You've found The Field.
The birth of an intellectual experiment
I’m launching this space because I want writing to feel fun again.
I want to write without consideration of likes, follower count, or sales funnels. I want to write free from the destructive criticism of scientific peer review and social media strangers. Most of all, I want to write to find my voice, who I know is hiding somewhere in here, underneath all the feedback.
The quiet 14-year-old who first scribbled poems near her geometry proofs — I want her to speak for once.
What is “The Field”?
I love a good metaphor. That’s why I chose “The Field.”
“Field” is a word that cuts across disciplines. You’ll find fields in the humanities, mathematics, social and biological sciences. You can battle on a field, study a field, grow in a field, or simply observe — so many things! So many possibilities.
Here are a few that I’m considering:
The Field is where I write about human development, broadly defined. I’m a developmental psychologist by training, but I synthesize ideas from many fields (because, of course I do). History, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, neuroscience, ecology, economics, and disability studies are my current favorites.
The Field is where I develop my ideas. For me, writing is (and has always been) thinking — how else can one have an informed, nuanced opinion about something? You’ll find depth in my main essays, and
hotless-informed takes in my notes (i.e., my “Field Notes” hehe).The Field is where I’ll start my first book. Is it romantic or naive to pursue a writing career in the age of generative AI? I hope it’s the former. I hope I live long enough to write many books that impact many lives.
So, who’s writing this?
Whoops, almost forgot. You can call me Ashley :)
I can’t possibly describe myself in a paragraph, so you’ll have to read along and form your own opinion 🌻 🐌




Dr. Ruba - I host a podcast focused on helping Teachers leave education careers to pursue new careers leveraging their skills, expertise, and experience. The podcast is, “From Learning to Earning.”
You obviously have tremendous insight into the thinking, process, concerns, and benefits that go along with that decision. Would you have interest in being a podcast guest?
Thanks for your consideration!
David Zahn
Davidzahn@zahnconsulting.com