A Few Degrees of Separation: On Scandals and Scapegoating

(Okay, I was looking to write this last week, but given everything that has been happening, I wanted to wait until I could properly, mentally process it all.)

Roe v. Wade and the Beginning of Yet Another Fight

So… I had a plan for a topic for this week and I was really looking forward to writing about it. But following the events of yesterday, I knew I was better off saving it for another time, especially when I don’t have the spirit or energy to do so.

Book Bans and Reconstructing a Book’s Role: Recommended Reading

Back in 2016, I wrote a blog post at the tail end of Banned Books Week, where I analyzed a list a books I saw in a bookstore that have been banned or, at least, challenged, over the years. I mention this as we see a rise in even more books being challenged or banned; several of them for reasons where if such bans are successfully, can lead to some dangerous, long-term consequences for the audiences for whom said books are being taken away from. Most notably in recent time, Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel, Maus, which centers on the author’s family’s experiences living through the Holocaust, was unanimously banned by a school board in Tennessee from its eighth grade curriculum.

Can Writing/Journaling Relieve Stress?

The name of this post is a subject that was brought up by someone I know just the other day. They were pondering on the thought experiment, after reading a study (source unknown to me) that writing is said to relieve stress. The person who was pondering on this isn’t convinced, for reasons that remain unexplained by them. I believe it’s worth noting though that this individual does not keep a journal, nor do they write as frequently as I do. So as you can likely guess, I definitely have a slightly different answer to this question.

My Full Statement Regarding Paul Krueger

Although I said something on Twitter, I feel that this is deserving of a full statement from my end:

For those who don’t know, it has recently come to my attention over the past 24 hours that Paul Krueger, author Steel Crow Saga, has a history of harassing people within the publishing industry. While at first, I didn’t know what was going on, the reality came fully formed the more I looked into it.

Black Lives Matter: Resources and Support

It’s not one of my typical weekly posts, but I honestly find it hard to write about anything else right now aside from what’s happening and is continuing to happen in the Black community. If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you already know what I’m feeling and how badly I want things to change. I’m doing my part, and I hope you will too. Here are a few places to start:

The Way I Blog and How That Will Change

I’ve been struggling with what to write about this week for this blog, and after the rough night I had last night, I was really dry for ideas that didn’t involve giving into the temptation to spew everything that has angered me within the last twelve hours.

The General Flow of My Blog Posts

For those who’re just discovering my website/blog for the first time:

[Pause]

In the aftermath of the horrific shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that have cost the lives of 49 people, I pause today to grieve. My regards to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for being there for her people during this time, and thank you to the New Zealand government for making the quick decision to ban semi-automatic guns – a decision that, for some reason, is up for political debate when it comes to the safety of people here in the U.S.

But of course, that is only a step, for this shooting is evidence of the Islamophobia that is still alive in the world. That in of itself needs to be brought to a definite end, and it starts by being there for our Muslim friends who are hurting right now.

I pause from my weekly blog post today to grieve. My thoughts are with the people of Christchurch.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Lola (@akolaurenlola)

6 Ways to Support Your Favorite Writer

I’ve recounted in the past on how I’ve been having a difficult time, getting help from people I know to get the word out about my work. Well, it’s within recent time where it has dawned on me that perhaps one reason why that hasn’t been happening is that they may not know how to help. Not everyone is as familiar with supporting creatives as others, and that is why today, I decided to give tips on how to support your favorite writer. (Please note that while I’m referring in context to writers in this listicle, it really is applicable to any creative out there; such as filmmakers, music artists, graphic artists, etc.) Let’s get it going: