The festivities were all the more merrier and the terrain made all the more difficult by the presence of Jack the Whipper/Jacques Ze Whipper for opening weekend.
The haul is much lighter this year. Rather than any reflection of the quality of the event or participating vendors, all of which remain excellent, it is a matter of greater restraint. Living in a small space enforces such demands as trinkets and curiosities accumulate all around.
The fountain pen in elder wood and gunmetal as well as the double seam ripper in cocobolo were the consequences of a long overdue visit to 1893 Woodcrafts.
I still recommend visiting at least once during the season.
Considering I’ve been listening to this song on repeat, it would be remiss of me to not speak of it further.
I work in folk and fable, so it is of little surprise HoloMyth vividly resonated with me at their debut and continue to do so two years onward. I’ve my preferences among them but I appreciate each and every one for their exceeding capability in shining individually and as a group.
It very much shows in this group original. The song is mired in fairy tale, gratitude, resilience, and strongly manifests a writing motif. Every verse powerfully poigant in the overall scheme and particularly so in the context of each individual talent.
I know what I will loop in the background when I head into NaNoWriMo 2022.
Lyrics below and color-coded to each talent:
Group Chorus
Gawr Gura
Takanashi Kiara
Mori Calliope
Watson Amelia
Ninomae Ina’nis
Non-Fiction by hololive English -Myth-
Some “once upon a time” is not where our myth belongs Through the faded lines of words and rhyme is a hidden song Though fractured deeply, worn by sorrows from time and time again Take my hand and enter our… “pretend”
By star-lit skies Endlessly writing Inviting those along Lost souls who hear our song when gone astray
Though strife’s part of life Stay unafraid, now When forces say “behave” We say instead, “Be brave.”
In a desperate shout, our souls reach out With pen toward every page We ignite, come alive Like a starry night With a fire no doubts can take away Got no fairy tale Where “love prevails” Though painful, now we move endlessly on By the light- your spark
Head first, into the dark
Some “once upon a time” is not where a voice gets heard Will the faded lines of speeding time make us flightless birds？ When pen is running dry, a soul on fire Is driven to react And when burning flames attack We will never fade to black
Though fake, it seems Not a dream Or a trick of light
Always vacancy, Take a seat,
It’s our story’s time
A world is brought to life, through voices five And as “real” as they say Pen as sword, we’re choosing fate We can never lose our way
By star-lit skies Endlessly writing Inviting those along Lost souls who hear our song when gone astray
Though strife’s part of life Stay unafraid, now When forces say “behave” We say instead, “Be brave.”
Defiant ‘til the end, I’ll stay killing To sing
I’ll dance in burning embers unyielding Your love’s given me wings
While learning to remember the good times We bring
Our ocean’s finally full of life
Set every vital piece in motion Now we write
In a desperate shout, our souls reach out With pen toward every page We ignite, come alive Like a starry night With a fire no doubts can take away Write a fairy tale Where “love prevails” Cliched, maybe, we move joyfully on By the light- your spark
Hopeless days are just a part of being free We wrote it all by heart
Always a delight to attend and well worth the ticket price to simply wander about.
There was less of a haul this year than the last, but 2021 was a big “welcome back” due to closures in 2020.
Notable events from opening weekend:
Attending the Revel Grove debut of Jack the Whipper/Jacques Ze Whipper. Much dexterity, much charisma, and much, understandable female thirst in the audience.
Nut and Meat vendors together at last, hawking wares in-character while coordinating emergency services.
One brave soul attending as a Plague Doctor in full dress and without care to the summer heat.
A few people coaxing a slightly reluctant, sun-basking skink off the steps of a shop.
An employee of Marty Magic staring at my sister’s silver dragon necklace (bought from them years ago) and asking if it could be escorted into the machine out back to polish it back up.
The Rookie Awards are one of many ways for a young creative to debut to a wider audience.
My sister has an entry this year and one that I assisted in small parts. It is well worth a look and the link is below.
She is as fond as of mythology, folklore, and legend as I, but her fascination lies with the otherworldly and Fey whereas I am more compelled by the chthonian and eldritch.
It’s that time of year again for National Novel Writing Month and now more than ever, Neil Gaiman’s words about making good art everyday remains a powerful message for all walks of creativity.
In this turbulent year yet over, let nothing, most of all yourself, stop you from striving for that goal of 50,000 words.
A Transcript of “Make Good Art”, courtesy of James Clear.
A Video of “Make Good Art”, courtesy of Peter Shev.
Happy writing and I wish everyone the best in all endeavours.
