Writers
LGBT Slang – Discussion Point
The LGBT community has gone through many changes over the years and one aspect of that is its evolving lexicon. I thought it would be interesting to discuss this both as an historical subject and regarding the extent to which current LGBT authors incorporate slang terms into their writing. It is hard to tell how far back LGBT slang goes. Certainly the eighteenth-century molly subculture had its own lexicon, with some terms borrowed from thieves cant. No doubt the nineteenth century then adapted this to suit its own purposes as the decades passed. However, it’s in the twentieth century and … Read more
FOR WRITERS: Too High Too Fast?
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Tami Veldura: “Many a bestseller could have been prevented by a good teacher.” — discuss. LOL… ok, so I’ll expand upon this a bit. Many of us writers feel “imposter syndrome” – that we really suck as writers, and that one day we will be found out. But what about when the opposite is true? When a writer experiences overnight success when their first book becomes a bestseller? Where is the incentive for growth? And another tangent – why do many poorly written books become bestsellers, while better books languish in the … Read more
Boogieman In Lavender: Working In The Slush Factory
This is for writers and more importantly, for those people who want to be writers. There is an inescapable reality to anyone who writes and puts their work out into the market. That part is simply; it might not sell. A lot of times, on average, it will not sell. At least not at first. Every writer deals with rejection. Usually in a form letter or e-mail, sometimes with a more personal mention of your work; maybe even encouragement (“Please let us see more of your work.”) or criticism. (“Way too wordy.”) This is all part of the writer’s life, … Read more
FOR WRITERS: Writing Multiple Stories
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Jaime Camille: How do you personally balance your creative writing life when you have multiple stories you want to do? Do you prioritize just one until it’s done, or do you juggle 2, 10, 100? And if so, how? I’ve been struggling with that one right now. Join the chat
FOR WRITERS: Which Spelling?
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Christine Wright: Writer question to ask the FB group – writers, British or American spelling? Recently had a British author get bad review due to spelling but all we could find were the British spellings of things. So do you change to market your book in America? Join the chat
FOR WRITERS: Managing Multiple Pen Names
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: Yesterday, we looked at pen names from a reader perspective. Today, I thought we’d turn things around and do the same from the author side – specifically, how do you manage multiple names? If you have decided to have a different pen name then your legal name, for whatever reason, did you create a second Facebook profile, etc, for your wuthor name? If you have multiple pen names, for instance one for YA and one for erotica, do you maintain separate accounts for each? Are your personas different for … Read more
FOR READERS: Mixing Orientations
FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer LV Lloyd: I’ve just published 2 collections of sci-fi shorts, one featuring LGBTQ relationships and the other, not. Although looking through them one has a gay couple and another a lesbian slant, as well as hetero relationships. I’m wondering whether I should have just put the two together. There’s no sex in the stories apart from a kiss or two between couples. What do readers think? Do they expect / prefer a LGBT categorised book to include only LGBT stories or do they mind if some stories feature hetero relationships? Writers: This … Read more