Dear Captain, The situation: I (she/her) am a homemaker and mum to a toddler. I’ve suffered from depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia for eighteen years, aka my entire adult life and then some. I’m on meds and pretty much a self-care rockstar, but I still spend LOTS of time and energy coping with pain, fatigue, dizziness, … Continue reading #1286: “How do I create good art when life is tough and might not get easier?”
Category: art
Linkety Links + “We need to talk” vs. “Hey, knock it off” conflict management strategies
Good news, Mikki Kendall's beautiful book, Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History Of Women's Fight For Their Rights, is finally out. The IndieBound link is above, Amazon is here, it's illustrated by the amazing A. D'Amico and just breathtakingly wonderful and gorgeous. Mr. Awkward is cataloging his year of ambitious projects with his blog/email … Continue reading Linkety Links + “We need to talk” vs. “Hey, knock it off” conflict management strategies
#1199: “Hello, I’d rather hang out with my main character than my husband.”
Dear Captain - I (she/her) am a middle-aged wife of a man (he/him). We've only been married three years (together 8) but it has turned out to be rather nothing like what I wanted marriage to be - and I was not unrealistic! He's emotionally constipated and may also be more intellectually my inferior than … Continue reading #1199: “Hello, I’d rather hang out with my main character than my husband.”
#1195: How to give a client feedback when the feedback is “You’re racist.”
Captain, my Captain! I've looked through the archives, and while you've answered similar-ish questions, this one hasn't come up before, so I'm hoping you can help! I (she/her) work as a freelance editor and am in a fairly privileged position––I have enough clients that I can afford to be somewhat choosy; I'm white and cisgender, … Continue reading #1195: How to give a client feedback when the feedback is “You’re racist.”
#1178: “A friend paid me to read her book and it’s terrible.”
Hello Captain, Two years ago, a friend paid me to critique her novel because I studied writing and know the publishing industry. I agreed to read three drafts of the work. We did not sign a formal contract. Then I got the manuscript, and it’s terrible on all levels, from prose to plot. I’ve tried … Continue reading #1178: “A friend paid me to read her book and it’s terrible.”
Book: How To Be Alone by Lane Moore
I read Lane Moore's book of essays "How To Be Alone (If You Want To And Even If You Don't)" in the past few days and a) I loved it b) I couldn't stop highlighting things from it. Starting on the first damn page: "There’s a very particular sort of no-man’s-land that comes with having … Continue reading Book: How To Be Alone by Lane Moore
Short Answer Friday – Holiday Edition – 11/16/2018
Hello Awkward Friends! Today I'm going to try to knock out as many short questions as I can about the holidays, celebrations, togetherness. Readers can submit short questions at the designated thread on Patreon (advantage, more than 280 characters) or on Twitter (advantage, free for all!) before noon Chicago time today. Twitter folks, please use … Continue reading Short Answer Friday – Holiday Edition – 11/16/2018
Live Chat Today!
Submit your questions on Patreon or on Twitter (@CAwkward, #AwkwardFriday) before noon Chicago time today and I will answer as many as I can. Comments get turned on after everything's posted on my end. Great questions this week! Transcript below, updating sloooooooooooowly. 1 Q: No question, but can you number the questions so they are easier … Continue reading Live Chat Today!
#1071: “I’m so jealous of my friend after she got the job I was promised.”
Hi, I'm hoping you can help me with some coping mechanisms for jealousy which will help me feel less like the shittiest friend in the universe. Long story short, a friend got a job I wanted, and I’ve spent months failing to not let it affect our friendship. The whole story is long but the … Continue reading #1071: “I’m so jealous of my friend after she got the job I was promised.”
#1049: “Getting talked at by a fellow amateur writer.”
Dear Captain, I write fiction, mostly fantasy. I admit I can be humorless about it. My friend “Shawn” writes fiction of similar genre. We used to talk about writing and about our ideas a lot, but less so since I got a day job. Shawn starts projects all the time and most of them never … Continue reading #1049: “Getting talked at by a fellow amateur writer.”