Raine Neal
Bio
Just trying to make it through the days - writing is a great way to stay distracted and refreshed.
Stories (46/0)
And A Little Love
When my stepdad passed away by suicide, I gained twenty pounds. From grief and stress, and also from the countless dishes dropped at our door. In the aftermath of the funeral, as my mom and I temporarily moved into my grandma's house, food followed. A truth well-known is that people will rally around you in a time of need, and one way they know they can help while still leaving room to grieve is by providing meals.
By Raine Neal5 months ago in Feast
The Man I Love
Love is a complex concept. You can love a multitude of things at a multitude of levels. You clearly don’t love your family in the same way you love your favorite book or Italian restaurant. It can be fleeting or painstakingly ever-present. Sometimes you can feel like the love you have will last forever and then suddenly all the obsession and malice and arguments over vague statements turning into sleepless nights have hardened your heart, transforming it from this beautiful warm thing into a repository for hatred, envy, and greed.
By Raine Neal6 months ago in Humans
10 Movies That Surprisingly Didn't Gross as Much as Barbie
For years, James Cameron and Marvel have been the kings of the box office. If it wasn't a James Cameron classic like Titanic breaking records at the box office, it was the newest Avengers installment. And while these masterpiece films are well-loved by both critics and moviegoers, some niche, cult classic films end up underperforming, or just not making over a billion dollars, while still holding a place in the hearts of viewers. Sometimes, movies manage to do both, and they sneak up on the films that are sitting comfortably in the top spots.
By Raine Neal7 months ago in Geeks
Arizona State of Mind
So, with no jobs, money burning a hole in our pocket, and a deep need to see a new part of the country, we packed up and started the hours-long drive to Arizona. From Texas, with all of our stops and such, it ended up being about an 18-hour journey. Not including, of course, the overnight stop that wasn't even planned by us that we were essentially peer pressured to make by Madi's travel-bug grandmother...
By Raine Neal7 months ago in Chapters
her
I'm sure that in my childhood years I wrote many stories, crafted many tales. But the first one that really meant something to me was the Luke Hemmings short story fanfiction. If you're unfamiliar, Luke Hemmings is the lead singer of the pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. And if you're unfamiliar with the term or the inner-workings of fanfiction, well, then, maybe this article isn't for you. Fanfiction has always been (and will likely always be) a staple in fandom culture, but I feel like it had a true resurgence in the early 2010s, specifically 2013-2016, years that some affectionately don The Tumblr Era. One Direction were at the peak of their fame, YouTube was forming into an entirely new beast, and K-pop was on the rise. The opportunity for fandom and fanfiction was greater than ever. So, as a young teen obsessed with both One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer, I thought I would try my hand as a writer on the infamous app/website Wattpad.
By Raine Neal7 months ago in Writers
The Story of My Life That I Didn't Write
To say this book hit home would be an understatement. This book feels like someone took the bones of my life story and went full force down one of the millions of possible paths I could take. Allow me to take you through the beautiful and heartbreaking story of The People We Keep, while also sharing with you the rollercoaster of my own life and how the two entwine.
By Raine Neal8 months ago in BookClub
are there still beautiful things?
On the appropriately-titled seventh track, seven, of Taylor Swift's 8th studio album, folklore, she asks, "are there still beautiful things?". This album answers the question with a melodic resounding "yes". The metaphors, tenderly-crafted storytelling, and emotion poured into all 17 songs are a recipe for pure perfection. Bravo, Miss Swift.
By Raine Neal8 months ago in Critique