It’s week four, so we are 1/4th of the way through entrants into this crazy project. Once again, thank for all for supporting this idea everyone. Let’s keep this going longer then 4 months and get more people involved.
Here is the short survey link if you are interested in joining into this fun: https://forms.gle/WfsoEgv3eGMKUUVF9
Today it’s time to talk about one of our most detailed bloggers, Aria from Animanga Spellbook!
What is your name, the kind of content you create on the internet, and the name of that or those pieces of media?
You can call me “Aria” (even if that’s not my real name). I run the Animanga Spellbook and make its associated content.
When did you first start enjoying the media of which you provide a voice for online?
I started reading Anime News Network first (circa 2009 – 10), then after years of casually reading I made it a mission to go to that site at least once a day in 2015. I found some of the writers’ WordPress accounts through brief biographies attached to their reviews.
What made you choose the media that you communicate your thoughts online?
In mid-2012 I had a school project which involved maintaining a Blogger blog for a website. This led me to blogging, then Tumblr (where I stayed for several years and still maintain some presence on), then WordPress.
Has it been difficult to find a voice in the online fandom?
I don’t think so – if you talk to the right people, the right niches will open themselves up to you. Getting involved in community initiatives (like this one) also helps.
When did you start gathering an audience? (Even a small amount of views or subscribers is an audience.)
I started on WordPress with a small blog called the Productivity Pile and after the need for that blog was over, I opened up the Spellbook. Irina and some others still know me from then, so…October 2017, if we’re being WordPress-specific.
How do handle the online discourse of anything? Media/Social Justice/Fandoms/ETC
Blog, Twitter, and Discord for the most part.
What are two posts/podcast episodes/pieces of art/etc that you are very proud of?
I’ll always point to this one: https://animangaspellbook.wordpress.com/2017/11/21/showa-genroku-rakugo-shinjuu-and-gender/
I have some very big plans for the October 2020 showcase (upcoming as of this interview), so I’ll include my previous Showcase hosting to go with that: https://animangaspellbook.wordpress.com/2019/03/01/jons-creator-showcase-february-2019/
*Editors Note: Please read her latest Jon Spencer Showcase here: https://animangaspellbook.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/thejcs-fantasy-quest-edition-for-oct-2020/ *
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!
You’re welcome.
Where can people find you online? (Twitter @/Facebook group/Blog Link/Place to find your podcasts/Patreon/Other Things?)
Blog: animangaspellbook.wordpress.com| Twitter: @MagicConan14
A very big thank you to lovely and well detailed Aria to answer my questions. Be sure to check it her content out whenever you get the chance to.
Everyone out there can join in some way. Here is the link if you are interested in joining in the fun 😀 : https://forms.gle/dpGk7TaiQJrBJh5N7
Mechanical Anime Reviews 
The answer listed for the online discourse question, to my memory, was for what social media I maintain a presence on, because I remember answering something about unfollowing for the discourse question (maybe the survey got altered after I answered it?). I did mention something of a less hardline stance in the post I put out for #Controversed yesterday, which was something to the effect of “All participants engaging in online discourse need to learn to disengage or react appropriately towards the issue and other participants”. It’s fine to discuss, but what makes discourse “discourse” is its hot-button nature and so being able to maturely step away from these issues is something that takes some people a lifetime to master. (In my head, “discourse” can disappear if handled appropriately but “controversies” never go away, hence any differences in wording and/or argument.)
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Yeah, for some reason it didn’t appear on my end. Did you want me to link your post instead?
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I have also participated, but I am not sure what you meant by ‘discourse’. I have answered something for that. Check if my response was correct or you were asking for something else.
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