#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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A single day of zero progress just looks like the graph bops down and touches the x-axis, but the exponential moving average line winds up with a 7-day-long gap in it, and *that's* really noticeable. And really annoying.
Wanting to avoid that gap has gotten me writing way more than I'd like to admit. It's been effective as all hell. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: How do you feel you can further develop as a writer?
By doing a ton more writing.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: How do you feel you can further develop as a writer?
By doing a ton more writing.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What’s the first thing you do when you sit down with a new project?
I've only had this one project so far, so I can't really say I have a routine or a standard for how I start them. And this one didn't really have a solid "start" that I can point to; it's more like it just crept up on me.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: What’s the first thing you do when you sit down with a new project?
I've only had this one project so far, so I can't really say I have a routine or a standard for how I start them. And this one didn't really have a solid "start" that I can point to; it's more like it just crept up on me.
But something my partner said recently comes to mind. We were talking about mass vs. niche appeal, and about writing to satisfy one's own desires and those of the few people who will "get" what you're doing, as opposed to deliberately making your work extremely accessible at the cost of diluting it. 2/4
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But something my partner said recently comes to mind. We were talking about mass vs. niche appeal, and about writing to satisfy one's own desires and those of the few people who will "get" what you're doing, as opposed to deliberately making your work extremely accessible at the cost of diluting it. 2/4
And my partner said, "So you'd rather be Rosemary Kirstein than Dan Brown." And that put their finger on it precisely. Would I like the *level* (albeit not the *type*) of fame, and the amount of money, that Dan Brown has? Sure! But would I sacrifice my work for it? Hell, no! Given that, I'd MUCH rather have the kind of situation and audience that Kirstein does. 3/4
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And my partner said, "So you'd rather be Rosemary Kirstein than Dan Brown." And that put their finger on it precisely. Would I like the *level* (albeit not the *type*) of fame, and the amount of money, that Dan Brown has? Sure! But would I sacrifice my work for it? Hell, no! Given that, I'd MUCH rather have the kind of situation and audience that Kirstein does. 3/4
That said, if you like SFF? Seriously, check out her _Steerswoman_ series! It's unlike anything else I've ever read. I can only hope she'll finish the final 2 books really soon. Try not to learn too much about it before you start; there's a big secret that, when you discover it yourself, is a major part of the fun. https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/ 4/4
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That said, if you like SFF? Seriously, check out her _Steerswoman_ series! It's unlike anything else I've ever read. I can only hope she'll finish the final 2 books really soon. Try not to learn too much about it before you start; there's a big secret that, when you discover it yourself, is a major part of the fun. https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/ 4/4
Addendum: It occurs to me that Emma Bull's _The War for the Oaks_ and Terri Windling's _Bordertown_ series, by being huge formative influence on urban fantasy, and books I've loved, probably count as inspiration for me to write this at all. I probably should've just answered those to start with! 5/4
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Addendum: It occurs to me that Emma Bull's _The War for the Oaks_ and Terri Windling's _Bordertown_ series, by being huge formative influence on urban fantasy, and books I've loved, probably count as inspiration for me to write this at all. I probably should've just answered those to start with! 5/4
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: Does caffeine intake influence your writing?
In the sense that if I don't have any caffeine in the morning, I don't get *anything* done that day? Hell, yes. (Or at least, I assume I wouldn't. I haven't tried it in longer than I can recall.) 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: Does caffeine intake influence your writing?
In the sense that if I don't have any caffeine in the morning, I don't get *anything* done that day? Hell, yes. (Or at least, I assume I wouldn't. I haven't tried it in longer than I can recall.) 1/2
Most of my writing happens in the evening, so I want to be careful about consuming caffeine then if I want to get to bed on time (normally a struggle even when I don't have any caffeine). But — and this is not something I've specifically tracked or kept data on, more like anecdotal observations — the times I've tried a little Irish Coffee to kickstart myself have generally been on the high side of my productivity range. 2/2
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Most of my writing happens in the evening, so I want to be careful about consuming caffeine then if I want to get to bed on time (normally a struggle even when I don't have any caffeine). But — and this is not something I've specifically tracked or kept data on, more like anecdotal observations — the times I've tried a little Irish Coffee to kickstart myself have generally been on the high side of my productivity range. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: How do you handle the physical strain of writing?
I don't experience any noticeable physical strain in writing. I have a nice, comfy chair at home where I do most of my writing. I get up every so often to get myself another drink, or use the bathroom, or suchlike, so I don't get too stiff.
Really, it's one of the least physically stressful activities one could engage in aside from say, meditation or sleeping.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: How do you handle the physical strain of writing?
I don't experience any noticeable physical strain in writing. I have a nice, comfy chair at home where I do most of my writing. I get up every so often to get myself another drink, or use the bathroom, or suchlike, so I don't get too stiff.
Really, it's one of the least physically stressful activities one could engage in aside from say, meditation or sleeping.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: Do writing challenges spur on your progress?
Not sure what you mean by "challenges". Like, some kinds of online challenges? The only thing I do that's even close to those is these prompts (this hashtag, WordWeavers, and ScribesAndMakers). I wouldn't really call them "challenges" though, right?
Nonetheless, some of them have been very useful to me, and gotten me to think about things in a different way or given me more insight about characters. 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: Do writing challenges spur on your progress?
Not sure what you mean by "challenges". Like, some kinds of online challenges? The only thing I do that's even close to those is these prompts (this hashtag, WordWeavers, and ScribesAndMakers). I wouldn't really call them "challenges" though, right?
Nonetheless, some of them have been very useful to me, and gotten me to think about things in a different way or given me more insight about characters. 1/2
Addendum, having read other people's answers: Oh, those things. No, I don't do them. 2/2
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Addendum, having read other people's answers: Oh, those things. No, I don't do them. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: Happy Plant a Flower Day! What rôle does nature take in your stories?
Practically none. My WIP (which is my first) is set in a city, and is absolutely saturated in city life. 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: Happy Plant a Flower Day! What rôle does nature take in your stories?
Practically none. My WIP (which is my first) is set in a city, and is absolutely saturated in city life. 1/2
Even the places that some might consider "natural", such as Golden Gate Park or the top of Corona Heights, aren't actually natural: GGP was painstakingly built by humans on what used to be sand dunes, and the current top of Corona Heights is many feet lower than it once was before being extensively quarried to make bricks. 2/2
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Even the places that some might consider "natural", such as Golden Gate Park or the top of Corona Heights, aren't actually natural: GGP was painstakingly built by humans on what used to be sand dunes, and the current top of Corona Heights is many feet lower than it once was before being extensively quarried to make bricks. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: Are you mindful of your readers’ expectations? How so?
Hard to say. I am trying to be mindful of the idea that if you set up something, if you make a promise to the reader, you must keep it. (Well, okay, you are well advised to keep it, or else your readers will be annoyed.) 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: Are you mindful of your readers’ expectations? How so?
Hard to say. I am trying to be mindful of the idea that if you set up something, if you make a promise to the reader, you must keep it. (Well, okay, you are well advised to keep it, or else your readers will be annoyed.) 1/2
And, I guess there are a couple of things I'm planning on that are based on my assumption that readers may expect certain things based on the conventions of urban fantasy, and I want to make it clear whether I'm going with or against those tropes. 2/2
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And, I guess there are a couple of things I'm planning on that are based on my assumption that readers may expect certain things based on the conventions of urban fantasy, and I want to make it clear whether I'm going with or against those tropes. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: What new themes are you currently exploring?
This is my first writing project. Everything I'm exploring is new.
Okay, okay, themes I'm exploring in my WIP (new or not): cities; magic; learning and growth; urban planning; what makes someone evil; friendship and found family, and also how friends can become not-friends-anymore; proper and improper uses of power.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: What new themes are you currently exploring?
This is my first writing project. Everything I'm exploring is new.
Okay, okay, themes I'm exploring in my WIP (new or not): cities; magic; learning and growth; urban planning; what makes someone evil; friendship and found family, and also how friends can become not-friends-anymore; proper and improper uses of power.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 15: Are you aware of any fanfiction about your work?
Haha, no, that's impossible at this time. I haven't even written the first draft yet; there's nothing there for people to even be fans *of*, never mind write fanfic about! 🤣
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 15: Are you aware of any fanfiction about your work?
Haha, no, that's impossible at this time. I haven't even written the first draft yet; there's nothing there for people to even be fans *of*, never mind write fanfic about! 🤣
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: What word or phrase do you tend to overuse?
I actually tend to overuse words like honestly, actually, and really. I am actually making a strong effort to really be careful about those, but I'm honestly not sure how well it's really going.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: What word or phrase do you tend to overuse?
I actually tend to overuse words like honestly, actually, and really. I am actually making a strong effort to really be careful about those, but I'm honestly not sure how well it's really going.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: Does alcohol intake influence your writing?
Yeah, it helps me loosen up and get a flow going.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: Does alcohol intake influence your writing?
Yeah, it helps me loosen up and get a flow going.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: Happy Awkward Moments Day! What’s the most awkward moment you’ve ever written?
That's definitely got to be one of the vignettes I've written about Jessie Nakamura's past. I'm just not sure if her first kiss, or the time she came out to her parents, was more awkward. I think it's probably her first kiss.
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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Non ci si annoia mai.
Arrivato un nuovo emendamento governo, con aiuti a imprese e Tfr https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/economia/2025/12/20/arrivato-un-nuovo-emendamento-governo-con-aiuti-a-imprese-e-tfr_2986d1cc-44c0-428a-ad70-a3de18798eb5.html
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🌍 Il mondo non cambia per opposizione.
👁️ Cambia per espansione del campo del visibile.
Chi resta nel recinto ignora ciò che accade in Africa; chi attraversa i confini scopre ciò che il mainstream dell'informazione tace. #CognitiveWar
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Hai ottenuto lo #sbattezzo? Caricalo in anonimo sul sito https://www.sbattezzati.it per aiutarci a dare visibilità al fenomeno! Fai valere il tuo diritto all'apostasia e a cambiare o non avere una religione con le norme sulla privacy. Come sbattezzarsi? 👇 https://www.sbattezzo.it
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Il muffin della Riso Scotti senza latte è una piacevole scoperta.
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🇮🇹La Commissione vuole estendere #ChatControl 1.0 nonostante ammetta «dati insufficienti» sull'efficacia. È un approccio fallito. Servono soluzioni giudiziarie mirate, non il rinnovo perpetuo di una sorveglianza di massa nata come eccezionale. https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=COM(2025)797&lang=en
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🇫🇷La Commission veut prolonger #ChatControl 1.0 malgré des «données insuffisantes» sur son efficacité. Cela valide un échec. Il faut des solutions judiciaires ciblées, pas le maintien perpétuel d'une surveillance de masse censée être exceptionnelle. https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=COM(2025)797&lang=en
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🇪🇺EU Commission seeks to extend #ChatControl 1.0, despite admitting "insufficient data" to prove efficacy. Extending it validates a failed approach. We need targeted, judicial solutions, not the perpetual renewal of "exceptional" mass surveillance! https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=COM(2025)797&lang=en
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🇩🇪EU-Kommission will #Chatkontrolle 1.0 verlängern, obwohl sie Wirksamkeit nicht nachweisen kann. Wir brauchen gezielte richterliche Überwachung, keine ständige Verlängerung einer Massenüberwachung, die eigentlich eine Ausnahme bleiben sollte! https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=COM(2025)797&lang=en
