Dispatch no. 22

Ah, that makes sense. I was thinking of the German for Fernweh, which is a kind of wanderlust. That me. Hope Fernie is managing her plots these days!

"Fernweh"...I don't know what is the rest of your chapter title, but that word sure does resonate.

Thank you for being so real. I am honored that you care about us and trust us so much as to give us so much of yourself. Just by being you, you give me a great deal of inspiration.

Librarians gotta librarian, so here's a book recommendation. I recently finished the audiobook of George Saunder's A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, and it has so much rich stuff for writers to absorb and think about (and if you haven't read his short stories, you really should!) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609280/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain-by-george-saunders/

❤️ I have grappled with the same dilemma as a writer — “I want a world where more diverse voices are heard/read, so am I the right person to be heard/read right now?” It’s a hard question, but I don’t think the solution is to silence ourselves. There are other ways to make room for more voices and pass the microphone and support artists from other communities. We should shut up and listen sometimes, definitely, but I don’t think we can live our whole lives without sharing our creative work. Unless you’re Emily Dickinson and you bake cakes wrapped in poetry and just send them to close friends… Before I totally lose the plot here, I wanna recommend the podcast Rite Gud to you. The host is also a millennial female speculative fiction writer, and cat lover, and she’s so smart and great. I could see you vibing with her podcast, or her essays about pop culture which are also fantastic. ❤️

First let me say as much as people tell me I should write my story I can't seem to put it to paper. I am however a reader and it sounds very much like you write the way I read. I mean that you can't pull out of your writing because you are so much a part of the story and I become part of the stories I read. one character will attach itself to me and I am totally part of that character and the life they are living. While I may think as Anita I would not choose an action I am not me so I totally understand the direction that they are taking. It doesn't matter the genre I even like vampires' and were-wolves when I could never watch a movie about them, and yes they even have a way of taking over this timid lady. All that is to say I think I would love to read your work. AMH

It's not easy to be vulnerable, thank you 💜

I’d love to read your writing! It sounds very interesting. I completely understand the dream of wanting that flash in a pan mania that can surround a certain book or series. When I get too focused on that I remind myself that most successful writers never see that but instead had made a career of moderately successful books on top of their day job. I write in a very similar way. I’ve tried just sitting down for 30 minutes but I either spend the entire time trying to coax my characters out or the timer goes off and I don’t want to stop writing. I will say that since I got an amazing alpha reader I have been more productive because there’s someone who is messaging me asking me what comes next. That serotonin is glorious.

Hearing you talk about writing make sme want to get back into it and finish at least one of the many things I've started, but fear always ends up getting in the way! I'd say sharing your writing here would be agreat way to get some more beta readers and get used to the idea of people reading your work - good training for when you're a published author!

Bianca, you're a doll. and i mean that in a good way. Yes, publish. Or try to anyway. Publishers can be people too. And we love you and back you up and support you. Get a patreon for your writing! Love Eileen

I really enjoyed when you did a reading of your prequel chapters! I would be very excited to read the real deal trilogy.

As to you being talented....my gosh, I wish I had one tenth of your skill in sewing! You are very gifted. Embrace and enjoy! I come from a large family - 4 older sisters. Each one was/is extremely talented. I always feel inferior to them. Can't draw a straight line, even with a ruler. Don't know why I mentioned any of that than other to say, we all have self doubt. You are not alone.

I majored in English Lit. By no means an expert. I do remember we also learned the history of the times and the personal history of the author. All of which play an important role in their respective writings. I speak only for me, but it seams (pun intended) that the authors worth their salt were filled with self doubt and recriminations. Hack writers were full of their self importance. It sounds that you are in the group of "worth their salt".

I would love to read what you are writing. My sister in law is writing now as a full time job but my it has been a struggle for her and her family. She has also experimented with different genres until she found out what she is best at. My brother does all the publishing and advertising for her, her books are on Amazon. Now she is selling books, like water, a big publishing company reached out to her and they wanted to publish her next series of books. But they wanted her to change the main character and plot so much that she had to say no. Rather doe not so wel and have the book being yours than give in to the demands of the company. Please stay safe and know that we are backing you up.

It got me thinking about my creative endeavors.

Bianca you are definitely exceptional. The sewing videos you put out with clever set dressing/lighting, these podcasts where you talk to your patrons like friends instead of just trying to be entertaining, your skill at beadwork…I’m in awe of how good you are at so many things!

PUBLISH AND BE DAMNED! So said the Duke of Wellington when he was asked to pay money to be left out of someone s memoirs. Good enough for the Fieldmarshal, good enough for our beloved Cliset Historian. Oh, and change Your name and NO ONE WILL KNOW IT'S YOU .

Your self-awareness is endearing and I am happy that you found the courage to talk about your writing. I've always been attracted by books that revolve around solitary characters and their close confidants (small stakes, as you say) and the more back and forth dialogue there is, the more excited I get. I've enjoyed Hemingway for this reason, although his subjects can be quite unpleasant. I understand what you mean about all-or-nothing when it comes to your writing. I surely cannot sit down at the piano for just 15 minutes of practice. I'd sooner not practice at all than to have such skimpy bits doled out as if it were a daily chore. Like you say, it's the deep end of the pool or nothing and that is a dive not everyone can make.❤️ Enjoy these next few days of binge writing!

oh yeah i'm all about boundaries and having me time...I find that I'm more productive and happier with the work that I accomplish in the M-F life. An just hanging with close friends even for just coffee makes a big difference in my mental state...you can only look at the same walls for so long and as much as I support and believe in science and having worked in the medical field myself, this is possibly going to be an endemic with no total end in site, I hope that I'm wrong

I want to read about orphan pirates. It sounds awesome.

Thank you for opening up. You can count me among your acquaintance friends and if you ever come to Nashville we could go to fancy dinner!! This is life! Its so hard to put yourself out there! I feel the same way about my little private things I'm in to. - I want to wear dresses see. But people don't see me that way and I'm so scared to try it. People will talk! I feel you. Maybe try a smaller group a certain tier level? Best wishes I so sympathize #lovefromnashville

I love the idea of focusing on a relationship or so-called small stakes. Small stakes should be done more often, especially in genre fiction. Heroes need a world to save, right, and that world is going to be populated by wait staff and mechanics and retail employees, and their lives are worth writing about. (That's basically what "literary" fiction is, so I mean...) No matter how well you do your research, there will always be mistakes, and I relate to your fear on that front pretty hard. XD Some of what I've seen happen on Twitter instilled a deep anxiety in me. But if you're interested, there's a community called Writing the Other that's based around a book of the same name, and they provide short-term classes on how to write from cultures or backgrounds that are not yours: https://writingtheother.com/ I have taken two classes (Diverse Narratives and Deep Dive Into Diverse Characters), and both have been enlightening. IMO they're not nearly as intense as university classes, and some are made specifically so you can go at your own pace. But even their free articles may be of some help?

https://www.jcprd.com/1377/1954-All-Electric-House-Tour The textile museum reminded me of this all electric house that is in the Johnson County Kansas arts & heritage museum. Enjoy..

Please share some of your writing.🙏🏼The little snippet in the announcement of the podcast already made me want to read more. And I do love to hear you talk. Everybody needs a listening ear (is that an English phrase? 😂) It’s a translation of a Dutch saying anyway .

it sounds so American the idea of only exceptional people deserving financial stability and pleasant life! It's good to hear these reflections and so interesting in how much of the culture that you are a part of, you actually embody.