Dear Crone,

How do you solve artblock?? (I've tried coffee and music)

daikaiju

Dear Daikaiju,

You have to take time off… seriously!

It sucks, but the block is a sign your brain is at the end of its capacity.

Give it a rest, just like you would a muscle group you’ve overexercised.

Inspiration will strike while you’re dealing with something else.

Encouragingly,

The Crone

Dear Crone,

I would love some advice on how to find a partner.

I have a fun mix of autism, ADHD, and chronic illness which makes it hard to connect "normally".

How would you recommend I "get out there" that won't force me into masking?

TouchoftheTism

Dear TouchoftheTism,

This is going to require some delicate personal introspection, as part of this is going to require behavioral adjustments, but we need to do so in a way that isn’t inauthentic masking, but merely knowing what a particular situation warrants.

To do so requires practice, and I would rather you stumble and have to pull back than mask a relevant part of yourself.

Define what connection looks like to you, how you would want to act with someone, what you’d want to receive from a partner, and from there we can discuss the best place to find them.

To be hyperbolic, you aren’t likely to find a cottagecore gardener in a biker bar, you see?

Let’s also see what outside activities we can incorporate into your routine, whether it’s frequenting a coffee shop, a bookstore, or another third space.

I rarely suggest this, but don’t underestimate the experience you can gain from online spaces as a low-risk setting; you just have to be resilient enough to deal with the dredges of humanity.

One step at a time.

Gently,

The Crone

Dear Crone,

At the beginning of the year, I met someone.

They recently came for a visit, and we tried being in a couple, but it ended up being a right person, wrong time situation.

We both really care about each other, but I think while they were over here, even though I said I wasn’t nervous I actually was and I claimed up emotionally got into my head not voicing things out when I should’ve.

The door to this potential relationship is not closed, but I would really like that second chance.

Help?!

LittleFae

Dear LittleFae,

You gotta tell them this, dearie, not me!

You’ve clearly articulated mutual interest in one another, understand that previous issues were temporary, and know what part you had to play.

Time to swing the bat again.

Metaphorically, I mean, don’t kill the guy.

Hop to it!

Emphatically,

The Crone

Dear Crone,

How do I get over a career I was supposed to love when the work is hurting my wellbeing?

Lost in the Weeds

Dear Lost,

It sounds like you'd benefit from some job hunting.

If you’re miserable, you should take the steps necessary to ease that suffering while still being responsible with your financial situation.

I promise you, just starting to look into other options will make you feel better.

Encouragingly,

The Crone

Dear Crone,

Do you have any advice on how to recover from burnout?

With my laundry list of mental health stuff I'm seeing a therapist and I'm on meds but one of the big problems is feeling like, in the words of bilbo, my soul feels like butter scraped over too much bread.

Sage on the Mountain

Dear Sage,

Blowing out a candle doesn’t make the wick grow back.

You need more than to just stop; you need to rest.

If you can’t, you need to ask for help; if you can, then you need to wrestle with whatever feelings arise from taking that break.

Maybe it’s a day to do nothing but read, or turning off your phone for 24 hours, or (and I always recommend this) going offline for a weekend; do it, and don’t feel guilty for prioritizing yourself for that period.

Whatever helps you stay sane is not a vice; it’s a necessity, so do it, and savor it.

Gently,

The Crone

Dear Crone,

I have developed a crush on a man (ew I know) but I met him through a professional setting and we're working together on a project.

How do I let him know I'm interested so that after this project is done we could take a step further?

Also how do I know if those are the right vibes he's giving?

Boss Business Babe

Dear BBB,

Dearie, there’s nothing wrong with liking men; I’ve had multiple husbands, after all.

Time for some straight shooting. If we’re going to be a boss business babe, why don’t we finish the project and… ask him out?

It’s the fastest way to create a clear path forward and find out if the vibes are reciprocated.

Don’t put anything in writing, because fuck HR, but like… “Hello, Fellow Business Associate, I greatly enjoyed businessing with you. Would you like to grab a drink sometime with me, your incredibly attractive coworker?” or something to that effect would be a great start.

Bluntly,

The Crone

Dear Crone (and Vessel),

Crazy news! The convention was amazing.

Every person I met was the friendliest person I have ever met.

Out of the three pitch takers I met, I got two requests for submission!

Thank you for all of your advice and your support, and the amazing community in the Discord who talked me down multiple times.

This next step will take some time, but I can't believe this actually worked!

BeGentleItsMyFirstTime

Dear Gentle,

I’m so glad to know our community helped you so much.

We’re (Vessel, Crone, and ‘Cord) so proud of you!

Please keep us updated in regard to any future convention attendance, publishing updates, or more good news!

Happily,

The Crone

P.S. Are you coming to CroneCon?

Dear Crone,

Not really a question, just a little reminder that you're doing great and I'm so proud of you! I've been watching your journey for like... A year?

Two years?

It's been so wonderful to watch you hone your craft and expand into different story telling formats, and to be CONSISTENTLY a genuinely kind and compassionate person, with a LARGE slice of sass, has been the little ray of sunshine I've needed recently.

Idk just wanted to let you know you're great and keep going :) <3

An Actually Friendly Reminder

Dear Friendly,

First, the crying Jerry meme.

Second, we’re typing the rest of this through actual sobbing from Daniel; luckily, I’m a professional, so I can keep it together to finish writing.

It means a ton to see how we’ve connected with people, and to form a community centered on, well, me and kinda Daniel, is an enormous source of pride.

We love knowing you love the way our brain works, and we love knowing that you’ve seen the growth we’ve made and appreciate it enough to tell us.

We do this for you, after all, and we’re going to keep at it.

Love,

The Crone

Dearest Crone and Daniel:

I'm writing a thing, taking A LOT of inspiration from everything my exes did to me (r@pe being one thing), turning them into just one guy.

Got the name and first chapter done.

It started as a way of healing, but it got serious... should I try to pursue publishing?

Also, what's your writing process? (note, it's not exactly the same, but only inspired on the things that gave me PTSD)

Traumatized but Healing

Dear Healing,

You should pursue publishing only if sharing these intensely personal stories would be healing for you, or at the very least, not retraumatizing.

There’s nothing wrong with keeping it private, and you don't owe anyone access to your writing, no matter how talented you are.

It should be a purely personal choice.

Now, in regard to my writing process, typically it’s me deluding myself into thinking I can wing it, pulling my own hair out, and then starting over with an outline.

Normally, I do an arc rainbow (though I’m sure there’s a technical term for this).

Not everything needs to be defined, but having a direction makes it much easier to discover what you can fit into the story as you’re writing it.

Helpfully,

The Crone