"Next To Her--her In This Dress, Me In My Torn And Bloody Nightgown--it's So Obvious What I've Been Lacking

unfortunately, I will write this fic and I am writing this fic are two very different things

I don't think Booktok is "the death of literature" or "the fall of the book industry as we know it". People who enjoy reading have and will continue to exist outside of the parameters of a social media app for youths.

now, at times I wonder about the people who say they won't read anything that hasn't been reviewed by their favorite Tiktoker. Or they won't read anything that doesn't contain the tropes they like because they know they won't like it. Or they'll only read something if it's got a high rating from the Booktok/Bookstagram community.

some people say it's about anxiety. They need the trigger warnings (which I'm not against), or they need to know how the book ends before they can even think to start it. I'd bet that for some significant percentage of readers that's true, Booktok or not.

my hot take, though, is that in most cases, the absolute worst case scenario isn't being triggered (using the word in its proper sense) , it's just disappointment. The minor letdown of getting 150 pages into The Book Thief and finding it lacking. Realistically, the Booktok boom is a lot of people who primarily read fanfiction because it can be filtered down to only show things you already know you like.

I think that's why people plant their feet when you say you didn't like their Booktok fave, and why people will fight to the death that Booktok promotes GOOD BOOKS and everyone who disagrees is being An Asshole.

It's highly unlikely that the publishing industry is going to crumble purely through the fast fashionfication of Contemporary and New Adult Lit. When Colleen Hoover finally runs out of stories to tell; when the Reylo Tag has been completely milked of publishable works; when there is no more Faerie Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ to sate the masses, the Booktok girlies are either gonna get bored and leave or learn to like other shit. It's okay.

Knowledge is empowering

t-shirt that says ‘I LOVE BEING ALONE IN QUIET DARK PLACES.’ on the front and ‘I AM NOT A FUNGUS.’ on the back.

GUESS WHO GOT TO MEET THEIR FAVORITE AUTHOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEIR BIRTHDAY!!?!?!!! Super fun book signing, Andrew Joseph White is such a chill nice guy. If you haven’t yet, GO READ HIS BOOKS!!!!! (if you’re okay with lots of body horror)

Also featuring: the crochet Benji doll I made. Yes I know he looks deformed in the photo, I didn’t stuff him very well so he gets like that. He’s also not used to traveling beyond my bookcase, so going on a one hour drive to Maryland was very stressful.

Here’s what he looks like under ideal conditions, more photos and info on my Pinterest:

me as a writer

too many stories about turning yourself into a monster as a metaphor for pretending to be something you aren't and losing yourself in the process. not enough stories about turning yourself into a monster as a metaphor for choosing to openly embrace yourself even if it's strange to other people

Hello everyone. You are pleased to meet. Gingerbread Way.