Personal Blog

Feminism doesn't mean anti-romance | Disney's "Wish" and what could have been

I haven’t seen the Disney movie, ‘Wish’, in full, and frankly, after seeing clips and hearing some of the songs, I don’t want to. This film was part of the campaign to mark the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation Studios, but it received a bad reception due to the poorly written songs, unusual animation style, boring plot and characters that lacked depth. I found the short film, ‘Once Upon a Studio’ (released on the exact anniversary date) to be a far better tribute to Disney with a higher emotional impact, easily bringing me to tears.

Despite the bad reception for the official release of ‘Wish’, you may not know that the response to the original concept for the film was entirely different. Both before and after its debut, concept art and storyboards for what the film could have been were shared online, depicting a romance story between the lead female character, Asha, and a humanised version of a wishing star, popularly known as ‘Starboy’ among fans. 

Concept art from 'The Art of Wish' book - photo credit to Lisa Dawn

This plot was almost entirely scrapped and the story became solely about Asha and her journey to take down a corrupt king, with the wishing star character being changed to a small star-like creature rather than a human love interest. Unsurprisingly, people found the idea of a back-to-basics return to a classic romance far more appealing than the movie that was released. The concept art and unfinished animations were enough to show the chemistry between Asha and Starboy, their building romance charming fans to create their own stories and animations based on them, including those from PhrenSo on Youtube. The concept ideas also showed the plan for Disney’s first villain couple (King Magnifico concocting his plans alongside his wife, Queen Amaya) and that they would adopt a classic hand-drawn animation style, before opting for a 2D-3D hybrid style in the final product. 

So why did Disney abandon such a well-received idea, which would have paid tribute to its animated classics with familiar traits, such as hand-drawn animation and a charming fairy-tale romance, while also doing something fresh with new, modern takes on villains and romance arcs? Ultimately, it seems they were afraid to either make or give the heroine a love interest, as if such a move would anger modern feminists. 

As a feminist myself, I understand there was a problem with many classic Disney movies placing women in damsel-in-distress roles, where men became their heroes and therefore their happy endings. The way women were depicted could be seen as the default, especially for young, impressionable girls watching these movies and taking on such messages. However, I would also argue these classic fairy-tales aren't overall bad or harmful movies because of this, nor should they be erased from history. Vintage Disney movies such as 'Snow White', 'Cinderella', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Beauty and the Beast' etc. were stunning masterpieces of animation and storytelling, despite the old-fashioned archetypes they held. In fact, many of their female characters were headstrong and admirable, knowing their own minds and taking their fates into their own hands, even if they were fit into traditional 'save me' princess roles.

In modern society, it has become more common for women to avoid relationships and/or marriage as their ultimate life goals, as a way of going against old-fashioned societal expectations. Instead, most of them champion the single, independent life, finding more happiness in building their careers, homes, and lives alone, finding more freedom to travel and live without responsibilities for others. I certainly see myself as one of these women, but at the same time, I don't think female independence always equates to us not wanting romance.

Female independence, strength and empowerment can go hand-in-hand finding a partner we adore and want to commit to. There's no weakness in finding love, nor any shame in trying to seek it as a woman. It's a natural human desire and there are many men who want the same kind of healthy, long-term relationships as women do. The idea of a fairy-tale romance may be old-fashioned to some, but that doesn't make them anti-feminist as a whole. Instead, they can serve as the aspiration for a cosy, safe and happy life many women would want, alongside the partner they have chosen to share it with.

'Wish' concept art - image source

Thus, I think it's a shame the original story for 'Wish' never made the big screen. The creative team were likely pushed into toning down their plans for a romance, and instead making Asha a 'strong independent heroine' by removing a love interest for her. But the reality is that the majority of viewers, including feminist women, feel that the original version would have been much stronger. The official version of 'Wish' feels empty, lacking the depth that was removed to make way for a story that took fewer risks, as they tried to align with modern views and not repeat potentially offensive tropes. 

By not taking the risk, or trusting that the classic Disney narrative with a fairy-tale romance would appeal to both modern viewers and older generations who would appreciate the nostalgia, Disney lost out on a cultural phenomenon. It would have been a beautiful tribute to 100 years of Disney animation (the studio that made animation be taken seriously as a medium), brought back beloved tropes, and introduced new twists like villainous couples, the origin of the iconic wishing star, and the shape-shifting sidekick dynamic. 

Ironically, it would have granted the wishes (pun intended) of Disney-lovers and non-Disney-lovers alike with its unique qualities. On top of that, I feel from a feminist perspective we need more well-written romance stories with strong heroines leading them. That is how we should be approaching the quandary of how we write modern fairy-tale romances with women leading them: we let them lead, and we let them fall in love. Let them lead popular stories, taking the place of men who have led stories before them and denied them their voices, but also let them fall in love. Because to deny women or men the freedom to fall in love is to deny them the choice of embracing their humanity.

Feminism doesn't mean anti-men, and it certainly doesn't mean anti-romance. Girls and women should know there is no shame in seeking love and relationships. They only have to know which men are the right ones to look for, and that healthy relationships with loyal, caring partners should always be the aim.

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Solo Comforts: the nature of an introvert

When summing up my personality to others, I often describe myself as an introvert.

A simple definition of an introvert is "a person who gains energy from being alone and loses energy in stimulating environments, such as social events" (Michaela Jung, Introvert Spring). If you are the opposite and gain energy from socialising and being surrounded by people, you'd be described as an extrovert. 

In our society, it is more commonly accepted to an extrovert, given the pressure to be outside, make friends, find a relationship or make an impact on the community. Introverts are often alienated from such things, given their regular need to be alone and their preferences for activities different to those commonly associated with socialising, such as parties, nights out, drinking, or group trips.

Free image from Unsplash - credit to Jarle Johansen

Because of these habits, there is a common misconception that introverts are shy, bad-tempered, hermits, or generally unsociable. In reality, they are often the opposite and very much need relationships, but those relationships have to be deep, meaningful, and involve something more than small-talk or surface-level connections. Introverts may need alone-time not just to be away from others, but to 'recharge'; to rest from everyday social interactions and expectations, so they can be their full authentic selves in preparation for the relationships that mean most to them. They may still enjoy socialising, but many need solitude in-between socialising to replenish themselves. Thus, introverts won't necessarily be shy, awkward or grumpy during social events. In fact, we are more likely to be open and chatty if we have recharged beforehand and spend time with the right personalities. 

Another misconception is that introverts' need for solitude means they do nothing but sit at home, making cups of tea and watching TV or reading books. While this is true for some, many of us - myself included - enjoy the act of being alone in various circumstances, including things that would normally be classed as 'extrovert' activities, such as exploring cities, going travelling, going to the cinema, or grabbing coffee to people-watch or work on a creative project.

It took me a while to feel comfortable doing these things alone, initially feeling anxious whenever I dared to sit in a coffee shop alone with my laptop. I used to worry everyone was watching and judging me for being alone, especially in a place created for social interactions, like dates, catch-ups between friends, or time with family. Am I coming across the lonely one, the loner, the person who has no friends? But over time, I realised that ultimately, other people don't care what I'm doing since they're minding their own business.

I ended up spending most of my solo time in coffee shops, as well as doing various activities and inspiring trips alone, finding the freedom of living life on my own schedule empowering as well as relaxing. I found the routine especially helpful following big changes in my life, such as moving house, starting a new job, or breakups, as it reminded me of my own agency and that I can still look after myself during disruptive times. Many introverted people act in this manner, using free time to energise themselves and be inspired by the world around them, without feeling the pressure of being with others and instead feeling comfortable to be with themselves. 

As with anything, introvert personalities are a spectrum. No two are alike, some preferring the comfort of their own home and quiet time with a book compared to those who still wish to be active and engaged with their environments. Creativity is also common in introverts, using myself as an example. As a writer, I like to soak in inspiration from my surrounding world, particularly when I explore new places and find fresh ideas through their history, culture or community. 

Free image from Unsplash. Credit to Toa Heftiba

I'm not entirely sure why I decided to write this post now and not sooner, but if I had to give a reason, it would be that I've become truly proud of this part of my identity, and want to not only bring it to the forefront to promote myself, but also to educate on the art of 'introvert-ism' to those who may not understand it. I'm sure fellow introverts will recognise the fear of being judged for simply being themselves, so I hope this post helps clarify our misunderstood nature, while also reminding that we vary as people, just like anyone else. 

Over the years, I've found my introvert side has made way for a more extroverted side, given I've made friends that I really connect with and feel comfortable enough to be open and authentic with. Regardless, I always require regular periods of solitude to recharge, such as right now, while writing this post! Life has become so much busier, and chances for a proper recharge are getting fewer and further between, so it's important to make the most of them when they happen - even if you're not an introvert.

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Life update: a new job and a return to Bristol!

For almost three years, I have been working as a part-time library administrator at UWE Bristol, commuting from Weston-Super-Mare to the Bristol office twice a week. Despite loving my work, it has been difficult sticking to a part-time role and making long, expensive commutes at the same time, struggling to make ends meet and facing exhaustion and stress from inconvenient commutes. 

Regardless, it has given me the essential ability to focus on my postgraduate Diploma during my free days, which would have been near-impossible while doing full-time work. The ultimate goal has been to secure full-time work in a role I really want shortly before completing my course, and hopefully give me an opportunity to move back to Bristol. While living in Weston-super-Mare with a friend has been beneficial in so many ways, I have always felt the desire to return to Bristol, and this desire hasn't changed even after two years of being away.

And now, after many months of applying for various jobs, I can finally say, with great excitement, that I have secured a new position at the University of the West of England as an 'Education Services Operations Administrator', and successfully moved back to Bristol as a result! 

View from the Grain Barge bar in Bristol city centre

The job

In my new role, I work two days a week in the 'ES Operations' team at UWE, who manage the maintenance of library spaces, completion of works and purchase requests from across the department, keep administrative records of new and existing staff, and handle conference bookings for staff development. The role was advertised shortly before the end of my PG Diploma, which was perfectly timed, given I was actively applying for jobs and hoping to move back to Bristol once securing a full-time role. This job will give me valuable experience and knowledge of the operational workings of a university library department, especially one connected to various academic teams.

Thankfully, I can continue my role as a library administrator alongside the new job, given both roles are part-time, with one taking up 2 days and the other 2.5. Thus, I am now working 4.5 days a week in two different but connected roles, allowing me to increase my knowledge and experience, while continuing to work in a department where I've established good working relationships. I've been on the job for around three weeks, and it has already given me a great routine, keeping my mind occupied and giving me the security of near-full-time earnings. 

The flat

My new home in Bristol is a beautiful flat in a shared building, based just off Whiteladies Road in the district of Redland. I have always liked this area of Bristol, and while I hadn't lived there previously, I could see why it was a popular and desirable area. Whiteladies Road has everything: shops, cafes, bars, a cinema, beautiful areas for walks like Clifton Downs, and a gorgeous local library which I've already made use of. 

Redland Library

I also feel incredibly fortunate to be living with a friend of mine, avoiding the stress of moving into house-shares with complete strangers. It was pure luck I got this opportunity, hearing about an upcoming vacant room through passing conversations and eventually realising it might be a good idea to express my interest in it! Without this opportunity coming along, I may not have moved out of Weston-super-Mare, given the affordable living costs and the fact my partner only lived a few minutes away. Nonetheless, securing the new job at UWE sealed the deal, since my full-time hours require me to be based in Bristol, and I couldn't waste the chance to live in a stunning part of it with someone I was already friends with.

The flat itself is beautifully-kept, with lots of large windows that create plenty of natural light. My room is small, but cosy and comfortable, and I have a lovely tree right by my window. Obviously it's so much easier to get to work, the dreaded two-hour commutes from Weston-super-Mare long behind me. It may be two buses for the new journey, but in total it only comes to about half an hour on the way in and forty-ish minutes on the way back. It feels far more relaxed than before (not to mention cheaper!) and I can go from place to place in the city whenever I want with regular buses only a five minute walk away from my flat.

The course

I mentioned my postgraduate Diploma in Library & Information Services Management, which I have been studying for during the last two years. Well, around a week ago, I was very excited to have completed and handed in my final assignment, bringing the course to an official end (at least until my final grades release and my graduation in January).  

Given this was a distance-learning course from the University of Sheffield, I had to engage with all the content remotely, which was convenient, but mentally exhausting after a while. Regardless, it has been an essential building-block for my career, giving me the qualification I need to make me credible for various library/information jobs. Now the course is done, I have more time to focus on learning my new job, juggling it with my existing role, and using my spare time to research future roles, update my CV, and take on new CPD opportunities.

My writing

As you may have gathered, I am extremely happy to have more free time for creative writing, which includes updating this blog as regularly as I can, potentially writing research publications in support of my library career, and continuing to work on a draft of an original novel. I spend far too much time talking about writing instead of actually doing it, so I'm hoping to make the most of the free time I've been given to finish several projects. Moving to a new place has also given me a lot of inspiration (as it so often does), making me energised and ready to do as much writing as I can in my new environment. 

Regardless what content of mine you read or keep up with, I hope you enjoy whatever I post, whether it's jut my silly ramblings, LIS-specific content, or, maybe one day, a published book. Who knows what I might have completed by the end of this year? I can't wait to find out. :) 

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Why a little indie game continues to teach us about being kind in a prejudiced world

For those who know me, you'll be aware I don't "game" that much, nor would I consider myself a "gamer" by any stretch. But there are a few exceptions to that rule - a select few games that have impacted me in a way I could never imagine, whether from story, characters, soundtrack, or the central focus on choice-based gameplay, which determines what kind of ending the player will get.

There are many games that have incorporated the choice-based mechanic, with varying methods and results. Examples of this include Life is Strange, Night in the Woods and Mass Effect. However, in my view, there is only one game that has not only mastered the choice-based mechanic, but perhaps revolutionised it and therefore influenced games that came after it. 

That game is "Undertale", an 8-bit-style indie game created by Toby Fox. 

 

Undertale was released in 2015 and is set in a world where humans and "monsters" live side-by-side until a war breaks out, and the victorious humans banish the losing monsters to live underground for eternity as punishment. The player controls a human protagonist who has mistakenly fallen into the underworld and must find a way to return home, all while encountering various characters/enemies on their journey.

This game plays on the classic genre of an RPG, turning the usual mechanics on their head by giving the player the option to spare enemies they encounter in battle, instead of only being able to win fights by killing their opponents. At the time, this was groundbreaking as it was unheard of for RPGs, and made the player psychologically question their moral choices while playing. Completely based on the player's choices throughout their journey, the game will end with either a Pacifist, Neutral or Genocide ending, where you will either have spared all enemies, killed all enemies, or a mix of the two. 

At first glance, the visuals of Undertale as well as the pun-based humour could put people off, regardless of the unique gameplay, but part of why I wanted to talk about it so much after ten years is to tell anyone - whether you're a veteran gamer or have never played a video game once in your life - that you should never judge a book by its cover and go into it with an open mind, and see how your own journey impacts you. 

Ironically, not judging a book by its cover is, in my opinion, one of the main themes of Undertale. It's hard to explain what I mean without spoilers, but ultimately the choice of sparing or killing enemies is deliberate, because it makes the player question whether they will take life just to get ahead or reach a particular goal. Regardless of what you choose, it affects the outcome of the game, and the outcome will leave you satisfied, empty, or on another plane of existence as you realise the impact of your mercy.

Another reason I wanted to talk about Undertale is because we are living in a very difficult world in 2026: politically, economically, environmentally, and of course in relation to war. I can only speak for the UK specifically here, but there is also a constant fear of judgement, bias and hostility because of who you are, based on your race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disability etc., which means those on the receiving end are treading on eggshells all the time. However, most of those who are judgemental due to certain characteristics are not 'bad people', but simply misinformed, influenced by old-fashioned ideas or preconceptions about those who are 'not like them'.

One of the purposes behind Undertale is to make the player question their judgements, and stop to think before they make their opinions about the creatures they meet. If given the choice to kill or spare a person you'd just met, what would you do? What reasons do you have that makes your decision truly worth it? In other words, would killing every creature you meet in a genocide run of this game make you feel good about yourself? I can't touch on the results of that route without spoiling the story, but if you've played it, you know exactly how you'll feel. 

If you haven't played it, then I highly suggest you give Undertale a go. Even if you're someone who has rarely played games, or never played games in your life, don't let that put you off. The tutorials (tu-Toriels, I should say) teach the tactics well without influencing your choices too heavily, and the world-building, character depth, charm and humour is enough to pull in even the most sceptical of first-time players.

Undertale is a beautiful indie game that can be enjoyed for its fun and light tones as a way to help players escape from the intensity of the world right now. Because of all that, I don't want to make my promotion of it entirely heavy or politically-fuelled, but I will say that my recent nostalgic play-through reminded me of the times we live in and how we could learn a lot from a 'little indie game' like this, and how the smallest acts of kindness and non-judgmental attitudes can go a long way in making the world better than the one we live in right now. 

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New Blog, New Start

Hello!

Wow, it's been three years since I wrote a blog post or even looked at a blog. Why is that, I ask myself?

If I'm honest, writing about life and having the time for it has been near-impossible over the last few years. I've been working hard in my job, investing in my career by starting a new postgraduate course, moving house, finding new relationships, and having many contemplative, anxiety-ridden and panic-stricken moments about my future - all of which I haven't been writing down. So now I think it's time I start writing them down! 

Why now?

I was partly inspired to restart by my postgraduate course: a Diploma in Library & Information Services Management. I'm in my final term and one of the modules requires a lot of reflective writing, where we evaluate our professional skills, what we've learned in the past, how we can improve our skills now. For my portfolio assignment, I will have to reflect on various experiences in my career, both professional and personal, to evaluate the person I am now and use that to apply for future jobs.

Not only has this encouraged me to reflect on my professional self, but also on my day-to-day life, and myself as a person. After so long not writing in my blog, I've realised how little I've reflected on myself generally, and I think now is the perfect time to get back into the habit, given my course completion is near and I'm keen to move into a new job once I'm qualified. 

Alongside studying for my Diploma, I have been working as a part-time Library Administrator at UWE Bristol. 2026 marks two years of being in this role, which feels mad, not only because of how quickly the time went, but because I didn't expect to remain in the role for this long. I either felt I would struggle too much with a job I had no prior experience in (I'd never worked in finance, reading list support etc.) or I'd find another role more local to me within a year. 

Not only have I persevered in my administrator role and excelled in areas I didn't think I would, but I haven't yet secured another role despite getting various interviews. In a way, I'm glad I've had as much time as I have to feel like an expert in my role, as well as dedicate spare time to studying, so I can leave both my job and my course feeling completely prepared for the next step.

While working towards completion of my Diploma, I have taken up Careers Mentoring through the University of Sheffield, which has paired me with a voluntary mentor so they can offer careers advice, such as CV edits, interview tips, LinkedIn profiling, and help with job applications. Communicating with my mentor while studying and attending webinars from CILIP, British Library, and NLISN is allowing me to soak in as much knowledge and advice as possible. I feel more readily armed with the skills and awareness of the sector needed to progress in my LIS career, even if it's just the early stages.

Life outside my library career

I am currently living in the seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare, with my best friend for a housemate and an amazing boyfriend living ten minutes away. It's been surprising how at home I feel in this shabby yet charming town, perhaps because it reminds me of the equally shabby seaside town I grew up in, which also has its charm in many other ways. I've made friends here, learned about the local landmarks, and immersed myself in the local culture and coffee hideouts. But it's only a matter of time before I leave, likely to return to Bristol, so I plan to make the most of my remaining months here.

While living here, I've obviously dedicated most of my time to my job, course, and professional development, but I've also been writing in my spare time. Writing has been my passion since I was a child, hence my choice of university degrees in English/Creative Writing and Scriptwriting. While I haven't been writing quite as much as I did, due to focusing on my library career, I still write as much as I can in the evenings and weekends, and I'm pleased to announce a full-length novel is in the works. This project is an adult romantasy, taking inspiration from stories like Game of Thrones, Narnia, The Hunger Games, and adult animated works like Hazbin Hotel and Samurai Jack, and I can't wait to work on it further once my free time has increased.

How this blog will work

I will have two main pages for my blog posts.

One will be a personal/general blog, where I post about any daily musings, reflections, or random topics in my head at the time. I will also post about my writing, including any short-form or long-form fiction projects I'm working on (short stories, novellas, novels etc.), and potentially thoughts on books I've read recently (though I may make that a separate page to avoid overcrowding).

The other will be my professional career-focused page, where I reflect on any updates or news relating to my career in Library and Information Sciences - hence the name, 'LIS Blog.' I thought this would be a good way to have a space for ongoing reflections on my career, given this is important for continuous professional development, and to share my achievements and experiences with others who wish to read.

I don't currently have a schedule for how regularly I will post, but I will aim for once a month for both my personal blog and LIS blog.

Contact me!

One of the main reasons I'm starting this blog is to reinforce my connections and networking, both in the LIS sector and the writing/authors community. So if you want to get in touch to chat about anything I blog about, please go to my 'Contact' page and reach out via LinkedIn, Bluesky, or my email. 

I'd be really happy to hear from you and am open to chatting about anything and offer/receive any relevant career advice. For now, thank you for reading my first post and I can't wait to expand this blog further. :)