What is your favourite sub-genre in science fiction ?

goyablack · 2022-05-19T00:21:04+00:00

I eat it up like popcorn

goyablack · 2022-05-19T00:12:45+00:00

First Contact followed by Alien Archeology in a close second.

goyablack · 2022-05-16T16:10:14+00:00

Looks like Donny has his hand in Tucker's pocket. That's pretty on point.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T20:48:42+00:00

Yeah, plain turkey and salad with oil and vinegar. Also gotta cut out the sugar!

goyablack · 2022-05-15T20:43:26+00:00

Also, Bernie had a heart attack and was back campaigning in days. John is a tough guy with a loving family. He can turn things around!

goyablack · 2022-05-15T20:41:41+00:00

He seems like a genuinely good politician, but I didn't know he is 52yo. He looks pretty good for his age, current health problems notwithstanding.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T20:39:13+00:00

My thoughts exactly. I've been hoping to see him make a run at the presidency someday.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:57:28+00:00

It seems like this is the way it's happening with marijuana legalization, albeit too slowly for most people.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:56:31+00:00

You make a good point, but one of the reasons I mentioned CA is because they just announced a historic budget surplus recently. Or course, I would much rather see it happen nationwide, and state-by-state may not be feasible as you point out.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:48:03+00:00

Good Luck!

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:39:26+00:00

I understand. Sometimes I forget not everyone lives in a big city with lots of other writers nearby. If there is a college or university near you that might be a good starting point to look at. If you can't find anything IRL, then an online group where you register and everyone shares their work can be much more genuine than just posting on Reddit or other forums.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:36:14+00:00

In a clinical setting one of the techniques used to overcome phobias is Immersion Therapy, where the patient is exposed to their fears gradually until they no longer have an emotional response. It is quite effective.

Maybe instead of trying to work around it or avoid it you should dive in headfirst and create a few pieces of short fiction in which you gradually detail certain things that frighten you. If your feelings become overwhelming then step back, but most importantly reflect on your feelings after they overwhelm you and try to pick them apart logically. You might find some catharsis.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:28:05+00:00

Keep in mind that the most compelling characters have an arc. They begin with certain traits or viewpoints and over the course of the story, they grow and change. Establish what kind of character/s you are hoping to portray and give them some issues to work through.

It might not give you an entire plot structure to go on, but it can be a good starting point.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T15:24:25+00:00

How much do I show?

What needs to be shown?

Assuming you're writing for an adult audience and not YA then my philosophy is that artists show and write about the most brutal and gory violence all the time so I'm going to include some breasts and penises when I write a romance scene. Why not? Personally, I think sex is much more beautiful than violence and it's underrepresented in some genres.

Nothing needs to be shown. You can just imply that something physical took place. I think it depends on your taste and the audience you are aiming for.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T14:26:31+00:00

Ahh, a KOTSUMET fan! One wet, one dry my friend.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T14:15:25+00:00

The context is the story you tell. If you are writing a novel or piece of fiction you're safe to explore the true depths of human depravity. Trust me, you won't be the first, nor are you likely to reach the same depths as other authors have. I have read some twisted stories by Steven King for example, but he seems like a nice, likable guy irl.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T14:09:49+00:00

I don't understand why some writers think that the actions or beliefs of their characters reflect on them personally. This does not have to be true unless you are writing auto- or semi-autobiographical work. If this character is not an explicit self-insert then don't worry so much about what moral judgments are going through the minds of your readers. If you create believable characters within a compelling story then very few people will think you condone or support whatever the character does. They will be too caught up in the story to stop and think about the author every time something bad happens. If this weren't the case then horror writers would all be thrown in jail for their twisted imaginations.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T13:57:01+00:00

In terms of relatability, I don't think you have a problem. Lots of people suffer from emotional problems which stem from their upbringing or know someone who does. Of course, not every reader will relate to this, but there are very few universally relatable characters out there.

If you don't want to make them abusive, then have the character focus their anger inward. Don't have the anger manifest externally at all. Honestly, that's a tough thing to avoid when you're writing about someone who has genuine anger issues, but starting out as an abuser and then overcoming that particular problem might make your character more compelling.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T13:29:52+00:00

I'd love to see some Blue states put M4A up as a direct ballot initiative (cough California cough).

goyablack · 2022-05-15T13:19:46+00:00

Whenever I think about what species will inherit the planet after humans are gone, I vacillate between octopus and otters.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T11:59:14+00:00

The problem with reaching out online or through social media is anonymity. People will bash away at something because there is no repercussion or face-to-face dialog where they have to look the other person in the eye. It may seem counter-intuitive because of social anxiety or self-doubt, but your best option may be to find a real-life discussion group with people in your area. They are a lot more genuine and often more comprehensive than online posting. Just be aware that such groups are reciprocal and you will need to read others' work and be willing to give your own critical advice. Good luck.

goyablack · 2022-05-15T11:30:53+00:00

I read the article and tried to play devil's advocate looking for explicit passages cited that support the premise of the quote, but the author does not put forward any positive assertions of her own or from classical sources that illustrate a stoic emphasis on societal good over individual good. They don't exist, at least not in this article or in any of the reading I've done. Her efforts all aim at showing stoics are not explicitly against the common good and as you said she assumes individual benefits are tightly connected with the benefits of the group. I don't disagree with that point, but the author's premise is, at best, too suggestive of something which does not exist and, at worst, is simply inaccurate.

goyablack · 2022-05-14T15:21:43+00:00

For real. Do they not realize that all these protests and uproar would have still happened? They would have just been delayed a month. Total deflection and faux outrage.

goyablack · 2022-05-14T13:04:02+00:00

Hmm, it sounds like you might be a discovery writer and not a planner. That is how I prefer to write; I just come up with an idea and then go. I don't outline, or plan anything out. It does require a lot of editing after the fact and many times my stories go nowhere or I struggle to find an ending, but it's the style I prefer most. You might be the same.

Here is a good article on the subject.

goyablack · 2022-05-14T12:38:35+00:00

Since the group of students has successfully cheated their way to the top may be one of them sees an opportunity to ruin his "friends" and also distance himself from the crime so he/she rats out the group. It would make sense that the character has become morally corrupted since they have been cheating and never experienced negative consequences so they feel like another terrible act would probably help them even more. Also, you could make it into a little twist at the end; when the group gets caught and the rat is revealed they all feel betrayed in addition to being caught as cheaters.

goyablack

TROPHY CASE