#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 23: What’s the most memorable encounter you’ve had with a reader?
I can't really answer this yet, not being published in any way. The only "reader" I have so far is my partner, and I don't really "have encounters with" them in the sense this question is asking.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Is there a particular reader you keep in mind when you write?
No. I try to write for a hypothetical "aggregate reader" of my stories — basically, just a vague notion of "the kind of person, or people, who will like my stuff."
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 24: Is there a particular reader you keep in mind when you write?
No. I try to write for a hypothetical "aggregate reader" of my stories — basically, just a vague notion of "the kind of person, or people, who will like my stuff."
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Describe your workflow if it had to be 100% analog.
It wouldn't. If I had to write by hand, I just wouldn't. The hand-cramps after only a few minutes would be too much of a barrier.
[Edit: Oh yeah, typewriters. I guess they're analog too. I think it'd still be too onerous for me, though; the mere idea of having to retype *everything* for each new draft, not just the changed stuff, makes me want to cry. I *hate* repeating work I've... 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Describe your workflow if it had to be 100% analog.
It wouldn't. If I had to write by hand, I just wouldn't. The hand-cramps after only a few minutes would be too much of a barrier.
[Edit: Oh yeah, typewriters. I guess they're analog too. I think it'd still be too onerous for me, though; the mere idea of having to retype *everything* for each new draft, not just the changed stuff, makes me want to cry. I *hate* repeating work I've... 1/2
...already done; in fact, it's what got me into programming: the ability to make the computer re-do something so that I didn't have to.
So, "analog only" means "no writing for Kagan". 2/2]
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...already done; in fact, it's what got me into programming: the ability to make the computer re-do something so that I didn't have to.
So, "analog only" means "no writing for Kagan". 2/2]
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: About which format or style choices are you the most uncertain?
Not sure which one is top, but one that's on my mind right now: my decision to only italicize non-English text when it's a second or unfamiliar language to the person speaking it. 1/6
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 26: About which format or style choices are you the most uncertain?
Not sure which one is top, but one that's on my mind right now: my decision to only italicize non-English text when it's a second or unfamiliar language to the person speaking it. 1/6
I'm pretty solid about wanting to do it, because it ties into the mechanics of my magical system: the extra effort of speaking a spell in a language you aren't fluent in can give a boost in energy to the spell itself. Having that reflected in the typography is a subtle way of underscoring it. 2/6
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I'm pretty solid about wanting to do it, because it ties into the mechanics of my magical system: the extra effort of speaking a spell in a language you aren't fluent in can give a boost in energy to the spell itself. Having that reflected in the typography is a subtle way of underscoring it. 2/6
So, for example, in one vignette, I have Kevin Wingard decide he needs a little extra "oomph" for a spell he's not quite confident in yet. (The vignette is set in the past, only about a year and a half after he awoke; he's still learning things.) So he uses some of his high school Spanish for his incantation, and I put it italics like you're supposed to. 3/6
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So, for example, in one vignette, I have Kevin Wingard decide he needs a little extra "oomph" for a spell he's not quite confident in yet. (The vignette is set in the past, only about a year and a half after he awoke; he's still learning things.) So he uses some of his high school Spanish for his incantation, and I put it italics like you're supposed to. 3/6
OTOH, Carlos Velázquez and his wife, Raquel, are both bilingual from childhood in English and Spanish. When they exchange Spanish endearments, or just say various things in Spanish like "I'm about to get into an elevator, so I'll call you back soon", I'm leaving those in roman, not italic. 4/6
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OTOH, Carlos Velázquez and his wife, Raquel, are both bilingual from childhood in English and Spanish. When they exchange Spanish endearments, or just say various things in Spanish like "I'm about to get into an elevator, so I'll call you back soon", I'm leaving those in roman, not italic. 4/6
But it gets even wilder, because Carlos and Raquel are both polyglots, who speak a few other languages! However, they learned those later. So when either of them say or think things in German, Latin, or Arabic, those *do* get italicized like one would normally expect. 5/6
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But it gets even wilder, because Carlos and Raquel are both polyglots, who speak a few other languages! However, they learned those later. So when either of them say or think things in German, Latin, or Arabic, those *do* get italicized like one would normally expect. 5/6
Kevin can get a spell boost by speaking Spanish. Carlos _can't_, because it's just as natural to him as speaking English. But he _can_ (and sometimes does) get one from using German, or Arabic.
Anyway, I want to go with it, but I am worried it'll just confuse people. 6/6
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Kevin can get a spell boost by speaking Spanish. Carlos _can't_, because it's just as natural to him as speaking English. But he _can_ (and sometimes does) get one from using German, or Arabic.
Anyway, I want to go with it, but I am worried it'll just confuse people. 6/6
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: What’s the strangest situation or place where you’ve written?
My writing situations don't really get very strange, I'm afraid. At home, in bars and restaurants, on public transit... There's also been once or twice when an idea hits while I'm walking around, and I dictate something into a voice memo on my phone. But that's about it. Sorry, no really wild situations. 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27: What’s the strangest situation or place where you’ve written?
My writing situations don't really get very strange, I'm afraid. At home, in bars and restaurants, on public transit... There's also been once or twice when an idea hits while I'm walking around, and I dictate something into a voice memo on my phone. But that's about it. Sorry, no really wild situations. 1/2
Later thought: Wait, do you mean the weirdest location *in the story?* <looks at the question again> I think not, but just in case: Sadly, the locations in my WIP are also fairly prosaic. People's homes; bars, restaurants, nightclubs; corporate offices and boardrooms; parks, plazas, the City streets... there might wind up being something in a subway tunnel at some point, but it's not certain. 2/2
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Later thought: Wait, do you mean the weirdest location *in the story?* <looks at the question again> I think not, but just in case: Sadly, the locations in my WIP are also fairly prosaic. People's homes; bars, restaurants, nightclubs; corporate offices and boardrooms; parks, plazas, the City streets... there might wind up being something in a subway tunnel at some point, but it's not certain. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Happy Respect Your Cat Day! Who or what accompanies you when you write?
Honestly, just my laptop, Miss Sakamoto. And she's not really "accompanying me" so much as "necessary for me to do any real writing" (aside form the voice memos I mentioned yesterday, which can only go so far).
So, really, nothing and no one. I'm kind of solo that way.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28: Happy Respect Your Cat Day! Who or what accompanies you when you write?
Honestly, just my laptop, Miss Sakamoto. And she's not really "accompanying me" so much as "necessary for me to do any real writing" (aside form the voice memos I mentioned yesterday, which can only go so far).
So, really, nothing and no one. I'm kind of solo that way.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: How do you handle foreshadowing? How do you navigate building up to the ‘big reveal’?
That's something I'll have to work out as I write the first draft.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 29: How do you handle foreshadowing? How do you navigate building up to the ‘big reveal’?
That's something I'll have to work out as I write the first draft.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Do you label your works as LGBTQIA+? Why/why not?
If I can only put 1 label on them, like "where to shelve this in a bookstore"? No. The best label for my WIP in that sense is "urban fantasy".
But if we're just listing however-many relevant tags? Yes, definitely! 3/5 of my MCs are queer, as are 2/5 of my villains and roughly 33% of of my secondary and side characters (and me, ofc). And they include trans, enby, and demi people, not just the L, G, and B. (Poly, too.)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 30: Do you label your works as LGBTQIA+? Why/why not?
If I can only put 1 label on them, like "where to shelve this in a bookstore"? No. The best label for my WIP in that sense is "urban fantasy".
But if we're just listing however-many relevant tags? Yes, definitely! 3/5 of my MCs are queer, as are 2/5 of my villains and roughly 33% of of my secondary and side characters (and me, ofc). And they include trans, enby, and demi people, not just the L, G, and B. (Poly, too.)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 31: Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility! What trans author has inspired you the most?
I'm sorry to have to admit, I don't think I've read any fiction by trans authors. I'm familiar with Julia Serano's work, of course, but I haven't found it "inspirational". (More like, "intellectually quite persuasive, but about some things I already believed.")
I really need to read more in general. 😐
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 31: Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility! What trans author has inspired you the most?
I'm sorry to have to admit, I don't think I've read any fiction by trans authors. I'm familiar with Julia Serano's work, of course, but I haven't found it "inspirational". (More like, "intellectually quite persuasive, but about some things I already believed.")
I really need to read more in general. 😐
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: April Fool’s Day! Do you include in-jokes, hidden messages, or “Easter eggs” in your writing?
Only in ways that will enhance a reader's enjoyment if they get it, but not bother them if they don't get it. Not things that will make people feel excluded because they can see that there's a reference that they're not getting.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: April Fool’s Day! Do you include in-jokes, hidden messages, or “Easter eggs” in your writing?
Only in ways that will enhance a reader's enjoyment if they get it, but not bother them if they don't get it. Not things that will make people feel excluded because they can see that there's a reference that they're not getting.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: International Children’s Book Day! What makes for a good book for children?
Heck if I know. I'm not writing books for children, and have no plans to in the near future.
[Edit: But lots of other people are giving excellent answers today!]
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: International Children’s Book Day! What makes for a good book for children?
Heck if I know. I'm not writing books for children, and have no plans to in the near future.
[Edit: But lots of other people are giving excellent answers today!]
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: How do you navigate scenes with many characters?
By describing people's actions and reporting their dialogue. The way I'd navigate any other kind of scene.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: How do you navigate scenes with many characters?
By describing people's actions and reporting their dialogue. The way I'd navigate any other kind of scene.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: What are some tips and tricks you use to convey strong emotions?
So far, the main "strong emotion" I've depicted has been ecstatic joy. Some of that is already public, in https://wandering.shop/@kagan/114201094504049029.
In many ways, it works like the usual advice about "clenched fists" for anger: much of emotion is rooted in the body. Even if it's also in other places, or happens in subtler ways, describing it in somatic terms helps readers *experience it*... 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: What are some tips and tricks you use to convey strong emotions?
So far, the main "strong emotion" I've depicted has been ecstatic joy. Some of that is already public, in https://wandering.shop/@kagan/114201094504049029.
In many ways, it works like the usual advice about "clenched fists" for anger: much of emotion is rooted in the body. Even if it's also in other places, or happens in subtler ways, describing it in somatic terms helps readers *experience it*... 1/2
...rather than simply reading about it and trying to reconstruct it in their minds. It helps them feel it, just like the character does. 2/2