Wandering Adventure Party

#WritersCoffeeClub 30 August. Have you ever written as a commission? If not, would you?Not commissions as such, but I _have_ been asked to write blog essays on folkloric topics. Which I am amenable to, since I see them as advertising for my folklore topic.I also have once been asked to write an article including translations for a scholarly book, but unfortunately had to decline - publishers usually want pesky things like "exclusive publishing rights", while I want to release by translations under a #CreativeCommons license so that they can never go out of print.

#WritersCoffeeClub day 29: Talk about an experience you've had with plagiarism.I always cite my sources (my books have a massive bibliography), and I release my translations under a #CreativeCommons Zero licence, so there has been no cause for plagiarism in my recent work.That being said, I did learn that #Meta used some very old snippets I wrote for "Teralogos News" - that is, in-setting news for the #GURPS #TranshumanSpace line - to train their #AI , which counts.If you want to check if your own work was used to train Meta's AI without permission, and want to know how to check the class action lawsuit, check this post by @Richard_Littler :https://mastodon.social/@Richard_Littler/115105862107138339

#WritersCoffeeClub 8/28 What's the highest praise you've received as a writer?Hard to say, but the time I got reviewed by an actual folklore journal might qualify.It was in Russian, but still.https://folklore.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/345/303

@pentup Among other things, I do not want to burden the spirits of German folklore with any preconceptions involving British "faeries". There's not much talk about a "vulnerability to iron" in German folklore, to pick just one example.

@lbheuschkel Well, it did exist in some intellectual circles in the cities, but it was notably absent in the mindscape of the rural peasantry of 19th century Germany.And to understand folk tales, you need to understand the mindset of the people telling them. While I do have plenty of scathing criticisms for _some_ of their beliefs, base beliefs in Christianity and souls is not among them.

#WritersCoffeeClub 24. Have you ever written a work that was a retelling of another work?Not exactly a "retelling" than "translation with added commentary".But I observe all the time how folk tales got retold in different guises and context, and many - possibly the majority - count as #fanfiction in my view. Some of them are just more blatant about it than others.The #Bible fanfiction stories in particular are a hoot.

#WritersCoffeeClub 23 AugDo you tend towards writing personal or universal cataclysms? Why?People come to death or ruin in German folk tales all the time, usually through some personal failing.Universal cataclysms are rarer in German folk tales, but they do show up, since biblical eschatology has influenced German folklore similar to many other religious elements. A lot of tales talk about a prophesized "Final Battle" just before Judgment Day - usually, the Turks have overrun most of the world, except for some last remnants in Germany. And then the Day Will Be Saved by some long-lost emperor or army sleeping under a mountain somewhere. And after that, the curtains fail and the End Times have arrived.

@cstross Well, I get about €200 a month from my Patron, which is a good start, although it is still far away from "quite your day job" levels.Although it _was_ nice to get a review from an actual folklore journal. It was in Russian, but still.

#WritersCoffeeClub 22/8: Talk about an affirming experience you've had amongst your writing peers.I don't have much in the way of real world encounters with fellow writers, but I _do_ have a number of nice reviews from fellow writers:https://sunkencastles.com/the-books/

#WritersCoffeeClub Aug 21 - What's something essential to your process you think other writers should try?Beta readers and editing?I mean, that should be stating the obvious, but there are apparently still some beginning authors who decide that they can do without.(I also use alpha readers, though that's not quite as essential. Still improves the finished work, though.)

@dianaprobst Ah, okay, it was one of the tales I had not replaced yet - that explains it.I will add it eventually, for my hypothetical future "Reckless Child Endangerment" book.

@wallacewords It is! German folklore is far stranger than most people are aware of, and rather different from modern fantasy narrative conventions.And it gives me a fascinating view into the minds of Germans of prior centuries.

#WritersCoffeeClub 18/8: Have you ever hidden the fact that you're a writer?Nope. While my status as an author hasn't gotten me any actual dates, so far (more's the pity - I suspect that aspect of the author's life is exaggerated), the response has been overwhelmingly positive and even impressed.It helps that my #folklore books have some pretensions of scholarship, and it does help with preserving and spreading German cultural heritage and so forth - so they don't have the same stigma that #fantasy and #ScienceFiction have in certain circles. Even my aging father, who otherwise doesn't really "get" most of my hobbies, is impressed and occasionally asks me for my latest sales numbers.

#WritersCoffeeClub 08/17: What's changed for you from when you started writing to now?Well, I have somewhat less time for other hobby projects, which alas is the way of the world - we only have so much time in the day.On a more positive note, I also have developed a small fan following and interest from people who follow my field. The minor additions to my bank account (about €200/month these days, pre-tax) are also appreciated.

#WritersCoffeeClub 16 What's the most drastic alteration you've made to a work?Changing the typesetting from BibLaTeX to Biber, after the former ceased to work with my EPUB-generating setup. Now_that_ was a massive pain, with the hundreds of references I've made over the years... #TeXLaTeX

@chupa_ I dunno. Yes, the Napoleonic Wars led to the loss of the position of Emperor for the Holy Roman Empire, but considering what a useless wanker the Second Empire produced later on, I can only say: "Good Riddance!"

#WritersCoffeeClub Aug 13 - What regrets do you have regarding your work?Not having as much time for it as I would like.But alas, I too live in late-stage Capitalism, and at the present time I cannot rely on writing as my primary source of income.

@Uair @Klepsis "A would-be author who doesn't read" is a massive red flag.

@NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe I think nonessential in this context means a scene that could be axed without changing the overall plot and message, but acts to set mood, pace, or some other unquantifiables. As a movie example: Hayao Miyazaki is famous for this in his animated movies. He uses many still scenes, food scenes or scenes where the characters are just traveling. These could all be cut or waved away for a tighter run time or an expanded action, and they wouldn’t harm “the plot” for not being there. But they’re important for giving the audience, plot, and world time to breath and often allow the music and imagery to set the mood up for the upcoming beat in the story.

Dear community, could you please tell me who's hosting the #WritersCoffeeClub now? And where can I see the list of questions? Thanks!