Greetings from the North

Easti · Oct 3, 2020

Why am I here?
Sometimes Writer trying to turn into consistent writer. Hoping to find some inspiration and hopefully make a few friends on the way. Science Fiction, Fantasy and History are my wheelhouse though mostly stick to SF/Fantasy when writing. Big fan of Michael Chabon, China Mievielle and Margaret MacMillian. I have a hard time actually sitting down and completing a work. Days of furious planning/writing/modifying go down the drain once I've had my writing fill. Whenever I start again its with some fresh new idea that has been metastasizing since i started the other writing exercise. Hoping to use this community as a guidepost and any direction to a post/subforum that would help me with this is appreciated. Currently reading book 5 of Wheel of Time and It Bleeds by Stephen King.

Who am I?

28 yo Male currently living in a fly-in community in Northern Ontario. Stocking the shelves at the local grocery store though my contract is almost up and will be heading back to Toronto in November. After that its EI then hopefully off to teach English in East Asia. I have a Bachelors in Economics and a Masters in Political Science which have done me no good. Reader, video gamer, pseudo-intellectual and continuously improving cook. My life is aimless and that's the way I like it..... for now. Come back to me in 5 years and we'll see if I'm so gung ho about my rootlessness.

Fallen · Oct 4, 2020

Glad to have you here, Easti from the North!

regdog · Oct 5, 2020

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DanielSTJ · Oct 5, 2020

Welcome there!

I'm a 30 year-old Ontario-based writer myself.

Hopefully, you enjoy the forum.

Cheers!

scribemeetsworld · Oct 5, 2020

Hi Easti,

Since you're reading Wheel of Time, which was continued by Brandon Sanderson, you might like to watch his writing videos on YouTube. They're a great resource!

PS: Currently, what's your favorite dish to cook?

Easti · Oct 5, 2020

Hi Fallen, Daniel and scribblemeetsworld!

Will definitely give Sanderson's videos a look. Haven't gotten to his parts yet but have heard good things about them/his other works.

I'm only at my current location for a month so havent been able to build up an ingredient cupboard so lots of basics right now. Last town I was in I received a lot of Moose meat from people in the community so I made Moose Roast a couple times which was a blast. Not many times you get to cook a brand new kind of meat yourself so i savored it. Before I started on my jaunt though I was really enjoying making various hot pots in an old fondue set my parents had. Just finding spice/base/ingredients that worked together. Probably my favourite though were Koreanish ones with a beef stock and lots of Gochujang. Throw in some slim sliced beef, cabbage and sprouts. Have a little soju and it was a great pre-2020 social meal.

CameronJohnston · Oct 6, 2020

Welcome to AW :welcome:

Have to say I'm now curious as to what moose tastes like.

Easti · Oct 6, 2020

Hey Cameron,

When cooked it tastes pretty similar to beef. Before though it REEKS though not sure if thats just cause it wasn't cured/aged like beef you get at the grocery store. Its leaner than beef so it doesnt fry up quite as nicely as beef so usually you have to add a fat/liquid which will change the taste. Mostly i made stews/roasts as it allowed for a longer cook time and made it tender by the end of cooking. Didnt make it myself but the moose jerky I got as a gift was great. The smoke covers up a lot of the smell but even that which pushes through gives it a less processed feel. Though I feel my enjoyment was increased just caused it played into the aesthetic of being in a remote community :tongue

scribemeetsworld · Oct 6, 2020

Easti said:
Probably my favourite though were Koreanish ones with a beef stock and lots of Gochujang. Throw in some slim sliced beef, cabbage and sprouts. Have a little soju and it was a great pre-2020 social meal.

I haven't eaten much Korean food, but that sounds delicious!

CameronJohnston · Oct 8, 2020

Easti said:
Hey Cameron,

When cooked it tastes pretty similar to beef. Before though it REEKS though not sure if thats just cause it wasn't cured/aged like beef you get at the grocery store. Its leaner than beef so it doesnt fry up quite as nicely as beef so usually you have to add a fat/liquid which will change the taste. Mostly i made stews/roasts as it allowed for a longer cook time and made it tender by the end of cooking. Didnt make it myself but the moose jerky I got as a gift was great. The smoke covers up a lot of the smell but even that which pushes through gives it a less processed feel. Though I feel my enjoyment was increased just caused it played into the aesthetic of being in a remote community

That is fascinating - thanks for informing me

TylerJK · Oct 8, 2020

Hello to another fellow Ontarian! I’m in a similar boat as you with having university degrees that I haven’t been able to put to practical use. However, I like to think completing them made me a more rounded person. I did take a science fiction course in uni that was excellent, it was a chance to read all the greats. It sounds like you have some exciting opportunities on the horizon. I wish you the best of luck with that and in your writing endeavours.

kinokonoronin · Oct 8, 2020

Welcome Easti.

What videogame genre(s) do you prefer? Do you have an absolute favorite or most-played title?

Another curiosity: do you tend towards short fiction, novel-length works, or something in between?

Easti · Oct 9, 2020

Hi Tyler and Kino!

I used to be torn up about a wasted university degree but the ways it let me explore the world through reading, writing and learning academically have definitely opened my eyes in a lot of ways that the further i get from it the more i appreciate its effects on me as a person. A science fiction course sounds amazing! Anything off the beaten path you'd reccomend?

Mostly a strategy gamer Kino. Anything by Paradox Interactive is my wheelhouse as I like to manage and plan long term in games. Too much of an old man for twitchy shooters(I was a Halo:CE fanboy as youngin and still believe bulkier tactical shooters are more fun). Am playing Hades right now and absolutely love all things SuperGiant.

Kind of all over the place but am working on something that will hopefully be a novel one day. My dirty secret is that I have a terrible time finishing things. Ive written maybe a half dozen things that I would call complete and even those Ive rarely shared. Most of those are shorter stuff. D&D setting backstory/lore, a Warhammer 40k fanfic legion history, a couple short stories etc.. Stringing things together into a long arc plot is always a pain for me hence the attempt to write something longer prose.

TylerJK · Oct 12, 2020

Easti said:
Hi Tyler and Kino!

I used to be torn up about a wasted university degree but the ways it let me explore the world through reading, writing and learning academically have definitely opened my eyes in a lot of ways that the further i get from it the more i appreciate its effects on me as a person. A science fiction course sounds amazing! Anything off the beaten path you'd reccomend?

Mostly a strategy gamer Kino. Anything by Paradox Interactive is my wheelhouse as I like to manage and plan long term in games. Too much of an old man for twitchy shooters(I was a Halo:CE fanboy as youngin and still believe bulkier tactical shooters are more fun). Am playing Hades right now and absolutely love all things SuperGiant.

Kind of all over the place but am working on something that will hopefully be a novel one day. My dirty secret is that I have a terrible time finishing things. Ive written maybe a half dozen things that I would call complete and even those Ive rarely shared. Most of those are shorter stuff. D&D setting backstory/lore, a Warhammer 40k fanfic legion history, a couple short stories etc.. Stringing things together into a long arc plot is always a pain for me hence the attempt to write something longer prose.

I remember reading “Exhalation” by Ted Chiang. That one seemed unique and was very thought provoking.

DanielSTJ · Oct 13, 2020

Ooooo, that one was good! I read the collection. Top-notch writer!

EmptyEnvy · Oct 13, 2020

Hi Easti,

Feeling lots of kinship here. I too have a useless (at least in terms of job prospects) undergrad degree in recording arts and music composition. I too feel like it was worth it for the experience (I do use a lot of what I learned for my own hobbies) and the way it broadened my perspective.

I also play video games (I prefer single player puzzle and story-driven games) and I am also playing Hades and loving it. Roguelikes don't usually appeal to me but man, I am addicted to this one, the writing/voice acting, the music, the art style, it's all just fantastic.

I think "not being able to finish things" is a very common dirty secret for creative people, especially those of us who might be prone to perfectionism. For me, the only way past this is to try and let go of what I want it to be and just let it be what it is, knowing that it won't be the last thing I ever produce. Endings are tough, and we put a lot of pressure on them to be earth-shattering, but if the journey is good enough, I certainly can forgive an ending that is so-so.

Looking forward to reading some of your stuff in the future!

EmptyEnvy

frimble3 · Oct 13, 2020

Nice to have you with us! I'm in B.C., btw.
I have only heard about the winters back East.
Remember, no matter where your rootlessness takes you, find an Internet connection and we're right there with you! (Time zones permitting.)

kg-writes · Oct 19, 2020

Hi Easti!

I actually spent a good chunk of my childhood living near Timmins, ON. I haven't had moose in ages, but I do remember it being very good. I'm in Northern Alberta now. Great to see lots of Canadians on the boards.

Easti · Oct 21, 2020

Dang there's a lot of Canadians here.

I'm a southerner by most Easterner standards so am happy to get out of the true north before the winter hits. It's been Freezing Rain, Hail and light snow dustings for a few weeks here which is much much worse than any snowfall imo. Plus the internet connection for the whole town is real spotty now which is dreadful for a softy like me.

Kg, very cool. Will be 'seeing' Timmins for the first time in a week or so. My bus home has a transfer there between Kapuskasing and Toronto. What took you up to Northern Alberta? Oil boom or something else?

KTC · Oct 21, 2020

Welcome from a fellow Canadian! I'm in Toronto...a lifer. I also love Chabon...though his earlier stuff is my fave. I'm having a hard time finishing projects myself these days.

Hope you enjoy!

Greetings from the North

Easti

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

regdog

The Scavengers

DanielSTJ

The Wandering Bard

scribemeetsworld

Easti

CameronJohnston

Great Old One

Easti

scribemeetsworld

CameronJohnston

Great Old One

TylerJK

kinokonoronin

Purveyor of Madness

Easti

TylerJK

DanielSTJ

The Wandering Bard

EmptyEnvy

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

kg-writes

Lost in Revisions

Easti

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live