#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: Which writing conventions do you ignore, if any?
I've written before in this hashtag (and WordWeavers) about my utter contempt for prescriptive "grammar rules" based on Latin, but I don't think most other writers follow those, either, so I wouldn't grant them the status of "writing conventions" at all.
In that case, I think I'm mostly following conventions. No real boundary-breaking, convention-defying stuff going on in my work. And that's okay.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: What are your biggest turnoffs or turn-ons when reading?
One huge turn-off for me is exclamatory comments in the narrative voice. (Of the myriad things that were horrible about Piers Anthony's writing, those were the first one I picked up on.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 18: What are your biggest turnoffs or turn-ons when reading?
One huge turn-off for me is exclamatory comments in the narrative voice. (Of the myriad things that were horrible about Piers Anthony's writing, those were the first one I picked up on.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: Do any of your stories occur in Winter? What do you take from the season?
My WIP is my first work, and it runs from early spring to mid-autumn. Just to contrast with that, I plan to make sure to have the next one cover winter for at least part of its duration, but I have no idea when it'll start or end, or what will happen.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 19: Do any of your stories occur in Winter? What do you take from the season?
My WIP is my first work, and it runs from early spring to mid-autumn. Just to contrast with that, I plan to make sure to have the next one cover winter for at least part of its duration, but I have no idea when it'll start or end, or what will happen.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: Is anyone getting a copy of your latest book for Solstice?
No, there's nothing ready to give as a gift.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 20: Is anyone getting a copy of your latest book for Solstice?
No, there's nothing ready to give as a gift.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 21: Disney is making a musical animation of one of your stories. How well does that go?
O_o Wow. That's an... interesting concept. I have no idea. I mean, they'd have to get over the queerness of my story and cast to even start on this, but if I assume they must have done so (according to the parameters of the question), then... I'd be incredibly curious to see what they did with it. 1/3
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 21: Disney is making a musical animation of one of your stories. How well does that go?
O_o Wow. That's an... interesting concept. I have no idea. I mean, they'd have to get over the queerness of my story and cast to even start on this, but if I assume they must have done so (according to the parameters of the question), then... I'd be incredibly curious to see what they did with it. 1/3
Like, could Idina Menzel sing Jessie Nakamura's magical awakening, à la "Let it Go" or "Into the Unknown"? That could be kind of mind-blowing.
Look, I'm a sucker for musicals. I *looove* the way music can convey emotion, and pairing that with storytelling just hits me in so many places in my psyche. Disney has so very many problems, but... 2/3
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Like, could Idina Menzel sing Jessie Nakamura's magical awakening, à la "Let it Go" or "Into the Unknown"? That could be kind of mind-blowing.
Look, I'm a sucker for musicals. I *looove* the way music can convey emotion, and pairing that with storytelling just hits me in so many places in my psyche. Disney has so very many problems, but... 2/3
...they're also *good at* musical storytelling. *IF* they kept my stuff queer, and also didn't mess with the anti-cop parts, then I'd be willing to see what else they made out of it.
But we all know each of those "if"s is a complete non-starter on its own, and the pair together is beyond imagination. 3/3
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...they're also *good at* musical storytelling. *IF* they kept my stuff queer, and also didn't mess with the anti-cop parts, then I'd be willing to see what else they made out of it.
But we all know each of those "if"s is a complete non-starter on its own, and the pair together is beyond imagination. 3/3
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: How would you describe the tone of your WIP? Hopeful, dark, funny, emotional etc?
I think it's a juxtaposition of angry and bitter, wonder-filled, and hopeful.
(I was not planning to have anger or bitterness in it, but I'm afraid they will be unavoidable after both Trump's re-election and the past few years of response to Covid.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 22: How would you describe the tone of your WIP? Hopeful, dark, funny, emotional etc?
I think it's a juxtaposition of angry and bitter, wonder-filled, and hopeful.
(I was not planning to have anger or bitterness in it, but I'm afraid they will be unavoidable after both Trump's re-election and the past few years of response to Covid.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 23: What holiday treat will you enjoy while writing over the holidays?
I've been having sugar cookies as a wintertime treat, and had a little eggnog last night. With rum. (And sadly, just a teeny bit too much nutmeg. But it was seasonal!)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 23: What holiday treat will you enjoy while writing over the holidays?
I've been having sugar cookies as a wintertime treat, and had a little eggnog last night. With rum. (And sadly, just a teeny bit too much nutmeg. But it was seasonal!)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: The elves have granted you one writing wish. What do you wish for?
For my first novel to be a smashing success.
Once that happens, I'm sure I can keep going on the momentum that will start me off with.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: The elves have granted you one writing wish. What do you wish for?
For my first novel to be a smashing success.
Once that happens, I'm sure I can keep going on the momentum that will start me off with.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Merry Christmas. Are you having a writing-free day or sneaking in a few paragraphs?
I celebrate the Winter Solstice, not Christmas.
Since I have Christmas as a work-free day, I'll be trying to get more writing done than I usually do on workdays (i.e., treating it as a regular weekend day).
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Merry Christmas. Are you having a writing-free day or sneaking in a few paragraphs?
I celebrate the Winter Solstice, not Christmas.
Since I have Christmas as a work-free day, I'll be trying to get more writing done than I usually do on workdays (i.e., treating it as a regular weekend day).
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: Do real-life events inspire your writing? Share an example.
Not exactly "inspire", but since my WIP is set in the current day, I am keeping track of ways that current events might crop up in my characters' lives. One example is the solar eclipse that happened on April 8th of this year, although it wasn't very noticeable at all in San Francisco.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: Do real-life events inspire your writing? Share an example.
Not exactly "inspire", but since my WIP is set in the current day, I am keeping track of ways that current events might crop up in my characters' lives. One example is the solar eclipse that happened on April 8th of this year, although it wasn't very noticeable at all in San Francisco.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: How consistent are you with your writing? Daily? Weekly? Whenever you get the chance in your already overloaded life?
Pretty much daily, although I occasionally skip a day. According to my progress logs, that's happened 14 times in the past six months: on July 17th, 18th, and 22nd; August 28th; September 4th and the 18th through 21st (when I'd just started my new job and my whole routine was disrupted); October 3rd and 18th; and November 2nd, 26th and 27th. 1/3
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: How consistent are you with your writing? Daily? Weekly? Whenever you get the chance in your already overloaded life?
Pretty much daily, although I occasionally skip a day. According to my progress logs, that's happened 14 times in the past six months: on July 17th, 18th, and 22nd; August 28th; September 4th and the 18th through 21st (when I'd just started my new job and my whole routine was disrupted); October 3rd and 18th; and November 2nd, 26th and 27th. 1/3
All other days (since June 27th), I've spent at least 10 minutes writing per day, and my average... well, it's one thing if I take the average over that whole time, another if I just look at "since I got employed again". It dropped for a while when I had less time and mental energy left after working. 2/3
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All other days (since June 27th), I've spent at least 10 minutes writing per day, and my average... well, it's one thing if I take the average over that whole time, another if I just look at "since I got employed again". It dropped for a while when I had less time and mental energy left after working. 2/3
So currently (over the past 90 days) I spend an average of 55 minutes on weekdays and 1:29 on weekends and holidays.
(But the last 30 days, it's 1:04 on weekdays and 1:44 on weekends. I am bringing it up again, now that I've got my routine back together. Just slowly.) 3/3
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So currently (over the past 90 days) I spend an average of 55 minutes on weekdays and 1:29 on weekends and holidays.
(But the last 30 days, it's 1:04 on weekdays and 1:44 on weekends. I am bringing it up again, now that I've got my routine back together. Just slowly.) 3/3
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Have any resources improved your storytelling skills?
I think the thing that's improved them the most, if anything has, has just been paying attention to stories as I read or watch them, and seeing how they do it. What works, what doesn't... what affects me and gets me caring about the stories and the people.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Have any resources improved your storytelling skills?
I think the thing that's improved them the most, if anything has, has just been paying attention to stories as I read or watch them, and seeing how they do it. What works, what doesn't... what affects me and gets me caring about the stories and the people.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What are your feelings towards readers?
I've always loved people who read a lot, even before I started trying to become a writer. But I guess that's my feelings toward *bibliophiles*, as a random person. My feelings toward readers, as a writer? 1/3
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: What are your feelings towards readers?
I've always loved people who read a lot, even before I started trying to become a writer. But I guess that's my feelings toward *bibliophiles*, as a random person. My feelings toward readers, as a writer? 1/3
I love 'em even more! I know some people are writing just for themselves, and to be honest, yes, I am doing that to some extent... but I am definitely *also* writing in the hope that people will read my stories and enjoy them. I am not writing in a vacuum; I'm writing as an act of communication. 2/3
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I love 'em even more! I know some people are writing just for themselves, and to be honest, yes, I am doing that to some extent... but I am definitely *also* writing in the hope that people will read my stories and enjoy them. I am not writing in a vacuum; I'm writing as an act of communication. 2/3
Without readers, I could complete my story and feel proud of what I'd done, but it would also still feel like the loop hadn't really been closed, like a part of the thing was still slightly incomplete.
It'd feel *lonely*. 3/3
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Without readers, I could complete my story and feel proud of what I'd done, but it would also still feel like the loop hadn't really been closed, like a part of the thing was still slightly incomplete.
It'd feel *lonely*. 3/3
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Do you like a book that is challenging or just carries you along?
I'm okay either way; they both have their places.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Do you like a book that is challenging or just carries you along?
I'm okay either way; they both have their places.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 31: What were the big writing moments for you in 2024?
I don't think there have really been any. I've just been plugging away, keeping on going, but I haven't had any big milestones with it this year.