Uni tips I learned the hard way

Hello to all my readers!

I can now say I am a first year university student! A new chapter in life begins and with it comes so many new people, opportunities and experiences. I'll continue to bring you along as best I can as I see where life takes me in the next couple of years. But for now, I'll share some uni tips that I had to learn the hard way in my first few weeks. 

• Always try and find your classes at least a few hours before. Do not be running around with twenty minutes to go and not even realising if you're on the right side of campus! And if you're someone who's chosen back to back classes, make sure you know the distance between them. A map is a great starting point but you won't truly know how far away a class is unless you walk it yourself.

• Write your lecture notes before your lecture if they give you early access. Although writing your lecture notes during class keeps you awake and focused, I find its really hard to keep track of what the lecturer is saying especially if the slides don't really reiterate what they are trying to teach. At times, I just stopped writing the slides and listened but that forces me to go back over them at a later time and creates extra work. Take a few hours in your day before to write notes so then you can add important things the lecturer says during your lecture!

• Look up where the bathrooms are. Although they're everywhere, they can be hard to find and I nearly got lost trying to find one in a building that I had never been in.

• Don't immediately assume that you and university will fit together like two puzzle pieces. This will mean that you'll stop asking questions and assume you know everything. When you struggle, you're more likely to consider the entire picture and gain a better uni experience! Just take it one day at a time and sooner or later, this experience will be a distant memory. Make the most of it while you can. 

Follow along to hear more about my university journey :)

Saying Goodbye to 2025!

As 2025 comes to a close, I just wanted to express my gratitude for the end of a chapter. I graduated this year and although I have no idea what the future brings, I am so excited for all the possibilities. Whether that be university or anything else, I will definitely still be writing more posts. 

As someone who's been writing stories since I was a kid, I strongly encourage everyone that pursuing what they're passionate about is never a waste of time. Proudly keep doing your hobbies and sometimes they can take you places you never expected! Life is so multifaceted and gives humans space to breathe. 

I'm so grateful that you're all still here and I can't wait to see what 2026 will bring!

Have a Happy New Year!

Prime Book Club Live

Hi,

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Amazon Prime's Book Club Live event a few weeks ago at Sydney with the stars of The Summer I Turned Pretty; Lola Tung, Jenny Han and Rain Spencer as well as the author of the Culpa Mia series, Mercedes Ron present. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a young adult romance novel adapted into a TV series that follows Belly (Lola Tung) caught in a love triangle between her childhood friends. It claimed #1 globally on Prime Video during the first week of the newly released Season 3. It is also one of the most watched TV shows among women aged 18-34, sparking an interest for the stars to appear at fan events like these, with most of the audience present female. 

The event was very popular with tickets gone in minutes and it took almost 10-15 minutes to get in. Book Club Live consisted of panel talks with the cast and authors, as well as interactive photo opportunities with many different backdrops. We got to hear about behind the scenes content, new hints about the upcoming episodes as well as the audition processes behind their characters.           

Taken By Najwa M

Taken By Najwa M

                

The stars of TSITP: Lola Tung, Rain Spencer and Jenny Han discussing the final season as well as content that happened off screen. We also got given flowers to pose with throughout the event.

Taken By Najwa M

Taken By Najwa M

These were two of the many places we could take photos at. After the first few interviews had been conducted, they even allowed us to take one free book each from the bookshelves, though we had to navigate our way through the crowd. Plus, a lot of The Summer I Turned Pretty themed backdrops. They had dedicated photographers for each, which I think is a nice touch as even people that went solo could get photos without having to ask for someone and they took the best shots. 

I had an amazing night and I am so grateful I got the chance to go! 

things to do on your birthday!

Hi, I have compiled a list of great events you can do for your next birthday. It can be pretty hard to plan stuff to do when you gather people around so here are some fun ideas!

• Painting Party. Invite all your friends over, order some food and provide canvas + brushes. This is a pretty enjoyable event which can go in many directions. You can change boards or paints every ten minutes, you can give prompts/suggestions and if your party has a theme, you can continue it with your canvas. Painting can be a little messier as you may need to provide more equipment but it may be a more collaborative activity that can be held for a few hours.

• Time Capsule. Provide some paper and invite your friends to give a written prediction about your life that could happen in the future, whether it be ten, twenty or thirty years. Then you can seal the box, opening it when you turn that age. It could be even more exciting if you offer a prize to who may be the closest or the one you deem the 'best'. 

• Decorating Table. Another idea is to buy craft supplies and cheap novelty items which guests can decorate like glasses, bags or bandanas as a keepsake from the party. Provide a disposable camera as well. This idea also works if you want a photobooth so guests can decorate their items and use them when taking pictures.

• Food Making. There are so many ideas with cooking where you could make pizza and decorate toppings or bake cupcakes/cakes then frost. This solves the problem of food at a party and is a fun activity to do with friends as well, no matter what time it is.

• Board Game Night. Nothing beats playing board games with friends! This is usually an activity people turn to when they run out of ideas when its late in the night. However, it is still a very exciting one, bringing out the competitive spirit in most people. 

• Dinner. A themed dinner can be very fun, exploring different options that go along with a particular theme. It may not seem as fun as the others but can work with other activities and you can make it as creative as you want to. 

Here are just some ideas you can do for your birthday and I hope you enjoy :)

Gracie Abrams; Sydney Night 2

Hi,

Gracie Abrams has started her run of shows on The Secret Of Us Tour around New Zealand and Australia with her opener, Ashe and I was lucky enough to attend the second night of the Sydney leg. We bought the tickets when they were first released last year so this has been a long and exciting wait.

When we first arrived to the venue, all I could see was bows, skirts and pastel blues/yellows. This is to fit Gracie's aesthetic. I too was wearing a navy blue shirt, striped blue & white pants, red converses and a red bow in my hair. The crowd surrounding the outside of the arena had a very homely feeling. It was mostly teenage girls and they were conversing with one another, often rather excitingly despite having never met before. Multiple girls asked me to take photos of them while I did the same. Though I was not General Admission, I did wander over there and those in the line were trading bracelets as well as discussing their fangirl moments, even if they had probably just met each other a few hours ago. It probably felt like one of the safest spaces and it honestly was like one big friend group. 

The merch line was also relatively simple to get through. I arrived later than I normally do to a concert and upon sight, the line wasn't enormous with the staff exceptionally friendly. I got a Secret Of Us Tour hoodie (very good quality) and I am definitely wearing it as we approach winter. I also had some nachos next to the merch tent and while it was expensive, they gave us so much sour cream and guacamole, that it was worth it.

After we passed security checks, with our bags making it through smoothly, we arrived to our seats to find we had an amazing view. I was honestly closer than what I imagined and could see the B stage covered up. When Ashe arrived, even through my terrible phone zoom, you could still spot exactly where she was on stage. She was amazing! I only knew a few of her songs but I definitely recommend checking her out. Ashe got us hyped and ready for Gracie as well as singing a cover of 'Vampire' by Olivia Rodrigo to make the audience go wild. 

Gracie, or her team, picked out some amazing songs while we waited for her. She knew her target audience and most people were singing along so loudly, that you might have thought the concert had already started. When she did arrive, the cheers got so amplified and I thought my ears were going to pop. She hasn't even arrived yet and the stage hadn't given any indication she was about to start, but those down the very front could see some movement and started cheering, so we followed suit. 

Gracie sung a two hour setlist with some incredible songs on it. I lost my voice at the third because she played Blowing Smoke, which is one of my absolute favourites. I was up on my feet for most of it, and of course I videoed the whole thing. Most people say it ruins the experience of the concert but I prefer having them to relieve the experience. I just hold my phone but still sing, vibe and even if my videos come out shaky and not instagram-worthy, you can still look back on them. I prefer the ones where you can hear me screeching because you know I had a good time. 

During her surprise song, she sung 'This is what the drugs are for' from Good Riddance. I had been discussing what song she might do before we entered the arena, as she had only done covers for the Aus/NZ leg of the tour so far, and I said, Good Riddance. When she started introducing the song, saying, 'its from Good Riddance', you better believe I screamed 'I called it'.

When she had wrapped up, with 'Close to You' to get everyone on their feet, and actually left, I was left with a sense of astonishment. I always end concerts with the feeling of 'it actually ended?'. Then we were caught up in the crowd of everyone trying to escape as well as the loud voices ringing around dissecting the concert. Made it home right on midnight.

I had one of the best times ever at TSOU tour and Gracie sung, danced and entertained us for a massive two hours with some banger songs (still hoping that one day I can hear Best live) and I only have half a voice left the next day.

Here's a video of Gracie singing, 'That's so True', (video owned by me):

Until next time!

Reflections on 2024

As 2024 draws to a close and 2025 is nearly upon us, I've decided to look back on some of my New Years Resolutions I created this time last year, click for New Years Resolutions for 2024 and see if I have accomplished any of them. 

The first one was publishing my solo book and I'm so grateful to say that I've achieved this resolution. It took me a few years to write and many people put a lot of hard work into this creation but I'm happy to say its out in the world. If you've been following along, I published it in my birthday month and for more information, go to "The Sword" Release. If you are still wanting to order, you can reach me through my email, which can be found if you click on "my complete profile". You can also always comment down below :)

My second New Years Resolution was to be more active on Goodreads. I tried to refresh it nearer the start of the year but eventually forgot about it and it became something I pushed aside until it faded. But on a more positive and unexpected note, The Sword is available to add on Goodreads! I always imagined what it would be like to have one of my written works on Goodreads especially as it is a platform that readers use all the time. For more information, go to "The Sword" is on Goodreads to discover how to find my book on the website. 

Another of my Resolutions is to start writing more and this was definitely a resolution I was expecting to not really occur. Writing has been more pushed aside as I focus more on school and marketing for my book but I'm glad to see that I pushed through some writer's drought and managed to write a few stories over the year. Writing stories is the reason I started this blog and I'm glad that I managed to return to my roots.

Finally, my last resolution was to drive and yes, I got my license! 

Some other amazing things happened to me this year. I got my first job, and I'm really enjoying it so far. Its been nice to earn some money and makes you feel really independent. I also got a prestigious award, where I earned Dux, which means top of the year in terms of academics. The award really validates all my hard work this year, through balancing publishing my book, working for the first time, writing stories, social life and still keeping up with my schoolwork and assessments. 

Next year will be a year of lasts where I actually have to decide my future path. I will definitely still be updating as well as writing stories and wishing everyone a happy holidays!

See you in 2025 :)

Taylor Swift's new album TTPD is here!

So Taylor Swift just dropped her album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) and of course, I was waiting for it and so excited to hear it. I listened to it all in order, as soon as it dropped and I need a few business days to process the Tortured Poets Department. Not even days. Weeks. 

I did have an initial ranking I did, which will certainly change as I listen and some songs probably went over my head. I won't tell you what it is but a few favourites I had that probably won't change are: My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys, So Long London, So High School and thanK you aIMee, will probably remain top ten, maybe top five. 

I went to the shops for a while after I had listened to TTPD twice and when I came back, I was shocked to discover that it was a DOUBLE DROP and screamed so loud, my mother thought I fell. I did have my suspicions with the hints she was giving on social media such as the emojis in the captions of her posts but I didn't actually believe it. Also FIFTEEN MORE SONGS? The mastermind was writing. 

I like Fortnight (ft Post Malone) but I'm scared I might not when the music video comes out and it'll feel like a single and might get overplayed, like Anti Hero. I have to say, from my first initial reaction, it automatically went top two in my album rankings. It definitely suited my taste of music and any songs that I liked, not loved, Taylor immediately swooped in with the bridge that it was so hard to do a rough rank. And it felt so personal and she was so angry and then sad. 

I am also knee deep in a school assessment and keeping up with Formula 1. I have been sucked into the sport, I fear. I was relistening to TTPD, while texting my Swiftie GC, while watching Sprint Quali, which by the way was a rollercoaster with Lando getting pole, not getting pole and then getting pole again and trying to read the lyrics for TTPD because I just discovered they were on Genius so that is basically my life right now.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Everyone affected by any of the recent events in Sydney, I see you and hear you and I hope that Australia can get through this calmly and peacefully.

Monthly Update; tips on studying

The month of March is nearly over and I am still suffering from post-concert depression. I've been distracted though, what with studying taking up most of my free time outside of school. It has been a bit of a cooldown, without any major events or milestones but I thought I'd update you on the month anyways. 

I started fasting, which is a Muslim practise to abstain from eating or drinking from dusk until dawn. It means I have to wake up much earlier to eat and then, I can not consume any food or drink until a specific time in the evening. Although it can be quite weary and drains a lot of energy from your body, I actually managed to find some silver lining. By waking up earlier, I decided to not go back to sleep again and instead study until I had to start getting ready for school. This actually helped me greatly and I managed to get on top of a lot of homework which freed up more time in the afternoons. It also helps me save a lot of money, as most of my weekly allowance won't go towards my school canteen. But it is not without its difficulties. I had to do some of my exams during this fasting period, which obviously had some impact on my brain and what I could achieve. But it has been a somewhat smoothful fasting and I hope that everyone who is currently participating in the month of Ramadan has a peaceful and easy time. 

Speaking of studying, when I say the workload is crazy, it is crazy. I have work from every single class I have to complete, whether that is just catching up, doing some homework, getting ahead of classes just to lessen the load and starting to complete assessments. If I had to offer advice to anyone currently struggling is:

Always place your assessment information into one folder or one place. At the start, I set a time of when I would start my tasks but I always lost a good ten minutes trying to find the information. It is always helpful to know where your most important pieces of information is. My teachers reminded us countless times to not lose them so put them in a safe place right now!

Know your style of studying. I was never the kid who could start assessments the day before and get an A. I would always start a large chunk of it as soon as I got it and then finish it at least a day before it was due. It left a lot of time for procrastination but I always managed to hand in a good result. 

Set boundaries. Everyone is distracted by the phone and I am too, a lot of the time. Teenagers are also lazy so I always placed my phone on the opposite side of the room because I knew I wouldn't want to get up to go get it. I also gave myself half an hour of uninterrupted time to just go on social media. Whether I was in the middle of a paragraph or a worksheet, that time would always be for my phone. It allowed my brain to rest for a bit before I could get back into it. This is extremely helpful but when its time to get off your phone, you need to get off! I wouldn't start playing any games or striking up a conversation. I would reply to some friends and even if I was scrolling on social media, I would allow myself one more post, or TikTok and then turn my phone completely off. 

Get on top of flashcards right now! I was planning to write mine all term and I thought, its fine, I still have time. I do not have time. School holidays, I am doing my flashcards immediately. So if I could tell my younger self anything, start utilising flashcards before this year.

I hope some of the tips I gave you on studying help and that you enjoyed some insight into my March. I'll be back next month for another update.

Happy reading :)

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Sydney

Where do I even begin? I have been a fan of Taylor Swift since reputation and when she announced she was coming to Australia, I was ecstatic. I managed to survive the Great War in the first general sale in June. I was really lucky and I was so grateful that I managed to get two tickets, one for me and one for my mum. She played four back to back shows, from Friday to Monday, and I got the best day, which was the second night, Saturday, at Accor Stadium in Sydney (it was also the first one to be sold out). I can not believe I got to go to the Eras Tour, dressed in the Lover Era and my mum was dressed in the Red Era.

Sydney Olympic Park was really ready for Taylor's arrival and everywhere you went, you could either see some swifties or some posters of tay herself. I forced my parents to arrive really early because I knew the place would get packed really fast. My dad dropped us off and we immediately got in line for merch. It took us a solid hour to just get to the front and they had already sold out of many small sizes. I ended up getting the navy crewneck in a size M (because they had run out of size S). Because we had a lot of time to kill, me and my mum hopped into another merch line and had to wait ANOTHER hour before we made it to the front. This time, they had more size S's and I got the white tour t shirt. 

We had about two hours before doors opened so we found a shady spot and ate some lunch. Coincidentally, Blink 182 also had a show in the arena next to us (Qudos Bank Arena) and I knew my best friend was watching the show so I actually met up with her as she got her merch (spoiler: it did not take her an hour). We also heard the opening act, Sabrina Carpenter soundchecking Feather! 

When the doors opened, we found our seats and I was actually surprised how close we were. I managed to get C Reserve so we were in the stands but we were Row 19 so it wasn't that bad. Then Sabrina started her performance and I love her. There was only a handful of girls standing, I was one of them and the outro was killer, iykyk. 

Then of course, after another wait, the countdown came on and then when Taylor came on, I was screaming so loud. I remember every detail of the past shows I have been to but I kid you not, I really have to focus hard to remember that night. I would film the start and the bridges of songs (while singing) and then turn my phone off in the middle so I could just sing and be in the moment.

My surprise songs were: Should've Said No x You're Not Sorry (guitar) and New Years Day x Peace (piano) and when she started to mash up Peace with New Years Day, I felt my soul LEAVE MY BODY. I can't even begin to express how much those two songs killed me and I'm glad she finally got to hear all the Aussie says 'naur'. 

This is a video of New Years Day x Peace and if you listen closely, you can hear me losing it:

I can't even rate this experience. You just have to know, it was the coolest one ever and I'll probably remember it forever. I only got about 90% of my voice back TODAY.

To everyone who went, I hope you all had a nice nap and the post concert depression doesn't hit that hard for you after.

A rant from a writer

Hello,

I thought I would come on here to give you some exclusive looks on how my book is going. I'm nearly at the finish line but I haven't hammered down a release date yet as I haven't sorted out the next stages after the editing progress but we are getting very close on my end :) 

To describe what my days have been lately, I've been working in the mornings, trying to aim for 1000 words everyday (writers count in words not pages). The skeleton of the book is complete and I've been focusing on ironing the details, making sure there are no plot holes, which is why there is a lower word count. I work for a solid three hours before I have lunch and the majority of the word count would have been completed in this time. In the afternoons, I either continue to edit (while watching a few shows because I am also a teenager guys) or if I've done a considerable amount of work in the week, I just clock off entirely. Sometimes I do pick it back up in the night. I've learnt that I gain the most inspiration at night and my words always flow the best so its a great way to end the day. 

Writer's block is a big issue that a lot of people face and it has been an obstacle for me. On days where I feel that I'm not flowing as well, I will do 20 minutes of solid work and then 5 minutes of just scrolling through my phone. Its a nice reward and when I start to write, I always feel more refreshed and it just works better. This doesn't mean you get to spend however many hours you want on your phone, I only stick to five just to stop my brain concentrating so much. Or I just grab a snack. I would read a book, except that I know I wouldn't want to stop reading and then I wouldn't write. If my mind is in a better place then I'll keep writing but if I'm continuing to struggle, its nice to take a longer break. The world won't end if you don't get your daily word goal, it just means you work harder the next few days. But I would like any writer to know that everyone goes through writer's block and it really helps to just take a break and think about something else. You might get inspiration from someplace else!

Speaking of shows, I've really been getting into Drive To Survive on Netflix and I've gone into an F1 deep dive. I definitely recommend the show, just be aware that a lot of the rivalries they try to portray aren't all true and you should go watch interviews of them on YouTube and I assure you there is NO tension whatsoever between the drivers. And I've learnt the rules very quickly but don't ask me to list every world champion because I'm not that deep into it.

I was trying to give you insight on my day but that did turn into a rant. If you did make it to the end, thanks for reading and be on the lookout as I post more updates!

New Years Resolutions for 2024

Well 2023 is nearly over and 2024 is nearly upon us. I've gained a lot of new experiences, achieved some goals and made some new friends this year. With the New Year, resolutions are always at the forefront of our minds. We always plan to achieve some goals, whether they be professionally, academically or just small things to strive for. By the end of the year, most of us may have accomplished a few, may have forgotten about a few or just thrown out the list altogether. Here are some of my New Year Resolutions:

• Publish My Solo Book

If you've continued to read my blog for the past few years, I have shared a few tidbits of me writing my solo book. I am still writing this book but its nearly finished. I hope to publish it in 2024 and you'll be the first to know of a release date or a preorder date. The process has been very long and I've been working very hard to get it into your hands.

• Goodreads

I have been noticing a few of my favourite people to watch on social media, mainly BookTubers, have been participating in the Goodreads Wrapped, which is basically Spotify Wrapped but for Goodreads. I do have a Goodreads account but I never really updated it. I essentially only have a list of books I want to read that is not organised and consists of mostly Tiktok recs. Next year, I want to actually utilize Goodreads and maybe even review a few books on there, we'll see how we go :)

• Senior Year

I'm heading into my first year of senior year which means I'm in the big leagues now. What I do academically this year truly will have an impact on my future. All along, I have just been studying the night before and I want to try and start studying a few weeks before to better prepare me. I do say this every year so we'll see if I actually stick to this or not. 

• Start Writing More

I want to start using the tools I have around me and start developing more stories. This blog has been a very fun, recreational activity but I want to try and write some more although that may be hard when I'm balancing senior year as well.

• Stop Caring About My Reputation

As any teenage girl living in this modern society, our reputation holds a very important part of our lives. Who we are seen with, who we associate with and especially what we seem to be to other people. Everyone has a very different version of themselves they present to certain people and while that will never go away - intertwined into our very core as a human being - I suppose I want to stop caring what other people think of me so much. A lot of people dropped out this year, leaving us with a smaller group of students. Most of which I will never see again. This is definitely the year to start trying.

• DRIVE

This isn't so much of a resolution but a goddamn fact. I am the youngest out of all my friends (yes, ALL of my friends) so they all have their license and I can't even legally take the test to get mine. The element of surprise is also ruined because I am so desperate to have it that they would all expect me to get it as soon as my birthday is over. Some of my friends have had birthdays passed and they haven't taken the test so fingers crossed, there is a 1% that I may get it before them. 

This is literally all I have for my New Years Resolution. I always only do a few anyways so I don't feel like I'm restricted because I HAVE to accomplish these. Maybe that's what should be on my New Years Resolutions next year. Have more resolutions...

Work Experience at ABC Radio

The following week, I did work experience at my local ABC radio. ABC is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and is the national, local and emergency broadcaster. It is funded by the Government and provides radio, television, online and mobile services everywhere and at any time. 

I experienced the high intensity rush of the mornings, when they produce their on air breakfast show. It's a very crazy time, where they have to screen calls, make sure everything is running on time while preparing for tomorrow's show as well. They have a smaller office than many of the other local radio shows which meant that most of them left earlier because they had taken the early shift for the show. Having less people also meant that those who had a job there had to have a wider variety of skills and be able to not just present, but to source local news as well. I also learned that a lot of their news stories were sourced from local residents who called or texted them. 

I was taught how to use their systems, such as Radio Assist 8 (NETIA Software) which is what they operate with when they chop up and stitch their audio. All their audio files, from anywhere in Australia are located on this system and I had some fun, stitching together some news files and some music files! I also came with one of their reporters to two events, a small press conference where I had to wear the construction uniform and a walk against violence. I captured photographs of both events and I learned a lot, such as how to perform during a fast paced circumstance. This wasn't quite as long a journey as it was to the city of Sydney because it was my local radio and I could catch the train on my own. 

My supervisor, Caroline left some very pleasant words for me on my post work experience report:

"She takes direction well and has shown a great ability to learn new skills quickly."

Caroline Perryman

Content Maker/Producer

On my last day, I was asked to give a short interview live on ABC Breakfast with their radio presenter where we spoke about my writing, hobbies, personal life and other stuff. Thank you for having me and I really enjoyed my time!

Work Experience at TV Week Magazine

I did a week of work experience at Are Media, specifically TV Week Magazine. Are Media is Australia's leading content company with 27 media brands, 5.9 million readers a month and has been a provider of truth for Australian women. TV Week is one of the many media brands they own and focuses on TV information, with the biggest television guide and star interviews. It was launched in 1957 and is an Australian icon in the world of publishing.  

I met some of the nicest people during my short stint and I learnt a lot of things about the industry, like copyediting and interviewing people. I arrived as they were all rushing to finish up three editions of magazines before their holiday break so it was very busy but they all took the time to ask me about my day and we all had some conversations, opening up about our personal lives. I listened in on an interview and it was quite interesting for me to see how you interview people over a phone call, especially when you can't distinguish body language. I also got to hold some copies of magazines that hadn't been released yet (if you want to buy the latest copy of TV Week magazine, you can find it at Coles, Woolworths or any newsagent). 

I had a very early start getting to the city of Sydney everyday, a two hour journey from my house to Are Media but it was a very rewarding and fulfilling experience and I would do it again if I could. There was a Starbucks coincidentally right across the street and it was all really busy, with people rushing to work. I also met a friend who was also doing work experience (hi Emily!) and we would get lunch and walk to the train station in the afternoons.  

At the end of the week, my supervisor, Stephen had to fill out a post-work experience report and left some very kind words for me.

"She has great writing skills and I encourage her to keep working"

Stephen Downie
Editor - TV Week

I learnt a lot doing work experience and they are a very sweet bunch of people! Thank you so much for having me Stephen, Lucy and Simon.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q: Pick a Taylor Swift song you CURRENTLY resonate with:

a) "I waited ages to see you there, I search the party of better bodies, just to learn you never cared"

b) "I never grew up, its getting so old"

c) "This is how the world works, you gotta leave before you get left"

d) "I've got a hundred thrown out speeches I almost said to you"

e) "dreaming 'bout the day when you wake up and find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time"

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q: Pick a lyric from GUTS you CURRENTLY resonate with:

a) "I don't get angry when I'm pissed. I'm the eternal optimist. I scream inside to deal with it"

b) "And I tell someone I love them just as a distraction. They tell me they love me like I'm some tourist attraction"

c) "I got the things I wanted, its just not what I imagined"

d) "Feels like my skin doesn't fit right over my bones"

e) "Said I was too young. I was too soft"

Writers Guild of America (WGA) has gone on strike!

For the first time in 15 years, the Writers Guild of America or the WGA will go on strike, leaving Hollywood movies and shows to shut down production and press releases. The last WGA strike happened between 2007 and 2008 and lasted 100 days. It cost the Californian economy $3 billion. The strike is occurring because the WGA failed to reach an agreement for higher pay from the nine largest studios such as Netflix, which are represented through the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It is said that this could severely impact the autumn TV season because writing usually starts during May or June. The WGA represents 11,500 writers and other members.

This is an important issue to address because it often appears that writers are not valued enough in the industry. We are responsible for more than most people think. Actors may star in front of the camera but without a writer, they would not have a story to act out. Half of TV writers work at minimum salaries, as opposed to 2013-2014 where only a third were paid that little. The WGA is demanding better pay, expanding protections to cover all television writers, a mandatory minimum staffing required for each episode of television, a guaranteed number of consecutive weeks of work, share of compensation from the streaming revenue and many more reasonable requests that they deserve to have. There is also the fear of AI or robots replacing the writers and a request for safeguards from studios to prevents AI generating new scripts from writers previous works. 

Shows that will currently be impacted are late night shows such as The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show With Steven Colbert and Late Night With Seth Myers. They have shut down immediately and will air reruns. Network television shows like the Emmy-award winning Abbott Elementary and Yellowjackets have also ceased writing. Streaming shows like Good Omens, Cobra Kai and Stranger Things are also affected and writing has stopped. Many actors have supported this strike. Brett Goldstein, a writer and producer on Ted Lasso told The Hollywood Reporter, "It's time writers were paid a fair wage, it seems a real shame that all this good stuff was made by writers, all these people and there are writers who are genuinely struggling to afford to live. It just seems insane. You need writers,"

While the impact of film and television may not be felt right now, we will certainly feel it if the strike continues for an extended period of time. The Actors Union (SAG-AFTR) and the Directors Union (DGA) are also in negotiations with the studios and their deadline is June 30.

#2 Forced Proximity in Romance

This trope can be very complicated and thrown together in a way that doesn't work or a scenario that is magical and is the core of the story. It is rarely used as a singular trope in a story, instead its used to combine different tropes together. Nevertheless, it moves the story along quicker and always creates excitement. Most people, when they think of forced proximity, they think literally. Being stuck in an elevator together or having to live in the same holiday cabin for a certain amount of time. But it can also mean other things, such as taking a job together, being reluctant allies, etc.

Logically speaking, this trope takes two people away from the comforts of their own world, forces them to be in a position that they wouldn't normally be in and add a person who they either never thought they would have to be stuck with or never thought they would talk to, period. This trope is more flexible than others and it can throw two characters into the same position over and over again until they realise their feelings for each other. 

Forced proximity also moves along a plot point. If conflict arises, putting those two characters into forced proximity, it allows the plot to move along quicker. A book doesn't have to be limited to just forced proximity. In fact, this trope usually intertwines with other tropes. It works best with enemies to lovers or an office romance. 

Examples of forced proximity in film is: 

• The Hating Game (starring Lucy Hale)
• The Proposal (starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock)
• What Happens in Vegas (starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz)
• Purple Hearts (starring Sofia Carson)
• Leap Year (starring Amy Adams)

Examples of forced proximity in books is: 

• From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
• Happy Place by Emily Henry
• Final Offer by Lauren Asher
• A Court Of Thorn And Roses by Sarah J. Maas

If you want to read about another trope, love triangles, click here.

HARRY STYLES; SYDNEY NIGHT 2

I SAW HARRY STYLES! 

Harry Styles did a tour of Australia last week, starting at Perth and ending at Sydney. He performed two shows at Sydney and I was fortunate enough to attend the second show with my mother. It was his final show in Australia, making me even luckier as it was a special one.

The show was on Saturday and we bought the tickets on Wednesday. We weren't planning to go because I was waiting for another concert but my mum has listened to As It Was and really wanted to go. So we looked to see if there were any tickets left and there were! They were Level 6 but you could still see him on the big screen. 

I live an hour and a half away but because we had seats, we only needed to be early for the merch. The doors for the stadium opened at 5pm so we left the house at 1pm. We arrived at Accor Stadium at 2:30pm. We walked around, trying to find merch. I wanted the blue jumble crewneck but it was sold out from the first night so we tried to find the yellow one. At the first merch stand, they only had it in the small so we walked around the whole stadium, trying to find the other merch stands. They finally had it in a large, so we bought that. 

We waited around for a bit and then went inside when the crowd had died down a bit. We had to climb a long ramp because we were right at the top. Then we sat down and waited for two hours before Wet Leg, the opening band, started playing. The crowd was electric and when they finished, "Best Song Ever" by One Direction started playing and the crowd just grew louder. By the time, Harry actually came on, everyone was so impatient.

He was ethereal on that stage. None of us could believe he was real. He started with Music For A Sushi Restaurant and the crowd lit up. I was standing up and screaming. Then he did Golden, Adore You, Keep Driving, Daylight and Woman. I sat next to this girl who was two years older than me and during Matilda, she sang the whole time that everyone kept giving her bad looks. I felt so bad. Then Harry sang Little Freak and that was one of the songs I was desperate to hear and the lights looked so good. 

Satellite was one I was looking forward to hearing but it turned out to be one of my most favourites, live. The chorus was so good with everyone else screaming along. Then Cinema came along but my iPhone storage had ran out. I had checked my photo storage but had completely forgotten to check my storage as a whole. Luckily, I quickly deleted some apps that I didn't need and managed to continue filming and dancing along to Cinema as well. I had taken a glimpse of the setlist but I was surprised that TPWK was so early but everyone was up on their feet and dancing along. Then WMYB and everyone knows that song. Late Night Talking and Watermelon Sugar were quite popular as well because they are singles and even those who don't really like Harry Styles know them. Love of My Life, the second song I was desperate to hear, came up next and again, the lights in the stadium were gorgeous. Sign Of The Times was next and that song is so beautiful and iconic. Then, as a special treat, Harry brought Daryl Braithwaite onstage with him to sing "The Horses". Then he said a massive goodbye speech and sang As It Was and Kiwi. Then he sprinted away and the whole stadium went silent for a brief second as we all registered the fact that we wouldn't see him again.

We decided to drive back home so we left at 11pm and arrived home at around 12:30am. The whole drive, I was looking back at the videos while trying not to fall asleep. The concert didn't seem real and I can't believe I got to see Harry and he breathed the same air as me.

This is a video I took from Matilda. (video is owned by me):

Reputation; Taylor Swift

Reputation always rank high on any of my album rankings for Taylor Swift. It holds personal meaning for me and it was the first album I ever listened to from her. Although I was aware of Swift from 1989, I didn't really listen to her music until Reputation. Although it was incredibly hard, I've ranked the songs from her album by MY personal preference and how the meaning behind them impacted me. This is not by which song is "the best" or which is "more lyrically better". This is from me.

15. Endgame feat Ed Sheeran and Future.

I can repeat the entire post-chorus and verse 3 off the top of the my head (I hit you like bang, we tried to forget it but we just couldn't). This song wasn't horrible or terrible. I just preferred the others. 

14. Look What You Made Me Do

This is the perfect comeback song and in fact, the first song I heard in passing. It was a bit too repetitive for my taste but its the perfect song to scream and be angry with. Its a song about revenge and the music video is beautifully shot and ICONIC.

13. ...Ready For It?

Whenever I want to listen to this album, because it is the first song, I overplay it many times. I've had countless moments where I press play, get through this song, but have to pause it because I've had to do something else. I still enjoy this song but I have overplayed it many times.

12. So It Goes

This is the song I listen to the least. I was going back through the songs, humming through them and I don't really listen to So It Goes enough to actually know the lyrics off the top of my head, except for the chorus. So its not that I don't like this song, its that its terribly underrated that I haven't listened to it a lot.

11. New Years Day

If I were to hum any song from this album, I would hum this one. Its a song that embodies calmness and its a great song to slow dance to. I prefer songs that you can sing along to, with more pop beats, which is why I'm a reputation girlie, not a folklore girlie (although I love folklore!). New Years Day can be too slow for my liking sometimes but its not a bad song and I know its criminal to rate it this low.

10. I Did Something Bad

This is Reputation to its core. Swift talks about the public perception of her and throws away every rulebook in this song. If you need something to scream, this is the song for you. Although reputation isn't just about revenge and angry, you can't get any more reputation than this song.

9. Dress

THE BRIDGE IN THIS SONG IS EVERYTHING!! It depicts Joe and Taylor's relationship and their introduction to each other. It's a fun one to sing on tour (not that I went) and the vocals!!

8. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

This song is about the media spinning and twisted all her words, especially about how she brought friends with her on stage on her 1989 tour. Its a fun one to sing and I hum it sometimes, even when I'm not aware I'm doing it. It gets stuck in your head.

7. Don't Blame Me

This song enters the "legendary" and "iconic" titles of Taylor Swift. It is not in the Top 6 because it has gotten overplayed on platforms such as Tiktok but the vocals in this are INSANE. Period.

6. Gorgeous

If I don't know what song to play, I play this one. Gorgeous is such a vibey and happy song and the LYRICS. (Ocean blue eyes, looking in mine, I feel like I might, sink and drown and die)

5. Getaway Car

The goddamn bridge in this one. That's all I have to say. THE BRIDGE. Also I still want a music video for this. (We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde (Oh-oh), Until I switched to the other side, to the other side, It's no surprise I turned you in (Oh-oh), 'Cause us traitors never win)

4. Dancing With Our Hands Tied

This is the very first song I ever listened to by Taylor Swift and it wasn't because the shopping centre had decided to blast it or because it was number 1 on radios. I was on an airplane and I wanted to close my eyes but I wanted to listen to music. I didn't really know any artists but I remembered Taylor Swift. So I searched her name up and it came up with her most recent album during the time and I pressed a random song which happened to be this one. The lyricism in this one is amazing!

3. Delicate

This is track 5 on the album and follows Swift pattern of putting vulnerable songs on Track 5. Its an incredibly delicate song. The first tracks were more upbeat and angry but you hit this song and it starts to become scary that someone loves you and wants to be with you, despite your reputation. It also one of the most catchiest chorus's ever. 

2. King Of My Heart

Top 2! THE BRIDGE ON THIS ONE AGAIN! I'm convinced Miss Swift writes the best bridges. Why this is on the top 2 requires no explanation. It just is.

1. Call It What You Want

Favourite song off the record and I didn't even need to think. I can nearly rattle of the lyrics, word by word for the majority of the song. 

4 Book Recommendations to add to your TBR!!

 "A reader lives a thousand lives before he die... 

The man who never reads lives only one" - George R.R. Martin

Minor Spoilers may be found but nothing revealing:

4 book recommendations that you should definitely check out, in no particular order:

1. Inheritance Games Trilogy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:

(#1 Inheritance Games, #2 Hawthorne Legacy, #3 The Final Gambit)

This is a massive MUST READ!! It is a mystery that is meticulous, exciting and well written out. The books can be understood as a standalone, with each book having its own core mystery although the series itself interconnects. It is written beautifully. When each book ended, the ending made sense but when the next book came along, that also made sense too. It was such a good series that it is definitely worth the read!! A love triangle is also found in this book between heiress, Avery, older brother, Grayson and younger brother, Jameson. I am firmly Team Grayson, although Team Jameson wasn't too bad... Inheritance Games is a well written and interconnecting mystery series that you need to read!

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

2. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard:

(#1 Red Queen, #2 Glass Sword, #3 Kings Cage, #4 War Storm. #5 Broken Throne is a collection of short stories but is necessary to understand the conclusion)

This is among the first ever YA series I read and still remains among my favourites. I can not repeat this enough but for those who like to read the ending before the beginning (no shame, I am included in that group of people), I would advise against it. There is a heartbreaking twist in it that I assure you, you will NOT see coming and it is better to experience the full shock of it. Another love triangle can be found here between Mare, Cal and Maven. Red Queen is a fantasy-dystopian series that really pushes the boundaries of the imagination. Incredibly invested in it and well worth the read!

This is a world divided by blood—red or silver.
The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

(#1 Shatter Me, #1.5 Destroy Me, #2 Unravel Me, #2.5 Fracture Me, #3 Ignite Me, #4 Restore Me, #4.5 Shadow Me, #5 Defy Me, #5.5 Reveal Me, #6 Imagine Me, #6.5 Believe Me. #1.5, #2.5, #4.5 #5.5, #6.5 are all shorter novels, NOT written in Juliette's POV and are significantly shorter than the novels. Although I believe they are necessary, you do not need to read them to follow the story)

You really think I wouldn't put this series in? I must admit, this is not my favourite. I did not love this series as most people suggest. I will say that the relationships found in this book are unlike any found in the real world. Another love triangle (this is a mere coincidence, believe it or not, I don't entirely like love triangles) is found between Juliette, Warner and Adam. It is another fantasy-dystopian series and it is perfect for those who enjoy long series, with many books in the Shatter Me-world. 

I have a curse
I have a gift
I am a monster
I'm more than human
My touch is lethal
My touch is power
I am their weapon
I will fight back
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war—and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

4. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

(#1 The Selection, #2 The Elite, #3 The One. #4 The Heir and #4 The Crown follow the story of America's daughter)

The Selection Series is a dystopian-romance series focused around America (the main character, not the country). Perfect for those in a reading slump as it is easy to read! A love triangle is also found (again, a coincidence) between America, Maxon and Aspen. The love triangle takes a larger part of the book as the series is romance-focused, unlike the others, which is fantasy-focused. The romance is a plot whereas in the other series, they are more of a sub-plot. Worth the read and if you enjoy it, it is worth reading Eadlyn's story (America's daughter) as she follows a similar path to her mothers. 

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.