back from the underworld :)
i try not to write blog updates, so i’m going to make this one interesting.
i have been absent for like two months. i thought it was a great idea (early September) to quit my antipsychotics– this time with clinical oversight. they did not think it was a great idea, but i had their blessing to do what i felt was right. i had a great time at first, and read eight books in a month because my brain was so much toothier. then i spiralled into serious, serious depression– but was still too stubborn to start taking my pills again. i finally relented and took them, and it took some time for them to work. now that i am back to baseline, i feel like i am rejoining my life after having been absent for so long.
so this will be another links/thoughts post, divided into what’s been going on with me and also what other people have created that has been improving my life.
ME
progress punk
some of you pals are new here– welcome! i’m up to 50 subscriptions, which is so cool! i know a lot of you come from the Gourmet Spoonie, and you may not know what to expect from me yet. here’s what i write about: whatever the fuck i want. this often includes books, journaling, witchcraft, and mental health.
my substack is free and is always going to be free, because i care much more about making connections with my work than making money. (although i respect the hustle!) please ALWAYS feel free to leave a comment!
if you’d like to check out some deep cuts you may not have seen, here’s my top five:
some thoughts on food sensory issues (might be relevant to the Gourmet Spoonie crowd?)
do you have an antagonistic relationship with your own creativity?
i also have more articles in the works, as always!
poetry publications
i got some poems published recently. they are not my first publications, but they are my first in a while. i am pretty excited about them, so feel free to check out the wonderful presses that hav accepted my stuff!
hint: if you’re looking to publish some literature of your own, i highly recommend chillsubs, for both finding opportunities AND for keeping track of your submissions.
“bear” in impossible archetype
“blood & carbohydrates” in ink in thirds
unplugging
i’ve been on a journey to unplug from technology, and i’ve been experimenting with No Screen Periods of two hours. the world instantly shrinks in a very pleasing way. (an exception to my no-screen period is my new, very low-tech mp3 player.)
as a result of this, i’ve been doing more hanging out with my loved ones, journaling, putzing around the house, and reading physical books.
legal name change
i filed for a legal ame change a few weeks ago and it got approved! i just wanted to share because it’s exciting!
OTHER PEOPLE’S STUFF
a post about queerness by stjohnstarling
this tumblr post is changing my life.
adhd productivity manual by ari tuckman
i am really enjoying this funny and, most importantly, REALISTIC book about coping with your own adhd. the author doesn’t promise to make you neurotypical, and also invites you to examine your MOTIVATIONS for wanting to be more productive.
word witch by kate belew
reading this book has me in a constant state of chills and close to tears with how well it reflects my experience. i consider myself more of a “notebook witch” (if i had to choose an adjective, which of course i do not!) but her book is amazing.
if you are a bookish, literary witch, you MUST check it out!
pagebound (app)
pagebound is a book tracking app that focuses on evergreen, mid-book, twitter-style discussion (in addition to basic book tracking like goodreads or storygraph). while ou can write reviews, of course, much of the fun is sharing in a sense of tension or specific thoughts with others.
frankenstein (2025)
i enjoyed this so much that i cannot talk about it. yet.
a final note
i just wanted to say thanks for being here! always feel free to reach out here or elsewhere! :)
the perma-link to an always-updated list of my projects is here at linktr.ee/bugtourmaline.