Campy Pulp, a Challenge for You, and Reflections on Horror

Hello hello. Here we are, two weeks into the year—I hope you’re thriving at best, and hanging in there at worst. Either way, I see you. And I get it.

Today we’re diving into a deliciously campy novel and exploring what the horror genre means to us all.

I also have an exciting announcement to make today, so stay tuned below! 🤭

The girl is messy. There’s no denying it. Anna Dorn’s novel Perfume & Pain begins with recently canceled author Astrid Dahl ending up right back where she started—in a sapphic writer’s group that she originally helped cofound.

As fate would have it, she gets a call from her agent and finds out that a well-known actress and influencer wants to make a TV adaptation of her novel.

For any other person in her position, this would be a great thing. But for Astrid… it’s all the more reason to indulge her addiction to the Patricia Highsmith, a term she coined for the perfect ratio of alcohol, amphetamines, and cigarettes. Coupled with her insatiable need to be desired, it’s a recipe for chaos.

Whether it’s the grad student in her writing group or the hot older woman next door, Astrid is yearning and on edge. She’s unlikeable and unreliable by most standards. Despite it all, Dorn has created a main character I couldn’t help but root for.

We get a glimpse into the real her underneath all the snark and bad decisions.

Dorn effortlessly weaves 60s pulp vibes with a modern, sun-drenched LA backdrop. The endless pop culture references also really did it for me.

This book is a must-read if you love queer campiness, weird women, sapphic fiction, and fragrances.

Psssst… I also made a TikTok video pairing few of my favorite fragrances with weird girl novels. I had to include Perfume & Pain, since this book is how I found one of my favorite scents, Moonmilk by Stora Skuggan (you need to smell it… it’s absolutely divine).

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Time to get a bit personal. I was stressed and burnt out for a long time, which culminated in a health scare late last year. It really put a lot into perspective for me, and it forced me to reevaluate my goals.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always told myself that it’s my life dream to write a novel. What have I been waiting for?

I know a novel won’t just plop into my lap... it’s going to be a lot of work. With the way my brain works, I know I’ll need to have a deadline or a buddy to keep me accountable.

Cue the #novelistin90 challenge I created!

If you’re like me and have always wanted to write a novel (but have your fair share of excuses or accountability issues), I’m inviting you to join the writing challenge. Keep in mind: this isn’t meant to be a perfectly polished novel—it’s a rough draft that will help you get your initial story down in 90 days.

I’ll be starting the challenge on Monday, January 26th. Feel free to join me or start whenever you’d like, and use the hashtag #novelistin90 to share your progress on social media.

Writing can be lonely, so I figured having a sense of community and camaraderie could help. Make sure to follow me on TikTok for the latest updates. I’ll keep y’all posted here, too.

P.S. I also created a guide for the challenge, which is now being sent to all new subscribers. If you’re already subscribed but don’t have the guide, just reply to this email and I’ll send you a copy!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the horror genre and why so many people (myself included) are drawn to it, especially in these scary times we’re living in.

For that reason, I posed the following question: why do you love horror? The responses were equal parts smart, heartwarming, and affirming.

I particularly love reading weird girl literature and horror because of the sense of agency the characters have. As disturbing as the subject matter can be, it’s cathartic and deeply resonates for me.

The responses from commenters echoed similar sentiments, with many tying recent national and global events to the genre. So many of us often feel scared, powerless, or unsafe.

Thanks to the horror genre, we have a safe container to explore these feelings, examine trauma through a new lens, and process the world around us in a healthy, deeply empathetic way.

Maybe I’m a bit biased, but I’ve found that the horror community is made up of some of the sweetest and most thoughtful people around. Despite our love of all things scary—we tend to be pretty gooey in the center. 🖤

Who else is still mourning the loss of Broad City all these years later? We may not have new episodes of the show, but we DO have this new podcast episode of It’s Open with Illana Glazer.

Throughout the episode, the two reflect on the show and all that it gave us. Endless laughs, seemingly impossible yet hilarious scenarios, and a look into the lives of two people who were chaotic in their own ways, yet somehow making it work in New York City.

They also talked about the current state of the world and what they’re doing in the midst of it all. While Ilana Glazer is known for political activism, I had no idea that Abbi Jacobson was working on a fellowship program called Prelude.

How cool is that? Thank you to Ilana and Abbi for all they’ve done for us, and for all they continue to do!

Note: “Weird Girl of the Week” is meant to highlight people I love, regardless of how they identify. Just wanted to mention this since Ilana Glazer uses they/she pronouns.

That’s all for today. Want more weird?

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The Weird Girl Edit is a weekly newsletter written by Maya Rector, and it gets published every Wednesday. View past editions here. If you haven’t already, subscribe for the latest wacky musings in literature, media, and pop culture each week!