Resources For Describing Emotion

is it just me or do all writers have ✨that✨ character? y'know, the one you think about before falling asleep that lingers in your mind just a little longer than all the rest? that character whose scenes make you smile while writing? that character who if you met in real life you'd cry while shaking their hand? you know, the reason you write. the reason you haven't quit by now—✨them✨

if you're on a path of self-growth and self-improvement I would like to advise you to keep private about it. I'm not saying to keep it a locked secret but don't go around talking about it. I learned it the hard way that speaking freely about our plans to improve ourselves results in bringing out the worst in so many people. people who you have no reason to distrust suddenly will actually wish you ill, because your progress will intimidate them, make them feel inferior, make them face their own insecurities and desires. and the kind of energy that these people produce is the kind of energy that can be a hindrance for you without you even noticing. suddenly you'll be exposing your dreams to an emotional vampire who will, even unconsciously, try and sabotage you. you don't need to share your plans and projects: just show up with the results and it will be enough said 🌸

rereading my own writing is just a constant fluctuation between "damn, girl, you wrote this? (affectionate)" and "damn, girl, you wrote this? (derogatory)"

It's always "If this first draft isn't perfect I will literally die." or "Hahaha, I don't give a fuck anymore. Typos. Grammatical errors. Yeeet."

There is nothing in between.

why do ships hit so much harder when they aren't explicitly canon. why do i choose homoerotic subtext over genuine representation every single time

you know when you’re writing and you think you’ve got the plot figured out, but then you write some more sentences, introduce a couple new characters, and suddenly you’re catapulted into the solar system, explodes like a supernova, gets sucked into a blackhole and slingshotted far beyond the observable universe

Radical Feminism Beliefs: the basics

“Radical feminism is a perspective within feminism that calls for a radical reordering of society in which male supremacy is eliminated in all social and economic contexts. Radical feminists view society as fundamentally a patriarchy in which men dominate and oppress women.”

Prostitution

Purchased consent is not consent, it’s coercion. Sex work is dehumanizing and traumatizing for women, and fueled by sex trafficking. The commodification of female sexuality is a mix of misogyny and capitalism.

Pornography

Prostitution on camera. See above for key points. Additionally, female sexuality should not be monetized and sold for male entertainment. The industry is rife with rape, abuse, coercion, trafficked women, drugged women, and CP. It harms not only the women involved in the videos (physically and mentally), but it also harms the viewers in the long run.

Surrogacy

Similar to prostitution and pornography in the sense that women’s bodies become acquirable products for sale or rent. A woman's organs should not be for rent, as it creates a perverse incentive. Most surrogacy is outsourced to disadvantaged women in developing nations, where they are made to sign contracts they can't read and undergo poor treatment.

Bodily Autonomy

Understanding that a woman should have complete and utter control of her reproductive system; including abortion, birth, and sterilization. Understanding a woman should have access to informed and accurate medical care. Understanding a woman should have complete control over when and if she engages in sex with a partner. Understanding that PIV is often an unequal act.

Nuclear Family

This allows for the isolation of women, both emotionally and financially. The family unit, ideally, includes a large safety net of family and friends who assist in child rearing. Women should not be financially dependent on men, as this open the potential for abuse and difficulty leaving via power imbalance.

Capitalism

The system that allows the commodification of women and their bodies. Women shouldn’t have to sell or rent out their bodies in order to survive.

BDSM/Kink

Wherein the majority of subs are women and the majority of doms are men. Fetishization of slavery, power imbalances, rape, incest, pedophilia, and abuse. Hurting your partner does not suddenly become healthy if you can orgasm to it. Power imbalances that lead to physical and emotional abuse and trauma.

Patriarchal Religions

All holy books were written by men and serve to maintain and legitimize patriarchal power structures. Patriarchal religions falsely attribute the gift of creation to men when in reality every man on earth was molded from the flesh of women.

Postmodernism/Queer Theory

Radical feminism is based on materialism. Women are oppressed because of their biological reality, which is not subjective, subjectable to changes or personal interpretations. Postmodernism and queer theory are.

The Beauty Industry

Fills up the pockets of men who make money by ever-changing standards of female beauty. Keeps women insecure, low self-esteem, their value and self-worth forever dependent on their physical appeal (to men). Demands women change how they appear (makeup, shaving, dieting, cosmetic surgeries) to appear prepubescent (lithe, hair free, firm not soft) which is a part of what we identify as 'pedophilia culture'.

Marriage

Marriage would be described by some as the wheels on which patriarchy is carried onwards. Historically, marriage has been nothing but a transaction: a daughter, who belonged to her father, now belongs to her husband. Her reproductive labor, domestic labor, emotional labor, and physical labor all at his disposal. This is how marriage continues to work and act culturally in a majority of societies

Individualism

As opposed to class analysis. Arguably the most overlooked and hardest ‘’issue’’ to overcome. It’s understandable that most women gravitate towards liberal feminism because they don’t have to analyze the reasons behind their actions, they don’t have to come to difficult and unappealing conclusions, they don’t have to feel the need to take action and stop engaging in whatever they are doing that’s harming women as a class. Known as 'choice feminism', which affirms any choice as a personal one, despite what influenced that choice or how it may affect the female class at large (see: plastic surgery, "makeup makes me feel confident!", "I like being hurt during sex!")

Gender Critical/Gender Abolitionist

Gender is a social class applied to biology. Each individuals sex is innate, and gender is the series of roles, expectations, socialization, cultural practices, and personality traits applied to that sex. Sex is "this baby has a vulva" and gender is "so give that baby a pink blanket and a dolly". Therefore, radical feminists understand that gender is a means of oppressing women. They wish to abolish gender. This creates clashes with pieces of trans rights activism, which upholds ones gender as innate. Read more here on this topic.

The main clashing beliefs are as follows:

-Being dysphoric doesn’t automatically means trans, since transitioning is only a way of treating dysphoria, and there are many reasons someone might be dysphoric.

-Instead of “identifying as a man/woman/nonbinary”, we should abolish gender altogether.

- Males remain male and females remain female, even if they’re dysphoric/gnc. Biology is innate. Therefore, for example, a transwoman that rapes someone, is an male abuser. It is male violence.

- Males have male privilege, regardless of how they identify, because society is built upon upholding and amplifying males.

- Females will be opressed, regardless of how they identify, because society is built upon the females-as-a-resource model that holds us as sexual and reproductive resources for male pleasure and male heirs.

Radical Feminist Goals

Women's liberation via the dismantling of male power structures, and the rejection of a woman's "role" within society as a lesser class.

Ways to Achieve This

Separatism/Male Exclusion - simply deciding to center one’s life and actions around females in all possible aspects. The keeping and protecting of female only spaces. Ultimately, this might look like a female-only society that any girl or woman could enter or leave at will.

Introspection - analyzing one’s actions and maybe asking oneself: why do I want these things? What's drives this action? Is this the healthiest option for me, physically and mentally? Am I hurting a woman or girl if I partake in this option?

Raising Awareness - of all the issues mentioned above. Talking to women and girls about radical feminism. This is not a solution but a step towards finding or creating more solutions as a community.

Being Politically Active - political agency and action is essential for female liberation; especially concerning topics such as reproductive rights, legislation of prostitution, electing representatives ETC.

Male Reform - investing time and effort into making men aware of the issues, in the hopes that they’ll do their part for the liberation of women and do the same with their fellow men.

Childrearing - Focus on advocacy and action around raising girls and boys the same way, to begin to treat the class divide at the root. This is very difficult without full societal support.

Conclusion

Radical feminism is for female people, by female people. It's ideology goes beyond these tenets, but the ideas presented above should allow you to derive answers as to what that might be. Radical feminism is also referred to as second wave feminism, and is compatible with Marxist feminism and the original principles of intersectional feminism. Thank you for reading.

ultimate motivation to finish your book

from somebody who just published their book:

people will send you selfies of them holding your book and it WILL make you cry 

realising you actually made money? from the thing you created?? mindblowing. incredible. 

putting your physical book on your shelf and staring at it alongside all the books that inspired you, knowing you finished something you poured so much of your love and care and time into 

seeing how many people have your book marked as ‘currently reading’ on goodreads and how many more have it on their ‘to be read’ 

family members asking if you’re Still Doing That Writing Thing? and being able to tell them that you actually just had a book published, thanks, yeah it was pretty successful, it’s been a really smooth process,

the immense excitement of having successfully launched a book and knowing you’re going to do it even BETTER next time around

seeing all the different currencies and marketplaces in which your book was sold…..all around the world ppl are holding it in their hands…..and reading it…….incredible………

sales reports are frustrating and awful but hey at least you’re making sales!!!!!

you’re an Author now buddy! i sort of went by author before bc this isn’t the first time i’ve technically been published - anthology stuff! - but like, now it’s official, it’s the best feeling in the world

the selfies. they’re the best part. the selfies are incredible dude

the feeling that this is only the beginning of a long, exciting, wonderful journey as an author - and that the only way to go is up.

so get out there and get writing!!!!!! your book is gonna be in your hands someday soon and it’s gonna be an indescribable feeling. 

m*leven vs byler parallels

Caring, letters, truth and superheroes:

Mike tells Will he exchanges letters with El cause she’s his gf. Later mike throws El’s letter (about becoming a “superhero”) in the trash. Then Mike explains to Will, that he had a fight with El (and he probably can’t mend his romantic relationship with her). 

during that prior fight: Mike says he “ cares” for El. And El responds that he “CARES” but doesn’t love her- and can’t even say it out loud to her or in his letters . Instead his letters say “from mike” . Even the flowers he got her had a card that says “from mike”. Mike then tries changing the subject (of him not loving her) by saying El is important to him and  a “superhero”. El then says “not anymore” to mike’s offiscation.  El later sends Mike the letter about re-becoming a “superhero” (she signs the letter “from el”- probably symbolically showing their relationship is probably over). Which is why mike then throws the superhero letter into the trash.

Mike wonders why he couldn’t say he loved El to her face (before she left). Will says to Mike it’s hard to “say how you really feel” about  people you “CARE” about because they may not like  the “TRUTH”. On one hand it could reflect Will’s fear. But it also reflects Mike’s fear of admitting to El he doesn’t romantically love her-because It’s something she wouldn’t like.

After mike threw out el’s letter , Mike states the “TRUTH” is he misses Will and was worrying too much about El.

Brenner later tells EL “superheroes’ are stuff of fairytales and the “TRUTH” is not that simple, and she cannot hide from the “truth” any longer (even if it freightens her). Aka - (symboliically) the “truth” El doesn’t want to face is that Mike doesn’t “love” her romantically and her trying to become a “superhero” again won’t change that “truth”. which was earlier  illustrated by Mike throwing out her “superhero” letter . In s3 -4: we see mike/EL dating eachother but both are called out for lying to one another (their whole romance is the antithesis of “truth”-but instead lies.)

lumax and byler

Will asks if mike is angry at him, cause he stopped “talking” to him. Then Will mentions how mike and El share letters (and mike barely talks to him). But Lucas says he’d rather “talk” to Max and doesn’t want a letter (paralleling how Mike threw El’s letter away so he could “talk” to Will). Mike literally throws the letter in the trash like a basketball (to parallel lucas further).

 Both pairings had a falling out between seasons. lucas says to max “it’s like you’re not even here anymore”. And Mike says “I don’t know maybe I feel I lost you”. Max/Will take the blame for the fallingout. But Lucas/mike correct them and take responsibility.

After this Lucas says  he didn’t loose Max ,but he just wasn’t using his eyes to see what was infront of him. dustin: the world is full of the most obvious things that no one by anychance ever observes. Lucas to max : “But i SEE YOU NOW” .  cough oh look at byler staring at eachother.

Not to mention Will getting the courage to eventually show the painting to mike… is almost a loose parallel to the letters. So for byler the painting may spur a “talk” about the “truth” of their feelings. A piece of paper can only mean so much. But if the painting said “love Will” that would be a nice touch too.

It seems like mike and Will are almost contrasting. Mike can’t say he loves El even in letters. And Will seems like he’s about to confess any minute to mike (and his painting may symbolize his romantic love for mike).

Also another very obvious byler hint:

They fight in an arcade (cough a place they used to hangout together). Will says “what about us?” Which initially alarms Mike. Then when Will brings up how they haven’t been talking ,but mike sends el letters . Mike uses the excuse that she’s his girlfriend. And again Will says “and us?” . And mike quickly states they’re “friends”. Will is this close to calling out their relationship. I swear. And Mike protested too much. XD

Also don’t get me started on how robin mentions a movie (dr zhigiago) and says its about “doomed love” - and then we see the m*leven fight. The film has a subplot about 2 siblings having the same love interest. Heck Yuri even yells about his brother taking his wife. Like ok. Suspish. And no I don’t think the “doomed love ” is the queer ship -like it usually is.

why? well robin mentions vickie and not being able to confess. Then right after robin shows the “doomed love” video to Steve. But Steve said earlier to robin. She doesn’t have to worry about confessing to Vickie cause she’s clearly queer like robin. So does Will have nothing to worry about cause mike’s also lgbt?hmm

My opinion:

Mike is still processing his complex feelings but … my oblivious son will eventually get there eventually. Honestly wouldn’t surprise me if Will confessing to mike is what makes mike finally realize his feelings for Will.

also “cool” parallel.

Essential Feminist Texts Booklist

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

A Vindication of The Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft

Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by Bell Hooks

Feminism is For Everybody: Passionate Politics by Bell Hooks

The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for Feminist Revolution by  Shulamith Firestone 

Sexual Politics by Kate Millett

Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lerner 

Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape by Jessica Valenti

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez 

Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit

The Female Gaze: Essential Movies Made by Women by Alicia Malone

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel

Is This Normal?: Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body by  Dr. Jolene Brighten

Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jennifer Gunter

The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women by Anushay Hossain 

Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World by Elinor Cleghorn 

The Turnaway Study: The Cost of Denying Women Access to Abortion by Diana Greene Foster, Ph.D

Regretting Motherhood: A Study by Orna Donath