IWSG & the Borg

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!  

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October 4 question: The topic of AI writing has been heavily debated across the world. According to various sources, generative AI will assist writers, not replace them. What are your thoughts?

I haven't even tried an AI program, so I really don't know much about it. I'd rather play with my stories than the tech.

I don't think AI can replace that human touch. When I was working as a teacher, it was always easy to spot kids copying from an Internet source (or when parents wrote the assignments for them) and I suspect AI will have that same generic tone.

We're all unique and our words and products are unique as well. Personally, I have exactly zero desire to see what AI can do for me. I'd rather use my own words and my own voice, but that's just me.

At this early stage of AI development, we're not talking about Borg-level technology, although we may be talking about that kind of tone. I can't imagine a future where technology can replace human creativity. It's one of the things that makes us a pretty fun species.

How about you? Have you played with AI? What are your thoughts?

IWSG & Saving Civilization

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!  

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria! 

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Before we get to today's question, I want to give a shout out to our own Elle Cardy/Lynda Young. Her latest book, Well of Ash is SO GOOD!!! The world-building blows my mind and the characters are amazing! Be sure to check it out!

No one knows who built the Great Wells across the world or why. To linger near makes the skin crawl and the mind drift in nightmares. Yet this one calls to Ash in whispers that pull her closer. Soon she’s caught in a mystery that can kill. She must find the answers before she loses her sanity and her life.

If you like dragons, magic, and a fierce heroine with a wounded heart, then you’ll love Well of Ash, a YA Fantasy novella by Elle Cardy. Available now as an ebook and paperback on Amazon. OR, for a limited time, pick up a free copy when you join Elle’s VIP newsletter club.

November 4 question - Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

Well, I'm not sure Bloo Moose is going to save civilization, but I love the quote!

I've always been a reader and I've "told" stories in my head since I was very small. I was too shy/awkward to share and didn't actually write any of them down until well after my own kids were born.

Once I wrote my first story (a really angsty Star Trek TNG story with all kinds of equality themes going on) I realized that creating the stories was fun. And (strangely) going through the story to make it better was fun too. Learning the craft proved to be fun as well.

I wrote my first short story because the prompt intrigued me. This became my first published story (Until Release in the Tick Tock IWSG anthology) and it gave me the confidence to get my work out there.

Dancing With Dementia was written because dementia had crashed into my family and writing about it helped me process it all in the hopes of helping others.

My Bloo Moose series is contemporary romantic suspense. Reaching For Christmas releases on Tuesday and it will be book 5, I'm working on book 7 for NaNo. I write in this genre because it's all about overcoming obstacles within ourselves and teaming up to take on another obstacle. And Hope. My books are always about Hope. 

So, I guess my rather convoluted answer is that I write because it's fun, it helps me process life and it gives me hope for the future.

How about you? Anyone else start off with Fan Fiction? Anyone write to help process their lives or to bring hope into your own? Or are you out to save civilization? We need that!

I'm also visiting with the amazing Denise Covey today talking about rapid release. Hope to see you there!

IWSG & Creativity

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

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Question: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

Interesting question - I had to think about this one!

As a kid I always played with stories and told them in my head. I used to create Star Trek episodes when I struggled with sleep. However, I never wrote down even a single word of those stories.

I started writing a novel (another Star Trek story - TNG this time) for fun when my kids were little. It was a blast to pour words onto the computer. From then on, my stories took on more substance and, after another decade or so, began to demand to be written out.

I think the act of writing (and the process of learning that there is SO MUCH MORE to a story than writing it out) has definitely triggered more creativity.

The stories that keep me awake at night now are the ones waiting to be written, not the ones I'm currently writing.

Because of this, I think I will always have at least another story waiting to be written. Currently there are 4 or 5 wrestling for dominance, so I don't think I'll ever have to worry about lack of ideas to write!

How about you? Do you stories keep you up at night too?

IWSG & Star Trek & Floppy Disks

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

AUGUST 03rd QUESTION: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

Okay, let's see..

I think this piece would count...

A long, long time ago, when the kids were still very young, I wrote a Star Trek TNG novel. For years, I'd been making Star Trek scripts in my head and I decided to type one out.

I actually don't remember much about it, except:

• Geordi was the main character of the main plot line
• The planet involved had no women's rights and some very barbaric customs
• Geordi got involved with Jaya, a woman from the planet
• Jaya was very tough, didn't trust easily, and was trying to change her world
• Jaya was killed at the end
• A sub-plot involved Deanna using her empathic senses to navigate through an underground prison
• Deanna and Worf's relationship was developing

That's about it. As far as I remember it was extremely melodramatic and a bit (or a lot!) cheesy. I think it's probably languishing on a floppy disk somewhere. If I find it, I'll have to find a computer with an A drive! 

When I got brave enough to check out a copy of Writer's Digest from the library, I discovered that only "agented submissions" were accepted by the Star Trek people. I had NO idea what that meant, but it sounded very Hollywood-esque. I assumed only famous people had agents.

End of journey.

I knew less than nothing (obviously), but that novel niggled in the back of my head (and my heart) for a lot of years. When I finally decided to actually give this writing thing a go, I already knew I was capable of completing a draft. And THAT is worth something!

How about you? Any fan fiction writers out there? Anyone know what an A drive is? Where's your very first draft?

Star Trek or Star Wars

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Star Trek, Star Wars

How to choose??? I encountered Star Trek first. I loved the possibilities in that series. It was my first taste of science fiction. I’ve loved all of the series and most of the movies (there are a couple of read duds in there though!). I wrote my first scripts (albeit in my head) about Star Trek. And then George Lucas came along. Star Wars was so ‘big’ when it came out. Lucas is brilliant and we’d never seen anything like it on the screen. My favourite characters were always the nonhumans – Chewie, R2D2, C3PO, Yoda. Well Han Solo too - of course! What’s not to love? So, I'm going with 2 this time - I can't choose! 

So, which do you prefer: Star Trek or Star Wars?

Q

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Q

Q is a great character from Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also visits a few of the other Star Trek worlds. I love Q because he would drive me absolutely batty in the real world. He’s an omnipotent being who is utterly obnoxious. Yet, you can’t help liking him, hoping for him to (finally) redeem himself. If you’re trying to make your characters flawed, yet not completely unlikable, check out Q – we can learn a lot from him! Villains are so much more fun when we like at least part of their personalities!

Who’s your favourite flawed character?

Worst Movie Ever!

Ninja blogger Alex J. Cavanaugh is at it again. This time we're talking the WORST movies ever. So much fun! Be sure to check out Alex's place for the links to other participants! :)

Okay, I have to preface this by saying I don't watch tons of movies. I tend to wait them out and find out what the reviews are before I watch them. So I haven't actually seen that many terrible ones. But...

I'm a big Star Trek fan. This is not a secret. However, even I was bored out of my skull during most of the first Star Trek movie made. I think I almost fell asleep in the scene where they flew over V'ger - longest, most boring scene ever. The best thing about this movie? They didn't give up and actually made more - so I got to see Wrath of Khan! :)

I don't remember it very well, but when we were little, we watched The Blob with my family. It was supposed to be a horror movie (I think - unless it was supposed to be a parody??), but we laughed all the way through it. :)

Those are 2 of the worst movies I've seen. How about you? What's the worst movie you've watched?

Star Trek Blogfest

Two pieces of business for today! First off, I'm over at From the Write Angle today posting about settings - what I've learned so far & I'm looking for tips. I hope you'll pop on over! :)

And now for the fun stuff...

The lovely Ellie Garret has wonderful taste - she's a Star Trek fan! She's hosting the Star Trek As We Know It Blogfest today. Click on her link to get the list of all the participants.

I've always loved Star Trek. No one in my family has ever liked science fiction or fantasy. In fact, they all hated it then and hate it still. I grew up in a house with only 1 TV. When I stumbled on a Star Trek (orignial series) rerun one day, I fell in love. And my sci fi hating family let me watch it. Every week.

I used to make up scripts in my head when I was supposed to be sleeping. I never wrote any of them down, but I would 'rehearse' them over and over in my head until the characters were in the right spots, the scenes were set and the lines were perfect! I've since watched every episode of every series and all the movies - multiple times. Love it all :)

So my 5 favourite Star Trek things...

• Spock. Love the ears and the eyebrow! Love the clear thinking, the bluntness, and the humour and sarcasm bathed in logic.
• Data. I think Brent Spiner does a fabulous job playing the straight man throughout the series and the movies. Love the scene when he gets his emotion chip working and hates the drink :)
• The Voyage Home. I know! Cheesiness at its best! I love the whales, the jokes, Spock on the bus - all of it!
• Wrath of Khan. Who doesn't love Khan? Such a great movie - cried like a baby the first time I watched it - you know the scene!
• the whole world & philosophy. I think Star Trek in all its manifestations attracted me because of the hope for the future. How can you not love a future where money isn't the reason people do things? Where people are equals (although this took Roddenberry some doing & he never quite got to showcase his true vision) and always striving to know more, do more and be more? I can't resist!

So, there you have it. I enjoyed the ST new movie too and can't wait to see where they're going to go with it! Don't forget to check out Ellie's blog for more!

So, how about you? Are you a Star Trek fan? If not, what's a series from childhood that's stayed with you?

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Please remember to pop on over to From the Write Angle and talk about settings! Thanks :)

Top Ten TV Shows Blogfest

Alex Cavanaugh is doing it again! The Dirty Dozen Movie Blogfest was such a hit, he's hosting one now for Top Ten TV Shows. Again I couldn't resist. There are so many great TV shows I've enjoyed over the years. Top Ten though is HARD! After (not so) much internal debate, here we go...

11. My bonus pick. Okay it's not in the rules but I needed at least 1 more pic! Bablyon 5 was another close one, but for my bonus pic I'll go with Sliders - so many fun alternate dimensions.

10. Stargate Atlantis/SG1 - Love the gate! Love the blend of characters & emotions on these shows - so much great humour! And who doesn't love a good wraith or replicator?

9. X-Files. I didn't catch this show the first time around. I thought it would be too scary because I am a bit of a wimp. I have nightmares pretty much every night anyway, I didn't want to make them worse. But Scully & Mulder drew me in. There are so many great concepts in this show - so many possibilities. Love it!

8. American Idol & Canadian Idol. Yeah, I know - doesn't really match the rest of the shows on the list. But I love music - always have. I can't handle the audition rounds very well, but I love the Hollywood section where they have to work in groups. I love harmonies and when these kids do them well, it's amazing! :)

7. Bones - I'd read several of Kathy Reichs books and fallen in love with her characters Tempe and Ryan well before the TV show started. I like how the books and show have gone in slightly different directions but stay true to each other. Having the author involved probably makes that a little easier. :)

6. Star Trek: The Original Series. This series had to go on the list because it's the series that I think inspired me to write. One day I stumbled across the show in reruns. No one in my family enjoyed any kind of science fiction or fantasy so this was my first exposure. I got sucked in immediately. Loved Spock! Fascinating. :) I spent hours, usually at night when I should have been sleeping, creating scripts in my head. I kept at it until the settings, dialogue and blocking were all how I'd want them. I never wrote them down, but I probably created dozens of scripts over the years.

 

5. Star Trek TNG - The Next Generation really caught my imagination too. The cast was more modern and I thought the Data character was brilliant. Casting a comedian as a straight-faced, 'non'-emotional android was so smart!

4. Fringe - Fringe Science is so much fun. More alternate universes - more weird science and endless possibilities! Walter is awesome :)

 

3. Torchwood - Wow! Awesome. Dark, flawed, complex characters with all kinds of troubles and issues trying to keep the world safe. Fantastic.

 

2. Battlestar Gallactica. This remake was SO different from the original. Starbuck's a girl! I love the characters and the whole Cylon concept. Slave races will never be content to remain slaves forever.

1. Firefly - I actually didn't catch this when it was on TV either. Joss Whedon is a master. This show is set in the future in space, but it's more like the Wild West frontier. Okay, that sounds cheesy. It's actually brilliant and well worth a watch!

 

So, there you go. Definitely skewed towards the sci-fi end of the realm. Gotta thank my science-fiction-hating family for that one. We only had one TV for most of my growing up years, but I always got to watch Star Trek - although everyone else always found things they wanted to do elsewhere. It was great!

 

Thanks Alex! Make sure you check out his site :) (I've got meetings after school today - but I'll try to get around to a lot of the posts in the evening!)

 

So, what's your #1, absolute favourite TV series of all-time?

The Movie Dirty Dozen

Alex J. Cavanaugh has initiated The Movie Dirty Dozen blog hop. Great idea! Who doesn't love the movies? :) Make sure you click on Alex's link above to check out his post and find the links to everyone else involved. It's sure to be a lot of fun to compare our faves :)

So, without further ado, here are my top 12 favourite movies!

12. Can't decide: To Kill a Mockingbird. Singing in the Rain. White Christmas. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Toy Story. Chicago. Miracle on 34th Street. Miss Congeniality. Oklahoma. :)  ... *sigh* (I know, all over the place!)

11. Blind Side. Incredible story. This one touched my heart. I've only seen it once, but several scenes are pretty much engraved in my brain. I've taught kids in pretty tough situations, but thankfully none in as difficult a situation as Michael. This story of perseverence, courage and above all love really touched me.

10. Planet of the Apes (the original). I loved this entire series when I was a kid. The scene at the end with the Statue of Liberty was such a Wow! moment. Made me want to be an astronaut and believe in time travel. Love it!

9. The Matrix. Great concept. Loved the idea of the phone entry, the fake reality, and the moves. Lots of fun in this one.

8. Bourne Identity. I enjoyed the entire trilogy, but the 2nd and 3rd movies are so vastly different from the books that they kind of drive me crazy. I keep wanting to say, "But that shouldn't happen..." Nevertheless, I enjoyed this fun adventure. Damon's great and the action is fun!

7. The Sound of Music. Yeah - most of my pics are fantasy & science fiction, but I've loved this movie from the first moment. The music and the story line get me each time I watch it. Powerful stuff in there. I do believe I can sing every word. Not well perhaps, but I can sing them! My mom has this record album - yes, record! - and I listened to it repeatedly growing up.

6. X-Men. #1. Love the characters. In fact, I love the entire concept. Mutants. Will this be the way our futures will look? And will it be deliberate or accidental? Hmmm.... :)

5. Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home. I love Star Trek - always have. I think this is my favourite movie of them all. Even though some of the movies are bad, really bad :), they're Star Trek so that means I love them! This one has great humour and a sense of fun. My favourite scene? Spock on the bus! Or maybe Spock swimming with the whales. :)

4. Serenity. This Josh Whedon series (Firefly) is amazing. Great characters, fun story lines that always say more than they seem to say, and great humour. Although I always tear up when they land ... no spoilers, but if you're a fan you know the scene I'm talking about. Breaks my heart every time.

3. Star Wars - the orignial trilogy. I grew up with these movies and love them more than #1-3. Lucas is amazing. His technologies and special effects are mind boggling - as is his imagination. Favourite character? R2D2. Who knew you could say so much and feel so much with no words and no heart? :) Or maybe, Chewie...

2. Wizard of Oz. I've always loved it. The monkeys scared my sister and she wouldn't watch it with me when we were little. It used to come on once a year, and my family always let me watch it on our one TV, even though no one else loved it. The magic, the power of home/family/love and the message that kids can have some power too - awesome! And we get to hear Judy sing!

1. Lord of the Rings. And, yes, I'm cheating and taking the entire trilogy :) I was so worried when this movie came out. I don't like when they make movies of my favourite books. The movies rarely live up to the mood or the theme or the characterization or the... Even though these movies are different from the book - obviously they had to be - otherwise the movies would have been days long! - I think they did a great job staying true to the voice of the books. I think Tolkein would be quite happy.

So there you have it. My favourite movies. At the moment. :)

What's your all-time favourite movie? The one you watch every time it shows up on TV?

Star Trek & Agatha Christie?

"The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes." - Agatha Christie

Don't you just love Agatha Christie? She's one of my all-time favourite authors. I also love this quote of hers. I have such a hard time imagining dear Dame Agatha doing dishes!

It got me to thinking about where I plot my books. I've never had an easy time falling asleep. Even as a kid, there were too many things running through my head for sleep to come easily.

And then I encountered Star Trek (the original series) in one of its rerun seasons. I started plotting out new stories as I waited for sleep to arrive. The series struck a deep chord within me - all of those thinly-veiled morality tales filled with excitement, new species and adventure. For years I plotted out new stories before bed. Never wrote one of them down, but lived through them night after night instead.

Now, I plot out my novels before I sleep. I watch the characters play out a variety of scenes, test out the emotional impact of their words and actions, watch them to see which scenes need to get written down and which need to stay in almost-dreamland.

Where do you plot out your writing? Do you have a set time or place that sends you directly into that creative mode?