Metaphor_Megg: Captain's Log 2.7.25
What I'm Writing, Reading, and Watching
Hello, Earthlings! It is I, Metaphor_Megg, who has decided to start a lil newsletter. My name is Megan Phillips and I am a poet, writer, artist and overall unique human being (as far as I know).I’m another Midwest millennial who looks younger than she is. And this year, I am writing and self-publishing my first book that is a collection of poetry called: Uncomfortably Present.
So, welcome to our first Captain’s Log. We will take a little section at a time so you can be updated on how my writing projects are going, what I am reading, and finally whatever I am watching.
I was always a devote reader, but throughout college and work life I lost my love of reading for pleasure. I spent my time in college reading novels and poetry in French or Spanish with a hefty stack of books to be read each semester. When the self-help book craze hit, I started only reading for learning not fun. This year, I’ve set a goal to read 100 books.
As an aspiring author, it only made sense to me to come back to my love of reading to inspire my own writing. I know some people feel very strongly about consuming media while writing, however, I have always found that media of all kinds has improved my work with depth, whether in writing, creating art, or photoshoots.
Captain’s Log
This is your Captain Speaking: Location, definitely not written mostly at work…
Writing
Uncomfortably Present Updates:
I began writing a poetry collection in 2023. It came from a collection of poems in my Notes app, either randomly written or prompts from my poetry class, Poems and Power, lead by my hot poetry teacher, Chelsie Diane. This collection was transferred into a Google Doc that has been edited half a million times at this point.
Currently, I have 56 of 57 poems drafted and ready to rock and roll. Big thanks to my soul sister Danyle, my editor who I met through Poems and Power! A huge part of this collection is being inspired by Shel Silverstein in his use of poems and illustrations together. I reached out to various friends and artists who would like the opportunity to create a piece of art that is inspired by my original poems. We have 9 different original pieces of art thus far ranging from charcoal, hand drawn illustration, digital illustration, and paintings.
SECRET TIME: A key element to my process with this book will be sharing my own sketches in video form with voiceovers of my poems. Follow my Instagram, Metaphor_Megg for Reels and Threads sharing my poems and behind the scenes.
The Tongue is Sharp: An Anthology of Feminine Rage
Very excited to announce my first poems that have been published in The Tongue is Sharp: An Anthology of Feminine Rage. This collection was brought to life by authors Rowan Redfield, Maggie Burns, and Jinapher Hoffman. You can read 3 original poems (“I WILL NOT”, “Grief on Crack”, and “Hail Mary”) in this digital anthology found on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle for 99 cents. The print book will be available soon. All the proceeds go towards the ACLU. Check out myself and the other amazing poems, and short stories all centered around feminine rage created by women artists. More on this in my read section! Link here: The Tongue is Sharp: An Anthology of Feminine Rage.
In the flesh: Poetry Events
I love attending the Wax Poetic Open Mic hosted by The Records Department in Woodstock Square and led by the Atrocious Poets group at 6:30 pm, on the 3rd Thursday of each month. I went to my first open mic in April or May of 2024 and have been coming ever since. I love how welcoming this group is. We usually start with a fun and short poetry exercise. Then whoever signs up to read, reads their work or it can be someone else’s. These meet ups are one of my favorite parts of the month and I use them to hold me accountable to come with new work and there is such a power to your words being spoken aloud into a microphone. The next open mic is Thursday, February 20th at 6:30 p.m, come listen, come read, come chill! Here’s my last read in December 2024.
Reading
Current reading update 17/100 books read. In January, I read 13 books. Here’s my featured books this week:
Kindle: The Tongue is Sharp: An Anthology of Feminine Rage - This collection was absolutely delightful to be apart of, but even more so to read. Some of my favorite short stories were: “Blood in the Water: A Siren Revenge Tail” by Sarah Zane, “Bloody the Love” by M. O’Hara, “Pretty Little Bird” by Lily Kent, and “The Infinite Ethereal” by Sunny J Rowley. “The Sins of the Flame” by Ryen Santana really blew me away with all it’s layers. If you pick it up and enjoy it, leave a good review on Goodreads and Amazon! I’ll update you guys on the release of the paperback book.
Paperback: The Fox and The Falcon (will be released February 18th) - I was lucky to be an ARC reader for this book. I was very pumped as it is the second installment in the No Other Gods series by Piper CJ. The Deer and The Dragon was my gateway to the writing of Piper CJ and her magical world of folklore and mythology. I really enjoyed how fast paced this book was as well as the return of our favorite characters. We had some new well known Gods join the pack as well. Finally, I am so here for not a happy ending and the continuing of this series leaving me wanting more. I have my sprayed edge copy with original art of Fauna and Azrames coming in the mail and I can’t wait. She has her own Substack too! Check it out here,
Library: Lore Olympus and Twilight graphic novels - We love getting graphic novels from the library because 1) always a fast read 2) SAVE all the money. I got caught up on Lore Olympus this month by reading Volumes 3-7. Now, I must patiently await the next volume #8 that comes out May 6th, 2025. I’m gearing up for a Twilight Movie Marathon in theaters tomorrow, February 8th. I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to reread all the Twilight books, however, I did have enough time to read the 3 existing Twilight Graphic Novels. There’s 2 parts for the first book, and one for New Moon. I am not sure why no more were made after that. They are pretty true to the books and movies.
Audio book: Self Source-ery by Lisa Lister - This is my second audiobook I have done with Lisa Lister. 1) I love her voice and accent. 2) I love her free following writing style. In Venus, there are a lot of different rituals, astrological transits, and routines. I didn’t enjoy going through those in the audiobook form as it became repetitive at times. Her Self Source-ery book is a more enjoyable read. I loved that I started this book with it being the year of the Wood Snake in 2025. There are quite a few elements that tie into the idea of reinvention and being your best self. Lisa’s authenticity and real world language always makes me smile.
Watching
Most evenings my husband and I watch a TV show or a movie after having dinner during the week. Glamourous, I know! We have several streaming services, but generally will do trials or alternate subscriptions to maximize shows. Another great option is the library. We go for DVDs there and also watch some VHS tapes in our room TV/VCR combo. We are nerds. Our living room TV is a 75 inch.
TV
Picard (Seasons 2 and 3) on Paramount +
I am a Star Trek and Star Wars, girlie, first and foremost. Next Generation is my favorite Star Trek TV series so when I saw Paramount picked up Picard for a couple of seasons I was pumped. The first season, I could not get down. The situations that Picard found himself in felt extremely unrealistic to his character. It felt like a situation where the old white dude needed to be put down a peg.
I decided to give Season 2 a chance. A chance they did get! As soon as Q was back, I was in. Season 3 focused on Next Generation including all of the main characters (Riker, Jordie, Data, Deanna, Warf). This season was beautifully done.
SPOILERS: We got to see another side to Picard with his SURPRISE son. This made the 20 years of silence from Beverly Crusher make a whole lot of sense. A mysterious illness and changelings (which did freak me out a little bit because I want to write about the fairy version) and our good old friends the Borg.
Bravo to Picard. They really nailed the 2nd and 3rd season. I really loved the last episode. Such a heart warming end to this show, and if anybody dies from Next Generation soon. I will be okay.
Movies
Gladiator + Gladiator 2 (watched on Paramount +)
I grew up rewatching one of three different DVDs my Irish dad deemed acceptable, one of them being Gladiator. This is what I know Russell Crowe for (not Les Mis). I really adore the original film. There’s some parts that stick out to me more and more as I age. 1) Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) is a total creep 2) I still can’t get over how much spit is there is on Maximus (Russell Crowe’s) face when he sees his family burnt, and 3) there is such a quality that is similar to Brave Heart with the relationship between Maximus and Lucilla being similar to William Wallace and the Princesa Isabelle. I watched Braveheart recently as well. It came out in 1995 and Gladiator in 2000.
The second edition lacks the magic of the original. It is almost the same exact movie. I find it interesting that like Picard there is this secret son storyline. I still don’t think that the math quite math 20 years later ( Maximus would have been married at the time). The movie was not very moving, there was a weird insistent on putting gay rich men to the forefront. The twin emperors have the same sickly makeup look that Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) had. It was just entirely predictable and Denzel Washington’s character was entirely unlikeable and unremarkable. It’s worth a watch, but don’t get your hopes up. I’m glad I waited till VOD for this one.
You can find the first Gladiator on Paramount + as well.
The Quiet Place, The Quiet Place Part II, The Quiet Place Day 1 (Amazon Prime)
So very late to the game on these three. I heard of the movies, knew they existed, but had no strong pull. Since Halloween season 2024 my husband and I have been continuing to indulge in horror and scary movies and TV. This was the perfect time to give The Quiet Place a go.
I loved these movies. I think there is an element inspired by Birdbox, and I like the use of sign language (more so in the first film). Of the series, I prefer The Quiet Place Part II. The world is already established, we get hints of what it was like before, but mostly back at our current timeline with our family who is in trouble. I love the addition of Cillian Murphy in the series. I really enjoyed the dynamic of him and Regan Abbott (the daughter who is deaf) having to navigate communication together.
I did not find the final movie The Quiet Place Day 1 to be completely necessary. It was an okay movie, it connected to the other two. I enjoyed Frodo the cat which I am not sure if this cat is apart of the other films, but interested to look again. It was just okay.
Thanks for the ride y’all. Comment below and let me know if you’ve enjoyed this. What are you guys reading and watching right now? Let’s keep making art in 2025.
See you on the next flight back,
Metaphor_megg