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Paul Gosselin
Actor | Writer | Producer
No Reciprocation Necessary
Welcome to my essay corner, a collection of personal reflections and stories I can’t shake. These aren’t hot takes or diary entries, but curated thoughts about caregiving, queerness, family, grief and the odd beauty of being human. New posts land every other Tuesday (or close enough).
Read, relate, roll your eyes, but remember, no need to respond. -- No reciprocation necessary.
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“Backlight” - The Final Year, Part 6
Wardrobe easter eggs, the Fight Club twist, and saying goodbye to Jackie Zeman. A look at Misguided: Episode 22 — "The Legacy"
Sep 16
“Backlight” - The Final Year, Part 5
Terrell Tilford pen-pal magic, an indestructible camcorder, and a candlestick homage to Nadine Cooper. A look at Misguided: Episode 21 — "The Accident"
Sep 14
"Backlight" - The Final Year, Part 2
High school timelines, rewriting the past, and getting a drink thrown in my face by soap royalty. A look at Misguided: Episode 18 — "The Chemistry"
Aug 24
Nervous Energy
Creating art for yourself, and letting others discover it on their own terms.
Aug 13
"Backlight" - The Dream Year
Party crashing, casting panic, and being too funny for Daytime, a look back at Season 2 of Misguided.
Aug 3
"Backlight" - The First Year
Friends, Favors, and a Fanboy's Journey Chasing a Dream... Looking back at Misguided's First Season
Jul 27
Owning Where I Stand
Prepping for IMLBB: dropping the "right" answers and learning what it actually means to show up.
May 18
Learning to Stay
Reflections on a decade of caregiving and the survival job that outlasted all my expectations.
Mar 22
The Power of Invisibility
A reflection on invisibility during a leather title year...missing photos, quiet moments of being overlooked, and the slow work of learning when to step forward, take up space, and be seen on your own terms.
Feb 2
Behind the Harness & Sash: Mid-Atlantic Weekend
Battling a lost voice on a red-eye flight to DC for my first Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend taught me that stepping into this community doesn't require perfection, just the willingness to show up honestly.
Jan 28
Zero Proof
I spent years learning how to stay quiet, how to follow rules, how to survive without making waves. Somewhere between New York nights, wine-stained smiles, and a year of choosing differently, I learned that the version of myself I liked most never actually disappeared. He just changed.
Dec 21, 2025
Over the Rainbow, Eventually
It took a few spins through the revolving door before I learned what it meant to step out for good. This is the story of how hiding became honesty, and how fear finally gave way to freedom.
Oct 9, 2025
The Naked Truth, part 1
In search of community, I found my way from NYC bars to L.A.’s Bullet Bar, and eventually onto the stage at Mr. CMEN Leather. What began with pride and arrogance ended in heartbreak, but it was the start of something bigger.
Aug 30, 2025
Almost Enough
Running on little sleep and big dreams, I reflect on ambition, burnout, and the quiet grace of showing up imperfectly. Maybe I didn’t hit every goal, but maybe that’s exactly the point.
Aug 2, 2025
Back Again, Naturally
From DeadJournal to Tumblr to today, I’m returning to my blogging roots with No Reciprocation Necessary. This first post dives into my early days of oversharing, secret aliases, and soap fandom—and why I’m writing again, with heart and zero expectations.
Jun 24, 2025
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