internet – Irene North

Stories by me, not AI

On 25 March, 2024

I sometimes get behind in my writing for Nspire Today. We aim for around 1,800 words per article. My stories are typically 1,700-2,700 words, but the majority are around 2,300 words.

I can write longer if needed. I also find that, as I near 3,000 words, my hands start to hurt. Sometimes, I’ll push through as it means I’m close to being done with a second story, but my editor, Jeff, has repeatedly told me to only write one story a day, so I don’t risk burning out. I typically write 14-17 stories per month plus a column about mental health.

Opening containers

By Irene

On 9 February, 2023

In Ramblings

When people work through traumatic events, their brains process what has happened so the person can begin healing from those events. While they are healing, the brain brings up intrusive thoughts, such as flashbacks and nightmares. The natural tendency is to push those intrusive thoughts away because they can be highly distressing. The brain’s ability to do this can be used to the person’s benefit, so that the intrusive thoughts and distress can be safely “contained” until the person is in a better situation to handle them.

Celebrating a year with no social media

By Irene

On 28 September, 2022

In Ramblings

After today, I’m not going to revisit thoughts about life without social media anymore. At this time last year, I made my last post on Facebook telling people I was deleting Facebook, the last of my social media accounts, and they were welcome to continue to keep up to date with me here. Those who wished to do so could also text, do lunch, go for hikes, etc.

While some people still criticize me for leaving because it doesn’t affect them negatively, I have no desire to return to an arena which made me feel angry and made me feel less of a person all the time. It absolutely worsened my mental health.

Wait. I can explain everything

By Irene

On 29 April, 2021

In Stories

Before the dawn of the 21st century, sometimes you had to visit the more skeevy portions of the internet in order to find what you wanted. It was fraught with danger, but only if you didn’t know the traps to look out for before you began.

Fourteen months later

By Irene

On 10 August, 2020

In Ramblings

This post was originally supposed to have a title of “A year on,” but I kept deleting it. The words weren’t right. I couldn’t focus. It wasn’t turning out to be what I wanted it to be. It wasn’t writer’s block. It was more what was going on in my personal life and the things that prevented me from writing something I wanted to publish. I want to discuss a few things from the past year and where I’m at right now. Hopefully, you’ll want to continue that journey with me.

Let’s break the site and annoy subscribers

By Irene

On 10 March, 2019

In News

Last week, the email and subscribers plugin I use here received a major upgrade. The upgrade came with a complete UI redesign, which always sucks. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I figured I would have to get used to where everything got moved and the new look, but it was so much worse than that.

A beginning from an end

By Irene

On 16 December, 2018

In Ramblings

I once had a Facebook page and then I deleted it. I was happy for four years. Then, my job said it was “highly recommended” that I have an account. So I created a new one. It was terrible. After a dear friend passed away, I deleted it. I was happy for four weeks. I let people make me feel bad for not having an account so I created a my third account. It’s been one of the worse decisions of my life.

A final thought on social media and why it needs a diminished role in my life

By Irene

On 7 October, 2018

In Ramblings

Carter Canyon WMA.

The last two weeks have been incredibly difficult to get through. As with any trauma work, there will be good and bad times, progress and setbacks. This past week was one of the more difficult ones, but three friends stepped up to help keep me on track and to be that inner voice of rationality when my own inner voice could not. To them, I am eternally grateful.

As for where I go next, it has to be spending more time offline doing what I love (reading, writing, being in nature) and less online, even though I know that means losing touch with people.

2018 Longform reading list Part 2

By Irene

On 2 September, 2018

In Watching & Reading

Longform stories are some of my favorite articles to read on the internet. It is some of the best writing you will find online. The stories typically contain illustrations, photography, interactives, and an engaging story.

I normally do this list twice a year, but as I looked at it the other day, I realized it had quickly grown in size. There are also many stories that are relevant to now and I don’t want to wait until the end of the year to share them. If this continues, I may change this list to once a month.
You can still read Part 1, which has some great stories.

Paywalls are not the answer for online media

By Irene

On 27 April, 2016

In Ramblings

If you visit the Star-Herald and are not a subscriber, you will be presented with a notice that you have 13 more stories to read before you will have to subscribe. You have just hit a soft, or metered, paywall. I don’t like paywalls. I circumvent them when I can and stop visiting a site if I can’t. Yet, paywalls are also a fundamental part of my place of employment.

Paywalls restrict the free flow of information. I want the most people possible to see my work. A paywall prevents that from happening. People tell me they would like to read my work, but can’t because they’ve hit the paywall.

Writings

Tag: internet

Stories by me, not AI

Opening containers

Wait. I can explain everything

Fourteen months later

Let’s break the site and annoy subscribers

A final thought on social media and why it needs a diminished role in my life

2018 Longform reading list Part 2

Paywalls are not the answer for online media