No Wasted Ink Newsletter & Ramblecast - July 2024
a newsletter and voiceover podcast by Poet Laureate Emerita Wendy Van Camp
Welcome to the monthly No Wasted Ink Newsletter. My name is Wendy Van Camp and I’m Poet Laureate Emerita for the City of Anaheim, California. This newsletter is not affiliated with the city. All views stated here are my own.
RAMBLE
I attended my first Nebula Conference this past June. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. While I am a public speaker and do not fear the microphone or panel appearance, I am still an introvert at heart.
I received many compliments for my moderation of the poetry panel. People said I looked calm and comfortable on the panel. If they only knew…. I had two first time panelists, but I’m an able coach and walked the one nervous panelist through the process. She was fabulous! The rest was simple moderating, which I’ve been doing for years.
Attending parties is still a scary prospect for me. Due to my short size, I often experience people having conversations over my head as if I were a five year old child, or worse, invisible. This did not happen at the Nebula Conference, in fact, people seemed to seek me out for conversation and one writer treated me to lunch! I made an effort to join several dinner meetups and other cocktail gatherings, all proved to be interesting experiences filled with amazing conversations. I’m glad I made an effort to attend in person.
Counterpoint to the conference, I’ve been basically at home working on projects. I have work left over from my Poet Laureate term and the science fiction poetry anthology continues forward at a lumbering pace. I’m busy fulfilling journal invitations, completing magazine essay assignments, and appearing on podcasts. My first recording for KPFK Community Radio “Poets Cafe” is done and submitted to the producer. I wonder if I’ll finally get an IMDb listing for this? I can only wait and see.
Life as a full-time writer and podcaster. Hard work, but a labor of love!
yours in poetry,
Wendy
ESSAY
Words Without Bounds: Crafting Stories Despite Disability
As a somewhat disabled writer and poet, I find the journey of getting words on the page and attending readings for those words to be a challenge. I am able to keep to my chair and type, but sometimes getting to the chair is the obstacle. I’ve learned it is okay to show up with my cane at events and try to not knock over vases when I reflexively use the cane to point directions to people. This acceptance of my disability within myself is hard won. My writing is more than a passion; it’s a lifeline to the world and a way to connect with people. If you find yourself to be disabled, there are things you can do to continue to share your voice in the world.
Give Them Something To Talk About
One writing strategy that’s been incredibly helpful is using speech-to-text software, which enables me to compose without physical strain. This technology is a game-changer, letting my thoughts flow freely without worrying about typing. It helps reduce fatigue and strain, making long writing sessions more manageable. I can capture ideas quickly without losing momentum, which is crucial for maintaining creativity. Although I am able to type and still do, I like to work in dictation to give my hands a rest.
To begin, I ensure my environment is quiet. I use a reliable microphone for clear dictation. The inclusion of punctuation commands is not always necessary today with the new AI dictation systems, but it is a good skill to learn to give you flexibility to use different apps depending on the situation. This process not only improves my productivity but also affords me the opportunity to focus on content rather than mechanics, making writing more fluid and enjoyable.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
When I write, I break my work into smaller, manageable chunks, setting specific goals for each session. It keeps me focused and prevents overwhelm. There are certain steps I take when organizing my work this way. I start by creating a broad outline of the writing project, be it a novel, a short story, or a poem. If a novel, I break it down by chapters. A short story by scenes. My poems by stanzas or even simple phrases. This step provides the structure for the work to come.
Next, I identify specific goals for each writing session. This could be a word count or completing a certain number of scenes in a short story, or grouping a certain number of phrases together to form a poem. It should be a goal I can complete in no more than an hour or two. I like to set a priority of the tasks I want to complete, doing any paid work first and then moving on to my passion projects.
Finally, I set up a tracking system for my work. I am more of an analog writer, so I keep track of my to do list and completion of tasks in a bullet journal. I sketch out charts, keep a daily task list and a weekly one. This helps visualize my achievements and stay motivated.
Easy Like Sunday Morning
When you are disabled, it is important to set up your workspace to make yourself comfortable and to adapt your surroundings to cover for those places you can’t go. Since I have trouble with balance, I have created a series of hand holds in my office that I can lean on at any given moment. It allows me to work at home without the cane at my side. There are other customizations you can do to make your workshop perfect for your personal needs.
Find an ergonomic chair. A chair with lumbar support helps maintain proper posture, reducing back and neck strain during long writing sessions.
Ergonomic keyboards and mice are designed to minimize wrist strain and repetitive motion injuries. They often have a more natural hand position. I always use a wrist rest with my mouse, although I find since I alternate between typing and dictation, I don’t need a keyboard rest as much.
Purchase a dynamic microphone with a directional pickup pattern. This can be used in everything from Zoom calls, podcasting, and clean dictation.
Position your monitor at eye level. It helps reduce neck strain. A monitor arm can make it easier to adjust height and distance based on comfort. A monitor can be reset to make the font larger and easier to see if your sight needs that extra push.
The addition of a footrest can improve posture and reduce lower back pressure, providing additional support for the legs and feet during extended periods of sitting. I have opted for a foot massager with heat as my own foot rest.
Being disabled does not mean you have no voice in the world. In today’s modern technology, there are many ways to support your writing and put your voice out into the world. Develop a workspace that augments your workflow and empowers where your disability may slow you down. Your words and story are important. Be that writer or poet that uplifts, inspires, and creates lasting change.
SCIFAIKU
betrayed by the pen responsibility blooms shining in the night
As a poet, there are times when the poems tumble from your fingers. It is as if the pen betrays you and writes of its own accord. This literary poem speaks of the responsibility we sometimes feel as poets, to speak about what we see. The poem is by Wendy Van Camp and was originally published in “Anaheim Poetry Review #2.”
UPCOMING APPEARANCES
ReaderCon
Marriott Boston Quincy
Quincy, Mass.
While I have appeared as a panelist and presenter at ReaderCon in the past, it had always been virtually. This is a conference modeled on science fiction conventions, but is more focused on the written word. They are supporters of novelists, writers of short fiction, and poets. This year, I will be attending the literary conference in person. Registration is required to attend.
Please see details at: https://readercon.org
Panels:
AI: The Good Parts Version
Salon 3 Friday, July 12, 2024, 11:00 AM EDT
Fanfic Writers Going Pro: the Most Recent Generation
Salon 3 Friday, July 12, 2024, 3:00 PM EDT
The Expanding Universe of Speculative Poetry
Salon A Saturday, July 13, 2024, 3:00 PM EDT
Bound to Please: a Book Makers Meet-up
Blue Hills Saturday, July 13, 2024, 1:00 PM EDT
Solo Events:
Kaffeeklatsch: Wendy Van Camp
Basalt Saturday, July 13, 2024, 10:00 AM EDT
Solo Reading: Wendy Van Camp
Salon C Saturday, July 13, 2024, 11:00 AM EDT
Autograph Session: Wendy Van Camp
Salon 6 Saturday, July 13, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT
San Diego Poetry Annual Reading
La Jolla Riford Library
La Jolla, CA
July 21, 2024 at 2pm
I join the other published poets from the San Diego Poetry Annual in a reading hosted by editor Seretta Martin. My poem “I Am The Moonface” was published in the 2024 edition of this anthology series.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The Space Cadet Science Fiction Review, Summer 2024 (issue #2)
https://starshipsloane.com/the-space-cadet-science-fiction-review-2/6/
“Book Review by Wendy Van Camp” features a review of the science fiction classic “Starship Troopers” by Robert A. Heinlein. It is free to read online.
The editor of the journal is a huge fan of Heinlein’s work and invites me to write reviews of this author’s books. This is the third one I’ve done for Starship Sloane Publications and undoubtedly I’ll end up doing a few more. Heinlein was one of my early writing inspirations and I’m glad to highlight his work, although it has suffered from some dating over the years.
Writing Coach Services Open!
I’m pleased to announce I have opened my consultation service at Indigoskye Press. I offer single hour coaching via google meet or in the lobby of my Second Life Store via avatar, your choice. I can help you navigate through the complex process of organizing a poetry chapbook, to either publish Indie or to prepare to entice a small press to pick up your book. I can explain how to Indie Publish your novel. I can also help on board potential science fiction authors and poets into the convention scene.
Please visit my shop via the link at the top of my portfolio website or go there direct: https://indigoskye.com
LINKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Portfolio - http://wendyvancamp.com
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/author/wendyvancamp
Medium - https://medium.com/@wvancamp
Indigoskye Press - https://indigoskye.com
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/wvancamp
Instagram - https://instagram.com/nowastedink
Mastodon - https://me.dm/@wvancamp
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/indigoskye.bsky.social
BOOKS
The Planets: a scifaiku poetry collection - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z8HMPF2
The Curate’s Brother: A Jane Austen Variation of Persuasion - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OU1V45A
ANTHOLOGIES
Eccentric Orbits: An Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry
Volumes 1 - 4
Editor
Available for purchase: https://dimensionfold.com
Anaheim Poetry Review 2023
Volumes 1 - 2
Editor
Free to Read: https://anaheimpoetry.com
Eye To The Telescope: Quests #46 - Fall 2022
Guest Editor
Free to Read: https://eyetothetelescope.com/archives/046issue.html
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