This month’s post is way late, because I’m struggling a lot with getting back into the swing of daily life post-conference.
I just spent five and a half days in Oakland, CA, for the NOLOSE conference, and to see friends in the area. NOLOSE is a radical fat queer conference, and they had their first ever BIPOC Day (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Conferences can be hectic, and you can experience a lot of highs and lows in a short period of time, which I certainly did. I almost didn’t make it, bc of flight and housing costs, and then community pulled together to get me there, and it was so amazing.
But things are always a little hard after conferences — they’re a pretty magical place, but they are also often packed with stuff. I went down early to get settled in my homestay, and I stayed a couple days after so I could see folks I know in the area. I ended up meeting up with a friend at a birthday party, and being in a picture with Miss Major and a bunch of other awesome, radical queer and trans folks! And I had lunch with the ever amazing Lisa Hsia, who drew the picture we chose for the cover of After Ferguson, In Solidarity, and I got to see my friend Drew, and it was all lovely and wonderful.
I’m still trying to get back in the swing of things, and prepping for the start of a new term in a week. Wish me luck!
(This month’s Groundhog Day Resolution Review is below the cut.)
Goals:
- Make regular money from writing
- Subgoal: Small press solvency
- Schedule self-care and practice self-love
- Solidify my graduate degree path, and apply to grad school
Month in Review:
What worked? What didn’t?
1) I got a piece accepted in a lit journal — unpaid, but hopefully a little boost to my name? I’ve been sending out submissions semi-regularly, and writing. I am waiting until classes start to solidify a routine that works for me.
•) Subgoal: I’m still working on the business plan. Launched After Ferguson, In Solidarity, and have heard positive feedback. Working on the next book to be released.
2) I’m definitely getting more stressed as the term approaches, which is not great. I’ve been kind of sluggish the last couple weeks, since I got back from Oakland, which is hard to navigate. I dropped my nightly walks while in Oakland, and haven’t gotten back to it, even though I know it might help. I’m also struggling with food issues. Overall, just very tired and kind of depressed. Hoping that budgeting helps, especially when I lose my food stamps after school starts. (I’m not working 20 hours per week, which is required for students to get stamps.)
3) My desires for grad school are in flux, with a few different paths appealing. A couple interesting options have floated onto my radar, and now I feel less certain about my path. Trying to study Spanish has been like beating my head against the wall, and I’m hoping that leaving the house will help.
Planning the Next Month:
What am I working on going forward?
1) I need to apply for some grants to put on an event I want to in April next year, which is writing related, and I need to send out more pitches. How likely is that? Not sure, but if I use it to procrastinate getting ready for school, I may get something done.
•) Subgoal: I need to get my marketing plan done, and decide if I want to launch the next book with Indiegogo, or do pre-sales another way, or what. I also need to research up places I can table at and other ways to get the name out there. Which, actually, marketing plan. Sigh…
2) In the homestretch for school to start, so fixing the sleep schedule is imperative. Want to get back to walking, and figure out my plans regarding food, once I lose my food stamps. Budgeting is also gonna be a big deal this next year. I need to find and use systems that will help me stay accountable and thus reduce money stresses. Also, going to see my doctor to sort out med issues and related stuff.
3) Still hoping I will get the chance to study some before term starts and I’m tossed into the deep end in Spanish class. Working on making that happen today. May drop by the Black Studies office and make an appointment that way.
See all of the Groundhog Day Resolutions posts here.
Tessara Dudley, Poet-Publisher-Educator-Activist 