Writing

For my professional (i.e. policy and academic) writing, please see my policy work!

Writing has always been a big part of my life. In addition to the more technical writing that I do as a professional policy analyst, I also write for fun. I have participated in – and completed! – the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) three times. However, I usually prefer to write creative non-fiction that combines elements of travel, history, and art.

Blog

Although I am organising some larger, more professional creative writing projects, my main outlet remains my blog. For an idea of the kind of writing that I like to do, I recommend checking out the following posts:

Travel Writing

Aside from the content on my blog, I write contributions for Atlas Obscura, a website aiming to collect a database of “the world’s hidden wonders” by highlighting unique, off-the-beaten-track attractions. A full list of my contributions can be found on my profile, but here are some of my favourites:

Fernweh Park (Bavaria, Germany)

Named after the German word for “a longingness to travel,” this park brings together thousands of city and street signs from around the world.

German-Russian Museum (Berlin, Germany)

A museum in the building where Nazi Germany signed its surrender tells the story of World War II from the Soviet perspective.

Leśniewo U-Boat Locks (Masuria, Poland)

Built to transport German U-boats through the never-completed Masurian Canal, the locks near this Polish village are now home to a rope course.

Svetlogorsk Beach Gondolas (Kaliningrad, Russia)

These tiny cabins on a cableway have been carrying visitors at a Baltic resort down to the beach since 1912.

Rheinsberg Nuclear Power Plant (Brandenburg, Germany)

This decommissioned nuclear power plant offers tours of its Communist-era control room and reactor hall.

Witches’ Dance Floor (Harz Mountains, Germany)

This enchanting mountain plateau celebrates spooky local folklore.

Literary Translation

In addition to my original writing, I also do literary translations from German (and, more rarely, from French). See below for a few samples from my literary translation work.