I left my Kirkland & Ellis partnership to write novels. Three years later, here's what the identity shift actually looked and felt like.

February's best reads, rewatches, and podcasts — from Katie Kitamura to Schitt's Creek to Amy Poehler — reviewed by a novelist trying to stay sane during end times.

A recovering news avoider falls down the Epstein rabbit hole — and learns the hard way that an information diet is about intention, not abstinence.

A review of Emily Henry's Beach Read, including craft observations from reading as a writer, and reflections on how the book inspired my career change from lawyering in skyscrapers to writing on beaches.

My top 8 productivity tools for writing including task organizers, Pomodoro timers and tons of soda.

January newsletter from author Sara Orr including comedy specials, dark academia and realizing one of my characters needs her own book

The top ten things I learned in my second year of full-time writing after two decades of law.

My top 10 list of the best books I read in 2025, featuring mostly Oprah, Jenna and Booker Prize-nominated novels.

Book review of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai, a meta-meditation on loneliness as a writer.

My monthly newsletter featuring novel updates, book recommendations and some great holiday gift ideas for readers.

How I transformed my lawyer home office to a writer home office with fairy lights, decals and rainbow sparkles among other design necessities.

Book review and craft analysis in my Reading as a Writer series of three celebrity book club picks: Oprah picks Culpability and Bridge of Sighs, and Read with Jenna’s Buckeye.

Book review of Read With Jenna pick Heartwood by Amity Gaige.

My monthly newsletter with updates on Novel Writing November, meeting my hero David Wroblewski and three happy things: Jess Walter’s So Far Gone, Victoria Beckham and Nobody Wants This.

After leaving my BigLaw partnership to write a novel, I still couldn’t shake billing my time. Here’s what I learned about time affluence and writing after 1900 hours on a novel.

The October Orr Report: my monthly newsletter sharing updates on my novel, querying and some fun book and TV recs.

Part of Reading as a Writer series, a book review of The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, a Read With Jenna book club pick. Dystopian / speculative fiction about female rage, AI surveillance and more.
Includes my writing craft analysis as a debut author reading Book Club picks.

Liz Gilbert commanded 150+ people with no notes at her author event. Here's what I learned about creative courage, truth-telling, and writing from healed scars.

Why (and how) I left my BigLaw career as an environmental attorney to become a writer.

My monthly newsletter sharing updates on my writing career and three happy things to spark joy including dog books, dog vacations and great TV.