Masthash

#writers

What is "listening to chapters I am final polishing for publ read to my on my iPhone as I do my weight training" ?

Sunday afternoon for 200...

#Writing #Writers #Author #Writer #Revise #Revising #WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #BoostingIsSharing #Jeopardy

Kit Irving
2 hours ago

me: okay, getting to the wrap up here for my synopsis from the MC's POV in the Snowflake Method

my character: okay, but uh, this guy just got captured and I got attacked!

me: excuse, me?!

her: I dunno... that's what happened.

#WritingCommunity #Writing #AmWritingFantasy #SSF #Writers #AmWriting

Gif showing the turtle-like Pokémon Squirtle putting on sunglasses with the text "Deal with it"
RS, Author, Novelist
3 hours ago

#WordWeavers 12.2 — Secondary character POV: how would you feel if you were a celebrity?

I was at the her side when my friend suddenly became the second most important person in the world. I'm there with her much of the day, when I am not training to protect her or attending classes with her, so... Arguably... I am a celebrity? Um... How would I feel?

I like my new armor?

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

RS, Author, Novelist
3 hours ago

#PennedPossibilities 151 — Are you proud of your MC? Has she accomplished anything worthy of that pride and satisfaction?

My MC has gotten herself into a lot of bad things, illegal things. Similar to Rebecca Rabbit, who was "drawn that way," my MC was raised and manipulated into becoming someone's sharp tool. The wrong person grabbed the hilt. Such things can't end well, can they? She's made the right choices for the right reasons and saved many lives along the way, but it's not all she's done. Judged by 21st century morality, she'd be found lacking. She thinks she's evil, but I disagree.

If our world had more people who think as she does, on the whole it would be a better place.

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

Arista Holmes
4 hours ago

It's December 3rd!

Am I sharing some thought provoking Van Gogh Quotes, and a Question of the Day inspired by said quote, while inviting you to answer them with me?

I absolutely am doing that too!

#QotD #QuestionoftheDay #DecemberQotD #WritersQotD #AuthorsQotD #QuestionsinDecember #Writers
#Writer #Writing #Author #WritingCommunity #WriterCommunity #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishedAuthor #SupportAnIndie #LizzyHail #Darkling #vampire #vampires #fey #fae #kavians #worldbuilding #writersofmastodon

Judy L Mohr
7 hours ago

In just over two months, my book "Hidden Traps of the Internet" is released to the world. Learn how to build an online platform safely.

There is still a lot of work to do, but come February 2024, you'll be able to get your hands on a copy.

#writingcommunity #writers #Bookstodon #books #internet #online

Check out the cover for the upcoming release of "Hidden Traps of the Internet: Building and Protecting Your Online Platform"
June Casagrande
7 hours ago

The 12 (plus 19) Days of Punctuation: Free tips from "The Best Punctuation Book, Period"

Do not double space after a colon.

#12DaysOfPunctuation #Writers #GiftsForWriters #ChristmasBooks #AmEditing #AmWriting #NaNoWriMo

Screenshot from The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande says, "Do not double space after a colon."
Dr Pink
10 hours ago

#LGBTQ English #Wikipedia deletion alert

Could you save this LGBTQ related #English Wikipedia article from deletion?

Andrew Gurza
* Andrew Gurza (born 1984/1985) They use they/he pronouns. Gurza is Jewish.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Gurza
Discussion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Andrew_Gurza

#Jewish #Carleton #1980s #Writers #LGBTQ

Kit Irving
10 hours ago

Making progress with the Snowflake method!

I'm still working on my synopsis from the perspective of the characters, and I am enjoying getting to know them better & finding plot holes to fill in as I go!

How's everyone's writing going this weekend?

#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #SSF #Writing #WritingCommunity #writers

Shree Gupta
13 hours ago

What's so good about writing book??
Mine thought about this " writing let out all left right thoughts and make others to think about them"

What's ur opinion about this??

#writing #knowledge #genral #writers #SomethingNewSunday #thoughts #freshman

#PennedPossibilities 150—What inspired the idea for your WiP

Since we are talking R.S., it has to be what inspired the character.

My WiP is as mechanically constructed as you can get. I realized my character had a half-year where nothing happened between stories, and that got me thinking.

The difficulty here it that because it would be both a sequel and a prequel, I needed the story to have a reason never be reported while still being knock your socks off. Something that could still be shoehorned into later stories with a phrase like "Oops, that's a state secret. Don't repeat that," and not cause a disruption.

(I actually did. You know. Shoehorn that line into a later story, before completing this WiP.)

So what ideas did I throw at the wall?

An invasion of Earth nobody knew about (which comes from five chapters I never continued). My devil-girl had to had to stop it. I wanted to make it useful for ongoing stories by getting the devil-girl back on the main antagonist' radar by my devil-girl inadvertently doing the MA an enormous solid (i.e., saving Her ass).

Check. Check Check.

Didn't quite take off. My devil-girl wasn't biting. What was the story idea missing?

Ah!

/A sexy dragon./

Anything more would be spoilers.

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory
#microfiction #shorts #ShortStory #shortstories #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

Untold Tales
21 hours ago

The warm whispering of the Force called to her before she bolted; swarthy hands pushing and shoving anyone she could to try and get ahead. The voice called stronger still- beating with her now pounding heartbeat.

“Run.”

https://acrossthestars.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=1606&st=0&#entry12171

tags: #roleplaying #rpg #roleplayingaccount #oc #news #art #artist #mastodon #fandom #twitter #facebook #reddit #threads #ahsoka #disney #writing #writingcommunity #writer #writers #forum #digitalart

Ruthanne
1 day ago

Creative "rules" exist, usually, to improve communication. (Look up "Let's eat, grandma.")

Breaking the rules at the right time can create incredible impact. It all comes down to knowing them so you can break them right. #CreateIt22 #writers #artists #creatives

https://youtu.be/uzeJ-sQZfiA

kim kjagain moes
1 day ago

Here's an updated list of my published writing so far.

Let me know if you have a favourite 🙂

https://kjagain.wordpress.com/published-stuff/

#writers #writing #microfiction #writer #amwriting #writerslife #Writever #writingcommunity
#poetry #amwritingpoetry

YouSweet42
1 day ago

Chocolate shop owner Laura is 57 years old and has been married to the same man for decades. She never would have expected to end up falling in love with another woman. But when she meets 53-year-old single mother Carina, her whole world is turned upside down …
👭 💕

A #sapphic late bloomer romance novel about attraction, desire and the miracles (and difficulties) of a new love.
🌊 🧜‍♀️ 💞 🌈

Out now:
https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0CP8YDG2M/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=UFLBK9LG9BEI&keywords=Flowing+like+Water&qid=1701533475&sprefix=flowing+like+wat%2Caps%2C826&sr=8-4
✍️📖

#lesbian #books #novels #writers #indieauthors #indie #amwriting
📚

The cover of the book Flowing like Water by Jutta Swietlinski: Two dark blue mermaids in light blue water with three red fishes.
Hal Brown
1 day ago

#writer #writers #writingcommunity #blog #blogging #publishing #politics #Musk Could Musk's X become Z formerly known as X formerly known as Twitter? It's possible now that Musk has a face-saving, if lame, excuse for selling: blame it on the advertisers. He just made the news because of his liberal use of one profanity.Read: http://stressline.org/2023/12/02/musk-now-has-a-face-saving-excuse-albeit-a-lame-one-for-unloading-x-the-new-owner-can-call-it-z-by-hal-brown-msw/

June Casagrande
1 day ago

The 12 (plus 19) Days of Punctuation: Free tips from "The Best Punctuation Book, Period"

Only adjectives that modify a noun independently get commas between them.

A kind, gentle, sweet girl
but
A bright red wingtip shoe
#12DaysOfPunctuation #Writers #AmWriting #NaNoWriMo #AmEditing #Punctuation #BlackFriday #CyberMonday
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Punctuation-Book-Period-Businessperson/dp/1607744937/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OUGDFHF7ONAE&keywords=the+best+punctuation+book+period&qid=1669395264&sprefix=best+punctuat%2Caps%2C367&sr=8-1

Screenshot from The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande says, "Coordinate adjectives, which each modify the noun independently, are separated by commas. ... Noncoordinate adjectives, which have different relationships to the noun, often take no commas between them.
Untold Tales
2 days ago

The warm whispering of the Force called to her before she bolted; swarthy hands pushing and shoving anyone she could to try and get ahead. The voice called stronger still- beating with her now pounding heartbeat.

“Run.”

https://acrossthestars.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=1606&st=0&#entry12171

tags: #roleplaying #rpg #roleplayingaccount #oc #news #art #artist #mastodon #fandom #twitter #facebook #reddit #threads #ahsoka #disney #writing #writingcommunity #writer #writers #forum #digitalart

RS, Author, Novelist
2 days ago

#WordWeavers 12.1 — Introduce your favorite secondary character as if they were a celebrity.

She's someone you should know, and one you'll surely recognize by the Tyrannosaurian shape she was visualized into being. No, she's not Sue in the flesh! She assisted the Master in his first attempt into shaping reality into his own image and would have succeeded except for the wrong word uttered at the right time that saved the world. She spent a millennium planning His return, but this time she learned the error of her ways after nearly destroying the Second Civilization. She's now doing everything to help our heroine bring back the magic for everyone to use, while setting up the Master for a fall. You know her. You loath her for all she has done and for the kin she has lost you. She is the Irredeemable. She will do the right thing despite knowing she'll never be forgiven except the few who understand her sacrifice. Let's give a dinosaur-size welcome, applauding with whatever limbs you can bring together, to make a great big noise for [spoilers from unsold fantasy trilogy]!

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

RS, Author, Novelist
2 days ago

#PennedPossibilities 149 — SC POV: When was the last time you felt needed?

[Bolt speaking:] I spent the last seven years of my life working in a gang as a runner and bearer of bad news, until /she/ decided we were alike and took me along with her as she decapitated the organization. The event did not go without notice by the constabulary she played to get the job done, or by the powers that be. I saved her, she saved me, then I threw a border stone at the most powerful person in the world to save us all.

Looong story.

Every flapping day since, she makes me feel needed. I had lost my freedom and my life in a cycle of blackmail and darkness. I owe her—for changing me, fixing me, freeing me—though she sees me instead as a helpful friend. Together, I help her make a difference /every/ day.

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory
#microfiction #shorts #ShortStory #shortstories #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

Phoenix.Serenity
2 days ago

[Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 is the #InternationalDay of #PersonsWithDisabilities.

To #celebrate, we've put together a list of 14 #Canadian works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's #books to highlight #disabled #writers and #stories about #disabilities.]

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7046305

RS, Author, Novelist
2 days ago

#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 4 Nakatomi Plaza Nbr 1 — Does your work include any poetry? Share a snippet.

Sometimes my prose comes out sounding like poetry. I then revise it ruthlessly so the writing is transparent.

I did write a poetic song lyric once about a dancing and singing mania (it does exist). I am definitely not sharing it!

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_mania

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

I know this isn't a majorly big number to most successful authors but these numbers from today have been really uplifting to see.
Thank you, readers, for giving me some hope at this hard time in my life.

#authorcommunity #writerscommunity #writers #Writer #writing #WritingCommunity

Hal Brown
2 days ago

#writer #writers #writingcommunity #blog #blogging #publishing #politics #Santos

He's been the most flamboyantly attired member of Congress and a constant embarrassment to GOP so I will miss him for this. I have enjoyed his wardrobe and will miss seeing his various outfits especially the maroon double-breasted sports jacket. He's certainly doesn't have a svelte physique but generally his outfits are well-fitted, an exception center below.

Robert Roy Britt
2 days ago

Hey #writers: Do you know how to properly attribute a quote? You might think it's pretty simple, but I have 2,500 words to say about quoting, in just one of the two pieces I've written about the subject for the Writer's Guide newsletter. Why? Because getting it right enhances your credibility and improves the reader experience.

This one is paywalled, but the top is free (and helpful on its own) so have a look:

https://writersguide.substack.com/p/the-mechanics-of-attribution-quoting

#writingtips for #journalists #wrting and #editing

I have an opening for a new client!

If you need copyediting, proofreading, developmental editing, or one-on-one coaching, send me a message. I work with individuals, self-publishers, and trad publishing houses.

I have 24 years' experience in publishing, with professional training in fiction and nonfiction editing. And my rates are reasonable.

Read more about me at https://www.popediting.net/

#Writers #WritingCommunity #WritingLife #memoir #fiction #business #sports #academic

Branwen OShea (she/her)
3 days ago

Inviting all #writers to join us for the fun & community of #WordWeavers. Participate with a WIP or an already published book. @AlinaLeonova and I have come up with some hopefully fun questions for December. Four players contributed the month’s community questions (see below).
As always, play the days you want, skip the ones you want. Please use CW as necessary. Looking forward to seeing all your answers, finding great books, & meeting new friends. Here you go!
#amwriting #author

Daily Writing Prompts for #WordWeavers in December. All the questions won’t fit here, so if you need them in text format, please see the link provided in this thread.

December #WordWeavers 1. Introduce your favorite secondary character as if they were a celebrity. 

2. Secondary character POV: how would you feel if you were a celebrity? 

3. What does your antagonist always have with them? 

4. If your MC were looking for a place to live, what would be the most important factors? 

5. How does your MC decorate their living space? 

6. Do you use symbolism in your stories? 

7. Do you use foreshadowing, and if so, how do you do it? 

8. What is the most important change your MC undergoes during the story? 

9. If your antagonist were on TikTok (or other social media), what kind of content would they create? 

10. Would any of your characters follow your antagonist on social media? What kind of people would? 

11. Who supports your writing the most? 

12. Have you ever wanted to give up writing? What helped you to continue? 

13. Share a great review/message/compliment your writing got. If you haven't received it yet, what would you like people to notice about your writing? 

14. Do you write characters with different sexual orientations and gender identities from your own? What guides your writing? 

15. Have any of your scenes been inspired by personal experiences? 

Created by @BranwenOShea@writing.exchange & @AlinaLeonova@wandering.shop
RS, Author, Novelist
3 days ago

#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 3 Nbr 30 — How much detail do you put into character descriptions? Discuss.

[/I did a lot of thinking about something I do reflexively, "codifying" what follows. Mind the first sentence. —RS/]

I write in 1st person POV, where only what the character experiences or knows can be reported. What detail I put into a description depends on the character's importance, and it all revolves around the I-POV's experience and opinions. I am always aware of Chekov's Gun in these circumstances. I ensure I have a clear reason for all details in a description so as not to create a red herring that will annoy the reader. My red shirts and background characters merit the least description. I take time during revision to remove the tons of extraneous character (and scene) description I add during composition. This often reduces my word count by 10%.

I see my POV character as the reader's reality conduit, and in that they serve as an unreliable narrator. No real person confesses everything. The POV is not necessarily lying, though if they do I ensure their circumlocutions are detectable to the reader, otherwise why make them lie? This type of POV describes what interests them. They will not describe things they don't wish to share.

My I-POV notes very little about themself (unless they're a fashionista or vain). In shorter stories, I may never let you discover the POV's name—or gender! This can even be despite sexual situations. If it isn't germane to the story, it isn't germane. Yeah, I've written a story with a sex scene without revealing a gender. Such a choice says a lot more than what it doesn't say. I write romance; I don't write erotic fiction. I may describe a POV's clothes and hair style as it reflects about how (and why) they want to present themself. Think about this: if you are playing with your long hair, you may think about the length, but would you think about its red color? No. Red is assumed and doesn't cross your mind; stating "Red" may imply to reader /reasons/ for doing so. Do you have other color hair somewhere on your head—or body? Why is that interesting /now?/ I am more likely to have a friend or a stranger describe the POV character via their comments than to have the POV do it. If self-description is necessary for plot or character development, I'll instead describe something like selecting clothes, hairdressers, critiquing a personal photo, or, gasp, frowning into a mirror.

"Vague" is good. I feel that the less physical detail I provide a character, the more the reader may be able to put themself in the POV's place.

I describe the POV's history when the POV needs to explain their past to explain their present. I describe a POV's strengths and abilities by having the POV plan or justify their actions in the story, and through how they act and their explanation as to why they acted. See my fight scene discussion on the 28th for a sense of character description via action: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/111490626338222994

In a similar fashion, I'll have the I-POV describe what they know about other characters as they encounter them, or as they become interesting, important to their agenda, attractive, or dangerous. In this, the POV can reveal and self-describe their desires, their limitations, and their prejudices—as well as expose what they don't know. I think that describing holes in a POV's knowledge and the workarounds they've tried allow the reader to intuit "negative space" in a character.

From all this, plot must flow. I use what the POV notices—how they describe their thoughts and experiences for the reader—to foreshadow events and move the story along. In this I very much rely on the character's agenda, which as an author I sometimes tweak to make the story work.

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

Paul
3 days ago
#Writers Do you keep track of your sales / downloads through the weeks, months and years? And how often do you check those old files/things?
I'm close to not keeping track any more. It's a lot of work and I never look at it.
JD Eames (she/her) 🏳️‍🌈
4 days ago

"Anybody that has eaten chile in New Mexico knows why we love our chile and why we love our land so much, because our writing is spicy and pungent, it's of the earth and of the people; and when you eat the earth and eat the sweat of the people that have worked there, it's like my grandmother says, 'como chile colorado,' like red chile. It goes through your whole system and becomes part of you."
-Denise Chavez

#writers #NewMexico #amwriting

JacquiG
5 days ago

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #Writers
Is there some kind of scam going around where writers get approached for a screenplay based on their book? I just got a weird email, completely out of the blue.

Yahia Lababidi
5 days ago

🏈 #Sports Illustrated under fire for #AI #writers, content

Sports Illustrated is facing scrutiny for reportedly publishing numerous articles under AI personas — complete with generated headshots and bios. Some pieces also appeared AI-written, though SI scrubbed it all post-inquiry, according to Futurism.

https://futurism.com/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-writers?utm_source=www.therundown.ai&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=warnings-emerge-over-ai-firm-g42

#news #writing #tech #technology #ethics #media

Look, #Substack usually only promotes #writers with thousands of subs from a marketing standpoint. That's understandable. However, when you search the categories for something to read, popular writers appear on top.
As a reader, this has often been my frustration cos I'm a weirdo that likes to read NEW and NOT FAMOUS writers. The only way to find these people is to scroll down endlessly that page to the very bottom.
As a writer, well, that's another story.

#WritingCommunity #Writing

RS, Author, Novelist
6 days ago

#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 3 Nbr 27 — How do you feel about the use of AI in writing?

Because there is nuance here, I will point out that unless you write longhand, or use a typewriter (what's that?), you use AI in your writing. Spell checkers, grammar checkers, auto-complete, search engines, lots of things use AI.

Importantly, I don't and won't use AI for /composition/. Why deserves some explanation:

  1. It's /not/ me writing, so in essence I am not saying anything. For me, that's what being an author is all about.

  2. AI generated text cannot be copyrighted and therefore cannot be sold. I submitted a short story a couple weeks ago and I had to avow I hadn't used any AI.

  3. AI is statistical pattern matching without /any understanding of underlying meaning./ It is indeed not intelligence of any kind, even artificial. Just an advanced algorithm.#AI is a slick but effective marketing term, like "Natural." As such, everything generated has to be checked for (a) accuracy, (b) unintended meaning, and (c) inadvertent plagiarism.

When would I use AI? Beyond what I pointed out in the first paragraph, I'd use AI analysis tools that could check consistency, for example eye color or writing style over the length of a novel, or series of novels. I'd welcome something that could act as a model reader, pointing out how characters changed, inconsistent plot points, inadvertent red herrings, use of strong language compared to weak language, etc. Something that could profile characters and settings in a story would be very useful. If they existed. Such things would make revision easier and more efficient.

Whilst I'd never use AI generated art, for reasons stated above and for personal ethical reasons, I would use it to get visualizations of ideas, places, or characters—which I'd never publish.

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

CKMo
6 days ago

Hey there!

I'm CKMo, and I'm a taiwanese high fantasy indie author. I'm trying to bring more works with #eastasian influences into western culture via my novels.

You can find all my publishing sites, social media, and discord server in my bio!

#indieauthor #indiebooks #indiefantasy #fantasy #selfpublished #webnovelist #writing #novel #fantasyauthor #taiwanese #asian #asiancreator #writers #book #books #fantasybook #bookstodon #webnovel #highfantasy @bookstodon

The video is made using a still picture of a dimly lit, antique looking library wall. The wall is illuminated by a row of hanging Edison lightbulbs. The books on the shelves appear to be arranged somewhat haphazardly. Partially covering the library image, in the center of it, is a black frame with a darker, semi-transparent background which adds a worn look to the picture behind it.

In this frame are a set of captions in antique gold with a black outline, which read in this order:

"Looking for a new indie author to support? Check out my high fantasy series, Below the Heavens! Here’s what you’ll find inside:

A detailed world crafted from scratch with its own unique magic system and political struggles. A realm full of dragons, spirits, magical auramasters, and battles for power and control! A charismatic protagonist using his quick wits to try to survive in this tumultuous world and find his way back home. A large and diverse cast of likeable (and not likeable) supporting characters and antagonists! A free, multi-book series in the works. Book one out now!"
Sage Tyrtle
6 days ago

"Etched Memories" is the bomb, led by Sage Tyrtle. She's all about embracing your body's story, even the goofy parts. Join the gang for some body-positivity fun! Jan. 20: https://crowcollectiveworkshops.com/2021/11/02/body-2/

#Writing #WritingWorkshop #Writers #AmWriting #BodyPositivity

Paper heart in two pieces being sewn back together.
Fedi.Video 🎅
1 week ago

Can we give a warm welcome to Robert Kingett's PeerTube presence? He's a writer, editor and long-time Fediverse user, advocating for blind and disability rights, and the LGBTQIA+ community. You can follow at:

➡️ @weirdwriter@spectra.video

If the videos aren't noticed by your server yet, you can browse them all at:

➡️ https://spectra.video/a/weirdwriter/videos

You can also follow his Mastodon account at:

➡️ @weirdwriter@tweesecake.social

#PeerTube #Writing #Writers #Authors #Accessibility #Disability #Disabilities #LGBTQIA

Andrew Wooldridge 🌱
1 week ago

Hi #writers! I need some direction today:

I want to write but I have 3 different options

1 work on my Clockwork Apprentice novel

2 start my new Tarot meets Cardcaptor Sakura novel

3 start my Dr Who meets Space Pirate novel

RS, Author, Novelist
1 week ago

#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 3 Nbr 23 — Do you have any profanity in your work? **** you, I want an answer!

There's some profanity, but I avoid it even in modern settings. For fun, my devil-girl stops people by saying "Language!" at them; only the stupid ones test her resolve. In fantasy or futurist settings, I invent words more appropriate for the time. In one set of stories the f-word they use is "flap" or "flapping," and even in context it's not particularly offensive; it's neither insulting nor sexual. It just signals frustration On the other hand, calling a day angel (or worse a night angel who doesn't have feathers) a featherbrain, them's fighting words. Indeed, though my devil-girl calls herself a devil girl all the time, that's not a proper word for her kind and certainly not for /you/ to use for her, unless you're her riding partner—at which point she might find it endearing.

Stuff like that.

[Author retains copyright.]

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

It’s hard to imagine a better feeling for a writer than when a reader both loves your story and *gets* your story. There’s a difference, and I suspect anyone who has published novels or stories will know exactly what I mean.
#WritingCommunity #amWriting #writers #WIP #writersLife

Mistress witch writes
2 weeks ago

Dear #writers,

I am still a bit new to masto, so please tell me. How do the hashtags wordweavers or writerscoffeeclub work? Do I just pick up a question I come across and write my response in an own post?

Canadian writers urge Giller Prize Palestine protester support

"We ask all of our literary institutions to be loud where our governments and news outlets have been silent"

#books #Gaza #Israel #WritingCommunity #writers

https://howtobe247.com/canadian-writers-urge-giller-prize-palestine-protester-support/

Milcom Miasma
2 weeks ago

Ironclad.

I watched a documentary on Hunter S. Thompson last night and it is an un-contestable miracle that that guy lived past thirty-five.

It's unusual when Hollywood writers tone down the amount of drugs, alcohol and weirdness that occurred in a person's life before making a movie about them.

#Writers

RS, Author, Novelist
2 weeks ago

#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 3 Nbr 21 — What things make a good book cover design?

Something that will intrigue readers into buying the book. I'm no designer and suspect I'll seek professional advise if I self-publish. If I conventionally publish, the publisher will consider such a thing advertising and I will consider myself lucky if they ask for suggestions.

Once I was asked. Two main characters got on the cover, a Japanese teenager and a sheepdog/human chimera. What was drawn were a caucasian vogue model and a wookie. The book sold out the printing, so I guess I can't complain.

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

Angry Tea Lady
2 weeks ago

I've had taken pictures to go alongside my #writings for a while, I'm wondering if this will be a thing I will be able to do! I don't want them to be an illustration but like in the same category to feel the vibe of when it was written, I've yet to do a correct #wordpress #blog for them :( #writerscoffeeclub #poetry #poetrycommunity #writers #writersofmastodon #photography #photographer #photographers #photographersofmastodon

RS, Author, Novelist
2 weeks ago

@mloxton

Do I need to have [an author's website specifically for promoting your writing]?

Not necessarily, but the reality of selling books, even posting stories, is that there are intervals (months, maybe years), where readers aren't seeing anything new from you. The biggest tragedy is to be forgotten in the interval. You want readers to stay engaged. To do this, providing periodic news, story bits, interesting research, engaging links, etc. daily or weekly keeps them in mind. This was explained to me by a successfully self-publishing erotic-romance author and horror author. Even conventionally published authors should consider some sort of self-promotion. My experience with conventional publication is that the publisher may promote the big names over you, so some of it is still your responsibility. Your writing and their publishing are both businesses. That said, even fan fiction sites have blogging and advertising tools one should take advantage of.

#BoostingIsSharing
#CommentingIsCool

#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion #WritersCoffeeClub

As @timjonesbooks suggests, #Wellington has a history of writers! Don't worry though there are many newer #writers too! @georgepenney You've missed #VerbWellington for 2023 but there will be more events and opportunities to say Hi in future!

Both Tim and @jacquiG and many others appeared at local events
https://www.verbwellington.nz/artists-2023

(MEP) and M.E. Purfield
2 weeks ago

Seems that #actuallyautistic artist/writers will never be validated by the greater #AutisticCommunity unless corporate neurotypical gatekeepers validate them first.

#artists #writers

Margaret Sefton
2 weeks ago

For horror writers who enjoy writing seasonally, Trembling with Fear has a Christmas-themed deadline coming up on December 7. See link for details.

#WritingCommunity #horrorwriters #writers #writing #prompt

https://horrortree.com/submissions/#themed-calls

Nona Rose
2 weeks ago

This week at the #PoetryCafe we’re talking about how much of yourself is reflected in the poetry you write or read.

A lot of my poetry is autobiographical (a lot isn’t as well) so it’s heavily influence by who I am and what has gone in in my life.

As a reader I often enjoy matching moods to the poetry I’m reading. If I’m sad, I’ll read melancholy or despondent poetry. If I’m happy, I’ll read funny or quirky poetry. If I’m outraged, I’ll read angry or protest poetry.

Do you do this? Does poetry reflect you you are in that moment or isn’t more reflective? Let me know!

#poetry #poets #PoetryCommunity #writing #writers #WritingCommunity #reading #readers #ReadingCommunity #BookTalk #moods #emotions #feelings

Your Autistic Life
3 weeks ago

Ya know...

When Koch died in Babylon 5, I was a teary mess. Heck, there were many scenes in Babylon 5 that turned me into a teary mess.

Anyway, I was a teary mess, but I was just someone who watched the show. I read JMS' comments at the time about how hard it had been for him, and how the *character* demanded this resolution.

Guess what?

I'm in JMS' seat right now. I'm seeing things from the perspective of the writer, and it ain't pretty. I've never killed a character like this.

I wouldn't say a character is asking me for death, but the narrative definitely does. I've been crying on and off all day. I'm not even currently writing the death scene. I'm just thinking about it. I'm probably several chapters away from writing it. Still, the narrative demands it.

You know what? I **really** really doubt that authors take pleasure about killing any character that has played an important role in the narrative. The Red Shirts? Okay, I'm not going to shed a tear, but those characters central to the story? I'm a complete mess.

I hope that the path leading to this death is going to prepare the reader for a nice payoff. It is my job to prepare the reader for this payoff.

#Babylon5 #Koch #death #JMS #JMichaelStraczynski #narrative #writing #writers #AutisticWriters #payoff

AnnaFeatherstone
3 weeks ago

I’ve done it now, committed to writing (and therefore publishing and marketing) another book. Any author knows what that means…WAY TOO MUCH sitting in my future. With the sales coming up, I’m ready to take the plunge on one of those sit/stand desks. Have you got one you’re passionate about? Any key accessories? And did you get anything to stand on? A smooshy foot pad? One you have to balance on? An underdesk treadmill!?! Guide me :)
#Australia #Writers #Author

Epiphanic Synchronicity
3 weeks ago

@curtismchale Particularly given how self-righteously and aggressively protective big #tech is about intellectual property *they* claim to own.

They want different rules for themselves and the “little people” like #writers and #artists—the very people whose content the #AI companies want to steal for free, modify without attribution, and then sell at a profit.

Alexander Hay
3 weeks ago

DID I MENTION THAT MY LATEST SHORT STORY, "MEGAMAW", IS NOW PUBLISHED IN #STRANGEMACHINES?

It's available now via #KickStarter. BuyBuyBuy! And perhaps my Capslock key will stop malfunctioning!

#WritersCommunity #WritersNews #Writers #PublicationNews #SciFi #Cyberpunk #Fiction #Apex

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/apexpublications/the-map-of-lost-places-a-horror-anthology

The front cover of "Strange Machines: An Anthology of Dark User Manuals", by Apex Publishing, and edited by Marissa Van Uden.

The border and font are both futuristic, 'industrial sci-fi' in look, giving a suitably ragged, cyberpunk-like look. The font colour is either light blue or, in the subtitle's case, white on light blue.

The highly detailed cover art features a robotic woman holding an NES controller, which has 'MIND CONTROL' scrawled over it in red graffiti. She looks like she may be a pilot, via the flight cap and goggles she is wearing, but she is also festooned with all manner of junk and colourful wires, and looks like she has to fix herself with anything she can lay her robo-hands on, including a sticking plaster. She has also scribbled over herself with electric pink and white graffiti, including warrior lines on her face. She is wearing trousers, held up with a belt. Its brass, rectangular buckle has '1984' scribbled on it.

She looks at us, as if she is breaking the first wall. Her expression is somewhere between mild derision and a wry smile. If you look closely, her eyes have irises using the same shade of light blue, and stars for pupils.

The artist is Manuel Regalado. Its title is B.E.L.E., which is presumably Ms. Robot's name. 

The overall design is care of Mikio Murakami, at Silent Q Design.

www.manuelregalado.com

www.facebook.com/SilentQDesign

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/apexpublications/the-map-of-lost-places-a-horror-anthology
📚 TheCozy.Cat
3 weeks ago

Finally created a webring for all the #bookstodon, #booktok, #bookstagram peeps on the Small Web ♥ It's a webring and directory so we can all find each other. 🥰 Now accepting members! 📚 https://thebookring.neocities.org/

@bookstodon
#IndieWeb #WebRevival #books #webring #SmallWeb #OldWeb #bookish #bookblogger #bookblog #bibliophile #writer #writers #author #authors #readers

(MEP) and M.E. Purfield
3 weeks ago

Wondering if allistic #writers experience #disassociation while writing or could this only be an #actuallyautistic thing 🤔

#writing #indie #autisticauthor #autisticwriter

Odin Halvorson
3 weeks ago

I'm considering creating a Ghost account which would replace my Substack and become the primary driver behind my online presence. How has that process gone for others? Are there IFTTT applets you use to connect into your Fediverse accounts?

What I really want is a one-stop-publishing experience, where I can post to a website I own and have my work sent off to every social account and website I have. $10/mo is steep for me, but I'd like to think it's an investment.

#Ghost #WritingCommunity #Writer #Writers #Substack #Newsletter #Marketing #IFTTT #Fediverse #Community #Support #Question #Today

Nona Rose
3 weeks ago

In the #PoetryCafe this week, I’d like to know what you want your writing to say about you.

Be as detailed or as brief as you like.

I’d like mine to speak to my humanity - my empathy, compassion, generosity of spirit, love, and kindness - as well as my passion and my outrage.

#poetry #PoetryCommunity #writing #WritingCommunity #poets #poems #writers

Paolo Amoroso
3 weeks ago

Romance writers are a community of accidental innovators.

The publishing industry shunning and society often marginalizing them drove romance writers to experiment with self publishing, ebooks and digital formats, business models, publishing platforms and technolgies, information sharing, unionizing, and collaboration.

This is a good overview of what romance writers accomplished:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/93652-lessons-in-love-romance-authors-and-the-power-of-labor-solidarity.html

#romance #writers #publishing

Tiffany Li
3 weeks ago

Writing is just thinking your work is amazing and then thinking it’s terrible and going back and forth between both extremes until you finally have to submit, at which point you’ve spent so much time staring at the words that you have no idea if any of it is good or bad at all

#writing #amwriting #writers

Mistress witch writes
3 weeks ago

A new goal for the near future will be to get a short story published in some kind of magazine. I have not attempted that in years, but think that could be a good next step for me.

Wish me all of the luck in the world, I guess! And I am also open for suggestion as to where to start.

#writing #fiction #writers #witch

Silver Huang
4 weeks ago

Writing and socialising appear to draw from the same battery source in me.

When I write more, I have less energy for #social. I find myself unable to look at conversations unfolding here, much less follow or respond in (what I feel to be) a nuanced and sensitive way appropriate to the context, i.e., social media, public, short format. I suspect this is a #neurodivergent thing.

Do other #writers experience something similar?

@neurodivergent @writingcommunity #WritersLife

Jane Rosenberg LaForge
4 weeks ago

Jewish #writers & other artists and thinkers write an open letter on how criticism of Israel is not antisemitism: “we find this rhetorical tactic antithetical to Jewish values, which teach us to repair the world, question authority, and champion the oppressed over the oppressor.” They also liken it to an “an insidious gagging of #FreeSpeech.”

https://www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/a-dangerous-conflation/?fbclid=IwAR1F8YXy9JpKFoq9oAizxJb-tkXxHUq-_TSHjX9MjABjKqImWwYhkwT2kfo

Mark McElroy
1 month ago

A project journal is a powerful resource for #writers.

#Obsidian is a great tool for this: just open the daily note and jot down a few notes about how the writing went that day. Did you cut a chunk out of the novel? Paste it in the journal. Toss out a chapter? Paste it in. Learn something new about a character or setting? Link it, tag it, and put it in the project journal.

Later, SuperFans will love these "behind the scenes" director's tracks as ebooks or PDFs.

#PKM #AmWriting #ObsidianMD

Ben, Busy Writing
1 month ago

Advice from #writers everywhere - I'm looking at hosting some of my work on WordPress but I'm unsure if I should. What are the advantages & disadvantages of using WP and are there any better alternatives?

Anna Anthro
1 month ago

Vast digital trove of recordings by Canadian literature greats nears completion

“SpokenWeb is a digitized bonanza of readings and off-the-cuff remarks from #Canada ‘s greatest #writers.

The bonanza includes Margaret Atwood, W.O. Mitchell, Mavis Gallant, Rudy Wiebe, Michael Ondaatje, Al Purdy and Irving Layton.”

https://globalnews.ca/news/10071117/canadian-literature-digital-recordings-project-nears-completion/