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Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024

1:00pm EST

Members: 915

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Writing Blog Number 2

by Santeven Quokklaus

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2311764

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.

An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 21, 2024 at 12:34am
In response to "20241221 Kudzu Plotting"

IMO Anne McCaffrey does this well with the parallel Dragonriders of Pern and Harper Hall trilogies. Adults-with-dragons; youth with fire-dragons. Memorable world building. Wonderful characters.

Kudzu the plant... only a curse for those who don't know its uses: forage, food, fiber.

Santeven Quokklaus

Dec 19, 2024 at 7:09pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

🐕GeminiGem🎁 - I chose Grease because it is so egregious and goes against everything Sandy had demonstrated up to that point. Dirty Dancing was set a few years later (early 60s), and, though Baby changes, it is gradual and is more a change of growing up, being true to herself. So, I think the time period can be used effectively without being so demeaning. As I see it.

🐕GeminiGem🎁

Dec 19, 2024 at 6:58pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

I agree that when a woman changes herself to attract a man shows misogyny and is annoying...but...using the movie Grease as an example it an interesting choice. Yes, the lead female changes her appearance to appeal to the male. I think it was more because of peer pressure, but the peer pressure happened because of the pervasive misogyny of the peers. Interestingly, the male character does the exact same thing for the same reasons.

The movie is set in the 1950's, a time where the misogyny we see now is even waaaay worse. So, here is a thought. If you are writing about a time period like that and are showing social interactions of the characters, something like the pervasive misogyny is going to be true to the time and place the story takes place. Does that excuse it? No, of course not, but having present-day sensibilities in an era like that would make the story seem really off.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 19, 2024 at 3:57am
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

In my travels I try to connect with most everyone. I wonder what my stats would be... but many contacts have names whether human or not, whether the boss or 'servant' or guest.

In my writings...

thinking.

I do have characters without names.

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 18, 2024 at 3:54pm
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

As someone who is an Aunt to two children who have an age difference of four years, I can definitely tell you that they act completely different. Even though one of them is neurodivergent, the older one definitely acts more mature than the younger one.(also the older one has never tried to lick my feet.)

With very few exceptions, I've never had to tell an adult "stop eating my dress," "please don't lick me" or "stop pulling my hair," to anyone over the age of six. Yet within the last year or so I've had to tell my five year old niece these things repeatedly. She thinks this is hilarious.

Anyways, thanks for pointing out that kids aren't just miniature adults! I'll try to keep that in mind while writing.

Santeven Quokklaus

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:44am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

Elisa: Snowman Stik - Writing about those who are neurodivergent is not something I feel I can talk about comfortably. I am trained as a teacher of those on the spectrum, and so I would not write a character in that regard because I do not feel it is my story to tell. But, yes, that last point may not apply to a child with developmental issues.

1 Like

Elisa: Snowman Stik

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:28am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

I am curious if there is wiggle room for the last point for child characters with developmental disabilities. (I do recognize this kind of character presents its own set of development pitfalls in terms of depicting the disability without stereotyping. That said, I think this can be a reasonable exception to the rule when done with care.)

1 Like

Dave Ryan

Dec 16, 2024 at 1:26am
In response to "20241216 Poor Characterisation"

There was once a variation of "compressed vice" in an original episode of Star Trek ("Who Mourns for Adonais?"), where a landing party of the usual suspects + one random never-seen-before-or-since female crew member are captured by the god Apollo and they turn the usually gruff Scotty into a simpering, love-struck puppy to try to introduce some conflict when Apollo puts the moves on her. Why they didn't just have Kirk horndogging it as usual I do not know - at least then everybody would have remained consistently in character. It looks like Scotty, it sounds like Scotty, but WTF?

1 Like

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 14, 2024 at 3:41pm
In response to "20241214 Punk Genres"

This is interesting yet confusing. So basically it's like world building but with the word "punk" in there to make it sound cooler.
Maybe I misunderstand.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 7, 2024 at 2:55am
In response to "20241207 Problems With Using Reality"

That or "to-ell-wit-it" and suffer the consequences.

Every society draws the lines differently. A traveler needs to be aware. Even words matter. The British and Thais are strict when it comes to slander.

May 5, 2024 at 6:02am

#1070537

20240505 Publisher Q&A

A Meeting With A Publisher

So, this morning I had my usual Skype call with my friend in Florida, then, as I was doing some work for a local group, remembered I had an invite to a Q&A with a representative of Random House Australia.

I logged on, waited 15 minutes, then found I was one of over 100 people listening in. We had all submitted to RHA in the past 2 years and had reached second round, but got no further; that was the idea of this - to help us reach final round, to help those who are close maybe get a Big-5 contract.

The two women who spoke to us said we had done the right things - edited before submission, followed the genre dictates, put story first. They then went on to state the things we (in general) may have fallen down on: characterisation being either weak or dominating, pushing an overt message, under-writing. When asked to explain what under-writing is, they said it was using simplistic language. Yes, that meant I felt called out.

Then came Q&A.

Questions I noted:
* If I revise, should I resubmit? No, unless you completely rewrite the work and change the title.
* Is any genre off-limits? No, but the extremes of any genre are not appreciated.
Additional question: But I don't see a lot of humour in your listings? Answer: Humour is a hard sell universally. What's funny here [Australia] is not necessarily going to translate internationally. But we do have some humour books in our store.
* Do you accept collections of works? No, they just don't sell unless you already have a name.
* Do you accept books that are chasing current trends? (Example given, Hunger Games and Harry Potter styled works.) Yes, but they have to be amazingly well-written and not just pastiches, and they need to hit different story beats.
* Do you accept previously published works? No. What about if it is on Wattpad or something first? Only if it is not visible to the general public at large.
She then went on to add:If you have previously self-published a work of fiction, we will be very unlikely to accept any other work except in exceptional circumstances.
* Why don't you publish children's books? The cost of picture books and short page count early reader books does not make them financially viable. Specialist companies have a much better system generally.
* Do you publish fan fiction? No, and any author worth their salt knows why. (This was genuinely the only time they seemed pissed off with a question.)
* Can we have our own covers designed? We encourage input into cover design, but we prefer to work with in-house designers. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule.
* Do you do audiobooks? If so, can we choose our own narrators? Yes, we do. And we prefer the author to be the narrator if at all possible. Otherwise, this is something we are willing to negotiate with the writer. We do not have a list of preferred narrators.
* What do you see is the future of books and publishing? Good question. Ten, fifteen years ago, I would have said digital all the way. COVID saw a rise in audiobooks and post-COVID physical books have come back. So, the future? I don't think anyone knows, and we are just going to give all formats equal time.

I got bored about then, but there weren't many more questions.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

4 Like • Comment • View 3 comments

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