NOVEMBER IS THE BUSIEST MONTH
Oct. 27th, 2014 05:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrockwellWriting
Once again, the blog's been quiet, but that doesn't mean I haven't been writing. I haven't been writing fast, granted, because I managed to tweak my back somehow and sitting at the computer has become my own personal gom jabbar, but I have been writing.
Writing partner extraordinaire Jeff Mariotte and I turned in a short story for one anthology, and are finishing up a longer story for another. In addition, we're going to be part of a boxed set with Gini Koch, Jordan Summers, Caris Roane, Vivi Anna, and Sasha White. Sensational Six: Action and Adventure in Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance comes out November 17th, and it's going to be awesome! Also releasing on Nov 17th is Out of Tune, which contains our story, "John Barleycorn Must Die."
In addition to those releases, November is also the month for World Fantasy Convention (the 6th-9th, in Washington D.C.), and Jeff and I will be there with copies of Neverland's Library (and maybe some other stuff). We'll also be doing The Late, Late Panel on Friday:
Everything Else
October isn't just about pumpkin spice everything and pink ribbons - it's also Depression Awareness Month. Like many people, I've suffered from depression off and on for most of my life, but have rarely sought treatment for it. Part of that is the "suck it up" attitude I was raised with, and part of that is the associated stigma (and part of it is the difficulty in even being able to find help when you have to jump through so many insurance hoops, but that's a whole other blog post).
One of the goals of Depression Awareness is to lessen/remove that stigma. To let people know that there's a difference between being sad and being depressed - a difference that's not "just in your head" (unless, of course, you're referring to brain chemistry). It's an actual medical condition, and something there should be no more shame in seeking treatment for than there would if you went to the doctor to get a broken limb set.
It's about getting this message out - depression is not a defect of character or will. If you're suffering from depression, help is available, and anyone who thinks anything less of you for seeking it is an uneducated asshat. Don't let their faulty perceptions keep you from reaching out toward a better future. You deserve to be happy. And, most of all - you are not alone.
(Many thanks to the friends who've reminded me of those same things when I needed to hear it the most. I <3 you.)
#SFWApro
Once again, the blog's been quiet, but that doesn't mean I haven't been writing. I haven't been writing fast, granted, because I managed to tweak my back somehow and sitting at the computer has become my own personal gom jabbar, but I have been writing.
Writing partner extraordinaire Jeff Mariotte and I turned in a short story for one anthology, and are finishing up a longer story for another. In addition, we're going to be part of a boxed set with Gini Koch, Jordan Summers, Caris Roane, Vivi Anna, and Sasha White. Sensational Six: Action and Adventure in Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance comes out November 17th, and it's going to be awesome! Also releasing on Nov 17th is Out of Tune, which contains our story, "John Barleycorn Must Die."
In addition to those releases, November is also the month for World Fantasy Convention (the 6th-9th, in Washington D.C.), and Jeff and I will be there with copies of Neverland's Library (and maybe some other stuff). We'll also be doing The Late, Late Panel on Friday:
How Graphic is Your Novel?So, you know - be there!
Time: 11 p.m. - 12 a.m., Friday, Regency E
Panelists: Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell (M), James Chambers, Daryl Gregory, Jeff Mariotte, Angela Slatter
Description: Popular literature tends to be much more graphic than it was a few decades ago, and yet many of the older books are still worth reading. What does graphic sex or violence add to a story? Would the George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones be the same without the blood wedding scene? Is there a danger of the sensational value of the graphic events replacing good plotting and storytelling? Are there matters so horrible they should not be written about, or are there no limits? Which books handle their graphic scenes well, and which ones cross the line and fail to be entertaining will be the focus of the discussion.
Everything Else
October isn't just about pumpkin spice everything and pink ribbons - it's also Depression Awareness Month. Like many people, I've suffered from depression off and on for most of my life, but have rarely sought treatment for it. Part of that is the "suck it up" attitude I was raised with, and part of that is the associated stigma (and part of it is the difficulty in even being able to find help when you have to jump through so many insurance hoops, but that's a whole other blog post).
One of the goals of Depression Awareness is to lessen/remove that stigma. To let people know that there's a difference between being sad and being depressed - a difference that's not "just in your head" (unless, of course, you're referring to brain chemistry). It's an actual medical condition, and something there should be no more shame in seeking treatment for than there would if you went to the doctor to get a broken limb set.
It's about getting this message out - depression is not a defect of character or will. If you're suffering from depression, help is available, and anyone who thinks anything less of you for seeking it is an uneducated asshat. Don't let their faulty perceptions keep you from reaching out toward a better future. You deserve to be happy. And, most of all - you are not alone.
(Many thanks to the friends who've reminded me of those same things when I needed to hear it the most. I <3 you.)
#SFWApro
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no subject
Date: 2014-10-27 02:37 pm (UTC)And WFC should be fun!
no subject
Date: 2014-10-27 03:27 pm (UTC);-)
Date: 2014-10-27 03:26 pm (UTC)I'm so glad that you and Jeff are coming out for WFC--I'm almost literally bouncing in my seat with excitement! ;-)
Re: ;-)
Date: 2014-10-27 03:28 pm (UTC)Re: ;-)
Date: 2014-10-27 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-27 11:07 pm (UTC)(((Hugs)))
Jordan
no subject
Date: 2014-10-27 11:11 pm (UTC)