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Sun, Jun 22, 2025

11:25pm EDT

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Writing Blog Number 2

by S 🤦

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:

Spud

Jun 20, 2025 at 12:27pm
In response to "20250620 Writing Westerns"

Good advice, I thought the whole "Garry Cooper with breasts and a pretty face" bit was hilarious. Though even in the South West, the US had gender roles in the mid to late 19th century that made the idea of a female caucasian protagonist unrealistic. I guess it's what readers expect though.

Also it boggles my brain that trains aren't allowed as transportation. They were—and still are in my childhood hometown—a big part of the West. Yes they were steam instead of diesel but they were very much a part of the West. The Jessie James Gang, notorious outlaws, robbed trains exclusively. Not to mention that trains were used to transport loads of things back and forth from the region.

Also, historically, most of the "Cowboys" either called themselves vaqueros and were in Mexico, were black or indigenous. Also at least a few individuals migrated from the Antebellum South to start over after the Civil War. There were also a good number of German immigrants.

Anyways, I've been rambling. I just am flabbergasted by what readers expect of their Westerns.

S 🤦

Jun 18, 2025 at 4:01am
In response to "20250618 I vs Me"

Dave Ryan - not just the UK. I hear commentators for our football say it all the time. And in US TV shows and movies!

The myself thing is something I use when writing to indicate a pompous ass... But it annoys me as well. I am with you all the way here.

1 Like

Dave Ryan

Jun 18, 2025 at 3:57am
In response to "20250618 I vs Me"

My pet peeve is one that is becoming ubiquitous in the UK:

"Me and my wife went on holiday to Greece."
"Me and Joe went to the football."

It sets my teeth on edge, and it's bloody everywhere. It seems to be on its way to becoming accepted usage.

There's another one that grates. When I was still working, there was an annual conference by a software vendor I used to attend.The main presenter there used to drive me nuts, as she seemed to have it in her head that it sounded sophisticated to use "myself" at every turn.

"Myself and my colleagues will be available after the presentation to answer any questions."
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask James or myself."

I'd be sitting there with white-knuckles, desperately trying to resist the urge to scream.

Jeff

Jun 16, 2025 at 1:21am
In response to "20250616 Graphic Novels"

I've always loved graphic novels as an artistic medium (and the medium of comics by and large). Like filmmaking, it's a chance to marry words with visuals in a unique and compelling way.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Jun 11, 2025 at 10:23am
In response to "20250611 Types Of Writer"

I'm an Irish setter gone grey!

Imma gonna finish my vampire stories... and I never do. I let people down because I'm not disciplined... like an Irish setter. Being an idol to some stresses me out. But, I suffer from low self-esteem and a hug is more than nice. I'm definitely serious but realized that perfection, the enemy of the good, was killing me. My writing started as a sort of dam-burst and became a bad habit as I never threw out a thought (which is hyperbole) and writing morphed into therapy and part of that meant sharing as I'd kept too much in for too long. In some ways I'm an introvert who can't shut up. I tend to ignore a lot of criticism or take it as mortal attack. Balance and remaining calm are challenges and aspirations, just not my reality. All this said...

WDC allows me to share myself.

🌖 HuntersMoon

Jun 6, 2025 at 10:46am
In response to "20250606 Jargon"

Kåre เลียม Enga - I grew up in L.A. There it was DWO. Driving while Oriental. I imagine that "jargon" has been used to call out any number of groups.

S 🤦 - You reminded me of term from my youth. HONEY BUCKET. When I lived in Japan, the locals would collect their waste and use it as fertilizer for the rice fields. "The Honey Bucket"

S 🤦

Jun 6, 2025 at 1:38am
In response to "20250606 Jargon"

Kåre เลียม Enga - DWB... that is scary AF. Not even our cops have that sort of jargon... That's just nasty.

Often, though, jargon is used to deliberately keep people out of their group, so the out-group is a deliberate creation. And I think that is a good point you made - when using it in a story, that in-universe out-group is going to feel even moreexcluded, as happens in real-life. I guess I'm lucky that people know I am a writer and let me into these little things when maybe others wouldn't know.

But if using it IRL... be careful. Scooby Snack is also a drug culture term here for drugs hidden in food.

1 Like

Kåre เลียม Enga

Jun 6, 2025 at 1:02am
In response to "20250606 Jargon"

DWB ... driving while black. In racist parts of America it's a real 'crime'. Not legal, just real with real consequences, mostly unpleasant.

Nice entry, a pleasure to read, and I can see uses for jargon in writing.

That said, jargon is opaque to the 'out-group' and can lead to miscommunication IRL (in real life) and needs to be avoided when inclusiveness is important. For outsiders it can increase stress. Groups need to be aware of the barriers it can create.

1 Like

Soldier_Mike

Jun 2, 2025 at 12:44am
In response to "20250602 Using Real Places"

I would say, "It's just unbelievable, what some folks will pitch a fit over!", but I guess it's not. This is certainly something for me to keep in mind, as I sometimes flavor my stories with locally identifiable bits of Americana. I don't think I've come right out and used an actual business's name, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

S 🤦

May 31, 2025 at 12:19am
In response to "20250530 Dreams"

AmyJo-Mother Nature needs MEDS - The Disney cartoon made it clear Alice was in a dream, but the books, not so much. I like to think she was in an alternate reality.

Dallas was a shocker. they killed Bobby Ewing off because Patrick Duffy wanted to be a movie actor... and then when he wanted to come back, he was in a shower, and the previous 2 seasons were retconned into being his wife's dream. And, boy, did it upset fans! That's when most say Dallas lost it, showing the negative power of dreams in stories if used poorly...

March 5, 2025 at 12:02am

#1084812

20250305 Publishers et al. To Avoid

Publishers And Others TO AVOID!

This is a short one because I wanted to put down here a list of publishers and their ilk to avoid.

So this blog is simply a link to a huge list.

This was put together by the former Pred-Ed (Preditors & Editors) staff of SFWA.

Before you accept a contract, make sure the company IS NOT HERE!

https://writersweekly.com/angela-desk/a-list-of-publishers-that-all-authors-should-avoid-at-all-costs

Hope that helps you not make mistakes.

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