Category: General

Onto something diffferent. As I was (trying!) relaxing on the way to work this morning, I was thinking about what it is that I miss the most about writing, that no other aspect in my life, not evening costuming gives me.

It is…escape. Coincidentally, it is the same reason I read the works of my favorite writers and writer friends, although it actually works better for me, this escape, when I write.

Some of you approach writing like I approach costuming. It’s this thing you do to crank out a product that may or may not sell, may or may not merit prestige, may or may not be a goal or accomplishment. I costume for recognition and for the fun of pretending. Those elements my writing and costuming have in common, but honestly, the latter far outweighs the former for me.

How can I describe what happens to me when the writing is working, without it sounding like a nerve disorder? I get tingly and adrenaliney, endorphines released into my system, magic permeating my core. I live an adventure. There are, of course, things about my real life that I adore (Bryon, my friends, increasingly the family I have as they begin to behave). Writing seems to take the best experiences of my real life and multiple the feelings I have when I experience wonder and joy there.

I would NOT like to live the life my characters lead. I am very cruel to them, sometimes. Inasmuch as their highs are higher, their lows are lower. BUT there is some sort of magic there. I can feel it, and I guess my readers feel it too, because as I look at my work, it is often simplistic. Yet, those poetic images, the pacing, and the dialogue keep me coming back. The characters keep me coming back. And the plot. Man, am I good with plot! I suspect somehow that I can conveny that sense of story with words somehow to you, because you often come back with a similar sort of reaction to my work.

For me, it can never be about the money, or the prestige. These may or may not come. It’s like the lottery, this part, although three are tricks that you can use that will help you publish, like there are tricks that you can use that will help you win the lottery. It’s about the magic, the transportation, and the escape to another place.

That’s pretty much it. That’s probably why I need to get back to it, even when I’m tired. I think when I’m tired I want write well. Like exercise as of late, I often forget that writing is one of the things that re-energizes me.

Catherine

Reminding all of you that I will be reading from the Klarions work at the Witching Hour in Salem, Mass very soon. I’m thinking about recording it for those of you who might have interest.

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September 20, 2020

When one looks at the group of Mythic Realists during the early part of the century, it is interesting to see that all of them at once are weathering a dark time, personally, a wide variety of trials, errors, and circumstances which harshen their personal lives. The effect that the Dark Time, as scholars have come to call it, had on their writing is profound. Each of these writers and artists can be examined in turn in this regard, but in all of their work, it left a vein of shadow that juxtaposes itself in the humor of pit_viper, the nurturing of bucketgirl, the anger of scieppan, and so on.

Most of the Mythic Realists are well supported by each other and those in their nonvirtual lives, and it is my belief that they balance and marry the most positive and negative parts of the human experience inescapably at this time. These qualities deepen their work, rendering it graphic and three dimensional, underscoring examination of self with the cross hatch of realism and shadow, and the decorative coloring of joy. Many of the writers, particularly those who focus in the fantasy, folkloric, and mythical realms, like chrysantza and awelkin, can not transcend the harsh reality that exists for their characters, actually making these creatures of imagination seem as though they could come through your door, yet make this heavy work seem full at the same time of joy and hope. Both good and evil transcend in these texts, unbelievably sometimes in the same characters. As the cover art, or graphic story telling of minoukatze show, the multiple dimensions of these characters, the complications, the archetypes, and the simplicity leave the reader shell shocked about what happened, but clear that they have witnessed in a moment any number of things.

***

Well, the guy writing IS a graduate student, so cut him some slack, okay? 🙂 I guess the point is that I expect that we will all make it through this, and it will enrich us in ways we have yet to imagine. Hard to say die if you’re an optimist.

Catherine

I don’t usually do this in my writing journal. I usually save opinions, book reviews, information on costuming (my other muse), angsting, and so forth for my friend’s locked live journal. People are welcome to go there by knocking, and I usually friend them back.

However, recently, I’ve finished Terry Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky. Innocently disguised as a children’s book, the philosophy’s underscoring the tome are exactly what I needed to hear at a time when my new supervisory position has swallowed my writing time whole, and has knotted my soul up with spiritual discontinuations (today’s new vocabulary, bought to you by physical therapy). It validates what I’ve been doing in my life in trying to reform the English Language Acquisition program at work (people are the soul and center of being a witch, and of being a teacher). It also makes me okay with the magic (writing) not working like it should at the moment because of this. (It isn’t what should be. It is.)

Much as I credit Bruce Campbell earlier this summer for reinforcing my maverick perspective on fame, I credit Terry Pratchett for sending me what I need right now. I know the universe has a role in lining you up with what you need too, but Pratchett put it out there for me, so I must be grateful.

Fall starts next week, according to my contract, and students return one week after that. I hope and wait, sometimes patiently, sometimes not, for a more balanced life, and I hope to return to productivity, rather than drops in a bucket, sometime in there. Like the Iowa ground this summer, the writing muse of me feels parched and cracked and thirsty. I’ve sewn and enjoyed it this summer. I’ve travelled to escape. Mostly I’ve worn the harness of work, and it’s cut into me hard, and there’s plenty more to be had.

But as a wise friend said today in one of his musings about his life, it’s good to live your life the way you want. I’ve taken back somethings. I’m no athlete, but I’ve taken back the gym. I’ve taken back my beauty, regardless of my weight. Now, I want to take back my mind, and give them back their stress.

Thank you, all of you who have known my work from before, in its limited venues and runs, thank you for waiting for me. I appreciate it, and your interest. Without an audience, there is a reason to tell the story, but I like to share. A life worth living is, after all, one with people in the soul and center of it.

Catherine

Spent a little time last night writing up character descriptions and the first page of Dead Girl Adventures, which is something that came to me after Coley’s suicide a couple of weeks ago. I’m hoping that Cat can turn it into something small pressy or graphic novelly.

We’ll see.

This is more episodic, and doesn’t mean I won’t be working on the novels. I just expect this to pop in every now and again.

Catherine

Yup. Thursday’s looking good. Maybe even as early as Wednesday.

Catherine

A good friend has managed to pull off the supreme act of writing marketing. She has procurred for herself, after much angst, an agent. I am pleased.

I can see the light at the end of the summer tunnel. Sometimes I wonder what possessed me to take on a new supervisory position at work. Then I know the truth, and it sets me free. Most writers don’t get to go to Japan every other year. Most writers live on ramen. My teaching career is fulfilling in ways my writing career can not be. Vice versa is also true, but it’s too much for me to expect to carry every burden successfully. I put the writing one down for a bit. I’ll write some curriculum, get some fall classes going, and pick it back up.

You know, I am patient. I am a patient person. All things will come in their time.

Today I believe that. Tomorrow? 🙂

Getting things set up for my reading at The Witching Hour today. In the realms of writing, all but dead right now…curse the new job and all.

I am reading. So, I’m getting the soil ready. Right now, though, it’s all about sewing and working.

So, what am I reading? A YA book by Suzy McKee Charnas about faeries. Making me think about Gossamer.

Some day I’ll just get tired of not writing and write. Like I did today at the office with applications. I decided to call all of my prospects, out of the blue.

Well. Here’s hoping for a more active fall in this regard.

Catherine

Just spent a couple of hours talking to a writing class about writing. It was interesting, but strange.

Considering that it was a Fiction Lit class and not a writing class, it was odd. The teacher was a little odd too. My fellow writer, Hope and I, left the class, squinting at each other, saying, “That was weird.”

I felt sorriest for the students. They were captive and bored. I hope it’s not like that every day for them. Yes, I was charming, and tried to entertain them, and yes, that worked. It wasn’t enough. Anyway, they received six pages of Gossamer and Viridian as a bonus, if they want to read it.

Well. Let’s hope the next time we do that, it’s a little different.

Catherine