First and foremost: Workshops! Join me and Barbara J. Webb for my Novel Architects workshop, 5–18 July in Lawrence, Kansas. If you’re in the early stages of a novel—even if you are just dreaming about a book you wish you knew how to write—we focus on exactly the sorts of things you need to structure, plan, and write. And if you aren’t a writer, pass this on to anyone you think would be interested!

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Last month, I was feeling disheartened and drab, and I shared that with you, trying to explain why I’d been relatively silent. Some of you responded to say, yes, your writing matters. That meant a lot to me, and I thank you for it! These days, every kind or generous word or action is important. There are things we know are objectively important, but there are many more things that are less clear. I don’t solve our nation’s problems when I throw out food for the squirrels in a cold snap, but I’ll tell you, I solved a problem for those squirrels.

That said, life has been wonky. I’ve had attacks of vertigo over the last year or so (including one where I ended up in the ER), but just in the last three weeks I’ve had two major episodes. One was while I was in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo (which was AWESOME). But very awkward, to be more than a thousand miles from home with a car and a snowstorm coming, and not be able to stand up without reeling. Getting home was a five-day undertaking, but I managed, though I was still offish. The second episode started last week, and I am still somewhat dizzy. We’re running through the options, but the diagnosis is likely to be Meniere’s Disease. Read up, if you want to play along. It’s not mapping 100%—my dizziness lasts much longer than a day—but in any case I foresee many appointments in my future.

What does this mean? Can I get work done? And: can I travel? I’m feeling vague these days, but wouldn’t I, anyway? Look at the world. It’s the dark turning of the year. It’s been miserably cold. I’m not used to these meds yet. I’m at loose ends artistically. Any of these could leave me feeling like this. I think the answer to the first question is, I think so, though I may need to approach work differently. (Working on that right now.)

Travel...I really don’t know. Yes? I am assuming I can travel if I don’t stray too far from home for the moment. I usually have a few hours after the first warning signs, enough to drive a few hours—but not enough to get home from my mom’s house in Wisconsin, which is going to become a problem. And I’m assuming I’ll be fine for travel when some of the edge is taken off: minimal luggage, people dropping me off at the airport and picking me up, etc.

It’s not going to change my workshops, though. I live less than a mile from where we do them. I love them too much to give them up for anything.

All that said, I feel better than I could have expected. I have freelance work to do, and some thinking about my next creative project. I have friends and a cat and people I love. I have many vintage Norwegian sweaters. I am starting to clean out my website, preparatory to doing some interesting and fun things on Patreon (I originally had that rollout scheduled for March, but it may be April...)!

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So, what’s on the menu?

I’m writing a daily haiku (usually) over on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kijjohnson.bsky.social

Coming up in the not too distant future, a flash story of mine will be in Abyss & Apex: https://www.abyssapexzine.com/

If I get two more people, I will do my new Fit & Finish online workshop later this month. Info here: https://kijjohnson.com/teacher/

In early March, I hope to be at Constellation in Lincoln NE: https://constellationne.net/constellation2026

Meanwhile, I am working on a lovely little roleplaying game (not mine), that I can’t talk about yet.

In April (okay, April), I’ll retool my Patreon.

In June/July, I teach my workshops! https://kijjohnson.com/teacher/

Also, in June, I am a guest of honor for MythMoot in Virginia: https://www.abyssapexzine.com/

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Stay kind, be cool, support artists.

Join me over on my Patreon! Please join me! https://www.patreon.com/c/kijjohnson

Or check out my website! https://kijjohnson.com/

Or my bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kijjohnson.bsky.social