Sign up now for an annual subscription to my Patreon and get 13% off a huge archive of essays about relationships, breakups, mental health, and pop culture. Join and start reading here.
For most of my life, I’ve been the person who my friends text when they’re working through big, complicated feelings. From gushing about why a book resonated so deeply, to processing a toxic relationship that might actually be abusive, I do my best to hold space for vulnerability, humor and nuance.
That’s the energy I bring to my writing, where I explore my experiences with healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as what culture teaches us about love and sex. As a sex and culture critic, I unpack news and trends that feel a little off, from dark pop culture moments to internet discourse you need explained (like why Colleen Ballinger’s ukulele apology video set YouTube on fire). Those icky, nuanced topics that escape a neat hot take are my speciality.
From the impact of the Depp v. Heard defamation trial, to sneaking your favorite kitchen appliance out of your ex’s apartment, I do my best to write from a trauma-informed and feminist perspective.
Patreon is the best place to read my work. Becoming a patron is essentially the same as signing up for a Substack newsletter, only you’ll get more than the occasional essay via email. My readers also receive podcast episodes, vlogs, book club discussions, and photo albums from my travels.
When you subscribe to my Patreon, you get access to:
- LIFE RUINER, my memoir about casual sex in college, getting herpes, and surviving emotional abuse.
- Regular coverage of celebrity abuse, domestic and sexual violence stories. Read my analysis of the allegations against Jonah Hill here.
- A large collection of resources about living with herpes, including podcast conversations, essays, and practical advice on sex and dating.
- A monthly newsletter with book reviews, film recommendations, and pop culture thoughts.
- And much, much more!!
The support of my patrons allows me to be an independent writer without an assignment editor or a corporate sponsorships. In exchange for their generosity, I try to pay it forward and boost other writers and authors whose work has changed my life. If you love to read, to learn, and to challenge your perspective, you’ll be right at home in my Patreon community.
Being a human being is weird, wonderful, and sometimes super hard. If you need insight, or a joyful distraction, please become a reader. I would love to have you in my corner of the internet on Patreon.
Thank you, and much love.
Ella Dawson 