S. A. Crawford
Bio
Writer, reader, life-long student - being brave and finally taking the plunge by publishing some articles and fiction pieces.
Achievements (15)
Stories (218)
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We Need to Stop Romanticizing Burnout
Most people would agree that a good work ethic is crucial if you want to get ahead in life... however, in the time of #bossbabe and carefully curated professional feeds on Instagram there is a subsect of people who are working themselves to death. There are those today who would argue that they are "grinding to get ahead" or "hustling for a better life", but the focus on designer brands, burnout bragging, and money-focused manifestation videos show that we're not as far from the "greed is good" Gordon Gekko mentality of '80s Wall Street.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Longevity
What Extroverts Could Learn from Introverts
There are hundreds of articles that claim to be able to help introverts "get out of their shell" and become more extroverted and, sure, I get why. Extroverts are often the life and soul of a part; they're social butterflies when at their best and that can be charming. Everyone wants to be the kind of person that fascinates and excites others from time to time. But have you experienced extroverts at their worst? When they're pushy, loud, and overbearing? Of course you have - we all have because nobody can be at their best all the time and there are as many drawbacks to being an extrovert as there are to being overly introverted. So, why is it so rare for extroverts to be encouraged to study introverts? Where are the articles promising to teach extroverts how to "become more peaceful and observant"? That's a topic I could wax lyrical on for a while.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Humans
She is Fierce
Women's History Month is upon us and as the world stage looks to the events unfolding in Ukraine, it has never been more important for the west to step outside of itself. We have to look to Eastern Europe to provide support, but also as an example of stalwart bravery in the face of an old threat. The men and women of Ukraine have been facing Russia and the threat it poses for decades (at least). This is not a new threat for the people of Ukraine, or for that matter the people of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia - four of which share a major land border with Russia, all of which have citizens who not only remember life in the USSR but who lived the largest part of their lives under Russian rule.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in FYI
6 (More) Steps to Write Great Sex: The Erotica Author Edit
The original "6 Steps to Write Better Sex" remains one of my best-performing articles - this tells me that there is a need not being filled (oo-er) amongst writers. Writing about sex can feel a little taboo, depending on the topic and your predilections, but it shouldn't be a total mystery. Of course, the fact that so many of the writers who follow me on social media have a million questions about writing sex the minute they find out that I write erotica under a pseudonym is indicative of a deeper issue... or two, in fact.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Filthy
Have 'Achievement' Systems Ruined Gaming?
When I started gaming in the late '90s and early '00s it was with my uncle; we spent hours on his ageing Sega Saturn, Mega Drive, and Dreamcast. At 8 or 9 years old I sucked; I had bad coordination, I was frightened of the scary games, and I lost interest in the main questlines almost immediately. My uncle wasn't all that good at them either, actually, and the fun of it was the fact that we were together. Even with 18 years between us, we were still on the same page when it came to Skies of Arcadia and House of the Dead.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Gamers
Blunt Force
People have more fear of a knife than a brick, and that's the strangest fact of life I know. A good sharp blade makes a clean cut that sews shut neat as a seam. Even a stab to the vitals'll heal as likely as not, but take inventory of the long-wounded and you'll see a thousand reasons to fear the stick, the brick, and the fist. When I was a child, we lived in a frozen two-bedroom cottage that never took to the light, all seven of us. The slag pile out back was a magnificent mountain, the hill to the castle, the slopes of a broiling volcano. Until it swallowed Tommy Keane whole. They found him two days later, crumpled like a used can, red eyes bulging from a head folded like a piece of paper. No stitching that, hey?
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Fiction
Why Chocolate is the Typical Valentine's Day Gift. Top Story - February 2022.
Chocolate is one of the most commonly given gifts when it comes to Valentine's day. In fact, Valentine's day falls behind only easter and Christmas when it comes to chocolate and candy sales in the UK (and the USA for that matter). Of course, the idea of giving simple or ornate chocolates as a gift is older than all of these holidays, having roots in pre-Christian South America.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in FYI
Writing Saved my Life
If I tell you that I am a Scorpio sun, Aquarius moon, Capricorn rising, does that bring a soft 'aaahh' to your lips? What if I tell you that according to a medium I spoke with recently all my chakras are blocked or misaligned and that my third eye has 'stuck' in the process of opening. What about if I tell you that I am and have been for over ten years an emotionally avoidant, disassociative, suicidal depressive?
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Confessions
It's All About Perspective
Writing is hard - there's no getting around that. The transition from telling a story to yourself or others to writing an effective short story or novel can be tough. From word choice to plotting, every detail of the process can feel like a slog from time to time. If there's one facet of writing that always stumped me, and sometimes still does, however, it's point-of-view. Choosing the perspective from which to write a story is absolutely crucial; the right narrative perspective maximizes the impact of your story, while the wrong one can ruin it.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Journal
Creative Writing: How to Begin
There's never a bad time to start writing - this is my honest and steadfast opinion. Anyone at any time in their lives can benefit from picking up the proverbial (or actual) pen. Writing fiction can be hugely cathartic and helpful, especially if you're going through a stressful or emotional period of your life. Of course, it can also be a fun hobby. So, if living through COVID-19 has left you in need of a hobby that you can undertake no matter where you are, creative writing could be the answer. Making little worlds of your own and bringing them to life is a form of magic beyond compare.
By S. A. Crawford4 years ago in Journal
