Recently, I wrote an article over on LinkedIn about how 2023 could be the year of the slowdown (in a proactive way). I’m not slowing down much myself, but I am taking some time out here and there for some fun things that don’t really accomplish anything useful. *gasp*
The pressure is on, though, to get the income needed to help me escape what I’m now calling the Nightmare Hell Zone* (and not in a fun way), so I’ve been applying for jobs in brick-and-mortar locations as well as online remote-work locations. One thought I’ve recently had was that I could maybe get a job with a chain and then use that to transfer to another location in the United States, or, perhaps even more wishful-thinking, transfer to a Canadian locale!
Anyway, until I go figure things out (or win the lottery–the HGTV dream home–Travel Channel Sweepstakes), I’m sharing some links for you to stroll through as you, yourselves, meander into 2023.
(Unless, of course, you just want to stop reading here, and go write a snail mail letter or take a day off next week to hang out with your houseplant BFFs. That’s fine too!)
Here’s January’s “Tarot Card Readings for Inspiration”: https://horrortree.com/january-2023-tarot-cards-for-creative-inspiration/ and their snarky horoscope sidekick: https://horrortree.com/january-2023-horoscopes-tempting-fate-in-the-new-year/.
And if another bomb cyclone is bearing down on you again, check out my “Cultivating Winter Magic” post as well: https://horrortree.com/cultivating-winter-magic-for-writers/. Who says you can’t go out in style, right?
*Want to exercise your creative muscles? Feel free to share (in the comments) your own wild and wacky names for a terrifying town in rural U.S.A.!
Willow Croft 
Suck Rock is a nickname we used to give to a small town south of Albuquerque.
While it’s not exactly rural, once I learned that people from Las Cruces are called Las Cruceans, I immediately thought of Lost Crustaceans, which feels kind of Lovecraftian.
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Oh that would be rad to be a “Lost Crustacean”, for sure! And, ha, “Suck Rock”! In Florida, my home town of Sarasota became “Sorry-sota” and nearby Bradenton was Boring-ton, and also “Bradentucky”!
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Immediately popped into my head – Painsylvania……oh wait – that would be a STATE not a town wouldn’t it.
Pam
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Ha, but that could be a good place for a horror writer to move too! (I’m actually still holding out hope for a relocation to that part of the country!) Thanks for participating and livening up the comments!
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You want crazy place names, check out Newfoundland up here—they even have a town named Dildo!
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*tries her best George Takai impression* “Ohhh, myyyyy!” Ha! Newfoundland is definitely on the list!
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In college D&D we used to joke about a town called Buzzard’s Breath, does that count?
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Oh, that’s rad…where is that town? (I love vultures!)
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Ooh! Landing a job in Canada would be so nice–I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Cheers!
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Hey, thanks!
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I can’t picture you lollygagging. Glad to find out you’re actually not. You’re title fooled me! lol
And funny you ask about a terrifying town name. That’s partially what’s stumping me with my next novel. I had the name Shadyside, until someone pointed out it’s a real neighborhood in PA. (Which won’t work because if people Google, that’s what they’ll find first.) AND THEN Netflix went and did a Fear Street trilogy with the same name.
So…I’ve been tossing some names around and trying to find one that excites me as much as Shadyside did. The book’s 90% written (and has been so for the last 10 years!!!), but refuses to budge across the finish line until I can settle on the name. Which I have a few I’m playing with but I feel like putting them out there will jinx it.
Anyway, that’s my goal this year. To pick a name and finish. I will say though that it is set in a ghost town that formerly manufactured mannequins, the remains of which may or may not come to life…
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Oh that sounds cool!
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It’s a serendipitous/synchronrous sort of week, for sure!
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I hate trying to come up with names LOL
But, you know, look at Twin Peaks…it’s not very spooky, but you definitely now associate it with that sort of spooky surrealness. 🙂
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GREAT point! AND I just finished (like YESTERDAY!) “Murder at Teal’s Pond” which was a true crime that somewhat inspired Twin Peaks. So yeah. You’re totally not joking about it being a ” serendipitous/synchronrous sort of week, for sure!” either! lol
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Ha, yeah, that’s cool! And I try to be very practical and all that, but I had two intuitive hits where I was just thinking idly about something and then *poof* it popped up a few seconds/minutes later. Weird!
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Funny how that happens. Your intuitiveness just shines right on through anyway!
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Maybe you could have a contest on your blog or social media to name the fictional town 🙂
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Good suggestion!
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Brattville? Home of hellcat.
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Brattville. Home of hellcats.
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Ha, that sounds good! I’d take the hellcats over this town’s residents any day!
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Getting a job with a chain is a great idea so that you have income at the destination later when you’re set for the move. I did that with a retail chain and it totally was handy to move stores.
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That’s great feedback! *crosses fingers*
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I haven’t heard “lollygag” is awhile. It’s a fun word. Good luck with your job search, Willow!
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Thanks!
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Me encanta. Un cordial saludo desde el sur de España 🇪🇸
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Gracias!
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Hope all goes well for you for the job hunt! It’d be pretty darn interesting to get a job then be able to transfer elsewhere. Much excites!
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I know! *crosses fingers* Thank you!
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