Max Emerson’s masterclass on staying true to yourself—even when things fall apart

Sharing Through the Good Times—and Bad

As someone who frequently swings between humor and vulnerability, Max's creative spark often comes from processing difficult experiences.

One such emotional experience came earlier this year when he and his partner, Andrés Camilo, experienced a failed adoption. "We spent three nights in the hospital with this woman, who hadn't told her family," he recollects. "Her family mounted a campaign to stop [the adoption], which was successful." While their focus in the hospital was supporting the mother, it wasn't until they were sitting in their car afterward that the emotional weight hit them. "We just started sobbing."

Writing has become Emerson's way of processing these delayed emotional responses. It's a method he's relied on since middle school. "I really like to let things sit for a long time before I write them," he admits. This ability to reflect deeply and thoughtfully has fueled his creative endeavors, including his novels and social media, to new ventures on the horizon.

Andrés plays a significant role in his life, both professionally and personally. Their story, however, starts like many modern romances: through the apps. "The story we tell Grandma is that we bumped into each other through mutual friends in Brooklyn," Max jokes. The experience underscores a key point about navigating relationships in the digital age. While dating apps sometimes feel impersonal, disappointing, or transactional (or helpful to fix things around the house), they're still viable places to find meaningful connections.

However, with many eyes following his personal adventures, Emerson has had to navigate the unique pressures of living in the public eye. When asked how he handles it, he says it comes down to communication and boundaries.

"It's a coordinated effort to decide what we're willing to share with the world, what we keep private, and when we share it," he explains. This thoughtful approach to social media is something the two take seriously, especially in moments of personal grief. The failed adoption, for instance, wasn't something they immediately shared with the public. "It's not a livestream moment," Emerson says. "We sat on it for a while, and when the time is right, we'll share it."

Max on the Move

Emerson is staying busy with multiple projects on the horizon. His second novel, The Sparkle Club, was recently released. It's a dark comedy about a social justice warrior who goes too far and accidentally gets himself 'canceled,' leading to a summer of community service in rural Ohio. Meanwhile, his new podcast, Stuff Every Queer Kid Should Know,offers a mix of survival tips, queer history, and personal stories.

Between books, podcasts, and a growing online presence, Max Emerson shows no signs of slowing down. But he's careful to maintain balance in his career and his personal life.

If Emerson could offer advice to his younger self, or any young LGBTQIA+ person finding their way, it would be to simply "be kind to yourself." He reflects on his own teenage years, noting how he often deflected ridicule by ridiculing others. "You don't have to direct the ridicule elsewhere to avoid being the victim of it," Max says. "Just be kind to yourself, and start from there."

And who hasn't gone through that at some point in our lives, not just our younger selves. Making a sassy remark to an innocent bystander to deflect eyes on us, or concentrating on that minor imperfection when we desired to be perfect in a social or professional setting. We've all been there at some point in our lives.

But with time and growth comes our self-healing.

Through every challenge, success, or failure, Max Emerson is living proof that finding your way means staying true to yourself and embracing the journey, one dropped ball at a time.

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