#edit: i checked the novel and the conversation happens on chapter 9

[lesfruitsdores]

Earlier this year, I read a horror novel called 'Fervor' by Toby Lloyd. It deals with Jewish mysticism, Jewish life in the UK, the overbearing trauma of the Holocaust and each Jewish character's unique experience with Judaism.

Several of the details are fuzzy now, but one bit of the novel that stayed with me is a conversation Kate, the narrator who discovers she's a patrilineal Jew (her father's own Jewishness was hidden from him due to antisemitism) and Hannah, the "controversial" Zionist mother of her university friend. Kate thinks the antizionist group on campus isn't all unreasonable, while Hannah thinks they're antisemites. Then the decades old conversation of whether Anti-Zionism is antisemitism commences, with Hannah proclaiming that it is a well-known fact that antisemitism is a predominant ideology, so could Kate really believe that of all people, the ones shouting for the destruction of the Jewish State truly couldn't possibly be antisemitic?

It is fascinating to me that during the "Great Awokening", the pejorative term for when progressives reckoned with the fact that so many people held racist, xenophobic, misogynistic and homophobic views, they never got to discuss the millennia old persecution of Jews. In their world, everybody is prejudiced, but the people calling for a global intifada just want to make their political opinions on world injustices heard.

[textsfromthefifthbasement]

Returning the favour!

1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 25, 26, 30, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42, 45, 46 !

💗

(1) What fic of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read any of your work?

Probably Unspoken Secrets. It's my most popular fic, it's got fluff, it's got angst, and it's got a sequel.

(3) What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

I don't feel like I have a trope or detail that's super characteristic 😅

(5) What do you wish someone would ask you about [insert fic]? Answer it now!

I'm just going to talk about my first Dark Week fic from 2021, The Child. I had actually written something like it back when I was 18 and had first read the book, but you know, 2 computers and a hard drive failure later it got lost. I managed to rewrite the fic and majorly improve it for the event.

(6) What’s one fact about the universe of [insert fic] that you didn’t get a chance to mention in the fic itself?

I think the one fic I did the most worldbuilding for was All the Things Yet to Come. When writing it, I had planned on incorporating the Ratcatcher from the novel into it with the idea that ratcatchers were now very important members of society, but that never happened.

(9) How do you find new fic to read?

I usually check the new fics on AO3 every day and add the ones that interest me to my To Read list.

(10) How do you decide what to write?

I usually decide that through vibes 😂

(12) Are there any tropes you used to dislike but have grown on you?

I think I'd rather not answer questions on things I dislike in fanfic, but usually the things I dislike aren't things to do with tropes.

(13) Are there any tropes you used to like but don’t anymore?

See above

(25) What other websites or resources do you use most often when you write?

I usually don't do research for fics. Probably the most research I've done was to play Plague, Inc., while trying to figure out the disease in All the Things Yet to Come, and watching some of Jammidodger's videos on Youtube when writing my latest Trans Erik oneshot and thinking of expanding it into a longfic.

(26) Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue?

No dialogue! I actually think I've done one of those before.

(30) Have you ever written something that was out of your comfort zone? If so, what was it, and how did it affect your approach to writing fic thereafter?

Yes, but I published it on anon for A Reason.

(34) What aspects of your writing are inspired by/taken from your real life?

I usually base things Madeleine says or does after things my mother has said to me before.

(37) Promote one of your own “deep cut” fics (an underrated one, or one that never got as much traction as you think it deserves!). What do you like about it?

Hellfire. It's an E/C oneshot inspired but Eddie/Chrissy from Stranger Things minus major character death. I'm actually planning on writing a sequel soon.

(38) Did any of your fics get surprisingly popular (whatever that means to you)? Which ones? Why do you think they were so successful?

Probably In Your Skin and Blood and Bone because in my opinion, it was a hot mess that I was unhappy with but ran out of time to edit before I needed to publish it for fluff week. I think it did have a lot of appeal because it's an alternate LND beginning type fic.

(41) Link a fic that made you think, “Wow, I want to write like that.”

Honestly, @wheel-of-fish's Unsung and Out of the Woods.

(42) Have you ever received a comment that particularly stood out to you for whatever reason?

Not on AO3 but I still to this day giggle over @coatandtails reblogging Leave the Past Behind with the tag "moisten the maestro."

(45) What’s something you’ve improved on since you started writing fic?

Chapter length and dialogue. Conversely, I feel like I regressed in being able to portray characters' inner angst.

(46) Do you prefer writing on your phone or on a computer (or something else)? Do you think where you write affects the way you write?

Computer! And I do feel like I'm more relaxed when writing in my bedroom.

[avaantares]

ten questions tag game

I was tagged by @mymagicalunicornlife​. I think this game was intended for original fiction -- of which I have plenty! -- but I’m currently 133,000 words deep in a transformative literary work sprawling fanfic, so I’m totally going to cheat and use that one to answer rather than digging back into Blaze of Glory (my most recent original WIP). Blaze is on hiatus for a couple months because it was hurting my brain and I stalled out on rewrites, so instead of making progress on it, I’ve spent the past eight weeks wordvomiting a ridiculously long DMC fic instead. (Yes, I’m one of those writers who does both. That’s probably bad form. Not gonna stop, though.)

1. How did you come up with your WIP’s title? What does it mean in relation to the story?

Children of the Future Age is the opening line of the William Blake poem “A Little Girl Lost.” The works of William Blake served as a major inspiration for the fifth installment of this franchise (on which my story is largely based), and as a title... well, it’s relevant to the plot, but if I explained how, it would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say there are children involved.

2. Do you title your chapters? If so, what’s your favorite?

There are no published chapter titles. My working chapter titles (within this story) are organized by timeline, so they have names like “chapter 20 - Wednesday 2 wks” so I can keep track of how long it has been since [significant event] happened. (I write in Scrivener, so I can see all the chapter headings at a glance.)

3. What’s a recent line you really like?

“Well, I had just pinned him to the wall with his own sword and hurled a motorcycle at his face.” She smiled fondly. “Those were the days.”

“Right,” Nero muttered. “She’s gonna make a great babysitter.”

4. Are there any writing-related quotes you really like?

So, so many. This (along with many other variations on the same theme) is one I frequently repeat to force myself to work through uninspired or tricky points in the narrative:

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ― Jodi Picoult

5. Do you have an idea for cover design for your story?

This story isn’t getting a cover, because fanfic. But I usually do for my original works. Sometimes I sketch or mock them up while I’m thinking through plot issues.

6. What sort of AU can you imagine your story being?

All my stories are, in a way, already AUs. Every one of my novels grew out of some other existing media -- not fanfiction, per se, but the germ of a plot springing out of an interesting concept or “what if” scenario. My age of sail adventure trilogy was originally inspired by a 1920s crime novel. My Edwardian ghost hunter story was originally inspired by a modern-day BBC series. My epic fantasy was originally inspired by a children’s cartoon. The decopunk fairy tale I sold to an anthology last year came to me after watching an episode of a 1960s TV Western. AUs everywhere.

Since this WIP is a derivative work, it’s already an AU. But I could see it changing genres and easily turning into some kind of wacky comedy, if it had a little less angst and played the character conflicts for laughs. (The premise really could have gone either way, but I’m an angst junkie, so it became a drama. But if someone wants to rewrite it as a sitcom after it’s posted, I’d totally read it.)

7. Which OC character would be the most angry with you as the writer?

Nero. I do put the poor boy through the wringer in this one, both physically and emotionally. But it’s for his ultimate good, really!

8. If you had to tell the story from a different POV, which character would you choose?

I usually have several rotating POV characters, but for story reasons, this entire narrative is from one character’s perspective, and it’s WEIRD. I keep having to perform timeline gymnastics to get my POV character someplace he can be involved in important conversations, rather than just popping into another head for a scene elsewhere!

If I had to change POV, I’d probably have to go with Lady. She’s also at the center of a lot of what’s happening, and as the person who has known the catalyst characters the longest, she has unique insight. Also she’s got her own bucketload of backstory and angst to work through, and that’s always fun to explore.

9. What would be your OC’s character’s taste in music if they lived in our world?

Nero’s musical tastes are pretty well defined in the game, I think. Though I do have him playing guitar in my story (not strictly canon but strongly suggested by the guitar taunt, and totally plausible), so he’d probably listen to a lot of classic rock in addition to the heavier stuff he listens to in-game.

10. What’s one personal goal you want to achieve by the end of the story?

My personal goal right now is just to end the story. This stupid thing was supposed to be a relatively short one-shot (HA HA HA), and given where I am in the arc, I’m estimating that it’s going to wind up in the neighborhood of 180K words. Which is insane. Doubly so since I’ve written over 130K in just two months, a quarter of which was spent traveling out of the country. (That’s... 2.5 NaNoWriMos. O_o I need to figure out what magic juice I’ve been drinking and start stockpiling it for November.)

I also want to make sure that I loop in all those dangling story elements I seeded in the first few chapters, but that’s not so much a personal goal as a standard task to check off the list. Most of my longer stories seem to have a bunch of convoluted plot threads that need tied off. I guess that’s how they end up being longer stories.

Tagging:

@gmariam321​ @iamtheshriekingguineapig​ @wordborne​ @radioinactivity​ and anyone who wants to play!

[sharperthewriter]

14th Annual Kim Possible Fannies Awards - Final Round of Voting

Hello and good evening to everyone in the Kimmunity.

Now that the first round of voting has come to a close, I am happy to tell you that we have approached the final round of voting. This is going to decide the winner of each of the 29 categories

Now, before the voting can commence, I need to go over a few house rules with y'all on this very important round of voting.

Rule #1) You can pick any category you desire, but you only get one choice per category. No more than that. Authors may vote on their own stories up to 5 categories.

Rule #2) You cannot split your votes.

Rule #3) You can submit your vote in either one of two approved methods

A) You can submit the form by PM to the Kimmunity Fannies fanfiction account (if you have an FFnet account) The link is here: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2622561/KP-Fannie-Committee

OR

B) You can submit the form by an email to the Kimmunity Fannies Yahoo email account. The email address is kimmunityfannies@yahoo.com.

You cannot, however, do both. It will screw up the system.

Rule #4) You have to submit your vote by June 14th at 11:59 PM (Central US TIME). No votes will be accepted after this date.

Rule 5) You have to put your normal screen name (be it Tumblr, Twitter, DA, FFnet, the active KP forums, or Instagram) under your vote so that it'll tell me who has voted.

Rule #6) And this is the most important rule of all -- You CANNOT share your vote on any social media site (be it Tumblr, Twitter, Discord, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Facetime, Kik...etc.). The Final Vote Round of the KP Fannies has been private in the past and we, as members of the Council, want to retain it as such as part of our tradition in this fandom.

Rule #7) In the event that a tie emerges in a category, it will go into a runoff to determine a winner. And if still tied, the Sharper Eye test will come into play. (i.e. the story with the most faves and follows will win out in the end.)

With all the house rules in play, may the best author win.

EDIT 1: Had to put in the actual email address to submit votes. :P

Below is the nominees list: 

1) Best KP Style Name

Rebecca Starlet (Nacos and a Movie) - StW

Geneous - (Dynamic Reversal) - Emperor of Dreams

Otto Bahn & Lynn Accuarate (What's the Alma Mater) - MrDrP

BattleSkarr & S'ordcClash (All Things Probable) - Slyrr

2) Best Original Character

Anna Stoppable - This Is Our Year: Sightseeing - F86Sabre53

Otto Bahn & Lynn Accurate (What's the Alma Mater) - MrDrP

Rebecca Starlet - (Nacos and a Movie) - STW

Emmie & Jennie Gold - Possibles Pure Love Road -kmtdiccion

Cappuchino - RJ & Martin - Emersonian

Rhino - I'm Scared Too - Magic Flying Spud

3) Best Minor Character

Monique - That's So Monique - NeoTyson

Tara - The Mad Scientists Assistant - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Bonnie, Monique, Camille, Tara, & Junior - Nacos and a Movie - STW

Bates - A Servants Loyalty- Daccu65

Connie & Lonnie Rockwaller - Fun with Con and Lon - Icarus the Foxkidd

Monique - Center Will Not Hold ... Or Will It - SimplyShelbs16

4) Best Villain

Bonnie, Camille & Junior - Nacos and a Movie - STW

Monkey Fist - (RJ & Martin) Emersonian

Dementor - Sophmore Slump - SimplyShelbs16

KP, Drakken and Shego - I'm Scared Too - Magic Flying Spud

Gemini - This Is Our Year: Postgraduation - F86Sabre53

DNAmy - Sheryl - GerbilHunter

5) Best Songfic

The 12 Days of a Possible Family Christmas - STW

KP Never Lets It Go to Her Heart - Ozzy-Zike Fan 10.57

6) Best AU Story

STD 2018 Feels - Jimmy1201

S Plus D Equals K - Neo the Saiyan Angel

The New Fearless Ferrett - Neotyson

KP: Gifted - LJ58

Two Tickets For Murder - eoraptor

A Journey Through Time - DisneyChannelLover

7) Best Crossover-Fusion

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion (fusion)

Sky Blue, Ocean Blue - purplegirl761 (Steven Universe)

Turbo a KPPR Story - brycewade1013 (Power Rangers)

A CO N*** Mole Rat in the Schnee Mansion - daccu65 (RWBY)

KP: A Tale of Promethus - LJ58 (KP/Frankenstein Fusion)

The Grim Adventures of Kim and Ron - shadowwriter329 (Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy)

8) Best Alt-Other Canon Pairing

Bonnie & Junior - Nacos and a Movie - STW

Ron & Tara - Today My Life Begins - kmtdiccion

Bonnie & Shego - MrDrP - Picture This

Bonnie & Tim - MasterDuelistMichael - The Tweeb and the Queen B

Bonnie & Ron - Honey Pot - Mr Aanonymous

Ron & Shego - Your Loss is My Gain - Kixen

9) Best Kigo

Canadian Wedding - Von Uriken

I Forget - obscurebeing

Through the Timestream -RedWolfBlack

KP: A Blonde Moment - eoraptor

Acid Rain - VoltageStone

Morning Conversations - FeudorLaurent

10) Best Drakgo

Assorted Ficlets - purplegirl761

Expiration, Pudding and Plums - Imyoshi

S Plus D Equals K - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Unlike the Others - nobody3456

Evil Family - MaRci3o9

11) Best Kim/Ron

Last Dance- Whitem

Nacos and a Movie - STW

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

Lesson One - Eoraptor

Eternal - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Could It Be - Shasta627

12) Best Comedy

Nacos and a Movie - STW

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

Midsummer Nightmare - SimplyShelbs16

The Mad Scientists Assistant - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Ron at the Symphony - Mahler Avatar

Picture This - MrDrP

13) Best Romance

Last Dance- Whitem

Nacos and a Movie - STW

Turkey Day - Neo the Saiyan Angel

This is Our Year: Sightseeing - F86Sabre53

Could It Be - Shasta 627

When the Ball Drops - GerbilHunter

14) Best Friendship

It Came with the Lanyards - SimplyShelbs16

Check the Name - Magic Flying Spud

Assorted Ficlets - purplegirl761

The Mad Scientists Assistant - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Just Like Old Times - nobody3456

The Tweeb and the Queen B - MasterDuelistMichael

15) Best Action-Adventure

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

Lesson One - eoraptor

I'm Scared too - Magic Flying Spud

MMP Twist: Exchange - Czech8

The New Fearless Ferrett - Neotyson

This is Our Year: College - F86Sabre53

16) Best Drama

Awkweird- SimplyShelbs16

Dead Man Switch - Sentinel103

KP: Gifted - LJ58

The Line - Icarus the Foxkidd

Standards - eoraptor

Eternal - Neo the Saiyan Angel

17) Most Unlikely-Unique

Coffee Shop Nights - Magic Flying Spud

Two Diverged Into One - DisneyChannelLover

Too Close for Comfort - James SunderlandsPillow

S D Equals K - Neo the saiyan Angel.

Groundhog Daze - Mahler Avatar

KP: Gifted - LJ58

18) Best One-Shot

Lesson One - eoraptor

Check the Name - Magic Flying Spud

Turkey Day - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Ron at the Symphony - Mahler Avatar

Could It Be - Shasta627

Christmas Surprises - F86Sabre53

19) Best Novel-Sized Story

Nacos and a Movie - STW

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

STD 2018 Feels - Jimmy1201

RJ & Martin - Emersonian

KP: Gifted - LJ58

I'm Scared Too - Magic Flying Spud

20) Best Short Story

Awkweird - SimplyShelbs16

The Initiative and Other Interruptions - Jimmy1201

Motherhood - Taurusdoodles99

The Adventures of Anna Stoppable: Trip to Japan- F86Sabre53

The Tweeb and the Queen B - MasterDuelistMichael

Reunion: Memories & Resolution - Nathaniel E. Kenway

21) Best Series

Center Will Not Hold Series - SimplyShelbs16

Blonde Moment Series - Eoraptor

S Plus D Equakls K Series - Neo the Saiyan Angel

Where the Wind Blows Series - LJ58

This Is Our Year Series - F86Sabre53

I Let Her Lie Series - Nathaniel E. Kenway

22) Best M-Rated Story

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

STD 2018 Feels - Jimmy1201

My Kind of Hero - DismalOrc29177

An Average Day - Neo the Saiyan Angel

My RonRon Time - NeoTyson

KP: Impossible Journey- LJ58

23) Best New Author

SimplyShelbs16

DisneyChannelLover

nobody3456

reapergrimm

F86Sabre53

IcarustheFoxkidd

24) Best Single Line

Nacos and a Movie - (Chapter 26: The Fight: Round 2)

"Shego's battlesuit, meet Kim Possible! Kim Possible, meet Shego's Battlesuit!"

Drakken presented Team Possible with a nasty surprise (Shego's Battlesuit made exactly from the specs of Kim's Battlesuit) and said suit was presented dramatically (i.e. a thunderstorm).

Sky Blue Ocean Blue (purplegirl761) Single lines:

"Don't say that!" Drakken hollers. "You think there isn't a part of me that wants that more than I care to admit? You think there isn't a part of me that would still love to do exactly that? Well, there is! And every time I listen to that part of me, horrible things happen to me and the rest of the world! Ruin! Chaos! Tragedy! Mutant termites! Despair! Fast food restaurants warped beyond recognition! Screaming people! Brainwashed people! People tortured – forced to sit on ice cubes until their rears freeze!"

-from the latest chapter of Sky Blue, Ocean Blue

Last Dance - Whitem: "The two were now standing in the middle of the room, enveloped in silence, and Kim noticed that Ron was floating away from her.

"Please Ron… don't go!" A frail hand reached out to the man she had loved for her entire life. "I… I want to go with you."

Ron's slowly fading form smiled as he answered. "I'm sorry Kim, but you can't. It's not your time. You still have a few more good years left. I waited for you during my lifetime, and I can wait for you in eternity. I love you KP."

Lesson One - Eoraptor Best line: "KP, Ninja school? Sounds cool, but so totally not for me. I spent my first day tangled in, or out of, my own clothes; couldn't eat a meal for like a week, and almost wrecked the joint with a magical sumo stomp. And on top of all that? No fast food!"

"But then I realized — I'll never defeat you. You're smarter than me — than most people — and boy do you know how to win a fight. You see Kimberly Ann," Drakken lectured. "What started all of this was one little thought: If I can't take over the world, maybe she can." - I'm Scared Too

(Magic Flying Spud)

arandomshipper - KP The Princess Bride -

From behind her she heard the sound of many swords being drawn. She sighed. "You reeeeeaaaally don't wanna do this, boys."

"We have our orders."

"If you were ordered to jump off a cliff, would you do that, too? This isn't any different, when it comes down to it, except this way will be more painful."

Butterfly's Wings by Vyrkerion again

-- build up to line: [I could paraphrase a more succinct explanation, but eh it's just a nomination] His skin was pale, and somewhat translucent revealing embedded circuitry and mechanical bits hidden below the surface. Even still then the faintest hints of where freckles used to be dotted across his cheeks. His eyes were a soft brown punctuated with a brilliant glowing red emitting from the depths of his pupils. Most of his head was burnt and scarred, the remnants of the machines fusing with his body, but patches of dusty blonde hair could still be seen sticking out from his scalp.

Kim choked, "Oh… Oh god… no. NO." And with that, Kosch the Killer released his grip on Kim Possible's throat and sent the girl plummeting.As she fell, she could see Kosch mutter something and in her last moments of conscious barely lip-read the words:

-- the actual line I'm nominating:

Die. Kay. Pee.

Die KP.

25) CPNeb Kimmunity Award

SimplyShelby16, Magic Flying Spud, Jerridian, Tennente, Legionniare24601, and Neo the Saiyan Angel.

26) Kimmunity Achievement Award

Whitem, MrDrP, Neo the Saiyan Angel, Jimmy1201, Mahler Avatar, Molloy

27) Best Reviewer

Invader Johnny, MrDrP, Mindless Violence Fan, Jimmy1201, Neotyson, Uberscribber.

28) Best Story of 2018

Nacos and a Movie- STW

Possibles Pure Love Road - kmtdiccion

I'm Scared Too - Magic Flying Spud

KP: Gifted - LJ58

This is Our Year: Sightseeing - F86Sabre53

Step Up - Icarus the Foxkidd

Another Kind of Drama- Novashiro

Honey Pot - Mr. Aanonymous

29) Best Writer of 2018

STW, Kmtdiccion, Eoraptor, SimplyShelbs16, MagicFlyingSpud, Neo the Saiyan Angel, IcarustheFoxkidd, Jimmy1201.

[femsff]

4, 8, 11, 13, 23, 30, 34, 38 :)

Oooh, awesome! Thanks. 

I’ve included already answered ones below.

A Writer’s Ask Game

agwitow:

Send me an ask with the number(s) you’d like me to answer!

The Basics1.     Do you listen to music when you write?2.     Are you a pantser or plotter?

Started out as a pantser but after a few fic, I decided to give plotting a try. Am now a fully committed plotter.

3.     Computer or pen and paper?

Definitely computer. My fingers tend to cramp up even when I write a little bit and when I write a page or so in a notebook (I often carry a notebook with me when I go somewhere but don’t want to drag the laptop with me), about 3/4th of it illegible to anyone who isn’t me. In a way, that’s a good thing I suppose considering some of my smuttier fics, but overall it’s just a pain. And I always get disappointed when I get around to typing out the notes because it looks like a lot more when written out!

4.     Have you ever been published, or do you want to be published?

No, I have never been published. Maybe one day I’ll try my hand at it, but right now I don’t feel like my writing is “good enough” yet. No idea for an original novel either.

5.     How much writing do you get done on an average day?6.     Single or multiple POV?7.     Standalone or series?8.     Oldest WIP

Oldest WIP I’ve written for or does plotting also count? If it’s just written, then it’s probably my abandoned Down the Rabbit Hole (FFnet | AO3). I just... got stuck. And it was so incredibly frustrating and really stopped me from enjoying anything fic-related that I finally just said to hell with it and dropped it. I just checked and I stopped working on it in 2013... I still have the outline and everything though, so who knows?

9.     Current WIP10.  Do you set yourself deadlines?

The Specifics11.  Books and/or authors who influenced you the most

To be honest, I have no idea. I don’t know, maybe I’m rare but I’ve never been one of those people who held specific authors up as their ideal. I used to read a lot of books (nowadays less so, because 1) am adult and have to adult and 2) because I read fanfic and often would rather write my own fic than read a book) and have some favorites  (all fiction) but nothing that really stands out.

12.  Describe your perfect writing space13.  Describe your writing process from idea to polished

Hahaha! Are you sure you want to know?

Okay, so I get an idea. Often when I’m half asleep/dozing, in the shower or just doing something mindlessly. The ideas are usually specific scenes that I can see play out in my head, but occasionally it’s just a conversation/some dialogue. If I like it, I’ll try to force more by really focusing on it. If the muse wishes it, that tends to work. I’m rarely super excited about an idea that I’ll start working on it right away, and prefer to let it roll around for a while. See if it keeps popping up and more details are added. If it’s worth my time and energy, I suppose.

Once that happens, I’ll start writing down notes. I use OneNote to organize my fic ideas/plotting and have one notebook that’s simply for ideas; one section per idea and depending on the idea, it’ll just be a stream of consciousness (often peppered with questions for myself) or a bit more organized in different pages. Again, depending on how excited I am about the idea, this can be done in a day or it can take weeks/months where I’ll occasionally add some info.

Then, when I feel like I want to work on it some more, I’ll start to delve into the details. When is it set? What’s the beginning, middle and end? Which events do I want include but have no idea where yet? Is there specific dialogue or are there actions I want to maybe include at one point? If it’s an AU, AR or AT, I’ll start working on the differences from canon (who is in it, what’s their role, how does it deviate from canon). How long do I think this fic will be? I need to set a max number of chapters for myself, otherwise the story will just keep growing and I’ll keep adding stuff and in the end it’ll read like I just came up with more and more stuff simply so I wouldn’t have to end the story, rather than telling the story I wanted to tell in the beginning. 

Anyway, I start creating pages for the chapters and fill in the few things I already know. At this point I often also involve my beta and discuss the fic idea with her. Everything from that conversation goes into the ‘brainstorm’ section and I’ll work on the questions and suggestions that arose during the conversation. Then, I’ll start focusing on filling up the chapters with general outlines. That can be anything from “scene 1 Sam telling Jack (Sam pov); scene 2 introspection about changes (Jack pov)” to a paragraphed summary or even a scene completely written out. Sometimes it’s just “some shippy stuff here”, to let me know that at one point I need to lighten it up or bring them closer together. I go over all the chapter pages that way, but don’t necessarily fill them all out. I also make one page with a chapter overview, which is usually the numbered chapters with one or two lines about the content so I can see in one quick glance which things need working on. 

More thinking on the fic idea, sometimes even when sleeping and brainstorming with the beta usually follows, which in turn results in adding more details. The chapter pages get more specifics or maybe a “don’t forget to mention [character]”  or “now [# weeks] pregnant, mention that/include symptoms”. Also, depending on the story idea, I might need to do research. That can be canon/fanon stuff, but also scientific stuff, maybe a different language, create background information for original/rarely used canonical  characters, timeline, locations, RL world events, and so on. That also gets included in the notebook and, at some point, added to the relevant chapter.

Once my outlining is done and I feel comfortable to start  writing, I tend to just create a master document and start writing. Now, that’s not to say my whole outline is complete or that it’s something I must strictly adhere to. Additions and changes are made all the time, sometimes I’ll get stuck or realize a scene doesn’t work the way I envisioned it or the beta tells me something is missing. So, I go back to the notes and work on it. Then I go back to the fic and write, write, write.

Oh and I usually ask the beta to go over a chapter once I’ve finished writing it (or, if I’m stuck in a scene, I’ll ask her to look at it right away) and then I’ll go over the feedback, make changes, possibly discuss some of the things she mentioned, do some more editing and then I’ll go to the next chapter and write some more.

14.  How do you deal with self-doubts?15.  How do you deal with writer’s block?16.  How many drafts do you need until you’re satisfied with a project?17.  What writing habits or rituals do you have?

Hmm. I’m not sure? I do know that when I’m stuck I tend to make a fruit salad or get snacks out in the hopes of it resulting in the required brainpower to keep going.

18.  If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be, and what would you write about?19.  How do you keep yourself motivated?20.  How many WIPs and story ideas do you have?

The Favourites21.  Who is/are your favourite character(s) to write?22.  Who is/are your favourite pairing(s) to write?23.  Favourite author

I don’t think I really have a favorite author... I don’t like non-fiction, I always read fiction and often thrillers. Some of the books I always order and often reread are ones by Jilliane Hoffman and Ingrid Black.

As for fic, see my favorites/bookmarks on my profile on FFnet/AO3.

24.  Favourite genre to write and read25.  Favourite part of writing

Ooh, difficult to choose. I really love doing the research and plotting, but I think the best part of writing is ending up with the story you imagined before you even ‘put pen to to paper’. Also, managing to convey the emotions through the writing - like when a reader comments with how they also teared up, they had to stop reading a few times to catch their breath/get a grip on their emotions or were just overwhelmed by it all. That’s pretty neat.

26.  Favourite writing program27.  Favourite line/scene28.  Favourite side character29.  Favourite villain30.  Favourite idea you haven’t started on yet

I have quite a few fic ideas I haven’t started writing yet. Not sure I can choose one. But one that I’ve had for a long time, like ~6 years, and even started writing on (but then discarded that because it wasn’t a good opening) is for Woman In Blue. It’s a first-person fic, a style I actually kinda hate and would probably back-button right away if I saw one of my favorite authors use in a new fic... anyway, it’s Mark Carter in first person, writing about Sam (and to a smaller extent, Jack) and all the things he learned about her life after her death - she and Jack died in a blaze of glory, defending Earth against a Replicator attack that also prompted Disclosure.

The Dark31.  Least favourite part of writing32.  Most difficult character to write33.  Have you ever killed a main character?34.  What was the hardest scene you ever had to write?

There are so many scenes I’ve struggled with, most recently in Unmade Plans (chapter 8 specifically, that one really was a fight and I’ve rewritten it probably a dozen times) but the hardest was probably the Sam/Klorel scene in Only the Stubborn Survive. Those of you who’ve read the fic will know which scene I mean.

35.  What scene/story are you least looking forward to writing?

The Fun36.  Last sentence you wrote37.  First sentence or your current WIP38.  Weirdest story idea you’ve ever had

I’m not quite sure. A lot of them start out as weird ideas! The end result as you see them are soooo different. Maybe Consequences of Being Touched, because there were quite a few risque scenes in there?

39.  Weirdest character concept you’ve ever had40.  Share some backstory for one of your characters

The Rest of It41.  Any advice for new/beginning/young writers?42.  How do you feel about love triangles?43.  What do you do if/when characters don’t follow the outline?

It depends on the situation and the outline. I’ve thrown outlines out of the window at times because something else turned out to work much better once you actually reach that point in your story, but I’ve also rewritten a scene a dozen times before I got it exactly the way I wanted it in the outline.

44.  How much research do you do?45.  How much world building do you do?46.  Do you reread your own stories?47.  Best way to procrastinate48.  What’s the most self-insert character/scene you’ve ever written?49.  Which character would you most want to be friends with, if they were real?50.  [Other question—ask me anything]

Well, those were fun but also tricky! Guess I shouldn’t have skimmed the list before rb’ing, haha. No just kidding, I loved answering them. Thanks!

[scribeofred]

ALL OF EM

fine fine, bully me into it

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

As spacespirit and I were hashing out ideas and writing the outline, we settled on a four-scene system for each chapter: the first one year ago in past tense, second present time in present tense, a cut to the next chapter’s main POV to foreshadow, then a return to the main POV. It seemed like an effective way to tell the story we wanted to share, although it did mean we weren’t able to flesh out certain areas (our antagonist) as much as we wanted, which is why we began a sequel.

 2: What scene did you first put down?

This is technically SS’s area, since she wrote the first draft, but this is sitting at the very top of our outline and the only line we prewrote:

“Virgil, I just had my screaming brother’s body bleeding out under my hands. Do you think I’m okay?”

 3: What’s your favorite line of narration?

HRMMM. I haven’t actually finished re-reading the last two chapters they’re long, okay, so I’m not certain, but I’ve always liked ‘Bits of glass twinkle in her dark, curly hair and spread across her shoulders like droplets of starlight.’ But also: ‘Virgil’s eyes flicker between him and Scott, glinting like coals under pressure as they catch the light.’ Because Virgil has pretty eyes.

 4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

No specific line comes to mind, but again, that might change as I finish proofreading. The final chapter has some fantastic conversations. Out of the stuff I’ve read so far, SS has always written a killer Gordon, such as this passage from chapter two:

“I’m on messenger duty,” Gordon announces, as though International Rescue has a ground runner instead of the world’s most advanced comms system. “Apparently I’m a pawn now, because they’ve had me racing between buildings ever since—well. You know. Anyway, I came to tell you that more firefighters have arrived and are on their way now. Heading to Virg’s position first, I’m afraid—the hospital has priority, which means this baby’s going to have to burn a little while longer. Scott and John are practically finished.” A grin stretches beneath worried eyes. “They demanded I check on you.”

 5: What part was hardest to write?

Only SS knows. I got the unbelievable pleasure of merely rewriting the whole story. Apparently John gave her quite a bit of trouble, iirc.

 6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

SS and I wrote it together, so that was a novel—ha—experience. I didn’t have to do, what is for me, the extremely difficult process of writing the first draft, I just had to rewrite it into a tighter and/or expanded version.

 7: Where did the title come from?

The idea of mirrors and the dual nature of all the scenes, the fact that everything seems to be happening a second time. The duology was going to be called Fractured and the second fic Diffraction. We spent a whole evening flicking through Wikipedia pages trying to settle on the right trio of names, because writers. and I may post the sequel chapters here who knows

 8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

Not on my part, but I was merely rewriting, not writing

 9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

There was an alternate idea we were playing with for chapters four and five, which would have required we rewrite baaaaasically everything, and maybe we might have gone through with it if we could’ve made it work. It would have required huge effort, though, and I didn’t feel up to undertaking the process by myself.

 10: Why did you choose this pairing for this particular story?

nonapplicable.

 11: What do you like best about this fic?

Probably the fact that we successfully blended the worlds of TOS and TAG into the ideal combination we both had existing in our heads prior to writing Reflection, and that we agreed on far, far more elements than we argued over. The whole process was surprisingly easy, which made it really enjoyable to work on. It was far more fun than it was frustrating.

 12: What do you like least about this fic?

The emotions are A Bit Dramatic sometimes; maybe one day I’ll do a large-scale edit and tone them down.

 13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

Oh! I mostly listen to instrumental music while reading/writing/editing, but I very vividly remember reading the first draft of Virgil’s chapter and listening to Mr Fijiwiji’s “We Are the Lights”. I also listened to it on a loop during the seven hour drive home from my grandpa’s funeral and managed to rewrite almost all of Virgil’s chapter during that time. I always think of that day and this story when I hear it now. Aside from that, no, Reflection doesn’t have a single song or a playlist associated with it, not for me. I remember the images I used in Scrivener for each chapter more than the music.

 14: Is there anything you wanted readers to learn from reading this fic?

I know I didn’t set out with any sort of learning-driven agenda, and SS and I never discussed including a moral or anything of the sort. We just wanted to write an entertaining story, foremost for ourselves, but hopefully something the fandom at large could enjoy.

 15: What did you learn from writing this fic?

I learned that SS writes INCREDIBLY FAST FIRST DRAFTS. Seriously, it’s mind-boggling. Seven thousand words would drop into my lap, and I’d just stare. Regarding myself… I learned that having a co-author is the way I prefer to write, and that it’s very, very, very difficult to find another co-author who’s on the same level as her. Writing Reflection was an experience I can only describe as having an author-soulmate.

[hotarla]

My Thoughts: “Quan Zhi Gao Shou” Episode 9 Summary and Review: “Everyone’s Public Enemy”

Excited greetings to you, my fellow QZGS fans, here is another edition of “My Thoughts!” This episode has a lot of reshuffling of events when compared to the novel so I'll try to point them out to you. I was actually genuinely surprised at a few things which I will discuss later. (BTW, I translated the title myself so it could be wrong...)

As with always, a warning about spoilers ahead! As an FYI, the start of the episode has us around chapter 148 and ends around chapter 178, (give or take) since some of the chapters were completely cut out from this episode (or are, in fact, going to be shown in episode 10).

The episode starts us off with some totally unnecessary fan service (I'm joking, it's TOTALLY necessary for all the screaming fangirls lol!) of Zhou Zekai’s dreamy visage before cutting to the Internet cafe where Ye Xiu is talking to Wang Jiexi about how the constant challenges from Tiny Herb are wearing him down. Tang Rou disagrees with him, saying that he's just playing around with a bunch of champion “three-legged cats” (in Chinese, a “three-legged cat” means that you're a “jack-of-all-trades and master of none”). At this point, Bao pops his face in and asks about what they're going to do in-game today. Just as this happens, Ye Xiu gets a PM from Seven Fields…

We cut over to Congee City’s Exchange Market where Bound Boat from Blue Brook Guild is talking to Blue River about Lord Grim setting the record for Desolate Land for the Full Moon Guild for the cheap price of four parts of the Scarlet Moon set (a level 30 set for Battle Mages). Blue River reacts to this with disbelief but it's all true. His QQ messenger lights up and he watches as leaders from some of the other big guilds complain about this. When the server announces later on that the Full Moon Guild has beaten Blue Brook’s record, the other guilds begin to declare: this Lord Grim is our enemy!

Left with no other choice, Blue River has to make a tough decision: ask for help from a higher dimension...

Meanwhile, Lord Grim and Co. are in Congee City as well, picking up new weapons for themselves now that they're at level 30. In the novel, this event actually happens before setting the record for Full Moon. Steam Bun dashes from one stall to another in excitement while Tang Rou wonders out loud about the steep prices. Lord Grim goes up to a stall and asks if they're buying uncommon materials. The man gives him the affirmative as he turns around and...ah! It's Bound Boat from Blue Brook! Why are you selling back the materials we gave you!?

Elsewhere, Blue River has arrived in the Heavenly Domain on his main account, Blue Bridge Spring Snow. I have to admit, the detailing and almost divinely-inspired instrumental for this scene is totally on point and totally gorgeous! Also, if you pay close attention, Blue River’s main account has a ponytail! Not QUITE the long hair I was imagining though!

We finally get to meet two characters I was actually not expecting to see: guild leader of the Heavenly Domain for Blue Brook, Changing Spring, and Poplar Beach, Blue River’s biggest rival in Blue Brook. To be honest, with all the stuff the donghua was cutting out, seeing these two characters was last on my list. I am a bit disappointed on the totally bland character designs for these two though.

Blue River informs Changing Spring about Lord Grim’s efforts in the 10th server while Poplar Beach scoffs in the background. Changing Spring decides that it's time to bring out the big guns: he will personally go to the 10th server to set the record for Desolate Land! Blue River goes to inform Bound Boat but, instead, he gets a complaint about Lord Grim’s shameless bargaining techniques! And, somewhere in the shadows, danger lurks…

Lord Grim and Co. group back at Desolate Land after getting some new weapons. Steam Bun detects a killer intent and dashes away to ambush the person. But, it turns out that the newcomer is not an enemy but a friend!

It's my favourite cinnamon roll, Qiao Yifan! He's come to the 10th server on his new level 30 Ghostblade account, One Inch Ash, to get some God-level training from Ye Qiu (Ye Xiu). Steam Bun is confused: was I wrong about that killer intent I felt? Lord Grim smirks: you're not wrong, it's right above you!

Looks like they've been surrounded! And, judging from the Battle Mage who attacks first, it looks like it's Chen Yehui, guild leader of Excellent Dynasty! A battle ensues and we finally get a bit of action! I was starting to despair a bit about the lack of action. The novel covers a lot of battle scenes, including lots of monster battles from Wild Bosses to dungeoning for records. The donghua, unfortunately, cuts out a lot of this, probably due to budget and animating concerns. On top of that, a lot of the battles in the donghua have become what I call “dust covered light shows:” all you see is dust and flashy lights.

Another FYI: this particular “encirclement” actually occurs before the record setting of Desolate Land and before Blue River goes to the Heavenly Domain to ask for help. For more information, please check out chapter 155-56.

Secondly, the members on Ye Xiu’s side actually included Seven Fields and Sleeping Moon (from the Full Moon guild) and Thousand Creations (from Blue Brook); Yifan’s character One Inch Ash hadn't even joined up with Lord Grim’s party yet as his level wasn't high enough. I believe the reason that Yifan and his Ghostblade appeared earlier than expected was because they had to make up for the fact that they wouldn't be animating the record setting of Desolate Land that included Yifan helping them. Lastly, this “encirclement” actually occurred in Line Canyon (the dungeon after Desolate Land), not in Desolate Land itself, which is what happened in this episode.

Anyways, getting back to the episode at hand, the members of Excellent Dynasty attack and we can all see the merits of having a supporting Ghostblade member on the team with the usage of Sword Souls (and Dual Linking Ghost Boundaries) buffing up the team. I have to admit, it's all very flashy! I love the action sequence for Lord Grim’s Sword Soul and how his umbrella splits apart into a sword and sheath. Ye Xiu praises Yifan on his timing for his Boundaries and Yifan just lights up at the compliment. You can truly see the way Yifan works so perfectly with the team, and how happy he is to just be a part of it!

The ambushers are finally defeated in a team wipeout and Lord Grim and Co. pose majestically at the end of it. (Insert some more shameless Yifan plug in lol)

Suddenly, another attacker comes from above! It's Poplar Beach! He arrogantly introduces himself before attacking Steam Bun. Lord Grim and Changing Spring intervene and more introductions are made. Lord Grim makes a comment on the new record set by Blue Brook for Desolate Land: how come I don't see Blue River up there? His dungeoning is much more stable and consistent than Poplar Beach who would excel more at PKs. (Another small note: in the novel, this conversation actually happens before they set the record and Blue River is not on scene when it happens) Poplar Beach becomes incensed at the insinuation that he's bad at dungeoning while Blue River is visibly touched by Lord Grim’s words (his face has the most beautiful show of emotion I've ever seen on him!). Poplar Beach starts to arrogantly challenge Lord Grim in the world chat. Ye Xiu smirks at this while Blue River and Bound Boat worriedly look on…

At Excellent Era, Chen Yehui (FINALLY we get official confirmation that he IS Chen Yehui!) is grinding his teeth in anger after his failed attempt to kill Ye Qiu (Ye Xiu) in-game. We get a flashback of him getting denounced for having inefficient skill to play a higher position in the team, on the recommendation of Ye Qiu (Ye Xiu). It looks like he's not through with him yet though, as Chen slowly scrolls through his friend list filled with members from other guilds…

Yifan, on the other hand, is talking to Ye Xiu about the high record for Desolate Land. Ye Xiu tells him that he's confident that they'll be able to set the record with Yifan and his Ghostblade’s help. All they need are three chances (since after this, Lord Grim and Co. would reach level 31 and they would not be able to set the record anymore). Yifan panickedly tells him that he's still not very adept at using a Ghostblade but Ye Xiu reassures him: you're a pro player too! These words, spoken to him by a God-level player, is enough to convince Yifan: three chances are more than enough! And, as expected, the record is set!

I get so many feels from this every time I see it: Yifan needs this kind of acknowledgement of his skills more often. He feels overlooked because of his friend Yingjie so every time he gains a little bit more confidence in himself, I just get all teary-eyed and emotional.

After setting the record, Chen Guo congratulates them. Ye Xiu wanders over and asks Chen Guo something: can I borrow your Heavenly Domain maxed leveled account, Chasing Haze? And, at Blue Rain headquarters, we watch as the IRL version of Changing Spring (Liang Yichun for anyone who's interested) approaches Huang Shaotian while looking for Yu Wenzhou…

Eeee, Yu Wenzhou! Another hottie appears, like a rare Pokemon! (Although, the chances of meeting a hot guy in this series seems pretty high lol!) Glad to see Shaotian again, I miss that adorable chatterbox! I can't wait to see more of them in the next episode! And what does the next episode bring?

Oho! I wasn't expecting the donghua to cover the battle between Poplar Beach and Chasing Haze (played by Ye Xiu). To be honest, I thought that they would cut it out completely (it only lasted two chapters in the novel). And a covered up Su Mucheng? Wasn't this scene chronologically supposed to happen a bit earlier (like in THIS episode)? Well, we didn't see much of her in this episode so I guess it's all right. And that turbaned fellow, he couldn't possibly be Concealed Light, right? Goodness what is with the pacing of the donghua? It's all over the place! I guess all we can do now is wait and see! Until next week!

Profile of the Week - Qiao Yifan’s Ghostblade, One Inch Ash

[drunkbooksellers]

Ep 14: Paul Constant, Seattle Review of Books

Epigraph 

The Drunk Booksellers get stoned on this 4/20 themed episode with Paul Constant of the Seattle Review of Books.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, our website, or subscribe using your podcatcher of choice.

This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out their newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.

If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links back to the bookstore we’re interviewing PLUS GIFs—sign up for our email newsletter.

Introduction

In which we make pot jokes and get excited about books

We're switching up our intoxicant of choice this episode and getting stoned rather than drunk (mostly). Paul's rocking Mr. Moxey's Mints (of the peppermint/sativa variety). Emma's smoking CBD (not to be confused with William Steig's children's picture book, CDB!). Kim stops talking while stoned—which would make for a really awkward podcast episode—so she's drinking the hoppiest IPA she could find instead. Everyone's a little too high to explain the varieties of weed particularly well, so you should just read David Schmader's Weed: The User's Guide: A 21st Century Handbook for Enjoying Marijuana.

Paul's Reading:

Up South by Robert Lashley

The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks

A collection of books from Mount Analogue Press

Manners by Ted Powers

Final Rose by Halie Theoharides (a comic book tone poem about love and loss made up screenshots from The Bachelor)

Reading Through It book club pick: What We Do Now: Standing Up for Your Values in Trump's America, edited by Dennis Johnson

Emma's Reading:

First Position by Melissa Brayden (thanks to a recommendation from our episode with The Ripped Bodice)

Giant Days 4 by John Allison, Max Sarin, Lissa Treiman, Liz Fleming, and Whitney Cogar

All the Lives I Want: Essays about My Best Friends Who Happen to Be Famous Strangers by Alana Massey (thanks to a recommendation from our episode with Amy Stephenson)

Kim's Reading:

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

The Aisles Have Eyes: How Retailers Track Your Shopping, Strip Your Privacy, and Define Your Power by Joseph Turow 

Forthcoming Titles We're Excited For:

You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie (out June 13)

Love and Trouble: a Midlife Reckoning by Claire Dederer (out May 9)

also mentioned Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses

Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris (out May 30)

Hunger: a Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay (out June 13)

Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood (out May 2)

Borne by Jeff VanderMeer (out April 25)

Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch (out April 18)

Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki (out May 9)

Isadora by Amelia Gray (out May 23)

Dreaming the Beatles: the Love Story of One Band and the Whole World by Rob Sheffield (out April 25)

Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristen J Sollee (out June 13)

Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self Through the Wisdom of the Cards by Michelle Tea (out June 13)

The Perfect Mix: Everything I Know about Leadership I Learned as a Bartender by Helen Rothberg (out June 20)

Chapter I [18:50]

In which we learn what The Seattle Review of Books is, talk about book reviews as a meta art form, and get advice on promoting diversity and being a safe, welcoming place for people who aren't white bros

The Seattle Review of Books is a book news, review, and interviews site. This isn't consumer reports, with a thumbs up or down on each title; each review aims to have a conversation with the book. It's a site that aims to look like your bookshelf, without genre classification.

Emma & Kim don't quite understand Paul's assertion that people don't organize their bookshelves, but we roll with it.

SRB makes all their money through a single sponsor (which changes each week). If you're interested in their sponsorship program, you can learn more here.

Paul wants to promote young, new writers and help them build up their clip file. So you should probably pitch him with your brilliant, bookish ideas. Email submissions@seattlereviewofbooks or fill in the contact form on their about page.

Emma particularly loves the Help Desk by Cienna Madrid. Ask Cienna an awkward book-related question at advice@seattlereviewofbooks.com.

Being a couple of white guys, Paul and his co-founder Martin McClellan are extremely concerned with diverse representation. You can learn more about how SRB encourages diversity in both the books they review and the reviewers they publish on their about page (or by listening to this episode...). But you should know right off the bat, they are not here to promote the new Franzen novel and they will not pander to bros. 

Chapter II [33:10]

In which we talk about life in the US post-election, say something negative about a book, and discuss Paul's past (and current) life as a bookseller

Reading Through It is a post-election book club hosted by Seattle Review of Books, the Seattle Weekly, and Third Place Books Seward Park. They meet the first Wednesday of every month.

On our post-election world, Paul Constant says: "This is what books were made for. Books are engines of empathy... the only way to do a deep-dive into an issue. It's our stored knowledge... This is the moment for books."

The next Reading Through It book group pick is The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt. They'll be meeting Wednesday May 3rd at Third Place Books Seward Park.

Read Paul's article on his time at Borders: Books Without Borders: My Life at the World's Dumbest Bookstore Chain

Though he's not technically a bookseller anymore, Paul is still "on team books." Keep an eye out for our "I'm On Team Books" t-shirts, which may or may not be a thing we sell one day.

Chapter III [43:20]

In which Paul is better at explaining our questions than stoned Emma is at asking them, Emma and Kim give Paul major side-eye due to his bookseller confession, and Emma continues to push Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Desert Island Pick (what would you read that you never had the time to read before): The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro (beginning with The Path to Power)

We couldn't find a video of the following clip of Caro on the Colbert Report, so we'll just leave you this series of gifs to explain why you, too, should consider bringing an epic five-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson as your desert beach read:

You're welcome. Now, back to your regularly scheduled show notes. 

Station Eleven Picks (the books to preserve for society) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (everything you need to know about living in a society) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (everything you need to know about life and how it doesn’t always work out the way you want, but you should live it anyway)

Read Paul's essay about The Scarlet Letter, originally written for Scarecrow Video.

Wild Pick (traveling is about observing things... soaking everything in) We Tell Ourselves Stories In Order to Live by Joan Didion ("because she is the greatest observer on the planet and I would want to be like her when I was traveling")

Bookseller Confession  Once again, we have a guest who hasn't read Harry Potter. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? Paul also hasn't read Lord of the Rings and Kim proceeds to side-eye him from across the city.

(In case you were wondering, the title of the direct link to this gif is "wtf-i-cant-even-you-are-stupid." Just sayin'.)

Emma, naturally, tries to convert Paul to fantasy w/ an Uprooted recommendation because "nobody doesn't like it." Paul commits to reading it in order to prove her wrong.

Go-To Handsell  Fup by Jim Dodge Paul saved the book from going out of print and—arguably more importantly—he handsold a copy to Allison Hannigan.

Impossible Handsell  Paradise by AL Kennedy (and everything by AL Kennedy)

Book for Booksellers Saving Capitalism by Robert Reich

Favorite Bookstores Elliott Bay Ada’s Technical Books Third Place Ravenna

Favorite Literary Media

Not to brag, but, we’re the only podcast Paul listens to.

The Rumpus Lit Hub Book Forum Electric Literature Shelf Awareness

Epilogue

In which we tell you where to find us on the Internets

You can find Paul on:

Twitter

Seattle Review of Books is also on Twitter

Seattlereviewofbooks.com

You can find us on:

Twitter at @drunkbookseller

Litsy at @drunkbooksellers

Facebook

Instagram

Email

Newsletter

Website

Emma tweets @thebibliot and writes bookish things for Book Riot.

Kim tweets occasionally from @finaleofseem, but don’t expect too much 'cause she saves all of the interesting (ie. book-related) shizzle for Drunk Booksellers.

Subscribe and rate us on iTunes!

  Check out this episode!

[igotopinions]

Books I read in 2018

* = Re-read Check out past years: 2012, 2013 (skipped), 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Follow me on Goodreads to get these reviews as they happen. 1) You Are Not a Gadget by Jaron Lanier 2) Binti by Nnedi Okorafor 3) Veins of the Earth by Patrick Stewart 4) McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh  The ending is clear almost from the first page, but you keep reading anyway*. Great stuff. *It's almost as if there is MORE to enjoying a story than being surprised by the ending???? 5) They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy  Ah yes, the violent and bloody underbelly of....the marathon dance craze??? Marathons that last upward of a MONTH??? Incredulity, if nothing else, keeps you reading right to the end. 6) What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing by Peter Ginna I've no interest in becoming an editor, but as an author I figured there'd be some useful stuff in here. From that perspective I'll say this - writers, even ones who only want to self-publish, would do well to breeze through this to get a better understanding of a process they've been through or want to go through, but also a better understanding of the editors themselves. 7) Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander 8) The High King by Lloyd Alexander 9) The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander 10) The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories by Denis Johnson 11) Landmarks by Robert MacFarlane Beautiful stuff, and a great reminder of all sorts of precious sensations to be found out in the world or in your childhood memories. 12) Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches by John Hodgeman I like John Hodgeman in general, but honestly haven't dug any of his books of false facts or the stand-up routines centered around such things. That stuff just feels like someone scatting nonsense (Blood tornado! Deranged millionaire! DOG STORM! Yeah!) to the tune of a particular vibe (the doodles in the margins of your high school notebooks). But it's clear the guy can be a consummate storyteller and so I happily picked up this book of his ostensibly true tales. It's charming, funny, and sincere. Huzzah! I look forward to whatever comes next from Hodge Man. 13) The World of Late Antiquity 150-750 by Peter R.L. Brown  14) The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch 15) The Luzhin Defense by Vladimir Nabokov, Michael Scammell (Translator) 16) The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander  17) Blindsight by Peter Watts 18) Killing Gravity by Corey J. White  19) How to Thrive in the Next Economy: Designing Tomorrow's World Today by John Thackara 20) Echopraxia by Peter Watts 21) The Colonel by Peter Watts 22) The Devil's Guide to Hollywood: The Screenwriter as God! by Joe Eszterhas It’s a big book of quotable notables intermixed with a guy who really wants you to know he slept with Sharon Stone. There’s some chuckles to be had, especially if you’re irritated by Robert McKee, but let’s just say I’m glad I got this half-off from a used book store. 23) The River of Consciousness by Oliver Sacks   Writers of fiction would do well to read this. 24) Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do about It  by Kate Harding *25) The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut 26) Red Clocks by Leni Zumas A reminder that dystopian tales don’t have to be cranked to eleven, and are often much more effective that way. 27) Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG by Goodman Games I don’t normally include RPG books in this list, but at about 450 pages I reckon this one earns a spot. I had a lot of thoughts about it, which you can read here. 28) Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria by Lin Carter   Look man, either you want to read a Conan rip-off where a convenient flying ship pulls our hero out of trouble at Just. The. Right. Time. or you don't. Nothing I say here will change that. I dipped into this soon after discovering the infamous Appendix N reading list. 29) Dear Life by Alice Munro 30) A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from History's Most Orthodox Empire by Anthony Kaldellis 31) Climate Leviathan: A Political Theory of Our Planetary Future by Joel Wainwright and Geoff Mann 32) Writing the Pilot: Creating the Series by William Rabkin 33) Ways of Seeing by John Berger If you've already done some university level art studies you may find most of this old hat.But if you haven't? It's a great primer, and I strongly recommend it. Heck, I wish I'd had it put in front of me in high school. 34) Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado 35) A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah 36) Polyamorous Love Song by Jacob Wren This book came out a few years ago. Just a few days ago I found it on the dollar shelf at a great used book and record shop in Montreal (Cheap Thrills). I never bother with stuff from the dollar shelf because it's usually about as good as the price suggests. But. The title & cover grabbed my eye. Then I stood and read the entire first chapter, not because I needed that much to erode any skepticism but because it gripped me. Your mileage may - nay, will - vary, of course. For me, the contents of this book were exactly what I needed. It might be what you need too, especially if you are someone who creates any kind of art and is struggling with it in the face of an increasingly rabid world. 37) Feel Free: Essays by Zadie Smith 38) Revenge Fantasies of the Politically Dispossessed by Jacob Wren 39) Rich and Poor by Jacob Wren 40) Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh   41) Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh 42) Room to Dream by David Lynch,  Kristine McKenna A great book whose format of a conversation between biography and autobiography really works! Both halves strangle the "lone genius" bullshit almost right out of the gate and, especially in Lynch's chapters, there's some kind of amusing punchline at the end of every other paragraph. An excellent read that is enjoyable even if you haven't seen every minute of his creative output. 43) Warrior of World's End by Lin Carter  This book contains a sentient metal bird called a "Bazonga" and a chapter called "Flight of the Bazonga", to give you an idea. It's fun and dumb and yes. 44) Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler 45) Twelve Tomorrows by Wade Roush (Editor) *46) A Burglar's Guide to the City by Geoff Manaugh   47) The Dying Earth by Jack Vance I was going to write my own review but then I saw BIll's here and it's just so much better than what I was going to say, as well as echoing much of my own thinking. 48) Dune by Frank Herbert It is Dune. 49) Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison This book does not in fact contain the famous twist from the film. That changes a lot, an awful lot. Frankly it evokes, read now, climate change at least as much if not more than overpopulation. I'm not sure if I'd recommend reading it, frankly, though not for any lack of talent on Harry Harrison's part. 50) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell  51) Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film by Patton Oswalt 52) The Chapo Guide to Revolution: A Manifesto Against Logic, Facts, and Reason by Chapo Trap House *53) Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut   Though it gifts us a few of his best quotes, such as “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”, I feel like Mother Night is only necessary reading for completionists. It often feels like a short story filled out to novel length, and lacks any of the fantastic or meta-textual elements of his other works. 54) Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana: A Visual History by Kyle Newman,  Jon Peterson, Michael Witwer, Sam Witwer STATS Non-Fiction: 20 Fiction: 34 Poetry Collections:0 Comic Trades: 0 Wrote Myself: 0