#WritersCoffeeClub day 13: Do you use maps as reference materials as you write?

I use Google Maps and especially street view *extensively*. Also the SF Muni system map (many of my characters take the bus instead of having their own vehicles).

#WritersCoffeeClub day 14: Share a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) of raw prose: the more unpolished, the better. Everyone: What’s the most prominent signature in this draft?

"Totally raw" means I'm pulling it from from my current efforts, in chapter 10. So, things previously established:

* this apartment's layout
* the fact Jessie's been avoiding calling her mother because she doesn't want to tell her she's lost her job
* Jessie's 29 years old
* she drinks a lot

#WritersCoffeeClub day 15: How big are your settings?

My current setting is city-sized. Specifically, the city has around 830,000 people, and occupies roughly a 7×7-mile (just over 11 km) square.

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

Not sure. Some people would say that my habit of writing in bars is kind of ridiculous. Other than that... I've done a little bit on the subway, but that's kind of rare; I don't often take uninterrupted trips long enough to really get much done. Or there was the time an idea hit me while I was walking from I-forget-where to I-forget-the-other-place-too, and so I had to just... 1/2

...dictate some stuff into a voice memo on my phone. But I feel like even that is something most writers have done... right?

I think maybe I just don't have much for ridiculosity in this field, but I'm looking forward to seeing other people's answers. 2/2

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 17: How do you write about ecstasy, in a spiritual, artistic, or sensual context?

That's a question I'll be able to answer better after I write an upcoming scene where an MC goes to a rave (and will probably take molly there, which will not be his first time doing that). But for now... I try to give the sense of it, both viscerally and psychologically.

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

I can't say right now; ask me once I've finished something.

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

So far? Getting through the beginning and middle so that I can even get to the ending.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 20: How has a setting surprised you?

By interjecting in a conversation two other people were having.

My setting can do that. It's sentient and can speak to other characters. I just wasn't expecting it to chime in on that particular convo.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 21: Share an unexpected critique you’ve received. Why did it surprise?

When my alpha reader told me one character trying to comfort another fell completely flat (and asked if I was intentionally trying to make a point that the comfort-giver was really bad at it). No, that hadn't been my intention at all! Oops.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 22: Are there types of settings you avoid writing? Why?

So far, I've only written one type of setting (a modern major city), but it's not like I've "avoided" writing others. I just... have been focusing on one thing. That's all.

Still, I don't feel any particular pull or desire to write about rural life. But is that "avoidance"? I think it's just apathy or disinterest.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 23: What techniques help you write a difficult second act?

Funny, I've just gotten into my second act. That means I'm still working on what my techniques are. Also, I'm not even sure if my second act is difficult or not. I think what difficulties I am encountering are just because I've run off the end of what I had outlined, and am now in very murky, uncharted territory. (Which is what I'd originally planned: I plotted the first 5 chapters pretty… 1/2

…tightly, had vaguer ideas up until the event that signals the end of the first act, and then I figured I'd be pantsing it from there on out. I didn't realize at the time how bad I am at pantsing.)

Anyway, my strategy has been to just keep on going forward. Write what I can, outline what needs it, and generally see what characters feel like doing in reaction to that first-act-ending event. Have the story continue growing from the ground I laid before. 2/2

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 24: What’s your greatest challenge in fleshing out your setting?

Ensuring that *every* *little* *detail* is right. Like, making sure not to have anyone go to a restaurant that didn't open until a couple of months later, or that did close a couple of months earlier. Making sure I don't accidentally say it was foggy on a night that historically was clear and warm. That sort of thing. 1/4

It's a challenge because it sometimes slows me down or even derails me in the middle of writing a scene, as I suddenly have to go and double-check that I'm not muffing a detail. It can break my flow, and I need to get better at remembering to check these things when I'm outlining, rather than when I'm writing. 2/4

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And yes, I know, I don't have to adhere to such a ridiculous level of detail! I choose to, because I like the idea that actual San Franciscans might read this and remember going to that very same restaurant, or enjoying that warm summer night, or whatever. And if I ever find that minor details like these are getting in the way of the plot, I'll discard them on a case-by-case basis — i.e., if it would really help... 3/4

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...to have Karl the Fog make an appearance on a night that was warm and clear in reality, I'll do it. But I want to only do so *knowingly*, deliberately, not by accident or through carelessness. 4/4

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 25: What’s a unique habit you have while writing?

I can't think of any. Usually having a drink conveniently set beside my keyboard? I can't imagine that I'm the only writer who does that. Liking to have music that fits the mood of the scene I'm writing? I'm almost _positive_ there are loads of other writers who do that.

Yeah, I can't think of anything.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 26: Does your current WIP have an antagonist? Why or why not?

Yeah, it's got 5 of them. As well as 5 heroes. There are 5 heroes because I like the Five-Man Band trope, and the 5 villains just happened to work out to the same number — really, I just thought of villainous types of people I wanted, people who would make sense to be the villains of this story.

And all of that is because I like ensemble casts, not singular heroes and villains.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 27: Do you edit while you write? What are the pros and cons?

At least a little, yes. I'm constantly testing and reëvaluating as I write, and I often back up and change things. I can't just spew words onto the page willy-nilly; I need to try to make them at least _somewhat_ decent. (Although if something's really becoming a sticking point, I'll just put a note for myself like FIX_THIS_LATER and move on.) 1/3

The pros are, I sincerely hope, that it gets me a reasonably polished first draft, not an awful mess.

The cons are that I write slowly. And that annoys the hell out of me.

Anyway, I said that I edit "a little" as I write, because I simply can't stop myself. But OTOH, I'm also being as firm as I can about not doing a full editing pass until I'm done with the first draft. I'm sincerely *trying* to "write first, edit later", I'm just fairly bad at it. 2/3

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Also, there are times when I need to re-read a prior scene before writing a new one that it sets up, and I want to maintain continuity. When I re-read, I inevitably notice things that could use improvement. I've settled on allowing myself to fix typos, but nothing bigger; otherwise, I know it'd open the door to "real" editing, and then I'd wind up honing and re-honing the first quarter or third of my draft and never getting further. 3/3

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 28: How well did this (short!) month go for you, in terms of writing?

Not too bad. I spent an average of 1:22 writing on work days and 1:30 on weekend days, and produced 16,254 words (plus however many I'll manage today), which is a nice climb from the past few months. Completed 6 scenes (which roughly equals two-thirds of a chapter, I guess). And you never know, I might finish a 7th today!

#WritersCoffeeClub day 1: What is the fundamental goal you seek to achieve with your current WIP?

To tell a good story.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 2: Does your overall goal differ from project to project?

I don't know for sure, as this is my first creative writing project, but I doubt it. I might have varying *secondary* goals (like this project has secondary goals such as "to show what a wonderful city San Francisco is" and so on), but I suspect the primary one will always be to tell a good story.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 3: On what are you unwilling to compromise?

For one, there's this: https://wandering.shop/@kagan/116149090605002759

Also, I have a list of things that I want in any contract for movie or TV rights, that the studio cannot do or change. Things like:

* no turning PoC white
* no turning queer characters straight or cis
* no adding copaganda

(I added that last one after seeing the TV show _Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments_.)

[Addendum, having seen some... 1/2

...other people's replies: Yes, of course I'd never use LLMs or any other generative "AI" in my work, and I also would want a clause in any contract with a publisher to keep them from using "AI"-generated art on my cover. I didn't even think of that stuff. Maybe it was just so obvious? Anyway, yeah, all of that's a hard no.] 2/2

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 4: Share a recent experience where something just 'clicked'.

I feel like there was something, a couple of weeks ago, but I've racked my brain and can't recall it. So... sorry, I've got nothin'. 🤷🏻 Once it's more than 24 hours or so after my writing session, I no longer recall the details.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 5: How do you make sure you don’t leave plot holes?

All kinds of ways. Outlining in advance, for my first five chapters (and the roughly six months preceding them), so that I knew who was doing what when. Keeping a calendar of dates as things progress. Occasionally¹ going back and rereading prior material to make sure of who knows what. A big spreadsheet that tracks details about each character, including what spells they have and so on. 1/2

And with all that, I'm pretty sure that there will be things that I don't catch until the first editing pass that produces the second draft! I've got a lot of balls in the air, with a lot of moving parts.

1. Lately, the time spent on that seems to be increasing, as I have more and more established stuff to make sure that I maintain consistency with. It's becoming a slight cause for concern. 2/2

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#WritersCoffeeClub day 6: Is there a local writing community near you? Do you participate in it?

There is a place called the Center for Fiction literally on the same block as my building; I don't even have to step off the sidewalk onto asphalt to get there. (Here's their site: https://centerforfiction.org) That said, while I've stopped by on occasion to write, I have *not* partaken in any of the events or things, so I think I'd have to say my participation is minimal. Just barely above zero.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 7: What have you given up in order to write?

Mostly just a bunch of time and mental energy that I might have otherwise used on other creative projects... or on watching TV and playing games, or similarly inconsequential things.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 8: Do the seasons influence your writing? (content? topic? volume?)

Not really. Wintertime gives me more hours of darkness, which I find a bit more conducive to writing, but I also tend to have less energy, so it evens out. (I just checked my graphs of nearly 2 years of daily time- and output-tracking, and if anything, there might be a _slight_ increase in time spent during summers, but there's also a confounding factor there based on when I was and wasn't employed.)

#WritersCoffeeClub day 9: Do you prefer to write complex, intricate plots, or more straightforward ones?

Definitely going with a complicated one this time around. And seeing how it's my first and therefore only time around (so far), I guess that qualifies as a tendency?

I may try to simplify the plotting on my next project, or I might just keep it as a standard thing.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 10: How informal is your prose? Is there a limit to informality?

I try to keep it at a medium level; I want my narration to be unobtrusive.

That's distinct from my characters' internal thoughts; I'm doing close 3rd specifically so I can move back and forth between narratorial voice and my characters' internal states. Those, of course, are every bit as informal as most people's ongoing thoughts are. Yes, up to and definitely including swear words.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 11: Does your work reflect your morals? How so?

For just one of many examples, one of my villains is a cop. A corrupt one, at that. Two more are billionaires.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 12: How do you "stress test" your work?

I have no idea how in the world I'd do that. Luckily, I'm not even close to the point where it'd make sense to do that yet.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 13: Talk about an experience when you consulted an expert for a piece of writing.

I was wondering if my cop character's career advancement was realistic, so I asked in the Reddit community r/policewriting, where law enforcement officers are willing to answer questions for writers. Got back some stuff that helped me tune my character's history a little. 1/2

But there's a different type of expertise and expert knowledge, that isn't often regarded as such in our society: I was wondering if Margot Chu and her husband Al can walk their 5-year-old daughter to a nearby school, or if it would be too far. So I asked in r/AskParents, and got back some lovely answers. Much thanks to those people, who shared their hard-won knowledge! https://www.reddit.com/r/AskParents/comments/12oo7u9/can_a_5yearold_walk_25_of_a_mile_how_long/ 2/2

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Addendum: to be clear, I'm calling "parenting and child-rearing in general" a field of expertise, not just knowing how far a child of a given age can walk!

And yes, I am *damned well* calling parenting and child-rearing "expertise" or "expert knowledge". At least for some people. I know there are those who do it very badly, but there are also those who do this incredibly hard thing very well, and to them: 🫡 3/2

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