Kate Larking's Blog: Anxiety Ink, page 10
October 10, 2017
Ink Links Roundup – diverse YA, fantasy editors, and women narratives
One of the Inkettes’ favourite authors, Nnedi Okorafor, had a wonderful interview with the New York Times. Check it out as well as some upcoming diverse YA releases.
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October 9, 2017
Life Changes
So. Life changes and I am now mother to a perfect little one.
This means you may not see much of me for the next while, but don’t worry! I will have some phenomenal guest posts for you to enjoy instead.
Now to find a whole new kind of write-life balance . . .
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October 5, 2017
Coffee Shop Writer Dreams
It’s been a bad week. My one too many full weekends hit me hard on Sunday when I had to get up early for a charity run. I love the run and cause, I hate the hour. I haven’t felt well since Sunday afternoon and this morning my body decided that I do in fact have a cold. I’m forcing myself to believe that the presentation of acute symptoms means I’m on the mend. Also? This is the second blog post I’ve last minuted this week and I really hate doing that.
I’m tired. I’m grumpy. I’m emotionally drained for so many reasons. And I feel like a failure because I’m behind with my new course and I haven’t written one fiction word yet this week.
In an attempt to get on top of things, I hunted through old Anxiety posts for topic inspiration while trying to stay upright at work. I came across one Kate wrote a few months ago. I didn’t have quite the reaction to it that the post was supposed to elicit; all I could think about was that I wish I lived close enough to a coffee shop to park my butt in a chair and actually get something done.
Despite my best attempts to make my room an interruption-free-zone, it’s too easy to let all of life’s million and one things make themselves important when I’m at home. Distractions abound and I feel guilty, or harassed, or stressed if I don’t complete my routine activities around my house. I have so much on my to do list and I simply can’t seem to find enough time in the week—let alone the bloody day—to get everything done.
Yes, I’m my own worst enemy much of the time. I’ve been revelling in distractions lately—like social media on my phone when I should be doing something else—and I can’t seem to snap myself back into focus mode. I’ve been saying that a lot lately. I need to delve into that.
I’m wondering if it would be worthwhile for me to pack up my computer and notebooks at least once a week and drive the 20 or so minutes to the nearest coffee shop for an hour or so. I just know that trying to replicate the setup in my house is not going to work because I’m going to feel pressured to work on something “more important” than writing.
I’m tired of robbing myself of time to create; I’m ready to embrace the identity of a coffee shop writer.
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October 4, 2017
Last Month of My Writing Sabbatical
I’m coming into the last month of my writing sabbatical. As a recap, I have been on parental leave since August and, since Ryan is already enrolled in daycare, I have been trying to use this time as a writing sabbatical.
September Productivity
I will admit, September wasn’t as productive as I would have liked it to be. While August was the time I used to catch up on my life in general, September as been a time for me to rest mentally.
I have been working on centering myself and my intentions for after my writing sabbatical. I’ve been cleaning up my digital footprint, attempting to tidy up my websites and social media accounts. I have been upping my daily step counts to try and reach a semblance of healthiness. I have also been curling up with a book or two, retreating from pressures, and just letting myself enjoy the written word again.
October Goals
October is looking like a bit of a jumble already. I am trying to resist the urge to cram in visits with everyone I know since going back to work means I won’t have much free time anymore.
I am doing my best to finish a novel/novella in this time. I am at the point where I am repeatedly encouraging myself to just keep going. Every time I even think about writing, I have this mental image of a flashing marquee over my desk that reads “YOU CAN LAYER IN MORE WITH EDITS! EDITS ARE YOUR FRIEND!”
I’ve been lamenting that my story feels like talking heads, frustrating thoughts, and told actions.
EDITS, Kate. THIS IS WHAT EDITING IS FOR.
November and beyond…
November through January is looking like a very tough slog. I will be working a lot to recover from taking leave (I did work mostly ahead, for which I am grateful. And the fact that I have a lot of assistants? GOLD) and working some side jobs to boost finances. Having a kid isn’t cheap. Finding this out the hands-on way.
It’s kind of like having storm clouds on the horizon. But, like I did before the first snowfall of the season, I went out to the park with my baby and just enjoyed the falling leaves and brisk temperatures. I just need to bundle up and get out there, writing.
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October 2, 2017
Ink Links Roundup: Anime-Inspired, Crutch Words, and 18th Century Garments
This post contains affiliate links to books we love. If you purchase through these links, Anxiety Ink will get a small commission at no cost to you.
A book inspired by the anime Revolutionary Girl Utena? Kate says, “Yes please!” to The Tiger’s Daughter[image error] by K. Arsenault Rivera.
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If you’re anything like Elisa, you need all the help and suggestions you can get for spotting those crutch words. Use words over and over again in your writing? Check out this link for a stellar tip.
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Costume Curator Pauline Rushton explores what it was like for women to get dressed in the 18th century.
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Reading Judgment
Self-judgment and recrimination and recrimination is a frequent theme for me. For all of us, really. When we do our goals check-ins here, we invite the should-have-dones and feelings teeter on the edge of success or disappointment.
I haven’t set much for reading goals this year. Mostly because I don’t make them, so why set myself up for failure?
I come down hard on myself for my reading habits. Every year, I like to keep a list of books I’ve read. While I worked in a bookstore that let me borrow, my list at the end of the year contained a fair number of nonfiction titles. I read mysteries and thrillers and popular fiction, too.
Since I left that job and started working full time, my number of books read has halved and the titles are all fantasy and scif-fi. I’ve judged myself negatively for this trend.
But you know what? Screw that. When I stop and think, it makes sense: my time to read more than halved. It’s more amazing that I still read as much as I do. Shorter pieces have become easier for me to approach, especially when ripping myself away from a good book is physically painful. Of course I skew towards rereading familiar books and gravitating to young adult titles.
And you know what else? I still read nonfiction. I read tons of it, but it just happens to come in more easily digestible sizes because the internet is a wonderful thing. Harder to fall asleep when I’m staring at my phone’s screen (though this pregnancy has certainly made that awfully easy). Harder for dry facts to lose my interest before I read an article to its conclusion. Because nonfiction requires a greater effort and attention for me.
So rather than beat myself up over the lack of variety in my books-read list, I’m proud that nonfiction reading has become a daily occurrence. At this point, I probably read more nonfiction than anything else. Awesome for research and investigation purposes, but less awesome when I start judging myself by a list that does not include essays and articles.
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September 29, 2017
Thoughts on Minimizing
Last week I did my third goal check in before the end of the year. I enjoyed writing it; I ended up about where I thought I would and I was satisfied with my progress, all things considered. This week, as I struggled for a blog topic (my week has been so busy I am about ready to fall over), I glanced at it in the hopes I would be inspired.
Isn’t it funny how formatting can affect your brain’s perception of your own writing? In my post’s published state up on the site, it struck me how long my list is.
I have a lot of goals written down. Too many, almost. I put a lot of personal, non-creative goals on the list at the beginning of the year to flesh it out. I felt like a slacker having only a few items when I felt I needed to truly work on myself on a personal level. Plus, telling others always helps with accountability.
However, I’m realizing that trying to split my attention in so many different directions is not really helping my cause in terms of focus. Now, at the end of September when I am feeling so stretched thin, I’m cluing in that less is more.
It’s no wonder that I haven’t tackled any big items–I have too many little items!
Obviously it is far too late in the year to revamp my goals list. Yet this is excellent food for thought come January. Minimizing my list from the get-go doesn’t mean I can’t add things on later as I cross others off. Minimizing simply means I’m going to give myself the chance to focus and accomplish.
Why do obvious things take me so long to figure out? My word for the year is balance. Slowly, oh so slowly, I am figuring it out. I think.
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September 27, 2017
Third 2017 Goal Check-in – Where is the year going?!
It’s goal-time! I remember feeling really beat up during my last goal check in. I was exhausted; adjusting to being a parent, working ahead in my job to cover my absence, doing all the events for Crash and Burn.
July, I worked. August, it was family vacation time (read, not a vacation at all. 3 kids in a house that was regularly over 30 degrees Celcius?). September…I worked on finding my groove.
2017 Goals
Writing
Crash and Burn
Goal for 2017: Write at least 6 chapters of Crash and Burn.
How’s it going? Still at 2 chapters done. We slowed down our production schedule so we are now doing a page every two weeks to make the comic something more manageable to produce and keep up with.
Short story for Sirens
Goal for 2017: Participate in the anthology with a story. Submission window is February 1-April 30, 2017.
How’s it going? Story is locked in! I still like the tale, too. The book should be coming out in the next few weeks. I ended up doing the ebook formatting (Picture me screaming in pain for a few days after about my tired tired eyeballs). It is a larger anthology than the last one.
Personal Writing
Goal for 2017:
Develop a consistent writing schedule. It doesn’t have to be every day, but I do need something more than, “My deadline is in two days. Better get those words out now.”
Plot, write, and edit the first instalment of my spacepunk story and plot the next two.
Draft and write a version of my cyberpunk story I might potentially shop to agents/publishers.
Draft and write some of my original story idea rework that hasn’t left me alone lately.
How’s it going? *Laughing at herself* I am only now getting back into the groove of creating. I hadn’t realized how displaced my perspective was on creative work versus the work I have been doing. It has taken many days to reconcile my sense of self and imagination with the stories I want to tell.
The current schedule is drop Ryan off at daycare, do chores around the house, and then write with my remaining time before going to pick Ryan up. Some days, it’s one hour. Sometimes, it’s three hours. It’s been a slog to get comfortable with myself creating again.
I started an incentive with friends called Novel in 90. We have a Facebook group and we were working toward writing a book in August-October. But now we have officially extended our writing time to December. I think I will be able to get the space punk story done. And I still have hopes for more.
Conversations
Goal for 2017:
Get that KateLarking.com redesign done!
Continue my New Mom Writer series here at Anxiety Ink.
Start out my Confessions of a Book Buyer series at KateLarking.com
How’s it going? Still still behind. I’m actually questioning whether I want to continue personal blogging. I changed the site format to something more static.
I suppose I haven’t written a New Mom Writer post here in a while. It’s not like I run out of things to say on that front. #constantoverload
Learning
Goal for 2017:
Read 5 cyberpunk/RPGLit/VR/space adventure books
Read book on comic writing (I own it and have been looking at it…)
Read text on interactive storytelling creation (a joint project in the future with Crash and Burn artist Finn Lucullan is in the cards)
Stretch goal: complete the Sirens 2017 reading challenge.
How’s it going? Been reading! Mostly nonfiction and graphic novels though. But it’s nice to get reconnected with books and paper and reading for enjoyment. Although I’m wracked with guilt when I read because I think of it as time I should be writing.
Balance
Goal for 2017:
Attend 2 conferences this year
Sell at 4 markets/expos/festivals
Make time for writing sessions
How’s it going? Two markets done by me, two markets done by Finn. WWC is done and Sirens is still to come. Been making time for writing sessions.
How’s it going for you?
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September 26, 2017
Ink Link Roundup-posthumous manuscript wishes, dying British English, home libraries
Elisa says, I’m hardly at the point in my writing career where I need to worry about what my family will do with my buried manuscripts. However, control freak that I am, I certainly plan to outline what I want done with any writing I may leave behind. It’s something to think about, according to this post.
For all the Canadians reading: Do you know the difference between Canadian and American English? I’m simply curious. My favourite phrase in this entire article on the disappearance of British English is:
“chances are your vocabulary has been similarly colonised.”
Melissa says, We’re all book lovers here, so these photos of personal home libraries will have us all drooling.
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September 25, 2017
Goals Check-In, The Third
My two months of breakneck scheduling are finally coming to an end. August and September have not felt like great months for reaching any goals, but we’ll see what (if anything) I can check off.
Writing
Story submissions? Not a thing so far this year, though I have made a list of anthologies and contests and submission periods. Editing of the novel stalled out between my customary read-through and beginning the actual revision. Remember how I wanted this revised before the little one arrives? I’ve finally reached a point of acceptance that it just won’t happen.
Seriously, all my energy has just gone towards survival. Surviving work and keeping myself (and baby) as healthy as possible. I’ve done a fairly kickass job, all things considered, but it hasn’t left room for much of anything else.
This has meant that my personal blog still languishes. I last updated it in . . . July? August? I have so many posts to type up and add! But I have this slight problem where I keep falling asleep.
On the bright side, I woke up at 5 am Sunday morning with a flash of vignette or character study in my head. Which I then hauled my ass out of bed to write down.
That’s the first fiction I’ve written in far too long. The first piece I’ve ever rolled out of bed at ridiculous-o-clock to record. Maybe the first sign of the cracks in the dam of writer’s block.
No revised or updated goals here. At least for now. I will do what I can do as I can do it, but my life is about to change in huge, drastic ways, and I’m trying to avoid adding any more pressure than I’ll already feel. Still aiming for two or three submissions for the year, though I currently have none . . .
Social Media
My online activity has decreased significantly since my boss announced her exit and I’ve scrambled to do her jobs (three positions’ worth), my jobs (at least two positions’ worth), and train our newest hire who hadn’t been with us a full week when this shit-show let loose.
I expect my social media presence will remain quiet throughout the rest of the year, and I feel surprisingly fine with that. My only goal at this point is to keep using it and not disappear entirely.
And not let my accounts fill with baby photos. This kid should have some level of privacy.
Travel
I made it to ReaderCon! And it was excellent, if too short. Beyond that, people who want to see me have had to come visit. This has made for some excellent friend-time, with bonus points for writer-friends!
My goal for the rest of the year is to not travel. Particularly for the holidays.
Theatre
Since my last goals check-in, I performed in a show (a less-than-satisfying script but wonderfully talented actors). I also ended up operating sound from backstage, thanks to technology and my husband’s amazing problem-solving skills. Seriously, dress rehearsal is not a good time to discover that a show does not have a sound operator.
I also ran a playwriting workshop! So I did run a workshop this summer, after all. It was for the playwrights in our 24-Hour Play Festival and people seemed to find it helpful. At least, they all went home and had their plays written by 7 am.
One goal, which may not occur until early next year, is to audition for another professional/paying theatre company. I think they audition in December or January and perform throughout the summer.
Another new goal sort of falls at the meeting point of writing, social media, and theatre: I want to start a YouTube channel. This came about when my original summer writing workshop plans failed.
I’ve filmed one episode (in great need of editing) and have two more written, plus plans and schemes for many, many more. Some videos will be workshop-style with exercises and prompts, some will be conversations with other writers, and some will be stories.
Anticipate much bumbling about and a significant learning curve (I haven’t edited video since high school), but it will be tons of fun!
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