2016 Blogging Goals: Completed?

Wednesday 28 December 2016

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I do love a goals post... My blog has grown a lot in the past year and that’s all down to my lovely readers!


1. Hit 20,000 views


Completed? Certainly!


My blog now has over 27,000 views. Incredible!

2. Do something with my header


Completed? Yes


I used Canva to create my new header, which fits the theme better and I think looks more professional. I am much happier with it but may make another change next year for the fun of it.

3. Do another collab


Completed? Kind of…


I haven’t done any specific collabs, but I have worked with a company for the first time, my friend Anna and I have done guest posts on each other’s blogs and I have been a part of the group blog, Through Our Eyes ever since July.

4. Reach 54 Bloglovin’ followers


Completed? Smashed it!


That was double the number of followers I had this time last year and I reached it within a few weeks. As I am writing, Another Ranting Reader has 337 Bloglovin’ followers. That’s pretty cool!

5. Improve my photography and editing


Completed? Meh



I don’t really know on this one. I sure hope it has. I’ve done my best, anyhow.




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Did I Complete My 2016 Goals?

Monday 26 December 2016

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At the beginning of the year, I made a post setting out the all of the things I would try to complete by the end of this year. Doing so made me more determined to complete them, as I’d announced them to my readers and set them permanently. So, how did I do?



1. Get out of bed on time


Completed? I’d say so.


Overall, I think I’ve done quite well (bar the long summer I had). This has been more difficult since starting college, as I have to get up at 6 am every morning, but I haven’t missed the bus yet, so I’d say that was an achievement.

2. Finish my novel


Completed? Hell yeah!


On 25 November, I finished my first novel. It’s not very long (about 46,000 words), but it feels like the right length for the story and I knew it had to end there. I’m so proud of having finally completed this after having worked on it for about a year and a half and I am now at the beginning of the editing process. Hopefully, I can have a complete draft by this time next year.



3. Have at least 30 screen-free minutes before going to bed


Completed? Errr…


Nope. This hasn’t gone well. There have been odd days that I’ve done this, but I have to say those have been rare.

4. Experiment with more makeup looks


Completed? Yep


I bought the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette during my visit to Nice in February and have had a much wider range of eyeshadows to work with. I am now much more accomplished in that area and love creating different eyeshadow looks, especially with the added freedom I have being in college. I’ve also been using highlighter and trying my best at contour, although I haven’t quite mastered it yet.

5. Visit at least 2 museums


Completed? Definitely


This one I completed in the first 2 months of the year when I visited Nice. There, my friends and I went to 4 museums. When I was in Croatia with my family, we visited a war photography museum that focused on the conflict in Syria and the breakup of Yugoslavia. Then, I stayed in London with my nan for 4 days. I’m not sure how many of the places we visited you would call museums, but we went to Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Albert Hall, where, for the majority of the time, we were taken on tours and given a hell of a lot of information.



6. Write every day


Completed? Mostly


I have written so much this year. From poetry, blog posts and a novel. This year has been a great year for writing and I’ve been taking more steps to become a more recognised writer, like entering my first poetry competition! I haven’t been able to write every day, but it’s nearly there.


7. Complete my GoodReads book challenge


Completed? Yes


I set my self the target of reading 20 books this year. That was a lot less than my 2015 target of 55 books, but I didn’t want to make myself stressed about a hobby when I had exams o worry about. As I’m writing, I have read 23 books and plan to read more over the Christmas holidays.


I have to say, I think I’ve done pretty well this year. Have you completed your goals?




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My Year in Books

Wednesday 21 December 2016

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At the beginning of this year, I set my yearly reading goal at 20 books. This was a lot lower to my 55 2015 target. That’s over half! There was a reason for this, though: exams. I knew I’d be spending a lot of time studying in 2016 as I was taking my GCSEs in the early summer and starting my A Levels in September. I’m glad I set this low target as I felt really relaxed about the number of books I was reading and wasn’t feeling pressured to read loads during my exams. In fact, I had nothing to worry about as I completed my challenge near the end of October and ended up reading books.

January


1. Every Day by David Levithan


I read this book very quickly, I think it was only a day or two. I picked it up one evening after school and sat in Costa reading it for about an hour. It’s a good, easy to read YA. The concept isn’t very complicated but I think I found the main character slightly annoying at certain parts. This was nearly a year ago now so I can’t quite remember everything I thought about it!

2. The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher


This book is hilarious. I have Verily, A New Hope, which I haven’t read yet but will probably read next year. This series retells the Star Wars franchise in the form of Shakespearian scripts. I recommend these highly!


February


3. Emma by Alexander McCall Smith


Emma is my second favourite Austen novel. I love the characters and the storyline, which never fail to make me laugh! I picked this book up expecting to react similarly, and I did, however, the original is still superior for me. Always will be!

March


Oops! I didn’t read anything in March. I did start reading one of Caitlin Moran’s books which I’ll mention later on, though.

April


4. Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie


I visited Nice with my secondary school in February. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on and I honestly believe that the days I spent in Nice and Monaco were some of the best of my entire life. It captured my mind and heart. I love Nice to pieces and so needed to read this book when I saw it in my local library. The language was a bit too simple for my liking sometimes and some of the plot twists just kind of irritated me, but I can see how this would be a great holiday read, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about places I had been to just weeks prior to reading this.

May


5. Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy


This year has been the year that I’ve properly gotten into poetry, and this was the first poetry book I think I ever bought. My favourite poem studied at GCSE was one of Carol Ann Duffy’s and I couldn’t wait to find some more of her work. I love this so much! I’m a sucker for a good love poem.

6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck


I had been reading many times over in preparation for my English exam in May and previously some of my coursework for GCSE. I got bored of it just because of the number of times I read it. I do remember really enjoying it when I read it the first time - just, not the 15th.

7. An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley


This was also included in my English exam. I didn’t read this as many times, so didn’t get so irritated with it. I would love to see this in the theatre as it’s meant to be viewed.

8. Darcy’s Story by Jane Aylmer


This book was great for me. I picked it up in one of my local charity shops and really enjoyed it. As an adaption of my favourite book, I could follow it easily and quickly. I helped relax my mind during the exam period. Lovely to get a different sort of Pride and Prejudice dose.

June


9. Always With Love by Giovanna Fletcher


I actually met Gi Fletcher the day after I bought her book. I read a few chapters in preparation for her book event that I planned to go to with a friend of mine. I am a huge fan of Gi’s books and her in general, so it was absolutely amazing to meet her face to face. She was lovely to me and could probably tell how nervous I was! Always With Love isn’t my favourite book of hers (I think that’ll always be Billy and Me) but it was quite relaxing, which is what I needed then.

10. Moranthology by Caitlin Moran


I started reading this book in March, so you can probably tell that this is not one you can really read in one sitting. I found that incredibly difficult anyway. The book is essentially a collection of Caitlin Moran’s columns for The Times, and as someone who often picks up the paper specifically for that, it was a great read. It was useful as I was taking exams, as each column only lasted a page and I could read one or two here and there.

11. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews


I didn’t really get the point of this book. I could understand how others enjoyed it and thought it amazing, but I just didn’t really get it myself. I can see how bits were funny but the protagonist just appeared as quite irritating to me and ‘the Dying Girl’ (or Rachel, as is her actual name) felt really two dimensional. Just was just the ‘dying girl’ most of the time, and I would have loved to have gotten to know her better.


July


12. The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern


I’m normally a massive fan of Cecelia Ahern’s books, but this one dragged for me until nearly the end of the book when I felt the story actually got good and the whole concept came together.

August


13. On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher


I love Carrie Fletcher. She’s one of my favourite humans and is the YouTuber I’ve watched faithfully for the longest (the first video I saw of hers was three years ago). I’ve watched her grow creatively and absolutely loved her first book, All I Know Now, so of course I had to read her debut novel! I lve this so much. I read it quickly and the story was sweet and the characters loveable. Something to go back to if I don’t want to concentrate too hard but still have a great storyline.

14. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne


I know I’m not the first and definitely won’t be the last to say that I was a bit disappointed with this. The plot seemed quite weak to me, and frankly a bit ridiculous at points. Before reading it, I had built it up in my head as this amazing follow up to my favourite book series. Now, I actually don’t like to consider this as canon Potter. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to see it on stage, as I’m really intrigued by some of the stage directions and how some elements would be carried out.

15. The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler


Short and sweet. Some bits were kind of pretentious and irritating, but I loved reading the section at the end all about V-Day and I have to say that that section was very inspiring.

16. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote


This book. This damn BOOK. So good, I can’t. I wrote a review on it earlier this year, go and have a look for more coherent thoughts of mine.


17. What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan


Absolutely perfect for any Janeite.

18. This Modern Love by Will Darbyshire


I fell in love with this book completely (pun most certainly intended). I read it within a few hours, so incredibly light reading. However, during those few hours, I laughed, I cried, I shouted ‘OH DAMN’ at its sass. It is so poignant, I would recommend it to anyone no matter of relationship status (as someone who is one of the most single out of all my friends I can tell you that it’s incredible).


September


19. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire


This is another one that took me a while to read. The language was quite complicated at times and is not something you can read very quickly. Having watched the musical a year and but earlier, I have to say that I prefer the musical’s story. The narratives are very different, though, so if you’ve seen the musical still read it. Also, can I just add that I’m seeing Wicked again in December!! AAHH!!


October


20. Ariel by Sylvia Plath


I’d read some of Plath’s poetry on Pinterest (my poetry goldmine) and had wanted to get my hands on some more of it. My parents kindly gave me this book for my birthday and it wasn’t long before I had devoured all of the poems in it!

21. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood


This is one of the books I have to read for my current English Language & Literature A Level and I had to get it completed before November, so that was one of my main jobs for half term. I don’t particularly like it that much as I don’t feel that it has much plot, but I have to stick with it for another two years anyway.

November


22. Winters’ Snow by Carrie Hope Fletcher


I loved this novella from Carrie, I thought it was so cute. A lovely follow-up to On the Other Side.

December


23. The Odyssey by Homer


I’ve been reading this from October for my Classics A Level and finished it in early December. It would have been less time but when you have to write summaries for a book, it takes so much longer! We’re now studying it in class and I am actually enjoying it.

That is all I have read so far, but there is still little over a week to finish more books and I’ll make sure to update this post!

Since publication I have read: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Screenplay by J.K. Rowling and And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.





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5 Books I'll Be Reading This Holidays

Friday 16 December 2016

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Since I’ve been in college, I haven’t been reading as much as I would like. So, the Christmas holidays are the perfect opportunity to binge read and catch up on loads of books on my ever-growing TBR pile.


1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Screenplay by J.K. Rowling


Okay, I’m already half way through this, but I want to finish it before the end of the year. I loved the film so much and am really enjoying finding little extras in the screenplay that I didn’t notice the first time I watched it. I’m also using this as research into other types of writing so that I can expand what I create in the future.

2. Emotions of a Book by Guido Parisi


I received this in the post about 2 weeks ago and I have to say it looks SO interesting. Once I've finished it I'll probably publish a review, so keep your eyes open!

3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn


I have been borrowing this book for nearly a year and I haven’t got around to reading it yet. I’ve been wanting to read it for ages, as I know loads of people have raved about it. Hopefully, it’s as good as it sounds!

4. The Victoria Letters by Helen Rappaport


If you’ve read some of my recent Monthly Wrap Ups, then you’ll know that I was slightly obsessed with the TV show, Victoria. The only thing I didn’t like about it, was its many historical inaccuracies. When I saw there was a book released all about the actual history of Victoria, written by a historian I had liked from seeing in various documentaries, I was very excited. Honestly, can’t wait to read this!

5. On Writing by Stephen King


I spotted this in Foyles during my visit to London in July, however, I didn’t buy it then as I managed to restrain myself from spending too much money. After my birthday, though, I was able to buy it from Waterstones as I had some vouchers that were desperate to be spent! As a writer wanting to better the art she creates, I hope this will be both entertaining and helpful.

What are you reading over the holidays?


Jemima x



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November 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up

Wednesday 30 November 2016

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November’s actually been great, despite a certain orange-faced American man with rat-like hair. Apart from him, it’s been good.

Favourite part?


Meals/days out for two of my friends’ birthdays were both great. I honestly felt so happy on both of those days. I’ve spent a lot of time with friends this month, I love them all so much, it’s great.


In the evening after the day out, I finished my first novel (the first draft, that is…) and I have honestly never had a feeling like that before. I have now written a novel. A full story. It’s done. I’d been working on it for roughly a year and seven months and I’m currently taking a break away from it for a few weeks before I start to edit.



I also saw Fantastic Beasts!! Harry Potter means so much and I couldn’t control myself when I was in the cinema. I definitely cried a bit too much that is probably seen as normal. Ah well…

I also entered my first poetry competition. Fingers crossed, but I’m not expecting anything.

Best read?


I haven’t read much in November, I’m not going to lie there. Most of this month has been spent either writing my novel or doing college work. However, I have read Carrie Hope Fletcher’s recent novella, Winters’ Snow, which I thought was charming! I have also read most of The Odyssey, for my Classics course, ready for us to start studying it in class in December.

Favourite tunes?


I’ve been listening to loads of Taylor Swift this month! Mostly, Ours, Mean, Story of Us and Back to December. She and Dodie have been on almost constantly. I’m loving the music Dodie is making recently. I have been a fan of hers for ages and it’s amazing seeing her grow and become recognized. Unfortunately, I didn’t get tickets to see her on tour, but I can keep an eye out for more shows!

What did I learn?


That finding the time to write is just about putting pen to paper more than anything else, instead of worrying about when you’re going to write.

What’s happening next month?


The obvious, Christmas. I break up from college quite early, so have most of the month to myself. I’m going to London with my friends to shop and see Wicked, which I’m so excited for! Star Wars: Rogue One is out too – can’t wait!

Credit

What’s been on my mind?


My novel!! I worked so hard on it this month and any time not spent writing, was spent thinking of and missing my characters.

Favourite blogger/vlogger?


I’ve watched lots of writing-related videos this month along with my usual faves of Hazel Hayes, Dodie Clark, the Fletchers and Daniel J Layton.

Favourite post?


Some of my posts have been a bit thin on the ground lately, as I’d scheduled a load that I had written in late September/October and then hit a slump in blog post writing. But I am determined to start posting more regularly now! I’ve really enjoyed writing more feminist posts this month, I really have. I’ve also talked a lot about writing, in the Writing Tag (which my friend Anna did a response to), and Write. | A Poem. I’ll definitely be trying to do more opinion and writing posts in the future.

Biggest inspiration?


While I wasn’t traditionally taking part in NaNoWriMo, it did help boost me along with the project I was already working on.

Any other favourites?


Strictly, as per usual for this time of the year! My family watched the Dad’s Army film for the first time this month and we’ve now watched it about 5 times! It’s hilarious and so nostalgic of the series.



If you liked this post you might like: October 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up

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20 Things Before 20

Wednesday 23 November 2016

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Lately, I’ve seen lots of posts titled X Things to Do Before X Years Old, and I thought that would be a pretty cool post to do. I’m currently 17 and have been so for little over a month. I have roughly 3 years until I’m 20 (that sounds so adult it’s scary), so I think I can get some stuff done by then.


1. Finish writing my novel (I've nearly finished the first draft now, so this won’t take long).
2. Get a literary agent.
3. Visit Chatsworth House.
4. Explore Paris.
5. Visit the Houses of Parliament.
6. Visit Amsterdam.
7. Achieve my target A Level grades.
8. Visit at least 3 historical palaces/houses. E.g. finish going around Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, etc.
9. Pass my driving test.
10. Go back to Nice.
11. See a Shakespeare play performed at the Globe.
12. Go to Hay-on-Wye
13. Go to a Disneyland.
14. Visit Stockholm.
15. Go to a festival.
16. See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage.
17. See McFly live.
18. Go to a blogger event.
19. Visit Kew Gardens and find my great great aunt's memorial bench.
20. Buy my own car.

I hope you enjoyed this post! I do realise that most of this list consists of travelling, but ah well! We can tell what I want to do…




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5 Reasons Why I Love Makeup

Friday 18 November 2016

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I love makeup. I just really love it.

1. Checking yourself out in a car/shop window is great.


Because damn, if I look hella fine I want to appreciate it. Did you see that contour? The sharpness of the eyeliner? Because I sure did!

2. LIPSTICK


I shouldn’t even need to explain this.

3. There’s no greater feeling than when your eyeliner is perfectly even.


I get a spring in my step that makes me feel like I could take on the world.

4. Have you seen just how gorgeous some eyeshadow combinations are?!?!?!


I can’t get over some combinations. They make me want to cry they’re so beautiful!

5. The magic of concealer and foundation is UNREAL


My skin’s not been great lately and to cover up my spots and discoloured skin is such a blessing, I can’t even describe! It makes me feel a lot better and a lot less self-conscious.




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Write. | A Poem

Wednesday 16 November 2016

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Original Picture Credit

What’s the best way to write?
How do you do it?
“Simply put pen to paper,
it’ll all turn out all right.”
Do not worry about each stanza
The proper nouns and the abstract
Each clause or nomenclature,
Instead focus on the feeling your heart
Has, locked inside of it –
The one bursting to get out
Of its boney cage.
The words engraved onto your heart
That remain with you til’ they are
Crumbling in the city earth
And are nibbled by worms

Gnawed to pieces.

The words that linger on in the
Air around you
That you can never seem to get rid of
The flickering fly buzz buzz buzzing
Returning after your every attempt at swatting them
Away.

Write until your heart is broken
And torn to shreds
Your arteries flung at different ends of the room
Until you have bled yourself dry
And your veins have shrivelled up

Write until you can write no more
Til’ it tears you in two
And your halves will no longer attach
To one another;

Until the alveoli in your lungs
Stop bringing in oxygen
And you are left to scrawl
One last word
On the street you lie on
Keep writing
You must
Keep writing.
For if you don’t then
You will
Die.

Keep writing is my advice.

Just
Keep writing.



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The Writing Tag

Monday 14 November 2016

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Credit

What do you write?


Anything and everything I can. I have so many poems, some are published on my blog but the vast majority aren’t. I’m currently writing a novel, The Bookshop, about a girl who grows up in a bookshop (didn’t guess that did you?) and how she affects those around her.

What do you mostly write about?


That’s very dependent on which me you’re on about. When I was younger it was more fairytales and fantasy, but now it’s a proper mixture. I think it’s more real life, perhaps. Now I think it’s more autobiographical now. I can actually write about my own experiences and feelings. 

What’s your favourite thing about writing?


The fact that I can be anybody, anytime in anyplace. I can express myself properly through writing about the inner workings of my soul and heart. I can write better than I can speak, which isn’t very useful in all honesty. Sometimes I wish it was the other way around.

What/Who inspired you to start/keep writing?


My parents always read to me when I was younger and I just fell in love with words and stories. I have to keep writing now because it’s part of who I am; I have to do so to keep living.

Who’s your favourite character you’ve made up?


I don’t know, probably the Bookshop Owner from The Bookshop. I can’t really explain why, but I like them a lot.

When did you start writing?


I’ve been writing as long as I can remember - as long as I’ve been able to read and to put pen to paper. I know how cliché that sounds but it’s true.

The first story you wrote?


I can’t remember exactly. The earliest full story I think I can remember writing is either one about a stone I found on the beach or one entitled Fairy Friends (either that or Fairytale Friends I’m not sure). The first was literally a life story of a rock while the other was a bit more dramatic and ridiculous! I seem to remember one about a mermaid who all the mermen fell in love with who met a merman that all the mermaids fell in love with. Yeah, my little creative head loved that.

Favourite story you’ve written?


Oh god, I don’t know. Does this include the ones from poetry? One of my favourite poems of mine is one called The Girl That Time Forgot and I really love it. It’s quite sad but the character and her story really touches me.

Do you have a writing schedule? Like, do you write every day or just when you feel like it?


I write whenever I can. Sometimes I set myself a word count to do in a day or a week etc, but it’ll mostly be odd moments here and there. It’s mostly at night that I write in all honesty - well, poetry. Blog posts I write in the daytime, whenever I can find the time or have an idea for one.

Do you want to be published?


Don’t we all?! I want to get published as soon as possible but I’m not sure how that’s going to go. A girl can dream. 

-----------------------------

I'm only going to tag Anna from A Fabulous Feminist to do this tag, but anyone else reading this feel free to do it yourself! I didn't create this tag but I can't remember the blog that I first found it on, so sorry about that!

Jemima x




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5 Reasons Why We Still Need Feminism

Friday 11 November 2016

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I often get asked (or hear/see other people getting asked) why feminism is relevant - or, at least, that’s implied. Here are 5 reasons why we need feminism. Believe me, there are many more.

1. The toys are split into two types: girls’ and boys’


Barbie dolls are targeted at girls while the boys are given cars. The girls get mini makeup sets and the boys get science sets. Boys get books on sports while girls are told how to look their best and what hairstyles they should be trying out.

2. In some countries, young girls become child brides


These girls marry men who are often three times their own age. They become mothers and seriously harm their bodies, which are not yet fully prepared for childbirth. Let them have freedom. Let them have a childhood.

3. We see blood, guts and gore in films but period blood is disgusting


Which is more commonly experienced: period blood or Brad Pitt being covered in blood in some blockbuster action movie? It’s literally no different (well, apart from some normal discharge and tissue), so why do we make such a fuss? Blood is blood. It’s a part of all of us so stop whining. 

4.  I don’t think there’s one girl I know who hasn’t been catcalled


(I mentioned this in my post Seeing Sexism.) 

I’m 17. Most of my friends are either 16 or 17. We’ve been catcalled when we’ve been a lot younger than we are now. It’s mostly by men who are older than us. It doesn’t feel great when walking down a road in your village, walking to a bus stop or to a music lesson being beeped\wolf-whistled/yelled at by men in random passing cars. It’s not a compliment. It’s objectifying and downright rude. 


Credit

5. We teach women how to prevent themselves getting raped, but don’t teach men not to rape women


If you don’t get raped, somebody else will. We shouldn’t have to have all the safety precautions that we all live by. Prevention isn’t a cure. We need to teach rapists not to rape, rather than women how not to get raped.

There are so many more reasons that I could have put on this list. Other reasons that regard to race, LGBT+ and everyone else on this planet who faces issues that are caused by a gender imbalance in the way we live.


If you liked this post you might like: Seeing Sexism

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Interview with A Fabulous Feminist

Wednesday 9 November 2016

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Anna, who blogs on A Fabulous Feminist, is one of my friends in real life and, I know I’m probably just a little biased, but I think she’s great. She’s one of my fellow Through Our Eyes bloggers, has guest posted on this blog before (check out her post here) and is vocal about bringing a stop to taboo subjects and spreading awareness for those issues. The main 2 issues she advocates is feminism (you should have guessed that from the title of her blog) and alopecia awareness, a condition she is personally affected by.

It just so happens that today is also Anna’s 17th birthday! Happy birthday Anna! I hope you have a great day.



1. For those who don’t know what it is, could you explain what alopecia is?


Alopecia is an autoimmune condition, which causes hair follicles to fall out for no reason. There are many different types, which are diagnosed depending on the amount of hair loss, and where. There is no known cause, and although it can be triggered by things like stress, that is not the root (unintentional pun!) cause.

2. In three words, sum up how it has affected your life.


Dramatically, emotionally & (at first) negatively.

3. What advice would you give to someone who also has alopecia but may not have told many people about it?


I would like to tell them that their alopecia does not define them. It can be tiring to hide and deal with, and scary, but there are so many other things about them which are more important. Don’t let alopecia take any more from you.

4. What are your ways of dealing with confidence issues?


I try to remember that it could always be worse, in a way which does not discredit my problem, but rather gives me an understanding that I am fortunate in some ways. Wigs help a lot, as it means I can vary my hair day to day, and put a positive spin on something that has caused me a lot of emotional pain.

5. If you could only achieve one thing from blogging, what would it be?


It would be to share my writing with an interested audience. I put my thoughts out there to connect with others, and if only one thing could be achieved, it would be that others read what I have written, and engage with it.

6. What are your tips for any aspiring poets?


Write. Forget about everyone else and write. Write for yourself. Don’t write worrying about how others would perceive it. Write your feelings, write your thoughts. Find that burning desire inside of you that yearns to write and feed it with your words. 

7. You’ve mentioned before that you’re an aspiring actress, what would be your dream role?


My dream role would be to play a character who is independent and badass. I want to play women who are sassy, and feisty, and feminist and proud of that. My dream role would be someone who is empathetic and an inspiration to everyone who sees her. I’m thinking a woman like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, and other strong protagonists.

8. Who are your top 3 role models and why?


My top three role models are Emma Watson, Angelina Jolie and my mum, Claire. Emma Watson is an incredible actress, as is Angelina Jolie, and also Emma’s work as the UN Goodwill Ambassador with HeForShe is amazing. She inspires me so much and was the one who first taught me about feminism. Angelina’s humanitarian work is so incredible and inspiring too. And of course, my mum, because she is always supporting and loving me. She recently had her head shaved in order to raise awareness and funds for Alopecia UK, a charity that has had such a positive impact on my life, and for that, I am so so grateful.

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If you want to know more about Anna, check out her blog here, I’m sure you’ll love it! To find out more about alopecia visit the Alopecia UK website where there is lots of information and news.




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