November Wrap-Up: Patriachy-Smashing Mechs, Handcraft Resistance, and Liberating Publications

This month, I actually read two physical copies of books! After months of reading nothing but ebooks, it feels nice to hold a book and turn pages – though, admittedly, it is a lot harder to read books this way when I’m taking care of my little fella. Reading on a phone while he naps on my lap is just easier 😅

But physical copies are going to be my focus for the next little while, since I ordered half a dozen books and I want to prioritize them. So… we’ll see if I manage to finish a full book by the end of December lol

What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Disintegrate/Dissociate by Arielle Twist
This was an intense, raw, and vivid collection of poetry. Not an easy read by any means, but definitely something I’ll be revisiting.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
I want to scream about this book from the rooftops. It’s incredible – if I were to talk about all the things I love, we’d be here all day. Get angry, fly mechs, smash the patriarchy.

Articles
Historical Lies Most People Believe are True
I was somewhat familiar with a couple of the facts covered in this, but it was still interesting to read them being debunked in detail. It makes me wonder what other misinformation I’ve been believing all my life!

Why I Broke My Feet to Save My Pride
This is an insightful piece about the consequences of living with internalized ableism. Definitely worth the read.

Unweaving the Whitewashed Legacy of the Cross-Stitch
An insightful new (to me) perspective on handcrafts like needlepoint and cross-stitch, their colonial legacy, and how they’re being used to both resist oppressive structures and celebrate black culture and history.

What I’ve Created
Articles
How to Include Gay Characters in Your Book – Without Resorting to Tokenism
I cross-posted a bunch of articles to Medium again this month, but I wanted to draw special attention to the one linked above because it’s also being hosted by An Injustice! Give it a look if it interests you, and be sure to check out other An Injustice! publications.

And, as before, I would hugely appreciate it if you followed me over on Medium. It’s a great way to support me as a creator <3


And that about does it for November. I always feel like my lists for what I’ve created look way too barren, but I’m trying to remind myself that this doesn’t mean I’m not still creating and working – I just don’t have anything ready to share yet. But essays are being written, books are being drafted, and the next installment in A New Age of Magic is sloooowly coming together. Everything is on the horizon!