#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
Uncategorized
885
Posts
1
Posters
281
Views
-
* What an author was trying to say, what they "meant", is important. If an author says "Look, my work was really intended to do/say X, that's what I was going for the whole time", I usually take that pretty seriously.
* OTOH, if nobody got that, then the author kind of failed. I mean, an artist or author's job is to *communicate something*. If a few people miss it, that's par for the course, but if most of them do? Then the artist's attempt to communicate was a failure. 4/5
* Buuuuuttt... sometimes artists just plain *deceive themselves*. Sometimes someone'll write something, and claim until they're blue in the face that "Really, it's about X! It's not Y, I promise!", and the rest of us can all see, "Sorry, pal, but it's obviously actually Y."
I haven't got any examples at hand right now, though, and I think that's fairly rare. 5/5
-
* Buuuuuttt... sometimes artists just plain *deceive themselves*. Sometimes someone'll write something, and claim until they're blue in the face that "Really, it's about X! It's not Y, I promise!", and the rest of us can all see, "Sorry, pal, but it's obviously actually Y."
I haven't got any examples at hand right now, though, and I think that's fairly rare. 5/5
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What's your favourite book? Why?
I couldn't possibly pick just one. A few that come to mind as "ones I've loved", though, include:
* The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper
* Earth, by David Brin
* The Last Hot Time, by John M. FordI feel like I'm missing something here, and it'll hit me two weeks from now and I'll wonder how I could possibly have left it out.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What's your favourite book? Why?
I couldn't possibly pick just one. A few that come to mind as "ones I've loved", though, include:
* The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper
* Earth, by David Brin
* The Last Hot Time, by John M. FordI feel like I'm missing something here, and it'll hit me two weeks from now and I'll wonder how I could possibly have left it out.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: Do you write in the active voice, passive voice or a mixture? Does it matter?
I think passive voice would be a really weird choice for a novel. It's great for scientific papers and other academic work, but it has fairly limited use in fiction. (An exception that comes to mind is Kafka's use of the passive voice in describing how Gregor Samsa became a cockroach: it serves effectively to obscure the agency behind that, because it's Not The Point of the story.)
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: Do you write in the active voice, passive voice or a mixture? Does it matter?
I think passive voice would be a really weird choice for a novel. It's great for scientific papers and other academic work, but it has fairly limited use in fiction. (An exception that comes to mind is Kafka's use of the passive voice in describing how Gregor Samsa became a cockroach: it serves effectively to obscure the agency behind that, because it's Not The Point of the story.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: How would you write an online chat or text message conversation in your novel?
In fact, I'm going to need to put at least one group-text convo into my very first chapter. I guess I'll probably indent (both right and left), and precede each message with the person's name.
Later chapters may need instances of "[name] is typing..." and so on. (My MCs are Millennials. Yes, of course they text each other a bunch!) Hmmm, that'll be interesting to run into/play around with.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: How would you write an online chat or text message conversation in your novel?
In fact, I'm going to need to put at least one group-text convo into my very first chapter. I guess I'll probably indent (both right and left), and precede each message with the person's name.
Later chapters may need instances of "[name] is typing..." and so on. (My MCs are Millennials. Yes, of course they text each other a bunch!) Hmmm, that'll be interesting to run into/play around with.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: What aspect of your work are you most proud of? Don't be shy.
The fact that my sweetheart really loved the one scene I've written.
I'll have more to be proud of when I have more written.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: What aspect of your work are you most proud of? Don't be shy.
The fact that my sweetheart really loved the one scene I've written.
I'll have more to be proud of when I have more written.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: How close is your final manuscript to your first draft?
Hell, I don't even have a first draft yet! I can hardly guess how close the final version will be to it (or how far away from it).
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: How close is your final manuscript to your first draft?
Hell, I don't even have a first draft yet! I can hardly guess how close the final version will be to it (or how far away from it).
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: A game developer wants to base a game on your book. How do you feel about it?
I think my book might actually be a fairly good basis for a TTRPG, actually. I'd be cautiously in favor, depending on the developer/company.
I'd be more lukewarm or "meh" about a video game, but could be convinced.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: A game developer wants to base a game on your book. How do you feel about it?
I think my book might actually be a fairly good basis for a TTRPG, actually. I'd be cautiously in favor, depending on the developer/company.
I'd be more lukewarm or "meh" about a video game, but could be convinced.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: Do you write to a specific word count, or do you let the story dictate the length?
I'm just shooting to try to be in good "first-time urban fantasy novel" length. That has some range to it, thank goodness... but for the first draft, I'm planning to just see how long it comes it out, and then see if I need to do anything to expand or pare it down.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: Do you write to a specific word count, or do you let the story dictate the length?
I'm just shooting to try to be in good "first-time urban fantasy novel" length. That has some range to it, thank goodness... but for the first draft, I'm planning to just see how long it comes it out, and then see if I need to do anything to expand or pare it down.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: What's the biggest edit you've ever needed to make to your work?
It's too early for me to have nearly anything to respond to this with. I guess there's this one case of a setting description, where I wrote it just to see how well I could describe a place that will figure prominently in the plot, and then later I realized I wanted to start my story earlier in the year, so I needed to change the trees from leafy and green to bare branches, just beginning to bud.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: What's the biggest edit you've ever needed to make to your work?
It's too early for me to have nearly anything to respond to this with. I guess there's this one case of a setting description, where I wrote it just to see how well I could describe a place that will figure prominently in the plot, and then later I realized I wanted to start my story earlier in the year, so I needed to change the trees from leafy and green to bare branches, just beginning to bud.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: Are there any writing tropes you dislike, without insulting other club members?
Writing tropes or story tropes? (What's the difference?) Anyway, loads! One quick example is that any kind of forced pregnancy situation will infuriate me. I hate when creators do that to their characters. (Yes, that includes Steven Moffat.) Also mystical/alien/whatever children who grow up abnormally fast (ST:TNG *and* V, I'm looking at youse.)
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: Are there any writing tropes you dislike, without insulting other club members?
Writing tropes or story tropes? (What's the difference?) Anyway, loads! One quick example is that any kind of forced pregnancy situation will infuriate me. I hate when creators do that to their characters. (Yes, that includes Steven Moffat.) Also mystical/alien/whatever children who grow up abnormally fast (ST:TNG *and* V, I'm looking at youse.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: What aspects of your life do you bring into your writing?
My love of cities, my belief that the future is what we make it, and hopefully a little of my sense of wonder and love of heroism.
On a smaller level: fairly little of David's job and workplace are likely to show up on-page, but if any do, I'll certainly be pulling in my own career web-dev knowledge to provide verisimilitude.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: What aspects of your life do you bring into your writing?
My love of cities, my belief that the future is what we make it, and hopefully a little of my sense of wonder and love of heroism.
On a smaller level: fairly little of David's job and workplace are likely to show up on-page, but if any do, I'll certainly be pulling in my own career web-dev knowledge to provide verisimilitude.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: Do you intend to read a book over the holidays? What will you choose?
I'm still working on finishing Cassandra Clare's _City of Lost Souls_ (the 5th in the Shadowhunters series). Not sure when I'll finish it; I don't exactly have a "holiday break", more just a pair of three-day weekends back-to-back.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: Do you intend to read a book over the holidays? What will you choose?
I'm still working on finishing Cassandra Clare's _City of Lost Souls_ (the 5th in the Shadowhunters series). Not sure when I'll finish it; I don't exactly have a "holiday break", more just a pair of three-day weekends back-to-back.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: If you could remove one rule of grammar, which would you choose?
Hell, I'd rather *add* one. Like, given how often my partner and I bemoan the lack of #clusivity in English, that might be what I'd go for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clusivity TL;DR: It's the ability when saying "we" to indicate whether the person you're talking to is or isn't included. (Frex, "We're going to the store, do you want anything?" (excl.) vs. "We're going to the park, grab your coat!" (incl.))
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: If you could remove one rule of grammar, which would you choose?
Hell, I'd rather *add* one. Like, given how often my partner and I bemoan the lack of #clusivity in English, that might be what I'd go for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clusivity TL;DR: It's the ability when saying "we" to indicate whether the person you're talking to is or isn't included. (Frex, "We're going to the store, do you want anything?" (excl.) vs. "We're going to the park, grab your coat!" (incl.))
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: Do you name or number chapters? If you name them, how do you decide on a name?
I want to name them, but I'm afraid I'll have too much trouble coming up with titles. If that turns out to be the case, I'll just number them... but I'll be disappointed in myself, and grumpy about it.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: Do you name or number chapters? If you name them, how do you decide on a name?
I want to name them, but I'm afraid I'll have too much trouble coming up with titles. If that turns out to be the case, I'll just number them... but I'll be disappointed in myself, and grumpy about it.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: Change one word in the title of a famous novel to change its meaning.
Fahrenheit 212 (The temperature at which water boils — maybe it'd be a novel about making tea?)
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: Change one word in the title of a famous novel to change its meaning.
Fahrenheit 212 (The temperature at which water boils — maybe it'd be a novel about making tea?)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Do your family and friends expect one of your books for Christmas?
Hahaha, no. I'm nowhere near published yet.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Do your family and friends expect one of your books for Christmas?
Hahaha, no. I'm nowhere near published yet.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: What positive things do people say when you tell them you're a writer?
Nothing very specific, they generally just make approving noises and say things like, "Oh, that's cool."
Although there was one person (getting away from the general "people" now) who asked what my magic system was like, then said it sounded like something she'd want to read if it she found it in a bookstore!
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: What positive things do people say when you tell them you're a writer?
Nothing very specific, they generally just make approving noises and say things like, "Oh, that's cool."
Although there was one person (getting away from the general "people" now) who asked what my magic system was like, then said it sounded like something she'd want to read if it she found it in a bookstore!
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: If you write in more than one genre, which is your go to?
So far, I'm only writing in urban fantasy. I do hope to do some hopepunk sci-fi someday. I also have the beginnings of some ideas for a modern (though not necessarily urban) fantasy, and a space opera.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: If you write in more than one genre, which is your go to?
So far, I'm only writing in urban fantasy. I do hope to do some hopepunk sci-fi someday. I also have the beginnings of some ideas for a modern (though not necessarily urban) fantasy, and a space opera.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: What are your thoughts on using real brand names in your writing?
I plan to use at least a few as characterization aids. Like, the fact that Ángel's car is a 1985 Cadillac Eldorado convertible *says some stuff* about them, and also is a great image that readers can have in their heads. Whether Travis Winter wears suits by Armani or Brooks Brothers (to take just two options — but very different ones) says some things about his style, and those hint at his personality.
-
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: What are your thoughts on using real brand names in your writing?
I plan to use at least a few as characterization aids. Like, the fact that Ángel's car is a 1985 Cadillac Eldorado convertible *says some stuff* about them, and also is a great image that readers can have in their heads. Whether Travis Winter wears suits by Armani or Brooks Brothers (to take just two options — but very different ones) says some things about his style, and those hint at his personality.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: Do you have a favourite letter of the alphabet? How does it feature in your work?
Not a letter, necessarily, but I like the hard /k/ sound. Okay, I also like lowercase descenders, like on j, g, and y.
I wouldn't let that affect, or show up in, my work though. Like, I'm not going to have lots of characters whose names have prominent K sounds in them, or use lots of words with j, g, and y in them. That'd be super weird.
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
-
@Ulrich (Hubzilla) also have a look here!
-
@stefano Where is that hosted?
-
-
Happy Birthday @stefano, thank you for the awesome community building work you keep doing, for all the technical and non technical notes you share, for the inspiration you are and because in a world full of tech bros you keep showing the gentle and smiling side of IT.
-
@G3rt e come si fa? 😪
-
@Madmonkey @ClayAdventuresontheShelf
Allora mi gioco il pezzo forte 😉
-
@francina1909 @ClayAdventuresontheShelf domani fotografo i miei, E VEDIAMO CHI VINCE!
-
@Madmonkey @ClayAdventuresontheShelf
Questi sono i miei e sono super cute 😍😍😍
Regalateli e regalateveli
