The goal of this novel is to be a long prose poem, so I'm reading it out loud to hear how it flows. I made it to page twelve before I had to edit anything and I'm no longer on page two!!!
MJen Markus
@mjenmarkus.bsky.social
Poet, author, artist, retired math/science teacher reimagining herself in a dystopic country. She/her
Today I ponder exclamation points to make her sound young. Then, as the narrative goes on, they will appear less and less, to show her trauma.
So date palms are different from palm oil palms. However, they both can be invasive if left on their own. So, that works. And neither of them have those fan-like leaves. The things one learns when planning the destruction of most of the world!
This iconic 1971 photo of Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes has always said so much without saying a word. Two women. Two raised fists. One shared fight for equality. Dorothy passed in 2022. Now Gloria is gone too. Two giants who helped change America. Rest in power, Gloria. ✊🏼✊🏾
RIP Gloria Steinham. We're losing a lot of good people and the worst ones just won't die.
And I had to go back to page 12. Thankfully, it's a word or two, maybe a sentence, that has to be added, but I thought I'd closed the book on Chapter One.
I'm rewriting the landscape. Actually putting in more plants and searching those was interesting. The only use I can find for AI is unreliable research assistant: really good at gathering a lot of info, okay at parsing it, but never to be trusted until verified.
I'm on page 47, again? Still? It writes itself from the inside out. Scenes expand. A single detail launches 1000 words. It's fascinating in my brain right now.
We released a trove of disclosure records that detail the finances of more than 1,600 Trump appointees, including former lobbyists, industry executives and at least a dozen officials who declined to identify former clients. Explore the database:
Explore Financial Disclosures From President Trump and 1,600 of His Appointees - ProPublica
Use this database to explore potential conflicts of interest for President Donald Trump and his team. The documents disclose positions officials have held outside government, their assets and their de...
projects.propublica.org
I've made both the landscape and a sack of trinkets characters in my novel. This is the weirdest thing I've ever written. So far.
Page 46 got long, so now I'm on page 47 and last night I got an image, just as I was about to fall asleep. As always , I ask myself 'will I remember this in the morning, or should I write it down?'. I've learned no matter what, write it down.
Today I'm going to get through page 46 and on to 47. What's nice is there are jumps, when I can just drop pages in from the previous draft.
At the end of the day, this novel is about a young girl who takes a very long walk.
When a health insurer refuses to pay for your treatment, you may have the right to have the denial reviewed — and potentially overturned — by an independent provider. This is what experts say you need to know:
This Little-Known Appeal Could Force Your Insurer to Pay for Lifesaving Care. Here’s How to File It.
When a health insurer refuses to pay for your treatment, you may have the right to have the denial reviewed — and potentially overturned — by an independent provider. Here are six steps experts sugges...
propublica.org
I just donated to help SPIDER-MAN, who took on nazi scumbags trying to invade Minneapolis again. Arrested by our local cops (boooo) who were diligently defending their racist turd pals. Let’s help good ol’ Webhead with his defense! (PS I can vouch for the GoFundMe creator) gofund.me/6f36a1ac1
Donate to Support Spider-Man’s Legal Defense, organized by Ash Chudgar
Awesome update: I'm in touch with Spider-Man's family, and we're setting things up so t… Ash Chudgar needs your support for Support Spider-Man’s Legal Defense
gofund.me
My bluesky account is for posting encouragement for myself--that I don't get from others, never really have, because I'm such a cheerleader for others I guess they don't think I need it, but, whatever. This the way it is, and not a single person following me has noticed a single post I've made.
Thou must avoid eating jalapeños, salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, iceberg lettuce, shredded lettuce, eggs, frozen blueberries, frozen mixed berries, ricotta, requesón, cuajada, tomato bisque soup, super greens, and moringa unless thou wishes to have explosive RFK Jr. diarrhea.
Feeling pretty solid in Chapter Three. I'm going to read out loud the whole thing and I hope not too much changes in Chapters One and Two, but WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!for Chapter Three.
“Humanists recognize that it is only when people feel free to think for themselves, using reason as their guide, that they are best capable of developing values that succeed in satisfying human needs and serving human interests.” — Isaac Asimov
Sometimes I feel as if I'm discovering this novel more than writing it. A line I'll write--almost throw away--leads to so much more. I'm fascinated.