July 19, 2019 - 왜 그래?

books to read while Autumn is reigning

a warm cuppa in your hands, sitting near the window, enjoying the rain

with a sprinkle of amour

The Girl at the Lion d'Or by Sebastian Faulks

The Collector by John Fowles

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

The Broken Wings by Kahlil Gibran

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

with a dash of existential crisis

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Fish in Exile by Vi Khi Nao

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

with a pinch of dark academia

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Maurice by E. M. Forster

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

with a side of je ne sais quoi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Death with Interruptions by José Saramago

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura

If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

under the covers, with a flashlight in your hands, in the middle of the night

Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Metamorphosis & Other Stories by Franz Kafka

week 40 ; sept. 28 - oct. 4 weekly spread

Conversation topics for incoming college freshman

(Here’s a link to my tips for college freshman worried about how to make friends)

Hey! I’m Em, a socially awkward person who has yet to master the art of conversation. To help all you people who might feel the same, here are some questions to ask beyond the basic ‘where are you from?’ and ‘what’s your major?’ I hope you find it helpful and I hope you kill it at college!

1. What dorm are you in? Do you like it so far? 2. Did you know your roommate before you came to college? 3. Are there any clubs you’re looking to join? 4. What is the farthest place you’ve heard someone here is from? 5. Why did you choose your major? 6. Which dining hall is your favorite so far? 7. Do you have any pets at home? 8. What other colleges where you looking at before you chose this one? 9. Which class are you most excited for? 10. Have you gotten lost yet? 11. Do you know of any haunted buildings on campus? 12. Do you know any upperclassmen? 13. Are you interested in rushing/do you have any family involved in Greek life? 14. Opinions on astrology? (For some reason, college peeps are big on zodiac signs) 15. Biggest fear for the upcoming semester? 16. Do you have a car on campus? 17. Have you climbed the rock wall yet? 18. Are you looking to get a job this first semester? 19. Whats your favorite thing that you bought specifically for college? 20. Do you have a favorite meme?

Now, these are all pretty basic starting points, so remember that after they answer, give them a two part response. First, react to what they said. Then, add onto it to provide the other person with something to respond to. Good luck!

💚💛🧡

Mandarin Textbook Notes! I used more than one color this time haha 😅

I started a new vocab book! Finally! I am so excited because I’ve been stuck on that 쏙쏙 TOPIK book for so long, but finally pushed through and memorized all the words that were left. I really like this new book pictured on the left (토픽 어휘 2300) because they organize it by themes rather than going alphabetically. It’s also bigger and feels much more like a textbook, which I love. Going to try to finish this book in two months!

Hello hello language learning friends, I’ve added a pack of 8 productivity pages so you can organise your studies and reach your language learning goals! ✨

Includes goal planner, 100 days of productivity, study checklist, lesson summaries and more! It’s also available in 6 colours, all included in the download!! Head over to my shop to see the full list of pages included and colours available! ✨

day 52/100 of productivity | november playlist!

POV: You're having fun and it no longer feels like a punishment

How to start a studyblr blog

One of the most common questions I am asked is how to start and run a studyblr. Some people consider being a studyblr means having a selection of certain pens or highlighters but that isn’t the case. Having a studyblr is about being part of a community that promotes self-improvement, positive study habits and tips to help yourself and others reach their full potential. Below are a few steps I recommend when starting a studyblr:

1. Decide whether you’re going to start a new blog or a secondary blog. Most studyblrs, myself included, run main blogs and then a studyblr as a side blog. If you’re wanting to have a completely new account, follow only studybrs, message (via asks) with a link to your studyblr then it is best to create a new account. If you’re happy to continue on one account, then creating a side blog is a good option. However, when you use a secondary blog for your studyblr, it will follow as your main account. I prefer having my studyblr as a secondary blog since you can stay logged into one account (so much easier on mobile!). Plus if you wanted to run a collaboration blog, you can add other members. Here is so more detailed information about the differences.

2. Pick a username/URL. You can be super creative like me and just use your name! Otherwise, you can name your studyblr anything you want. Whilst most people have a study related username, that isn’t totally necessary. Find something you like and use it! You do have the option to change it later on it you’re unhappy or think of something better.

3. Choose a theme. My best advice for a theme is pick something that is easy to navigate and nice to look at! Editing HTML can be quite difficult for first time Tumblr users, however many themes make adjusting the appearance of your theme really simple by using the tools on the customise page. Some popular theme makers include:

@pohroro

@modernisethemes

@cyantists

@magnusthemes

@sorrism

@acuite

@themesbyflorels

@roxiestheme

@felinum

@bychloethemes

@wonderfullythemes

Once you’ve picked a theme, follow the instructions the theme maker has left in the caption of the post. When you’re using a theme, remember to leave credit visible to the owner. By removing credit you’re breaking the conditions set by the creator. 

4. Make an icon. This is relatively optional. Most studyblrs just use a random picture for their icon however others create personalised ones just for their blog. You can create your own icon using applications like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva or Word/Pages. Canva is probably the easiest way to make your own, plus it is free! If you’re looking for something a little fancier, you can commission @annistudio to make one! Depending on the level of complexity, she charges between $3-9. She created my icon and it is so amazing!

5. Write up an introductory post. Once your blog is up and running, you should create a post to introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, what you’re studying, your hobbies, etc. It is always nice to tag some of your favourite studyblrs! If someone has mentioned me or tagged #emmastudies in their post, I might see it and reblog it. Most blogs do the same! Making these posts will hopefully get you some new followers!

6. Post your own content. A great way to promote your blog is to upload your own posts. This can be anything, either pictures of your notes, advice posts, or infographics! Remember to update the content source and click-through links when uploading your posts. A little guide to taking photos can be found here. My editing process can also be found here. If you upload your own tips posts, feel free to submit them to @studyblrmasterposts.

7. Use popular hashtags. Before publishing your post remember to add hashtags. The most popular ones include #studyblr, #studyspo, #study. I track the tag #emmastudies so include that in your tags and I’ll see it! Most blogs also track their usernames so tag some of your favourites.

8. Join studyblr networks. You’ll often see these floating around Tumblr so if you see one, join it! There are ones dedicated to people graduating in a specific year, others for specific majors, or people who share a common trait/hobby! Alternatively, you can be added to my studyblr directory. It is a collection bloggers which can be filtered by categories such as education level, country, and exam system. You can apply here.

9. Use the queue option. By using the queue option, you don’t have to come on Tumblr every day to stay active. Set up a queue, select the number of posts and when you’d like them to be published and you’re ready to go. This option is great if you’re having a bit of an off-week and don’t fancy coming online or aren’t able to access the Internet!

10. Use other social media platforms. Whilst studyblr originated on Tumblr, we have since diversified across numerous different social networks. I’d totally recommend having a studygram! Mine is @emmastudiess if you wanted to check it out! Other accounts have YouTube (emma studies), Snapchat (@emmastudies), Spotify, Twitter, etc. Remember to provide links to your each account!

11. Be nice, friendly and polite. I think this is the golden rule for any blogger. Treat everyone with respect. Be kind when answering questions. Be grateful for your followers. Please, please, please don’t send anonymous hate! If you receive it, remember to delete and block that person. The studyblr community is one of the nicest I’ve come across and we want to keep it that way. 

12. Don’t be afraid to message other blogs and start a friendship! Interact with other accounts by sending them an ask or a direct message. I cannot begin to tell you how many wonderful people I’ve connected with from the studyblr community. I’d say the majority of studyblrs love receiving messages and would be happy to strike up a friendship with you!

I hope this can inspire you to start a studyblr or helps you set one up! Remember you can tag me in your introductory posts or uploaded pictures. Also, my ask and direct messages are always open if you want to chat xx

Richard Siken, a Primer for the Small Weird Loves