#writerscoffeeclub Mar 18 - What's a writerly gift you've received?

An author whose book I volunteered a cover quote for once surprised me with a bottle of Irish whiskey. Fittingly, it was Writers' Tears (and a very nice wee dram it was)!

(Frankly, getting an ARC of that book to provide a blurb for was its own reward. No, I'm not telling you who it was.)

#WritersCoffeeClub March 17. What's an experience or sensation you've struggled to convey to a reader?

I've been arguing with myself over how to answer this prompt and took a while to realize that I don't even try to convey experiences or sensations: that's not what writing is for, in my books. I'm about ideas, and insights, and emergent emotional reactions to these.

#WritersCoffeeClub 15 March. Talk about an experience you've had sharing your writing with a group.

At this point in my career I have roughly 2 million books in print (not counting translations and pirate copies): publishing lore says the average print book has 4 readers over its lifetime while ebooks have fewer *but* there's piracy … spitballing, call it maybe 6-8 million book/reads?

Discussing workshops or readings would be anticlimactic at this point.

(Nobody's punched me, so I'm good.)

#WritersCoffeeClub March 14: Do you think readers want new experiences in structure or narrative, or do they prefer what's familiar?

What an editor ever says to an author after a successful novel: "that was great! Write me another just like it, only different."

Some readers want the thrill of the new, other readers want the comfort that comes from the familiar. But the Marketing Department tilts towards the latter because they know how to sell it—and they're the gatekeepers.

#WritersCoffeeClub 14 Mar: Do readers want new experiences in structure or narrative, or do they prefer what's familiar?

¿Por qué no los dos?
Readers do crave new experiences, but trying new things comes w/cost and risk.
Those are both lower w/ known quantities.

This is a big factor in the popularity of series, and it's why people tend to stick with authors they've discovered they enjoy.

I have more to say on this...

#WritersCoffeeClub 14 Mar: Do readers want new experiences in structure or narrative, or do they prefer what's familiar?

¿Por qué no los dos?
Readers do crave new experiences, but trying new things comes w/cost and risk.
Those are both lower w/ known quantities.

This is a big factor in the popularity of series, and it's why people tend to stick with authors they've discovered they enjoy.

I have more to say on this...

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub

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

#WritersCoffeeClub

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub Footnote: fighter v. helicopter duels aren't as clear-cut as an outsider might expect. At altitude and speed, the fighter has the upper hand: but down in the ground clutter, the helicopter gunship can be approximated to an angry flak battery than can suddenly fly sideways at 200mph and duck under bridges: fighter pilots treat them with extreme caution because it's like poking a rattlesnake—you want to use the longest stick you can find.

#WritersCoffeeClub 3/13: Talk about an experience when you consulted an expert for a piece of writing.

Happens regularly!

Back in 2014 I was writing "The Nightmare Stacks" and wanted a Eurofighter Typhoon v. Dragon Rider dogfight over the Yorkshire dales (NB: not-exactly dragons ridden by elven sorcerers with basilisk weapons for visual-range engagement). Consulted a friend who had just retired from the RAF as a squadron leader. The dynamics of fast jet vs. helicopter gunship combat fit well …

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub March ~ How do you "stress test" your work?

I change the font to a curly font set at 6pt and let my inner critic Orlando read it.

🪷

#WritersCoffeeClub March ~ How do you "stress test" your work?

I change the font to a curly font set at 6pt and let my inner critic Orlando read it.

🪷

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

I have a gang of test readers. Then it goes to my editor of first resort—my agent (who used to be a Big Six editor before changing career)—for edits. Then it goes to my acquiring editors at the publishers (US and UK) who edit it. And so on. By the time it finally trickles into print I've been over it so many times I can't bear to see it again.

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 11Mar—Does your work reflect your morals? How so?

Of course. I wrote it; it's impossible to remove my morals from it completely.

I don't make it obvious—at least, I try not to. But there are things I highlight, such as respect (esp. toward women), forgiveness, and kindness. Occasionally, I'll show these things by having characters *not* be moral (e.g. being disrespectful). Sometimes, that's more effective.

I'd be more worried if writing didn't reflect the author's morals.