#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: Where do you think the line exists between homage and plagiarism?
Honestly, "plagiarism" is pretty hard to do in fiction writing; it's a concept that applies more in academic writing. In academic writing, you're supposed to cite your sources *absolutely always*, whereas in fiction, it's assumed that you're leaning on the work of others, and the major thing you're supposed to do is *come up with new variations on them*. 1/3
So outright "plagiarism" in fiction would just be "literally copying someone else's work and trying to claim you wrote it". This hardly ever happens.
What's more of an issue would be "writing something that's very obviously based on someone else's work, and not even doing anything new and different with it". Which we'd generally call "a ripoff" rather than "plagiarism". 2/3
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So outright "plagiarism" in fiction would just be "literally copying someone else's work and trying to claim you wrote it". This hardly ever happens.
What's more of an issue would be "writing something that's very obviously based on someone else's work, and not even doing anything new and different with it". Which we'd generally call "a ripoff" rather than "plagiarism". 2/3
As an example, I understand that Terry Brooks's _The Sword of Shannara_ is generally considered a ripoff of _Lord of the Rings_ (though I haven't read it myself and so can't confirm that).
Anyway, given all that, I've already said where I think the borderline is: how much you do new and different things with the material you reference.
(This is important to me because I have an homage to a major fantasy writer in my WIP.) 3/3
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As an example, I understand that Terry Brooks's _The Sword of Shannara_ is generally considered a ripoff of _Lord of the Rings_ (though I haven't read it myself and so can't confirm that).
Anyway, given all that, I've already said where I think the borderline is: how much you do new and different things with the material you reference.
(This is important to me because I have an homage to a major fantasy writer in my WIP.) 3/3
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: To what extent does technology impact your story? (Bearing in mind that technology is just "a set of methods and practices to do something")
Given that clarification, it impacts it *a lot*. At various times, magicians analyze certain spells or charms — magical "technology" in the meaning of this prompt — to see what they do. Other wizards are trying to come up with spells to do certain things, or trying to obtain certain items.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: To what extent does technology impact your story? (Bearing in mind that technology is just "a set of methods and practices to do something")
Given that clarification, it impacts it *a lot*. At various times, magicians analyze certain spells or charms — magical "technology" in the meaning of this prompt — to see what they do. Other wizards are trying to come up with spells to do certain things, or trying to obtain certain items.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Do you incorporate poems, songs or letters in your work? How do you format them?
There are various times when my characters sing special songs for magical (or more like ritual/quasi-religious) purposes, and there's a standard chant that gets used in certain types of spellcasting. Those, like the emails (i.e., modern-day "letters") and text messages that I mentioned on day 25 (https://wandering.shop/@kagan/113025058725586049), will get indented in the style of block quotes.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Do you incorporate poems, songs or letters in your work? How do you format them?
There are various times when my characters sing special songs for magical (or more like ritual/quasi-religious) purposes, and there's a standard chant that gets used in certain types of spellcasting. Those, like the emails (i.e., modern-day "letters") and text messages that I mentioned on day 25 (https://wandering.shop/@kagan/113025058725586049), will get indented in the style of block quotes.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What's your favourite story structure? Three-act, four-act, eight-sequence (8-reel), or what?
"The one that works best for the story I'm telling." That said, the story I'm currently telling works well as a three-act... and it *may* turn out that most of the stories I ever decide to tell will be three-act ones. That's something I'm going to have to find out by doing it.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What's your favourite story structure? Three-act, four-act, eight-sequence (8-reel), or what?
"The one that works best for the story I'm telling." That said, the story I'm currently telling works well as a three-act... and it *may* turn out that most of the stories I ever decide to tell will be three-act ones. That's something I'm going to have to find out by doing it.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Would you consider using AI for a book cover design or an audiobook?
No. I am more than happy to pay human artists for their work, and I think they'd do a better job anyway. Furthermore, I refuse to contribute to devaluing human artistic work.
Even furthermore, I refuse to contribute to any demand for the large-scale plagiarism machines that power AI "art".
Even still furthermore, I refuse to burn down half a rainforest just for one book cover.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Would you consider using AI for a book cover design or an audiobook?
No. I am more than happy to pay human artists for their work, and I think they'd do a better job anyway. Furthermore, I refuse to contribute to devaluing human artistic work.
Even furthermore, I refuse to contribute to any demand for the large-scale plagiarism machines that power AI "art".
Even still furthermore, I refuse to burn down half a rainforest just for one book cover.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 31: What would you pick if you were forced to write in a genre outside of your speciality?
It's hard to say what "my specialty" is when I haven't produced anything yet. Is it urban fantasy, because that's the thing I'm working on first? Or is it SFF, because the various ideas I have in mind are all either fantasy or sci-fi?
Let's go with the latter. Then I'd love to try my hand at either romance or mystery (which has gotta be Fair Play! https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FairplayWhodunnit).
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 31: What would you pick if you were forced to write in a genre outside of your speciality?
It's hard to say what "my specialty" is when I haven't produced anything yet. Is it urban fantasy, because that's the thing I'm working on first? Or is it SFF, because the various ideas I have in mind are all either fantasy or sci-fi?
Let's go with the latter. Then I'd love to try my hand at either romance or mystery (which has gotta be Fair Play! https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FairplayWhodunnit).
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: What have been your writing-related achievements in the last year?
I've developed a ton of world-building material, character backgrounds, etc.
I've written over 60,000 words of vignette material to practice my craft, find my characters, and get myself ready for the first draft.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: What have been your writing-related achievements in the last year?
I've developed a ton of world-building material, character backgrounds, etc.
I've written over 60,000 words of vignette material to practice my craft, find my characters, and get myself ready for the first draft.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: What is your favourite part of the writing process?
So far, what I've enjoyed *most* has been writing first drafts.
A lot of other stuff has been fun as well. I know I've complained about building background material, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it, just that I'd done an awful lot of it and wanted some variety.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: What is your favourite part of the writing process?
So far, what I've enjoyed *most* has been writing first drafts.
A lot of other stuff has been fun as well. I know I've complained about building background material, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it, just that I'd done an awful lot of it and wanted some variety.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: Do writers read differently from non-writers?
I think this is sort of like, is same-sex attraction different from opposite-sex attraction? And I think the answer is *yes*, because:
If I'm looking at an attractive woman, I just think she's attractive. She's someone I want to be *with*. But an attractive man can be someone I want to *be* (as well as wanting to be with). I've also heard it phrased as, "Do I want to do him, or be him?" 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: Do writers read differently from non-writers?
I think this is sort of like, is same-sex attraction different from opposite-sex attraction? And I think the answer is *yes*, because:
If I'm looking at an attractive woman, I just think she's attractive. She's someone I want to be *with*. But an attractive man can be someone I want to *be* (as well as wanting to be with). I've also heard it phrased as, "Do I want to do him, or be him?" 1/2
Not always, of course; there are guys I look at who I'd never want to be, but who I want to jump in bed with anyway. But it's *possible* to add that extra layer of attraction, in a way that doesn't make sense when I'm attracted to a woman.
Similarly, when a non-writer reads something, they're just reading it for itself. But when a writer reads something, they at least have the option to compare it to their own work, and to potentially learn from it (by imitation or avoidance!). 2/2
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Not always, of course; there are guys I look at who I'd never want to be, but who I want to jump in bed with anyway. But it's *possible* to add that extra layer of attraction, in a way that doesn't make sense when I'm attracted to a woman.
Similarly, when a non-writer reads something, they're just reading it for itself. But when a writer reads something, they at least have the option to compare it to their own work, and to potentially learn from it (by imitation or avoidance!). 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: Do you have specific goals when creating a scene?
Any scene should serve some purpose in the story: to introduce a character or plot device; to have characters relate to each other somehow (whether in conflict or in cooperation); to set up or resolve some conflict; etc. [Edit: folks have mentioned fun, lifting mood after/between heavy scenes, etc., and yes! That too!]
My purpose in a scene is to make it fulfill that purpose as well as possible.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: Do you have specific goals when creating a scene?
Any scene should serve some purpose in the story: to introduce a character or plot device; to have characters relate to each other somehow (whether in conflict or in cooperation); to set up or resolve some conflict; etc. [Edit: folks have mentioned fun, lifting mood after/between heavy scenes, etc., and yes! That too!]
My purpose in a scene is to make it fulfill that purpose as well as possible.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 5: What kind of birthday cake would your MCs enjoy?
I don't think any of them have particularly strong birthday cake preferences. Chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, whatever.
Maybe David kinda likes German Chocolate cake, but I'm not solid on that yet, and he wouldn't turn his nose up at a vanilla one or even a funfetti cake.
Maybe Ángel kinda likes lemon cake, or vanilla with lemon frosting, but doesn't expect anyone else to like it. Again, just a vague idea, not sure.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 5: What kind of birthday cake would your MCs enjoy?
I don't think any of them have particularly strong birthday cake preferences. Chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, whatever.
Maybe David kinda likes German Chocolate cake, but I'm not solid on that yet, and he wouldn't turn his nose up at a vanilla one or even a funfetti cake.
Maybe Ángel kinda likes lemon cake, or vanilla with lemon frosting, but doesn't expect anyone else to like it. Again, just a vague idea, not sure.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: Where is your book listed?
Nowehere, the first draft isn't written yet.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: Where is your book listed?
Nowehere, the first draft isn't written yet.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What genre are you least likely to write? Why?
Westerns and military sci-fi both bore me to tears. Ergo, I wouldn't want to write either of them.
[Edited to Add: I have been reminded that there is at least one, and maybe multiple, genres of Christian... I dunno, stuff? Anyway, I'd be far less inclined to write that, having never been Christian.]
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What genre are you least likely to write? Why?
Westerns and military sci-fi both bore me to tears. Ergo, I wouldn't want to write either of them.
[Edited to Add: I have been reminded that there is at least one, and maybe multiple, genres of Christian... I dunno, stuff? Anyway, I'd be far less inclined to write that, having never been Christian.]
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: The Hero's Journey is garbage. Discuss.
Nah, not the Hero's Journey itself. But the idea that it's the best or only way to structure a story? Yeah, that's garbage. So is the attempt to hammer stories that clearly don't fit it into that mold anyway (whether that be while writing, or while analyzing an existing work).
The HJ itself is kinda mid. Its fan club, though... they're the reason I generally hate the thing (and am restraining myself from an anti-HJ rant rn). 1/3
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: The Hero's Journey is garbage. Discuss.
Nah, not the Hero's Journey itself. But the idea that it's the best or only way to structure a story? Yeah, that's garbage. So is the attempt to hammer stories that clearly don't fit it into that mold anyway (whether that be while writing, or while analyzing an existing work).
The HJ itself is kinda mid. Its fan club, though... they're the reason I generally hate the thing (and am restraining myself from an anti-HJ rant rn). 1/3
New addition: Having seen some posts with more info on the Hero's Journey that I didn't previously know... never mind, both the Hero's Journey *and* the idea that it's the best/only way to structure a story are garbage. Wow. It's just garbage all the way down. Hot garbage.
(Why is there no "flaming dumpster" emoji? We need one!) 2/3
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New addition: Having seen some posts with more info on the Hero's Journey that I didn't previously know... never mind, both the Hero's Journey *and* the idea that it's the best/only way to structure a story are garbage. Wow. It's just garbage all the way down. Hot garbage.
(Why is there no "flaming dumpster" emoji? We need one!) 2/3
Something I just read points out that "On the very first page of the prologue of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell explicitly claims that all stories from all cultures follow the exact same outline", so I'll stop blaming HJ/Campbell fanboys, and just blame Joseph Campbell himself.
Fuck this garbage. 3/3
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Something I just read points out that "On the very first page of the prologue of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell explicitly claims that all stories from all cultures follow the exact same outline", so I'll stop blaming HJ/Campbell fanboys, and just blame Joseph Campbell himself.
Fuck this garbage. 3/3
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: Do you go to book festivals?
No. (Not yet? Maybe I will when I'm published? What happens at them, anyway?)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: Do you go to book festivals?
No. (Not yet? Maybe I will when I'm published? What happens at them, anyway?)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: Do your characters have birthdays or anniversaries during your story?"
One of my MCs, Jessie, has her 30th birthday near the end of the book. Her dread of it as it approaches is an important part of her plotline.
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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@gian_d_gian @Freddure Ci sono un nero e uno schiavista bianco su una jeep nel deserto,ad un certo punto il nero esclama :
"Guarda garibaldi"
"Eh?Garibaldi?Dove?" Risponde il bianco
"Guarda garibaldi,guarda garibaldi,guarda garibaldi"
Il bianco non capisce e continua ad andare.
Ad un certo la jeep si cappotta su una duna ed il nero esclama:
"Te l'avevo detto garibaldavi!"
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I learned a technique to avoid spending too much time in front of the computer after dinner. Basically, I decided that as soon as I need to go pee, I shut it down. It works. Except then I turn it back on because “just one more thing…”
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@petergleick ... and entirely unexpected too... 😠
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@Freddure @giuglionasi
è un classico, è una delle mie preferite insieme a "badrone badagaribaldi"
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@AdriBel no e ho evitato pure le olimpiadi sciupio di miei soldi ...mangiatoia
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@cR0w everyone going on about supply chain attacks (and some trying to add dystopian af shit to the internet to 'prevent them' .. )
while just letting ai walk right in
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"hey we let china fuck around like this so we could write a blogpost about it, you should give us money for tokens so you can try to assemble a barely working defensive capability to defend yourself from this barely working chinese apt group!"
and in the end everyone just shovels out money for tokens but nobody gets anywhere
its a casino
