writing | BulgingButtons

May 28, 2017
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Phoenix Comicon 2017

This photo was taken just before the vendor hall was opened on Saturday morning. Nobody was pushing. Nobody was fighting. Nobody was angry, mean, or aggressive. In spite of some idiot bringing actual weapons to the event on the first day, and lots of increased security as a result, people still attended and had a great time.

Yes, the atmosphere was more subdued than in past years. I attribute that to many people waiting in long (oh, so long) lines in the heat just to get in. We arrived early and for us it took less than thirty minutes, but a friend told me she waited two and a half hours in temperatures over 100 degrees. Yikes!

This event has grown into a colossal affair, and I’m not sure the organizers have the management quite figured out yet. Still, it’s a family atmosphere, and a place where anyone and everyone is welcome to let their freak flag fly. In spite of the difficulties associated with attending Comicon, I still think it’s worth it. Oh, and by the way, I only go for the writing workshops and panels, of which there are plenty.

February 25, 2017
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All About the Story

Imagine you’re 15 and your undocumented immigrant mother has told you that the family is running away, again. You shove everything into a trash bag, and help your little sister do the same. At 3 am you arrive at the Sonoran Court Apartments, your new home. Your neighbor is a shadowy Sudanese immigrant. His ties with the supernatural world are terrifying, and he’s trying to convince you that you’re in danger. This is Daisy’s life.

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ca9f9d3cfbc6b803d582b2b79d50cb19_typingpal-computer-computer-typing-clipart_200-262.jpeg I’m sitting in a workshop with Janet Reid, aka The Query Shark. I just have to say, she’s hilarious. This crowd doesn’t seem to completely realize this, but she is.
I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I’m learning. And I’m glad that the main message, over and over, is, “it’s all about the story.”

So what that means, in short, is I have to get back to the story. Grrr. No, really, I love the story. I do. I just have to finish my revisions. You know, making the story better. The plot chasm I’ve been fretting over has a solution that I’ve been working on, so there’s that.

So now it’s time to get back to it. After the workshop, of course. I can do this, I know I can. Daisy needs me.

February 1, 2017
by BulgingButtons 9 Comments

Welcome to the Tiniest Month Challenge

February is so short it seems like it begins and ends in a flash.

What better month for a challenge, then?

So here’s my challenge to myself, and by extension to all of you:

Pick something and stick with it. Every. Day.

At least for this tiny month of February.

Some ideas that have rattled around my brain:

hit my Fitbit steps goal everyday
take time to read for pleasure
eat vegetables
mindfully give a compliment
write
avoid social media
stay out of Starbucks
call Mom

We all have things that we “should” do that we neglect. Since this is such a short month why not pick one and stick to it? It’s only 28 days, after all.

In an ideal world I would do ALL of the things on my above list everyday, but I don’t. I’m going to pick ONE and stick with it, but what to pick?

I see my ideas in roughly 3 categories: mental health, physical health, and social connectedness (which, really, is a part of staying mentally healthy I suppose). For me, physical health is the most urgent of those needs at the moment. To that end I choose the first goal: to reach my steps goal each day.

I would love to have company on my tiniest month challenge. If you’re interested please comment with your tiny month goal, and don’t worry if the month has already begun, you can start anytime you want!