No Wasted Ink Newsletter & Ramblecast - June 2025
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 from the City of Anaheim, California. This newsletter is not affiliated with the city. All views stated here are my own.
RAMBLE
When I was speaking at Balticon over Memorial Day weekend, I had someone ask when the sequel to my debut novel was going to come out. My book had published a long time ago, so the request caught me off-guard. Yet, it has also sparked me to revisit the project and give it a higher priority. I have a bit more time this summer for writing, and while I don't intend to stop writing poetry, working on prose for a month or two would be a welcome change.
It feels good to be writing "Christmas in Kellynch," the sequel to "The Curate’s Brother." I’m going through all the chapters in the book to see which ones are strong enough to keep for the next revision pass. I hope to use at least half of what I’ve written, but I’m also leaving space for plenty of rewrites. In my mind's eye, things were far more dire about the book, enough to make me leave it in the trunk. Yet, as I read with a new perspective, I realize it is not as bad as I had feared. Every author is their own worst critic, I suppose. Perhaps having this extended period in the trunk has allowed me to look at the book with fresh eyes and more ability to "kill my darlings" to make it a stronger story.
I’ve also returned to Anaheim Central Library Open Mic for a long overdue visit. During my laureate term, attending this open mic and being its sponsor was part of my regular duties. When I walked in, I couldn’t believe how many musicians showed up to perform. Almost three quarters of the night was music. We had grand piano, guitar, and even some tunes brought in through YouTube links. It felt like a small concert.
Still, poetry had its place. Both Camille Hernandez and I read, which meant the audience got to hear from two of Anaheim’s poet laureates that night. Plus a few more poets read too. Camille sat next to me in the audience allowing us to chat between readings. Our two librarian coordinators were all smiles, and everyone seemed happy to be there.
The main reason I went was to hear Melissa Adylia Calasanz, she was the featured poet that night. I’ve watched her grow over the years and I'm proud of her accomplishments as a poet and performer. She used to tell me she wasn’t a poet, but now she realizes she is and reads with outward confidence. She hasn't published a book yet, but I hope she decides to. It would be a successful volume and would allow more people to hear her lovely verse.
During her reading, Melissa thanked me for nominating her for both a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net Award. Both were well deserved. She even held up her copy of "Anaheim Poetry Review" with pride. Camille also thanked me for creating the journal during her time at the podium. According to her, it’s the only city poetry review in North Orange County. It’s nice to be appreciated. I'm touched by their words and grateful my annual poetry journal is getting a third issue via my successor, Camille. I know several local poets have brought up to me how much they love the annual and look forward to submitting their poetry to continue its tradition.
I guess the work of a laureate never really stops, even when their term is up.
yours in poetry,
Wendy
ESSAY
Finding Your Voice Again: What a Writing Retreat Can Offer
Every writer reaches a point where the words slow down or become stuck. Projects which once brought joy, now seem heavy. Life gets loud, and your time seems to slip away. That is when a writing retreat might be just what you need.
A writing retreat is not a vacation. It is a chance to step away from the noise and give your writing the time and attention it deserves. Whether you are just starting out or have a few published pieces under your belt, a retreat can help you reconnect with why you started writing in the first place.
At a retreat, time seems different. The days are built around the act of writing. There are no chores waiting, no errands to run. You can sit with your notebook or laptop and let your mind wander into your stories. This focus is a rare gift. Sometimes, all it takes is a few quiet hours without distractions to unlock a piece you have been struggling with for months.
In a calm space, new ideas often rise to the surface. You might try a new style or approach just to see what happens. For me, I find writing with a pen and notebook slows me down in a good way. At a retreat I once attended near Lake Quinault in Washington, I was the only poet in a group of science fiction authors. But we shared the same love for world-building and big ideas. In a scant few days, I finished several poems which had been waiting for my full attention. More than anything, I felt seen as a writer.
This brings us to another important part of a retreat: the people. Writing can be lonely work. At a retreat, you are surrounded by others who understand your perspective. You do not have to explain why a story keeps you up at night or why a single sentence can take hours to shape. The person sitting beside you gets it.
Even short conversations can have a big effect. You might hear someone describe their process in a way which makes something click. Or you might share something to help someone else grow. These connections stay with you long after the retreat is over. Some turn into writing friendships lasting for years. Others simply become a moment of encouragement to remind you are not alone.
When you take time away to write, you are telling yourself your work matters. You are choosing to listen closely to your own voice. Building confidence within yourself. Whether you are writing poems, novels, essays, or something in between, this sense of purpose becomes part of your identity.
You do not need to come home from a retreat with a book deal or a polished manuscript. It is enough to return to feeling inspired, rested, and ready to write. You may come away with a new habit or a better sense of what you want your writing life to look like.
Retreats are not the only way to grow, but they are one of the few spaces built only for writers. They are not about being perfect. They are about making space to write, to listen, and to be part of a community who understands what this means.
So if you are feeling stuck or lost, consider stepping away for a little while. Let yourself write without pressure. You never know what stories are waiting for you on the other side of silence.
Even one weekend can remind you, the words are still there. And so are you.
SCIFAIKU
use the rule structure method used by whale-SETI decoding language
This is a poem from “Eccentric Orbits 5” from a series of Scifaiku science poems about the study of whales and their language. By using ChatGTP, scientists are creating a “whale chatbot” in order to learn how to communicate with humpback whales. They have had success when a female whale nicknamed “Twain” circled their boat for twenty minutes answering their acoustic call. The whale eventually gave up in frustration, but this was a serious sign the scientists are on the right track. Poem is by Wendy Van Camp
APPEARANCES
Poetry Meetup
SFWA Nebula Conference
June 6th at 2pm Central Time
https://sfwa.org
I appeared at the poetry meetup at the SFWA Nebula Conference which was held in Kansas City, MS. Our meetup was part of the virtual component of the conference. Registration is required to attend.
PUBLICATIONS
Interview with Wendy Van Camp
Atmosphere Press, Katy TX
https://atmospherepress.com/interview-with-wendy-van-camp/
I talk about my early years of writing without publishing, my time as a television producer/director, and a little about how I became a poet laureate and active community organizer. Free to read.
PODCASTS
ConTinual Fandom: Stories of the Space Race
A YouTube discussion panel which dives into stories about the Space Race with Lee Martindale, Dennis M. Myers, James Pittman, Wendy Van Camp, and host James P. Nettles III!
Writing Coach Services
with Poet Laureate Emerita Wendy Van Camp
I have opened my consultation service at Indigoskye Press. I offer single hour coaching via Skype. 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. If you need help with a long project, let me be your guide.
You can also order a block of three sessions at a discount.
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 - 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
Free to Read: https://eyetothetelescope.com/archives/046issue.html
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