@floofpaldi It is a great prompt! I didn't answer it myself, but have been loving everyone else's answers. #WritersCoffeeClub

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.21 — Share an unexpected critique you’ve received. Why did it surprise you?

This is a *really* good prompt, but I can't think of anything in particular to write in response. I will say that I've had so much help from friends here on Mastodon in our writing community. Every little bit helps. However, I can't think of anything super surprising or unexpected. Whenever I've received a bit of help, whenever I've gotten some critiques, it's because I've asked for it.

Edit: Something finally came to mind. Someone told me that I should change the way I write, but she didn't understand that the particular POV I used was actually a thing. She was very critical and confused. It actually almost had me changing the way I write. This happened years ago but it still kind of sticks with me, sometimes. It was on another site.

I enjoy writing either of these:

Third Person Omniscient POV: The narrator has full knowledge of all characters' thoughts, feelings, and the story's past and future, enabling a god-like perspective. While less common in modern novels, it is used in classic literature and genres requiring a broad narrative scope.

Multiple (Third Person) POVs: Involves shifting between different characters' perspectives, often across chapters or scenes. This approach allows for a broader story scope and deeper character development but requires careful structuring to avoid "head-hopping" and maintain reader clarity.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.20 — How has a setting surprised you?

Oooh, let's talk about #TheCityOfOpulence here, from the #DigitalDystopiaSeries. Every single thing about the setting where this series takes place surprised me, especially in the first story, which I eventually have to finish posting on AO3. Everything about it came as a shock. It developed as the story grew and blossomed. Things changed. Areas became bigger. Business came to be. Battlegrounds made themselves known. This entire setting came from a homebrew (original) #TTRPG I ran, something #cyberpunk, dystopian, and #SFF for my players, and that's also where my characters came from. They were NPCs that I created. As I began writing the story itself, attempting a novel that slowly became a series, things only grew all the bigger. I love love love this setting to death. Ethera is a beautiful, terrifying city. Citune is a gorgeous planet with tons of lore. This is my favorite setting I've *ever* created, hands down.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.19 — What’s your biggest challenge when crafting a satisfying ending?

Honestly, it's saying goodbye to characters that I've followed along their various journeys. It's never easy to do, and there's a grief that comes with it.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.18 — How balanced are your finished works? What do you do to achieve that balance?

Balance looks different for every writer, every genre, every "type" of piece, whether it's a standalone story, a long chapter story, or only a few chapters, all of which I write. I do my best to achieve it every time. It takes time, tweaking, and planning.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 19, What’s your biggest challenge when crafting a satisfying ending?

It's the MC's perspective. Victories are nice, but the narrative revolves around her understanding of, and relation to, life and the world. So I have to illustrate her insights, give her a bit of an unspoken epiphany or two, while avoiding just putting her on a soapbox for a chapter.
Which is why my endings aren't always as tied to the resolving of the main conflict as most readers would expect.

#writing

#WritersCoffeeClub 19/2: What’s your biggest challenge when crafting a satisfying ending?
Knowing when to stop. Life goes on, the characters go on, but books have to end somewhere.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 19/2: What’s your biggest challenge when crafting a satisfying ending?
Knowing when to stop. Life goes on, the characters go on, but books have to end somewhere.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 18, How balanced are your finished works? What do you do to achieve that balance?

It's a balance of chaos,
an oasis of madness,
a mess of delight,
a whirlwind of equilibrium,
a big fat explosion of serene escapism served with a slice of profound bewilderment, created with tea and tenacity.

#writing

#WritersCoffeeClub 18, How balanced are your finished works? What do you do to achieve that balance?

It's a balance of chaos,
an oasis of madness,
a mess of delight,
a whirlwind of equilibrium,
a big fat explosion of serene escapism served with a slice of profound bewilderment, created with tea and tenacity.

#writing

#WritersCoffeeClub Feb 18: How balanced are your finished works?

"Balance" in a novel has to exist along multiple dimensions. I don't even start until I have an outline that I think that I can execute on. I know the ending from the get-go so I can navigate as I write.

Which is more complicated in a series. I don't think I got it all right for the first book; it was split from a larger book. I believe I can make up for it in the second book I'm laboring on now; the ending there is pretty solid.

#WritersCoffeeClub Feb 18: How balanced are your finished works?

"Balance" in a novel has to exist along multiple dimensions. I don't even start until I have an outline that I think that I can execute on. I know the ending from the get-go so I can navigate as I write.

Which is more complicated in a series. I don't think I got it all right for the first book; it was split from a larger book. I believe I can make up for it in the second book I'm laboring on now; the ending there is pretty solid.

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.17 — How do you write about ecstasy, in a spiritual, artistic, or sensual context?

I'm a romance author, so I feel called out by this prompt lol. Combine all three of those (spiritual, artistic, and sensual), and then you've got my writing. Because emotion should fill every page, and every single one of those words and what they mean should be included when you're writing romantic scenes, especially when it comes to the dark romance, paranormal romance, or romantasy genres.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.16 — What's the most ridiculous place you've tried to sneak in some writing?

It was the hospital last week just before I had my endoscopy procedure. I think that's either at the top of the list or somewhere nearby. 🤣

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 2.15 — How big are your settings?

To make this one easier on myself, I'll talk about my current WIP. I won't mention everything else of mine in my writing portfolio. The setting in this story is a small area in Scotland. It takes place in Moray. It made things easier just to focus on something smaller rather than a huge, vast continent or an entire world for once.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #WingsOfQuietLonging #ParanormalRomance #Fantasy #Gothic #Victorian #Vampires #Werewolves

#WritersCoffeeClub
#WCC

February 16: What’s the most ridiculous place you’ve tried to sneak in some writing?

Probably that time I was sitting in a shallow hole stalking a giant hedgehog.

#Writing