Rookie » July 10, 2013

July 10, 2013

Who’s really reading these things?

Caitlin Hazell, Naomi Morris, Katherine Denney and Britney Franco 07/10/2013

Rookie is no longer publishing new content, but we hope you'll continue to enjoy the archives, or books, and the community you've helped to create. Thank you for seven very special years! ✴

Rookie is an online magazine and book series for teenagers. Each month, a different editorial theme drives the writing, photography, and artwork that we publish. Learn more about us here, and find out how to submit your work here!

Caitlin and Naomi met IN REAL LIFE! They went dancing.

Naomi

I have been thinking about resigning from these weekly diaries. Read More »

Katherine

I spent most of last week in my bedroom with the lights off. Read More »

Britney

Summer is gross. Read More »

Editor’s note: Ruby B. is taking this week off. She’ll be back next week.

1 2 3 4

26 Comments

TessAnnesley July 10th, 2013 7:30 PM
omg naomi’s entry gives me so many feelings – rookie has just helped all of so much, readers of course and staff too, it seems! OMG GROUP HUG I LOVE ALL OF YOU
Tiger July 10th, 2013 7:49 PM
Caitlin all of your illustrations are so amazing ok.
Tavi Gevinson July 10th, 2013 7:57 PM
Oh Naomi! Please do whatever you feel most comfortable with. I do think that’s something we all deal with in waves. I remind myself that there are so many degrees of separation: the difference between what I feel and what I write, the difference between what I write and what people actually read, the difference between what people read and what they take away from it. You’re so right when you say it’s out of your control — but it’s that way for anyone who creates anything, or even anyone who SAYS anything to even like their MOM, so you’re not alone.

At times it feels worth the worry and at times it doesn’t. Decide for yourself and know you can always change your mind. You always have a place here, you know that. <3
- Eileen July 11th, 2013 12:48 PM
  I agree with this completely! Feelings and stuff aren’t ‘always’ entities, they are obnoxiously temporary, and no matter how much you want to force yourself to feel the way you once did, it will never be just like that. Which is why you should never quit until you’re positive that’s a ‘forever’ feeling. And especially a person with anexity, which PASSES. These ‘eyes’ your feeling hit in waves like Tavi said- this one I know first hand. *SIDE NOTE this doesn’t mean you have to enter every entry with the thought ‘get over it, these people don’t want to hear you whine’, because that’s also not true.. We like to hear what you’re thinking, so you shouldn’t sensor, I’m just saying the whole time I read this, I thought ‘NOOOOOO, DON’T QUIIIIT!!’ <3
EmmaS July 10th, 2013 8:03 PM
aw I always like reading Ruby’s diary, I’m a bit disappointed.
- KatGirl July 10th, 2013 9:02 PM
  Me too, I hope she’s OK!
  - Anaheed July 10th, 2013 11:28 PM
    She is OK! She just wasn’t able to get permission from the people she tried to write about this week.
runitss July 10th, 2013 8:10 PM
Oh my gosh! I can understand feeling weird about posting because it can feel worthless or fake or impostor-y and that whole syndrome is such a foggy, cloudy, molasses-y mess to deal with. I really hope you continue to trek on through it, or take a break and come back if you need it! Just, please continue doing these! Rookie Mag is the first thing I’ve found in so long where I feel like there’s a brimming, vibrant creative energy! Please continue! & KEEP ON TRUCKING! <3
alienbabe July 10th, 2013 8:38 PM
God, Britneys post resonated with me so much. I’ve spent most of my summer in my bed watching Netflix. I might go insane if I don’t do something soon.
GlitterKitty July 10th, 2013 8:42 PM
Caitlin, your illustrations are so amazing. Not just this one but all of them. When I first saw the one for this week, I thought it looked chaotic and couldn’t really understand what was going on with all the colours and shapes. But then when I looked again and I realized that it perfectly represented going out dancing and I think it also looks really cool. I think you’re very talented and creative. And I looked at your blog and it’s pretty cool too. Please continue doing what you do!

(I hope you don’t think I’m a stalker… I don’t mean to be)
- Caitlin Hazell July 11th, 2013 4:59 AM
  GlitterKitty thank you so so much I really can’t tell you how much your kind words mean to me. <3 <3
Sophie ❤ July 10th, 2013 9:16 PM
I didn’t have any preferences this time- I loved all SO MUCH!
o-girl July 10th, 2013 11:28 PM
Britney- Oh god I’m totally on the same page with you. It’s weird, because I’m not really sad or have been sitting around or thinking about a boy, but you’ve still managed to capture the essence of summer’s bittersweet feelings. I hope I meet you sometime in the future (being a Brooklyn, public school kid myself, only a grade younger, it seems likely?).
- Britney Franco July 11th, 2013 12:30 PM
  Definitely! It’s a small world, after all. But I’m glad that I was able to do that! It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Before summer began I really idealized it but now that it’s finally here, I’m happy for the freedom but I’m also just like, “….What now?”
whyamidreamingwhenimstillawake July 11th, 2013 12:55 AM
Britney-your birthday is 2 days after mine! That’s really weird in an awesome way! (It’s not the same year though. I’m not posting that on the internet. n_n)
Caitlin Hazell July 11th, 2013 4:56 AM
Naomi you are the gem/car park fortune telling crystal. xxxxxxxxxxxx
maxrey July 11th, 2013 12:00 PM
I love everyone’s entry so much, but especially Katherine’s!

I seriously could quote the entire thing, but the part about the ghost crab and the bit about her brother sounding like a TV show were my favorites. <3
Chloe22 July 11th, 2013 12:01 PM
Britney, my summer is just as boring. I have celiac and am stuck in the house with a stomach ache, eating Gluten Free Gushers and watching The Golden Girls. Definitely not the stereotypical high jinks teen summer :P
Alienor July 11th, 2013 12:15 PM
oh britney, how you describe summer in your first line is exactly how i feel about summer as well.
sparklybella July 11th, 2013 2:47 PM
Naomi! I hope you feel better soon. I just wanted to say you’re truly an awesome human being and that what others think shouldn’t be an impasse for you to stop writing. :) Lots o’love. xx b
pinnedtothepage July 12th, 2013 4:45 PM
happy birthday, britney!
loonylizzy July 12th, 2013 11:19 PM
naomi – here’s hoping you feel better soon, and that you realize what a huge inspiration you and your writing are to us rookie readers. please don’t stop writing!

katherine – woo, georgia (my home state). also, i completely understand the feeling about vacation. it turns me into a moody vegetable that throws cheetos at anyone who tries to get within 20 feet of me. glad you had an adventure with your brother though. beautiful entry!

britney – i find that summer often brings back unwelcome nostalgia. when your brain isn’t as occupied it tends to wander into places you’d prefer it didn’t go. i hope you enjoy the remainder of the season though, and happy birthday!
moonshine28 July 13th, 2013 4:42 AM
Naomi, as someone who has very low self esteem and cares a lot about what others think of me I can relate to you. But KEEP WRITING don’t let those people stop you from doing something love! You are an amazing writer xxx
NF4awesome July 13th, 2013 11:00 PM
Naomi, I completely understand your want for some distance between your writing-life and your “real” life. I hate not knowing how much of an opinion people already have about me before I meet them. Sometimes when I’m with people it seems like I spend the entire time either trying to re-create myself for them, or break out of the box they made for me.

Really, though, I wanted to comment mainly to tell you that your diaries are my favorite thing on Rookie. I’m not exactly a Rookie veteran (I started reading sometime late fall I think), and the diaries were some of the first pieces I read. Everytime I read one of yours I felt like I connected with you so much– we don’t have identical issues or feelings, but having someone to relate to made my world a little brighter during what was a particularly rough year for me.
Whatever your decision, thank you for being so personal in your writing :)
er1976 July 14th, 2013 9:18 PM
Laryssa July 25th, 2013 1:02 AM
britney ! this story basically describes me this summer. i totally relate to every single word you wrote. although is this a boring summer life, im really not complaining. this is awesome !

July 10, 2013

About Rookie

More from Dear Diary

More to See

Next Article

Naomi

Katherine

Britney