No Wasted Ink Newsletter & Ramblecast - April 2024
a newsletter and voiceover podcast by Poet Laureate Wendy Van Camp
Welcome to the monthly No Wasted Ink Newsletter and Ramblecast. My name is Wendy Van Camp and I’m the Poet Laureate for the City of Anaheim, California. This newsletter is not affiliated with the city. All views stated here are my own.
RAMBLE
One of the conversations I often have with fellow poets laureate is how we feel at the end of our term. There is a sense of loss as we let go of the reins in our community to make way for our successor. Part of the joy of being a poet laureate is that connection we build with our locals as we mentor new poets, design events, and offer opportunities for our fellow writers. Yet, it is important to allow the next one in line to take their ideas forward and shape their term as they see fit. I have told others that once their term ends, you don’t really stop being a poet laureate, you simply transition into Emeritus/Emerita status. All those skills you learned during term can still be applied elsewhere.
April is my last month as poet laureate for the City of Anaheim. I intend to go out with a bang. I will teach one last free workshop, publish another community anthology of poetry, host a launch party for the book, and create a podcast of the reading. It should all be great fun and I look forward to the events.
Then, it will be time to let go.
Many opportunities have been finding me that will reshape my life. I have joined the poetry committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association to develop a Nebula Award for poetry. My writing coach business is about to launch via “Indigoskye Press”. I will have an active speaking schedule throughout the year at conferences, conventions, and festivals. If all goes well, I hope to finish a new book by the end of this year. And of course, you will still see me at the local open-mics from time to time as my schedule permits.
It should be an exciting year and I am happy you are here to share it with me.
yours in poetry,
Wendy
ESSAY
Overcoming Writer's Block: Strategies for Getting Unstuck
Writer's block is when you want to write but feel stuck, unable to put your thoughts into words. It's like hitting a mental roadblock that stops your ideas from flowing onto the page. You might feel anxious, or unsure of what to write next. Writer's block can happen for many reasons, like feeling overwhelmed or lacking inspiration. It's a common challenge for writers of all ages. With patience and practice, you can find strategies to overcome it and keep your creativity flowing.
Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is a common obstacle that writers face, especially when they put pressure on themselves to produce perfect work. This fear can manifest in various ways.
Self-Doubt: Writers may doubt their abilities and worry that their writing isn't good enough. This leads to anxiety and hesitation.
Comparison: Writers often compare their work to others. They fear they won't measure up to the standards set by their peers or favorite authors.
Criticism: Writers may fear criticism or rejection from readers, editors, or teachers. This can hinder their willingness to take risks and explore new ideas.
The fear of failure can paralyze writers, making it difficult for them to even start writing or to continue once they've begun. It creates a mental barrier preventing them from expressing themselves and exploring their creativity.
Perfectionism in Writing
Perfectionism refers to the relentless pursuit of being flawless and having unrealistic expectations. These writers set high standards for themselves. They expect every word, sentence, and paragraph to be impeccable. While striving for excellence is good, it can also be detrimental.
Stifles Creativity: Perfectionism can lead to over thinking and self censorship. It prevents writers from taking risks or experimenting with new ideas.
Procrastination: The fear of producing imperfect work can cause writers to avoid writing altogether. It can lead to missed deadlines and unrealized potential.
Diminish Satisfaction: Perfectionists are rarely happy with their work. They seek flaws and areas for improvement even in successful pieces. This perpetual exasperation can rob writers of the fulfillment that comes from creative expression.
While striving for excellence is important, writers need to recognize the negative impact of going too far. Learn to embrace imperfection as a natural part of the creative process.
Lack of Inspiration
Lack of inspiration refers to the absence of creative ideas, enthusiasm, or motivation to write. Writers often rely on inspiration to fuel their creativity and generate engaging content. But, there are times when inspiration seems elusive, leaving writers feeling stuck and unable to make progress.
Creativity Block: When writers experience a lack of inspiration, they struggle to come up with fresh ideas. Their minds feel devoid of the imaginative spark needed to craft narratives.
Emotional Disconnect: Writers may feel disconnected from their writing. They cannot connect with the emotions or themes they want to explore. This detachment can make it difficult to create a work with authenticity and depth.
External Influences: Fueled by factors such as stress or fatigue, a writer's lack of inspiration can form. Writers may find it hard to focus on their work when they're dealing with personal or professional pressures.
Routine and Burnout: Writers who adhere to strict routines may experience a decline in inspiration. Monotonous tasks, repetitive writing, or excessive workload can drain a writer’s creativity. Burnout can be a major barrier to effective writing. It hinders a writer's ability to produce quality work and meet their creative goals.
Writer's block requires awareness to tackle the underlying fears, perfectionism, and creative challenges of writing. Strive to create a supportive writing environment. Practice self-awareness. Put in place strategies to overcome fear, perfectionism, and lack of inspiration. Through this, you can navigate through writer's block and continue to pursue your passion for writing.
SCIFAIKU
“Sojourner”
lonely sojourner battles martian god finger photovoltaic death
This scifaiku poem first published in "Far Horizons" a science fiction literary magazine. It is part of a sequence of poems about powering human habitats on Mars. Poem is by Wendy Van Camp.
UPCOMING APPEARANCES
April 4th - Anaheim Central Open-Mic (reader) @ 5pm
Anaheim Central Library - Anaheim, CA
I will attend the Anaheim Central Open-Mic in support of the event. I will read as part of the audience and make announcements about my last free workshop as poet laureate and about Anaheim Poetry Review.
April 6th - BookFest @ 3pm
(Virtual Writers Conference)
https://www.thebookfest.com/
I am appearing on “Author Hours”, a series of talks with local authors and poets. Program will begin at 3pm on Saturday. BookFest is a virtual event featuring top name authors and writing coaches.
I appear on the program around 4:40pm PT
Wendy Van Camp, a poet laureate specializing in astropoetry and science-fiction haiku (Scifaiku), will read from her poetry collection, “The Planets,” and discuss the active, international community of speculative poets
April 8th - San Diego Poetry Annual Book Launch
Point Loma Library - San Diego, CA
SDPA Book Launch and Celebration featuring 2024 SDPA authors, community readers, and community leaders. Email sdpoetryannual@gmail.com to sign up to join the reading or sign up in the library on the evening of the event.
April 10th - Chapbook Craft: Your Words, Your Way @ 5:30pm
Anaheim Central Library - Anaheim, CA
Unleash your poetic vision! Join Poet Laureate Wendy Van Camp in an empowering workshop on crafting and publishing your own indie chapbook. Navigate the art of self-expression, from selecting verses to formatting. Elevate your words from manuscript to a tangible, personalized collection. Your poetry, your rules—let’s bring your vision to life. This is a free workshop. Please bring a notebook to take notes.
April 13th - San Diego Poetry Annual Open Reading @ 3:30pm
Mission Hills - Hillcrest/Knox Branch Library - San Diego, CA
SDPA authors and community open reading with hosts Charlie Berrigan, Adam Greenfield, and Michael Klam.
April 16th - Proclamation for National Poetry Month @ 5pm
Anaheim City Council Chambers - Anaheim, CA
I will appear before the Anaheim City Council and accept the Proclamation for National Poetry Month. I will give a brief report on the work I’ve done as their poet laureate and read a short poem to the council.
April 24th - Anaheim Poetry Review Launch Party @ 5pm
Anaheim Central Library - Anaheim, CA
Come join the poets of Anaheim Poetry Review as they read a selection of their poetry, pose for photos, and receive their copies of the journal. You can find us in the multi-purpose room of the library basement.
April 27th - OC Poetry Slam @ 7pm
Den Cafe, Santa Ana, CA
This is the debut of the first poetry slam of Orange County! 15 performers will speak their verse to the audience and compete for a prize.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Indie Author Magazine - March 2024 Issue
"Unlocking the Power of Podcast Appearances for Authors" is about my journey of being a virtual conference panelist, podcast guest panelist, and podcaster. Why I seek out guest spots on podcasts as an author and tips on how to become a guest yourself. My essay is mentioned on the cover of the magazine. IAM is available as either a print magazine or as an ebook/pdf. You can purchase this issue at: https://indieauthormagazine.com
San Diego Poetry Annual 2023-24 - March 2024
“I Am The Moonface” a poem about Surviving Cushing’s Disease is published in the SDPA 2024 anthology.
PODCASTS
Poets Cafe on KPFK 90.7
Poet Laureate Wendy Van Camp is Interviewed
Cushing's Disease, Speculative Poetry, and the function of Science Fiction in prose and poetry.
Hosted by Brian Sonia-Wallace
Produced by Marlena Bond
Originally broadcast on KPFK 90.7 FM 03/20/24
Hear the interview via its soundcloud archive:
https://soundcloud.com/poetscafe/wendy-van-campanaheim-poet-laureate-poets-cafe-kpfk-022124
Con-Tinual: Fandom
Disney Wizards and Sorcerers
Who were our favorite Disney wizards and sorcerers? Fans Layla Dorine, Gini Koch, Wendy Van Camp, Mark West, and Gail Martin share their thoughts about their favorite and most memorable characters.
https://www.facebook.com/GailZMartin/videos/393881866687981/
ECCENTRIC ORBITS 5
Accepting speculative poetry submissions from February 1st to April 30th
Eccentric Orbits is an annual volume of science fiction poetry put out by Dimensionfold Publishing, a Canadian Small Press. We seek speculative poetry of any theme. Science Fiction. Fantasy. Horror. If you submit scifaiku (haiku), please send them in groups of four to five poems and these will count as a single poem submission. Long Form poetry is accepted, but on a limited basis. Please send up to 5 poems in your packet. Only submit once per issue. Please send a short 100 word or less bio with your poetry packet. Cover letters are welcome.
Send the poems via email to: wendy@dimensionfold.com
Please put ECCENTRIC ORBITS all in caps in your subject heading.
LINKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Portfolio - http://wendyvancamp.com
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/author/wendyvancamp
Medium - https://medium.com/@wvancamp
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 - 5
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
https://eyetothetelescope.com/archives/046issue.html
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