Me Time
All The News That Fits
This week many people are hiding from the news to preserve their mental health. And I don't blame them. Yesterday was...a lot.
But when you're able to get back to it, there are a number of independent news sources you might find helpful and palatable. I learned about two of them after I started scrolling on TikTok (a very un-Boomer like thing to do I'll admit) and some others came to me in other ways.
I'll start by saying that I still read the NY Times every day, scanning the home page for stories I want to read and then settling in with the crossword puzzle, a daily treat. I did, however, cancel my subscription the Washington Post after it became clear that it had decided to obey in advance with its non-endorsement. So, here are some independent news sources that might interest you:
The Parnas Perspective: Aaron Parnas is a young journalist, trained as a lawyer, whose "breaking news" stories are both factual and insightful. You can find him on TikTok and Instagram, but his complete coverage is best read on Substack. I upgraded to paid but you can read his stuff for free.
Under the Desk News: a project of queer amateur journalist, Vitus "V" Spehar, who reports in a suit and tie from under her desk. I follow her on TikTok but she also has her own website.
The Contrarian: the new kid on the block from Jen Rubin, who quit the Washington Post, and Norm Eisen. Their Substack includes news updates and perspectives and also features a number of individual columnists, including Laurence Tribe, Oliva Julianna, Ilan Goldenberg and Andy Borowitz.
Joe.My.God: a gay male blogger who recaps news from a variety of sources.
Documented: a NY based curated news source about immigration.
In the next issue, I'll share some of the more fun sites I follow because, as my rabbi says, "Joy is an act of resistance."
Feel free to contact me to include any others you value. cindyrizzobooks@gmail.com
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
The World Needs Writers Now More Than Ever – Writer Unboxed
in 2025 and beyond, the world will need us more than ever to show them what it means to be human, what it means to be ourselves, what it means to live. What it means to honor and accept others and all their beautiful differences. What it means to be a light in the darkness of hate and judgment and misunderstanding.
Amazon removes commitment to transgender and Black rights from policies - The Washington Post
A commitment to helping Black people live “free from fear,” and all occurrences of the term “transgender” disappeared from a page listing the online retailer’s policies late last month.
Should Novelists Share Their Politics (Or Not?) – Writer Unboxed
Writers face difficult choices within and outside of fiction, especially in today’s hyper-polarized social media landscape.
We Took a Gay Literary Road Trip Through Central Florida, and You Should Too! | Autostraddle
And as Florida now leads the nation in book bans, putting together a little Florida road trip travel guide oriented around independent bookstores feels meaningful.
I’m a Professional Editor and These Phrases Tell Me You Used ChatGPT | by Maria Cassano | Jan, 2025 | The Writing Cooperative
What do most of these phrases have in common? They’re low-effort transition phrases that don’t mean much of anything. They’re fluff. Place-holders. Wasted word-count. Bad writing.
How to Spot AI-Generated Content and Improve Your Writing in 2025 | by Anshul Kumar | Write A Catalyst | Jan, 2025 | Medium
As a professional content writer and editor who reviews dozens of articles each week, I’ve learned some common clues that often give away AI-generated text.
PW Reviewers Job Opening in - PW JobZone
Publishers Weekly, the international news platform of the book publishing industry, is looking for experienced freelance book reviewers for both traditionally published and self-published works.
What Fanfiction Taught Me About Writing for An Audience | by Margery Bayne | Jan, 2025 | The Writing Cooperative
Fanfiction got me over the shame, embarrassment, and fear of sharing my writing with the public. This is such a big thing for so many aspiring creatives who are held back from just even getting started.
Don’t Write Every Day: 3 Things to Do Instead to Finish Your Book | Jane Friedman
I’m a “binge” writer. With no children, pets, or family members who need care, I’m able to carve out 3–10 days about twice a year to do personal retreats, in a rental apartment or a hotel room. I try to pick places near grocery stores (snacks!) and where it’s easy to take a long, thoughtful walk between chapters.
Backstory Balancing Act - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
How to handle a character’s backstory is a universal struggle for all of us writers. How much should we include? How long should a flashback be? When is it okay to give a character’s backstory? Is backstory even necessary?
News You Can Use
Marriage Equality: Here’s What to Know About Same-Sex Marriage Under Trump | Them
Regardless of relationship status, getting your legal documents in order is a good idea.
How To Be Happy in a Lesbian Long Distance Relationship
have one concrete plan for when you’ll connect next. Set a FaceTime date. Make it for a few days after the goodbye to allow yourself to settle back into your day-to-day life. You can of course still text and even call each other before then, but make that scheduled FaceTime really be an intentional date. Having something to look forward to eases the separation a bit.
Inside My Trip To A Nudist Swinger Resort
What was I thinking ― a 40-something monogamous lesbian mom who’s had a lifelong love affair with sweets going to a resort that bills itself as somewhere you can explore and enjoy all of your desires? Was this one of those adventures that were better off left, well, unadventured?
I Camped With 350 Lesbians for Lezapalooza 2024 - Tagg Magazine
Underscoring the event’s logistical elements and the numerous displays of lesbian and sapphic love, there was an undeniable sense of light—lightness of community, kindness, and a dispelling of judgment and inhibitions.
How ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Healed My Broken Heart | Autostraddle
For me, the blood and the gore were not the most chilling pieces of the film. At the film’s core, it is more than horror. It is a queer reimagining of the classic “guy saves the girl.”
Famm Connect is redefining networking for LGBTQ+ professionals - News Is Out
Famm Connect is turning the idea of professional networking on its head. Founded by queer married couple, Cat Perez (she/they) and Marianna Di Regolo (she/her) and designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community, this innovative platform prioritizes safety, intentionality, and meaningful connections over mass adoption. With its referral-only model and thoughtful features, Famm Connect is creating a space where LGBTQ+ professionals can thrive.
What LGBTQ+ people should know about Meta’s new rules
Meta’s changes to its Hateful Conduct policies explicitly allow for previously prohibited rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ people, women, and immigrants. The new guidelines now permit language that excludes or insults individuals based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation, citing topics like transgender rights, immigration, and homosexuality as justifications for social discourse.
Who Is Kirstin Crowley, LA's First Lesbian Fire Chief? And Why Is She Under Attack? - GO Magazine
Crowley, who made history as the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), has faced accusations that her focus on diversity efforts has come at the expense of operational readiness. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Rachel Maddow Returns To Prime Time To Tackle Trump’s First 100 Days - GO Magazine
With the early days of Trump’s administration expected to draw intense public scrutiny, there will undoubtedly be plenty for the star anchor to discuss.
Everything You Need To Know About The Unrivaled Basketball League - GO Magazine
Unrivaled is a three-on-three women’s basketball league co-founded by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. The league will feature six teams of six players from the WNBA, and all games will take place in Miami. Stewart and Collier created the league to challenge the landscape of women’s professional basketball, giving WNBA players a domestic alternative to playing overseas during the offseason and compensating its players with a historic six-figure salary higher than the WNBA.
Reneé Rapp and Elmo Say It's Okay to Feel Your Feelings | Autostraddle
The trailer for the upcoming season of Sesame Street (its 55th!) shows sapphic sensation Reneé Rapp singing with the muppets about the gayest thing you can do on a children’s show: processing your feelings.
Harley Quinn Is Back And Gayer Than Ever - GO Magazine
The fifth season of Max’s queer animated series premieres, January 16, and it’s gayer than ever.
Lesbian Movies on Hulu? Here's 25 You Can Watch Now | Autostraddle
“Where can I see two women stare longingly into each other’s eyeballs?????”
Sarah Paulson Puppy Interview
Sarah even used this interview to make a PLEA that someone cast her (and even Cate Blanchett) in a comedy, and, like, PLEASE SOMEONE DO IT!
Billie Eilish Says She’s Never Talking About Her Sexuality Again | Them
Eilish shared that she has drawn a line between her private and public lives, including deleting all social media from her phone. She says the move has helped her not rely on others for satisfaction in her life.
Julien Baker & Torres, Lucy Dacus, Japanese Breakfast: We’ve Been Blessed With Three Sapphic Music Videos in One Week | Them
And we thought 2024 was the year of the lesbian.
Helpful Tools
Flashes Is an Instagram-Like Client for Bluesky | Lifehacker
Flashes isn't really an Instagram competitor. There is no Flashes platform, you won't sign up for a Flashes account, and you won't post photos or videos to a dedicated Flashes feed. Instead, the app is a "photo viewing client" for Bluesky. It essentially pulls all of the photos and videos from your Bluesky feed and displays them in a UI reminiscent of Instagram. You can post photos and videos via Flashes, but you're really just posting them on Bluesky. Any posts to Flashes, as well as any comments on those posts, will appear on your Bluesky account as well.
