Micro Fiction

I signed up for an online class for writing micro fiction. This is with a professor I had previously had, and I'm excited to be working with her again. 

I'm also looking forward to writing again. I know I need to work on my revision skills and figure that short fiction would be a great place to hone this skill.

Test post

Test post to see if the Blogger app on my Android phone even works anymore.

Racism is not a mental illness

I found this as a draft, of which I'd originally written for a Facebook group. The topic still resonates on its own so I revised this a bit.

Can we discuss racist actions without using words like crazy, insane, or anything else related to mental illness? I've seen this a few times and wanted to write a stand alone post. The point of being more intentional with our interactions on this topic.

Two main points with this, the first being that calling racist behavior crazy can look like an excuse for it. Like someone doesn't know better. Which removes accountability in a way.

The second point is abelism. Using a disability/ disorder to describe something else in a negative way is abelism. With mental illness there is enough stigma around it already that we don't need to use related terms in a negative way. And some of us with mental illnesses are working hard to address racism. Calling someone else's racist actions insane lumps us in with them.

Some other words to use: unbelievable, unacceptable, inappropriate, ect, as a start.

Of darkness and light

Of darkness and light and moving forward. I saw this picture on a Facebook page and it speaks to me. There's something about recognizing the impact of the dark times, and taking those lessons forward. 

Image description: A woman standing with arms forward, light in hand and around her. Text reads "Thoes who have seen the darkness have the most light to give. @therandomvibes".

Image

2019 - Forward

I decided on Forward for my one word. To kick off the year I drew this in my new marker sketchbook. Inspired by Steven Universe.

Picture here because Blogger wouldn't post with it.

One word 2019

I've done the One Word "resolution" a few years now, some years more successful than others. Now I'm trying to decide what word I want for 2019.

"Start looking forward and stop looking back" - Steve Universe lyric (What's the use of feeling blue) kind of resonates for me. I think forward may be a strong option for my 2019 word.

Awesome is another word I've been pondering. That's the word on a journal from a close colleague, and could be something positive to focus on.

I still have a few days yet to decide. Along with my word I want to decide how I'll make a point to reflect on it.

Who else does one word? Or resolutions? Or a vision board?

Reading: Earthsea

I've been wanting to read more of Ursula Le Guin's work for awhile now and recently got the chance to do so.

This month I read the first two Earthsea books. I enjoyed her world building, and it was easy to get into Ged's story as he learned to be a wizard then set off on his adventure.

I liked how she didn't mention Ged's race until further along in the story. Which she did deliberately because she knew many white readers wouldn't accept a non white hero. (1967).

Also interesting is that the first book was initially a stand alone. It wasn't meant to be a series. A line she wrote about Ged going off on further adventures was wrapping the story up. Yet it turned into a hint of further story for the series.

After that first book she wrote Left Hand Of Darkness. Then travel brought setting for the second Earthsea book. Ged is still a part of the story, but he's not the main character. Tenar is introduced here, this book is her story.

Self care and environmental support

Back in 2009 we moved into our house, and had the opportunity to watch the somewhat established gardens bloom. There were a variety of flowers.

On the side of our house in a shaded area grew a peony plant. I watched it grow and unfurl it's leaves, but no blossoms. I transplanted it to the actual garden, with sun and better soil. The next year it blossomed huge white flowers.

A part got left behind in that section of shade. It still grows year after year, as does the garden one. The garden one still blooms. The shade one never has.

When we think about self care and discuss the topic, always remember how much of a difference the environment can make. And be the sun for others.

RIP

"Words are events, they do things, change things. They transform both speaker and hearer; they feed energy back and forth and amplify it. They feed understanding or emotion back and forth and amplify it."

-Ursula Le Guin, Telling is Listening

I finished rereading her Left Hand of Darkness last November. I'm currently reading Wave in the Mind. Her writing resonates.

I just heard the news of her passing this evening. Rest in peace.

Diverse Speculative fiction thread

Via Twitter, a call to highlight speculative fiction by People of Color. Sharing here for others to see and so I can easily find again.

Via @silviamg