Allow me to introduce myself

I’m Anna Wenner: writer, photographer, product testing extraordinaire, and world class nerd. I’m a freelance writer, which basically means that my workday looks like having an idea, writing up a pitch I love, then sending it off to a publication with a 90% chance I never hear a word back.

There’s also some writing in there (or so I’ve heard).

If you signed up for this newsletter, chances are, you thought I’d have something to say that was worth reading. That is an incredible honor, and so appreciated, and oh-my-god-THE-PRESSURE.

I’ve started this initial newsletter post at least five times, then run away (not quite) screaming. I write articles every day that are available internationally, yet sending out this email to a few people who I might actually see in my daily life feels terrifying.

But you know something? That doesn’t mean it’s not still worth doing.

I spend a lot of my time being worried these days. With the state of the world, it’s easy to get lost down a doomscroll rabbit hole. Over the last year, I’ve lost my grandmother, father, great aunt, and three pets. In the last six months, a combination of government changes and Google changes has meant that I had to fundamentally shift my entire writing business.

It can all feel pretty bleak, and I admit, there are some days where that’s all I can feel. #ThanksAnxiety&Depression

However, there are some days where the simplest things bring me joy.

Watching my dog chase bubbles. Hearing my friends laugh at a truly terrible joke. Feeling the coziness of being wrapped like a burrito in my favorite soft blanket.

Those tiny, seemingly insignificant moments that make up a life, in other words.

My hope with this newsletter is simple: to be one of those tiny moments of joy for you. I can’t promise it’ll always be sunshine and daisies around here. I like to say that my writing is “sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always honest.” I’ll tell it like it is (usually with a good ol’ fashion dose of humor), and I won’t sugarcoat it.

But I’ll always do my best to leave on a note of hope and joy, because there’s enough nonsense out there without adding to the mess.

It’s easy to be depressed by everything around us. It’s easy to be happy if you tune out the rest of the world and stay safe in your bubble. But paying attention and choosing to find moments of joy anyway? That shit is hard.

Today, I hope you’ll take a moment to find joy in whatever that looks like to you. I hope it makes you smile.

You deserve it.

What I’ve been up to lately

I’m notoriously terrible at remembering to share my work. In my defense, this is partly because articles tend to come out weeks or even months after I’ve submitted them, and by then I’ve moved on to entirely new areas of focus. Even so, my goal is to use this as a way to remember to actually tell y’all what I’m up to!

We’ll start with some catchup. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “wow, I wish I knew where to find all of Anna’s articles” then today is your lucky day! I have a portfolio that auto-updates with every article I write, thanks to the platform Authory. (This is not an ad, because I am not getting paid for calling it out. I’m just genuinely so relieved to not have to remember to keep track of this now.)

Find All Articles Here

One of my favorite recent articles for SUCCESS Magazine was about an infamous series of events from a trip my mom and I took together during college. The title pretty much speaks for itself…

I Tried to Be Spontaneous, and Almost Got Murdered—or So I Thought, SUCCESS

What’s the deal with…?

People who aren’t constantly online can miss some of the cultural conversation that happens within the internet’s strange hallowed halls. Think of this as your at-a-glance way to catch up. (And reach out if you have a topic you’d like to see covered here! I’m very much hoping this will be an interactive section.)

Today’s topic? Signal.

Maybe you’re already on Signal, or you’ve only heard about it because of that time one of our government officials accidentally added a journalist to their top secret group chat. For new and old users alike, Signal has one major advantage: privacy.

Unlike app competitors, Signal doesn’t use ads, doesn’t keep or sell your data, and prioritizes everything staying within your own chats and out of the government’s hands. It’s particularly popular amongst journalists, organizers, politicians, and other fields where privacy is key. However, it’s also worth considering for the average person.

The most popular messaging apps in the U.S. tend to have ties to President Trump at this point. For instance, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp are all owned by Meta, who recently changed their policies to allow hate speech against LGBTQ+ people and ended fact checking as ways to get into President Trump’s good graces. The site formerly known as Twitter is owned by Trump’s ex-BFF Elon Musk, and is treated as his own personal playground.

Signal offers a refreshing alternative. It functions very similarly to Facebooks’ Messenger, but with far increased privacy and no far-right ties. Personally, I made the switch earlier this year, and I haven’t looked back.

One Way You Can Help Someone Today

Next time you’re on social media, be sure to add alt text if you don’t already do so. It takes just a few seconds, and it lets those whose vision is impaired be able to enjoy the same online experience as the rest of us. For most sites, you’ll need to add alt text before you post (so there’s no fixing old posts, alas), but you should see the option somewhere near the photo when you first upload it. It’ll usually say “ALT” or otherwise indicate text. Alternatively (and preferred by many), you can put alt text in the caption of a photo or in the body of the post itself.

Recommending…

If you’re a video game fan and want a way to virtually hang out with friends, I highly recommend Phasmophobia.

It’s basically a puzzle game combined with a horror game, and even as a giant coward, I find it really enjoyable to play. (That said, if you really despise horror stuff, keep moving because this game is not for you.)

I want to hear from you! Have you heard a term going around that you’d like to know the meaning of? Do you wish you knew more about something I’ve mentioned here? Send me an email, and remember, there are no silly questions. 

Anna Wenner is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times’ Wirecutter, SUCCESS Magazine, Business Insider, USA Today’s Reviewed, Lovepop, Hallmark, and more. You can learn more about her at her website.