Resource Roundup #27

For the week of January 7th.

Jan 07, 2022

Are you from a rural community or the American South? Share your story with us to be published in an upcoming newsletter!

Hi folks, and happy new year.

I know I have been MIA lately— in nearly all aspects of my life— and if you are wondering where I have been, just know that I am deep in the throes of novel editing and my brain is unable to think of anything else until this draft feels complete. I’ve been working on this book for two years and it’s been thrilling to read back through it as I had largely forgotten what was written in the first place. I’m surprising myself and getting excited to share this story with the world. If you have any pitching advice (or know anyone you think would be interested in a reimagined queer southern gothic novel that is basically Sally Rooney meets Flannery O’Connor meets Lauren Groff) please send it my way. Until then, here’s a teaser of the pinterest board I keep for inspiration:

As always, feel free to send any comments, suggestions, or thoughts you have over to goodfolksonly@gmail.com. We’re always looking for new writers, artists, photographers, filmmakers, and storytellers of any kind to publish.

New year, still thinking about this. Getting real tired of people from other places projecting onto rural areas.

Callie @calliepruett

Getting real tired of this shit. If you wonder why rural people think democrats don’t represent them or care about them, look at comments like this and ask yourself if you are actively combating this bile. #appalachia #WestVirginia

The Hill @thehill

Bette Midler says Manchin wants US to be like West Virginia: 'Poor, illiterate and strung out' https://t.co/E2e8ItoMgR https://t.co/Y2hTWZOucX

I’m also still thinking about the passing of Joan Didion, who has influenced me deeply over the years. 2021 just felt like the year that took and took. I like this reminder of hers as we move into something new: "I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment.”

I’m beginning to think that all of writing is just a form of looking.

View from here, in case you need some peace in your day (as a second-year teacher who has never taught remote during a pandemic, I sure do):

On that note, I’m starting to get very tired of being told I’m resilient for being an educator right now. Your teachers are burnt out and exhausted. I have never experienced anything like this.

Lilly Dancyger @lillydancyger

The reason “resilient” isn’t a good complement is bc resilience isn’t an inherent trait, it’s something you have no choice but to become in order to survive some shit. “You’re so resilient!” erases how hard that survival was, how involuntary & shitty it is to become resilient.

It’s 2022, people. Time to get into Gangstagrass.

There are just SO many musicians putting out the most beautiful work on TikTok. Here’s one.

I’m currently reading Genevieve Hudson’s Boys of Alabama, and it is just SO GOOD. I think I would sell my soul to see this turned into a film.

This year’s motto, and my new phone screen, courtesy of Maybell Eequay:

This is a good thread:

Appodlachia Podcast @appodlachia

Those who’ve left Appalachia, what made you leave? Would you ever come back? We want to hear from y’all on this.

And finally, this gorgeous piece by Boyce Upholt with photos by Rory Doyle about the concept of wildness, wilderness, and the largest river swamp in the US, in Bitter Southerner.

GOOD FOLK

Discussion about this post