IWSG #55: I Want to be a Diverse Writer

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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OPTIONAL IWSG DAY QUESTION: 

What are five objects we’d find in your writing space?

Coffee, bobble-head Groot, dog treats, pen, and notepad

Co-Hosts:

  J.H. Moncrieff | Tonja Drecker | Patsy Collins | Chrys Fey!

i’M NOT GOOD AT Diverse writing BUT i want to learn:

I read about diversity all over the place. And I support all people of any belief system, orientation, challenge and heritage. I won’t refer to the news (although I just have) for the reasons I want to write about all types of people.

I’m a person of love. I wish everyone was.

I don’t want to hurt or offend anyone. In my clumsy way of learning, I’m afraid of offending someone or being misquoted in some hateful way.  

I’m  not a weapon.

That said, it’s time to put on my big-girl pants.

I’m asking for VOLUNTEERS to correct me:

• I need training to use the right words
• I need to see where I go wrong and how to fix it
• I need to be able to fail so I can succeed
• I’m already sensitive but I need to see through another’s eyes

I’m white in non-diverse community and have no idea what I’m doing but doing it anyway. Let’s put some diversity on the page and widen our minds.

Thanks for the support.

Some Reading For All of Us:

• http://www.springhole.net/writing/offensivemistakes.htm
• http://www.springhole.net/writing/more-racial-diversity.htm
• https://blog.leeandlow.com/2014/03/26/is-my-character-black-enough-advice-on-writing-cross-culturally/
• http://writing.umn.edu/sws/quickhelp/grammar/nonbinary.html
• https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-27904621
• http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2013/10/23/writing-diverse-fiction-a-practical-guide/
• http://disabilityintersections.com/2014/01/lack-of-representation-in-fiction-why-is-the-disabled-character-always-a-cisgender-heterosexual-white-man/
• https://selfpublishingadvice.org/five-steps-to-writing-diversity-right-yen-ooi/
• http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/questions-and-quandaries/problem-sensitivity-readers-isnt-think
• https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/77726-sensitivity-readers-what-are-they-good-for-a-lot.html

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Adding Website Tabs (Non-Toolbox Post #1)

 

To everyone that is writing for NaNo2018: Congrats! and Best of Luck!

No toolbox post this month or the next. But that little detail isn’t stopping me.

I’ve been collecting and posting of info about writing since I started learning the craft. But I figured I was just following the same path as everyone else.

I did it to save time. My collection of info stopped me from having to look up same thing a dozen times before I remember it.

But recently someone asked me where one of my posts were. They had some trouble locating it. Well, reaching out that way filled my enabler’s heart with joy. Not because they couldn’t find it or they had a bad memory. Nope. I actually helped someone.

Stand back cuz here I go.

I’ve gone through and organized my old posts and other info in the new tabs up top. Take a look around and remember all suggestions and feedback are always welcome.

Thanks for dropping by. Do you have a homemade how-to book too? Tell me about it. I’m sure we’d all like to take a look.

IWSG 54: Wattpad and the Publishing Industry

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

Co-Hosts:

Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor | Ann V. Friend | JQ Rose | Elizabeth Seckman

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: 

How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

Answer: Pretty much like most writers. I couldn’t keep it in. Self expression kept flowing. Funny thing was, I thought everyone did this. I didn’t feel special or unique. It wasn’t until my sister told me it was hard for her to put her thoughts down that I woke up.

Not everyone does (or wants to do) what we do and that makes us special. And it brought us together and that’s something good too.

Now I have a question?

Any of you get involved with Wattpad? Any tips or suggestions would be very welcome around now.

What brought me to Wattpad?

As you know my publisher closed their doors. And for a long time I didn’t do anything about it. It could have been shock, or afraid of what to do next. Self publishing isn’t really for me and the returned work were all shorts. So there was that.

Then it occurred to me I could post them as free reads on Wattpad.

I’ve been given my rights by three different publishers

Great publishers—J Taylor Publishing, Roane Publishing, and Three Worlds Press—are all closed. It’s broken my confidence and my heart. They taught me the basics and I’m so grateful. It never occurred to me they’d not be around forever.

The industry is tough. Not much to add there.

Although I’ve posted on Wattpad, I wonder if I’ve got what it takes. (Submitting to agents is hard and full of rejections passes. It’s taking its toll.)

Any suggestions on how to encourage readers/followers on Wattpad, please share. I could use an ego boost today.

Toolbox 15: Horror Writing

This post was written for the Author Toolbox Blog Hop where we share our new discoveries on the craft of writing, editing, querying, marketing, publishing, and blogging tips. Posted every third Wednesday of the month. For rules and sign-up click here.

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I’ve read all kinds of how-to writing manuals. That said, I know that I won’t write romance, but some of my stories will have romantic elements. I include several genre elements in my work, so why not horror.

It’s October and during this month I watch, read and eat up horror stories.

Stephen King built his career on horror in the early years. Some quotes to consider:

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”
― Stephen King

“There’s no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids.”
― Stephen King

“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.” 
― Stephen King

My favorite is psychological

Some people imagine blood and guts when it comes to horror. I don’t. I’m more of the person who makes sure the windows and doors are locked because I suddenly suspect there is a vampire outside. I’m all about atmosphere and the creepy feeling that doesn’t go away after the story is over.

It’s exhilarating, and to me that’s horror!

It starts off in a normal world we are all familiar with. Then slowly changes into a world no one else would recognize.

Why it works

Horror has monsters—human and otherwise.

Darkness brings an element of the unknown it. Degrees of shadows that warp everything from playgrounds, and backyards to our neighbor’s face. Friendly streets become sinister when the lights flicker off.

We can’t help but instinctively want to avoid the imagined danger.

A flashlight is just a flashlight swinging in someone hand. But when it falls to the ground and rolls to a stop, it changes.

Without the deepened shadows, we’d easily see the fellow who dropped the flashlight bending over to pick it up.

And if we can’t see what’s there?

For all we know something’s lurking. Possibly behind the flashlight carrier. When the flashlight falls and is left untouched, there is only one answer. The answer is unique to each of our imaginations. If it frightens us, and we can’t call for help, the most we might do is watch as the batteries die.

Already imagining what we’ll find only inches from the Maglite come dawn.

Suspense is not Horror

Just as not all fingers are thumbs and all thumbs are fingers.

Suspense and tension are in all good stories. We want the reader to care. To feel the emotional escalation that drives the page turner.

Horror uses suspense with a mix of the fear factor (maybe sprinkled with the terror of it all) to drive the story forward.

Heroes are different too

In horror, we count on the hero doing more than we would dare. It has become cliché for a hero, alone and unarmed, to hear a sound and pursue it into a dark basement. It’s a cliché for a reason, fellow horror lovers.

Heroes offer hope. Out of all the things that happen, one person might live.  And when we watch or read on, we need our hero to fearlessly face what scares them most. They jeopardize their lives saving others or trying to.  To feel the failure, the heartache and shake it off long enough to try one last time.

Survival brings with it a giddiness that makes life sweeter, even if we still carry a little fear with us afterward.

Are you writing any horror this month? Reading some? Tell me about it.

Also: I’ve joined Wattpad. If you’re there too, let me know. Link’s on the sidebar. 😉

Gleaned from:

• http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/10/11/25-things-you-should-know-about-writing-horror/
• http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/11/08/25-things-you-should-know-about-suspense-and-tension/
• http://paulfinch-writer.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-create-terror-tension-and.html
• http://theconversation.com/stephen-king-a-master-of-horror-who-finds-terror-in-the-everyday-83758

IWSG 53: SCATTERED, SCARED, AND SO SLOW IT HURTS

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

~~~oOo~~~

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?

I wouldn’t have made it out of my teen years without being able to vent through writing. And after a while the venting led to figuring out or thinking through my troubles. Sometimes even solving an issue. 😉

Co-Hosts:  

Dolorah @ Book Lover  | Christopher D. Votey | Tanya Miranda | Chemist Ken!

I have a few things on my mind this month. One: no rejections since my last post. (On the other hand, no requests either.) Two: Roane Publishing closed its doors as of Sept 30th. (They were my publisher and their closing makes me sad.)

Three: I discovered Overdrive.

For all of you that knew…. Best kept secret ever.

For those who don’t know, OverDrive is a way to borrow ebooks, audio books, videos, and magazines etc from your local library. In Canada we need to use an app. For those of you in the states, OverDrive will work on your Kindle.

Using Overdrive led to four.

Four: Being Scattered, Scared, and So Slow  it Hurts.

OverDrive helped me get off my behind and start checking out all the middle grade stories I’ve been meaning to read. That’s when I discovered Howard Walllace PI. Great read for the young readers of the world.

It’s a middle grade detective story and  I am quite upset.

You see I had this grand plan with my own middle grade detective story. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to abandon it. My main character was a Sam Spade wannabe.

Hers is a Sam Spade, Nick Charles, Mike Hammer, etc wannabe. She covered them all.

The bottom line is she wrote him first and  I’m not sure how people would see mine if I pursued it. Would they think I’m a copy cat? Sure some books have common elements. Cozies have cats, cutzie names, foodies, crafties, or as of lately–marinas. Love stories have, well, have love.

It’s not like I’m trying to sell the idea or even the book. I’ve waited so long. It serves me right. To top it off my book isn’t finished….

And her book is great. I loved it. I really did. (Addition: I’m reading the second one now and it’s awesome too.)

I guess that’s my trouble

Jealously. And feeling so insecure.

Logic tells me to stop feeling bad and I’m sure over time I will. Until then though…

What about you? Anyone come up with something similar you were writing? How did you cope?