K. Tempest Bradford's Blog, page 33
July 6, 2012
NYC Group Writing Evenings?
I don’t get to have many group writing days, anymore, partially due to me not organizing them and the folks who used to do them with me don’t as much, anymore. Or they’ve moved away[1]. But now that I have a semi-regular schedule again that does not involve working into the night for no good reason, I’d like to try having them again.
During NaNoWriMo I organized a big write-in at Vagabond Cafe and really enjoyed it. Wondering if people in NYC would be interested in weekly write-ins. Perhaps not on such a large scale as NaNo ones, but groups of 5 – 10 folks all dedicated to writing for an hour or two together on a regular-ish basis. I’m sure we can accommodate more if more people are interested and show up.
Vagabond is a good location if we have a smaller group and want to do Tuesday since that’s the night they’re slowest and have no live music. For other days (Monday, maybe Thursday?) I suggest a new cafe called Irving Farm on the upper west side. They have a huge space in the back and are often very empty in the evenings. They serve beer and wine, which is always a bonus.
The kind of writing evening I envision is one where people trickle in for the first half hour, get drinks, food, etc. and chat a bit, then we get down to the SRS bizness of writing. No talking, the whole thing. Maybe we’d do a no talking, heads down sprint in 30 minute chunks then take breaks.
I’m open to ideas about how the writing evening should be structured and any other details. Discuss in the comments and let me know if you’re interested!
Footnotes
Eugene!
NYC Group Writing Evenings? is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
July 2, 2012
My Favorite Fiction From June 2012
June was a really good month for fiction! Must be all that summer reading we’re all expected to do. I didn’t get very far in my novel reading this month, but I did start on The Shadowed Sun by N. K. Jemisin, Redshirts by John Scalzi, and continue working through Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. I also picked up Ancient, Ancient by Kiini Ibura Salaam.
Contact by Eileen Gunn
I love stories where humans encounter aliens that are SO alien. This one is told from the alien’s POV and works really well.
Winter Scheming by Brit Mandelo
[TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic Violence.] What I like best about this story is that it starts out in an unexpected way given what’s really going on (which you understand at the end). Very well structured and executed.
Immersion by Aliette de Bodard
I had trouble with this one at first because one of the POVs was hard to grok, but I liked where the story went in the end.
If The Mountain Comes by An Owomoyela
Engaging meditation on scarcity and class.
Mother of All Russiya by Melanie Rawn
I’m not sure about this one. I liked he story in general, but I’m concerned about the characterization of Master Cheng. I’d be interested in discussing it with anyone who read or will read it.
Tiger Stripes by Nghi Vo
This story slowly builds up and worms into you.
The Inconstant Moon by Alaya Dawn Johnson
If you have’t read Alaya’s novel “Moonshine” and you’re into vampires or the 1920s or supernatural-inflected historical fiction, go out and get it RIGHT NOW. It’s jazz vampires! If you’ve read “Moonshone” or the sequel “Wicked City” thenyou’ll like this story, too. It’s a prequel and tells the tale of how the novel’s protagonist, Zephir Hollis, first came to NYC.
Daddy’s Girl by Amy Sundberg
I love the main character of this story like burning. She’s is so damn fierce!
Visit my Favorite Fiction stack to see all the other short stories I’ve liked so far this year.
My Favorite Fiction From June 2012 is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
June 4, 2012
Mental Noodling About Color, Ancient Peoples, and Alien Races
Do any of you out there ever listen to RadioLab, a radio show that broadcasts on NPR stations? It’s a really fabulous show and podcast that’s best described as similar to This American Life but with stories about science and cool stuff instead of just about people’s inner lives. Except the explorations of science and geeky stuff often also includes stories of people’s inner lives. It’s a pretty sweet show.
The most recent episode is called Colors and is an exploration about a bunch of stuff about color. I know, what a surprise. My favorite section is the last one called “Why Isn’t The Sky Blue?” and delves into why the descriptions of color in Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey are so… off. The basic explanation is that ancient people saw fewer colors than we see even though they had the physical ability to see more[1].
When I first listened to this show I geeked out a bit because I remember hearing this same thing in class back at NYU. How it starts with a long-ago British prime minister noticing that Homer never describes the sky as blue and snowballs into an exploration of how colors come into the human consciousness. My teacher at the time, Scott McPartland, said that the ancient Greeks didn’t see all colors, even though they existed, because they didn’t yet have the imagination to see them. The scientists interviewed on RadioLab have different explanations, but I like Scott’s better.
Scott also stated that two of the traditional rainbow colors are completely made up. That would be Indigo and Orange. These in-between colors were invented to make 7 colors, as 7 is a more perfect or spiritual number.
Yes, this assertion is probably arguable. I remember we argued about it in class a lot. Especially about orange. Apparently before oranges were orange (which they’re bred to be), they were yellow. So we invented oranges to justify orange as a legit color. Fascinating.
Anyway, I bring all this up not just because you should listen to RadioLab or argue with me about the realness of Orange and Indigo, but because I think this is an interesting bit of knowledge to keep in mind if you’re writing about an ancient people. How does your writing change if you can’t use the entire rainbow of colors? Not being able to describe the sky as blue? Or a berry as red or purple? Or the grass and leaves as green? How does that change how your characters see the world and relate to it?
Another cool thing mentioned earlier in the show is that some animals and insects have the ability to see thousands and millions more colors than we can. I’m toying with the idea of an alien race that can see far more colors than we can and how that affects how they relate to us. There is always an assumption that humanoid races pretty much see how we see, but even on our own planet there is a wide range of color seeing ability, thus it’s less likely to be homogeneous across worlds.
Footnotes
Listen to the entire show for an explanation of how our eyes see color.
Mental Noodling About Color, Ancient Peoples, and Alien Races is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
June 3, 2012
My Favorite Fiction From May 2012
I came home from WisCon 36 with a big to-read pile (though these days it’s less of a pile and more of a list on my Nook) and so June’s favorite fiction list may include less short stories and more novels. Also, I don’t think I scooped every new May story into Readability, so I’ll probably a have few more published last month in the next list.
One last thing — I notice that Rahul Kanakia keeps popping up everywhere and I must say I’m super pleased about that. I’ve liked everything I’ve read by him so far. If he’s as prolific as he seems, I will have plenty to catch up on over the next few months.
Tomorrow’s Dictator by Rahul Kanakia
As a person who spends much time going to conferences and networking, I find the setting of this story very funny. Great tale about mind manipulation (the consensual kind).
Decomposition by Rachel Swirsky
So, this is a zombie story. But in true Rachel Swirsky style, it’s not the kind of zombie story you’d expect.
What Everyone Remembers by Rahul Kanakia
A really touching post-apocalyptic story with all kinds of crunchy science and morality questions to work out.
My Dignity in Scars by Cory Skerry
This story snuck up on me. I wasn’t sure I’d like it at first, but the tone drew me in and the conflict eventually engaged me.
Alarms by S. L. Gilbow
I dig stories where characters make OCD lists about things. I also just like the way this one flows. The main character is very relate-able, even with the odd sfnal things going on.
Her Words Like Hunting Vixens Spring by Brooke Bolander
Revenge story! And it doesn’t pull punches in the end. I am a fan of that.
The Chastisement of Your Peace by Tracy Canfield
I’m a sucker for parallel world stories. I like how this one plays with the idea of the same person from multiple versions of the universe.
Machine Washable by Keffy R.M. Kehrli (podcast)
This is a short one, but oh so much fun. And read really well.
The Rugged Track by Liz Argall (podcast)
This one made me smile because I know that Liz’s love of roller derby is the reason it exists. Even if you don’t love roller derby, this beautiful story about love and difficult choices and daughters and mothers will totally make you cry.
Visit my Favorite Fiction stack to see all the other short stories I’ve liked so far this year.
My Favorite Fiction From May 2012 is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
May 31, 2012
Interstitial Arts Foundation Salons Reborn!
Just posted this on Facebook, but I know not everyone is on Facebook (or wants to be) so I’m posting it here as well. Feel free to link to this, tweet, share, tumble or copy the text of this post to your own blog.
You don’t have to RSVP to the Facebook event in order to attend. Just show up :)
You are cordially invited to the Interstitial Arts Foundation’s first monthly salon to be held in New York City on June 26th and every 4th Tuesday thereafter.
What is a Salon?
Literary and artistic salons started back in 17th century France, when inspiring hosts and hostesses gathered “stimulating people of quality” together to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation. Today there may be fewer wealthy patrons willing to host an event in their townhouses, but there is always a need for artists to meet other artists, to explore other circles of creative influence, to cross borders.
Our salon aims to bring together writers, visual artists, musicians, performance artists, crafters, academics and other people of quality in New York City for a relaxed evening of conversation.
Who Are The Hosts?
The Interstitial Arts Foundation is a not–for–profit organization dedicated to the study, support, and promotion of interstitial art: literature, music, visual and performance art found in between categories and genres — art that crosses borders.
IAF members will wear Host badges, so if you have any questions about the salon or the organization or you just need someone to safely begin a conversation with, you can find us easily.
Where & When?
The Vagabond Café @ 7 Cornelia Street, Tuesday June 26, 7pm to 10pm – drop in any time.
Vagabond is the kind of café one would expect to find in the West Village, especially if you’re a writer, student or musician, but rarely seen these days due to the proliferation of Starbucks-like entities. It’s a cozy spot where one can find live music Wednesday – Saturday evenings, beer, wine and mead every evening, and a long list of excellent crepes at all times.
Should I Bring Anything?
Calling cards, business cards, postcards, CDs or other things you can hand people to remind them that they met you and where they can find your work.
If you’re a musician, bring your MP3 player/iPod or a USB key with your music and we’ll play it during the salon.
If you’re a visual artist, bring digital images of your work on a USB key and we’ll add it to the slideshow that plays during the salon.
What If I Can’t Make It This Time?
No worries! We’ll be hosting a salon every month on the 4th Tuesday, usually at Vagabond. To get reminders, please join our Facebook group or subscribe to the IAF Salons in NYC mailing list.
Interstitial Arts Foundation Salons Reborn! is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
May 26, 2012
Social Media Resources for Sipping From The Firehose #WisCon36
Just about to head into my next panel, “Sipping From the Firehose: Managing Writing and Social Media,” and wanted to get this list of resources up for those attending and those who are following along via Twitter. The hashtag for this panel is: #SocialMediaSFF.
This post will change slightly as the discussion goes along, and hopefully there will be a panel report or two from the audience I’ll link to.
Social Networks That Are Useful For Writers
These are in a roughly most useful to least useful configuration, but the relative usefulness also depends on what kind of writing and promoting you do. This is not a prescriptive list — every writer does not need to be on every network. This is just a list to consider. After the panel I’ll try to add context for which networks are good for what kinds of activities.
GoodReads
LibraryThing
Tumblr
Dreamwidth
LiveJournal
Delicious
Flickr
Google+
DeviantArt
StumbleUpon
Vimeo
YouTube
Social Networking Tools
These are services, apps, and plugins that make dealing with social media a bit easier, especially if you have multiple accounts.
Hootsuite — A social media dashboard that puts several social networks in one place. See updates from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WordPress, Ping.fm and FourSquare from one window. Update multiple accounts at once. Schedule updates for the future. Accessible from any browser and via apps for Android, iPhone and iPad.
Tweetchat — Tool that lets you focus on one hashtag at a time. Good for participating in Twitter chats.
TweetBot — The best iPhone/iPad Twitter client.
TweetCaster – One of the better Twitter clients for Android.
RSS Graffiti — Facebook app that posts a status update whenever you update your blog.
JournalPress — A WordPress plugin that crossposts to LiveJournal and DreamWidth.
Social Media Resources for Sipping From The Firehose #WisCon36 is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
May 23, 2012
WisCon 36 POC Dinner – Friday
Just an FYI: there will be a POC dinner at WisCon again this year. The reason I haven’t announced it officially yet is that we’re still nailing down a venue. We’re trying to find a place that can accept 50+ people, is close enough to the hotel that people will walk to it, and is inexpensive. Triangulating this has proved very complex :)
However, the general plan is for the event to happen during the sinner space in programming and before the opening ceremonies. We hope to get GOH Andrea Hairston and Mary Anne Mohanraj to attend, even if just for the beginning since they’ll need to leave early.
After the dinner, those of you who do not want to go to the opening ceremonies can join me in the POC Safer Space to talk about how folks can and should use the room during the con.
WisCon 36 POC Dinner – Friday is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
May 10, 2012
My Favorite Fiction From April 2012
Lately I’ve been making an effort to read more short fiction since I’ve been on an almost exclusively novel diet for a couple of years. But now that online magazines are making it easy for me to read them on my eReader or phone or tablet, I will do my bit by actually reading them.
Last month I started in earnest, so here’s a list of the stories I read and loved in April.
An Early Adoption by Rahul Kanakia
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the impossible, unreal things in the virtual world. I don’t know that I identify with the main character’s reaction to them, but then I’ve always wanted to live in a holodeck.
The Second Card of the Major Arcana By Thoraiya Dyer
Interesting interpretation of the Sphinx. I like the clash between ancient and modern and the unrelenting nature of the main character.
Electric Rains by Kathleen Ann Goonan
Due to the setting and a sort-of similar theme, this reminded me a lot of The Drowned Cities, except I like it a lot more. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, very personal and close and sad.
Mother Ship by Caroline M. Yoachim
I’m not such a big fan of stories that offer resonance and not a real resolution, but the pull of the character in this one really grabbed me.
Sunlight Society by Margaret Ronald
Very interesting read, especially when juxtaposed with the new Avengers movie. It’s not actually about superheroes. Not really…
My She by Mary Rosenblum
Really liked this story when I read it in Federations. Quiet and affecting meditation on technology and humanity.
Visit my Favorite Fiction stack to see all the other short stories I’ve liked so far this year.
Also of note: just finished N. K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon and it’s amazingly good. You’ll love it if you liked her Inheritance trilogy. I also got hooked into E. C. Myers Fair Coin even though I already read that book long ago. Yet somehow it completely sucked me in. I guess this is why io9 called it pure, awesome crack ;)
My Favorite Fiction From April 2012 is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
May 9, 2012
Writing and the Art of Provocation
At last year’s Readercon I participated in a panel called Myth, Midrash, and Misappropriation (actually, I was the leader/moderator) with an interesting group of writers and Claude Lalumière. The panel was supposed to be about the appeals and challenges of creating fiction from a religious source and how to avoid or deal with the dangers of cultural appropriation and/or offending people.
I won’t recap the entire discussion for you, but the major highlight of the panel (for me) was when, in his introduction, Claude announced that the purpose of art is to be offensive or to offend people I can’t remember if he initially said offensive or to offend, but this was definitely the core of his argument. Art should offend! He said more than once until he started to backpedal pretty hard in the middle of the panel.
Not knowing much about Claude before that moment, I was unprepared for the douchewankery he brought to the discussion[1]. He was unprepared for how hard I would not allow him to get away with that statement or how prepared I was to challenge him on it. And he was super unprepared for how much the audience was not on his side when question time came. That’s when the backpedaling started.
We spent a good deal of time on the panel unpacking that initial statement and talking about all the ways in which it’s completely problematic (along with all the other problematic stuff he said such as how it’s okay for him to use any religious or spiritual trappings from any culture because he’s an atheist, anyway, and doesn’t believe in them oh and also he is from French Canada so he understands what it means to come from an oppressed, occupied culture). I believe it was Jack Haringa who, after initially agreeing with his understanding of what Claude meant, actually came around to something more like: artists may hope to offend if their message is aimed at a group or idea that they find offensive. Writing with an eye toward pointing out a horrible injustice, say. The ones perpetrating that injustice may be offended — good.
I sort of agreed with that as well, but still didn’t feel it was quite the right way to think about art. In the many months since I’ve poked at the idea more and more, but still hadn’t come up with a better way to think about what Jack was getting at. Then last month someone else came along and nailed it.
NPR’s Weekend Edition interviewed National Book Award-winning poet Nikki Finney, and toward the end of that interview she said this:
Art is about being provocative; art is also about beauty and if you leave the latter out, the former doesn’t matter.
I immediately thought: YES, THAT. That is what we were reaching for around the 600 pound gorilla of Claude’s initial statement.
There is no beauty in being offensive. Offending someone, especially when you’re coming from a place of privilege and oppression, is not the basis for great art, for beautiful art, even if the beauty you’re reaching for is terrible and tragic and real.
Consider the context in which Finney made this statement:
As a young poet, I grew up in the ’60s and early ’70s, when difficult things were being said and shouted and screamed,” Finney says. “I remember saying to myself, those things are very, very important to hear, but there must be another way to say them so that they will truly be heard. I mean, that’s what art is. Art is about being provocative; art is also about beauty and if you leave the latter out, the former doesn’t matter.
I haven’t read any of this woman’s poetry yet, but I want to. I feel like she can teach me the art of saying difficult things. I am often among those who say and shout and scream because that’s important, too. And I know for a fact that engaging in this mode of discourse does result in being heard, because I often have conversations with people who listened and appreciate it. But I’d also like to be adept at that other way she speaks of.
Footnotes
Later, when I related the goings on to others, several people said “Oh, you didn’t know? Claude Lalumiere is a total douchecanoe.” No one warned me!
Writing and the Art of Provocation is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
April 29, 2012
WisCon 36: POC Safer Space
I am once again the WisCon concom liaison and organizer for the POC Safer Space. This year I am joined in organizing and fabulousness by Jayme Goh. Huzzah!
We will once again be in the Solitaire Room since it affords us an out of the way space with no Gawkers. Last year we had the hotel push the conference room up against the wall which made the space a lot more inviting. I will also ask if more comfy chairs can find a way in there. If any locals are willing to donate comfy chairs, please let me know.
Last year we pre-scheduled some break out sessions and alternate panels in the room, but what seemed to work better was spontaneous stuff.I encourage any POC attending WisCon to come to that space if they need to discuss something that went down on a panel, continue a discussion that started at a panel, or if they just need a space to vent and calm down. I actually had some of the most enlightening conversations in that room during after-panel venting and I’m sure that will happen again,
However, if anyone wants to pre-schedule something please feel free. I just suspect mostly it will be spontaneous stuff.
The one thing I would like to schedule is a post Opening Ceremonies trip to the space so that people know where it is and how it will be set up and how they can use the space. This will come on the heels of the POC dinner earlier that evening. And then, of course, it’s party time.
Just as with last year, there will be coffee and tea service in the room throughout the day and a laptop for those who need to check email or Tumblr. Just don’t leave any Tumblr porn on the screen for those of us who are innocent ;)
Any questions, requests, comments, suggestions? Leave them in the comments or ping me via email or on Twitter or Facebook.
WisCon 36: POC Safer Space is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford
