Nyx – Page 288

September 23, 2015

Ran Out of Spoons

I ran out of spoons before noon today. Ugh.

I went back to bed – despite the beautiful day – to see if I could rustle up a few more. Wanderer was great. I don’t think he even knew what I was on about, but he jumped into bed, played ‘little spoon’ for a while, got out of bed, said: “Consider yourself spooned”, and went on his merry way.

For someone in the position I’m in, I don’t think a lot about how many spoons I have or how I’m using them. Thanks to my bipolar, the number of spoons I have from day to day can vary a lot.

This week? The spoon gods have not been generous.

The thing is, I don’t want to apologise anymore. I don’t want to feel guilty. Spoon supply issues are spoon supply issues. I don’t think I’m breaking any hearts by not posting here as much as I want to.

More than that, I want to reach out and say hello to those who don’t have a lot of spoons to spare. For you to use up a spoon on reading my ramblings here is an honour that I am not equipped to accurately describe in words.

You are amazing. I wish I could give you spoons.

Spoons for all.

Zine Ninja approves.

(You have no idea what I’m on about? Read The Spoon Theory.)

September 19, 2015

Catching Up

Aw, duck. And I was doing so well with keeping up with the ol’ zine reviews on Thursdays and Fridays.

I was so, so sore and tired on Thursday and Friday, and I didn’t want to bring that to the zines I’m going to review. I didn’t feel like that was the right energy (or lack thereof) to have while reviewing. Maybe I think too much about it, but I want to be the reviewer that I would reviewing my zines.

Ugh. Trying to brain and make the words.

I’ve been trying to focus on my health this week and figuring out if this mystical ‘10,000 steps’ thing is something doable in the World of Nyx. The Nyxus. I’m keeping that. The Nyxus is made up of writing books, making zines, doing graphic design and book design work, play time consisting of PC games… I think you can see where I’m going. My work, my play… A lot of it involves sitting down.

I did have a go at some 10,000 step days – hence the being so sore stuff. It was a good kind of pain, though, if you know what I mean. I earned it.

So that’s what I’ve been up to. It takes me hours of walking to get that many steps, which meant my work stuff got pushed back. I’m still trying to sort out the whole ‘how to be healthy and get my work done’ (no, I cannot afford to build or buy a standing/treadmill/whatever desk), but I am trying to do it in a way that will still let me keep up with the blog here (because I big fuzzy love hearts this place and all the people who pop by) as well as do the things I want to do.

I hope everyone has been doing well. If you haven’t been, I hope you have some awesome comfort ____. Whatever it takes to remind you that you are awesome.

My friend, Kickass, is amazing and got me a f*cking dragon friendship ring.

DRAGON FRIENDSHIP RING

It totally goes with the tattoo on my back.

29 is not too old for a friendship ring. Pft.

September 14, 2015

Beautiful Blue Australian Spring Skies

IMG_20150914_154158

No happy mail today – and the local post office is under construction to boot! – but not all was lost. It’s hard to be grumpy on such a beautiful day. Zine Ninja and I have been soaking up the sunshine – even if we don’t get as much work done.

September 13, 2015

Call for Calls for Submissions

I feel like I’m attempting to break the internet by posting a call for submissions call for submissions.

But that’s it! I want to share your call for submissions. Your call for donations to your zine library. So on. So forth. All the things! Leave a comment here. 🙂

Big fuzzy love hearts to those of you who use graphics (and thus save me time) for their calls for submissions!

September 12, 2015

Call for Submissions: Dear Anonymous 4

Dear Anonymous has a rolling, open submission, so you can submit your letters at any time!

DA4 is on its way, and you still have time to get your letters in. These letters can be confessionals, but they can also be whatever you like them to be. Write to your life, write to your cat, write to your past or your future… Dear Anonymous is about writing the letters of the things you can’t say for whatever reason.

Basically, you’re right in the 1 – 500 words range, but shorter is better. BUT, this zine is about expression, and I don’t want to force anyone to clamp down on their passion just for me. I’m flexible.

Send letters to theauthor at inkyblots.com If I don’t respond to you within a few days, comment here.

All contributors will receive a PDF copy. (Possibly a print copy depending on my financial status at the time of printing.)

*** Do you have a call for submissions for your zine? Let me know!

September 11, 2015

Zine Review: Pieces #2 On Girls & Wondering

Pieces #2 On Girls & Wondering
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

This zine is about the handful of girls in my life that really made an impact on me.

I think there is a true, deep value in being able to look at past relationships and feel the feelings without getting lost in them. In this zine, I think Nichole makes a beautiful tribute to women she has met. From her first kiss to realisations of unrequited love, we get to view the women that influenced her life as she views them.

Nichole shares her awkward moments in ways that are endearing and yet ‘are what they are’. She doesn’t indulge in fantasies of what could have been or should have been. When you’re reading, you get a real sense of how she appreciates them even though, in her own words:

…things didn’t work out the way I wanted with any of them…

What was especially gorgeous for me is that there are a couple of women who don’t have names. Why is this gorgeous? Because it reminds me that you never really know whose life you’re influencing. You might think that everybody thinks your [X], but it just so happens someone out there is too nervous to ask you out. Or even to say hello.

Love it.

September 10, 2015

Zine Review: Pieces #1 On Writing, Reading & Growing Up

Pieces #1 On Writing, Reading & Growing Up
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

This zine (and #2-#5) came through a trade I made a few years ago thanks to the We Make Zines site. Nichole prefers trades to outright sales, so my financially-challenged self was quite happy.

I had a good feeling that I would like this first one because I am an author (and was back when I made the trade, too) and love a lot of things that are writing-related. This zine did not disappoint.

Pieces takes a ‘snippets of life’ approach to her zine with, well, snippets of her life. Bits and pieces that surround reading, writing, authors and what it means to grow up as a creative person. She does skip around in time – jumping forward and back – but chronology doesn’t matter as much as the feelings of the scenes involved. While my glitchy self would have loved chronology, my free love hippie self was happy to go with the flow.

What was even better is how many experiences Nichole and I had in common. For instance, I also wrote for Young Authors when I was in school. I also started using British spellings in school only to be told a resounding no. (Yay for moving to Australia and putting extra letters in all sorts of words! Colour!) While she was not allowed to read at the table, I was not allowed to write. But we were both convinced (if only a little bit) that the characters would get up to something while we were away.

We’ve even both met Garth Nix.

I won’t give it away, but the zine ends on an exhilarating (especially if you’ve done it yourself) note that leaves you wanting to know what happened next.

September 9, 2015

Don’t Call Me Cupcake 2

Last October (HOW DID TIME GO SO FAST?! WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!) I took an anxiety-filled dive into the world of making my first perzine. Up until then, my zines always had the focus of other people in some way, shape or form. I never really took a stance and talked about how I felt.

Mostly because I’m a chronic fence-sitter, and expressing my opinion on anything opens me up to criticism. And criticism makes me cry.

I wish I was joking.

Anyway, the whole thing was liberating. Wonderful. Yeah, I made some statements that are no longer true for me, but that’s life. People change. However, it’s been way too long between zines.

Before 2015 is out, I really want to create DCMC 2. The first zine was about introductions. Why I chose the name Nyx, an intro to my world of bipolar, an intro to my art therapy, etc. I have finally decided on the ‘theme’ for the next issue:

Fear

I do have some non-fear-related pieces to put in there to lighten up the mood a bit, but the main focus will be fear/s. I do deal with anxiety as well as decision-making phobia and so on. However, while I’m still in the planning stages…

Do you have any suggestions about a fear related topic you’d be interested in reading about? (Or another topic you would like me to write about.) Anything. A response to thoughts, a question, anything really… I am open to suggestions within reason, so if you have any, please let me know.

September 6, 2015

Call for Submissions: 30 before 30 Ideas

Yeah, I still don’t have my list finished. I have started on some of these, so I am still thinking that I will get this done.

Here’s the thing: I turn 30 in a bit under a year. I want to create a ‘thirty things to accomplish before I turn thirty’ list because I think it would be fun.

Whenever I start, though, it turns into my current to-do list. Bah.

So tell me your suggestions! I don’t promise to do them, but I do promise to have a good think about whether it/they should be on the list. So far I’ve had suggestions like watch the sun rise on the beach, go skinny dipping, and learn a different language. I’m also looking for food/drinks to try and other experiences. I’m not exactly rich, so I can’t fly to Japan or anything, but I’ll sort that all out once I have plenty of suggestions to choose from.

Have at it!

September 4, 2015