Ren is a thirty-something Lost Boy whose personal aesthetic is “suspected of witchcraft by local villagers.” She subscribes to cheerful nihilism, the destruction of the patriarchy, and the belief that glitter makes everything better. She is a Richmond-based writer and performer who has fiction and non-fiction work found in a variety of publications, such as The Mary Sue, RVA Magazine, The Quotable, and Nostrovia Press. She is currently the fiction editor and a regular contributor at Quail Bell Magazine. She is also the co-host of the podcast, This F***ing Guy! Find out more at renmartinez.com or read her dumbass tweets on Twitter @itsrenmartinez
My newest piece published at Quail Bell Magazine titled “The DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD.” “I’m trying to write and I keep remembering the brown of my husband’s hands” Read it here.
I am not dying today not even if you murder me, watch me grow wings. Head over to Quail Bell Magazine to check out my book review of Love_is_Love: An Anthology for LGBTQIA+ Teens, edited by Emma Eden Ramos, and with original art (featured above) by Natascha Woolf. Read it here!
“There are places that spill magic into the world, and the people who live there, breathing it in, inevitably become magic, too.” My book review on Cenote City by Monique Quintana posted at Quail Bell Magazine. Check it out here!
I received this book as a gift for my birthday from my best friend, Kate. She and I are fierce feminists who often discuss our favorite Netflix show between diatribes against the patriarchy. She is also fat, and proudly so. I often reference her as such, like “Yeah, my best friend is fat, and she … More Book Review: You Have the Right to Remain Fat by Virgie Tovar
This year has not been a year for the creative. Between the the dumpster fire that is the political landscape, finishing renovations on a house, and preparing for my wedding, it’s been chaos and craziness all year. I wish I could say I was at least able to write in the downtime, but that is … More Catching Up & Falling Back
Oh my Goddess, have I been away. That hiatus was entirely unplanned and way longer than it should have been. To make a long year short, my beau and I moved into my parents’ house a year ago while we made renovations on his mother’s home, which is now ours. It required a full gutting … More The End of Winter
Residing the second floor of Gallery5 is Richmond’s Independent Zine Library, a space dedicated to the radical, the nonsensical, the weird, and those who stand up and say “NO!.” Read more here
My newest article for GayRVA Magazine. “Equality Virginia is holding their annual Day of Action, an event for LGBTQ and ally constituents to meet with legislators and discuss bills that affect the LGBT community. The day involves meeting with legislators, workshops led by fellow activists and top attorneys, and a legislative reception, in which the … More From national protests to grassroots activism, EV’s Day of Action connects local LGBTW advocates and citizens with legislators on 2/7
My newest article for RVA Magazine about the Women’s March and the next steps for the activists I spoke with. Check it out!
I’m applying to be an intern at RVA Mag, a super cool publication about arts and community in Richmond.Admittedly, I’m probably the only one that isn’t in college (and hasn’t been for awhile) but they said that wasn’t a requirement. I’ve been floundering for awhile as far as future-type things. Unsure if I’m stagnating or … More The Intern
