As of Cait - August Edition
Iced Coffee and a Keyboard
This summer has not been what I had hoped for.
I entered it with the intention of finishing the revisions to my academic paper, the substantive edits for an upcoming author’s historical fiction manuscript, and the first draft of my latest WIP (What We Fed the Gods), not to mention having time to read freely, game, stare at the wall, and take way too many baths after an academic year that left me dragging myself across the floor in burnout.
Spoiler alert: I accomplished none of the above.
I made some academic progress in July, but my creative writing suffered immensely after some disappointing news (see Ink Tank). August started off with a bang — my partner’s sister got married in Toronto and let me tell you, I have never celebrated so hard in my life. The day we flew home, we both started feeling a little under the weather, which turned into a full-blown head cold. I had two days to unpack, wash my clothes, and recover before heading to Calgary for the When Words Collide conference. In a beautiful, wonderful twist of fate, I felt better the Thursday I needed to leave, and so the plans continued as…well, planned.
And then Friday came. And I had no voice. I felt fine otherwise, but I stayed away from the conference and missed out on several lectures I had been looking forward to. I hoped the next day would bode better.
It did not.
I ended up driving home without attending a single event and then proceeded to be bedridden for several days with no voice and no relief.
Being sick for two weeks meant I was less than productive, and trust me, I tried to rest. I really did.
This summer has ended with an unchecked to-do list and not enough rest time. But, alas, one must move on and forward.
At least I have some new once-in-a-lifetime memories to savour in the days to come.
And I did receive a lot of Sushi snuggles.
Ink Tank
Ahh, yes. The reason July was not the creative writing sabbatical I had hoped for.
After over a year of waiting to hear back from an editor, I received undesirable news that added another tally in the “almost” column where I am metaphorically running out of room.
Don’t get me wrong—there was positive feedback incorporated into their rejection, and for that, I am eternally grateful. BUT. I am also exhausted. I have an email folder with over 100 rejections. I have three manuscripts I have tucked away to be revised another day.
I don’t write this to drag you into my pity party kiddie pool. I write this as a warning.
Many begin their writing career with a glow in their eyes and a skip in their step.
Sure, THEY didn’t get published. But I’m not them. I’ll be different. I’ll be the one with the lucky break.
It’s easy to be positive when you are beginning.
It is another thing when you are several years in, getting better, but still receiving the dreaded passes.
As for myself, I am three novels in and only in the past two years have I gained any publication credits. That in itself is huge, but sometimes I just want to crawl into a hole and hide, which usually results in an unhealthy number of hours invested into Stardew Valley.
But if there is anything I know, it is that you cannot give up. You must keep going. Because if you quit, you’ll never know if you would have been successful. And how much worse would it be to give up and never know than to press forward with the relentlessness of my cat in pursuit of a BOOM CHICKA POP White Cheddar Puff. (Seriously, I have never been strong-handled by Sushi like that.)
Stirring the Pot
Listening to an audiobook does not count as reading.
Does that offend you?
It shouldn’t.
Full disclosure—I am autistic. I interpret things very black and white, so this topic has always gotten me worked up. And it’s not that I think listening to an audiobook is a lesser activity than reading a book.
Not at all.
It’s just that reading and listening are two very different skills that use very different areas of our brains.
If you look up “read” and “listen,” they are far from synonymous. I mean, you can “lick” an ice cream cone, or you can “bite” an ice cream cone. Ask anyone with sensitive teeth, and they’ll quickly explain why those are not the same thing. Does that mean that one person is enjoying the ice cream cone more than the other? Or that they are consuming it in a more socially acceptable way? Should you attack someone for consuming it in one way but not the other?
The bigger issue is that some people still believe listening to a book is a less valid activity than reading a book. Now, there is an underlying and persisting belief that, to be considered a valid reader, one must read specific genres, titles, and authors. This is the same belief that negatively impacts readers of romance. It is antiquated thinking that needs to be lit on fire and thrown off a cliff.
When considering this contentious subject, it is clear we are placing all our emphasis on the wrong words.
Consider the following sentences.
“I listened to that book.”
“I read that book.”
The importance isn’t on reading or listening — it’s on “book.”
“I consumed that book.”
In a world of ever-increasing and evolving distractions, you have chosen to consume a BOOK. THAT is what is important. THAT is where the emphasis lies.
And if someone gives you a hard time for “listening” and not “reading,” THEY are the problem. Not you. Not your consumption methods.
But most importantly, if “reading” and “listening” are synonymous, how do we advocate for those with disabilities? Language is extremely important in advocacy, and even more so, correct use of language. Misuse can result in harming the very people you’re trying to advocate for. We cannot claim that reading and listening are the same thing without realizing that, for many, one of those actions is an impossibility.
In summary, use the right language.
Advocate for yourself and for those with disabilities.
Consume books.
Read them. Listen to them. Orate them. Write them.
How you consume them does not change their message, but choosing not to or making people feel inadequate for how they consume them, does.
Some Odd Things but Not Others
This is where I show you random cool things I encountered lately.
If you do not like random cool things, you may skip this section.
This mushroom of questionable resemblance.
A frog the size of my thumb!
A chonk-a-donk of a caterpillar! It got into our screened-in porch, and Sushi was very enthralled by it. I think it’s the first caterpillar he’s seen. The caterpillar seemed equally enthralled. They even touched noses(?) a few times. But I became concerned for the caterpillar’s safety and removed it from the situation.
Sushi has yet to forgive me.
Brain for Sale
I have been playing way too much Stardew Valley as of late. It’s downloaded on my phone, and I have been so exhausted and mentally drained that it’s been an easy escape. (To be completely honest, I think it’s what led to my severe shoulder and wrist pain, but don’t tell my chiropractor.)
Favourite songs as of late:
Stain Theory – Hamster
a plague, a pestilence + Dungeon Cult Devotee 001 – Cain Culto
The Fix – Baby J
Soul in Love – Ark Woods
FKN FINE – Fifteen0eight
IS THIS A CULT? – Melanie Martinez
Dog Prophecies – Josie Edwards
Sod’s Law – WOODJU, Lantsberg
The Fool – Qveen Herby
Favourite reads:
Exit 8 – Genki Kawamura
The Lathe of Heaven – Ursula K. Le Guin
Favourite quotes:
“a fart of a bathroom” – Beautyland, Marie-Helene Bertino
“….like living in drizzling warm soup, forever…” – The Lathe of Heaven, Ursula K. Le Guin
So, You Want to be a Literary Citizen
Help bring the Worldcon and the Hugos to Edmonton!
Sunday, Aug. 30 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Audreys Books, Edmonton
Words in the Park Author and Book Fair
Saturday, Sept. 05 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Community AGORA, Sherwood Park
2026 Alberta Book Publishing Conference
Wednesday, Sept. 16-18
Matrix Hotel, Edmonton
Harvest Book Fair
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Sunday, Sept. 28 from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
CKUA’s Alberta Hotel Building, Edmonton
If you are in Calgary, check out Nekoto Books! They’re located on the first floor of the Dragon City Mall at 328 Centre Street, and they have the best curation of books and stationery I have ever encountered. Plus, their logo is a cat.
Okay, bye!