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Ksenia Anske

April 12, 2017

Finding a writing mentor and working together

by Ksenia Anske


Illustration by David Biskup

Illustration by David Biskup

Illustration by David Biskup

Illustration by David Biskup

I never actually looked for a writing mentor (who wants to stay anonymous, because, as he explained to me, he doesn't like to be bothered by people and prefers to live a quiet life—so I shall call him Basil Bee, or Vasya Pchelkin in Russian). We somehow found each other (on Twitter, of all places) and over time fell into the roles of a student (me) and a teacher (Pchelkin), and then it kind of went developing from there (we meet once a month or so, occasionally text and exchange emails).

I think when you're ready for a mentor, you'll find one.

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TAGS: This made me warm, writing this, like family-warm, you know?, I feel like life is giving me this, because I was finally ready, ready to receive, to believe I'm worth it


May 22, 2016

Writing while traveling

by Ksenia Anske


Art by Jeremy Geddes

Art by Jeremy Geddes

Art by Jeremy Geddes

Art by Jeremy Geddes

I had an almost physical pain in my stomach the morning of getting on the plane to arrive on time in California for Anna's graduation. And I thought, "This is ridiculous. You'll have to travel more often in the future, naturally, because you'll get very rich and very famous soon, so what is this shit? Girl, you need to learn to write while you travel." 

When I went on the Amtrak trip it was different. I had a room all on my own. It was a room on wheels, but it was a room for me alone where I could shut myself in and even ask for breakfast and lunch and dinner brought to me if I desired so. In other words, it was traveling while being spoiled rotten. This is different. This is traveling while being interrupted so I don't have long stretches of time where I can properly sink into my story. I have a half hour in the car while on the way to the airport, I have a couple hours on the plane, I might snatch another hour in the hotel before I have to leave and go places. 

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TAGS: It's actually not as bas as I thought it would be, I whispered into my fist, so I could hear it better, the only person who heard me was Royce, but it just wasn't the same, you know?, Maybe I'll never be as good as when I'm alone, maybe that's why there are writing retreats for writers, I'd like to write on the moon, WHERE NO ONE WILL BOTHER ME, So send rockets please, for me to get there