can also find me on Twitter (still), Mastodon, Instagram (pet/nature pics and mini book reviews, post.news, and a few other places.

Thanks for reading.

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Notes on writing, reading, and life.

People

Jennifer Howard is a writer, editor, and journalist. She's the author of CLUTTER: AN UNTIDY HISTORY. She lives in Washington, D.C.