Amy Wren's done what?
So it's been a while since the last time I did this newsletter. I mean, I guess I sent one out back in 2023 when I started The Reluctant Disney Adult, but that doesn't really count. No, the last time I did this newsletter in earnest was sometime in 2021.
So, obviously I haven't written a word since then, right?
No, of course not! I've done a lot of writing, just not in one place. And some of it wasn't technically writing, it was more...speaking over images in a video format?
First off, if you were curious I am no longer on the site I shall refer to as Twitter, thanks to its ketamine soaked perpetually jumping dipshit of an owner turning it into an even bigger cesspool than it already was. I am on Bluesky though, and can be found on my main account and on the official account of The Reluctant Disney Adult. I can also be found on Letterboxd and Goodreads, if you're curious as to what I'm watching and reading.
Writing
One of the biggest things I did over the past couple years is watch the world's longest movie. All seven weeks of it! And did I write about it? You bet.
When I first wrote about it over on Episodes, my friend Emily St. James's great newsletter, it was only available for paid subscribers. However, last year she reposted the piece to the free newsletter, so now it's available for everyone to read. I'm really proud of this piece, and think its well worth your time to read. After you are done, be sure to check out Emily's newsletter. It's well worth your time to subscribe, I assure you!
As for my other writing, some of you might remember that 2021 was a prolific year of writing for me. I self published "Rain Again", a longer short story in three parts on the old newsletter. In addition, I also wrote four Halloween themed short stories in October and November. These were fun exercises that I'm glad I took the time to do, and I hope those who read them enjoyed them.
Unfortunately, they are no longer available due to the demise of my previous newsletter platform. In addition, I can't seem to find all of the Halloween stories, which tells me I wrote them in the CMS, a violation of Internet Writing Commandment #1 I know. If you still have them in your inbox, cherish them (but don't read them, I suspect they are...works that show room for improvement)
As for "Rain Again", as much as enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you, I'd like to give the premise and characters another stab and make something truly special with it. It's not a bad little story in a lot of ways, and it accomplished what I set out to do with it. But I never really felt I got the characters and their interactions down, and some constructive criticism gave me some ideas as to how to make it a better story. Look for this new story sometime soon, and a reposted "Rain Again" sometime over the next week.
Videos
All told, I've released 10 videos on The Reluctant Disney Adult, not counting shorts. It's been a learning experience for sure, but I've had a lot of making them. Since I've not really had a chance to share these with you all, here's a non-exhaustive list of the videos.
The first video I released was about Walt Disney World. I enjoy the whole Joy/Disgust thing I do in this to discuss the complicated relationship I have with Walt Disney World. Also, there are some choice half-assed Photoshop jobs I am quite proud of.
Sadly, the second video I made was not a fun one. Instead it was about the reprehensible laws passed the Florida legislature and signed into law by Ron DeSantis persecuting trans people. This video was draining to create and on top of it all it was recorded when smoke from Canadian wildfires was choking the air, so I at times sound a bit out of it. However, I am proud of the work I did here.
After the deadly serious tone of video #2 I was grateful to bounce back to a really fun one. It starts as as 100% legitimate review of Strange World, where I make some good points about a film I'd like to like more than I did. But then it devolves into something...else entirely. If I had this over to do again I'd a) write a script instead of doing it extemperaneously and b) get to the crazy capers a lot sooner. But I had a ball with this and think you'll enjoy it too if you stick with it.
Up next is a video about the Walt Disney World Transportation System, a favorite topic of mine. It's a shorter video, but I feel is the best put together video of the bunch. I like the "TV Editorial" feel of it and its still my favorite thumbnail of them all.
So what does a video creator do after she makes four videos that took a lot out of her? Ranking videos, of course! The irony of these next two videos, however, is how they probably involved the "most" work of any of the videos, even if it wasn't necessarily hard work. In retrospect, having to come up with almost 100 short reviews is a hell of a lot more work than you might think.
First up here's the Pixar Rankings list:
And here's the Walt Disney Animation Studios Rankings:
Would you believe that those are my two most popular videos, and that they are the ones most likely to generate new traffic, even now, a year later? Of course you would, ranking videos are the low hanging fruit of the Youtube world. Nevertheless, I really like these videos.
As for 2024, the videos haven't come in the way that I hoped. But I did do a two part "FastCast" with special guest Cora Wren (The Reluctant Disney Wife) about our 2023 trip to Walt Disney World! She was a great guest, and I think both parts are worth a listen, especially if you were dying to know what we both think about Buc-ees.
Part one:
Part two:
It's safe to say that 2024 was a let down for me, as several of the ideas I had hoped to make into videos didn't materialize. However, there are several great ideas I have in the pipeline that I'm looking forward to sharing with you, if the good Lord's a willing and the creek don't rise.
And that's a roundup of what I've been up to! So check them all out, and let me know what you think.
As for this newsletter, I'm planning on writing another edition next week. What it will be about, I'm not sure. It's not like there's something happening between now and then that has consequences for all of is, or anything, right?
