From a novel deeply rooted in astrology to a show about the aftermath of nuclear fallout, today’s newsletter is rather chaotic.
I hope you like it. 🤭
The Perfect Birth Chart in Anna Dorn’s Exalted
Exalted is the first book that introduced me to the Anna Dorn universe. A universe drenched in Southern California sun, chaotic queer women, and a medley of unhinged scenarios. As a lover of weird girl literature, her work ticks all the boxes for me. In fact, I’ve never read an Anna Dorn novel that I haven’t devoured in less than a few days.
The novel follows Emily, an Instagram-famous astrology account admin who may or may not actually believe in what the cosmos have to say. One day, she stumbles across a chart unlike any other—it’s exalted, which means every placement is in its perfect planetary position.
We also hear from Dawn, a woman in her late 40s who follows the account while going through a rough time in her personal and professional life.
The two cross paths in unlikely ways, and we’re given a messy glimpse into desire, longing, and all the tricky trepidations that come with being alive in today’s day and age.
“Everyone just wants to hear they're special in very specific language, and astrology is a perfectly nebulous vehicle for this.”
It’s a tale that’s witty, sarcastic, and leaves you wanting more with every page. While I’ll admit that I read this one a while back, I don’t doubt that its commentary on social media culture still holds up. That’s all to say, I’m not above it. I’m just as brain rotted as the next person.
“Complete sentences don't make money. Memes make money.”
As always, I’m a sucker for a novel set in Los Angeles. Maybe it’s the familiarity (I’m a Taurus after all), or the thrill of recognizing certain locations even if they’re mentioned in vague terms. I can’t help it!
This book has also been on my mind given all the talk of us entering the year of the fire horse beginning on February 17th, 2026. Supposedly, we’ve been in the year of the snake up until now. Hence all the shedding...
Check out Exalted if you’re in the mood for a gossipy read, a lighthearted story in time for Valentine’s Day, or a palate cleanser in between more gory horror and/or weird girl books. I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it. 🔮
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Writing a Novel in 90 Days: 7 Days & 10,000 Words Later
@theweirdgirledit Today marked my first 10k words written 🥹 If you’re new here, hi, I’m Maya. I’ve set out to write the rough draft of my first novel in 90... See more
I can’t believe day 7 of my writing challenge is already complete! By the time you’re reading this, I’ve now written the first 10,000 words of my rough draft. I’ll be honest, some days have been great, and some have been harder than others.
Regardless, I’m beginning to see the benefits of consistency. While it may sound paradoxical, staying consistent every day has helped me tap into my creativity more easily than I’ve been able to in a long time. I know that words like “consistent” and “routine” don’t sound remotely romantic or artistic. But consistency is key!
I’ve found that a daily writing practice has actually helped me get into a flow state more easily and more often. I’ve essentially been tricking my brain into writing mode by creating repeatable conditions to get there.
I highly recommend you try it out. Whether you want to write a novel or work on any other creative endeavor, you’d be surprised by how the least fun sounding practices can unlock your creativity in ways you weren’t sure were possible.
Another interesting learning has been how malleable this process has been. Although I went into it with research and an outline, the more I write, the more new themes emerge. I’ve decided to follow the story where it instinctually seems to be going. I know that may sound woo woo or esoteric, but I have no other way of describing the phenomenon.
If you’ve been following my journey thus far, thank you. Your continued support means the world to me!
Fallout Season 2 Finale and Feelings
I just finished watching the season 2 finale of Fallout, which premiered at 6pm PST on February 3rd. TLDR; I rate it a 7 on a scale of 1-10. This may seem like a decent rating, but I’m sorry to say that it was thoroughly underwhelming compared to the last season.
If you’re unfamiliar with the show, Fallout is a TV series based on a video game of the same name. It follows a crew of characters surviving a post-nuclear fallout world. From sheltered vault dwellers living in underground bunkers to hardened ghouls roaming the desolate Earth, viewers get a peek into just how gruesome and bleak things can get.
Without spoiling anything, I feel conflicted about the finale and this season as a whole. I appreciate the show’s dystopian setting and the ways in which it deliberately critiques American politics and social dynamics. For example, we see how the fallout was caused by the ultra wealthy. We’re shown human-robot hybrids with distinct similarities and moral dilemmas that closely mimic present-day topics like AI. We’re also shown the stark class divide between vault dwellers and those who didn’t have the resources to hunker down.
Still, so much of this season felt like constant backstory. While I can appreciate a good flashback scene to see what motivates characters to act the way they do, this season was a bit too overly reliant on the past (in my humble opinion). The unexpected twists we grew to know and love last season appeared to be missing.
Unfortunately, the finale fell flat for me. It played out exactly as I thought it would, which is such a departure from why I loved the show in the first place. I was particularly disappointed with the show’s women, and felt like their character arcs were overwhelmingly predictable and lackluster. Why were they so unlikeable?
When all is said and done, I’m not a TV or film critic, and have never claimed to be. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts if you watched the season finale. Is it just me, or did it fall short for you too?
Weird Girl of the Week: FKA twigs
Congratulations to FKA twigs for winning Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2026 Grammys!
If you’re not familiar with her work, it’s safe to say she’s a weird girl at heart. Whether she’s dropping her signature ethereal vocals, otherworldly visuals, or stunning with her pole artistry and athleticism, FKA twigs is a true artist and individual.
Watching her rise over the last few years has been nothing short of inspiring, and I loved what she said in her acceptance speech. It underscores the power of staying true to your art and remaining steadfast in your creative vision, no matter what others say or how long it takes.
“I know to a lot of people I may be new but I’ve actually been doing this a really long time. To any artist: Don’t give up, follow your vision, do you, because that’s what’s going to make the world fall in love with your art.”
FKA twigs doesn’t compromise on her artistry. Neither should you. She goes to show the power in being bold, being different, and ultimately, being yourself.
If you haven’y already, listen to her Grammy award-winning album Eusexua here.
That’s it for this week. Want more?
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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!