Category: Uncategorized

Highlights within, spoodle boy band poster, upcoming events, links to stuff I’ve done recently, how to get your social justice calendar, August power up playlist.

There is an alchemy that happens when you create in service. For me, it gives me a freedom as well as a responsibility. I may be stretched and asked for things that are a little beyond my comfort zone. I must hit a deadline, create the best experience, use my doubts to fuel energy, research, doing and completion, rather than letting those same doubts spiral down into self-defeating anxiety.

You can tell the difference, the alchemy when you look at this reflective blog post (nice, sure, but I’m burying the lead, I’m guiding you into something rather than bravely just going for it) and the blog post I wrote for Uncanny Magazine that went live today! In that post I get straight to the heart of it.

I am Liz, creator of the Things. Thank you so much to everyone who nominated me for a Hugo, simply making it to the long list was one of the best feelings I’ve had this year.

I am launching a Patreon. Patronage does so much! I would love your support. Thank you for supporting me, and thank you for supporting Uncanny Magazine.

^ Only more eloquent, because I was writing it for them, not me. Here is what I wrote for them

THIS IS A VERY LONG WAY OF SAYING my Patreon is live. Through that website, you can nourish creators like me for as little as $1 a month. I can already feel how it’s motivating me as a creator, I want to book more shows and reach out to my neighbors more. I would love your support. Thank you for reading this and go check it out!

The first ever drawing I did of the things (click the way back button to see and see how much I’ve improved) was

Today we stared at the sun until we went blind, it was a good day.

As I’m writing thing I’m listening to the NASA live stream and watching the eclipse through a pinhole projector made out a water cracker. It lasts for hours. So check it out if you have blue skies in North America (you’ll get a partial eclipse at least), in a way that does not make you go bind. And everyone can watch the stream 🙂

Transcript

Many characters from the things, and extras! A smiling moon has almost finished crossing the sun.

Today we stared at the sun until it went away and came back again.

It was a good day.

Chuffles: hello moon.

***

Do you know about Patreon? It’s a place where everyday folks can become patrons of the arts. One of your favorite artists might be there right now, creating exclusive content and supported by a community of patrons. The Patreon that supports the Things is https://www.patreon.com/lizargall

Upcoming dates:

• Saturday, August 26, Exterminator City Ate (Underground Comix Market), Push/Pull Gallery, Seattle

With big love to all the amazing community builders, I’ve learned from. Model how to grab joy even more fiercely when the struggle is long. It can be hard sometimes, but oh what company we get to keep. Boot is the best kind of company, Boot is not surface nice, Boot is the best kind of kind.

Boot: They said, you will care less when you get older.

speak up less, dream of a fairer world less

NOPE

I get sore sometimes, frazzled… sometimes there are costs and even I need to rest sometimes.

But it’s silly to assume I’ll grow out of what I steadfastly grow INTO and get better at

it’s not me “they” are trying to convince.

I’ll be launching a Patreon soon and will have a process diary/asking for your good advice (you’re welcome to say stuff or lurk for fun or perhaps your own Patreon). Just click here and click send to sign yourself up! Yay Patreon.

Anyone else get these feels? It’s been quite the month! The month is almost over, so don’t forget, if you sign up, or get someone to sign up to the newsletter/postcards this month you’ll go in the draw for a free sketch!

Big love to Locus Awards, I didn’t draw anything there as I was a little empty!

Thing 1: Nebulas, Wiscon, Graphic Medicine Conference, Locus Awards.

Thing 1: so many inspiring people

Thing 2: so many feels

Thing 1: why can’t it be like that all the time?

Thing 1 trembles and drips

Thing 2: you’re so sweaty

Thing 1: don’t worry, that’s just my brain melting.

Mayara, the tamarin the size of a tamarind seed, brings you her response to “Monster Girls Don’t Cry” by Merc Rustad over at Uncanny Magazine.

Go check it out!

“Monster Girls Don’t Cry” contained a lot of what I was soul food to me when I was teen, speculative fiction with enough teeth, hope and strength. It reminded me of what Merc has said about her mission and vision when she writes stories (you can read more about that from my interview with her over at Lightspeed for her story “Finding Home”).

Don’t forget to sign up for our e-postcards if you would like to get interesting doodles, sketches and links that only subscribers receive!