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Young Writers Society


Squills 6/16/19 - 6/23/19



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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:15 am
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Welcome to Squills, the official news bulletin of the Young Writers Society!
What will you find here? Tons of interesting news about YWS, including but not limited to: articles about writing, art, and the world of humanities; interviews with YWS members; shameless plugs; link round-ups; and opinionated columns.
And where will all of this come from? Take a look at our fantastic creative staff!

CREATIVE STAFF

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Editor-in-Chief
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Available - PM Squillsbot if interested

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Of course, our content can’t come only from our staff. We also depend on you to help keep Squills successful. You’re all a part of a writing community, after all. If you’re interested in submitting to Squills, pop on over to the Reader’s Corner to find out how you can get involved by contributing an article or participating in other Squills activities.

You can apply to become a Squillian Journalist by submitting a sample article to SquillsBot today!

Well, that’s all I have for now. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy!





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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:16 am
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THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BOOKS REC LIST
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written by EternalRain < PM: >

If you’re looking for some new books to add to your summer TBR list, look no further! I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorites that would be great reads by the beach, on the airplane to your destined vacation, or when camping! I also asked of the Squills staff, @LordStar and @fraey, their recommendations for summer books. Enjoy!


    Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
    Rec by: EternalRain
    Genre: YA Romance
    “A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.”


    Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
    Rec by: fraey
    Genre: YA Romance
    “Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.”


    Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
    Rec by: fraey
    Genre: Children’s historical fiction
    “Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.”


    Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn
    Rec by: LordStar
    Genre: Adult drama, dark comedy
    “By turns harrowing and hilarious, this ambitious novel cycle dissects the English upper class. Edward St. Aubyn offers his reader the often darkly funny and self-loathing world of privilege as we follow Patrick Melrose's story of abuse, addiction, and recovery from the age of five into early middle age.”


    The Selection by Kiera Cass
    Rec by: EternalRain
    Genre: YA Romance, dystopian fiction
    “For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, 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, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.

    Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.”


    Legend by Marie Lu
    Rec by: EternalRain
    Genre: YA Dystopian fiction
    “What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

    From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.”


    The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
    Rec by: EternalRain
    Genre: Children’s fantasy
    “For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams. . . .”






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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:17 am
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SOME SUPER SERIOUS BUSINESS
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Written by LordWolf < PM: >

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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:19 am
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(QUEER) SEX IN YA NOVELS: WHY WE NEED IT
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written by LordStar< PM: >

Hi! Before you read any further, two things: please only read further along if you are sixteen or up, and before you read along, please go listen to this episode of the Doing It! podcast, hosted by sex-positive feminist Hannah Witton as she discusses Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts), a queer YA novel (while you're at it, take a gander at the other episodes, too - it's great stuff!).

Okay, have you gone and done that? Good. Now we can move on.

With the launch of my own sex-positive blog , I wanted to address something talked about in the podcast linked above: sex in YA novels, why it's important, and why teens benefit from it.

In my first blog post, I talk about the importance of masturbation, and how it's healthy to take time to explore your own body as well as your sexual desires and fantasies. I apply the same philosophy to sex in YA novels, especially queer sex: not only is it important for queer teens to see themselves represented in books by queer characters, but where else are they going to be exposed to queer sex? As Calum points out in Doing It, lack of exposure to sex in media often leads to real life consequences, such as queer teens seeking out sexual experiences they aren't quite ready for.

As well, portrayal of queer sex in novels (as well as other media) helps teens learn and understand what consent looks like before they begin to partake in sexual experiences themselves. They get a first hand look at what being with a sexual partner is like, what can happen, what discussions need to be had, etc., all without putting themselves in a situation they aren't ready for.

Not only that, but it just really helps normalize queer sex in general. Everywhere you look, you see heterosexual sex being sold: in movies, in porn, in smut, everything. And that's not to say that queer sex doesn't exist in these mediums too, because it does, but by portraying queer sex in novels specifically targeted at young adults, we help de-stigmatize being queer and tear down the notion that all gay people are predators. In reality, queer teens will be able to see that they're just as normal as everyone else; they have awkward first times, they suck at flirting, etc.

And with the lack of queer sex education in America, queer teens can learn about things such as STIs, pregnancy between queer couples, how to safely preform acts such as rimming and anal sex, and the importance of things like lube. Reading about these things in YA novels allows queer teens to learn about these things without having to be embarrassed about not knowing them.

And for people like myself who are sexually tramautized, reading about sex in any capacity in YA novels can help me re-contextualize sex in my mind, and detach my traumatic memories from sexual acts. This helps me come to terms with my trauma and become more comfortable with my sexuality and sexual desires, and I"m sure it helps others too.

So is it important for queer teens to see themselves represented in media by queer characters? Of course! But it's just as important for queer sex to be de-stigmatized and demystified as well. Overall, we as a society need to take down the shame and stigma surrounding sex and sexuality, and embrace it as a perfectly normal and healthy thing to want to partake in, especially if you're queer. Sex is a beautiful, human thing, and it's important to see that represented appropriately in media for young adults.





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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:20 am
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THIS IS HALLOWEEN
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written by The Ghost of Blue Africa< PM: >

"maybe a little too cozy"
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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:20 am
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POP CULTURE CORNER: HAWKEYE PIERCE
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Written by LordWolf < PM: >

This might have been something that I have mentioned one or two times before but M*A*S*H is my absolute favorite novel of all time. My love extends to the television series, in all of its glory, that found the right ways to depict all of the characters.

I stumbled upon a mention of Hawkeye Pierce as a queer icon the other night in post by cryptiddevito . It has four different versions of the bisexual flag with Hawkeye pasted over the top. And of course it is completed by his signature martini. The flag from that post that I am showcasing is from peach-editor . They made this "no impulse control bi" flag with Hawkeye:

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If you are not familiar with the show, which I am sure more than a few people are not, Hawkeye is rather notorious with the female officers. And the implication of some of his comments in fan theories say that he might have been notorious with the male officers as well.

I am, personally, a very firm believer in Hawkeye Pierce being bisexual. It makes a lot of things in his experiences and experiments make sense, and it adds on to how important the story is. He is very comfortable in all sorts of situations that could be described as flirtatious and he is one of the few people to defend Klinger early on in the series. [Klinger, with his crossdressing habits brought into play, is early on accused of being a homosexual and his life is put at risk.]

But when Hawkeye defends people, he isn't refuting the claim that the bullies have made. What they are saying is often true, but Hawkeye is the person swooping in as a queer mother hen to help the victims. It's an essential part of his personality.

Hawkeye Pierce is the central character of M*A*S*H. And while I don't love this character as much as I love Father Mulcahy [who is another story for another week], Hawkeye brings a lot of important things to the table. He is open about his life and his motivations for doing the work that he does.

Captain Pierce is in Korea, first and foremost, to save lives.

He might sleep with a few nurses, doctors, and intelligence officers along the way. And he might play poker with a priest, a few villagers, his commanding officer and the company clerk. And he might create schemes to try and get the United States Government to stop fighting in Korea.

Pierce is devoted to his work. While realizing that there is more to life.

So just keep Hawkeye Pierce in mind as a queer icon as we move through Pride Month.

If you have any suggestions for a queer icon from pop culture that I should be covering, drop it in my inbox or on my wall. And if you want to talk about this article, feel free to post your comments on my wall.

Happy Pride Month Y'all!

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Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:23 am
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SHAMELESS PLUGS
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written by SquillsBot < PM: >

We love to run articles and questions, but we also love to advertise for you. Let people know about your new blog, a poem or story you’re looking for reviews on, or a forum thread you’d like more traffic on through Squills’ Shameless Plugs. PM @SquillsBot with the exact formatting of your advertisement, contained in the following code.

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And now for this week's Shameless Plugs!



Review Rampage

Do you like competitions? Do you like easy ways to make extra points? Then read on!

The #ReviewRampage is a competition hosted by @ShadowVyper and @Kirkiln that is a Go-At-Your-Own-Pace review challenge. You set your own review goals and wagers, then race against time to see if you can get done in time. Or, for the more competitive spirits out there, you can also duel against your fellow Rampagers.

Go check out the Q&A Forum for more information and then head on over to the Entry Forum to claim your place as a Rampager.

Get your Rampage on!


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Notice to All Knights of the Green Room


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Due to extra paper-work from building permits, the Great Hall is closed until Main Challenge Four: Restoring the Library Tower is completed - please help us complete the challenge by clearing the rubble. To participate Knights can submit Green Room reviews to fellow Knights and bring the links to the Main Challenge Thread. Help us finish this challenge and re-open the Great Hall!

For questions please contact LordWolf (Captain of the Guard) or Knight alliyah (Court Magician).

For complaints regarding construction noise or inconveniences please contact a nearby Office Squire.

- The Commander

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Do YOU want to join
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The Knights of the Green Room are looking for some new recruits!

If you enjoy reviewing this may be the group for you!

For more information: KotGR Information
To declare you interest: Declare in the Great Hall .
If you have questions: Send a PM to Captain of the Guard Jack (@LordWolf) or Knight Alliyah (@alliyah).


That's all folks~ Now send us yours.





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Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people.
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