A3. Despite being a huge industry, comic artists don't have a union in the United States. There are talks in Japan of forming one for manga artists so they receive fair compensation for the works they provide and health insurance for strain-related injuries. How would you form a union for your creative industry of choice if one doesn't exist already?
#Writephant
I stand on the shoulders of giants. I am a member of SFWA. Being a shy person, I'm glad I have that support.
First I think would be choosing trusted individuals who know how to handle the paperwork and aren't racist, sexist, and transphobic. Then it's opening up such a union and figuring out how to make it effective so that industries can't ignore us and choose the newbies or scabs. #writephant
Despite being a huge industry, comic artists don't have a union in the United States. There are talks in Japan of forming one for manga artists so they receive fair compensation for the works they provide and health insurance for strain-related injuries. How would you form a union for your creative industry of choice if one doesn't exist already?
#Writephant
First, as always, how are you doing today, and what is bringing you joy?
A great evening to everyone! It is time for another #Writephant, a weekly writer chat!
I am your host, Priya Sridhar, and our theme is National Cartoonists Day!
@Priyajsridhar
I'm Elektra Hammond. Find me at untilmidnight.com
See me talk about SF/F, writing, comics, TV, and Supernatural at Con-Tinual (the Con that Never Ends) on Facebook and Youtube.
My next convention will be Balticon on Memorial Day weekend, where Permutations, an anthology based on Jack Chalker's Well World will launch.
Self-promo time! What links, media, and posts do you want to share? #writephant
@jeanmauel
I would like to be the first to welcome you to the writing community here. There is no algorithm like on X/Twitter and other services to generate a timeline of posts (called toots) on Mastodon. To do this you follow people that interest you, which you did for me so you've got this. We also follow keyword hashtags like #WritingCommunity and include those hashtags in our posts when they apply.
Including the following hashtags and the accounts allow you to be found by like-minded people. If you don't include them, you won't be noticed. Much. You do have a recognizable name…
There are also hashtag writer challenge games, where like-minded authors reply and discuss author-y things. It is both a good way to procrastinate (as if we need that), but also an opportunity to think about current characters and techniques and read what other authors think about the subject. Here are some incomplete lists to get you started.
These identify your community.
#Writer #Author #WritersOfMastodon #bookstodon #Writing
#SF #scifi #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #Mystery #Romance #Thriller #horror
Games:
#PennedPossibilities
#WritersCoffeeClub
#ScibesAndMakers
#WordWeavers
#TimeTravelAuthors
#EngenderedWriting
#Writever
#Writephant
There's more, but if you check these out, you'll quickly be surrounded by the like-minded. Also, since I follow a multitude of authors, but also artists and creative people, you are welcome to raid my follow list on my profile page for other accounts to follow.
Last, please take a moment to fill in your profile page. I do admit your name and banner picture is a great intro, but it's a good place to note what you love to talk about, what you would rather talk about, and it may not just be about writing and publishing. Today is good time to do that. (I guess RS is a little pushy.) Again, you are welcome to look at my profile page (and others) for ideas.
If you provide links anywhere on Mastodon, but definitely when building your profile page, include the full http version of the link. If you do, it becomes clickable.
Of note in regard to profiles, you can pin things like a longer introduction post or an essay you wish to share, so it is the first post visitors see. It's one of the features and actions hidden in the three dots menu (…) at the end of a post.
Again, welcome. Feel free to ask questions. If you use community hashtags, others might answer also.
I write science fiction that leans towards cozy, with plenty of mystery twists and humor. Find out more about my books here:
#Writephant A4 Does social media boost or drain your writing energy? How do you recharge creatively — by going inward or getting out and connecting?
It can boost. Connecting with other writers, knowing they're going through the same kind of things with their writing/querying/sales.
And I've used lots of real world events (current and historical) for inspiration. these things pop up on the right social media.
@davidtheeviloverlord @neve Yeah... his mom and I think he'll figure this one out in a month. #Writephant
@davidtheeviloverlord @Priyajsridhar
Mine just turned 21, so we're well past that stage... but he was an explorer, always wanted to go, go, go.
@davidtheeviloverlord And from all accounts is sounds as if it's only going to get worse, ugh
#Writephant A2 Do you get your story problems solved by ruminating or by talking things out with people?
Often by ruminating.
Usually this involves scrolling through the interwebs until I find something interesting.
For example, I'm currently writing about food safety standards (or lack of them) in a fantasy world, and our industrial world has been very inspiring, sadly.
@neve
#writephant A2 Do you get your story problems solved by ruminating or by talking things out with people?
I ruminate some, but more often rely on my subconscious. It's really good at waking me at 3 a.m. with brilliant ideas, dang it. Often the right thing occurs in revision, like yesterday when I was doing a pass on a section where a mother is listening while her daughter is planning a raid to save abused women and children. The word "inhuman" popped out as I was adding some gloss, in reference to the males causing the need, and suddenly I was on fire. I think I very much hit it out of the park, with the mother correcting the daughter about the word, and how proud she is when her daughter gets it.
I'd love to talk it out with people, but I'm kind of shy and never do.
#writephant Q2 Do you get your story problems solved by ruminating or by talking things out with people?
@Priyajsridhar Same! Interruptions are my arch nemesis...
@Priyajsridhar We used to have so many locks and gates all over the house back in the day :)
@neve A little sad since baby niece and nephew came with their two sets of parents this weekend, and everyone left this morning. But having them here brought lots of joy. Baby nephew was not happy to find out we have childproof locks on some doors though, lol. #Writephant
I'm doing OK, finally went in to get help for my shoulder and am starting to see improvement, so that's unexpected (in a good way). Hopefully it lasts.
