C.M. Black

I first encountered it when I was working as a library assistant. It was translated into a children's picture book. I found what was translated so compelling that I've wanted to learn more.

Cheers!

Thank you so very much!

I am too, vicariously! I would not be able to go (US here) but my eye is certainly twitching that I can't. :)

Thank you for sharing. Ubuntu is still on my list of philosophies to study, so it's nice to see it noted here.

That sounds amazing! I hope you have a splendid turnout!

Oh I had no idea! I might put that on my list. I love weird and rare books, and though I'd probably not have enough to purchase anything I'd want, just being around them would be enough.

A poem in white text on a black background, decorated with a vintage ghost and haunted house graphic: I Fear Poetry The way others fear ghosts I search for Sylvia Plath's Haunted House (looking for that empty oven) And I shiver The vibrato and the pain Beautiful words On A Page It's a wordier murder Poe's beating heart Oh wait...That wasn't a poem.

An older poem. I used to write a lot of poetry but fell out of the habit because of bad times. #poetry #writing

There is no instance in which condescension is necessary.

If someone acts condescending toward you, consider this a mental health issue on their part, and nothing to do with you.

You can correct someone without being condescending. Wrongness does not mean you get to treat them as less than human.

It seemed to pointless after that, in grad school a few years back. I am glad I didn't listen to him.

And thank you very much for your kind words. Fuck them all!!!!!!

I sincerely appreciate that. It's weird that writing has been tied up in my identity since I was a kid, but I never pursued it professionally until fairly recently.

I took a class about publishing under a NYT author, who chose to use the entire class to tell us how we were failures.

She started out as a researcher of Victoriana, if I remember correctly, and had pieces published in some respectable places. Romance isn't my genre, but I like her novels because the detail is exquisite and accurate.

Throw in 20th century undergarments and I just throw the book across the room.

At 40, I've written eccentric content for a philosophy t-shirt company for over a year, have been published in an academic journal, two anthologies, and have started submitting to conferences and anthologies outside of my comfort zone.

Am I terrified? Yes. But I know that there is no time limit.

I practically begged to write, for free, for little pay, etc., etc. I was told by people I respected that I would get nothing from writing professionally, that I am nothing.

It's a sad world that relies on demeaning others to show how great a writer you are. Is that greatness or bullying?

It is odd coming into professional #writing at the age of 40. I've secretly practiced writing and academically studied it for years. I let so many fears hold me back from submitting pieces. The voices of others telling me it would be pointless, that I will never be good enough. My own anxieties.

Oh my gosh, me too. I can't tell you how many times I was on the verge of tears and went into a bookstore to "fix" it. I'd love to have my own bookstore one day. That would be the coolest thing.

But books are more than just reading. They are liiiiiiiifeeeee!

As someone who struggles with bipolar stress spending, the library is a way to feed that same urge, but not have to worry about consequences, unless you end up turning them in late. And you can also access books outside of your price range. I feel it's a win win for adjacent stuff.

Oh my gosh, I feel that because I totally went through that phase. I will always try to buy books when I meet authors, though. I love me a signed book!

I like the library because you can "book binge" and not feel bad at all, because they won't stay and you won't pay.

In addition, those who will appreciate your genre best will appreciate that you did do the research. There is a historical romance novel writer who literally wrote articles on 19th century garments, beauty practices, etc. Your audience will care and know. No matter what the genre.

In addition, I don't let that stop me from trying new things. I borrow books from the library so I can read them without fear of having spent too much money (unless I get fines!). And books that I don't need after reading I just sell in my Pango store.

I'm a book fiend, but had to downsize.

Personally, I try to keep what I will return to and what displays well. I purchase books I will use as reference for things I write about (philosophy, goth, etc.). If they have an aesthetic quality, even better.

I had the gothiest of weekends. Atlanta is apparently known for having a pretty darned decent goth scene. (Who knew?) Danced to music I appreciate on Friday and then volunteered at the Days of the Dead con today. I peopled far too much for my own good. I will retreat to my coffin.

It really does. Famously, Anne Lamott says you have to sit with your inner demons a while before getting into the depths of writing. I chew on what I am going to write sometimes for days before I actually set my fingers to the keys.

If I am not careful, I spend half the time I should be #writing feeling the full thrust of my anxiety on social media. I swear, doing unproductive things is an integral part of the process.

When one's understanding of one's identity hinges on this, it can be crippling to know what to do when what you spent your life pursuing dries up.

Still waiting for answers from two grad school applications and one conference paper abstract submission.

It can be so frustrating, because so much of this hits harder, as the intellectual life is an essential part of my identity, and I've struggled so hard for so long to even get where I am.

Oh great! Glad to see they have implemented that. I haven't checked up on it as I haven't used them in a while.

You just don't want to steal someone's intellectual property. I used to like to use Unsplash for evocative photos you could use, but I worry it, too, might get inundated with AI. Taking someone else's art without credit is basically doing what AI does, except you know better, so it's worse.

Yeah, I like to use Wiki Commons, as the images are open sourced, and you can find something very evocative and academic at the same time. I am not sure why I didn't do this at first, but we've spent the last yearish discovering the right formula for these articles, and it's been collaborative.

But I am saddled with more student loans than the cost of a small condo.

Most of us who write for a living will be making a very slender living. Do it because it's what you want, because it's what speaks to you, because it's secondary only to breathing in keeping you alive. Do it for you. #writer

As a person who spent too much of my time observing others, reading books on writing, grabbing a (mostly useless) MA in professional writing, and learning from publishing from a NYT bestselling author, I can tell you none of it is necessary. Did it help me gain confidence? Yes, it surely did.