Gentle Resolutions + an anthology project, books & essays, and sff industry news
Gentle ways to make new year's plans; mapping your writing life; my new anthology project; discount books; octavia butler; book haul; ai and goodreads being problems; sff book news; sparkling blue tea
A quick note: Writing and curating this newsletter is a labor of love and its core elements are: 1) keeping the main content of this newsletter free and accessible, 2) writing and posting about the things that interest me (books! marketing! speculative fiction! tea!) and 3) doing so in a form you also find interesting and accessible. So, long time subscribers might notice some changes in 2024 as I focus on these elements. Something you want to see or something you miss? Send me a pitch or drop your ideas in the comments. Thanks, as always, for your support! ~A
Greetings readers & writers!
Are you coming out of the winter holiday chaos or hibernation, blinking into the light of January and having everyone ask you about your plans for the year? Or is that just me?
I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions. In the past, I’ve found them to just be another reason to feel bad for not living up to my own (impossibly, self-imposed) high standards. But I did take some time this month to map out my time, to see where I’ve been putting my energies. That, plus some recent social media posts, have given me some perspective:
1.
I’ve seen multiple posts from different corners of my life about making fun, low-stakes resolutions. Meaning, set an easy-to-achieve goal for something you want to do, not something you feel you have to do. One friend said she’s going to buy herself one item of sparkly clothing. Another, that she wants to get back into using fun nail polish. I always thought resolutions were there to Make You A Better Person. But they can also just be a thing you like? With no self-improvement requirements except your own pleasure? Mind. Blown.
So, I have decided that this year I will be a silly book sock person. Thanks to generous gifters, I now own two pairs, and while I don’t often think to wear them, I now shall. And I shall try to acquire at least one new pair and wear them proudly.
2.
A writing colleague of mine, Erin Dionne, chooses a word each January as a guide or focus for what she wants her year to look like. I know others do this as well. It’s not something I do regularly, but while casually thinking about what would my word be if I chose one for myself? I actually thought of one: complete.
I want to complete projects — finish the short stories I’ve started/drafted and finish a novel first draft. And I want to use that idea of completion to help me evaluate projects I take on. If someone asks me to do something and I say yes, I want to see it through. Can I complete a project, to my satisfaction, in the time I’ve allotted? Or is it best to say no?
Complete also indicates acceptance. I want to get comfortable with feeling complete in the choices I’ve made and the ones I make. That a journey coming to it’s completion can be a thing of wholeness, rather than failure.
One of the first career-related things I did this year was break up with my agent of almost five years. I know, you’re thinking: way to bury the lede, Allison, but it was a long time coming, and distinctly anti-climactic. I was holding a torch for a project and a professional relationship that didn’t exist in the same way any more, because it felt good to say I had an agent. But I came to realize I needed to acknowledge that chapter of my career was ‘complete’ before I could enter into the next one.
~
So while the snow begins to pile up outside and I curl around a hot (or fizzy) cup of tea, those are my gentle plans for the year: embrace cozy, silly footwear; finish some of the writing projects I started in 2023; and accept myself as a whole, complete person while doing so. And of course, to keep showing up here, in your inbox, with words and wonders for your enjoyment.
What fun, low-stakes resolution might you make this year? Is there a word that encapsulates your vision for 2024?
Mapping Out Your Writing Life + Marketing Goals, Literary Journals, & Book Banning
Speaking of the New Year…
You are hearing it here first! No, literally, y’all are some the first to know about this anthology, New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, that I’m publishing with a number of my writing buddies from Viable Paradise. I’ve been working intensively on the production/marketing team and it has been a brilliant education in self-publishing and Kickstarting books. I can’t wait to share my lessons (and my story) with you all. We’re just a few final-approvals away from launching, so stay tuned!
(Ps. Viable Paradise is now open to applications for 2024! Go go go!)
Writing/Marketing Resources
Attention Strega Nona fans, there is a Tomie dePaola Forever Stamp currently available!
I was gripped by this thoughtful profile of Octavia Butler {The Atlantic — free link} by Harvard History professor and author Tiya Miles on how Butler’s unique “histofuturist” approach made her writing so prescient.
I’m listening to Monstrous Regiment right now, so I do not joke when I say run, do not walk, over to Humble Bundle where you can get ebooks of up to 38 of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books for $18 (or less!) It’s sliding scale and part of the proceeds also goes to Room to Read which focuses on literacy and girls education around the world. Not sure where to start? The Discworld Emporium has you covered!
Author Sarah Gailey has compiled all of their Personal Canon Cookbook essays in one handy post, for free. If you’re looking for a masterclass in personal and food writing, just peruse these gorgeous stories and recipes (yes, mine’s in there too!) If you want to support their newsletter, you can pay to join the Supper Club and get access to the beautifully-formatted ebook as well.
Reading Corner
Here are some of the books I accrued during the holidays, my typical blend of food and spec fic. You may recognize some names!
What books rounded out the year for you? Drop your recs in the comments!
Industry News
How the EU’s New AI Act Could Impact Writers and Creators {The Author’s Guild}
Another review-bombing debacle on Goodreads; debut author Cait Corrain created fake accounts to leave 1-star reviews on fellow authors’ books while upvoting her own. {Forbes}
Really interesting look at the greatest SFF novels of 2023, as defined by the number of award nominations. {Medium}
The mash-up I didn’t know I needed: Publisher Del Rey signs sci-fi 'literary blockbuster' from Keanu Reeves and China Miéville {The Bookseller}
Award-winning SFF author Terry Bisson passed away at the age of 81 {Locus Online}. Take a compelling look at his legacy: “Terry Bisson’s History of the Future” {The New Yorker}.
Tea
I received my recent order of Organic Blue Ginger Detox Tea from David’s Tea, it included instructions for “tea pop” or sparkling tea. After sipping this floral, gingery tisane hot, I knew I wanted to try it with some fizz. So even though it’s snowing outside, in here we’re feeling fancy. Try this gorgeous blue tea with your favorite sweetener (for me? a generous glug of Gumption Elixir’s “Chill Aid” chamomile syrup) and seltzer, over ice for a gentle, effervescent, ginger ale vibe.
Start a new story or read a new book. Cook something for yourself or support those cooking for others. May a new project entice you this season, that you do just for you.
~Allison
Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky
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