Participate

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?

The advice I would give someone younger than me (and that’s a lot of people these days) is to participate in life.

I originally thought of this in terms of what I would tell students coming into college. I did not participate in groups when I was in college, and I think it was a grave oversight on my part. I told myself I wasn’t a joiner, when in actuality I was depressed much of the time and afraid of getting rejected. I think that if I had picked a group that fit my interests (and at the University of Illinois there were several such groups even for nerds like me), I would have had less depression and would have gotten over thinking I would always be rejected. The awkwardness finally went away when I found a group that became family to me. We weren’t a university-sanctioned group, just a bunch of people who hung around.

In a more general sense, I have always sought out experiences, so I would say I was a participant in life. My bucket list included things like being in a dunking booth, marching in a parade, and participating in a talent show (all checked off). But, again, I wasn’t a joiner. My leisure activities, including writing, have been a solitary venture.

My psychiatrist suggested I find a group to join in my leisure time because of the importance of being around other people. So I am joining Nodaway Chorale, even though my voice isn’t as strong as it used to be. I used to enjoy singing, and think maybe I can enjoy it again.

So, participate in life. Find yourself a group activity you enjoy. Take opportunities to experience life. What are you doing to participate in life?

Keeping Busy — the Writer’s Edition

I have been keeping busy on the writing front, if not actually writing. This is a “me” post, which I put in every now and then to remind people there’s a real person behind this account.

I have been working toward publishing two books, one my annual Christmas romance (Kringle Once More) and the other the latest in the Hidden in Plain Sight series (Avatar of the Maker, cover art by my niece Rachel Bond below). Preparing to publish a novel requires several steps after the final draft, including:

Formatting (in Atticus)
Getting cover art
Laying out the cover
Writing cover text
Getting copyright cleared at the US Copyright Office
Putting cover and text together on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
Setting up the business part on KDP
Releasing the novel when it’s time

I am currently well through this list for both novels with time to spare, except for one problem: The Copyright Office. They have been sitting on the paperwork for Kringle Once More since June 21, and I am supposed to publish it on October 1 (in time for the Christmas season. I’m only partially kidding). It should not take three months to approve. I just turned in the materials for Avatar of the Maker, which is to be published January 1, 2027. Or maybe not. I’m giving plenty of time according to prior copyright approvals I’ve sought.

I would love to have a publication party, but my people don’t go to such things. I have tried to have one online, and my friends don’t get the fuss. I don’t have enough readers who get the fuss either. I am one of those many writers who are not succeeding, but I keep writing because I have faith in something. Myself? Fate? A guardian angel? If I don’t write and publish, I will never succeed, after all.

The Best Piece of Advice

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

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I received the best piece of advice when I was at my lowest. I was in the process of breaking up with my first husband. I was also having a breakdown in an inpatient treatment program for sexual abuse survivors with complex situations. (Nobody knew I was bipolar, or even depressed, so I don’t know what they thought my complex situation was, but my insurance decided to cover the program anyhow).

The program consisted of a group of women who were in much the same situation: sexual abuse with complicated stories. Many had dual diagnoses of mental illness or substance abuse. Many had been there for months, struggling with the program. I walked in there with my trauma out in the open, a victim of my past and of my husband, and I attracted the attention of the mean girls clique.

I responded to the bullies the way I had responded to bullies my entire life: I fawned. I flopped on my back and offered my belly. “Hey, I’m a victim; don’t beat on me.” I was not my best self. If I were anywhere near my best self, I would not have been having a breakdown.

In retrospect, we all were at our worst. We were safe to be at our worst on the way up to our better selves. We recreated the dynamics of our trauma because that was all we knew to do. We were there to learn another way of dealing with our lives. I threw myself in the path of bullies and tried to make them be my friend. They had been victimized and took the part of the aggressor so they didn’t feel vulnerable again. But I didn’t understand that back then. I only knew they hated me and I needed everyone to like me.

I talked to my social worker about it one day, and she told me, “Not everyone has to like you. And you don’t have to like everyone.” Those two sentences opened up my life. I did not have to ingratiate myself to bullies. I didn’t even have to like the bullies. I didn’t have to love people who abused me. I had a right to my own feelings.

That wasn’t the only thing I learned at Brattleboro Retreat, but it was among the most important. It was my first step to rejecting victimhood. In rejecting victimhood, I could grow beyond it.

Road Warrior Upgrade

On this day in 2023, I wrote about my “road warrior” setup for writing on the go. At that time, I had an iPad Air, a Logitech keyboard and mouse, all in a cozy leather bag. It functioned as well as a laptop in most cases, and not as heavy. I have updated the setup and I feel like I’ve now got the road warrior gear optimized.

I upgraded my iPad a couple years ago for a M4 iPad Pro. It’s a bit heavier, but performance wise I can’t complain. I still can’t complain to this day. I do some Photoshop and Canva on the setup, and I have never had a performance complaint. I wish I cared enough about shooting and editing video to really push it, but I have no talent for video.

I decided I wanted a laptop form factor, because the one problem with an iPad and keyboard is that you can’t just put it on your lap and use it. I missed that from hauling around my Surface. I bought a Zagg Rugged Book, which is an all-in-one keyboard and iPad case. Again, I traded a bit of weight for more functionality. I still think it’s lighter than a laptop, especially the Galaxy Ultra that is my computer at home. And my iPad is PROTECTED with this case.

The rest of my upgrade was a trackball rather than a mouse. I prefer trackballs to mice, especially since some surfaces are not suitable (too small, too glossy) to run an optical mouse. I found the Elecom Bitra with its small footprint a good, but not cheap, solution.

If I want more screen space, I have a portable screen I can hook up to my iPad using Duet, a pairing program. This would necessitate me moving to a bigger bag and would definitely add more weight, which is why I haven’t done it yet. I like traveling better without it, which could change with the tasks I’m doing. I’m glad I have the option for now.

So I’ve upped my road game at the cost of a little weight. I’m still hauling my equipment in a small bag and feel like I can handle the burden. All in all, good choices for a computer substitute.

Just One Skill?

The prompt says “One skill”. Just one? I would like to be skilled at a lot of things. For example, things having to do with my writing. I would like to be more skilled at writing and definitely more skilled at promoting. And many other things as well — I would like to be more skilled at athletic things (and as I’m starting at zero, there’s no place to go but up.)

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

But here’s one skill I’d like to have that seems to be out of nowhere — carpentry. I would love to be instantly skilled at carpentry. I am so far away from skilled at carpentry that my friends keep me away from power tools because I might injure myself. This is not an exaggeration — I had three friends yell “No!” When I asked if I could use the chain saw. I took a shop class in high school and the boys in the class did all the bandsaw and sander and router work for me. I was allowed to varnish. That’s it. I have profound hand-eye coordination problems and everyone who has met me instinctively notices this. Probably in the way I can’t walk a straight line when sober.

But I really admire carpentry. To be able to build something that stays together and is useful? Yes, please! I would love to have that power. Christmas presents would be easy from that point on. Everyone needs boxes, and carpentry is based on building boxes, even if some of them actually look like chairs. Or tables.

Of course, if I could do carpentry, I would need lots of equipment to do it. Expensive equipment. Of course I would need it, because when I get a hobby I go all out with it. And then I get bored with it. Writing is probably the only hobby I haven’t abandoned after a couple of years, and even so sometimes I get bored with it. Maybe it’s a good idea I can’t do carpentry. It’s an expensive hobby.

One Day Till Summer Break!

I have one exam (literally one exam — I have one student taking it) to give and grade, and then I am done with the semester! The school year has gone so fast, probably because I dealt with it one day, one task at a time. Very much in the present.

This summer, I will be bored unless I start writing. I have already laid out fall classes (including making them accessible) and putting my calendar in place. Other than revising syllabi to be ADA compliant, I have fall semester in the bag. I have 9 interns to visit over the summer, a lot of them local. Therefore, a lot of free time. I estimate a lot of writing and coffee. Hopefully a couple weekends for retreat time.

Here’s to a relaxing summer!

A Day of Plotting

My husband and I got to Haven Coffeehouse at a little after 8 this morning; my task for the day was to develop my outline for the latest book a bit more.

Two cups of coffee later, I’m a bit closer. I think it’s going to take place in the Spring, four years after Avatar of the Maker. The point-of-view characters are going to be Tisha, the influencer; her husband Rod, the corporate promotions person; and Gideon, the engineer at Barn Swallows’ Dance.

Things I need to remember: The children just born in Avatar are now four years old; Bergeron the cat is about the same age. (Bergeron the cat is an important plot point as he is going to be the representative of the non-standard reality of the place). Tom is still the general manager; Leah is now a vet tech and well on her way to be a vet.

Tisha and Rod are 27 and 33 respectively. Their age difference is going to be important when it comes to how they get along; Rod tends to be a little condescending to Tisha, and this is going to become a point of conflict.

Other important people (besides those named in the above paragraphs) are Jeanne and Josh, as keepers of the Garden; Amarel, as the most obvious (to them) ‘difference’, and Luke, as the lawyer.

And of course, Barn Swallows’ Dance is one of the characters. It’s ’nonstandard reality’ is going to be the invisible elephant in the room — “What elephant? I don’t see an elephant.”

This needs to be plumped out a bit more, but I can see the bones. Sort of.

Warming Up To Writing

I’m using the blogging as a way to warm up my writing muscles, which haven’t been getting a workout for a while. Kind of like stretching, I guess.

Plotting the latest book is going slow. I know that it’s going to be humorous, and it’s going to involve Barn Swallows’ Dance and husband-wife influencers, and a good amount of the humor is going to be the members of Barn Swallows’ Dance trying to hide the less standard parts of their reality — the immortals, the Garden with its gifts, the flying cats (who are not cooperating with the collective’s plans).

Other than that, I am having trouble with theme and plot. Plot especially. I am not to the point where I can block out the plot in Scrivener (the software I use to write the book; I highly recommend it for writing).

I’m going to talk about theme and plot with Richard today over coffee at Haven. That’s where I am right now, nicely caffeinated.

Writing Time Will Return

I still haven’t laid out my new story yet. It’s April, and that means it’s a busy time wrapping up the school year and the semester at the same time.

Summer won’t be so busy. I need to start a routine for summer so I can get things done. My work duties will be supervising interns, and that largely means scheduling site visits. The rest of the work can flow around my other work. It’s a very different time of year for me.

I need some time at coffee. Coffee and writing. I have been doing Saturdays at Haven, and that’s where my big brainstorming a new story day happened last week. But to write, I’m going to have to do more coffee time again. This summer, I promise myself.

It’s only about three weeks till summer break, and it’s going pretty fast. Two weeks till finals. Soon writing time will return.

I Have an Idea

Yesterday, my husband and I did some brainstorming on a new novel in the Hidden in Plain Sight world. I realized there is a ten-year gap between Avatar of the Maker and Carrying Light that would house at least one novel. I had one idea — there is a danger to the Garden.

Then I realized the Garden wouldn’t let anything happen to it, being the Garden and all. But what if someone were disrupting the collective? Not a preternatural matter, but human meddling? From there I got the idea of a conglomerate that wanted to buy the collective to harness its magic, not knowing what magic really meant. It didn’t take much to imagine underhanded methods on the part of a multinational health food corporation.

Somehow, I got the idea that the conglomerate would reach out using influencers, and the thought of corporate-sponsored influencers tickled my funny bone. My story idea turned into comedy, which I hadn’t counted on. What would the collective do to keep their home unspoiled by corporate America?

The collective would try to look normal, but things would slip. The cats would fly. The food forest would repel their guests. There would be strategic pauses as the Nephilim mindspoke each other. And the collective would gaslight their guests into thinking they imagined all that. Maybe Elaine would create illusions, or Allan would guest DJ and spin a mood-altering show. There’s nothing like nonstandard reality to plant doubt in someone’s mind.

I haven’t written a comedy for the Hidden in Plain Sight universe. Not to say I can’t write funny — I write funny for the Kringle Chronicles (the Christmas romance series). But this is a new twist for me. It’s going to take a lot of brainstorming before I can put the bones together on my outline.