@writerobscura@writing.exchange
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

writerobscura

@writerobscura@writing.exchange

#writer of #serialfiction and the occasional #shortstory Retired TV #staffwriter that dabbled in #graphicnovels back in mid-2000s.

Also found at https://geekdom.social/@Krolowa

It's okay to Unfollow or Mute - if we're mutuals, I'll kindly return the Unfollow - if I'm Muted, I'll Unfollow.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub 5/17 -- Other than writing, what's your go-to creative outlet?

Cooking.
(via my Insta)

L: Pulled Pork on 7 -Cheese Macaroni R: Pasta Fagioli
4 Dishes I've made - 1 - Food & Wine cover dish 2 - Chicken/Mushroom Ramen with corn 3 - Open face turkey 4 - Pan Pizza
Birthday cakes I made for my adult kids - L - Xenomorph layer cake R - Hello Kitty flower cake

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub May14 Do you have a sense of how much plot you need for how long a manuscript?

After working in episodic tv, I thought I did. Then I began writing prose (not scripts) and realized I had no idea what I was doing.

The first book I found helpful was YOU Can Write a Novel - then I got my hands on this one: Story Structure Architect.

/infomercial.

The book Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.

sfwrtr, (edited ) to ai
@sfwrtr@eldritch.cafe avatar

Ch 9 Nbr 12 — When does AI cross the line between helpful tool and problematic tech for writing and publishing? CW: Some sarcasm and cynicism.

When? That happened a few years ago. All over the web. Whether you realize it or not, writers are being supplanted in most all minor writing jobs on lots of lesser and not so minor websites. Have you noticed that some stories are circular, seem to be written by authors of questionable fluency, miss a glaring argument or get a fact wrong, and in the end really make no good points or teach you anything? They seem to regurgitate what you've seen elsewhere?

Yep. AI written.

AI's a free tool! Managers love free. Let those freelancers go; just write some good prompts. So many good articles (likely AI written) to teach you how! All we need is good clickbait headlines, anyway. Feed the search engines! Serve up those display ads nobody clicks. Get us those micro-cents per page view.

Riiiight.

Sheesh. This Rubicon... Has... Been crossed. Mostly. Some have tripped. Many have drowned.

What I'd really like is for AI enhanced software to notice little things like misusing led and lead, finding missing words, pointing out when I leave out the 'nt in wouldn't changing the meaning of everything I wrote, even capitalizing based on context when dictating... thus and such. Yeah. Too difficult.

I won't repeat what everyone else is saying. Yep. True all that. It's all wrong headed at the moment and if you don't know how to write OR you could do it yourself if you weren't soooo lazy, 's just going to make you into a fool.

You get to make yourself into a fool in front of a publisher only once.

[Author retains copyright (c)2024 R.S.]

and


writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@sfwrtr Someone in my writers group lamented the current state of digital news by blaming 'poorly educated Millennials for bad headlines and poor content writing - and I was like, bold of you to assume those writers are human.

writerobscura, to books
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

This is so depressingly true:

+It used to be ‘I read something i shouldn’t have’

+Now its ‘you wrote something you shouldn’t have’

Tumblr user RainyStudios also speaks on the subject of reader advisories and readers reaction to them: | remember when things were like this, the author/creator was really a non-issue. If | stepped on a content landmine, | wasn't looking to see who made something to engage with them, | was focused on getting out of there. Seeing or reading something upsetting to me was like *I knew there were holes in the woods and | fell into one this time". It wasn't personal, and | didn't even consider it being the author's specific fault. Whereas now the go to is *I fell into a hole, burn down the whole forest into a dead, bare, charred wasteland so | and no one else can ever fall into a hole again. This kind of experience was honestly more liberating because | never took the experience personally. The focus was "how can | make myself feel better?' and not some kind of vengeance going "how can | make them pay?'

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub 10: Do you know any good sources for publishing information?

I have a few favs, even though I no longer write to sell.

https://careerauthors.com/
https://www.writersrelief.com/
https://writerbeware.blog/ <-- ofc
https://wheretopitch.com/

...and my writers guild (east), but it's not a public site.

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

Author and Lightspeed mag editor Wendy N. Wagner discussed how returns affected her royalties. My first advance was hefty and my first royalty high thanks to book making bank on preorders. My publisher dealt with mostly indie bookstores and thus, next royalty check reflected returns. -$80 (such a relief tbh).

Wagner also talks about dwindling sales of aging titles - and it's so spot on. The fact that my old titles still net at least $20 a month is a miracle.

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub May 9
What's the minimum time you can work on your writing? Do you need a long, clear period?

I've done quick writing sprints but they're never satisfying. I must have my uninterrupted 4 hours every day or I get a bad case of NWS (not-writing syndrome) and get cranky.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@sfwrtr I used to work an 8 hour day during development season writing ideas on a board, cleaning up chosen ideas, lacing together various ideas tossed out for episodes in need of development - and when I got home I was too tired to think of my own work.

Once I retired - I dedicate 4 hours a morning to writing, then go swim laps or run before coming home to eat and dabble in non-writing things. Got to have that 4 hours early.

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub 5/7: Do you add a copyright statement to your work? How comprehensive is it?

Of course, I do when I publish a book. Indicating copyright is part of the German law for publication, and it affects me as a German citizen.

For my English-language books, I use US terminology - that's what people are familiar and comfortable with.

For all the good it does, I just want to follow the law. Copyright has never stopped any pirates...

#WritingCommunity

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz and @anderlandbooks after seeing your #WritersCoffeeClub response, I pulled out an English edition of a book I wrote, and compared it to the German published edition - LOL!

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

Dear Ocean Of PDF (.com) why would steal a book that's online for free??

PS - #writerdons or #authors in #WritersCoffeeClub you may want to check and see if they're offering your books here.

writerobscura, to Writers
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

1/5 Got tagged by @madikonrad over at Tumblr for the 'Questions For Your OC'!! – answer 3 questions as your main OC(s) – since we’re , we can write this as a narrative, first-person, or RPG style - anyway we wish.

When done, provide 3 new questions to pass on to the next creator. (you then tag others with 3 new questions)

My main OC’s are Aedan the Ancalite and Lucius Scipio Servius, and the following questions are from sapphic author, Madeline Konrad.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

2/5
Q1. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE WELL & TRULY AFRAID:

Aedan: …define afraid? There are degrees of fear…

Scipio: What are you on about, A-Dawn? When was the last time something scared you enough you almost pissed yourself.

Aedan: The time you asked me to hold you afterwar-

Scipio: -Next question!

Q2. WHO, OR WHAT, DO YOU LOVE MOST IN THIS WORLD?

Aedan: (eyes shift to Scipio): I love a horse named Looir.

Scipio: (clears throat): Her name is Luna, and I love her too.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

3/5

THE ULTIMATE BATTLE: MAN (AND?) BEAR – WHICH WOULD YOU FIGHT AND WHICH WOULD YOU HAVE AT YOUR BACK?

Scipio: Never turn your back on a bear, that’s suicide.

Aedan: What if the man you’re fighting has trained to bear to attack when you face him and not the bear?

Scipio: As always, you overthink things, druid.

Aedan: It's a battle, one must always overthink.

Scipio: The enemy training a bear? That’s not even a situation, A-Dawn…

(CONT)

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

4/5

Q3. THE ULTIMATE BATTLE: MAN (AND?) BEAR – WHICH WOULD YOU FIGHT AND WHICH WOULD YOU HAVE AT YOUR BACK?

Aedan: Neither are these questions, but here we are.

Scipio: Fine. I would fight the man first, his wounded or dead body would make an easier shield against the bear.

Aedan: I would kill the man, and have you at my back for the bear.

Scipio: (touched) You would trust and rely on me like that?

Aedan: (nods) Yes, Skippy-O. I don’t need to outrun that bear so long as I can outrun you.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

5/5

I don't have any friends to tag, but anyone creating a story with OCs are invited to reblog and continue the chain.

My questions:

What is your greatest regret?

What does happiness look like?

What do YOU think happens when you die?


writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

I did this over on my geekdom fuckery account - but I wanted to share here with my #writerscoffeeclub tribe:

10 authors I’ve read at least 5 books by:

Judith Rossner
Bari Wood
Poppy Z Brite
Stephen King
Octavia Butler
Terry Pratchet
Naoki Urasawa
Ania Ahlborn
Tennessee Williams
Hiroshi Aramata

#10Authors5BooksEach

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub #25April Do you add a message from the author to your work?

I always left notes at the end of my graphic novels - one editor left 'an essay' out because she felt her readership didn't care what I had to say. 0_o

I ceased leaving notes and instead just put a link to my blog on the 'about author' page.

Second page of author notes from the graphic novel 'Games with Me.'

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

Open First Draft and disables Grammarly -

---watch dings: its time to swim laps...

WHERE THE FUCK DID MY MORNING GO?!

#writersofmastodon

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

#writerscoffeeclub Apr 20: What genres would your work fall into if you could make up new genres? Fun answers only.

Cock Comedy
Clit Lit

*did you really expect anything less from me?

writerobscura, to random
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

I love seeing all these new fedi's show up in #writerscoffeeclub - but then I get jealous because most have unlimited character restrictions. 0__0

elysegrasso, to random
@elysegrasso@historians.social avatar

#WritersCoffeeClub 18. How important is social media in promoting your work?

Another question that assumes facts not in evidence...

I hope social media will be important when the time comes, because I'm not sure where else to promote it.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@elysegrasso It's weird to me that as an author I MUST PROMOTE. And I must do so WHERE THE READERS ARE - SOCIAL MEDIA.

When I was a kid, no library every promoted to me and yet I had ZERO problems finding stuff to read. Same goes for when I walk into book store. Covers and back copy made me purchase, not seeing ads or tweets or FB pages.

anderlandbooks, (edited ) to random German
@anderlandbooks@bookstodon.com avatar

Hi, dear , I need help!
I'm currently translating a story set in 12th century. In the German version, I'm using the word "Herr" as address to higher-ups, when the right title is not used. This is done by people who are not well educated. "Herr" could be translated with "my lord" or "sir". I thought "my lord" was the better alternative, but I wonder - it feels weird e.g. for the bishop (Your Excellency). What do you think?

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@anderlandbooks 2 teenagers in the 12th century? Surely, they know about the church and the fear that goes in hand when you're not exposed to higher members of it. Your grace would probably be better...

kagan, to SanFrancisco
@kagan@wandering.shop avatar

(Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion. Tell us about yourself, your published work or WIP.

I'm Kagan, a web developer from San Francisco living in Brooklyn, working on my first novel. Totally unpublished author, but going for it anyway.

My WIP is an set in , about people who can hear the voice of the City, and do magic based on that.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@kagan I don't think I've ever put a copyright notice on any script or manuscript I've submitted.

Has anyone responded to your submissions about the copyright notice?

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@kagan Oh, sorry. :/ I wasn't trying to be an ass, I thought you actually did it.

writerobscura,
@writerobscura@writing.exchange avatar

@kagan @sfwrtr Ouch. I didn't know you were still a baby writer. If it makes you feel any better, no matter how long I've been at this - I'm still a toddler.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • JUstTest
  • kavyap
  • DreamBathrooms
  • thenastyranch
  • magazineikmin
  • osvaldo12
  • khanakhh
  • Youngstown
  • mdbf
  • slotface
  • rosin
  • everett
  • ngwrru68w68
  • Durango
  • anitta
  • InstantRegret
  • GTA5RPClips
  • cubers
  • ethstaker
  • normalnudes
  • tacticalgear
  • cisconetworking
  • tester
  • Leos
  • modclub
  • megavids
  • provamag3
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •