@7b682b86@5a43dd67
I've gotten the pages question a couple of times 🤣 Most people know nothing about how the writing/publishing biz works so I cut them a huge amount of slack. I didn't know anything myself until I started writing and researching.
#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 30
What dumb things do people say when you tell them you're a writer?
It might be my age, but most people, if they find out, act impressed. Most of my friends/family don't know, as I don't want them to feel obligated to buy them. I have one old friend who feels it's necessary to explain, every time we talk, why she's not bought one. I've told her it's fine, but I did buy the CD she put out, so maybe it's guilt. 🤷
#WordWeavers Sep 30
How educated is your MC?
Like all Morlani royals, Jade had a loremaster to coordinate her academic studies. However, unlike most who hired tutors for different topics, Master Zagon had attended to her lessons himself. She had a cleric for her religious studies, which she enjoyed much less than Master Z's lectures in history & science.
There was also Shar, who lectured as well as any tutor. She knew quite a bit for a raven.
#fantasy
@4f83c065
My husband was always supportive but kind of discounted it until he saw I made some sales. Now his "when I win the lottery we will ..." joke saying includes "or you make millions on your books" 🤣 It's nice he has that confidence in me.
@d23fc1b0
I've never seen anyone change their mind because someone argued with them online. It seems more an exercise in venting personal frustrations.
@4eb58cf9
"The Scopuli had been taken eight days ago, and Julie Mao was finally ready to be shot." -- James S. A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes
#bookstodon #OpeningLines
@7b682b86@ce78dee8
Yeah, I couldn't think of a proper answer for this one. I have a few characters in SoJ:Red Wolf that give encouragement here and there, but no one is exceptionally "pep-talky." I didn't get those as a kid either, so my characters usually support each other, at least.
#PennedPossibilities 86
What is the greatest extravagance your MC or SC allow themselves"
Time. Jade gets little of it to herself. Whether lingering in a tavern over beers or sitting on a beach watching the waves or viewing the world from her flying dragon's eyes, these stolen moments are precious and few and far between.
#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 29
Scene breaks
I don't use these. Early on in my writing I did and didn't like the way they looked or flowed with my writing style. If a chapter has more than one scene I will have one or two transitional paragraphs between which naturally moves time along. It works for first-person narratives as there's always some musing to do. 😆 Otherwise, I'll just make a new chapter.
#WordWeavers 9/28
Sense of humor?
Circumstances have made Jade less jolly though she can still throw out one-liners:
“I possess some talent. The master taught me stealth. I can blend into the landscape.”
“Any good tracker can do that.”
“I get feelings, sense danger. A knot forms inside my stomach. Sometimes I”—he paused, looking embarrassed—“throw up.”
“I see.” Ms. Marstair frowned, then brightened. “Such skill will be useful in the wild.”
“Not so much the vomiting,” I said.
@ce78dee8
I upload the latest version to my Protonmail files where everything I don't want to lose in some computer crash live. So, if I feel I've messed up an edit I can download the previous version. I don't keep them all, just replace them with the next in line. So far this has worked, but I get your point.
#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 28
Do you practice "kill your darlings"?
Each of my books goes through several self-editing passes before going to my editor, then a few more after that. This being the case, a lot is changed. I rarely delete, just cut and paste into an associated Notes doc where all the outtakes live until I am absolutely sure I won't use them anywhere again. If it's a turn of phrase I like I might alter it and use it in a different book. 😆
#WritersCoffeeClub Sep 27
What's the strangest research you've done for your writing?
Maybe tree genders. Most species are androgynous but not all. I don't find this strange, but I suppose it's not the sort of thing a lot of people research. 🤷
#WordWeavers Sep 27
Do any children under two or older people factor into your story?
Song of Jade: Red Wolf doesn't have any little children. All of my stories have older people but most don't look their age. In this book, however, several do because it's the Dragon Age and the human realms in the northlands have been cut off from mage practices.
@43b5df12
Yeah, no excuse for so many getting through and it does seem like there's some confusion as to meanings. 🤷♀️ My blunders tended to be more along the line of I knew the distinction but my dumb fingers/old brain used the wrong one. For example, I would type rein rather than reign (or vice versa) and berate myself later 😆 Stuff like that goes on my editing search term spreadsheet so it never happens again.
@2a9a6bfb
@2a9a6bfb
The type of errors Word's spell checker won't pick up because they're still words. I usually find a few of those blunders while self-editing and my editor finds what I've missed. It would annoy me as a reader to find too many of these.
@4be4ee2e
Editing is where the "magic" always happens for me. I don't worry overly much about first drafts. I also tend to edit as I go, starting out each writing session reading a chapter or two back, which gets me in the "zone." This works for me, but others prefer to get the entire first draft complete before going back. Whatever works best for you is fine.
@4a3f9d7e
I've never had a group. This wasn't exactly by choice, I just never found one. I'm okay with it these days. My editor will do a critique of each new manuscript as a first step in the editing process.
@7ccb675f
@7ccb675f
It can be costly. My editor created a package deal for me but editing is still my biggest expense. She is worth it. If I were rich I'd pay her more than she asks 😅. I queried mainly because of cost concerns but then I saw so many querying authors opting to get professional editing beforehand and, honestly, not having to pay for that was the only thing I liked about trad. 🤷♀️
@f53e7790
@06d3112a
It's so disheartening. We've been fighting for equality all of my lifetime and made some progress (though not enough)--and now are sliding back. 😔 I'm so worried for my granddaughter.
#3GoodThings
1) Cooler weather! 💃
2) Good news from the doctor yesterday
3) A long phone convo last night with an old friend
Today my body is rebelling against yesterday's covid booster so I am focusing on happier things 😆
#WordWeavers Sep 26
Is your antagonist or protagonist more fashionable?
In Song of Jade: Red Wolf, Jade is in disguise for a good portion of the story, so fashion is not considered. The Red Wolf is, well, a wolf a good portion of the time. You could say she is a quite lovely, fashionable wolf. 😀
@2a9a6bfb
That's so interesting. I've never thought about the history of cloth and clothing.
One of the fun parts about reading these responses from authors is learning things. 😁
@da5013b0
@0402138e
#Writephant
I never have. It never seems to coincide with my writing schedule. I'm presently busy with editing my 2024 releases. I have a WIP for 2025 about 3/4s done but it's pushed back for now.
@0402138e
I have a cactus garden which also has native milkweed and desert marigolds ( which are currently blooming.) Then, in the back, I have a combo of herbs and flowers (roses, milkweed, multi-headed sunflowers,) and jasmine in one corner. I also have a little orange tree, plumeria, and palm tree. And I'm attempting strawberries in a planter again--last try didn't survive the heat.
@0402138e
We never get too cold here but it is cooler in the morning and evening now, so I can have the window in my office open. Or even sit outside a while. 😁 My gardens enjoy the cooler weather too, so I have a nice green view while writing.
@0402138e
#Writephant
What brought me joy was good news at my doctor's appointment this morning 😁 Also, actually catching this hashtag day for once--I seem to usually miss it 😁
@c122552e
Rumor has it you're supposed to start promoting before the book-shaped thing appears. Can't say that worked well for me, but I'm probably not the best marketing role model 🤣
@2ee95d3f
#PennedPossibilities 74
What does your Side Character want more out of life: happiness or success?
Hmm ... which SC? 🤔
Garland is the third-born Prince of Atlan. When his uncle married the queen of Sharren he went along & joined the Sharren dragonknights in order to make a name for himself, which he didn't think possible at home, so I'd say success.
Things don't always work out as planned.
#fantasy
@cd8e3eca
I use Fedilab on my Android phone. It's mostly fine. Easy to use. Sometimes it does weird things like report a larger number of notifications than I actually have, but it's not the only app that's done that.
@5a43dd67
I am on X but never post. Even before the latest mess I never had much engagement. I didn't even do a promo for my latest release there. I will pop on to read a couple of accounts I like (one author lost her husband recently & has been so sad I try to at least like her stuff) but otherwise have checked out. My May release is in my pinned post, along with my website details. I am active on Insta. If you're there & find me I'd be happy to boost you. 😀
@9f1caa36
I stopped using all but lip balm a while back. Maybe a year or two? Do not miss it at all. I do, however, have a fun bit of green in my gray hair. 😆 One of my characters has blue streaks in her hair & I've mentioned that more than once.
@4622a14c
At one time, when my kids were young, I was going to school full-time plus working multiple part-time jobs to fit with my school schedule, most short-term, a couple longer. I honestly look back and don't know how I did it all. It helped that the majority were on or near campus, I guess.
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