Hannah Aster

SEO Team Lead

Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.

Expertise

Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing

Growing Up With Racism: Michelle Obama’s Experience

In what ways did Michelle Obama experience racism growing up? What lesson did Michelle learn from her Grandpa Dandy? For the first few years of her life, Michelle Obama wasn’t aware of racism because she grew up in an inter-racial community. It wasn’t until she was a little older that she and her brother were faced with racism first-hand. Michelle realized that some people were treated differently because of the color of their skin. Keep reading for more information about Michelle Obama and growing up with racism.

The Two Kinds of Violence in Literature

What are the two kinds of violence in literature? What does it mean when an author includes violence in a story? In literature, acts of violence are almost always a symbol of some greater kind of suffering. There are two common forms of violence: when a character harms himself or others, and when narrative harm happens to a character. Continue reading to learn about the two kinds of literary violence.

The Top 5 Radical Acceptance Quotes by Dr. Tara Brach

What are the top five Radical Acceptance quotes from Tara Brach? How can these quotes help you understand Radical Acceptance better? Radical Acceptance is a meditative practice wherein we acknowledge what we’re experiencing—positive or negative—and welcome it. Dr. Tara Brach explores these ideas through the lens of a Buddhist in her book Radical Acceptance. Continue on for Radical Acceptance quotes.

First Lady Michelle Obama Wanted to Make an Impact

What did Michelle Obama do in her first few months as First Lady? How did the media respond to her actions? Michelle Obama always struggled with not feeling “good enough.” So when she became the first Black First Lady, she felt the pressure to make a good impression. Michelle created her own agenda which included nutrition awareness, support for military families, and encouraging young girls to pursue education. Keep reading for more information on Michelle Obama’s first few months as First Lady.

Look Out for Political Writing in Literature

Why should you familiarize yourself with an author’s background before reading their literature? Why are politics so common in writing? If you don’t familiarize yourself with the world as it was when an author wrote a book, you risk missing important political commentary. Especially in American literature, the role of an individual character is almost always politically charged. Keep reading to learn more about political writing in classic literature.

Buddha on Desire: Accept It but Don’t Be Ruled By It

What does Buddhism say about desire? Is Buddhism an anti-pleasure and anti-desire religion? Buddha never said that desire is wrong or that it makes us bad people. Buddha merely urges us not to be ruled by our desires. We should meet desire with Radical Acceptance so we can live freely in spite of it. Keep reading for more information about Buddhism and desire.

The Law of Perspective: Focus on the Long-Term

Why is it so important to focus on long-term goals rather than short-term profits in a company? Is there a way to accurately predict what the market trends will be? In The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, the Law of Perspective states that you must resist being swayed by short-term benefits and diligently consider the long-term effects of your actions. This means resisting the urge to promote frequent price cuts because your sales may jump in the short term but they will suffer in the long term. Keep reading to learn more about the Law of Perspective.

Michelle Obama’s Accomplishments as First Lady

What did Michelle Obama achieve during her time as First Lady? How did she use her newfound power to make a positive impact? Michelle Obama knew better than to try to meddle in political matters as First Lady. However, her position as First Lady gave her the publicity and resources to run campaigns to try to help children and military families. Keep reading for more on Michelle Obama’s accomplishments as First Lady.

Why Authors Reference Literary Fairy Tales and Myths

What do fairy tales and myths signify in literature? Why would an author choose to borrow an element of an already well-known story? It’s common practice for authors to reference fairy tales and classical mythology in their literature because they are an assumed body of knowledge. Referencing well-known material allows an author to get a point across without much effort. Keep reading for more information about literary fairy tales and myths.

Feeling Unworthy Is More Common Than You Think

Do you ever struggle with feelings of unworthiness? Do you feel like you’ll never be “good enough”? Where do these painful feelings stem from? In today’s society, almost everybody struggles with feeing unworthy. This feeling stems from many sources and can lead to self-destructive behaviors and coping mechanisms. However, by trying to hide the pain, we’re often making it worse. Keep reading to learn about the roots and dangers of feeling unworthy.