ArmadilloCon, Elbows, and Creativity

I hinted on Facebook that I would be doing a longer post about ArmadilloCon and it’s also time for my September post. LOL

So September has been a THING. Mostly good as I really get back into the creativity part while also doing the Day Job Hunting part. And some of that was participating in ArmadilloCon last weekend. ‘Dillo is one of my long-term conventions that I love. It’s a different feel from SoonerCon and even FenCon. They’re great and weird and I love them. And it kinda felt good to be able to bring better energy this year, even though I don’t have any new writing. As I mentioned on social, I stepped out of my comfort zone and monetized my beaded pen hobby. This was my first intentional art show set up. The SoonerCon sales were unintended. Which allowed me to add “Artist” to my badge ribbons after “speaker”. The rest are just fun ones, thought I thoroughly embrace “Chaos Muppet” thanks to Cass Morris.

So what made ‘Dillo better for me this year?

Great panels. The Writer’s Block panel was amazing. It was well moderated and supported. I may have given Mur Lafferty another Writing Bully segment? We were able to talk openly and honestly about struggles. Like…not only does writer’s block EXIST, it can take time to come out of. There were different perspectives on how it comes about and how work it out. The “Pantser” panel (Discovery writer) panel was equally good – I loved they broke up Plotters and Pantsers so it wasn’t adversarial. And just because we don’t plot doesn’t mean we don’t have structure.

Great conversations. Conventions are all about the relationships. I’d say “networking” but it’s more than that. I’m not there to convince Jacob Weisman and Tachyon Publications to publish me (though that would be amazing), but did we talk about World Fantasy 2026? ABSOLUTELY. Did we talk about ALL. THE. THINGS? Absolutely. Why? Because he’s a great person and I’m lucky to know him and his team.

Professional support. More of the great conversations with other writers and their support. I’ve been encouraged to lean into my new opportunities and given some great ideas. That I’m looking forward to pursing.

Epiphanies and Realizations. What’s different about this year? That even though this week is pretty much a creative wash (which we’ll get to), it’s not breaking the connection to the creative recharge. I came home knowing there won’t be a Day Job Disaster that will suck all the good mojo from a weekend spent with other creative people.

And I met some amazing new people. One of them was a 10-12 year old girl who is on her second book. I met her on Sunday when her family came in. Her father had a box of her books, self pubbed on Amazon, but professional looking. I think they came in looking for advice or something, but I asked her what her book was about – a girl who turns into a cat at Midsummer and has adventured. I bought that and got her to sign it. Her mom looked like she was about to cry because her daughter was smiling so much. Her dad got some marketing advice, and they went on their way.

OF COURSE I’m going to support this kid. She’s going to be amazing. And I want to see her thrive. And I hope that if the self pub tech had been around when I was a kid, this is the kind of support my family would’ve given me. Passing that forward.

So now why this week is a creative wash… I had a procedure on Wednesday. I had Cubital Tunnel Syndrome – which is like Carpal Tunnel but at your elbow. It affects the ulnar nerve and the ring/pinkie fingers. While I still have my almost done Day Job insurance, I got that taken care of – with a little freak out that maybe I could’ve fixed it with yoga. But no. My right arm was bad. The tendon was starting to stretch. Tendons aren’t supposed to do that. BUT…but you never know how much you use a body part until you can’t. Ring fingers and pinkies are really important to grip (that was better after 12 hours). HAHAHAHAHAHA. Elbows? That’s just awkward… I’m FINE. The stitches are covered in waterproof dressings until they come out so I can shower. Showering is amazing. The kicker? I can only lift 5 pounds. That’s super easy to not realize – think of Jimmy. He has to do all the toting and carrying until I’m cleared.

But that’s a momentary blip in the creativity – recovery from the convention (that’s super real) plus recovery from anesthesia (which is a word I cannot spell). But I still feel the recharge. I still feel the desire to write, even with the brain fog. I know what I need to write. I know what I want to write. I know I have to pace myself while healing. So taking care of things. Taking care of me.

And y’all are now free of the really long blog post. Happy September. Bring on Spooky Season!

Rhonda Eudaly

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