Write Every Day: 27 August 02019

[silveradept]

Greetings! This is the Write Every Day Check-in post for 27 August 02019.

We have a destination! china_shop will be hosting September's Write Every Day posts. Since they're a bit further ahead than some of us, they might start posting before everything's all done here. Don't worry too much about it, just get there when it's time and post away.

zwei_hexen are slated for October's Write Every Day as well, barring further complications in scheduling and life.


How do y'all deal with compassion fatigue? Because having an interconnected world means there's always some other injustice that you can read, see, or hear about, regardless of where you get your newsmedia from (and the accuracy value of the newsmedia that you might be exposed to unwillingly). There are a lot of times where it feels like because I have a potentially privileged position, I should be leveraging it more to help everyone else, whether financially or socially, or protest-ly, or otherwise. Instead, I'm mostly trying to make sure I can keep my household afloat and do good work in my profession, which is probably not nothing, but certainly not the sort of thing that someone who looks like me could be doing to be more visibly helpful to people who don't look like me.

I'm sure there's something in there that says "Maslow says you must be this self-actualizzed to ride the ride." But there's also something in there that says "Your idea of comfortable enough to engage is crap and if you're comfortable, then you're doing it all wrong, because your comfort is not more important than their struggles."

(It's also true that I'll feel better about a some of this after I've eaten food. Being hungry saps the joy out of a lot of things, apparently.)

There's still the feeling that if I'm not doing as much as possible to try and rectify the issues that have brought us to that point, I'm not making the most effective use of my time. But I will also turn around and yell about what a terrible idea it is to insist upon individual solutions to structural and systematic problems.

And so the dance continues between "Am I doing enough to be a good person?" and "Self-care means you can actually do those kinds of things, y'know."

Writing-wise, I wrote a bit more on the big WIP today. As I suspected, having reached a point where I had more set pieces in mind made the words move more easily. I also finished an assignment draft, which is good. I'll check to make sure it's over wordcount and go from there.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 1: alexcat, alexseanchai, athaia, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sonia, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 2: alexcat, alexseanchai, athaia, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sonia, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 3: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sonia, sylvanwitch, talkingtothesky, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 4: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bladespark, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sonia, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 5: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, shopfront, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 6: alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, sonia, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 7: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, boxofdelights, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 8: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, boxofdelights, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, talkingtothesky, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 9: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 10: alexseanchai, auroracloud, boxofdelights, carenejeans, china_shop, lferion, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 11: alexcat, alexseanchai, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 12: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, shopfront, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 13: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, yslime.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 14: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 15: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 16: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 17: alexcat, alexseasnchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, boxofdelights, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 18: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 19: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, chanter1944, cornerofmadness, lferion, magnetic_pole, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 20: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, chanter1944, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 21: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, chanter1944, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 22: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 23: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 24: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 25: alexcat, auroracloud, bookherd, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerfmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 26: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, bookherd, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

People who have checked in with writing on Day 27: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, azurelunatic, bookherd, china_shop, cornerofmadness, lferion, sanguinity, silveradept, sylvanwitch, yasaman, ysilme.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

How do y'all deal with compassion fatigue?

*eyes my AO3* GEE I WONDER

…

a bunch of words happened but approximately none on where the firelight fades. trying to figure out (1) the choreography of the part of ch 5 that's simultaneous with the back part of ch 4 (2) if the way to unfuck my pacing involves moving what I thought was the end of ch 5 nearer its middle so there's more room for the next plot points to breathe and so I don't need to come up with more fight choreography for in ch 5.

[silveradept]

That's one way of doing it, I suppose.

And hopefully the pacing and spacing unfuck themselves soon.

[sanguinity]

Got beta comments back, revised accordingly, sent to Britpick, revised accordingly, and posted.

POSTED BABY POSTED

\o/

(Anon exchange, though, so it'll be a few weeks before I can claim it as mine.)

[silveradept]

Whoo! Posting is always a good feeling.

[bookherd]

POSTED! \o/

[alexcat]

3065 words to day on the BB.

[silveradept]

That's a great word haul there!

[bookherd]

863 words. Chapter end is in sight!

Some strategies that have helped me: go out of your way to listen to marginalized voices, and share what you hear; connect with people in your area who are working toward the same goals; show up to protests and be encouraged by how many people cared enough to show up too; when you need a break, you need it, so don't beat yourself up for that.

[silveradept]

Yay, chapter end.

Thanks for the strategies.

[james]

I really like the practise of picking one ir two causes or charities to support, do that at a reasinable level, then let other people support other worthy causes. You can't do everything. You don't need to overreach trying to look like you're helping; someone will always want you to help their cause.

That and voting for the right people is, I think, enough. You don't have to make up fir the shortcomings of others.

[silveradept]

Reasonable level is often the tricky part. At times, I feel like I can't spare anything, and that produces negative feedback that I should instead be throwing money at something until I'm hurting, because that might be enough.

[james]

This is why I have an automatic monthly donation set up for one charity I give to. It's only $7 a month, but I know I can spare that, and it relieves me of feeling like I should give more because it adds up, all by itself.

Because yeah - right now, with not working for two weeks, money is tight and I STILL find myself thinking I should give to worthy causes. And I have to remind myself no, we are watching our grocery spending for a reason, you can't give money away.

[silveradept]

I think it would be easier in my case if it weren't for decisions I made in the past (absolutely necessary decisions) that will severely curtail any spare money I have for years.

[yasaman]

338 words for me tonight. Re compassion fatigue, I have no helpful answers, given my proven method is just escapism :/ But I think we can bring the same discipline to bear on our compassion as we do our writing: at least a little bit, every day.

[silveradept]

Huzzah for words.

A little bit every day seems like it's not going to change anything. (Until it does, anyway.)

[azurelunatic]

We have an alibi sentence.

[silveradept]

That's good.

[china_shop]

*hugs*

28th: 131 words on something new, and 239 additional words of notes/dialogue for the same thing. Maybe it will turn into something?

[silveradept]

Maybe so. It's certainly starting to accumulate words to itself.

[auroracloud]

Can't weigh in properly on the compassion fatigue question because for me, it's too closely tied up with all the mental issues I have, and things get really complicated and personal and difficult really fast if I start on it. Uh, I limit my media intake a lot and avoid following people who share a lot of content that's likely to induce those feelings, and otherwise it's a work in progress. That's pretty much all I can say without descending into the wrong kinds of depths.

Anyway, I worked a bit more on the novel.

[silveradept]

Thanks for sharing what you could. And yay for working on the novel.

[ysilme]

Big RL things are happening for me, and for the next few weeks, I won't have much mental or physical energy for writing or being online. For one, we finally got a scaffolding for part of the house and can continue painting the wood facade, which is largely my job. Then, due to another unexpected heat wave, my garden is producing tons of veggies I have to deal with. And last, after searching for three years, we finally found our (affordable and second hand) dream caravan which we bought on Monday, and I'm itching to get my hands on in sprucing up and personalising. ;o)
I wrote every day since I last checked in, anything between just alibi sentences on the "caravan days" and about 200 words.

Btw., there's a typo in Sylvanwitch's and my joint WED journal name: it's zwei_hexen.

[silveradept]

Augh, finger-slip. Thanks for pointing it out.

The caravan sounds exciting. Planning on plenty of trips to places where it will be needed?

The painting does not sound nearly as fun, as someone who painted houses as work in university.

Hooray for writing every day.

[lferion]

I hear you on the compassion fatigue front.

I gave myself permission to not push yesterday, and got part of a poem and some notes. I may see if I can’t get one more section written for the bang before reveals, and I actually do need to go through and tidy the formatting and so forth.

[silveradept]

Yay for progress toward completion.

[ghoti]

I quite rather empathize with everything being less worse after a food.

[silveradept]

It seems to work if I remember that's the case.

[lilysea]

There's still the feeling that if I'm not doing as much as possible to try and rectify the issues that have brought us to that point, I'm not making the most effective use of my time. But I will also turn around and yell about what a terrible idea it is to insist upon individual solutions to structural and systematic problems.

And so the dance continues between "Am I doing enough to be a good person?" and "Self-care means you can actually do those kinds of things, y'know."

I think we are all obligated to do as much as we can without harming ourselves, and no more.

Without harming ourselves means - without putting ourselves at risk of getting fired;
without damaging our romantic relationships or our friendships through neglect;
without short changing ourselves on sleep;
without skipping the selfcare we need to manage any physical or mental health issues [which might include, for example, hobbies that help with Depression];
without neglecting any children we are primary carer for.

For some people, that still leaves a lot of time and energy left over for social justice/reform.

For other people - especially people who are Disabled/chronically ill or who have young children - that might mean there is little or no time and energy left over for social reform.

But that's my sense of the ethics equation.

[silveradept]

Thanks for your words. I'm not sure I have a healthy sense of how much self-care I need, given my past, and so it's difficult to figure things out.

[cornerofmadness]

If it's fatigue on the big picture topics, I take myself off line and do things that make me happy. If it's with a particularly person/thing that is trickier


1255 words on like stone would be more but I accidentally forgot to save about 700 words

[silveradept]

Oh, no. I hope the words come back, even if not exactly the same.

[cornerofmadness]

I did get them back luckily

[sylvanwitch]

I don't have any good answers for the questions you pose, but I can say that I share the same conflict, the same seesaw of "The world is on fire, and I'm not doing enough about it!" and "If I hear one more bad thing, I'm going to curl into a fetal position and die." I try to remind myself that I only have so many apples in the barrel, and if the barrel is empty, I can't feed anyone, including myself. So, I don't know, but you're not alone in feeling the way you describe here.

On Day 27, I managed 51 words, which I think were sort of a poem about how exhausted I was when I wrote them. It always takes me some time to adjust to the energy requirements of teaching, and I'm coming to understand that 48 is not 28, so that period of adjustment is going to take longer. *sighs*

[silveradept]

The solidarity is helpful, thank you.

Getting ramped back up into the school year sounds like it takes a lot. Hopefully, the students will be okay with the transition period.