Newsletter #11: Happy October!
So many cool shows to check out this month!
Hi! I’m late!
September kicked me in my cute keister.
What’s Going On?
I went to the Renaissance Faire for the first time!
Yeah it’s pretty dumb it took me this long because of my whole, ya know, vibe.
I cannot recommend it enough! For one, the grounds are GORGEOUS. I had expected small tents or those break-down-able little huts you see at the Union Square Christmas Market, but noooooo we had 👏 architecture👏.
My friends and I went on a dreary Saturday after the flooding had stopped. We wore our most mud withstanding boots to trudge merrily down dirt paths lined with magical shops in historic Tuxedo, NY. The vibes were immaculate, everyone there was just so happy to be dressed up among like minded and equally welcoming people. It was a free for all of just shouting compliments at strangers and vice versa.
There was so much to do, I kept forgetting to eat and was running mostly on sheer whimsy. I did have a delicious drink that was a mixture of blueberry wine and mead. And I had a very unsatisfying caramel apple.
Everyone there was nerdy, had theatre kid energy, was witch adjacent, VERY horny, and gay. So I couldn’t ask for anything more.
This weekend is the last weekend to go so make a note in your calendar for next year!
I highly recommend planning to attend for at least a full day as I’m hoping to go for the whole weekend next year 😊
Writing smut like it’s going out of style
⚠️Skip section if you are related to me or friends with my parents⚠️
I also invite you to skip this section if smut, anime, and romance literature aren’t your bag. No hard feelings!
IT’S ALL I WANT TO DO OR THINK ABOUT.
The smut is literally writing itself, I am just its conduit.
I truly haven’t felt this inspired by anything since I was 12 years old.
I’ve essentially gotten to the end of Act 1, at 11,000 + words. I’m still at the stage where I don’t feel confident about the writing quality but I am so proud of the story and the tension I’m building.
Oh yes, I should mention what I’m writing is a fucking magnum opus lol not one offs.
At least as of right now I am diving head first into a full narrative fanfiction of one of my guilty pleasure animes that also happens to be disgusting and abhorrent and I can’t stress enough that you should not watch it and ESPECIALLY do not read the manga.
Seriously, the manga stopped being written because people were too disgusted by it. And bro, FAIR.
So naturally I’m writing about it full of all the things I love about the source material and minus some of the things that aren’t so great.
This is the vibe:
The tropes are: reverse harem, slow burn, he falls first, why choose, strong female lead with trauma, with slight enemies to lovers vibes.
I made a template on Canva for posting quotes from the story that I’m so proud of as well! The brand of the original anime is all hot pink with tons of rainbow mushrooms (because ya know, dicks). Since my take on the source material is so different and a lot more emotionally grounded, I muted the pink and opted for minimalist line drawn mushrooms. What do you think?
Follow my smut instagram @magswrites or follow me on tiktok @magnadoodler for snippets and to be the first to know when I post full chapters!
Stuff to Check Out
Shows
Bloodshot - This deeply dark and acerbically funny mystery follows Reaver, a bone-tired Black coroner, as he investigates a city being torn apart by a gruesome plague – one that causes sleeplessness and spontaneous, explosive death. Unreliably narrated, and accompanied by original music by The Mombs, BLOODSHOT is an alluring, distorted romp through a familiar city on the brink of a very human meltdown. See it Off Broadway September 23 - October 14 at The ART NY Mezzanine.
Love is Live - Mayhem and Camp all dressed up for a real live dating show and it is returning for Season 2! Hosted by Olivia Benedict, Mackenzie Jaquish, and Erin Gonyeau. October 7th, 7pm at The PIT Loft.
ANDY - Andy Specter and Andy Vega present to you the only variety show that matters. October 7th, 8:30pm at BCC.
Grand Character Hotel - Hosted by Edson Montenegro and Sydney Duncan, a delightful stay is awaiting you with a variety of colorful character performances. October 10th, 7pm at BCC.
Abolish Everything - Comedians testify against societal ills, from capitalism to car alarms. A panel of improvisers grills them with questions. The audience decides what gets abolished—and the most persuasive lobbyist receives a corrupt bribe: a bag of coins with a dollar sign on it. October 12th, 7pm at Caveat.
Vocabaret: Phobias - New York City’s most-decorated wordsmiths come together for an eclectic variety hour (and a half) of raucous wordplay, etymological deep dives, and alphabetic absurdity that investigates the intersection of language and everyday life, inspired by a new theme each month. October 13th, 7pm at Caveat.
Reductress Presents HAHA Wow! - Join the editors of Reductress and our favorite comics in a show that will make you say haha...wow!! October 16th, 7:30pm at Union Hall.
Classes
Level 1 Improv at The PIT - Taught by my Level 1 teacher and very good friend Dana Shulman! I took Dana’s class 7 years ago, omg. Highly recommend Dana for people new and nervous to improv!
Improv Drop In - Multiple times throughout the week for people of all levels and taught by all stars including but NOT limited to; Dana Shulman, Sydney Duncan, Kim Alu, and Jenny Bareilles! Get your reps in!
Podcasts
Our Anime Show Podcast - Fellow anime nerds and best friends Alli Green and Gio Patrick discuss all things anime. You can even find their episode with ME on it, from when I first entered my anime renaissance this year. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Short Stack Podcast - Each Monday, your very talented hosts Liv Vordenberg and Jackie Meissner share short stories with complete soundscapes that transport you into a new fictional universe every week. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Livestreams
Cosmos Creative TV - You may have seen me on facebook getting interviewed by my wonderfully kind and talented friend Reneé Yaworsky where we’ve talked about all things queer and ladies in comedy. But aside from that, Reneé hosts a myriad of shows through Cosmos Creative TV that range from the humorous and joyful, to the thought-provoking and inspiring, to the moving & eye-opening. It’s always great conversations among creatives and they stream multiple times throughout the week. Check out their Youtube page.
AGreenQueen on Twitch - Fellow anime nerd Alli Green has started her own gaming livestream! She’s currently playing Genshin Impact which she has told me is gay and magical! Check out her Twitch page for her schedule.
Open Mics
Sam and Friends - A warm and welcoming open mic where our priority is community and belonging. Poetry, music, storytelling, & more! Hosted by the wonderful Sam Theuring. Tuesdays, sign up is at 7pm at Roots Cafe.
Speakeasy Shakespeare - One of the most beautiful and nerdy experiences I’ve ever had, The Night Shift Theatre Co presents open mic style Shakespeare! Come watch or perform! 3rd Monday of every month, sign up at 7:30pm at Jake’s Dilemma.
Newsletters
Topher Tracking - One of my best friends and the creator of my news satire show Man Up, Hunter Lang has a very important newsletter about everything Topher Grace. Highly recommend, the writing is *chef’s kiss*.
Resources
The Liberty Fund - One of my best friends, Josie Baldwin-Beneich, is a public defense attorney and when I asked her what resources she wished people knew more about, she directed me to The Liberty Fund. The Liberty Fund reduces the number of New Yorkers subjected to unnecessary pretrial detention by helping their families post bail for their loved ones. Share with your networks and donate if you are able!
What I’m Loving
The LaughtHER Collective
If you are a lady in comedy, you must follow The LaughtHER Collective! A modern comedy school that amplifies women and underrepresented voices that also provides great resourced and comedy tips on their pages.
I don’t even do stand up anymore and I’ve loved reading the advice they post on Instagram and find it relevant to all types of comedy!
Founded by comedy goddesses and great friends Christi Chiello and Hope Dobrzynski, they offer stand up classes for all levels, a virtual open mic, and so much more!
Hope was in the very first stand up class I ever took years ago at The PIT. 😊
I highly recommend following them on instagram and subscribing to their newsletter.
Over the Garden Wall Season!
One of the most incredible pieces of animation out there. Get yourself cozy with some hot apple cider, some potatoes, and some molasses and enjoy.
My Anime Playlist!!!
I made an anime playlist of just some of my favorite intros and outro songs and good golly gosh I think you should listen to it.
I think I’ll start highlighting one song from the playlist every month and tell you why I love it so much. You need not know any of the anime to enjoy this music I promise you, the songs are THAT GOOD.
Starting with; Frozen Midnight by Takao Sakuma
The chorus. The beat. The vibes. The chorus feels like wanting and the verses feel like being in love. I feel myself wanting to run through the streets shouting “come back!! and proclaiming my love to the world while also vibing to the sweetest lofi beats I’ve ever heard.
Give it a listen, I dare ya!
And listen to the whole playlist here.