#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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To clarify, my plot devices are like the Death Star plans in Star Wars IV: A New Hope, not like Marsellus Wallace's briefcase in Pulp Fiction — or the iconic Maltese Falcon, one of the greatest MacGuffins ever, and a good example of the fact that MacGuffins aren't necessarily bad. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 28: Do you practice "kill your darlings" in your work?
I haven't yet gotten to the point of editing, where that advice would be practicable. But I have this suspicion that the "darlings" in description are likely to come at points where something magical and special is happening, and so they'll serve as signposts for readers to pay more attention.
So I may need to cultivate those bits, not kill them.
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#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 28: Do you practice "kill your darlings" in your work?
I haven't yet gotten to the point of editing, where that advice would be practicable. But I have this suspicion that the "darlings" in description are likely to come at points where something magical and special is happening, and so they'll serve as signposts for readers to pay more attention.
So I may need to cultivate those bits, not kill them.
#WritersCoffeeClub 1: Intro: Shameless self-promotion. What's your WIP? What's it about?
My WIP's in early stages (still building the world, characters, etc.) and has no title yet. It's an #UrbanFantasy set in #SanFrancisco, about people who can hear the voice of the City, and who it teaches to do magic. It's about the life and magic of cities, and how San Francisco is at a crossroads, and how people affect the future by our choices in every moment.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 1: Intro: Shameless self-promotion. What's your WIP? What's it about?
My WIP's in early stages (still building the world, characters, etc.) and has no title yet. It's an #UrbanFantasy set in #SanFrancisco, about people who can hear the voice of the City, and who it teaches to do magic. It's about the life and magic of cities, and how San Francisco is at a crossroads, and how people affect the future by our choices in every moment.
#WritersCoffeeClub 2: How often do you write in a typical week? How do you find the time?
I try to write every day, but many days I'm too tired after work to write much. Even then, I try to at least poke at things a little.
Over the summer, I did fairly well at this. Lately, with the sunlight fading, I've been too tired a lot of evenings. I'd say I still do at least a little writing 1-2 weeknights, and also do a fair bit on the weekends.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 2: How often do you write in a typical week? How do you find the time?
I try to write every day, but many days I'm too tired after work to write much. Even then, I try to at least poke at things a little.
Over the summer, I did fairly well at this. Lately, with the sunlight fading, I've been too tired a lot of evenings. I'd say I still do at least a little writing 1-2 weeknights, and also do a fair bit on the weekends.
#WritersCoffeeClub 3: Should a writer have a face shot on their book cover or within their book?
It's absolutely tragic and disgusting that women can still sell better if they hide their gender and use initials (or a full-on male pseudonym). As long as that's true, though, I can't in good conscience say that people "should" have their picture available.
Being a white guy, I could do it. And I won't get judged on whether I'm hot or not. 😒 Not sure if I'll do it or not.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 3: Should a writer have a face shot on their book cover or within their book?
It's absolutely tragic and disgusting that women can still sell better if they hide their gender and use initials (or a full-on male pseudonym). As long as that's true, though, I can't in good conscience say that people "should" have their picture available.
Being a white guy, I could do it. And I won't get judged on whether I'm hot or not. 😒 Not sure if I'll do it or not.
#WritersCoffeeClub 5: What are your writing project goals?
To finish this novel and get it published, and then to follow it up with two more books to make a full trilogy.
And for people who read these books to feel seen, to fall in love with my world, and want to step into it and become a part of it. To hear the things I'm trying to say, and to want to amplify those messages and make them part of their lives.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 5: What are your writing project goals?
To finish this novel and get it published, and then to follow it up with two more books to make a full trilogy.
And for people who read these books to feel seen, to fall in love with my world, and want to step into it and become a part of it. To hear the things I'm trying to say, and to want to amplify those messages and make them part of their lives.
#WritersCoffeeClub 6: Are you self-published or trad-published? How's it going?
I don't have anything to publish yet; I'm still in the early stages of writing.
I plan to try very hard to get traditionally published, once the book's ready. NGL, I'll consider it a bit of a personal failure if I have to self-publish.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 6: Are you self-published or trad-published? How's it going?
I don't have anything to publish yet; I'm still in the early stages of writing.
I plan to try very hard to get traditionally published, once the book's ready. NGL, I'll consider it a bit of a personal failure if I have to self-publish.
#WritersCoffeeClub 8: Rough, complete or not at all. How do you plan your writing?
I'm doing some extremely complete planning of "the situation as it stands at the beginning of the book." Then I'll run it forward from there and... see what happens. (I have a few items I plan to hit at various points, but I'm not yet sure how I'm going to get to them — and that's okay).
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#WritersCoffeeClub 8: Rough, complete or not at all. How do you plan your writing?
I'm doing some extremely complete planning of "the situation as it stands at the beginning of the book." Then I'll run it forward from there and... see what happens. (I have a few items I plan to hit at various points, but I'm not yet sure how I'm going to get to them — and that's okay).
#WritersCoffeeClub 9: Recurring themes in your body of work?
I don't have a "body of work" yet. (Yet!) But things I expect to show up a lot are:
* We create the future. Every moment, every action (to a greater or lesser degree) influences what comes next. So it's up to us to build the kind of future we want.
* People aren't "good" or "evil" because of something inherent, but rather because of what they do.
* You can be one of "the cool people" if you want! It's not a closed or exclusive club. -
#WritersCoffeeClub 9: Recurring themes in your body of work?
I don't have a "body of work" yet. (Yet!) But things I expect to show up a lot are:
* We create the future. Every moment, every action (to a greater or lesser degree) influences what comes next. So it's up to us to build the kind of future we want.
* People aren't "good" or "evil" because of something inherent, but rather because of what they do.
* You can be one of "the cool people" if you want! It's not a closed or exclusive club.#WritersCoffeeClub 10: Did you learn cursive/joined-up writing in elementary/primary school?
Yes, but then I abandoned it midway through high school; my writing got progressively less and less connected until it had reverted to print.
Now, I type as much as I can; handwriting is a very rare thing for me (and it's both messy and kind of difficult, leading to hand cramps fairly quickly).
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#WritersCoffeeClub 10: Did you learn cursive/joined-up writing in elementary/primary school?
Yes, but then I abandoned it midway through high school; my writing got progressively less and less connected until it had reverted to print.
Now, I type as much as I can; handwriting is a very rare thing for me (and it's both messy and kind of difficult, leading to hand cramps fairly quickly).
#WritersCoffeeClub 11: What sounds are present when you're writing?
I write in various locations: at home, but also at a few local bars. At home, the sounds are the city outside (sirens, traffic, etc.) and my own writing mix (a bunch of mid-tempo, atmospheric music). At bars, you can guess: people, plus whatever music the venue is playing on their sound system.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 11: What sounds are present when you're writing?
I write in various locations: at home, but also at a few local bars. At home, the sounds are the city outside (sirens, traffic, etc.) and my own writing mix (a bunch of mid-tempo, atmospheric music). At bars, you can guess: people, plus whatever music the venue is playing on their sound system.
#WritersCoffeeClub 12: How do you research real-world locations? Do you visit them?
My WIP is set in #SanFrancisco, a city that a friend of mine once observed about me: "You know this city like a Dashiell Hammett character." (One of my most-cherished compliments ever!) So, many of my locations are ones that I know personally.
When I need a memory boost, I'll use Google Maps or similar things. And I'm planning to revisit some spots during editing (once I know what places went into the book).
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#WritersCoffeeClub 12: How do you research real-world locations? Do you visit them?
My WIP is set in #SanFrancisco, a city that a friend of mine once observed about me: "You know this city like a Dashiell Hammett character." (One of my most-cherished compliments ever!) So, many of my locations are ones that I know personally.
When I need a memory boost, I'll use Google Maps or similar things. And I'm planning to revisit some spots during editing (once I know what places went into the book).
#WritersCoffeeClub 13: Do you use beta readers? How's it working out?
I don't have anything to beta-read yet. I am definitely planning on having as many sensitivity readers as I can manage, because I'm portraying the experiences of *a lot* of people who are not like me. (My characters are as diverse as actual San Franciscans. Of course!)
I'm also trying to find cultural consultants, to talk to *before* the writing, but they seem harder to find than sensitivity readers. Dammit.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 13: Do you use beta readers? How's it working out?
I don't have anything to beta-read yet. I am definitely planning on having as many sensitivity readers as I can manage, because I'm portraying the experiences of *a lot* of people who are not like me. (My characters are as diverse as actual San Franciscans. Of course!)
I'm also trying to find cultural consultants, to talk to *before* the writing, but they seem harder to find than sensitivity readers. Dammit.
#WritersCoffeeClub 14: Many writers own cats. Is pet ownership essential for your writing?
I have no pets. And I'm just fine with that.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 14: Many writers own cats. Is pet ownership essential for your writing?
I have no pets. And I'm just fine with that.
#WritersCoffeeClub 15: Should writers be honest re:their politics online or keep quiet/avoid controversy?
"Should" is a strong word. I'm not sure what other writers "should" do, or even what would be prudent for them.
I'm not exactly quiet about my politics; my social media profiles brazenly proclaim me as progressive/feminist/etc. I don't expect that'll lose me any sales; the book itself'll be loaded with characters across the LGBTQ+ *and* ethnic spectra, so conservatives'll DNF it by page 5.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 15: Should writers be honest re:their politics online or keep quiet/avoid controversy?
"Should" is a strong word. I'm not sure what other writers "should" do, or even what would be prudent for them.
I'm not exactly quiet about my politics; my social media profiles brazenly proclaim me as progressive/feminist/etc. I don't expect that'll lose me any sales; the book itself'll be loaded with characters across the LGBTQ+ *and* ethnic spectra, so conservatives'll DNF it by page 5.
#WritersCoffeeClub 16: How do you feel about flashbacks? Do you use them?
I have no strong feelings about them one way or another. I expect I'll use a few, as I want to show some scenes in my villains' histories that show how they went from being more-or-less good to not-so-good-anymore and then to out-and-out villainous.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 16: How do you feel about flashbacks? Do you use them?
I have no strong feelings about them one way or another. I expect I'll use a few, as I want to show some scenes in my villains' histories that show how they went from being more-or-less good to not-so-good-anymore and then to out-and-out villainous.
#WritersCoffeeClub 17: What is the biggest inspiration for your writing?
I wish I could point to something. But it's really all over the place. I'm inspired by the city, by cities in general, by the life in them, by the *lives* in them — so many people going about their lives, and the ways they interact…
Also by thoughts of what good and evil are, and how people become one or the other.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 17: What is the biggest inspiration for your writing?
I wish I could point to something. But it's really all over the place. I'm inspired by the city, by cities in general, by the life in them, by the *lives* in them — so many people going about their lives, and the ways they interact…
Also by thoughts of what good and evil are, and how people become one or the other.
#WritersCoffeeClub 18: How do you combat writer's block?
I haven't really been prone to it yet. I think partly because I'm in the world- and character-building stage, and that means that if I get stuck on some particular thing, I can always just shift my focus to something else for a bit. Not even just between characters/world, but subsets of each: MCs/villains/side characters, or groups and organizations/the magic system/divination, and so on. There's always *something* I can pick up!
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#WritersCoffeeClub 18: How do you combat writer's block?
I haven't really been prone to it yet. I think partly because I'm in the world- and character-building stage, and that means that if I get stuck on some particular thing, I can always just shift my focus to something else for a bit. Not even just between characters/world, but subsets of each: MCs/villains/side characters, or groups and organizations/the magic system/divination, and so on. There's always *something* I can pick up!
#WritersCoffeeClub 19: As a writer, do you always apply the three-act structure? Why/why not?
I can't think of ANY structure that is so universally relevant that I'd try to apply it to *everything* I do. Different stories have different needs. Just like the Hero's Journey/"monomyth", trying to shoehorn everything into one framework may work smoothly on some stories, but others will be horribly mangled.
That said, the three-act structure does apply reasonably well to my current WIP.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 19: As a writer, do you always apply the three-act structure? Why/why not?
I can't think of ANY structure that is so universally relevant that I'd try to apply it to *everything* I do. Different stories have different needs. Just like the Hero's Journey/"monomyth", trying to shoehorn everything into one framework may work smoothly on some stories, but others will be horribly mangled.
That said, the three-act structure does apply reasonably well to my current WIP.
#WritersCoffeeClub 20: If you read over a quarter of a book and decide you don't like it, do you bail or complete it?
I'm not one to force myself to slog through an unpleasant or tedious experience. Heck, I recently checked out Tom Stoppard's _Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead_ and was looking forward to it, thinking it sounded like the kind of thing I'd probably like... then DNF'ed it maybe a quarter of the way through when I realized I was dreading picking it up again.
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#WritersCoffeeClub 20: If you read over a quarter of a book and decide you don't like it, do you bail or complete it?
I'm not one to force myself to slog through an unpleasant or tedious experience. Heck, I recently checked out Tom Stoppard's _Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead_ and was looking forward to it, thinking it sounded like the kind of thing I'd probably like... then DNF'ed it maybe a quarter of the way through when I realized I was dreading picking it up again.
#WritersCoffeeClub 21: How do you write an internal monologue and/or telepathy in your work?
Internal monologue: italics.
Telepathy: I don't think there'll be any telepathy in my WIP (although hmmm, maybe a telepathy spell might open some interesting doors…), but the City speaks in something similar. So far, I've been italicizing that and also setting it off with ::doubled colons::, but I think that looks awkward and I'll probably change it. Maybe «angle quotes»?
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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@evan Yes, but democracy, if it has markets, also requires markets to be competitive, lest powerful actors get so powerful that democracy itself is functionally lost.
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@ShaulaEvans This folding magnifying glass. It's compact and invaluable when you need to ready tiny text at the limit of your unaided sight. Especially with poor lighting, in a hurry, or under stress.
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@johnefrancis elaborate!
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#mediawatch #noriarmo
Se la retorica bellicista ha il sopravventoArmarsi fino ai denti non è l’unica strada e l’informazione ha il dovere di raccontarlo con chiarezza
Cosa succede se anche chi dovrebbe formare i giornalisti e le giornaliste si arruola?
https://lespresso.it/c/opinioni/2025/12/18/riarmo-retorica-bellicista/58794
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@francommit @guardaminfaccia
Non dico di fare un'app, mi va benissimo via web, però è troppo... Pleistocenica. 😬
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Does the open web require competitive markets?
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@scoiattolo0 cogliamo l'occasione delle rinascita per renderlo più accessibile come #NataleTiOdio: per la ricerca sul Fediverso non fa differenza ma per il text to speech si ;-)
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@mayintoronto I plead guilty!
