Ten For Tuesday – Best of 2023
1) New York Trip
Hands down the best thing out of the year. I got to explore NYC for over a week. I got to dance Lindy Hop in the Big Apple. My mother and I bonded. We took a side trip to Massachusetts where I got to see her college and I spent a couple of days in Salem. Even having some terrible stomach thing that kept me from eating more awesome food, this was one of the best experiences of my life.
2) The R25 Arts Complex
This has become a kind of creative home away from home. I started attending poetry open mics on Mondays at the Sacramento Poetry Center and discovered a couple of new theaters for performing my storytelling. I performed Bard for Life 4 or 5 times last year in the Wilkerson Theater. In 2024, I’m moving over to the 3 Penny Theater in the same complex for no less than 8 performances.
3) Davis Poetry Series with Dr Andy
I tried this on a whim, and now I’m a regular. Dr. Andy runs a solid poetry event every 1st and 3rd Thursday at the Davis Arts Center. During the summer, they moved up on the roof, and those evenings were glorious. Dr. Andy has also had me as a guest on his weekly radio show, Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour.
4) Books Finished
This year, I published 150 Days After the End of a Universe. Earlier this year, I finally finished, The Kingdom’s Wild. On Christmas Eve, I finished Children in Trees. You can read the very first draft of Kingdom’s Wild by supporting my Patreon page. I’ll post Children in Trees to Patreon on New Year’s Eve.
5) The Wondering Project
Speaking of books finished… It’s technically not done because it’s getting one page a day, but we’re close. Every day in 2023, I’ve written down my thoughts about writing in a journal and posted them to Patreon. Doing that has fundamentally changed how I think about writing. It’s changed how I approach my teaching. It has reignited my passion and love for storytelling. That will be available on New Year’s Day.
6) Disneyland
Toward the end of summer, my mother took the Warrior Princess and I to Disneyland. It was just magical. If we’re hanging out somewhere, ask me to tell you about the Warrior Princess calling out Sleeping Beauty.
7) Writing Process Changes
This year, I fully embraced my new writing process. Most every rough draft I do now, I write by hand. Most projects have a specific journal. I have these crazy, multi-colored gel pens that I love to write with. I’m back to being productive again. Writing makes me happy again. Once I write the rough draft, I dictate it into my computer, which is also fun because I get to hear the words bouncing against each other immediately. This lets me do a soft line edit as I go. I’m engaging in each rough draft on multiple levels.
8) Trivia Nights
A couple of friends and I do a fun trivia night on Wednesdays. (We need a sports guru is anyone in Nor Cal wants to join us.) One of the best things doesn’t have anything to do with the trivia bit. I started writing silly little limericks for the host and one of the other teams we get along with. Last week, they wrote a limerick for me. That was hella cool. I just really like the vibe all around.
9) Mental Health Victories
I had some pretty solid blows this year, some of which would have seriously sidelined everything for long chunks of time while I recovered. This year, I’ve been bouncing back faster and faster. I’ve also learned to give myself a little grace period where I can feel the rough feels and knowing when it’s time to get back to the business of living.
10) The Gallowglas Army
Yeah, it’s a little cheesy… but… Y’all are amazing. I couldn’t be doing this crazy writing and storytelling gig-career thing without you. Thanks for being along for the ride and supporting me. If you’re not already hanging out on Patreon or Discord, you should join us.
