Meme: The June Something: Day One

This is a fandom meme created by squidgiepdx.





Day 1: What's changed about your fandom life in the last 365 days?

I've started writing for The Old Guard fandom, and for that, I've been learning a lot more about Islam and North African culture to writing Joe more sensitively. For example, I read the 700+ page Oxford History of Islam, I've read every post about Muslims on the Writing With Color webpage, and I just bought (damn you, JSTOR!) an article "The Classical Arabic Detective." BUT The Old Guard fandom is suffering from Ye Olde Top/Bottom unpleasant discourse which I remember from my BBC Sherlock days, though in this fandom is tinged with racism, and it had definitely dampened my enthusiasm. BUT I am still going through with my Unconventional Courtship fic. I participated in Bottom Joe Week and some comments I've read have helped me examine how I write Joe and hopefully helped to write him better.

I abandoned a fic for the first time in 8 years in October. Maybe I will go back to finish it, hope springs eternal. I had a month under 5k words.

But I had very good months, too. I joined the Shedunnit book club, which has definitely introduced me to some authors from the Golden Age of Crime-Writing that I absolutely love (Michael Gilbert, ECR Lorac) but I wouldn't call it 'fandom' because I don't write fic for them. Also, I have been inspired to read all of Agatha Christie's ouvre in order of publication.

I also wrote for A. J. Demas' Sword Dance series for Be the First.

It's difficult to say how things have changed. There have been ups and downs.

Poet's Corner: To S.M. a young African Painter, on seeing his Works by Phillis Wheatley

I have just started reading African American Poetry 250 Years of Struggle and Song ed. by Kevin Young. I may have posted this one before, but I like it, so here it is again.

To S.M. a young African Painter, on seeing his Works by Phillis Wheatley

TO show the lab’ring bosom’s deep intent,
And thought in living characters to paint,
When first thy pencil did those beauties give,
And breathing figures learnt from thee to live,
How did those prospects give my soul delight,
A new creation rushing on my sight?
Still, wond’rous youth! each noble path pursue,
On deathless glories fix thine ardent view:
Still may the painter’s and the poet’s fire
To aid thy pencil, and thy verse conspire!
And may the charms of each seraphic theme
Conduct thy footsteps to immortal fame!
High to the blissful wonders of the skies
Elate thy soul, and raise thy wishful eyes.
Thrice happy, when exalted to survey
That splendid city, crown’d with endless day,
Whose twice six gates on radiant hinges ring:
Celestial Salem blooms in endless spring.

( Read more... )

June is Pride

Watch on YouTube