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Ugh, it’s that time again

Posted on February 3, 2026February 3, 2026by Vanessa Smith

Today I am sad.   I’ve had a feeling for a while that there won’t be good news at work this year with regards to funding (it’s probably all public knowledge technically but I don’t view it as my place to share the specifics, so I’m not going into detail about why I feel this […]

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  • This is my life

2026 Advocacy Plans

Posted on January 22, 2026January 22, 2026by Vanessa Smith

The other day I posted on LinkedIn about ableism in universities as a staff member. A friend then sent me a link to a research survey on that topic, knowing I would have a lot to say. And I did. I filled it in, I explained how badly my needs were treated in my last […]

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  • This is my life

Capitalism and the impact of no support

Posted on January 19, 2026January 19, 2026by Vanessa Smith

Internalised capitalism means things like valuing yourself based on your income or productivity. Unlearning this is something I agree is valuable, but it’s very hard to do emotionally when you live under capitalism.   Logically, it’s very easy for me to say my worth isn’t my productivity. Truly feeling this and seeing it reflected in […]

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Work for yourself, it’s like SO easy

Posted on January 15, 2026November 21, 2025by Vanessa Smith

This article on The Conversation mentions disability, but only insofar as it’s a protected status; it’s technically illegal to discriminate against us. I say technically because we all know how common it is to be on the receiving end of discrimination in the workplace.    A common refrain will be that you should work for […]

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Advocacy: foundational support via Emerge

Posted on January 12, 2026November 21, 2025by Vanessa Smith

In late 2024 a few organisations were doing surveys regarding the creation of foundational supports. As someone who needs supports but presently gets no supports, I filled in as many as I could. I found my words in one particular report (this one).   When I first read the report, I got really excited because […]

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Authors, Be Kinder

Posted on January 8, 2026January 8, 2026by Vanessa Smith

I’ve been seeing a lot of gatekeeping how authors show up (and how they consider others) and I think I need to write about it. I’m seeing a lot of shitty, dehumanising takes.   Not caring about content warnings, telling people they can’t ever post anything “negative” ever, not to talk about media (eg other […]

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I’m not here for the comfort of ableds

Posted on January 5, 2026November 21, 2025by Vanessa Smith

(Side note: some people don’t like ableds being used in this slightly slur way. That’s ok, they don’t have to like it. I use it this way when I’m cranky because I’m fucking sick of being expected to be a meek better person just because of disability.)   On one of my trips home from […]

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The future of my fiction

Posted on January 1, 2026November 21, 2025by Vanessa Smith

Over the past five or so years a pattern has emerged with how I want to work on my fiction.   For now the specific will stay with me, because it took a long time to realise and it’s too raw to me to share. Raw isn’t’ inherently bad, FYI. It’s just raw.   The […]

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MECFS, work, and death

Posted on December 29, 2025November 20, 2025by Vanessa Smith

These are some thoughts I shared elsewhere online after seeing a post about how people with severe ME die when they become homeless.   A lot of the time MECFS groups will tell you to quit your job. I get where they’re coming from but it’s not an accurate representation of reality. I can’t get […]

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Work can be just work

Posted on December 25, 2025November 11, 2025by Vanessa Smith

People are very all or nothing about work and I am just… not that way inclined.   Colleagues have to be friends! Nope. Colleagues are colleagues. There’s nothing wrong with being a colleague. I have a great deal of respect for many people I’ve worked with and for some, I’d drop everything (disability permitting) to […]

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Meet NormalNess

NormalNess is where I share my life. And books I’ve written. I vlog sometimes. I also podcast occasionally. In the meantime, hang out with me and remember: We’re all normal to ourselves…

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  • Ugh, it’s that time again
  • 2026 Advocacy Plans
  • Capitalism and the impact of no support
  • Work for yourself, it’s like SO easy
  • Advocacy: foundational support via Emerge

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