I’ve wanted to be an author since I was eight years old, and from the moment I started studying to become one I heard one message over and over again: if you want to be successful, you must work harder than anyone else. You must write every day, you must sacrifice your weekends and vacations … Continue reading
Tag Archives: self-care
2022: Our Year in Review
I don’t know about you, but 2022 wore out this Spoonie editor-in-chief. That’s the thing about disabled-led initiatives—sometimes we run low on spoons. And this year, I seemed to be constantly operating on a spoon deficit. Still, some cool things happened! New contributing authors We are always grateful for authors who volunteer their time to … Continue reading
Paddling, with a belt on
Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Michelle. I’m a novelist, a radio professional, and a disabled person. I have ankylosing spondylitis, an immune-mediated auto-inflammatory disease that’s trying to destroy my hips, seize my rib cage, and turn my spine into one lone bone — oh, and chew on the rest of my joints for snacks. … Continue reading
Outrunning the Invisible
During 2020, I wrote one novel at 101,350 words, another at 63,026 words, and a novella at 13,000 words — and I still felt like I could have done more. Last weekend, I finished a nonfiction piece that had taken me over a week to write and painted a 36″ x 18″ canvas, yet I … Continue reading
A Message from the Editor About the COVID-19 Pandemic
CW: mentions of eugenics and ableism Warm greetings from your friendly neighbourhood SpAN editor! I just wanted to say I’m aware that many of us Spoonies are feeling tense right now because of the pandemic. I definitely am. But the Spoonie Authors Network is a forum of caring and community, and we want it to … Continue reading
Internalized Ableism, Week 4: Solution to Being a Terrible Patient, or, How I Learned It’s Okay to Need Help
I had surgery recently on my foot to remove a bone chip and arthritis bone spurs. The pain in my foot wasn’t terrible but it had changed my gait, adding to the workload in my lower spine and making one hip pop out of joint daily. I have arthritis and degenerative disc disease, so I … Continue reading
Internalized Ableism, Week 3: All Better Now
I feel better these days. I’ve done and am doing a lot of things for myself: I’ve moved to a position with less stress and fewer hours at work; I’m seeing a lot of doctors; I’m finally on the right meds after years of trial and error; and, I’m eating better. My good mental health … Continue reading
Internalized Ableism, Week 2: DIY
Editor’s note: This is Pat Flewwelling’s first post with the Spoonie Authors Network. Welcome, Pat! Grampa used to park his car umpteen kilometers away from work and then bike the rest of the way. By then, his hip was about 75% disintegrated, and he used a cane. In his off-hours, he worked for Gideons and … Continue reading
Do you have a fatigue budget?
The other day, a buddy of mine and I were discussing how the slightest medical procedures or even routine vaccinations can greatly impact our chronic fatigue symptoms. We can lose spoons just like POOF! I told my friend that having more time alloted to their fatigue budget would really help. Then I explained how in … Continue reading