Interview Inspired Writing

Recently, (actually last night) I did an author/book interview for The Steam Runner. One of the many questions I was asked about the book was what made it stand apart from other self-published books. Now, at first, this make me think of how different the book was in all it's forms, then it made me think about the message I was trying to send. However, I finally came to the conclusion--that in some part--it was about my long-standing dislike with the weak female in literature (especially romance novels). Now, Gary (my husband) came in to sat down and listen to me read back the interview with my responses. Oddly, when I came to this question he pointed that I should add more about the other reason why my book is different from other self-published books (which you can read in the interview later). With some nagging in my head, I went to bed and closed my computer

Today I got up and the question started plaguing my mind again; my answer did.

Recently, I'd watched a video on youtube about female tropes in video games. I found it thought-provoking as a gamer--a female gamer. I'd never seen it that way before. But, there you had it; women being used in a number of video games as devices or objects for the male hero's or champion's growth. Now, don't get me wrong. It doesn't bother me if someone uses it as a device. It only bothers me when there's so little on the opposite side of the fence.

That prompted me today to look at some of her other videos. One in particular about the Woman in Refrigerators trope. It just sounded odd so I had to watch it. (You can view the video here.)

But all this comes back to my response.

I grew up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a kid. I liked women like Laura Croft in her movie (based on the game Tomb Raider) who weren't anymore afraid to take their clothes off and strut around naked as they day they were born as much as some men would (typically) in a movie (to fluster a female character). I liked woman who could get out a sticky situation on their own and did. I enjoyed stories where she wasn't always be saved, but also did the saving.

When I created Tes I created a character that could stand on her own, who could save herself, who didn't always need someone to back her up--male or female. Watching these videos has given me ideas for future novels in order to combat these tropes and stereotypes. It's not that they're bad; it's that there's too many of them.

We as authors, creators, artists, and visionaries need to stand up and and empower female characters we create. Not so there are stories without male characters growing from the tragedy of a female character, but so there are more stories where this is either reversed or doesn't happen at all. It's not about balance; it's about showing men, women, girls, and boys that women don't always need to saved, they don't always need to be captured, they don't always have to be the ones standing aside who can't solve the problem instead of their male counterparts. We need to give generations a viewpoint that different and shows them they can aspire to being more than a plot device for the growth another character--male or female.

We need female heroes who are the stars of their own stories and save their love interest, if they have one.

That's all I'm saying.

Freedom

Finally finished with the majority of my work for class. I've got more to do this week, but I'm not being bombarded anymore. Tomorrow I will more than likely begin working on the first chapter of the next book in The Steam Runner: The Clockwork Archer. I'm very excited. I'm supposed to see the pencil work for the cover from my artist sometime this week. We already planned out the basic design when he was in the area. I can't wait to show you guys. But, I'm not really sure how soon that will be. I'll keep you posted.

I already have an outline done. I plan on it being ten or more chapters, just like the last book was. I've also got plans to explain a little bit about why Tes had the poketwatch, for those of you have been keeping up with the book on the website, or those of you who have read the whole first book through purchasing it. For a while there I wasn't sure. I had some ideas, but now it's all concrete. It'll likely take a few books before it's all revealed. But then, I have no idea how long this series might be. Perhaps 15 books, perhaps 30. Who knows. I do know one thing I'm big on continuity. I generally hate it when you can read or watch something and tell they came up with it on the fly and it just doesn't fit, or it contradicts what the writer has already written. I can promise I won't do that; too much of a stickler over the notion.

Fanfiction is almost done entirely. I finished one work and now I've just got two left. One is a collaboration and the other is just me working on it. I have to finish them both. I dislike being sombody who doesn't finish stuff, although it has happened from time to time. (I'm working on it.)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the blog post. Keep up with me on my online accounts like facebook and twitter. Or, you know, my website.

No Writing For The Weary

I am jam-packed busy this week. Bio work, Math work, and Social Problems work. Ugh. And this Saturday I have an 8 hour computer class (and next Saturday too) to meet a one-credit requirement to graduate. My brain is fried already! I also have a midterm for Bio on Sunday! I really wanted to get this new book started for The Steam Runner series and it's just not gonna happen (probably) until April. And then I'll only have a month to get it done.

>,< ARG!

New Chapter ect

Got a chapter posted for up for The Steam Runner and the outline written for the next book. My trademark extension is up in June, so I need to get the second one done to get it all finalized and the trademark approved. Because it's for a book series they want to examples of the books--as in two different books. It's a pain, but has to be done.

The outline took me about an hour and half. It's over 2k words and completely covers each chapters in rough form on what needs to be written. I had planned to only do a rough outline like usual and chapter outlines separately, but I don't really have time for that.

As you may or may not have seen on the site, I updated my twitter as well; I'm still trying to get solid info on the con; and I released the first book on nook also. I was tempted to do it for smashwords also, but I haven't quite had the time to figure out their system with what's going on at my house.

For my fanfiction readers... I'm working on the chapter for Right Kind of Wrong, the Neji/Tenten fic. Nokito and I are nearly done, but it's still taking a while. I'm hoping to have that update out by the end of the week if all goes well. However, I do have a lot of sewing for my steampunk costume for Dragon*con. I'll do my best! As always. *grins*

Thank for reading.

Still Rutting

It's now Sunday night. Actually, Monday morning. And the gist of it is? I'm still not done with my latest chapter (and final chapter) of Nightingale. I'm over 1,000 words in, but its still not coming easily. At first I thought it was the juice fast keeping me from writing. But now, I'm starting to think it's just where I'm at. My mother's house is not the most productive of environments. I really think I need to do something about it, but I'm not really sure what.

I did get out of the house today. Went to see... well, I would wouldn't call him a friend because we're not close. More business acquaintances than anything else. Anyway, Eloy, a sorta friend of mine, is starting a con over in Tampa; a gaming con. I went to the small meeting today, talked, helped with info. Overall, I'm excited about it. It's not going to be big it's first year, but what con is? And it's good for me to get involved in growing project. It'll help me establish myself as a member of the con community. And there's no real wrong exposure in that. Well, I suppose in some ways there might be. But, it's not that sort of con.

I'm going to Dragon*con this year, I just submitted my trademark Statement of Use for the book, and I'm getting involved in a con just starting up this year; overall, it wasn't a terrible day. I just need to make good use of this energy and get my chapter done. Maybe I'll try some meditation tomorrow...

Writing Rut

We've all been there. Times in our lives as writers when we're just like, "I'm not feeling it." Conquering it is the real pain. Getting back into that thing you call your passion... it should be easy, right? You just sit down and start typing. For me? Not so much; even if it is the advice I drum out to people on a regular basis who are having just that problem.

Watching TV barely helps, even if it's something that has to do with what you're writing. Movies are much the same. Going out really only stalls it most of the time; at least for me. Reading something can help, but it's not always beneficial. Honestly, I find that nothing really helps. On occasion, working out the chapters on paper, like outlines, that helps. At the end though, what if you're on your last chapter for a book or a story? You've got it all done, you know how it's supposed to go, but you just can't seem to get it done. And you're afraid that if you do... it's just gonna be crap.

The only thing that really helps is just writing it, to be truthful. Sometimes it's crap, but sometimes it's brilliant. Sometimes it's just your mood. I think for me, lately, it's just my mood. It's the location. Not being in my own house doesn't help at all. I'm one of those people that has a spot that works for me. It's my zen spot. And when I'm there, with all my things, it works out. It's easier. I have a hard time imagining people who go to Starbucks, or coffee shops, or bookstores--libraries even--and write with no problem at all. Sometimes I can do it, but very rarely. The spot is all wrong.

Today I got a little done. But mostly it's the scene. It's not transpiring in my paper like it does in my head. And I've been putting off writing the bloody thing for over a month. Which, really, isn't good for my readers. But, perhaps saying it here will help me get it all in gear. It has to get done by the end of the week, right?

Here's hoping.