Power Through or Take a Break?

Friday Recommendations: The Eleventh

The titular Emily. In Paris.

There seem to be two schools of thought when writers hit a bit of a block. The first is the idea that you should simply power through — just keep writing until the inspiration hits again. The second (to which I am more amenable due to personal laziness) is to take a break.

This is now the second week that I haven’t released a main post. That’s not a big deal, but I always worry it’s the beginning of a trend. I have a few posts that are nearly complete sitting in the drafts pile, but I’m not happy with any of them. I could post them anyway, but I’d rather sit on it and spruce them up into pieces I can be proud of.

So, I’ve reached a compromise with myself. I can take a break from my main posts, but I’ll stay on top of my Friday Recs. That way I get to write a few hundred more casual words without stressing too much. Fingers crossed for next week . . .

Follow Friday

• Okay, I think

  That Guy From the Internet
  is the first person to make it on to the Follow Friday list twice. So congrats on this extraordinarily niche accomplishment! This time, I’m recommending you all follow him for his Notes. He creates great conversational threads about media, especially music. He also does a six word story challenge every Friday. Give him a follow! Here is his most recent thread:

• Next up is

  olivia rafferty
  who is a wonderful musician and wrote this piece about productivity that really hit home for me. Check it out! And also her Spotify!

i gotta get thru this

Music

Okay, I already recommended you check out Olivia Rafferty’s Spotify so I’m actually only going to include one song in this week’s Music section and that is Charli XCX’s new song from the Barbie soundtrack, “Speed Drive.” It’s basically everything you want from a Charli song. Complete bop.

Television

I originally started watching Emily in Paris because I have no shame and adore some trash TV. But after finishing my rewatch, I think the show may actually be good? Season 1 was a hot mess and rightfully derided, but I think it’s really come into its own in successive seasons. It’s become more self aware. It’s about learning to enjoy life instead of making everything about work. It’s funny and there’s some genuine heart there.

Of course it still has issues. Darren Star, the showrunner (and original creator of Sex and the City) has a tendency to slot all of his gay characters into the “GBF” category (that is, “Gay Best Friend”). Less generous reviewers have accused him of making gay men just another accessory for the main character. While I wouldn’t go that far, I do think the show needs to work on how it portrays its queer characters.

But still! It’s a lot of fun and I hope it goes on forever.

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Okay, my friends. That’s all I have for you this week. Go and enjoy your weekends. See a movie, go out with friends, read a book in a park, play Mario Kart.