#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: Do you know any good sources for publishing information?
I don't think so, no. But I'm reading everyone else's responses to this with great interest!
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: What character have you written that's the most unlike you?
Either Aisha Morgan or Carmen Lockhart. Aisha is Black, female, straight, grew up in the projects, and now drives a Muni bus. Carmen is also female, Latina (though white and Anglo-passing), and has some other differences from myself that I don't want to give away yet.
With both of them, I'm taking *a lot* of care in their depiction and characterization.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: What character have you written that's the most unlike you?
Either Aisha Morgan or Carmen Lockhart. Aisha is Black, female, straight, grew up in the projects, and now drives a Muni bus. Carmen is also female, Latina (though white and Anglo-passing), and has some other differences from myself that I don't want to give away yet.
With both of them, I'm taking *a lot* of care in their depiction and characterization.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: How do you market your work?
I haven't even thought about that yet. Mostly my ideas in that vein are, "Get someone else to do the marketing for me," because marketing is not my strong suit. This is part of why I'm leaning toward traditional publishing; they have people to handle that. That's one of the strong benefits I see from a trad publishing house.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: How do you market your work?
I haven't even thought about that yet. Mostly my ideas in that vein are, "Get someone else to do the marketing for me," because marketing is not my strong suit. This is part of why I'm leaning toward traditional publishing; they have people to handle that. That's one of the strong benefits I see from a trad publishing house.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: When does AI cross the line between helpful tool and problematic tech for writing and publishing?
I wouldn't know; I haven't touched it at all. And I don't plan to.
(Also: Loving the large number of responses to this question that amount to "Fuck AI completely, and the people who are building and promoting it, for a long list of reasons..." 😄💯👍🏻)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: When does AI cross the line between helpful tool and problematic tech for writing and publishing?
I wouldn't know; I haven't touched it at all. And I don't plan to.
(Also: Loving the large number of responses to this question that amount to "Fuck AI completely, and the people who are building and promoting it, for a long list of reasons..." 😄💯👍🏻)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: Do you have a sense of how much plot you need for how long a manuscript?
Not yet. That's something I expect to acquire as I progress through the manuscript on my WIP. Also, some of these vignettes might help me get a start on that. (Except most of them have very little plot, which is kind of a problem in multiple ways.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: Do you have a sense of how much plot you need for how long a manuscript?
Not yet. That's something I expect to acquire as I progress through the manuscript on my WIP. Also, some of these vignettes might help me get a start on that. (Except most of them have very little plot, which is kind of a problem in multiple ways.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 15: Have you ever attended a writer's fair/festival to promote your work? Would you?
I haven't because I have nothing to promote yet. But once I do, I'd consider it, if I thought the returns would be worth the time and trouble. (Also, I'd probably try 1 or 2 just to find out what they're like — or you could say, to *find out* about the return, the time and trouble, and the comparison between the two.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 15: Have you ever attended a writer's fair/festival to promote your work? Would you?
I haven't because I have nothing to promote yet. But once I do, I'd consider it, if I thought the returns would be worth the time and trouble. (Also, I'd probably try 1 or 2 just to find out what they're like — or you could say, to *find out* about the return, the time and trouble, and the comparison between the two.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: What's your target audience? Why?
People who like urban fantasy with diverse casts and themes of found family. "Why?" Because that describes my book! People who like that might like my book, and people who don't like that probably won't! 😂
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: What's your target audience? Why?
People who like urban fantasy with diverse casts and themes of found family. "Why?" Because that describes my book! People who like that might like my book, and people who don't like that probably won't! 😂
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: Other than writing, what's your go-to creative outlet?
I don't really have one at the moment. I used to do fire-dancing, and DJing, and also I used to just go out to clubs and dance, but those have all fallen by the wayside for one reason or another. Right now, writing is my main and possibly sole creative outlet, and I'm okay with that.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: Other than writing, what's your go-to creative outlet?
I don't really have one at the moment. I used to do fire-dancing, and DJing, and also I used to just go out to clubs and dance, but those have all fallen by the wayside for one reason or another. Right now, writing is my main and possibly sole creative outlet, and I'm okay with that.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: Have you written sections where the action occurs against the clock? How did you do it?
Not yet, but I do have a plan for a situation where someone needs to get from Point A to Point B in no more than 15 minutes. Nobody thinks she can do it, but she assures her allies she *can* manage it. She'll be riding a motorcycle; I'm not sure if I'll let her have chances to snatch a glance at her watch along the way or not. (Also, I really doubt she wears one.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: Have you written sections where the action occurs against the clock? How did you do it?
Not yet, but I do have a plan for a situation where someone needs to get from Point A to Point B in no more than 15 minutes. Nobody thinks she can do it, but she assures her allies she *can* manage it. She'll be riding a motorcycle; I'm not sure if I'll let her have chances to snatch a glance at her watch along the way or not. (Also, I really doubt she wears one.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: Do you agree with Hillary Mantell, who said the best qualities for writing are self-confidence and a little arrogance?
Not quite. I think the *best* qualities for writing are a facility with words, and having something to say. But I would say self-confidence, particularly the self-confidence to put some of your heart and soul into your writing, without holding back and trying to play it cool, comes close after that.
Arrogance? I dunno. 🤷🏻
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: Do you agree with Hillary Mantell, who said the best qualities for writing are self-confidence and a little arrogance?
Not quite. I think the *best* qualities for writing are a facility with words, and having something to say. But I would say self-confidence, particularly the self-confidence to put some of your heart and soul into your writing, without holding back and trying to play it cool, comes close after that.
Arrogance? I dunno. 🤷🏻
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Sometime around age 12. Then sometime during college, I lost that desire. And it became one of the many "roads not taken" in my life for a few decades, so in idle moments I'd think, "If I had become a writer, maybe I'd write something like X..." And then that eventually grew into where I'm at now.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Sometime around age 12. Then sometime during college, I lost that desire. And it became one of the many "roads not taken" in my life for a few decades, so in idle moments I'd think, "If I had become a writer, maybe I'd write something like X..." And then that eventually grew into where I'm at now.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 21: Do you format as you write or do that at the end?
If I understand this correctly, if it means things like putting in emphasis and italics, I *have to* do that as I'm writing! When the character says "I think we *should* do it", or else says "I *think* we should do it", I need to put that emphasis in right then, or I'll lose track of it later.
The idea of going back to put in that stuff later is so foreign to me, I wonder if I've misunderstood the question.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 21: Do you format as you write or do that at the end?
If I understand this correctly, if it means things like putting in emphasis and italics, I *have to* do that as I'm writing! When the character says "I think we *should* do it", or else says "I *think* we should do it", I need to put that emphasis in right then, or I'll lose track of it later.
The idea of going back to put in that stuff later is so foreign to me, I wonder if I've misunderstood the question.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: If someone were to write your autobiography, who would you want to write it?
If it's my *auto*biography, wouldn't I have to write it myself?
If you just mean my biography... I don't know anything about any major biographers, except I've heard some bad stuff about Walter Isaacson, so not him. Aside from that? I have no clue.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: If someone were to write your autobiography, who would you want to write it?
If it's my *auto*biography, wouldn't I have to write it myself?
If you just mean my biography... I don't know anything about any major biographers, except I've heard some bad stuff about Walter Isaacson, so not him. Aside from that? I have no clue.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 23: What gets in the way of your writing?
Life. Distraction. Video games on my phone.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 23: What gets in the way of your writing?
Life. Distraction. Video games on my phone.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Is there any work of fiction you could have written better? Don't be shy.
The _Star Wars_ prequel trilogy. Sure, not a high bar to clear. But once I saw boy Anakin, I was excited! It was a great chance to explore "How does an innocent become evil?"/"What is the source of evil?" And then the entire trilogy just *failed to deliver* on that, with a combo of "love makes you stupid" and pushing the source-of-evil out of Anakin and into Palpatine, where it's never explored.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Is there any work of fiction you could have written better? Don't be shy.
The _Star Wars_ prequel trilogy. Sure, not a high bar to clear. But once I saw boy Anakin, I was excited! It was a great chance to explore "How does an innocent become evil?"/"What is the source of evil?" And then the entire trilogy just *failed to deliver* on that, with a combo of "love makes you stupid" and pushing the source-of-evil out of Anakin and into Palpatine, where it's never explored.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Do you use a cover artist or design your own covers? Share your cover art.
I would definitely not design my own covers; like marketing, visual art is not one of my talents. I don't yet have any cover art to share, but when I do, it'll be created by someone other than me.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Do you use a cover artist or design your own covers? Share your cover art.
I would definitely not design my own covers; like marketing, visual art is not one of my talents. I don't yet have any cover art to share, but when I do, it'll be created by someone other than me.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: Would you consider writing a guide to your work, e.g. for aspiring writers?
I don't understand this question. Like, a guide to my own works? Shouldn't the works themselves be self-explanatory? Or does this mean a guide to "the work of writing", i.e., a "how to write/how to be a writer" kind of book? If that's what it means, then yes, I'd at least consider it, but I doubt I'd actually go for it. There are loads of good ones out there already.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: Would you consider writing a guide to your work, e.g. for aspiring writers?
I don't understand this question. Like, a guide to my own works? Shouldn't the works themselves be self-explanatory? Or does this mean a guide to "the work of writing", i.e., a "how to write/how to be a writer" kind of book? If that's what it means, then yes, I'd at least consider it, but I doubt I'd actually go for it. There are loads of good ones out there already.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: What's the ideal story length? Use any definition of length you like, not just word count.
Long enough to tell the tale without feeling either rushed or long-winded.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: What's the ideal story length? Use any definition of length you like, not just word count.
Long enough to tell the tale without feeling either rushed or long-winded.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Do you have advice for other writers you have yet to hear from different sources?
Being honest here, I keep hearing *so much* really good advice from other writers, I can't think of anything I have to add.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Do you have advice for other writers you have yet to hear from different sources?
Being honest here, I keep hearing *so much* really good advice from other writers, I can't think of anything I have to add.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What's the average time to complete a writing project between the idea and publishing/making it available?
I do not have nearly enough data points to answer this question. Yet.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What's the average time to complete a writing project between the idea and publishing/making it available?
I do not have nearly enough data points to answer this question. Yet.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: How do you achieve a sense of wonder in your stories?
This is something that's going to be critical in my WIP; it *needs* to have a definite sense of wonder and to communicate that feeling, that experience, to my readers.
And I'm pretty sure I'm going to find out how, when I hit the places where it needs to happen. I expect I'll fix myself some whiskey, access my own feelings about cities and wonder, and... hope that what comes out of my fingertips works.
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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Un numero, a mio parere, spaventoso. E che io 56enne capisco solo superficialmente. In Italia 200mila #hikikomori, impatto maggiore su ragazze tra i 13-15 anni https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2026/03/in-italia-200mila-hikikomori-impatto-maggiore-su-ragazze-tra-i-13-15-anni-la-ricerca-e913dc31-50f6-4d0d-8f2d-46fdf36d91c2.html
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@timbray my previous job was building greenhouse gas inventories.
Data centres are responsible for about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. AI is responsible for about 15% of the data centre emissions, or about 0.15% of global emissions.
People who talk about AI burning up the planet don't spend a lot of time thinking about what's really burning up the planet: fossil fuels for transportation and heating, deforestation, and cattle.
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> do not take a lot of power
@raphael ... any more...
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@timbray When a new data centre is built it will take resources from the utility or add its own new generation. In the Bad Place (and many other places) this means it's likely adding new fossil fuel consumption infrastructure and increasing carbon emissions. Until recently that country was matching growth in utility generation with renewables: growth was 'green'. That has changed due to their stupidity and due to unregulated new generation like Musk's data centre(s) etc.
It's a bit dumb to say cars are worse because while yes they are, in sane countries we are starting to manage that problem well with electrification, changes to the fleet.
New data centres are generally bad, because they are designed to generate slop for the enrichment of the already very harmfully wealthy class and because they require new power generation that is almost certainly not coming from renewables.
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@timbray Is it just me, or do the guys doing the calculations on "entire energy consumption for an LLM programmer versus a human programmer" seem worryingly close to declaring that entire subsections of the population aren't worth the energy consumption, could be replaced by "AI", and would happily suggest culling them as if the only value of a person is lines of code generated 😐
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@timbray That number for LLM energy is bullshit, and the source in that thread appears to be something Sam Altman blogged, who as we know is someone who never just makes stuff up. (His post reads like ChatGPT voice, which of course it is) There is some severe weaseling be off by at least an order of magnitude—maybe the average query is "What day is it". Non-trivial queries light up 5-10kW of rack and that runs for significantly longer than seconds. This is roughly the same as a moving EV car.
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Nichilismo schizoide: quando politica e media cancellano la logica
