Writing in Dark Times

The RadCon SF convention went very well for me. I brought two tubs of books for my table and came home with one. But the “Writing in Dark Times” panel was the best part of the weekend.

I had expected two others to join me on the panel, but I ended up going it alone. It snowed all day Friday, and I suspect the other writers couldn’t make it over the mountain passes. So I ended up inviting the audience to share their thoughts and ideas. That’s part of what made the panel such a success.

First, I explained that when I suggested the panel in September, I was thinking more of “AI” and book bannings and how the largest publishers seem focused on shareholder profits much more than any literary merits. But then the election happened.

We talked about how we are feeling now that Project 2025 is being imposed on us. Not only the ill-advised mass firings, but nationwide censorship of disfavored terms like DEI and attempted erasure of trans citizens from reality.

Talk moved on to protecting ourselves from the potential of threats, harassment and legal actions for our writing and art. We talked about using pseudonyms and removing direct contact information from our online presence. Not only to make it more difficult for trolls to find us, but to allow us space to review comments at our own pace.

We talked about activist burnout, and how important it is to pace ourselves. Project 2025’s aim is to overwhelm us so that we can’t respond. And anyway, nobody can do everything at once. We have to choose the issues to focus on. One small action a day is better than having massive tantrums that embarrass us later.

All through this, the audience had a chance to talk about their particular craft or art. We discussed how, sadly, there may be people around us who dismiss our art and try to make us stop creating. They might be overtly Republican supporters, or they might just consider the arts something childish to be put aside in favor of “real work.” I emphasized how our arts make us complete human beings. We can’t let anyone else stop us from finding peace and relaxation even at these times.

The last part, I invited the audience to share if they have any plans to write or craft something in response to the crashing of our democracy. Almost everyone did, in some way. (Also there was a large fighting demo right outside that kept interrupting us with their cheering, and I said, “They agree with us!”)

That was Saturday afternoon. All through the rest of the event, people kept coming to my book table and saying how inspired they were by that panel. Some new poems, letters to the editor, and even costumes might come of it.

Like I said, “Writing in Dark Times” was the best part of the weekend.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook or Pinterest.