Memories

When I was twelve, I couldn't understand why all my older sisters and brothers seemed unable to be around our mom without it turning into an emotional mess, from which I instinctively fled to my room to immerse myself in a book.

#SmallWritingGroup

2/2

My mom wasn't just the person I remembered at twelve.
Until I was seven, she was up to her neck in shit, and us kids were in it way over our heads.

She had eventually grown into the grandma I saw reading stories to my nieces and nephews.

When I was four, my mom had come into the kitchen where I was sitting alone, reading the back of the cereal box. She said, "Those ingredients sound real. You must have learned to read by watching Sesame Street!"
And she was right.
#SmallWritingGroup

#SmallWritingGroup type question (at the end lol) When building a character, they grow in my brain for a long time so that by the time I start to write for them they already have strong traits and personalities and history. But once they start doing stuff they start to change.
Do you abandon a trait if it hasn't appeared in the action by a certain point? Or can it appear 'out of the blue?"
I hate when a trait conveniently appears but can't pack everything in right at the start.

2 pages yesterday. Doesn't sound like much, but i didn't delete it when I was done. AND I titled it. Thankfully I didn't strain anything patting myself on the back. 😎
Today? Well today I played online most the day.
Did you #write today?
#SmallWritingGroup

If anyone likes to talk to other wannabe #writers who #write but also #procrastinate online a lot, and also like to #read stuff...especially #scifi and #SciFiFantasy we could share ideas under the #hashtag #SmallWritingGroup
🖖

If you are interested in being part of a #SmallWritingGroup feel free to use the #hashtag and send out your ideas, questions, requests, guidance and just plain ol' energy. It's not #TheVoid but we are likely in different timezones so check back often by first doing a search up there 👆 and then #follow the hashtag when you pull up the results (click the person+ icon)
I don't want to be the primary voice so hopefully others feel free to #SpeakUp and #AskQuestions or #Offer advice with the #hashtag

Sheesh. Just being willing to ask for help seems to have freed up a part of my brain that was holding me back in my #writing. Not kidding, I have deleted pages of work because I couldn't imagine what to title it and was angry that I was still calling *everything* I wrote "Untitled"
#SmallWritingGroup goals included me titling something I wrote without deleting it all in private embarrassment at my hubris.

@journeysloane I know that might not work for large files in case we want to share large chunks of work. #SmallWritingGroup can discuss how to do that if we need to? I am pretty risk averse LOL but could bring myself to go to a different website if it would help someone make progress on their wip

I know it hasn't been long but I actually just got 2 pages written in manuscript format, without erasing it all and starting over then quitting without saving.

For me the #SmallWritingGroup has already proven helpful. I DO #write
#SciFi #SciFiFantasy and (shh this is the part I don't share with people yet because...reasons) time travel.
If this seems like stuff you might enjoy helping me craft, and you feel like sharing what you are #writing
I hope you feel free to use that #hashtag & say hi

@WildTypeWriter I imagine it heading that direction, for sure.
It was a sudden thought and for once I ran with it instead of procrastinating. My issue is procrastination and fear of failure, so having a #SmallWritingGroup seemed like a way to safely discuss ideas and learn to accept constructive critique.
If that sounds like something you are up for, and would benefit from,
I'm thinking that using the above #hashtag should help us keep track of each other. Maybe not every reply but when needed?

@nlowell I'll be 54 in January. I started reading when I was 4.
I feel like I've really taken the long way round. Hoping it turns out to be an entertaining story that ends exactly as one hoped but never realized until they arrived there at the end.
Plus time travel. Because seriously. Why wouldn't I?

Ok, now for real. I'm going to stop checking for notifications until at least...later.
I can commit to that much at this time.
#SmallWritingGroup really has already helped me. Now to put it to use

@nlowell Aha! I could not walk away from #mastodon until I checked back in because *that* is my fear. What just happened. I did a poor job of conveying my meaning and then felt I had done harm by being so careless with my words. I need a #SmallWritingGroup to help me bounce all my random thoughts and insecurities, and to hear from others and how they find success etc.
I suspect I will end up finding the words I need, but I might have to dance around them a bit first. 1/2

Ok! Even one constructive conversation has proven enough to get me focused on writing today. So I will hop off of here and go put some words on paper, some ideas in the file folder and maybe even print some possible character profiles and hang them up. Thanks #SmallWritingGroup
member @nlowell your advice was amazingly spot on.

@whatzaname

Getting published is simple and easy.

Getting paid for it is a little more complicated.

Adding stipulations on how and where to publish establishes paths and identifies roadblocks.

I found it helpful to figure out why I wanted to write before deciding what I'd write or where I'd publish it.

That answer pointed directly to everything else, allowing me to actually finish a novel after too many aborted starts.

#SmallWritingGroup

To summarize, for myself and any others interested in participating in a #SmallWritingGroup focused on #SciFi #SciFiFantasy #writers #writing with a goal of being ready to #Publish or #GetPublished
The #hashtag #SmallWritingGroup should guide us to each other for helpful advice, support, and someone to say, did you #write today?

@nlowell If those who are interested in forming a #SmallWritingGroup would just use that #hashtag for now maybe that would be an easy way to start. Like, maybe we 2 agree (I love #consensus ) that we check in for related posts as we are able, and respond as able, not overusing the #hashtag so it stays #focused (unlike me, which is my point...)

#WritingCommunity seems an ideal use of a space like this. No matter where you are or when you are awake. Just a #SmallWritingGroup Not trying to become #viral or any other such unpleasant sounding thing. I'd rather just help each other focus on finishing our #writing projects or #edit our work or help think up new ways to #publish or #GetPublished

@nlowell I hope to only use this site, or else I feel mentally scattered. I have stories in my head, notes in a folder, and taped to the wall and in my backpack, I have a typewriter with fresh ribbon, and a supportive partner who is patient with my insistence I can be a #writer even as I seem to never #write.
I don't share concepts in person bc I phobia or paranoia up, but I think I can bounce ideas off a few other #writers in a #SmallWritingGroup online with less overwhelm.

This is where I break out all the #hashtags & request you #boost so I don't need an alt account just to meet all my #online #community needs.
I am looking for A FEW, INTERESTED
#writers #writing #scifi #ScifiFantasy #fiction for a #SmallWritingGroup for daily or weekly chit chats, inspiration and to share progress etc. Because we need hashtags I think it will need to be out in the wilds of #mastodon #federation instead of #unlisted & anyone who gets inspired is free to #FollowAlong even #JoinIn