Ksenia Anske's Blog, page 24

Grandma, I got out of the dump. I did.

I got there on time. I GOT THERE ON TIME. I believe my grandmother recognized me. She has dementia, or so my mother is saying, but she saw me and focused on me and started crying. And then she said goodbye twice. Actual clear words that cut me. We were saying goodbye to each other. It might've been the last time I saw her alive. And I stroked her forehead. She never let me touch her when I was a child (nor did I particularly want to—I was afraid of her), and she never touched me except to sm...

Writers' observance power

Art by Alejandro García Restrepo

The one scary trait we writers have is our observance power. We see things other people don't see. To them those things are minuscule, invisible, to us they're magnified, screaming to be written into a story.

There was a Spanish-speaking family on the plane to Moscow. The father was tall and fierce, a dominating patriarch. He shoved his grown sons around, covertly, only giving them a nudge but with such hidden force they moved instantly. The younger, a teena...

Four women's stories—four dreams

Typewriter at Margaret Mitchell's house

I have resolved to collect as many stories as possible when traveling, talking to everyone everywhere, and listening, listening, listening. As a result I've heard amazing things—and I'll collect them here on my blog for future reference, as many as I can. Here are four stories of the four women I met in Atlanta, with their four dreams.

TIA

I'm geographically challenged, so even though I have my phone with a gazillion apps and the map printed out on top o...

We're making history

Twice in my life I have landed in the middle of history, first time by chance, second time by chance and by decision.

The first time I was thirteen, going home from school in Berlin, by the Russian Embassy, which was situated on Unter den Linden avenue. I was walking to the S-Bahn and was swept by the crowd surging toward the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate). The crowd was so thick, I couldn't break through them to move in the opposite direction. I had no choice but to go with them. It wa...

Hello Atlanta!

Atlanta, I'm here. Exhausted. But all unpacked and full of stories.

Number one, I have overpacked. As usual. Freaking out too much about missing something, so my shoulders are dead. And it's warm here like it's summer. You can imagine what that did to me walking around in a winter coat and winter boots, with a backpack that was glued to my back. I think I sweated through my coat, but surprisingly my feet were comfortable. Amazing. Sorel boots did their job. But boots aside...when I was waitin...

The plan for the next month and the next 4 years

Illustration by David Saracino

It's kind of insane at the moment, with me prepping to leave America for Russia, and America prepping for its new president who could very well be Russia's puppet, and who doesn't deserve more than a few anonymous lines on my blog. Like all bullies he thrives on attention, and I have decided to give him none. The following four years I will focus on getting so good, no publisher will be able ignore me, and I'll either score a publishing deal or get on a best...

I don't have a home

Art by Alessandro Sicioldr

I don't know if I know what's home. What I thought was home never was, and what I'm running toward and trying to catch always seems out of reach. I try to find home within me, but that eludes me too.

All this is bubbling up as my trip to Russia draws nearer and nearer. The conversations on whether or not I can write a black character made me think hard about my own identity and how I'm trying to run away from it because I don't know what it is anymore. Gissel Escu...

How to read like a pro

Rosemary wrote: "Thank you so much for sharing what you learn and know with your fellow writers :) I read each post and learn a bit more each time! I have a request for you if you don't mind...can I ask your process for reading a story to learn craft from it? You've mentioned writing down scenes, plot points, etc. Are there any guidelines, or an order you recommend? Thanks Ksenia!!!"

I'll share all I know, Rosemary! Not my statement, by the way, about reading like a pro. It was my writing men...

Cthulhu on a Tricycle (a short story)

Image source

"Do you have a Lovecraftian story of humor you want to publish in an anthology?" said my friend Scott Elliott. Scott's friend and publisher of anthologies, Alex Shvartsman of UFO Publishing was short on stories for his anthology. He posted a call on Facebook: "My invited authors delivered shorter stories than I anticipated and I still have room for a couple more, but the turnaround time is really short. I'm looking for Lovecraftian humor stories for THE CACKLE OF CTHULHU antho...

Things I'm afraid to say in public

Art by Reza Bassiri

Inspired by this Twitter conversation, I thought I'd start being less afraid of who I am and how I think and what I think. I need to come to terms with the fact that not everyone will like me, and there is nothing I can do about it. The typical need of a survivor is always to please others; I'm learning to shed it. The violence in my childhood taught me to keep my head down and to be quiet, but I'm not a child anymore, and unless I stop being afraid and be me, I won't b...