Val
@shafferv.bsky.social
Editor & writer. Artist hopeful. Almost 30. Writing at https://medium.com/@everythingmatters
greetings, fellow readers. all-time fave review of mine, which, as you may guess from the title, is not pro-this book. please commiserate with me because I know I'm not the only one who suffered through "the silent patient" #writer #writing #freeread #medium #bookreview #review #thesilentpatient
I Read “The Silent Patient.” It’s Not Good!
Fans of Freud will love this book. Fans of women? Less likely.
medium.com
I sent so many risky texts this week and had no yarn in sight. do not recommend #writer #writing #freeread #knitting #crochet #anxiety #mentalhealth #medium #dating #datingadvice #lunchread #crafting
Nervous After Sending a Risky Text? Knit a Sweater
Dating problems require crafty solutions.
medium.com
seen so many "god of the woods" recs lately and I wanna add to it. here's my in-depth and overly-passionate review that hopefully communicates the pure genius in this story (and, as I will continue to emphasize, a wonderful fuck-ass bob) #bookreview #lizmoore #queerlit #freeread #review #writing
A Time-Spanning, Summer-Camp, Queer-Friendly Book for the Ages
Liz Moore’s “The God of the Woods” is a timeless mystery for people who like unexpected conclusions, nature lesbians, and recalling your…
medium.com
it's so hot out and I feel the need to convince everyone that reggaeton is a) the solution and b) going through a major shift this year. this is like a mild passion project of mine so it's an....interesting read #music #musicreview #lunchread #reggaeton #alvarodiaz #badbunny #writing #freeread
What Reggaeton-House Music Means For Your Summer
Why your summer is about to bump harder than ever. And, yes, I’m baiting you with the old Bad Bunny pic.
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yet another date where this came up naturally (yes, I can pull, thank you). there's a vicious cycle going on here - women are downing in compliments and men are starving. why?? #dating #medium #writer #writing #datingadvice #relationships #freeread #shortread #lunchread #compliments #social
The Compliment Gap: Why Women Get More Flattery
Women receive so many compliments, and men…don’t. What’s up with that?
medium.com
bringing this back because I've recommended this book to like 3 people in the last week. insane & toxic protagonist, nyc, and 2000s culture. what more could you want #freeread #writer #writing #medium #bookreview #books #review #ottessamoshfegh #myyearofrestandrelaxation
My Month of Introspection, Reading This Book, and Ugly Crying About It
Or, my review of “My Year of Rest and Relaxation.”
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lunch read, and it's hot off the online presses !! may you love reggaeton as much as I do after reading this. it's summertime, baby #music #alvarodiaz #reggaeton #musicreview #writer #writing #medium #freeread #shortread #badbunny #housemusic #ballroom #musictrends #opinion
What Reggaeton-House Music Means For Your Summer
Why your summer is about to bump harder than ever. And, yes, I’m baiting you with the old Bad Bunny pic.
medium.com
this is a bit personal but one of my favorites. if you grew up in purity culture you've probably had your body compared to food ???? so here's a biggie from my childhood. dare I say formative? #writer #writing #religion #purityculture #atheist #exchristian #exmormon #sex #personal #freeread
Your Body is a Wedding Cake. Don’t Dig In!
A horrible, terrible, no good object lesson I’ve never forgotten.
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as someone who's been many weights I never cease to be surprised at how your body can truly be objectified, negged, and "loved" at any size. yall I'm so tired #writer #writing #medium #freeread #dating #bodypositivity #datingadvice #personal #bodyimage #weight #thick
Not Hot Enough to Write Home About: Dating While “Thick”
Despite body positivity, I’m still a “category.” Dating when you — and your partners — have a complicated relationship with your weight…
medium.com
some of my most toxic (and popular) thoughts on dating. dukes up, baby #writer #writing #medium #freeread #dating #moderndating #opinion #personal #datingadvice #relationships #lgbtqdating #bisexual
Dating to Win
Sometimes dating feels like a competition. And nothing else.
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also, I'm feeling a little cranky tonight. let's do it #medium #writing #writer #freeread #shortread #opinion #language #linguistics #swearing #fuck
In Defense of Saying “F*ck”
Swearing is caring, and I really, really do.
medium.com
ski season is over but camping season is upon us. please don't invite me. please don't judge me. please stop trying to make me go camping!!!! #personal #writing #writer #camping #outdoors #culture #rant #personalessay #skiing #opinion #medium #freeread #shortread
Stop trying to make me go camping!
There’s nothing wrong with me, I just don’t like camping. Or skiing, while we’re on the subject.
medium.com
I'm also feeling this one again - my case for why hookups, even casual ones, should be at least a little emotional. and this is coming from Miss Casual Sex #dating #datingadvice #hookups #moderndating #litanalysis #hookupculture #writer #writing #medium #freeread
If It’s Not Sex, It’s Sex: Why You Can’t “Just” Hook Up
Taking all the feeling out of a hookup is a big mistake.
medium.com
it's rough out there. the ~yarn arts~ are great on their own, but REALLY good when you need to avoid your phone after asking ur situationship to sleep over tomorrow. cope and cry while you make a sweater, or something #knitting #crocheting #dating #datingadvice #anxiety #writing #medium #freeread
Nervous After Sending a Risky Text? Knit a Sweater
Dating problems require crafty solutions.
medium.com
your afternoon-slump read: join me on my journey of dating while thick, not thick, and just generally objectified #dating #datingadvice #personalessay #writer #writing #thick #bodypositivity #gender #datingtips #medium #freeread
Not Hot Enough to Write Home About: Dating While “Thick”
Despite body positivity, I’m still a “category.” Dating when you — and your partners — have a complicated relationship with your weight…
medium.com
quick reminder to write about your weird interests because out of 30 stories on my blog my weird reverie about "mythbusters" is my 6th most popular look, it's not number one, but it really is something to think abt #writing #writingtips #writer #mythbusters #science #medium #discoverychannel
also, another banger hot off the metaphorical presses: take a quick walk down slut-shamey, christian-hypocrisy, mormon memory lane with me it's also a quick read if you're avoiding festivities 2day #writer #writing #medium #purityculture #exchristian #exmormon #sex #memoir #shortread #quickread
My Silly Thoughts on Hypocrisy, Sex, & Being Christian in a Past Life
My choice to leave; their choice to stay. Slut-shaming from an early age and who’s actually Christian.
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hiding from your family this long weekend? take a few minutes to read my hOt tAkE about "the menu" 4 years too late. it's the best movie review you'll ever read while you hide in the bathroom from your weird cousin #moviereview #review #themenu #writer #writing #medium #shortread #chefstable #food
“The Menu” Wasn’t Good — You Just Like “Chef’s Table”
I’m behind the curve, but this was a bummer of a flop — and I don’t get why everyone liked it.
medium.com
a mid-morning read specifically for writers who are egotistical and at least a little queer: a compilation of my thoughts around Susan Sontag's journal entries on the subject #writer #writing #medium #susansontag #queer #lgbtq #freeread #shortread #narcissism #writers #selfesteem #ego
On writing, narcissism, and being gay
Explore yourself along with Susan Sontag and my unsolicited commentary.
medium.com
I'm finally back on a schedule - lunch read! I talked with a date about why I'm bad at giving compliments to men, and this article was born. why are women, like, drowning in them and men are dying of thirst? #medium #writer #writing #gender #genderroles #dating #datingadvice #freeread #shortread
The Compliment Gap: Why Women Get More Flattery
Women receive so many compliments, and men…don’t. What’s up with that?
medium.com
your nsfw work-break read: why I love swearing. it's a short read and, dare I say, compelling #writer #writing #medium #language #shortread #swearing #linguistics #personal #personalessay #quickread
In Defense of Saying “F*ck”
Swearing is caring, and I really, really do.
medium.com
lunchtime book rec: "the god of the woods" by liz moore ! this is such a good read. you can feel the green. it's so relatable, fairly gay, and I genuinely fr ugly cried through the last bit -- #book #bookreviews #medium #writing #writer #reviews #books #bookrec #thegodofthewoods #lizmoore #lgbtq
“The God of the Woods” is a Beautiful Mystery That Makes You Sob
Liz Moore’s “The God of the Woods” is a timeless mystery for people who like unexpected conclusions, nature lesbians, and recalling your…
medium.com
I finally have the time to sift through my susan sontag journal notes so we're just letting it all out here's some thoughts, from me and sontag, about writing and loving yourself maybe a little too much (and how being queer relates) #susansontag #writer #writing #lgbtq #selfconfidence #medium
On writing, narcissism, and being gay
Explore yourself along with Susan Sontag and my unsolicited commentary.
medium.com
quick reminder that you do NOT need a Medium subscription to read the stories on this page. they are free to read from me to you xoxo #writer #writing #medium #freereads #reading #shortform
your coffee break read: remember Mythbusters? join me on my recent re-watch, my feelings about it, and a little feminist critique to round things out (yes, it's ridiculous) #writing #writer #mythbusters #medium #feminism #2000s #culture #2000sculture #personal #breakdown #funread #fun #shortread
A Feminist Critique of the Show “Mythbusters” That No One Asked For
So, 2000s Discovery Channel, anyone? Let’s take it too seriously.
medium.com
have an awkward date this weekend? read about my (bad take??) dating conversation habits here #datingadvice #writer #writing #medium #dating #relationships #dates #moderndating #genderroles #gender #personal #opinion
Why I Don’t Ask Anyone Questions on Dates
We can’t chop personality into discrete parts, so why do we do it on dates — and why do women bear the brunt of it?
medium.com
now with a "supper share" (I guess): what's up with christians being kind of cool with death but mortally opposed to even the tiniest bit of sex? this is half religious commentary and half me airing out my personal business with the church #medium #christianity #purityculture #exmormon #writing
Death Before Sex!
What could be better than death in Christianity? And, more importantly, what could be worse?
medium.com
instead of lunch read today we're doing "something to read while u zone out of a work meeting!" it's a quick 2min read so you won't miss much (like it was important anyway) I ❤️ swearing #writer #writing #medium #language #linguistics #persoal #shortread #quickread #short #opinion #swearing
In Defense of Saying “F*ck”
Swearing is caring, and I really, really do.
medium.com
