Monica Valentinelli

Take the Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Change Your World

Resuming Normality

This week's news, announcements, and musings are about Make Art Not War, changes in media/tie-in stories, and more.

A few people have asked me if this situation has been resolved, and it has not. I sent an e-mail on April 12th with suggestions for further discussion and reparations, and I have not heard anything back. Following that, there have been public and private developments that lead me to believe the matter will never be fully addressed.

Thankfully, I am beginning to resume normality, and am trying to hit my month end deadlines with glee and vigor. I'm behind and had to cancel a few trips in May, but I do feel like I have my headspace back. It's been hollowed out and, in its stead, its filled with a lot of rusty junk. As such, I'm going to be keeping a low profile in May to knock out a significant amount of words before attending WisCon.

As you know, I have been participating in CampNaNoWriMo.org to complete a pair of novellas and a handful of short stories. That's a pile of NOPE! I'm going to hit 50% of my goal, which is not nearly enough. I'm not mad or disappointed with myself any longer (so past that!), but I am anxious to dive into the pile. Right now, work is the only thing that will save me from brain weasels.

I hope your month is faring better than mine. I will never not joke about Mercury in Retrograde after this. Hoo.

Best,

- M

In the 05/04/2017 edition:
*|MC:TOC|*

Mark Your Calendar for WisCon

By Monica Valentinelli on May 04, 2017 08:36 am

I am pleased to announce that my next convention will be WisCon at the end of May. The guests of honor are Amal El-Mohtar and Kelly Sue DeConnick. I am participating and moderating several panels, and I am anxious to hear what this year’s stellar speakers have to say. Hope to see you at the show!

Tropes In SF Novels, Comics, and Video Games
Sat, 1:00–2:15 pm Location: Conference 1
Kate M Lansky (M), Jake Casella, Monica Valentinelli
SF is a genre that crosses media — novels, poetry, comics, video games, movies, and TV. How do SF stories differ from medium to medium? What tropes does each medium use and why? What kinds of stories are in vogue in each medium? Are there SF tropes that are better used in novels? In games? And why?

Portraying Resistance: Fiction Media and News Media
Sun, 10:00–11:15 am Location: Assembly
Monica Valentinelli (M), Nino Cipri, Ian K. Hagemann
How are resistance movements portrayed in speculative fiction? While some forms of fiction glamorize resistance movements (Star Wars comes to mind) there is a wide gap between this and how news media portrays, for example, the Ferguson movement. Are the only safe resistances fictional (or historical) ones? How do we get from “riots” to “heroic uprisings”? Fictional resistances are also able to gloss over the problematic details of committee meetings, arguments between members, lack of funds, trying to feed crowds, unequal division of labor, and trying to come to consensus. Are there fictional resistances that deal with these details and with sexism, racism, homophobia? Can we learn from fiction how to portray real resistance movements as heroic?

Why Is “Casual” a Dirty Word in Gaming?
Sun, 1:00–2:15 pm Location: University C
Monica Valentinelli (M), Katherine Cross, Ann Lemay, Katherine Olson (Kayjayoh), Beth Plutchak, Katie Sapede
Video gaming is set to become a 99.6 billion dollar industry and is cemented into the mainstream. Why are “casual gamers” still a hated group? Why do we need to separate them from “hard-core gamers”? Let’s explore why some in the gaming community hold on tightly to excluding “casual gamers.”

Worldbuilding Through Profanity
Sun, 4:00–5:15 pm Location: Caucus
Monica Valentinelli (M), Dylan Edwards, Benjamin Rosenbaum
Swearing is something that comes naturally to people. Swearing is also highly cultural. ‘Damn!’ only works if a culture has the concept of damnation. Short versus long invocations, it all goes together. How do you construct a swearing culture for a new people? How does it vary by social class? Let’s find out.

Registration is capped, so if you’re interested in attending be sure to visit the WisCon website.

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[New Release] Geist: The Sin-Eater’s Foreboding Lands for Dark Eras

By Monica Valentinelli on May 03, 2017 02:51 pm

Today, I am pleased to announce that the Dark Eras Companion, the second massive volume filled with alternate history settings for the Chronicles of Darkness, is now available. In Dark Eras, I wrote “Doubting Souls” for Hunter: The Vigil. For the companion, I was one of the writers who contributed to “Foreboding Lands”. Set in the world of Geist: The Sin-Eaters, the chapter takes place in and around Roanoke Island approximately a hundred years earlier.

“Foreboding Lands” was a fan-requested era that was funded during the original Kickstarter for Geist: The Sin-Eaters. Instead of fixating on the Lost Colony of Roanoke, we did end up taking a different and broader direction tapping into the history of the period and the core aspect of Geist: ghosts. I found that this chapter was more demanding to write for than the previous one for several reasons, and hope that my nuanced and complex presentation of the subject is something you’ll dig.

If you’re interested in “Foreboding Lands”, you can pick up a copy of the Dark Eras Companion filled with multiple, haunted settings at DriveThruRPG.com.

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MANW Check-In Week 18: Call for Beta Readers and Cover for Make Art Not War Book!

By Monica Valentinelli on May 03, 2017 09:41 am

Hello! How are you doing today? Since my last couple of posts have been pretty deep, focusing on a month-end recap, announcement of a new theme, and last week’s check-in, I thought I’d switch gears and let you know I am putting together an eBook for my Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge. I would love to get a couple of beta readers prior to release, so if you’re interested let me know via my contact page or in the comments below.

I wanted to give you a sneak preview of the cover today!

The cover art was designed by Meredith Gerber. The book will include material previously offered on this blog, plus several brand new creative prompts. Hope you dig!

• Mood: Overloaded. Soooooooo much to do!
  Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Eh. A modest amount.
  Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I sat on my butt, and I was not happy about it. I did go for a quick walk, but we’ve had nothing but rain.
  In My Ears: BBC version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
  Game Last Played: Final Fantasy X-2
  Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora
  Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: ONCE: Upon a Time
  Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules
  Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering.
  Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming in May.

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Vampire: The Masquerade is a Fab Bundle of Holding Deal!

By Monica Valentinelli on May 02, 2017 12:38 pm

If you’re curious about Vampire: The Masquerade, the 20th anniversary corebook and many of the supplements are now part of a fabulous Bundle of Holding deal. A portion of the proceeds goes to the RPG Creator’s Relief Fund, as well, so you can get a little something for yourself and do good works.

There are two bundles to pick from. The Starter Collection gives you four invaluable tools to dive into Vampire, and the Storyteller’s Collection enhances that set. If you’re interested in checking this out, I thought I’d mention I worked on Dread Names, Red List, which is part of the Storyteller’s Collection.

In the effort of full disclosure, the RPG Creator’s Relief Fund is a charity I advise for; I feel that groups like this and The Hero Initiative are incredibly important to help creators when disastrous situations strike.

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MANW Challenge: New Icon and Theme for May!

By Monica Valentinelli on May 01, 2017 01:06 pm

Today is the first day in May, and I’m very excited to dive head (or feet) first into the pile. I hope you are as well! And, as it’s a brand new Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge month, it’s time for a shiny theme! For May, this month’s theme is JOY.

JOY may not seem like it’s connected to your art, but I feel it dovetails nicely into multiple aspects of your work. For example, being mindful of your own path is hard — especially on new release day or when awards season rolls around. Sometimes, we might internalize that the news of another artist’s success is a sign of our failure. It’s not, but that doesn’t stop our brain weasels from attacking at odd moments. In other instances, we might think that a bunch of new releases is a sign that we aren’t writing fast enough, there’s too much competition so why bother, or that someone else has already written our story.

Instead, think about what this success means for you. What lessons can you take from other artists’ career paths to give you more reassurance? Is there joy to be felt? I take it as a sign that it is possible for artists to not only define their own success, but their achievements is a sign that yes, they are achievable and repeatable. That’s cool, and that’s something to be happy about! By applying the feeling of JOY to what others experience, I find it adds a nice, safe boundary between their path and mine. Then, I use that as a tactic to avoid jealousy or envy from taking over. It also helps me internalize that someone else’s success is not mine and that’s okay! No one artist can land every deal, occupy every spot on the bestseller’s lists, or get all the good reviews and nominations.

I feel there’s a bunch of lessons here related to self-care, too. First, a near-constant state of angst and anxiety affects your ability to enjoy your successes and the work you’re doing. JOY seems meaningless or unattainable; when it does matter, JOY becomes attached to an unexpected accolade or some other blessing that is outside of your control. Yes, there will always be something else to do or to work on, but what you’ve done right now is an achievement — don’t forget to celebrate the small things! I know I forget to do that sometimes, and putting together a stand-alone bookshelf of my publications is on my list this month. Huzzah! Second, if you forget to be kind to yourself it becomes that much harder to deal with turbulence in your life. Those happy moments, even if they’re small, will help you be resilient as you deal with your day-to-day.

Feeling JOY is not something to be embarrassed about, either, and I hope this month you’ll be encouraged to recognize, remember, and tap into your own personal happiness. The ability to make art, to grow as an artist, to experience your journey is not only wonderful, it’s unique to you and your experiences. Celebrate!

Next time, I’ll offer some suggestions to help you embrace this theme. Now, get out there and make art. I know I will!

• Mood: Monday Monday
  Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Coffee is life. SO MANY!
  Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I sat on my butt, and I was happy about it.
  In My Ears: Just me t-t-t-tapping away.
  Game Last Played: Pokemon Go
  Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora
  Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Rogue One
  Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules
  Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering. Read my end-of-the-year list of releases for an overview of what I’ve put out for 2016.
  Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming in May.

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MANW: April Month-End Recap

By Monica Valentinelli on Apr 30, 2017 05:09 pm

This month was unusual on multiple levels. For starters, I went on a writer’s retreat to catch a break, and I decided to pledge for CampNaNoWriMo. Then, life happened and all the things I didn’t plan for that were above and beyond the norm. Travel. 99+ Notifications. Emotional upheaval. Problem-solving. Friends and family. And then, the little things started to slip, because deadlines don’t stop for anybody. I did make art, and I had a lot of fun painting, lettering, and diving into my original stories. It remained a priority for me, but I wound up making up for lost time. This, to me, was a sign that Make Art Not War was working, because I treated it like a commitment that I couldn’t ignore.

Now, on the other side of this, I just want to make art and get myself sorted. In May, I am taking a break from Facebook and Twitter. Work-related announcements and posts will still go live, but I’m not and can’t check in for personal use. I really need the silence right now, and am looking forward to diving into the pile.

With that in mind, here’s how I did:

My Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge pledge:

• I pledge to devote one hour a day to my original art.

• If I don’t feel motivated, I pledge to write down the reasons why I wanted to take this challenge for fifteen minutes or one-to-three pages whichever comes first.

• I pledge to mark down on the calendar whenever I complete a day’s efforts.

• As the challenge creator, I pledge to create a weekly accountability post every Wednesday beginning on January 9th. Comments will be open. Hashtag #makeartnotwar2017 #manw2017

• I pledge to check into social media twice a week for personal use, and once a month with my local community of artists and writers.

April 2017 Challenge Recap

• Due to unforeseen events, making art every day was a challenge. I did add extra hours on a couple of Saturdays, but there were a few points when I didn’t feel like making art at all.

• Motivation was a problem for part of this month. I was willing, but that wasn’t enough to close the loop between “Here’s an idea!” and “Here’s all this shit going on!” So, I treated myself to one or two days off where I did nothing but play Pokemon Go and wander around. Following those short breaks, that drastically helped my motivation. Self-care is crucial to

• Tracking didn’t happen. In fact, I’m realizing this is the first thing to go.

• Social media time wasn’t managed, but I don’t feel that impacted my motivation or my mood. Monitoring it was a distraction, tapped into my need to remain informed, and an emotional release when the ending was in sight.

I did feel another shift when I started working out more, and that helped to turn things around as well. I don’t feel this month was a loss, and I do think I did just about as well as I could have.

SPEED Theme Recap

April’s theme was SPEED. As an optional theme, I thought this was fun when I needed a boost. Where the theme didn’t work, however, is when I was unfocused or didn’t have a clear image of what I was making in my mind. The increased rates of production worked out great for me when I knew what I was doing, and I feel this is something to keep in mind for the future. While word sprints can help get past writer’s block, the main issue with them is that, for me, a clear lack of direction results in wasted words.

That’s it for April. May starts tomorrow, and I’ll reveal the new theme then. Thanks for reading!

• Mood: Overtired
  Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: More coffee than water, that’s for sure.
  Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Walking
  In My Ears: Rogue One
  Game Last Played: Pokemon Go
  Book Last Read: Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora
  Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Rogue One
  Latest Artistic Project: Make Art Not War 2017 Challenge and Rules
  Latest Releases: In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Unknown Armies Books 1-3, and Kobold Guide to Gamemastering. Read my end-of-the-year list of releases for an overview of what I’ve put out for 2016.
  Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update. New project update coming in May.

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Friendly Friday: Lilith Saintcrow and the Terror of Squirrels

By Monica Valentinelli on Apr 28, 2017 10:00 am

One of the best ways to learn what it’s like to be a full-time novelist, is to learn and listen to those who are doing the work. Lilith Saintcrow is one such writer. This is an author who is not only compelled to write, but who can be found with a pen (or keyboard) at the ready. I admire her ability to navigate multiple genres and audiences, research what’s needed without falling down the rabbit hole, and retain her focus despite the many, many changes happening around her. Through the years, she’s written the kind of books that have provided many a fun romp while fleshing out the depth and breadth of characters like Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet. I really enjoyed The Bannon & Clare Affair series–and not just because I appear as an assassin in it. Alternate history is my jam, because I love the “what if” questions that address the complexities of our world when one important aspect is changed. The presence of magic, a new island, or a battle won instead of lost generates so many questions!

In addition to stories and her writing advice, which she’s compiled in The Quill and The Crow, Lili also has a sense of humor and, as it turns out, a hilarious problem with squirrels. Her history with these woodland creatures is the stuff of legend, and she’s not only blogged about SquirrelTerror! for her readers’ benefit–but there’s also a SquirrelTerror! book as well. In fact, her stories are so epic they inspired me as well. Many moons ago, when Loki tapped my shoulder (Uh… This happens often.) to say: “Hey Monica, wouldn’t it be great if…?” Rewrite a gothic icon to feature a real-life heroine? Never. Right? Ahem. Yeah, so for Fish Fool’s one year, I did. I took Poe’s “The Raven” as my inspiration; I wound up mapping the beats and rewrote it to star Lili and a rather scary squirrel.

I hope you enjoy this bit of fun, and I encourage you to check out Lili’s books and hop on her reader’s bandwagon. You can find them wherever books are sold. For more about this author, you can visit www.lilithsaincrow.com, find her on Twitter @lilithsaintcrow, or follow her on Facebook on the Official Saintcrow Page.

Without further adieu, here’s my poem in all its unabashed glory.

The Squirrel

Once upon an evening dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
How to script an ensuing volume for my readers galore,
While I nodded, nearly dozing, suddenly there came a scraping,
As of some one gently chafing, up against my screen porch door.
`’Tis my fuzzy feline,’ I muttered, ‘chafing at my screen porch door –
Only this, and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I remember it was an overcast day in November,
And each separate dying leaf dragged its dry bones across the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; – vainly I had sought to borrow
Whence my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for a lost amore –
For I’m but a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Saintcrow –
A goddess in my house for evermore.

Alas! My children’s laughter, diving headfirst in my box of chocolates
Distracted me – filled me with fantastic delights never felt before;
Oh no! Dear, kitty! To still the beating of my happy heart, I stood repeating
I forgot about my kitty entreating entrance at my back porch door –
My hungry kitty is still entreating entrance at my back porch door; –
This it is, and nothing more,’

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Dearest kitty,’ said I, `truly your forgiveness I must implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping my back door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you’ – here I opened wide the door; –
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Saintcrow!’
This name I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Saintcrow?’
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the living room turning, questions within me burning,
Soon again I heard a scratching somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,’ said I, `surely that is my kitty at my screen door;
Let me see then, why he’s sore with me, and this mystery I’ll explore –
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; –
‘Tis my kitty and nothing more!’

Open I slid my door like butter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately squirrel of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched outside my screen porch door –
Perched upon a gazing ball just beyond my screen porch door –
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this gray creature beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be white and fuzzy, thou,’ I said, `art sure no yellow bird.
Ghastly foul and ancient vermin wandering nightly because you could –
Tell me what thy lordly name is within this Green Man’s wood!’
Quoth the squirrel, `Saintcrow.’

Much I marvelled this ungainly pest to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer had much meaning – and its similarity to my own it bore;
Still, we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with a talking squirrel just outside his screen door –
Bird or beast above a mirrored ball just outside their screen door,
Bearing such a name–or any other–as stately as `Saintcrow.’

But the squirrel, sitting lonely on the gleaming orb, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered – not his furry tail he fluttered –
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have climbed before –
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have climbed before.’
Then the pest said once more, `Saintcrow, Saintcrow!’

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,’ said I, `what name it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught no doubt by some rabid reader whose unmerciful teasers
Followed fast and followed faster till his decrees one burden bore –
Till the chants of his hope for my next book his burden bore
Of “Saintcrow” and nothing more.

But the squirrel was still beguiling my remaining kitties into smiling,
Straight I ushered a tuxedo-furred feline in front of squirrel and ball and door;
Then, upon my pillow sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this plague-carrying pest of yore –
What this grey, grim, disgusting, gaunt, and plague-carrying pest of yore
Meant in groaning o’er and o’er: `Saintcrow.’

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the creature whose beady eyes now burned into my dear kitty’s fur;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On my cushion’s silken lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
His memory shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the autumn air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by tree limbs whose bare arms wafted through my window yore.
`Wretch,’ I cried, `thy God hath lent thee – by these angels he has sent thee
Respite – respite and nepenthe from thy owner’s memories from before!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget all that came before!’
Quoth the squirrel, `Saintcrow.’

`Augur!’ said I, `thing of evil! – augur still, if squirrel or demon! –
Whether agent sent, or whether readers tossed thee in my grassy knoll,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this fairy land enchanted –
On this home by horror haunted – tell me truly, I implore –
Is there – is there books in Hel? – tell me – tell me, I implore!’
Quoth the squirrel o’er and o’er, that one dire word: `Saintcrow.’

`Augur!’ said I, `thing of evil! – augur still, if squirrel or demon!
By the Heavens that bend above us – by those gods we both adore –
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distance fading,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Saintcrow –
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Saintcrow?’
Quoth the squirrel slowly, lowing: `Saintcrow.’

`Be that word our sign of parting, squirrel or fiend!’ I shrieked upstarting –
`Get thee back into the wood and the Night’s ghostly shores!
Leave no grey tuft as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! – quit the ball outside my door!
Take thy teeth from out my heart, and take thy form evermore!’
Quoth the squirrel, `Saintcrow.’

And the squirrel, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid ball of gazing just outside my screen porch door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow ‘cross my floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!

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