Zelena Hope

  Today has been a very strange day. This morning, Buckingham Palace  announced  the passing of Prince Philip.    It’s weird, speaking from a British perspective. I’ve grown up hearing about Philip, how important he is to the Queen. I, like every British child, was offered a chance to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (I remember starting at Bronze, and then quitting, because... well, I am not an outdoors person. I am a hermit, thank you very much.)  The royals are very much front and centre of British life, of British culture. My grandfather liked Prince Philip. It’s weird now, that I’m writing this in a world without him.    It’s feels almost personal. The country is  losing  a grandfather figure.    I’m incredibly lucky. My  matinal  grandfather lived to be 91. My  partial  grandfather is also now, 91 and healthy!    An entire generation is fading before our eyes. We’re losing th...

 Another week has gone by, so it's time for our second reading catch up! Let's go! Audiobooks:    You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins  I love this book. So many craft books are about writing faster and quicker and how to be better. This one is refreshing in the way that it doesn't do any of that. Instead, Jeff wants you to believe that hey, you're a writer. That's it. You are a writer, believe in yourself and other's will belive in you too.  Hamilton: The Revolution by Jeremy McCarter and Lin-Manuel Miranda  Another week, another Lin-Manuel Miranda book. I know, and yes, it's going to be a thing. As a fan of the musical Hamilton, this behind the scenes look at how the show came together is fascinating. If you're a fan of the show, you're going to love this book. Lin explains his notes for nearly every song!  Books: A Really Basic Introductionn to English Law and the English Legal System by Michael Lambarth While I'm not a la...

 But actual progress? Yeah, that hasn’t been happening. This week has been a slog. I feel like I’ve been wading through chest high quicksand, trying to find my footing, trying to reach a safety. So, now that it’s friday, what have I actually done? Well, I’ve written half a short story for what might become a short story collection, I started (and now scrapped) a new idea that was really cute for a while, but I just can’t get behind it. I’ve made it to a thousand words, I and I’m not enjoying writing it. And if I can’t find enjoyment in it, what hope does any future reader have? I wrote a couple hundred words for old fanfic. It’s so close to being finished, I’ve just been putting it off because I hate endings. I’m really going to miss the original character I created for that story. He has to die, no question, and I always planned for him to die. I just, don’t want to write the death scene. At the start of the week I worked some more on Trial (and upcoming project that I am excited ...

For most of last month, I focused on a single story. Hoping I suppose, to avoid the dreaded falling out of love with the story. Which has happened before. I’ve started stories, and then stopped. They’re good, I like them. I don’t love them. Sometimes I stop because I’m worried about how the story will be perceived once it’s out in the world. Sure, I like it. My beta readers might like it, hell an editor might like it - but will the public? What about Twitter, what about cancel culture? What if I’ve got something wrong and someone, somewhere finds it offensive? When so much of the conversation is dominated by the American narrative, it can be scary to raise your head above the parapet and say, “that’s not my perspective, nor my experience.”  More often that not, when people do write their own experience, Americans shout them down. “Own Voices,” has become a double edged sword. Social media would like you to write in your own voice, from your own experiences, but only if it stays in ...

In aide of using my social media platforms more, I thought I'd start a fun weekly catch up of everything I've been listening to over the last seven days! Ready? Then we'll begin.  Audiobooks: GMorning, GNight by Lin-Manuel Miranda  This is easily one of my favorite books to listen to while I'm falling asleep. It's uplifting and inspiring messages really make me smile and feel like I can do anything! Having something so positive in the time of covid and what feels like a never ending third lockdown has been a real mood booster. Thank you for putting such joyous positivity into the world! (Also, I mean, it's Lin-Manuel Miranda, you really can't go wrong with anything he makes.) Astrophysics For People In A Hurry by Niel Degrasse Tyson I was never a science fan in school. An endless parade of boring teachers reciting a bunch of facts while standing motionless in front of the classroom? No thanks. I'll pass. Free from school, science is a subject that has ap...

 It's been a minute, huh? I'm attempting to be better at the social media game and update my blog much more regularly than I have been doing.  So, since we last spoke, Not So Grimm: New Takes on Old Tales was released and I am so proud of the work I did for that anthology. Shout out, too, to the cover artist (and fellow writer) Arlo  Blackwood , who did a fantastic job on the cover. I mean just look at it! It's the bomb!  Listen, cover artists and artists in general do not get nearly enough respect. I adore Arlo' s work and honestly, I'm still saving up so I can ask hire her to do some OG art for me. (Pay your artists!!! If you like someone's work, pay for it. It's not a hard. Art isn't easy, and materials don't pay for themselves. I feel like this shouldn't have to be explained, but you know there are choosing ass beggers out there who step up to artists like 'hey, I love your art, it's amazing, could I like, have a detailed character dr...