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Laura and I have so much to celebrate in the Spring of this year! Two pieces of big news: Firstly - we are Expecting! Parenthood has been something we both have wanted and we are so excited and happy for the opportunity to begin this new adventure together. Second - we are moving west! I'll be converting to a remote employee, will keep my present job function, and we'll be pointing our wagon westward to Sacramento in order to be closer to family.
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We've both loved living in Virginia and are grateful most of all for the amazing friend community we've been blessed to have here, that continues to support us through these major life transitions. We'll be back to visit and hope you come visit us! For our western friends, looking forward to being closer to you!
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Writing Update
I received notice that The Karma of Ponds has made it to the final round of consideration for an anthology on Seers and Sybils (feminine oracles and figures of prophecy and portent). They've indicated that they would like to make final selections by the end of April. Keep your fingers crossed!
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Since the New Year I've made no new progress on prose of any kind. And I'm okay with that. What I have done is spend a good amount of energy and time on "process work" - things like freewriting, journaling, absorbing MasterClass series, considering craft books like Ursula K. Le Guin's Steering the Craft, working through Anne Janzer's self course workbook The Writer's Process, revisiting Gabrielle Periera's The DIY MFA, digging through / sorting / restructuring the Idea Vault folder on my laptop, and even trying out different pens, keyboard switches, and notebook types.
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What I've found is that just doing something and being consistent about keeping anything related to the craft active in some way really does seem to lure in and retain what Janzer calls the Muse - the part of our creative brain focused on generative and associate ideation, (vs the Scribe who likes progress, results, and metrics).
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My primary idea at the moment relates to a world and magic system that is structurally tied to the changing seasons, and the social and political consequences for people living such a world. Motifs that are bubbling to the top so far include the social construction of power and language, the simultaneous danger and opportunity of breaking cultural norms, and the importance of connection to nature. I have no idea what it will turn out to be yet, and it has no working title, main character, or plot yet. However, threads of what could become a primary conflict are emerging - maybe the next step is to find a character with stakes in it and see where that goes.
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Content Consumed
- [No update] Stalled on: The Word for World is Forest, by Ursula K. LeGuin. Previous notes: She never pulls punches does she? About halfway through and enjoying it so far, though I can't say it's my favorite of her writing. Lots of great appreciation for nature and native cultures, and some rather frank criticism of her favorite nemeses: materialism, racism, industrial capitalism, male chauvinism, and technological arrogance. Only about halfway through, more later.
- DNF (25%): Blue Remembered Earth, by Alastair Reynolds. I really expected to love this book, based on how much I loved Revelation Space. Unfortunately, though I found his ideas and worldbuilding fantastic and thought-provoking as usual, I felt the book was poorly organized in terms of flow, bloated with side plots that didn't matter, and lacked real drive or agency from the protagonist. I might post a more detailed review later to the blog, but I think my main takeaway is: interesting ideas + poor execution, suspected rush job on the editing.
- Next up: possibly A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martin or The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson.
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What have you been reading or watching? Any recommendations for me?
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I do love getting your feedback and comments, so please continue to reach out. Thanks for reading, and see you in the next issue!
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