Writing this blog from a hotel room in Pittsburgh because conference. Let’s dive in!
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills” from her album, Scarlet.
GSA CONNECTS 2023
I gave my first talk(s) at a professional conference! Previously, I had only presented posters and attended short workshops. Now that I have given several invited talks to various organizations, I finally felt the confidence to apply for a talk. OK – let’s be honest. I no longer have the time to spend weeks working on a poster. While posters are great places to have in depth discussions with the 6 people interested in your work, they are labor intensive and require physical transport. Now that I’m on the hunt for a permanent position, it’s important that I communicate my work – and its significance – to a larger audience. I’m happy to report that – according to the feedback I received – I gave two very good talks. That gives me a needed dose of confidence, especially with respect to science communication. GSA also gave me an opportunity to catch up with old friends, meet new people, and explore downtown Pittsburgh. All in all, I feel accomplished, exhausted, reinvigorated, and introspective. Conferences have a tendency to excite me about future work, but also force me to think about the direction of my life and career.
MID-THIRTIES
I’m officially my parents’ age when they adopted me. It’s a little surreal. Birthdays have never meant much to me, but I can’t help but pause to think about where I am in life. I must confess not much has changed. I continue to eat healthy (except when traveling), work out, and prioritize my sleep. I don’t feel any different physically, but mentally I sense a new outlook taking shape. Slowly, the thoughts and ideas that consumed me in my late 20s and even early 30s are slipping away. And I find myself consumed with thoughts on my career trajectory, aging parents, and distant friendships. Loneliness is an epidemic in the US and our society plays a huge role in that. I’ve felt that loneliness especially since I relocated to a rural state. It’s easy to get caught up in life as you age. One thing I know for certain is that I want a life full of loving community.
WRITING
Unfortunately, the joint short story I crafted with my writing partner was not selected. That’s okay – we’ll try again next year. Fiction writing has a ~95% rejection rate after all. In other news, my novel is officially HALF a scene away from completion. At approximately 103,000 words, I’m ALMOST finished. I’d have finished already if it weren’t for the intense preparation for GSA. I will complete my 2nd novel in the coming days and then comes the fun part (after taking a break for a couple of weeks). Revision!
CURRENT BOOKS AND SHOWS
Recently finished watching: Bob’s Burgers (s12); Shadow and Bone (s1); The Amazing World of Gumball (s1); Wheel of Time (s2)
Currently watching: Ahsoka; Bob’s Burgers (s13); Great British Bakeoff (s11 – in the US); Law and Order: SVU (s24); Shadow and Bone (s2); The Amazing World of Gumball (s2)
Recently finished reading: Astrotopia; Dune
Currently reading: A Modern History of Japan; Dark Ones: Forgotten
Thank you so much for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, November 16th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 