reader. writer.

So I’m going to try a new approach to what I post on my blog, something like a weekly newsletter. 

What’s working: 

If you know me, I’m big on strategies and process. Lately, this has been helpful: I remind myself to focus on what I can do rather than dwell on what I can’t.

What I’m writing:

I’ve been drafting a YA/SF series, and right now, I’m trying to make my main character descriptions consistent and watching for Mary Sue/Marty Su tropes. I’ve also analyzed some of my character arcs, exploring if and how each changes over time. One intriguing suggestion came from Erin Bowman on Substack, who recommends that your hero be wrong about something when the novel begins. 

What I’m reading

Eclectic would be a generous description of my reading tastes. Lately, I’ve been in a science fiction and fantasy mood, and I’ve found great options by looking up past Nebula nominees. I just finished Jo Walton’s Among others, which was a lovely read because I could relate so well to the protagonist as a teen in the 1970s spending hours reading science fiction.

Democracy, yes, please:

Every week, sometimes every day, I try to take some kind of action because I’m worried about my country and world. Frequently, that involves calling my Senators to oppose the reconciliation budget. Recently, the young person who answered the phone fervently pledged to advocate for me, which was new (the politicians representing my region/state appear to be mostly fine with policies that are cruel and destructive). Was he mocking me? It doesn’t matter. Calling is a form of nonviolent resistance. And I did feel better afterwards. A few resources I find helpful—national 5calls.org and regional/state blowingrockpersisters.com

Quote I like:

It began to seem that one would have to hold in mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in light of this idea it goes without saying that injustice is commonplace. But this did not mean one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all one’s strength. -James Baldwin