Rachael Arsenault's Blog - Posts Tagged "monthly-wrapup"
March Wrap-Up
I’ve decided to try a little something new this month. It’s an idea I’ve kind of been toying with a for a while, though originally I had envisioned it as something I could do for journaling, sort of as a way to help myself remember what I read, watched, and created throughout the year. But I’ve also been wanting to make better use of this blog space and was trying to think of a sustainable way to do it. I decided to combine the two ideas, and now I can present you with the first of my monthly wrap-ups.
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
August Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
September Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Still on this series, still really enjoying it. Once again, this book is a lot more intense than earlier installments of the series, but it still has the same charm and distinct narrative voice that I love.
Articles
Why This Charming Gay Fairy Tale Has Been Lost for 200 Years
It’s no secret that there has been a long history of LGBTQIA+ people and their stories being silenced or covered up (shoved into the closet, so to speak), but it still surprises and excites me when I come across stuff like this. A gay fairy tale! From at least the 1800s! That’s amazing! Now we just need a faithful, animated adaptation and other retellings so it can become common public knowledge.
In the Land of Kush
A fascinating read about an ancient Sudanese society whose true nature and accomplishments has long been forgotten, dismissed, or overwritten by historians. Plus, the article is full of gorgeous photos.
Can You Tell an Author’s Identity by Looking at Punctuation Alone? A Study Just Found Out
This is super nerdy, I know, but I honestly just wanna read more about it. There are a lot of implications in a study like this, and I’m curious to see if and how its expanded upon in the future.
12 Old Words That Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms
I now know why “go” conjugates to “went” and why we call it a “nickname” and it all makes so much sense! Weird language quirks and the history behind them are one of my favourite things, in case you’re new to these wrap-ups or somehow didn’t pick up on that in the previous ones. And this article definitely delivers on that love!
The ‘Flying Feminist’ Who Was The First Woman to Design, Build, and Fly Her Own Plane
I think the thing I love most about this article, aside from the obvious joy of seeing women in history spotlighted for their accomplishments, is that Bland led such a long and varied life. She dedicated time and effort to creating and flying her own biplane, but that was far from her only ambition or achievement. To her, it was just a check in the box, another adventure completed – and I think that’s incredible and deeply admirable.
Other
Princess Mononoke
Another Ghibli movie! My husband and I are trying to make it a point to watch one of these films when we have a Saturday to ourselves, and I’m loving it so far. Princess Mononoke was definitely a lot darker than Castle in the Sky, but it was an incredibly powerful, beautifully animated story.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Aether & Ichor
This is technically an old publication – it came out in January – but its inclusion on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database is new! The Beasts of Legend issue of Aether & Ichor features my short story, One-Tenth Merperson and can be read online for free.
Articles
Is It Possible to Play a Pacifist in D&D?
I’ve been missing playing D&D during the pandemic, and nerding out about the game helps sometimes. I saw a fellow D&D nerd online ask about the feasibility of designing a pacifist character, which I thought was a really interesting idea, so I wrote a whole little article about it.
Descriptive Writing: How Much is Too Much?
I’ve started poking around in some online writing communities recently, and a question I came across the other day was about knowing when you’ve described enough in a scene. I thought this was an interesting and complicated question, which made it great material for a quick little article.
How to Find Prenatal and Parenting Classes During a Pandemic
Life during a pandemic and being pregnant bring their share of stresses and uncertainties, and experiencing both at the same time only amplifies that. One problem I found myself grappling with was figuring out where to find classes for first-time parents. So, to save other new parents the same stress and hassle, I put together this little article to hopefully offer some insight and guidance.
Books
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Still on this series, still really enjoying it. Once again, this book is a lot more intense than earlier installments of the series, but it still has the same charm and distinct narrative voice that I love.
Articles
Why This Charming Gay Fairy Tale Has Been Lost for 200 Years
It’s no secret that there has been a long history of LGBTQIA+ people and their stories being silenced or covered up (shoved into the closet, so to speak), but it still surprises and excites me when I come across stuff like this. A gay fairy tale! From at least the 1800s! That’s amazing! Now we just need a faithful, animated adaptation and other retellings so it can become common public knowledge.
In the Land of Kush
A fascinating read about an ancient Sudanese society whose true nature and accomplishments has long been forgotten, dismissed, or overwritten by historians. Plus, the article is full of gorgeous photos.
Can You Tell an Author’s Identity by Looking at Punctuation Alone? A Study Just Found Out
This is super nerdy, I know, but I honestly just wanna read more about it. There are a lot of implications in a study like this, and I’m curious to see if and how its expanded upon in the future.
12 Old Words That Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms
I now know why “go” conjugates to “went” and why we call it a “nickname” and it all makes so much sense! Weird language quirks and the history behind them are one of my favourite things, in case you’re new to these wrap-ups or somehow didn’t pick up on that in the previous ones. And this article definitely delivers on that love!
The ‘Flying Feminist’ Who Was The First Woman to Design, Build, and Fly Her Own Plane
I think the thing I love most about this article, aside from the obvious joy of seeing women in history spotlighted for their accomplishments, is that Bland led such a long and varied life. She dedicated time and effort to creating and flying her own biplane, but that was far from her only ambition or achievement. To her, it was just a check in the box, another adventure completed – and I think that’s incredible and deeply admirable.
Other
Princess Mononoke
Another Ghibli movie! My husband and I are trying to make it a point to watch one of these films when we have a Saturday to ourselves, and I’m loving it so far. Princess Mononoke was definitely a lot darker than Castle in the Sky, but it was an incredibly powerful, beautifully animated story.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Aether & Ichor
This is technically an old publication – it came out in January – but its inclusion on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database is new! The Beasts of Legend issue of Aether & Ichor features my short story, One-Tenth Merperson and can be read online for free.
Articles
Is It Possible to Play a Pacifist in D&D?
I’ve been missing playing D&D during the pandemic, and nerding out about the game helps sometimes. I saw a fellow D&D nerd online ask about the feasibility of designing a pacifist character, which I thought was a really interesting idea, so I wrote a whole little article about it.
Descriptive Writing: How Much is Too Much?
I’ve started poking around in some online writing communities recently, and a question I came across the other day was about knowing when you’ve described enough in a scene. I thought this was an interesting and complicated question, which made it great material for a quick little article.
How to Find Prenatal and Parenting Classes During a Pandemic
Life during a pandemic and being pregnant bring their share of stresses and uncertainties, and experiencing both at the same time only amplifies that. One problem I found myself grappling with was figuring out where to find classes for first-time parents. So, to save other new parents the same stress and hassle, I put together this little article to hopefully offer some insight and guidance.
November Wrap-Up
A bit of a quiet month, but in the end I’m happy with the work I turned out and the stories I consumed. I know December is likely to be busy with baby prep, and that once baby is born my reading will probably go on a bit of a backburner, so I’m trying to just take my time and enjoy some quiet reading moments when I can.
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Girl Squads by Sam Maggs.
I looooved this book. It was a gift from a friend, and a very apt one at that. I knew about almost none of the amazing groups explored in this book, and every single one of them was super awesome – for their bravery, for their friendship, for their unabashed womanhood. Definitely a recommended read if you want to see more women in your history.
Articles
The Long Linguistic Journey of Dagnabbit
Language is so flipping weird and I absolutely love it. Also, knowing about taboo deformations and how words get restructured offers a lot of potential inspiration for world-building.
As If the Platypus Couldn’t Get Any Weirder
Sometimes I think the platypus was deliberately placed on Earth to make us question reality and all our taxonomic classifications.
10 Inventors Who Came to Regret Their Creations
The atomic bomb I expected – it’s a weapon of mass destruction, and I learned enough about it in school to know that at least some of the people involved in its creation were horrified by what they had done. But Comic Sans? Double slash? That’s kind of funny.
8 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl
Chernobyl is unquestionably a tragic and terrifying story about human innovation gone horribly, horribly wrong. Learning about nature recovering from that devastation, and especially about animals thriving in what was thought to be a forever uninhabitable region, is pretty heartwarming.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
She Who Rises – Now in Paperback!
That’s right: Paperback copies of the first book in my A New Age of Magic series are now available! You can order them through Amazon (as linked above), but since I set up printing through Ingram Spark, you should also be able to ask physical bookstores and libraries to order in copies. It’s so weird and exciting to be able to hold my book in my hands! If you get a copy yourself, don’t hesitate to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see my little book in the wild: @rachaellawrites
Articles
9 Tips for Self-Publishing
A relative recently asked me for some advice on how to go about self-publishing for the first time, and that gave me the idea to turn those quick bullet points into this full article. After all, if I can help more people get started on this journey, why not?
Top Videos I’ll Miss After The Inevitable Death of Unus Annus
By the time I post this wrap-up, the Unus Annus YouTube channel has long since been deleted, and the videos I’ve discussed here are no longer accessible. But if you’re interested in some out-of-context reminiscing and my own personal written time capsule, then definitely check this out!
”I don’t really think he counts as a guy.” Queerness in the House of Night Series
I actually started working on this way back in 2018, but I’ve taken several long breaks from it. Having a project go on for so long and then finally finishing it feels strange, but I’m super proud of how it all came together in the end. This has definitely been a passion project, and I hope to do more long essays like this in the future.
And that’s it for November! What did you read this month? And what are you looking forward to in December? I bet there are a lot of holiday book purchases on the horizon – whether you’re receiving them from a loved one or buying them as a gift for yourself. ;D
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Girl Squads by Sam Maggs.
I looooved this book. It was a gift from a friend, and a very apt one at that. I knew about almost none of the amazing groups explored in this book, and every single one of them was super awesome – for their bravery, for their friendship, for their unabashed womanhood. Definitely a recommended read if you want to see more women in your history.
Articles
The Long Linguistic Journey of Dagnabbit
Language is so flipping weird and I absolutely love it. Also, knowing about taboo deformations and how words get restructured offers a lot of potential inspiration for world-building.
As If the Platypus Couldn’t Get Any Weirder
Sometimes I think the platypus was deliberately placed on Earth to make us question reality and all our taxonomic classifications.
10 Inventors Who Came to Regret Their Creations
The atomic bomb I expected – it’s a weapon of mass destruction, and I learned enough about it in school to know that at least some of the people involved in its creation were horrified by what they had done. But Comic Sans? Double slash? That’s kind of funny.
8 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl
Chernobyl is unquestionably a tragic and terrifying story about human innovation gone horribly, horribly wrong. Learning about nature recovering from that devastation, and especially about animals thriving in what was thought to be a forever uninhabitable region, is pretty heartwarming.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
She Who Rises – Now in Paperback!
That’s right: Paperback copies of the first book in my A New Age of Magic series are now available! You can order them through Amazon (as linked above), but since I set up printing through Ingram Spark, you should also be able to ask physical bookstores and libraries to order in copies. It’s so weird and exciting to be able to hold my book in my hands! If you get a copy yourself, don’t hesitate to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see my little book in the wild: @rachaellawrites
Articles
9 Tips for Self-Publishing
A relative recently asked me for some advice on how to go about self-publishing for the first time, and that gave me the idea to turn those quick bullet points into this full article. After all, if I can help more people get started on this journey, why not?
Top Videos I’ll Miss After The Inevitable Death of Unus Annus
By the time I post this wrap-up, the Unus Annus YouTube channel has long since been deleted, and the videos I’ve discussed here are no longer accessible. But if you’re interested in some out-of-context reminiscing and my own personal written time capsule, then definitely check this out!
”I don’t really think he counts as a guy.” Queerness in the House of Night Series
I actually started working on this way back in 2018, but I’ve taken several long breaks from it. Having a project go on for so long and then finally finishing it feels strange, but I’m super proud of how it all came together in the end. This has definitely been a passion project, and I hope to do more long essays like this in the future.
And that’s it for November! What did you read this month? And what are you looking forward to in December? I bet there are a lot of holiday book purchases on the horizon – whether you’re receiving them from a loved one or buying them as a gift for yourself. ;D
December Wrap-Up
Somehow, we managed to make it to the end of 2020. I don’t think I’m alone in saying it felt like this year would never end.
December was a quieter month than usual this year, but it still managed to be hectic nonetheless – getting stuff ready for the arrival of my baby, signing paperwork to officially tie the knot with my husband, navigating Christmas when I can’t travel to visit any of my family, etc. But it all turned out for the best! That being said, I’m more than ready to move on to a new (and hopefully better) year.
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II #2 by Matthew Mercer, Jody Houser, Olivia Samson, MSASSYK
One of my current favourite shows is Critical Role, so I am more than happy to consume these narratives in new mediums. The comics thus far do such an awesome job at capturing the characters of Vox Machina and their dynamics with each other, and I loved finally getting to meet Pike and Percy. Makes me wanna rewatch Campaign One!
Critical Role: The Chronicles of Exandria The Mighty Nein by Critical Role and Dark Horse Books
I guess I’ve been on a bit of a Critical Role kick this month. Well, no, let’s be honest: I’m always on a Critical Role kick. In any case, this book is GORGEOUS. Not only is all the art featured incredible, but I loved looking back on the Mighty Nein’s journey through this lens – the idea of framing the narrative through collected notes of Beauregard and other archivists is really fun and interesting. Hoping to see another edition of this capturing later events of the campaign sometime.
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Vol. 7 and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Vol. 8 by CLAMP
While certainly not as nostalgic as going through the omnibus collection of the original manga, I’m enjoying this series nonetheless. It’s a quick read, and I’m intrigued by the new magic and how the plot is unfolding. Plus, even when things are serious, I always find CCS has a delightfully lighthearted, optimistic slant to it.
Articles
Researchers “Translate” Bat Talk. Turns Out, They Argue – A Lot
I don’t care what anyone says, bats are super cute. Also apparently much smarter than we previously thought, since their communication turns out to be super nuanced and individualized rather than broadly group based. Neat!
Why Detroit Residents Pushed Back Against Tree-Planting
A super insightful piece about the importance of community outreach and involvement in decision-making, no matter how beneficial a planned initiative might be. This quote puts it best: “However, environmental justice is not just about the distribution of bad stuff, like pollution, or good stuff, like forestry projects across disadvantaged communities. It’s also about the distribution of power among communities that have historically only been the subjects and experiments of power structures.”
What I’ve Created
Articles
How to Slow Down and Write the Quiet Moments in Your Novel
Just a quick bit of writing advice for anyone struggling to slow down their novel – or for underwriters! I really like putting these pieces together. It helps me think critically about my own writing and the techniques and strategies I use, while also helping other writers improve on their work.
7 Ways to Feel The Christmas Spirit When You Can’t Be With Family
I know I’m not the only person whose Christmas looked a lot different this year. It was the first time I spent the holidays away from my parents, and I definitely missed seeing my family – but I did my best to find ways to bring some Christmas traditions and Christmas joy into these much quieter, smaller celebrations with my husband. With that in mind, I wrote this piece to share some suggestions on how you can do the same.
What to Know Before You Publish Your First Short Story
All publishing can be daunting, and short stories are no exception. So I put together some advice to help guide people trying this out for the first time.
Other
2020 Reflections / 2021 Resolutions
I uploaded this blog post earlier in the month, but I thought it was worth sharing here, too. 2020 was a hard year, and I think it’s easy to get disheartened looking back on all the goals and plans we made that never came to fruition. However, I’m trying not to be down on myself – it was a wild year, and not one we could easily predict or prepare for – so I count any accomplishment as significant at this point. So if you’re looking for that kind of reflective positivity, please give this a read!
And that's that. It was a busy month, a weird year, and I'm ready to see what 2021 brings.
June Wrap-Up: Zombie Girl Gangs, Understanding Polyamory, and Excessive Teleportation
This month was full of a lot of really awesome reads – and, fittingly for Pride, a lot of queer ones! I got to read one of my most anticipated releases, a book I had been sleeping on for far too long, and a ton of articles celebrating queer people and their talents.
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
I’ve loved every John Green book I’ve read, but this one was uniquely wonderful. I loved how he challenged the idea of where a book starts and ends by rating the structure of the book as well, every review was full of wit and insight and emotional depth, and the whole experience was unlike anything I’ve ever read before.
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
I loved this book a lot more than I expected – I thought I would give it three stars, but it turned into a five-star read. It’s fun and light while also being creepy and weird, and those twists? Perfection.
Articles
The Intersection of Black Femininity and Queerness
This has lots of recommendations for queer black female artists to listen to and I’m definitely going to have to make a point to listen to some of them. Popping the link here so I can refer back to it, and also to spread the love.
Stories by LGBTQIA+ Vocal Creators and the Perfect Songs to Go With Them
Another list of awesome creators to support, this time including both writers on Vocal.media and musicians. It’s especially great because reading, liking, and sharing articles by LGBTQIA+ Vocal writers is a super easy way to support them, since they earn a small bit of money every time someone reads one of their stories.
5 Tips for Improving Your Poetry
I’ve been wanting to get back into writing poetry, so reading some tips and advice on how to hone my craft is a nice refresher.
Think Cult Classics, but Female Friendships
This hit the nail on the head about how I felt when I recently watched the first Ghostbusters movie. Now I NEED to watch the all-female remake!
Bullshit-Free Ideas for Building an Adaptable Writing Routine
It should come as no surprise that I enjoy writing advice, considering how often I offer it myself. This is a great example of that. Not every suggestion will work for every writer, of course, but it has some great ideas to try out.
Polyamory is Simply Love Plural
Really insightful article about an often misunderstand relationship dynamic, and something I think everyone needs to learn more about.
What I’ve Created
Articles
How Many Times Can One Player Teleport in D&D?
This is another one of those times where I’m being excessively, nerdily indulgent. If you like D&D and character builds with absurdly specific intent, this will entertain you.
Queer Books Everyone Should Read for Pride
I really enjoyed writing this, especially since I love gushing about my favourite books (obviously – what else have these wrap-ups been about?). And the fact that it got picked for Top Story certainly doesn’t hurt :D
How to Support Indie Authors – For Free
As a self-published author, this subject is close to my heart. It’s hard to build a following and market yourself and get people reading your book, and if I can help encourage people to pick up more indie books, I know I’m helping a lot of creators like myself.
How Writing Helps Me Heal
This one is a bit more personal than I usually write, but I’m proud of how it came out. It’s about how writing has helped me cope through major hardship.
And that’s it for June. Definitely a great month for reading!
For July, however, I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to get done, or if I’ll have time to share my wrap-up at the end of the month, as there’s some pretty major life stuff going on throughout the month. So if the end of the month comes and you don’t see a July wrap-up, don’t fret: I’m just busy. I’ll probably just end up doing a joint wrap-up with August.
What did you read this month? Anything on your radar that you’re excited to check out in July?
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
I’ve loved every John Green book I’ve read, but this one was uniquely wonderful. I loved how he challenged the idea of where a book starts and ends by rating the structure of the book as well, every review was full of wit and insight and emotional depth, and the whole experience was unlike anything I’ve ever read before.
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
I loved this book a lot more than I expected – I thought I would give it three stars, but it turned into a five-star read. It’s fun and light while also being creepy and weird, and those twists? Perfection.
Articles
The Intersection of Black Femininity and Queerness
This has lots of recommendations for queer black female artists to listen to and I’m definitely going to have to make a point to listen to some of them. Popping the link here so I can refer back to it, and also to spread the love.
Stories by LGBTQIA+ Vocal Creators and the Perfect Songs to Go With Them
Another list of awesome creators to support, this time including both writers on Vocal.media and musicians. It’s especially great because reading, liking, and sharing articles by LGBTQIA+ Vocal writers is a super easy way to support them, since they earn a small bit of money every time someone reads one of their stories.
5 Tips for Improving Your Poetry
I’ve been wanting to get back into writing poetry, so reading some tips and advice on how to hone my craft is a nice refresher.
Think Cult Classics, but Female Friendships
This hit the nail on the head about how I felt when I recently watched the first Ghostbusters movie. Now I NEED to watch the all-female remake!
Bullshit-Free Ideas for Building an Adaptable Writing Routine
It should come as no surprise that I enjoy writing advice, considering how often I offer it myself. This is a great example of that. Not every suggestion will work for every writer, of course, but it has some great ideas to try out.
Polyamory is Simply Love Plural
Really insightful article about an often misunderstand relationship dynamic, and something I think everyone needs to learn more about.
What I’ve Created
Articles
How Many Times Can One Player Teleport in D&D?
This is another one of those times where I’m being excessively, nerdily indulgent. If you like D&D and character builds with absurdly specific intent, this will entertain you.
Queer Books Everyone Should Read for Pride
I really enjoyed writing this, especially since I love gushing about my favourite books (obviously – what else have these wrap-ups been about?). And the fact that it got picked for Top Story certainly doesn’t hurt :D
How to Support Indie Authors – For Free
As a self-published author, this subject is close to my heart. It’s hard to build a following and market yourself and get people reading your book, and if I can help encourage people to pick up more indie books, I know I’m helping a lot of creators like myself.
How Writing Helps Me Heal
This one is a bit more personal than I usually write, but I’m proud of how it came out. It’s about how writing has helped me cope through major hardship.
And that’s it for June. Definitely a great month for reading!
For July, however, I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to get done, or if I’ll have time to share my wrap-up at the end of the month, as there’s some pretty major life stuff going on throughout the month. So if the end of the month comes and you don’t see a July wrap-up, don’t fret: I’m just busy. I’ll probably just end up doing a joint wrap-up with August.
What did you read this month? Anything on your radar that you’re excited to check out in July?
August Wrap-Up: Misbehaved Princesses, Sister Series, and an Essay on Racism
I did it! I got the internet sorted out in time for the end of August! It is unreasonably satisfying that I don’t have to skip a month. That says a lot about me, doesn’t it?
Anyway. On with the wrap-up!
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodríguez McRobbie
A really fun read filled with lots of strange, inspiring, and sometimes awful women of history. Definitely a few names in here I wanna learn more about.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Loved this book, just as I loved Chloe Brown. Granted, I did like Chloe Brown more, but part of that is probably because it’s the first book in the series I read, and I just vibed with Chloe and Red a little more than Dani and Zaf. Though, don’t get me wrong: The leads in this are both wonderful. I love that Dani is a proud black, bisexual, chubby woman, and I love that Zaf is this big, tough, Pakistani athlete who is all about dealing with your emotions and recognizing mental health struggles.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
This book was available on Libby, too, so I of course read it right after Dani Brown. Loved seeing autistic characters repped as whole and complex people – and as adults with, you know, relationships and sex lives! As always, the humour was spot on, pacing was immaculate, and it was overall just a delight to read.
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
This is one of those books that’s extremely important but really hard to talk about. I’m not sure what to tell you about it, because anything I say is going to sound so small compared to everything this book encompasses. Certainly, if you’re interested in the history and ongoing struggle of black people in the UK, this is an excellent resource.
Articles
The Seven Sisters, East Sussex
I’d never heard of this particular natural wonder, but now I really want a chance to visit it! Especially knowing it’s slowly deteriorating. Even if it won’t be gone completely in my lifetime, I’d still like to see it sooner rather than later, so more of it is intact.
What I’ve Created
Articles
How to Name Your Characters (Without Getting Obsessed)
I’ve been working on naming characters for a new manuscript I’m working on (which I won’t talk about in too much detail just yet), and the process really got me thinking about names. It can be so easy to fall down a rabbit hole and spend hours searching for the “perfect” name, rather than actually buckling down and, you know, writing your book. So I decided to share some tips on how to avoid that.
”My Own Nubian Princess.” Blackness, Exotification, and Dehumanization in the House of Night
The third installment in the series of essays I’m working on, this time tackling how HoN handles representing black characters. I hope I’ve done the topic justice, even though I never feel like I’ve quite managed to cover every issue I want to discuss when I write these essays.
And that’s everything for August! I’m glad things worked out and I got my internet problems resolved before the end of the month, because I actually had quite a bit to share.
But wait, there’s more! Sort of. I at least have a way for you to more consistently keep up to date with my work over on Vocal. They have a subscribe feature now! It’s free, so you don’t have to worry about paying monthly fees or anything, and you can follow whichever creators you like on the site, then check your subscription feed to see whatever stories they’ve recently uploaded. Then you don’t have to wait until the end of every month for me to share links in these wrap-ups.
(Though you should totally still keep reading these wrap-ups. Vocal doesn’t have my monthly reading recommendations, after all.)
Anyway. On with the wrap-up!
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodríguez McRobbie
A really fun read filled with lots of strange, inspiring, and sometimes awful women of history. Definitely a few names in here I wanna learn more about.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Loved this book, just as I loved Chloe Brown. Granted, I did like Chloe Brown more, but part of that is probably because it’s the first book in the series I read, and I just vibed with Chloe and Red a little more than Dani and Zaf. Though, don’t get me wrong: The leads in this are both wonderful. I love that Dani is a proud black, bisexual, chubby woman, and I love that Zaf is this big, tough, Pakistani athlete who is all about dealing with your emotions and recognizing mental health struggles.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
This book was available on Libby, too, so I of course read it right after Dani Brown. Loved seeing autistic characters repped as whole and complex people – and as adults with, you know, relationships and sex lives! As always, the humour was spot on, pacing was immaculate, and it was overall just a delight to read.
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
This is one of those books that’s extremely important but really hard to talk about. I’m not sure what to tell you about it, because anything I say is going to sound so small compared to everything this book encompasses. Certainly, if you’re interested in the history and ongoing struggle of black people in the UK, this is an excellent resource.
Articles
The Seven Sisters, East Sussex
I’d never heard of this particular natural wonder, but now I really want a chance to visit it! Especially knowing it’s slowly deteriorating. Even if it won’t be gone completely in my lifetime, I’d still like to see it sooner rather than later, so more of it is intact.
What I’ve Created
Articles
How to Name Your Characters (Without Getting Obsessed)
I’ve been working on naming characters for a new manuscript I’m working on (which I won’t talk about in too much detail just yet), and the process really got me thinking about names. It can be so easy to fall down a rabbit hole and spend hours searching for the “perfect” name, rather than actually buckling down and, you know, writing your book. So I decided to share some tips on how to avoid that.
”My Own Nubian Princess.” Blackness, Exotification, and Dehumanization in the House of Night
The third installment in the series of essays I’m working on, this time tackling how HoN handles representing black characters. I hope I’ve done the topic justice, even though I never feel like I’ve quite managed to cover every issue I want to discuss when I write these essays.
And that’s everything for August! I’m glad things worked out and I got my internet problems resolved before the end of the month, because I actually had quite a bit to share.
But wait, there’s more! Sort of. I at least have a way for you to more consistently keep up to date with my work over on Vocal. They have a subscribe feature now! It’s free, so you don’t have to worry about paying monthly fees or anything, and you can follow whichever creators you like on the site, then check your subscription feed to see whatever stories they’ve recently uploaded. Then you don’t have to wait until the end of every month for me to share links in these wrap-ups.
(Though you should totally still keep reading these wrap-ups. Vocal doesn’t have my monthly reading recommendations, after all.)
