Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 18

Preview of Interstitional Fiction for Mortal Remains

One of the interesting things about worldbuilding, is all the wonderful artifacts and in-universe bits that you can create. While it’s not, and shouldn’t be a substitution for getting your story, comic, or game over the finish line, I find that interstitial fiction is a lovely way to flesh out the setting and think more deeply about characterization. A menu, for example, can identify holes in your world because it requires you to think about which ingredients are in your recipes, where they’re available to buy/grow, and how that food is processed. That covers a lot of interesting aspects of a setting!

I really enjoy creating interstitial fiction, because as a writer creating those artifacts are not only fun, they speak to what I love about the possibility of story. Often, that includes writing art notes to breathe life into how that bit is laid out. Mortal Remains, which is a supplement for Hunter: the Vigil first edition, is an example of my work in this area. I thought I’d share a couple of pages so you can see what the final result turned out to be! Due to the size of the images, I am presenting them in a reduced size. You can click on an image to see a bigger version.

MANW Check-In Week 26: YES, ARTISTS PERSIST!

Apologize for missing… Well, June’s updates! I have spent most of the month playing catch up on projects, Pokémon Go, and planning for conventions. Say what you will about Pokémon Go; it has been a lot of fun and we’ve been very motivated to go out, get active, and catch ’em all. That said, I have been shipping projects off to the next stage like crazy, which means more time for my own stuff and a slew of releases that’ll come out this year yet.

For today’s post, I want to talk about tips and tricks to help you persist and continue making art by tossing in some examples of what I did this month. Before I get started, I do want to highlight there’s a huge difference between making, promoting, and selling both your art and yourself as an artist. No two business practices are alike, and this is especially true if your primary income does not come from your creations. That’s okay, and that’s incredibly normal. There are dozens of business models to choose from, and what works for you may not work for someone else.

I understand the tendency or urge to compare yourself to other artists, but I often find that can be very damaging to all involved. Interacting with folks online can produce a slightly skewed view, because often artists present the best sides to themselves in order to avoid upsetting or steering fans away. I have mixed feelings about that, because while making art produces a lot of joy we are still human beings who have thoughts and opinions, good days and bad. I feel the only way to get past envy and jealousy, in particular, is to possess the confidence to be yourself and make more art.

After a while, you will find your own voice and way of doing things that won’t be reliant on anyone else’s approval — within reason. Art often has a lot of collaborative components to it, and knowing how to work and interact with other people is just as important as having the raw skill and talent. Learning how to deal with people is definitely its own job, especially in an era where the barrier between fans and creators is non-existent. Regardless, focusing on your art and establishing boundaries between you, other people, and the work is crucial to being persistent, because many pros produce art on a consistent basis in order to remain financially viable. To do that, you have to find the means to light a fire under your own butt. It’s hard, yes, but not impossible.

Okay, I want to walk you through some additional tips to help you persist!

1. Ask Yourself Why You Make Art. Whether you freewrite for half an hour or meditate on this thought for a while, knowing why you make art (outside of any financial obligations) can be a helpful reminder and gentle nudge to keep at it. I would even go so far as to make a series of definitive statements, and then edit them down to one mantra that you’ll make an art project for. I’m going to put this on my list, too! I often come up with a mantra for certain projects I work on, but beyond “bringing people joy” I haven’t thought about the whys and therefores and hows because being an artist is both something I do and who I am.

2. Identify What’s Bothering You and Get Help if Needed. Oh dear, this is a big ’un and a hard tip to personalize for you. So, I’m going to use myself as an example. I had spent quite a bit of time planning my project load for 2017, to make room for Make Art Not War but also my own projects and initiatives. As much as I did not want to admit it, I was overwhelmed and daunted to push forward on organizing. My beads were organized three or four different ways, and before I could inventory everything I needed to finish sorting through what I had. Ugh! Inspired by a dear friend, I decided to get help and invited someone close to me to tackle sorting with me. What would have taken me six months, due to the emotional baggage that comes from cleaning old messes, we did in two days. Now that I have a good headstart, I’ve been moving forward really quickly and even managed to start a bin for Etsy inventory! Huzzah!

3. Embrace a Mindful Quiet. We are bombarded with news, opinions, brand names, and information every day and, after a while, you hit information overload and you need a break. It’s okay to sit and be quiet for a little while, or meditate with an app like Headspace or Insight Timer. You’d be surprised how a little peace and quiet can work wonders for you. I am a musician by nature, and sensitive to sound. But, I’m also a writer and sensitive to words, too, which often translate as music in my head.

4. Be Gentle With Yourself. Say it with me: “It is okay to make a mistake.” You will screw up, and mistakes are normal! Only you can decide how grevious your error was, what steps you might take to rectify it, and who you need to make peace with or apologize to. It sucks, but you can’t affect anyone else’s actions or responses, unless they want to change. Certainly, fixing other people’s mistakes will add more to your plate that you probably don’t need. Being gentle with yourself, though, also relates to doing anything new. When you’re new, give yourself the opportunity to learn, to fail, and to learn from those mistakes. You got this!

5. Do Three Things That Make You Happy. If you’re already being too hard on yourself, analyzing how to move forward can be really taxing. I cannot stress the importance of doing things that make you happy, because you are a complex being with loads of thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears. It’s okay to be sad, to be frustrated with yourself, and take a break for a little while to get relief to move past it. You know yourself the best, but sometimes you need an excuse to be kind to your inner artist.

I’m sure you have other tips and tricks to help yourself keep at it. Good luck! And, more importantly, make some art!

Mood: Caffeinated.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: SO MANY

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: my Classical Aetherium playlist

Game Last Played: Pokémon Go

Book Last Read: Epic Fantasy anthology

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Harry Potter marathon

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

An Immeasurable Loss of a Gaming Giant

I don’t know how to talk about the sudden and staggering loss of Stewart Wieck, if only because we started working together after he founded Nocturnal Media on Prince Valiant and Scarred Lands1. Of all the people in the industry, he has been a gentle bug in my ear, continually prompting me to put out my own game. Stew was incredibly kind and thoughtful, the type of person you wanted to work with. I will remember Stew for being enthusiastic about games and, more importantly, the people in it.

You’ll forgive me if I cut this post short, but I feel that whatever else I might say would be insufficient compared to those who knew him longer and better than I did. To better understand this tragedy, Rich Thomas from Onyx Path Publishing has put together a post called Goodbye, My Friend about Stew and their time together at White Wolf and beyond.

1. If you’ve come to this post seeking news about Scarred Lands, please know that this is a difficult time filled with grieving and decisions that have to be made by the family. The parties involved will make additional announcements as soon as they are able to. For my part, I am finishing up the development for Ring of Spiragos as planned, to round out the three adventures.

Mood: Indescribable. We’ve lost far too many in the RPG industry these past few years, and Stew was far too young.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Enough that I had a caffeine withdrawal today.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Harry Potter marathon

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Epic Fantasy anthology

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Hunger Games.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

My Schedule for CONvergence 2017!

Hello!

I am happy to announce that my next convention will be CONvergence 2017 in sunny Minneapolis from July 6th through the 8th. This year, I have quite a few panels and am happy to announce my schedule today.

Thursday, July 6

3:30pm – 4:30pm DoubleTree Edina

Ready, Steady, Flash!

Four pro writers are given a phrase, around which they must each write a piece of flash fiction. Live, in front of the audience. They have 5 MINUTES in which to write it. At the end of each round the the audience votes on the best.

Panelists: Lee Harris, Paul Cornell, Joseph Scrimshaw, Monica Valentinelli, C. Robert Cargill

5:00pm – 6:00pm DoubleTree Atrium 4

It’s Been Written Before

Writing is hard. Many works fall back on the tropes and cliches that are common in the field. How do writers break out of those patterns, or at least freshen them up? Panelists: Emma Bull, John Seavey, Monica Valentinelli (mod), Jai Nitz, Lois McMaster Bujold

7:00pm – 8:00pm DoubleTree Plaza 1

Gaming as a Gateway Drug

How does gaming spur your interest in other topics? Did they get you into studying history, politics, technology or were you really going to pick up the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire for fun anyways?

Panelists: Kenneth Justiniano, Eric Zawadzki, Monica Valentinelli (mod)

Friday, July 7

2:00pm – 3:00pm DoubleTree Bloomington

Firefly At 15

Joss Whedon’s space western turns 15 this year. Is it shiny or would you toss it out an airlock? Come discuss the full canon: series, movie, and comics.

Panelists: Cetius d’Raven (mod), Mark Goldberg, Monica Valentinelli, Tex Thompson, Sean Berry

Saturday, July 8

2:00pm – 3:00pm DoubleTree Atrium 7

Why Dystopia is Not Dead

There is something about the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genre that keeps readers, TV, and movie fans coming back for more. What is it about the end of the world fiction that keeps us coming back? Is there an end in sight?

Panelists: Anthony Eichenlaub, J. Boone Dryden, Monica Valentinelli, George Miller (mod), Seanan McGuire

5:00pm – 6:00pm DoubleTree Bloomington

The Great Beyond: Discussing Death in Popular Culture

Is death in pop culture becoming more prevalent? If so, what does it mean for modern TV and film? What does it say about our times? Is this Joss Whedon’s fault? When is death used to best effect? Will a Marvel character ever stay dead?

Panelists: Emma Bull, Monica Valentinelli (mod), Jonah Rees, Gabriela Santiago, Justine Mastin, Emilie Peck

A Moment of Love for The Originals

Apologies for sporadic posts and MANW updates; I’ve been focused on getting stuff done and am back into a general routine. I plan on blogging more regularly next week; July may be a bit sporadic as well, if only because I have two conventions in July. The hustle is real! I really have to focus and shuffle more projects off into the ether, but I’ll be back soon.

Last week, I got caught up on The Originals; I’m now ready to start season 4. It can’t stream fast enough for me.

And now, a moment of love for Elijah.

Mood: You mean it isn’t August?

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I LOST COUNT ZOMG.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Cinna

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Hunger Games.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

Alternate Rules for Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge

When I started this journey, I did so as a means of prioritizing my art over the things I can’t control. As it turns out, there’s a lot I don’t. I can’t control whether or not the U.S. goes to war. I can’t control the uptick in racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic acts. I can’t control so many “big picture” movements and shake-ups, blow-ups and gaffes. The only thing I can, is me–or so I thought. Sometimes, I do get overwhelmed and I’m finding that is very, very common because life doesn’t stop and start with a headline.

How to cope? There’s a prominent idea that, to be successful, you have to shut off all your emotions and be productive as if you were a robot. That has never been the case for me, and I feel dealing with emotional stress isn’t talked about a lot. This is supposed to be the fun job, the glamorous gig we’re lucky to have. Only, the expression of emotion is something fans do/have/expect in response to our work. Now, I am a fan-turned-creator making works for other fans to respond to, which is one of the reasons why I make art. Emotions are part of being human and they are natural after all. Sometimes, we feel things that are so compelling we have to make art and that vehicle, that physical manifestation of our emotions, is how the artist connects to the audience. Other times, we shut down completely due to a thousand tiny bites, those little cuts that chip away at our confidence. Or, in my case, harassment.

Emotions are important to making art. Forgiving yourself for getting sick, falling into a depression, needing a vacation, etc. is so important, because there are many myths about the suffering artist that are works of fiction for a reason. To suffer, to be happy, to be angry or sad…those emotions are part of who you are and they may not necessarily be reflected in your work. You don’t have to suffer to make good art, and anyone who tells you that probably doesn’t realize this mantra causes you harm. Pain can be a catalyst, but it is not the only emotion we draw upon as artists. The beauty of being human is that we deal with our emotions very differently, and that is something no “one-true-wayism” can ever address. However, feel too many emotions and you can get overwhelmed, shut down, and not make any art because you are reacting to your brain weasels. For artists, this is a danger because there are a lot of reasons not to make art in a culture that struggles to define its value.

The flip side to tapping into your emotions is to veer toward routine. Discipline, which was the foundation for my Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge, is important to making art. It matters because making art consistently is the only way to become successful as (or learn how to be) an artist. You cannot sell what you dream about making. You cannot paint a masterpiece if you’re still learning techniques. I know that can be a hard pill to swallow, but making art has to be our core competency and primary focus as artists. However, like emotions, there is a dark side to too much discipline. When you plot, plan, and form routines, you wind up punishing yourself when your actions don’t satisfy your intent. Maybe, you’re the type of writer who now knows you cannot write every day, for example. That’s okay. As I’ve said before, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, because how you make art folds into figuring out your process. Your process doesn’t always impact the end result, provided you keep at it.

For these reasons, I am proposing alternate rules to help you customize this template for your needs. I want to reiterate that my challenge is here to help you feel empowered to make your own choices as an artist. I cannot stand over your shoulder and force you to write; I cannot overpower your personal brain weasels; I cannot give you the secret to making art or being successful as an artist. There is no secret other than to sit down and actually do it. Right now. Not five years ago, not three weeks from now, but today.

With that in mind, here’s the original pledge followed by a customization:

Original My Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge pledge:

I pledge to devote one hour a day to my original art.
If I don’t feel motivated, I pledge to write down the reasons why I wanted to take this challenge for fifteen minutes or one-to-three pages whichever comes first.
I pledge to mark down on the calendar whenever I complete a day’s efforts.
As the challenge creator, I pledge to create a weekly accountability post every Wednesday beginning on January 9th. Comments will be open. Hashtag #makeartnotwar2017 #manw2017
I pledge to check into social media twice a week for personal use, and once a month with my local community of artists and writers.

Alternate My Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge pledge:

I pledge to devote five hours a week to my original art.
If I don’t feel motivated, I pledge to explore what is blocking me from making art. I can do this by talking to a peer, writing one-to-three pages, or meditating.
I pledge to acknowledge and celebrate the projects I’ve completed for Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge.
I pledge to evaluate how I’m doing, by checking in bi-weekly. Hashtag #makeartnotwar2017 #manw2017
I pledge to review, refine, and reduce distractions, like my time on social media, that are affecting my ability to make art.

As you can see, the new rules shift the focus slightly to incorporate your feelings. There are other customizations as well, because not everyone has the same schedule or means to support the ability to make art. Sometimes, materials are expensive or the allotted time is shifted to account for a family emergency. That’s extraordinarily common, and often I think we forget that the opportunities we have aren’t what everyone else has, too. Further, customizations like this don’t significantly change the challenge goal, what they do is fine-tune the experience to your needs while avoiding extremes. I have total faith that you will customize these rules based on your lifestyle, to make room for making art when you can. Be kind and give yourself some credit!

Lastly, I want to point out that self-evaluation may yield interesting results for you. You might find out you’re suffering from a mild depression. You might recognize that a change in your job or activity levels are impacting your mental-or-physical health. You might notice that you are more isolated than you’ve been in the past, or the political atmosphere is so charged you don’t realize you’re being triggered by current events. I cannot stress the value of self-care enough, and should you find yourself in this position please do not punish yourself for not making art. Your health is so important, and while making art can be cathartic in many ways it is not a replacement for getting the medical help you need.

Be well, and I hope that you are figuring out the next steps on your journey as an artist.

Mood: Moody like the weather. It’s stormy, it’s sunny, it’s rainy in 20 minutes?

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: A solid three.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Fish tank and Captain Whinypants snoring.

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: The Originals Season 3.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

Enjoy One of My Horror Stories for Free!

“Prey” is one of the older pieces I wrote, and it will probably show up in a personal collection at some point. I tend to look back at my older stuff and wince, but this piece is one that I’m still proud of. “Prey” first won a contest quite a few years ago, then was picked up by Pseudopod.org and performed on their podcast. (If you prefer to listen to Flash: Prey read by Christina Ellis rather than read it, be sure to click through!)

Anyway, I wanted to offer “Prey” to you here on my website, as my way of saying “Thanks, for reading!” I hope you enjoy the story!

Prey

A musky scent drifts lazily on stale, moonlit air. Alara knows this scent—fear—it holds little meaning to her. Her hawk’s eyes narrow as she circles above the cemetery searching for her dinner. Focusing on a small, brown mouse huddled against a piece of stone, Alara dives to strike. The mouse sees her and freezes.

Something hot hisses and sparks, burning her dinner to a blackened crisp. Alara leaps to the night air, squawking in alarm. She lifts higher caught by the smell of pungent, moldy earth and burning candle fat. Faint sounds penetrate the smells; a harsh voice interrupts the monotonous droning. Alara knows the voice—it belongs to her master.

Circling above the voices, Alara’s winged form is thinly veiled by the moonlight’s smoke-filled mist. Syllables turn into well-formed sounds; she knows little of the language of men. Swooping again, her watchful eye catches white, wriggling worms breaking free from the ground before her master. Her body streams through the air, diving for her prey. Clamping down on the worm, she leaps to finish it off, but the thing won’t let go.

Alara spits wriggling flesh out of her beak. A human hand rises from the ground and creeps forward. Her master’s mouth turns foul; blackened sparks of menace fly from his skinny lips. The more he speaks, the faster the unnatural thing turns over well-shoveled earth. Alara looks from her master to the rising form and loudly complains. Nothing here is safe to eat.

Carefully placed candles burn brighter than a midday sun. Shaking her foggy head, she casts off a ravenous glare that bores into her feathers. A naked hand grabs for her wing and misses. Alara lifts gently above her attacker and dives, pecking at it. Fingers pry at her tail feathers, she screams out in pain and flings herself on her master. Instead of saving her, he throws bits of oily words at her, coating her wings. She knows her own scent now—fear. A face appears before her, her master’s face, holding something sharp that glints in the moonlight. Inhuman eyes glow as he pulls back his knife. Alara juts forward, pecking blindly at whatever is in front of her.

Howling in pain, her master stops the flow of menacing words. The candles’ light dims; Alara pecks her master again and again with wings outstretched. He swings the knife at her, his anger thick. Pushing herself off the ground, she attacks his eyes with her talons. Black ooze seeps along the deep grooves in his face. Her master drops the blade and Alara forces herself up to a low hover. She cannot move, or fly, or breathe.

Opening her beak, she gasps for precious air. Black ash swirls around her, stinging her eyes. Somehow, she finds the strength to peck hard, claw harder until she has no master left.

Too exhausted to lift her head, Alara crashes into a deep sleep, dreaming of mice and fish and morning’s light.

Friendly Friday: the Fairy Tale Princess Alethea Kontis

Every once in a great while, I run into someone whose hand gestures are as wild (if not more so) than mine are. Enter Alethea Kontis, who has written stories for kids, young adults, and crotchety old farts like myself. (Okay, I’m not all that crotchety or crypt-keeperish, but definitely not a teenager anymore!)

Kontis’s versatility as an author is complemented by her efforts to generate and strengthen a sense of community between genre writers and artists. She is passionate in all she does, and that’s definitely something I can relate to! What I like about her work, is the fact that she’s the type of skilled writer who’s easy to root for. When she goes to a convention, she puts on a show; her costumes, infectious laughter and larger-than-life personality are part of her stories as well. Combined, Alethea is magical and drawn to the light she’s very much a part of.

When I think of Alethea, I consider someone who definitely has the “giant ball of knotted yarn” career path–a common journey for most of us. But, Kontis is also an example of someone who doesn’t give up; she’s the definition of persistence, and there’s no doubt in my mind that, one way or the other, she will continue to generate the success she works so hard for. Knowing her, I’m guessing when more blessings land on her glittering tiara–it’ll be when she least expects it. Won’t her happily-ever-after be fun to celebrate!

If you’re interested in her stories, check out Alethea Kontis on Patreon, her Twitter @aletheakontis, or visit the author’s website at www.aletheakontis.com. You can also see what books are available via Alethea Kontis on Amazon Author Central, too.

Mood: Deadlines will either eat me, or they already have and I didn’t realize they did.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Uh… Four. No five!

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Some whiny dude. Seriously, if this song gets any whinier about some topic I cannot make out, I’m going to start howling at the moon.

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: La Belle et la Bete.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

MANW: May Recap and PERSISTENCE for June’s Theme!

This month was another weird one, and it wasn’t for a lack of concerted effort on my part to resume normality. I was sick for about two and a half weeks, and that put me even further behind than anticipated. I feel terrible about it, and though many things happened outside of my control I am focused like a shark with a laser beam on their head to get all the things done. What I did learn from yet another setback, however, was that every day is a new opportunity to move forward. In this climate, that can be very hard. So many friends and loved ones are anxious about the repeal of the ACA, net neutrality, civil rights protections, reproductive rights, the right to protest… Hell, I’m furious, but feeling All The Bad ThingsTM for an extended period of time is not good for me mentally or physically. Thank you, very much, Pokemon Go for adding a bit of fun to my walks every day for that reason.

As an aside, I cannot stress enough the importance of self-care right now. This is not a politics-as-usual presidency, and I am so, so sorry if you are either at risk or are being harmed right now. If you need permission, let me repeat that you are not selfish if you take care of yourself. That, when coupled with isolationist tactics, is how the assholes manipulate victims. Taking my own advice, for sure, but getting back up on the proverbial horse and celebrating small wins to keep at it. That, dear reader, is what artists do.

Here’s how I did in May:

My Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge pledge:

I pledge to devote one hour a day to my original art.
If I don’t feel motivated, I pledge to write down the reasons why I wanted to take this challenge for fifteen minutes or one-to-three pages whichever comes first.
I pledge to mark down on the calendar whenever I complete a day’s efforts.
As the challenge creator, I pledge to create a weekly accountability post every Wednesday beginning on January 9th. Comments will be open. Hashtag #makeartnotwar2017 #manw2017
I pledge to check into social media twice a week for personal use, and once a month with my local community of artists and writers.

May 2017 Challenge Recap

I had no capacity whatsoever to make art when I was sick. I did do some lettering this month, and revisited some original stories. But, I was preoccupied because I was falling behind on my obligations and paying gigs come first.
I didn’t have a problem with motivation, but I did get very frustrated when I couldn’t satisfy it.
Another month where tracking didn’t happen. This time, I didn’t track those efforts because guilt started to set in when I didn’t make art. This, dear reader, is why I feel that “making art every day” or “write every day” mantras can be harmful. It’s something I need to think about going forward.
Social media time was managed, and I opted to extend my social media sabbatical. I feel very strongly that silence is helping me recover faster, and retain my focus.

Could I control being sick? No, no I couldn’t. That doesn’t stop the brain weasels from taking over, and given the intensity of emotions I felt during this time I am chalking May up to a lesson learned. Maybe, my goal for this Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge has more to do with making art as a priority as opposed to making art every day.

This observation is interesting to me, because I don’t want to pull back so much on the idea that actually sitting down and doing the work isn’t the only way to move forward in your career. But, it’s giving me a dimension to think about, that making art is the goal and if, despite all your best efforts, you just can’t right then and there…that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means that you need to keep at it. (Hence, this month’s theme!)

JOY and other Monthly Themes Recap

Now that we’re in June, I’d like to take a moment and share the monthly themes we’ve had so far. They are:

PLAY – January’s theme was designed to kick off a year of making art!
ORGANIZE – February was all about getting those art supplies and files in order, to make room for all the new stuff we’ll make.
PLANT – March was focused on small, manageable goals that will help seed a future of making art.
SPEED – In April, I proposed that speedy sketches, stitches, and quick writing exercises can help unblock your creativity. Fun!
JOY – May’s theme was simple, and I plotted this as a reminder that it’s important to have fun. If you don’t truly enjoy what you’re doing, then you’ll eventually stop making art.

May’s JOY theme was fun, and it reminded me what I love doing. Making art absolutely makes me happy, but I feel that needs to happen in a safe space. What and where that space is will be unique to you, but it’s definitely something to think about. With that in mind, I’m ready to share June’s theme!

New Theme for June! PERSISTENCE

Very simply, June’s theme is PERSISTENCE. Yes, I’ve fallen down a few times. I’m assuming you have, too. This is what it means to be a human making art, as opposed to a robot producing art on an assembly line. If you kinda sorta participated in January but abandoned it like your other New Year’s Resolutions, then I encourage you to think about joining in again. I am not asking you for anything other than to show up, put your butt in the chair, and start writing or knitting or painting, etc. for this month. You can do it!

Feeling defeated? I cannot stress this enough: shit happens. It especially happens to artists, and often we draw upon those emotions–joy, anger, fear–to make art. The fan will be hit, and that’s guaranteed. What matters is that you get back up after you fall down, and keep making art. I have faith that you will join me. That, more than anything, is the reason why I tell you about what I’m going through. If you’re experiencing a bump in the road, you are not alone!

Mood: Is hairball a mood? My cats are full of them.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Three-ish.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Blissful silence.

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: La Belle et la Bete.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.

My WisCon 41 (Somewhat Tired and Rambling) Recap

Before I talk about WisCon 41, I wanted to address a few administrivia-related bits. First, a shout-out to Michael Matheson. Michael’s short story “Until There is Only Hunger”, which appeared in Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling, was longlisted for the 2017 Sunburst Awards. Huzzah! Second, if you’re in the mood for clicking around the internet, check out the Ropecon 2017 Guests of Honour page as well. And, lastly, if you’re expected a Make Art Not War 2017 check-in, I’m postponing that until tomorrow so I can announce June’s theme and do my month-end recap.

Most of my WisCon 41 recap will be general, rather than specific, because I had so many conversations with several talented individuals that I lost track of the awesome. I plan on featuring some folks for upcoming installments of my Friendly Friday posts, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy checking out their work.

First things first: I know that the backlash I experienced as a result from my withdrawal as a GOH from OdysseyCon was a concern for many people for a number of reasons. In that regard, I felt that WisCon 41 staff went out of their way to ensure that I was okay and was not harassed in any way shape or form. Staff was apprised of the situation, con safety volunteers were clearly visible, and all checked in on me from time to time. Several friends and attendees did as well, and I felt the people I’d never met before who approached me were very respectful. Attending WisCon turned out to be a good experience for me, because it definitely lessened my anxiety prior to my summer conventions. I was asked: “Would I ever go back to Odyssey Con?” At this time, my answer is: “I don’t know.” While I won’t go into the private exchange, I did send an e-mail on April 12th to Odyssey Con that has not been answered to address what has happened and (hopefully) prevent such mistakes in the future.

On What Being an Attending Creator Means

As a result of this, however, my thoughts on what it means to be a creator at a convention are turning out to be more complicated than I expected. My experiences with celebrity guests (e.g. authors/artists/actors, etc. who are paid to be at an event, either through the studio, publisher, or via the convention) has always been to regard those occurrences as work. This is why many celebrities (or their representatives) sign a contract that clearly spells out what’s required of them. While I do not regard myself as a celebrity, I have attended conventions either with or on behalf of publishers. I also have a teeny, tiny amount of fame that I actively maintain to publish more and engage with fans, so in my mind I’m a micro-celebrity. Regardless, the word “celebrity” is definitely a type of job in my mind, and even if creators like myself touch upon an aspect of this role in our careers it still should be considered work.

This is where my feelings tend to be more complex. Not only are so, so, so many of us are untrained to deal with being in the public eye and all that it entails, both positive and problematic, many creators aren’t paid to perform that work nor does everyone regard it as such. Some creators attend conventions to have fun and, because they’re having a good time, don’t think of it as a job. Like many, I often pay to attend conventions out of pocket, and I have to make a decision whether or not that money will be well spent. Unfortunately, it’s only when an appearance turns sour that missed details suddenly become more important. Why didn’t a con, for example, think to ask a creator if they had an issue with a stalker, preemptively ban/have processes in place to deal with someone who’s been reported multiple times over, or plan downtime so creators aren’t on six panels in one day? I think, here, the answer is that perhaps some volunteer-run cons don’t regard what they do as work, and wind up underestimating what it takes to put on a good show.

Whether you’re a volunteer or not, planning a convention is definitely requires lot of labor, and often conventions are formulated as a business entity or LLC to accommodate the financials and business decisions attached. So, in my mind, there was never a question that conventions were, in fact, work; it’s true that I’ve struggled with what my role as a participant or attendee was over the years, because varying degrees of professionalism are often present at conventions and it can be hard to know where you fit or find people to hang with. As a guest, however? That, to me, is not just an honorific, but a specific role that comes with expectations attached for both parties. Perhaps treating guests and panelists through a contractual lens, similar to how some celebrities deal with conventions, might be one approach to address concerns ahead of time? I’m honestly not sure.

The other thing I realized, is that my life as a creator has gotten considerably harder since 2014. The last couple of years have absolutely been challenging both privately and professionally. I do not get paid to be harassed; I get paid to write and deliver on time. “Just get offline” doesn’t cover damages caused by less PR/engagement given my current visibility, picking up the pieces after getting doxed, making sure social accounts are locked down, and the toll it takes on you emotionally. That time spent is the hidden cost of harassment; it becomes all that much harder to network, find work, remain enthusiastic, and fulfill obligations. This, being a creator, is my job and it’s one where I only earn money if I complete my obligations on time in a quality folks expect. Right now, work is all I can think about.

“Just get offline” is not a solution, and neither is “find another job.” This is my job, I love it dearly, and I’m not abandoning the tools I need to utilize in my career. I would really appreciate it, however, if being harassed wasn’t an expectation or a baseline threat. And, if it is going to be this way both now and in the future, then let’s talk solutions. Let’s talk about training and mentorship to help others through this so they’re prepared if and when something happens to them. Let’s remind ourselves that all creators are working, and being treated well shouldn’t matter whether we’re super-famous or not, and our jobs/livelihoods are at risk. Lastly, let’s continue to find ways to have fun with the fans who do appreciate and actively support us, too. Isn’t that why we’re here?

An Emotional Convention

Shifting gears… (Hey, I did warn you this post was going to be long and rambling.) WisCon 41 took on a special meaning this year given its emphasis on feminism, building communities, literature, and fandom. The death of Carrie Fischer and the loss of long-time attendees, when coupled with the rise in racist attacks and totalitarianism, is a lot to process through one-on-one conversations and panels. It was needed, and it was often emotional. I also spent a lot of time touching base with peers and friends, and heard their stories and news, both good and bad. Now, I feel like I’m a bit hungover–but in a good way.

I want to emphasize the word “stories” here again, and not just because there are so many authors at this convention who hailed from a diverse range of backgrounds. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and WisCon reinforces that in many ways. Time and time again, the themes that propagated through the panels and discussions that I had was the importance of being open to failure, that representation is additive and not subtractive, that protesting and standing up for what’s right has costs associated with that and not everyone can participate or voice their frustration in the same way. Often, especially online, there’s a pressure to be right, to be heard, to know everything there is to know about everything–but that’s impossible. We cannot know what it’s like to fill the shoes of everyone else, because the ability to research is not a replacement for the necessity of experience. Sometimes, the only way to learn is to listen. Other times, we may not be able to internalize what it’s like to have a different identity–and that’s okay.

Sometimes, the idea that not everything is ours to take can feel a bit limiting. I don’t agree at all. By recognizing what stories aren’t ours to tell, we can focus on what makes each of us unique as individuals and sharpen our own voices. This makes our writing better! (Oh, I’m not perfect and I feel like I’m always learning. To me, that’s all part of the gig.) What WisCon 41 reinforced for me, however, is that sometimes listening is an act not only of compassion, but of empathy and a willingness to step aside and hear someone else’s story. There is a lot of power in the ability to listen, and I have to wonder if we’re afraid of what we’ll hear.

Mind you, I’m no sage. I don’t know what the future will hold, and I don’t think anyone else does, either. What we can learn from, however, is the experiences of those who have come before. So much static history is lost, and remains undocumented or fragmented. Shows like this are important so we can listen to living bits of history, and remember that we are not alone in our daily lives, in our struggles, in our fandoms. That rich fabric of intersecting narratives, when coupled with the many talented authors, editors, and artists present at this convention, gives me hope. That’s a pretty damn cool feeling to walk away with, and I can’t wait for what’s to come.

Lastly, I want to give one final shout-out to how amazing the guests of honor, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Amal El-Mohtar, are. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out their work, please do so. There is nothing more fabulous than being able to congratulate them on their success, and I’m certain both will continue to be icons in their fields. They are incredible, lovely people, and I wish them well. Huzzah!

Mood: ALL THE TO-DO LISTS

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: More than I needed, but less than I care to admit.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hunting Pokemon

In My Ears: Silence. (Seriously, noise-cancelling headphones are the bomb.)

Game Last Played: Pokemon Go

Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: La Belle et la Bete.

Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules

Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming when I get time.