The World Needs Hope

Let’s see…let’s see, what’s been on my mind? Honestly, not a lot because the world’s a dumpster fire and I’ve been fighting a bug. Naps and tea are my friend. 

Since writing’s difficult right now I’ve been trying to get some reading in. There are a lot of books out that were written to shed light on the misdeeds of mankind, the horrors we commit against one another, the real, honest side of life. And while I agree that it’s important to have stories that reflect our pain and suffering, I believe it’s even more important for our stories to have hope. 

I believe you reap what you sow, that you get back what you put in, and that every story changes a person. 

In real life it’s not always easy to choose kindness and positivity. I fail at times, and when I fall short I tell myself to do better next time. But what about our writing? What are we saying with our words?

I want to both read and write about the kind of hope that’s prevalent in the Lord of the Rings and Salvation Day by Kali Wallace. In LotR, Frodo’s surrounded by a group of varied individuals that come together because they share the same hope; to free Middle Earth from Sauron’s rule and therefore ensure freewill for all. In Salvation Day, enemies must come together because they know if they fail, space won’t be big enough to protect mankind. 

Fantasy, sci-fi, it doesn’t matter what genre, what matters is the message we put out there. Is there hope for the present? Is there hope for the future? Is there faith in something bigger than ourselves?

Hope can surprise you, can be stronger than first appears, and can redeem us. That’s what I want to put out into the world, hope.  

I want people to look up to the sun. I want people to see the beautiful fighting for space between the darkness. I want people to read my stories and be uplifted…by hope. 

Why I'm Sticking with RWA

I'm getting back into the groove following a lovely Christmas holiday in Tucson with my family. I didn't take my laptop, and even read a paper book, staying pretty much offline except for the occasional Instagram post.

It was relaxing and restorative.

When I returned online Friday morning, 12/26, I fell face-first into the the RWA crisis. Since our topic at the SFF Seven this week is whatever is on our minds... well, I don't have much on my mind besides this.

There's a great deal online about it. If you don't know anything, this is a good run-down of the timeline. It's the best I've seen, though I hesitated to link to it because I don't like how Claire frames the situation with words like "implosion," "collapse," and "dinosaurs."

I don't think RWA is coming to an end, despite the almost gleeful predictions of it.

I do think this situation has exposed a number of massive problems. Not to be glib or pollyanna, I see this as a crisis/opportunity.

Yes, systemic racism is, has been, and continues to be a major issue within RWA. Despite concerted strides to correct the problems - with recent significant progress being made - it seems that policies and embedded practices in the organization have allowed a racist, exclusionary mindset to persist. In this particular situation, we've also run afoul of a cult of personality and a personal feud that led to Policies & Procedures being altered and bypassed to pursue a particular vendetta.

Former president (and all-around amazing person) Helen Kay Dimon laid out recommended steps in this tweet thread. I fully support those steps. I think that, if we are brutally thorough, we can get the ship cleaned up and back on course.

RWA has been very good to me. I know it hasn't been for everyone, but I owe a great deal to the organization When I joined as a newbie fiction author in 2007, RWA gave me all the tools to help me in my new career. I want RWA to be that for everyone. That's why I'm not abandoning ship. I'm offering my help to do whatever needs to be done - and I think the next few weeks will be key - so I really hope we can succeed. I don't believe RWA is a dinosaur. I think the organization can be better and do better.

I'm staying as long as there's hope.