Things I Loved in December (and 2023) and Looking Ahead
Monthly Digest | December 2023 (plus a gift for you)
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Dear Inklings,
On the day you receive this letter, I was supposed to be off-grid somewhere on a snowy mountain, just me and my service dog (courtesy of the best super-husband ever who assured me he could handle single-parenting for two days so I could have a little writing retreat).
We got hit with another death in the family over Christmas, so that didn’t happen. However, I so wish you a Happy New Year and very much hope it will indeed be happy. Hold your loved ones close and take no moment for granted.
Every month I round up my favourites and give some updates on my life and writing. This month I also have a little gift for paid subscribers if you read to the end. I have curated 30-hour playlist over the past three years and I am sharing it for the first time. It is my main playlist to write to, with epic instrumentals and soundtracks that I find personally inspiring when writing.
Table of Contents
Recommendations
I read many, many good books this year. As a chronic re-reader, I’m always wary of trying new books or authors, but I was pleasantly surprised venturing out of my comfort zone. These were some of my top reads:
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue (V.E. Schwab). I’m a sucker for lyrical prose. Though I’ve heard some people say this book is slow, I found it beautifully written, a story of loneliness, memory, and being known. Read my full review here.
Linghun (Ai Jiang). This book lives rent-free in my head at any given time. Ai Jiang is a newly found author for me, and this novella centred around grief and trying to move on (or not trying) hit me hard.
, I am still waiting for a special edition hardcover to be made. Read my full review here.Counting the Cost (Jill Duggar). Growing up in a conservative Christian home left a lot of scars that I’m only recently identifying and processing. Though my environment was not nearly as extreme as in this memoir, there are a lot of similarities in the basic principles. Read my full review here.
Songs of the Wicked (C.A. Farran). Two words: found family. I loved this book so much I got a copy in every possible edition just so I’d never be without it. A reaper who wants to be human, found family, enemies-to-lovers, mysteries, and some of the most lovable characters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I want all my readers to go pester the author for the last book now.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Neil Gaiman). How did I go my whole life without reading this? It’s ethereal, haunting, and brought me back to childhood days of getting lost in fairytales.
Finding Me (Viola Davis). Of all the brilliant books I read this year, this might be the absolute best. Before this, I was one of those “if-Viola-Davis-is-in-it-I-will-watch-it” people. After reading this book, I admired her even more—not just as an actor, but as a person. She is a force of nature, resilient in a way no one should have to be. A simply amazing story.
I’ve really not been in a watching mood the past couple months. However, I did finally watch Oppenheimer, which might be one of my favourite Chris Nolan films so far. It’s fairly straightforward, yet nuanced and thought-provoking as Nolan films usually are. A well-made biopic on the “father of the atomic bomb,” the moral quandaries of such an invention, and a warning for the future of our world.
I’ve infected Michael with my personal coping strategy of watching horror when sad or depressed. This first started because Ren loved horror and I, a former-super-low-scary-tolerance, watched a few of his favourites with him out of love. When he passed, I watched to feel close to him. And then it turned out to be an efficient distraction from grief (to be shocked and scared felt better than the intensity of those emotions).
Anyways, we watched When Evil Lurks, a Spanish-language film by Demián Rugna. It reminded me of the Taiwanese film, The Sadness, which seemed to be an exercise in pushing the limits of how depraved and disturbing a film can go and still be released. “Bleak. Very bleak.” I would not recommend either unless you have a strong stomach.
What Should I Read Next Podcast. This podcast has been bad news for my never-ending TBR. As if I don’t have way too many books to read. Still, it’s always fun listening to other lovers of books talk about their book taste and habits. The host, Anne Bogel, also has a blog I enjoy reading with more book recommendations on the regular, and lifestyle tips.
Classical Stuff You Should Know Podcast. One of my favourite podcasts, three teachers at a classical academy covers literature by Homer, Dante, Ovid (you know, all the people so famous they only need one name to be known). I love classics and classical education (I’ve been longing to send my children to a classical school that costs more than a college tuition for years, but alas). I still never want to try reading Moby Dick again, though.
Held (song by Natalie Grant). An old song that came on my radar again this month. I remember hearing it in high school and learning it was written about a mother whose infant had died. Listening to it again now carries with it deeper meaning for me. I also had no miracle healing for my dead children. I also struggle with the confusion of why God heals one and not another. But there are no guarantees of that in our broken world, only a promise of His presence and love. This song asks the question I wrestle through daily: is that enough?
Two months is too little
They let him go, they had no sudden healing
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens to us who have died to live
It's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
What was your favourite thing from 2023?
Life Lately
Christmas is a bittersweet time. When we were in the process of adopting Ren, we promised each other we would be able to spend that Christmas together as a family. We were never able to have that.
We lost a beloved family member over Christmas week, so these few weeks have been tinged with old grief and new. Still, we have much to be thankful for. I don’t say that as a trite cliche you sprinkle on tragedy, but genuinely. In a loved one’s last moments, the best we can hope for is a painless passing and the chance to be present with them. We got to have that. We rejoice a release from pain. We celebrate a life fully lived.
In spite of all, I look toward 2024 with more hope than before. I’m implementing a few habits I hope will help me be more mindful.
Michael and I have a tradition of running off to the mountains near the end of every year to reflect, and talk about what we’d like to focus on.
While there, Elliot got to ski for the first time. He loves his winter sports. Oddly enough, he’s better on skis or ice skates than his own two legs.
Elanor started crawling at six months. The best stage of parenting is officially over. Just kidding (sort of). Send help.
Inklings Corner
Writing Resources
The Creative Penn Podcast. This is such an excellent podcast for writers I just discovered. Joanna shares about publishing and book marketing. She interviews author entrepreneurs who are finding creative ways to get their work in front of more readers. I’ve just started listening to this podcast, and each episode is brilliant. Thank you,
, for pointing me to this goldmine (by the way, Russell’s is another excellent Substack with resources and advice for authors).Laureate Prize from Small Harbor Publishing (deadline: 31 January, 2024). A contest for full-length poetry books. They encourage submissions from traditionally marginalised writers, especially women, BIPOC, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities. There is a $25 submission fee except for BIPOC writers. The winner will get their book published, $500 cash prize, and 20 printed copies of their book.
A.C. Bose Grant for South Asian Speculative Literature (deadline: 31 January, 2024). Submit a speculative fiction piece of up to 5000 words. You may also submit an excerpt of a novel or novella. The winner will earn $1000.
Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction (deadline: February 2024). Submit an essay of up to 3500 words to be considered for a prize of $250. This contest runs biannually in February and August.
Narrative Winter Contest (deadline: 28 March, 2024). Submit an unpublished fiction or nonfiction piece of up to 15,000 words for the chance to win $2500 and be considered for publication. There is a $27 entry fee.
Personal News & Updates
I took a break from revising Cryptic Clockwork in December (for those who are new, this is Ren’s autobiographical work). It proved too triggering for me to work on during a month that’s already hard enough to get through. However, for 2024 I aim to complete revising one section every other month. There are five sections, so I should be able to resubmit to my editor by the end of the year. Even though it’s not a long book by any means, it does take a lot out of me emotionally, so this is me practicing being gracious to myself.
My 2024 plan is to focus primarily on completing the first draft of Canticle of the Turning by mid-2025. I’m a slow writer; I once spent three hours from 4-7am writing my 300-word prologue. It’s taken the past three years of meticulously crafting each sentence to the mere 25k words it is now. Yeah. I have problems.
Finally, in case you missed it, read my top 5 posts of 2023:
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Here I share some habits I am implementing for the new year and changes I’m making. I want to focus more on being rather than constantly doing.
This article has been gaining a lot of traction around Substack recently. I find that highly encouraging, considering I first published it in October. I’m thrilled so many of you resonated with this and shared your own struggles with social media. Here’s to hoping those of us fleeing Instagram find what we’re looking for here.
My very first article here was quite a personal one, but it resonated with many of you. If you are new here and want to learn some foundational truths about me, I still recommend starting with this one. I share an overview of my family’s story, including the loss of our son, Ren. He’s the reason I write, and he’s the reason I have the courage to share my writing with the world.
Substack’s philosophy that writers should be paid was mind-blowing to me. I’ve been writing for years, sharing anonymously on various platforms, but the idea of earning money from it never, ever crossed my mind. Starving artist, and all that. Over the past year, however, I’ve grown to value my own work more. And apparently, there actually are people who also value it enough to give me some of their hard-earned money so I can focus on writing. This has validated my decision to pursue it as a career—a decision I only recently made at the end of 2022 and spent most of 2023 researching and learning, and then doing and submitting.
This is another personal essay reflecting on uncertainty, birth after barrenness, and the tension between “already” and “not yet.”
Substack Spotlight
This month, I want to highlight a newsletter that has brought me a lot of encouragement.
: This Substack is like a safe space full of grace and gentleness. Esmé provides so many wonderful resources for writers. She focuses on supporting those living with limitations and chronic conditions, which can easily become discouraging and overwhelming in a fast-paced world. Esmé advises and guides with a nurturing hand that also challenges (see You Don’t Have to Write Everyday to Be a Writer and Everyday Creativity: Small Actions with Big Impact). She also writes poignant essays that make my heart twinge.Coming Up
January will be focused on reintroducing my Substack (or introducing since I never actually did that). I think I’ve mostly nailed down what I want to do with it now, which will be mostly the same kind of topics you’ve been seeing, but on a better schedule (let’s hope), and a clearer idea of what will be paid versus free. I’ll share what I’m planning in my next article.
In February, I will be hosting my second slow-read of Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger. I hope you will join us for that!
Welcome to new Inklings,
, Grace H., , , , , , , , , , Christina C., , , Kim, , , , , , , Yatin, Merpug, Steph, , , , , Jenny M., Daria, Esai, Kirstin W., Jung, Pakie, , Susie, Mary Anne, , Kristiana, , Emma, Hafsa, Caity, Oliver, , , Sandy Y., Christine, Emily, , , , , , , , Alessandra, Elisa P., , Marge, , , , , , , , , , , , , Heather B., , Rochelle S., Stephanie S., , , , , , ,I’m still flabbergasted that so many of you found me in the past couple weeks. Our Fellowship is now over 200 strong, which is incredible.
When I started my Substack at the end of September this year, I set what I thought was an ambitious goal to get to 50 subscribers by the end of the year. I’m so grateful to all of you who lend me space in your inbox, read my words, and find something worth staying for. Thank you.
If you set resolutions or goals, what is one you have for 2024? If you don’t, what are you looking forward to this year?
What’s a book you’re planning to read soon?
How do you maintain good habits in your daily life (I need some tips)?
With Love,
And finally, for my paid subscribers who help put butter on my toast and honey in my tea, the playlist: