Olympics, State Fair, and Course Prep
A new semester is on the horizon, both for Wilkes and Iowa State. It’s hard to believe, after entering college in the summer of 2014, that in one more semester, I’ll be finished. I’m so thankful for all I’ve learned so far, the people I’ve met, and the things I’ve done in this program. This fall will be busy as usual but fun; not a lot of pressure as far as writing goes, and I think it’ll be good for me to have time to teach and write and not worry too much about deadlines right now, only self-imposed ones.
Course prep is going as well as course prep does; a lot of copy and pasting from my canvas shell from past years and moving things around so it’s organized. I’m excited about some new versions of assignments that I’m going to try out this semester. The learning community coordinators I’ve talked to also seem to like my ideas, so that’s at least an encouraging thought. The schedule for the start of school this semester is a week later than usual, though, and I feel like I’m behind anyway.
The Iowa State Fair is going on right now. My aunt really loves the fair and drags me with her every time. I enjoy the fair, sure, but I also used to show goats at the fair, so I spent every day there for about a week from fourth grade through high school. It’s fun to go as a visitor, though. I get to venture out beyond the corner of the grounds with the livestock buildings. I just don’t enjoy the heat and all the people, though people-watching at the state fair is a great way to come up with new, kind of unhinged characters. The weather this year has been nice, though, which is a good thing since we’ve been there twice already and will probably go twice more this week.
Also, the Olympics just got over. This is probably the most I’ve watched the Olympics since I was a kid. It brings back memories of sitting on the carpet in our basement, glued to the figure skating performances on TV. Figure Skating and Gymnastics. Those were really the only events I remember watching. But now, anything and everything has me transfixed. I think it’s just fun to watch a bunch of people do amazing things and have a competitive spirit. I learned a lot about rugby this year, a sport that I previously never watched. I also just enjoy all the memes and the drama coming out of this year’s Olympics.
Writing Update
I’m at a standstill with The Alliance right now. I’ve sent out more queries, received a few rejections, and am just… waiting. In the meantime, I’m working on building up my social media presence on X, though it’s very out of character for me to actively post. I like to lurk and witness the discourse from a distance.
The fair actually came at a perfect time for me. I’m working on a chapter for A Southern Wind that uses the fantasy version of that type of atmosphere, and actually, being in the environment I’m trying to create will be helpful. Already, it’s drummed up thoughts about how noisy and overwhelming the lights, sound, and action can be, plus the inevitable sinus issues that always plague me after I spend time in the barns. All these little details I think will be helpful for me to put together chapters four (which I’m currently finishing) and five.
The sequel to The Alliance is coming along well, too! I’m on chapters four and five right now as well and making good time. I’m sure there’s quite a bit of editing I’ll want to do to straighten some holes out and keep the character’s attitudes consistent, but right now, I’m just writing, and more importantly, I’m enjoying it. This is pretty similar to how I wrote my first draft of The Alliance, except now I have the knowledge to do it better and save myself an extensive rewrite during revisions. I should probably come up with a placeholder title for book two. It was such a struggle to settle on The Alliance, and it took a long time (and a coworker’s enthusiasm) for me to even like that title.
Check These Out!
Books: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
After reading this book 3 times for 3 different classes, I think I know it well enough to say it’s a good book. It’s also relevant to political issues today, even though it was written in the 1950s. This book focuses on the issue of burning books in a futuristic dystopian world, which brings up some important conversations. It reminds me of another excellent book, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, which also brings up book burning in Nazi-occupied Germany.
TV Shows: For Those About to Die
I’ve just started watching this show on Peacock, so this is more of a *currently watching* than a recommendation right now. I’ve only finished the first episode so far, and (save some cringe CGI scenes) it doesn’t seem too bad… yet. I have to get further into the series to really say for sure whether it’s good or not, though. But if you often think about the Roman Empire, this may just be the show for you.
Games: Exploding Kittens
This is just a goofy game with easy-to-understand mechanics. I’m obsessed with the unhinged concept and artwork, and it’s great to play with friends and giggle over the ridiculous cards.
Podcasts: History for Weirdos
If you like history as I do and want to explore the strange moments that are not talked about as often or even some well-known stories, this podcast is fantastic. There’s something for everyone here, and it’s just a fun time.
Corgi Corner
Indy Bones is enjoying the cooler summer! We’ve been going out on long walks in the early mornings and relaxing outside in the yard since the weather’s been nice lately. Last week, she participated in a summer camp obstacle course at daycare. She had so much fun (and got a lot of treats)!
This month’s Corgi Corner features a book series I read in early middle school. This is another mystery series, appropriately featuring a dog as the main character: Hank the Cowdog, by John R. Erickson. Growing up, I loved the Western theme, the animal characters, and, of course, the puzzle that a mystery provides a reader. This series is still ongoing, too! A new title, The Case of the Poetic Bird Dog, releases this fall. Check out the website here! There are recipes from the books, games, printable coloring pages, as well as resources for teachers who use these books in their classrooms.
Final Thoughts:
Thanks for taking the time to read my substack! Feel free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.
Check out my website for projects and WIPs!
https://www.josephinewickman.com
I’ll see you all next month, and don’t forget to READ A GOOD BOOK!