I’m co-hosting the IWSG blog hop! (#IWSG)
I’m so excited to be co-hosting the Insecure Writers Support Group monthly blog hop, along with Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence! It’s my first time co-hosting any kind of blog hop, so like I do with every other new experience, I’m going to overthink it and write 17 drafts until the post is perfect.
Just kidding.
I’m going to do what I actually do with new experiences: dive in and flail around and probably look like an idiot but have a great time doing it (come to think of it, that sentence sums up my writing career quite nicely). Wanna come along for the ride? I have cookies…
Welcome to my nightmare the jungle my blog
I’m told that one of the perks of being an IWSG co-host is getting lots of new visitors to one’s blog, so before we get into the meat of today’s post, if you’re new here, welcome! Feel free to raid the fridge, snoop in the medicine cabinet, and put your feet on the coffee table.
Perennial topics here at Camp WTF include:
- Writing–mostly whining, a few successes, some snarky commentary (come to think of it, that sentence sums up my life quite nicely). See my other IWSG posts for examples.
- Travel–mostly around Arizona, mostly including pictures of cactuses. So. Many. Cactuses. Wanna see some? Also pictures of flowers. Especially cactus flowers.
- My Garden–more pictures of flowers. Just smile and nod and pretend you care.
- Books–sometimes mine, mostly other people’s. If it has words on it, I’ll read it. Let me tell you about this great cereal box I read yesterday…
- Music–mostly 80s, mostly rock, always loud
- My Life–do yourself a favor and skim those parts. I’m boring as hell.
- Memes–if I include memes in my blog posts, then scrolling social media is actually research, right? RIGHT? Lie to me baby. Lie to me.
This month’s optional IWSG question
Every month, we IWSG-ers are given an optional question we can answer in our posts, in case we need a writing prompt. I rarely need a writing prompt–I can babble on about damn near anything and usually do–but the questions are thought-provoking, so I usually answer them. This month’s questions is: Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?
I’ve been conflicted a few times about adding a scene to a story or keeping it after I’ve written it. I’m currently struggling with the fate of two scenes in my time travel romantic suspense, Vanishing, Inc.:
- A lighthearted scene that touches on the main conflict only tangentially but which shows my main character bonding with a secondary character whose help she’ll need later. I like the scene, and my critique partners liked it too, but I hear a lot about how writers should cut anything nonessential. So, should I cut it? I don’t know. For now, it’s staying.
- The climactic scene in the same novel, which includes an on-the-page attempted rape. It’s not over-the-top graphic, but it’s still going to upset some people. I think it needs to be there to be true to the story and the characters, but on-page sexual violence is a deal-breaker for some readers (and agents). I don’t know yet what I’m going to do about this scene.
I’ve talked about where to draw the line in my writing before. It’s hard.
Writing Memes!
I don’t usually include memes in my IWSG posts (I save them for my weekly Weekend Coffee Share posts), but I’m breaking tradition this time because, 1) I want to give my new visitors a good sense of what they’re in for if they decide to come back to my wacky corner of the interwebs, and 2) I suspect we can all use a few laughs. So, without further ado, I bring you: writing memes!
Writing avoidance
I never cease to be impressed at my ability to avoid actually writing.
RIP, Meat Loaf.
Writing: the only activity I avoid more than housework.
Dammit.
The psyche of a writer
A writer’s brain (or at least this writer’s brain) is a dark and twisty place.
Yeah, I’ve literally done that.
I’ve also done this:
Yeah, whatever you do, don’t look at my browser history. I don’t want to know how many watch lists I’m on.
And finally:
A writer’s (lack of) career options
Whether you’re a regular here in these parts or a first-timer, thanks for stopping by! Say howdy in the comments, and come on back real soon, ya hear?
83 Comments
joylenebutler
Thanks for co-hosting, Janet. And I love your blog. Always have. I used to have a pullover with big fancy letters that said, “I’m a writer; my mother’s other children are normal.”
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I’d say I need a shirt like that, but I’m an only child, so it wouldn’t be accurate. My poor mother never got to experience a normal child.
Miffie Seideman
Oh my gosh. I want this on a shirt now.
Kalpana
Your blog was a breath of fresh air. I loved all the memes. Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG blog hop this moth.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much!
alexjcavanaugh
That one f*er who thought the title was too long – that made me laugh out loud!
Mostly rock, always loud – is there any other way?
Thanks for co-hosting today. You’re going to do great.
Janet Alcorn
The pleasure is mine–thanks! I snort-laughed at the title too long one. I can totally picture someone leaving that in an Amazon review. People are weird.
soniadogra
Haha
I loved those memes. Thank you for co-hosting. I’m going to look out for more from you.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Come on back anytime!
Cathrina Constantine
I wrote a YA novel that takes place in the late sixties, when drugs and rock n’ roll and the conclusion of the VietNam War was going on. It’s semi-factual because I lived it. There is an attempted rape scene, and some reviewers went ballistic, saying trigger warnings-trigger warnings… Since I’m not a NYTBest Seller, which those authors seem to get a pass, it gets dicy. But be true to your story. Write what needs to be written!
Thanks for co-hosting. Love the memes.
Janet Alcorn
I always provide content warnings to my critique partners and beta readers, but as you say, no one demands them from bestselling authors, so it’s odd that they’re expected from the rest of us. That said, I’m happy to provide them if helpful.
I’m going to go in search of your novel–it sounds interesting!
melissamaygrove
Loved the post and the memes! LOL
About the on-screen sexual violence, leave it. I want the books I read to take me on an emotional rollercoaster and dump me out satisfied on the other end. I put content cautions below my story descriptions on the retail pages, to help customers vet the purchase, but I gag when I hear the words ‘trigger warning.’ My heart goes out to people who’ve endured horrible things -truly- but I don’t hold back when it comes to my writing, and I’m not going to try to list every possible sad or upsetting thing in the book. There are plenty of authors out there who write gentle fiction.
Thanks for co-hosting.
Janet Alcorn
I’m not a fan of the phrase, “trigger warning,” either–I prefer “content warning,” and I’m happy to provide one. I find some topics upsetting, so I understand.
My issue with holding back around the issue of sexual assault is this: 1 in 5 women are raped in their lifetime. 1 in 3 are sexually assaulted (I’m in that latter category). I don’t like it when rape is used as a convenient plot device, but I’m also unwilling to treat it as a taboo topic. That harms more than helps.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate it, and I agree 100%.
Natalie Aguirre
Thanks for co-hosting with me. And congrats on getting your story published. So excited for you.
I just wrote an attempted rape scene too that fit with the story. It’s not too graphic. My critique partners liked it so I hope it’s okay.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! And good luck with your story. Glad your critique partners gave you positive feedback. Scenes like that are hard to write–and even harder to get right–so kudos!
Elizabeth Seckman
Love the memes. Had to share one on my Facebook page. Thank you so much for hosting!! It lead me here where I laughed, switched on a brain cell, and had a cookie. Don’t worry, I never snoop through cabinets unless I’m starving or need a maxi pad and am too embarrassed to admit it.
I think fun scenes in the middle works as the “fun and games” portion of the story arc, so as long as your word count isn’t at say 150,000…keep it.
As for the emotional roller coasters and making creative decisions based on what other people feel…I think I made that mistake with my free read. I added a lot of bulk to the middle of the story because the social worker in me was sensitive to those who have experienced spousal abuse. Not sure it helped the pacing and debate daily whether or not I should go back and start deleting, but the social worker in me still wants the character to get some therapy.
I’m little help on this…
Janet Alcorn
Thanks!
My WIP deals with domestic abuse too. I’m also trying to be sensitive to those who have experienced it, but I also want to give readers a good rollercoaster ride, a satisfying ending, and a character who can transcend her terrible experiences and find hope and love on the other side. It’s a delicate balance. Good luck with your project!
nancygideon
LOL! Your post made my day because it made me laugh – at my fears, at my stressors, at my unrealistic expectations. And you have memes. I LOVE memes!! Thanks for co-hosting, Jane, and for bringing my kind of humor with you!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Laughing at my emo writer self is one of my favorite de-stressors. We writers (me… I mean me) can be so ridiculous. Yet we fight through all that emotional turmoil and put words on the page. Go us!
In my own words
I really enjoy your posts. You make me laugh when I take myself or other things too seriously. Thanks for hosting the IWSG this month. I’m also a “Meatloaf” type writer – “I won’t do THAT.” https://dianeweidenbenner.com/iwsg-how-to-get-past-writers-block/
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much! I need humor to keep from taking myself and my ridiculous overthinking too seriously.
chemistken
If your scene helps establish character AND stand on it’s own as far as entertaining the reader, then there’s no reason not to include it. It’s those scenes that readers skim through that need to be tossed.
Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
Janet Alcorn
Completely agree. Thanks for stopping by!
Sadira Stone
Love the memes! Thanks for the morning giggles. As for your first risky scene, sounds like you need it to introduce those characters. In romance, content warnings are common these days. Do you plan to provide one? Haven’t faced that dilemma yet, but I guess in your shoes I’d proceed with the violent scene and warn readers going in so they’ll be prepared, FWIW.
Janet Alcorn
If I self-publish, I’ll definitely provide a content warning. If traditionally published, it’ll be up to the publisher, and I don’t think I’ve seen content warnings on traditionally published titles.
Mary Aalgaard
Thanks for co-hosting IWSG today and for visiting my blog! Loved the memes. I can relate to a few!!! I’m in MN where we continue to have snow and cold and blowing snow in the cold. AZ sounds lovely. Happy Writing!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but it’s supposed to be 86 here today. But then you can gloat all summer, when it’s 112 here, and I want to live in a walk-in freezer.
emaginette
Thanks for hosting. Looks like you had some fun with it. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Janet Alcorn
I have fun with pretty much everything 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Arlee Bird
Welcome to the co-hosting scene! You’re off to a good start. So many great nuggets in this post I felt like I was in some kind of literary McDonald’s. Wanna have a contest to see which of us is best at avoiding writing?
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! And yeah, I’m totally down for a Writing Avoidance Contest. That’s one contest I have an actual chance of winning 🙂
patgarcia
Hi,
Congrats and welcome to the publishing world.
Thank you so much for co-hosting.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Co-hosting is a blast!
Adrienne Reiter
Yay, cookies! I think graphic scenes are necessary when central to the plot. Life is violent. Trigger warnings are a great way to keep your conscience clear.
Fun memes. Happy IWSG Day, and thanks for co-hosting!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Happy IWSG Day! And I agree about content warnings–I always provide them to my beta readers and critique partners, and if I self-publish, I’ll provide them in my advertising.
Kathy McKendry
Thanks for co-hosting! I love all the memes!
I think you do have to be true to your story and the characters when deciding about scenes and remember that it’s okay if your book isn’t for everyone, not many books are. If needed put a trigger warning on it and go with what the story needs!
Janet Alcorn
I agree completely. I’m just now learning how important it is to know who your readers are and, almost more importantly, who your readers aren’t. If I focus on my Not-Readers, I’ll twist myself into knots and ruin the story.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jemima Pett
I think you’ve got masses of support here for leaving the scene in, and treating it as you’ve already suggested. That’s roughly what I did with my orgy. 🙂
And you know, nobody is giving content warnings about single women who haven’t managed to get married by the time they’re 32 suffering the horrors one can go through (the book I’m reading at present, which is bringing up all sort of bad date memories) Yes, people have gone through traumatic stuff. And if writers don’t write it for fictional people, others won’t ever get empathy with the live people.
And, as you can see, being a co-host is a great way to get visitors 🙂 If you don’t get time this month, come and see me next!! Thanks for doing it.
Have fun…
Janet Alcorn
I totally agree! And thank you for pointing out that fiction, when done well, can help people empathize with the trauma of others. We need so much more of that.
What are you reading that brings up the bad date memories? It sounds like something I might enjoy. I didn’t have a lot of bad dates, mostly b/c I didn’t date a lot and met my husband when I was pretty young, but I did have a few.
Kim Elliott
The FBI surveillance meme and the name picking meme speak to me!
Janet Alcorn
Glad you found something to relate to!
Olga Godim
Love your memes, especially Ray Bradbury.
A strange coincidence: I’m reading a book set in Arizona right now – WHITE LIES by one of my favorite romantic suspense authors Jayne Ann Krentz.
Janet Alcorn
I didn’t know Krentz had a novel set in Arizona—I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for stopping by!
diedre
Hi Janet!
I’m not only impressed with your blog, I’m pleased to meet a fellow dweller of the scorching but never dull desert! I’m one of the foolhardy few born and raised, pretty-well braised, and still right here in the Old Pueblo.
My rule of thumb is never delete what can always be revised. And, even then, save a copy of your original page, or paragraph. This goes for your climactic scene as well. Try toning down the visual. If it doesn’t feel or fit right, at least you’ll have saved the original thought.
Loved the memes! Wish they didn’t all so closely describe my journey 😉
Thank you for co-hosting!
Janet Alcorn
Hello, fellow Tucsonan! LOL at well-braised. You aren’t just kidding! When 105 is a cooling trend…
You’re absolutely right about keeping original versions and cut scenes. I keep everything just in case.
And yeah, some of those memes hit way too close to home 🙂
Loni Townsend
Wonderful memes! Definitely made me smile. Thanks for co-hosting, and I hope you figure out what to do with your scenes.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for stopping by!
Miffie Seideman
A time travel romance with on the page rape is quite the blend! I understand the struggle with difficult topics or violence. Such a fine line to walk depending on the genre, your readerships expectations, your vision. Thanks for the laughs- I love your voice.
Janet Alcorn
*cough* Outlander *cough* I swear someone gets raped in almost every book in that series.
Thanks for the kind words!
Damyanti Biswas
Thank you for co-hosting, Janet–I love your blog now that I’ve found it! What hilarious memes lol. Hope you figure out what to do with those scenes.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much! I’m becoming a connoisseur of memes. Unfortunately, that means I spend time looking for them when I should be writing. *sigh*
jlennidorner
Thank you for co-hosting!
What gives with cereal boxes? If they have entertainment on them, it’s a “kiddie” cereal. What’s up with that? Why can’t we get short stories or something on our cereal?
A lot of the critique I’ve encountered about rape in fantasy books is that it lacks a reason other than to change women from characters to objects. Does that help at all with your direction.
As for a nonessential scene, if it’s developing characters, that’s useful. Maybe it doesn’t attack the plot or speed up the ticking clock, but character development matters too. There are movies where a character has so many scenes cut that, by the time the movie is done, the audience has no idea why there’s a role for that person at all.
Hope you’re having a great day! My latest post has my theme for the April #AtoZChallenge (I’m writing speculative fiction and looking for prompts).
At Operation Awesome we have the #PassOrPages query contest going on (friends or enemies to lovers Romance).
Looks like I’ll be very busy the next few weeks!
March quote: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain
Janet Alcorn
I’d love to see flash fiction on cereal boxes! For kids and adults. Way to get folks to read more.
Your point about how rape is used in fantasy is valid (and in other genres too). I also think it’s sometimes used as a convenient way to show a man is bad or to give a female character trauma. My MC definitely has trauma from rape, but it isn’t her entire personality.
I also like your take on “nonessential” scenes, and you’re exactly right about movies. They often have to cut so much when adapting a novel that all we’re left with is one action scene after another with nothing but the flimsiest of motivations and little relationship development.
Glad to learn the theme for Pass or Pages. My time travel romance is sort of friends to lovers, but I’m not sure there’s enough of the friendship for it to “count.” I’ll have to think about that.
Finally, that Mark Twain quote has become a part of my philosophy of life. I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than the things I’ve not done.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Samantha Bryant
Thanks so much for cohosting and I greatly enjoyed your post today. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
S.E. White
Memes are my love language! And all of yours were so good. I may definitely have a few of them in a folder on my computer already, shhh, we’ve decided together that it’s research. Thank you for co-hosting this month, I’m delighted to have found your blog!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much! I’m a meme-aholic. I have no talent for creating them, but I sure can appreciate them. And yes—acquiring memes = research!
Sandra Cox
Thanks for co-hosting, Janet.
Janet Alcorn
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by!
Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy
Those memes are hilarious. It’s funny how we want to write, yet look for every excuse under the sun not to write.
Miffie Seideman
Too true!
Janet Alcorn
In my case, I want to have written 🙂
mlouisebarbourfundyblue
What a fun and lively post, Janet! I, too, have resorted to reading cereal boxes if I’ve run out of reading material ~ LOL!
If something like rape or violence needs to be included because it’s true to a story, I’ll include it. But it’s so difficult to write!
I love the memes! I can’t write a post without including a photo, and I frequently have a meme or a joke, depending on the subject.
Thanks for co-hosting! I hope that you get lots of visitors today. I have always enjoyed co-hosting when I’ve done it. Take care!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much! And you’re right: writing violence, especially sexual violence, is really hard.
Shannon Lawrence
Ah, writer memes, how I love them, let me count the ways. Thanks for co-hosting this month. You did a great job!
yvettecarol
I love the sense of humour, Janet! Keep going.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks!
Gwen Gardner
I’ll admit the rape scene would be a no go for me. I can deal with “attempted” though. Thanks for co-hosting!
Janet Alcorn
Same for me, actually. It also depends on how it’s portrayed.
Yvonne V
Fun memes! Thanks for co-hosting.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for stopping by!
J.Q. Rose
Hey, I’m a newbie here. I found lots of treasures here especially your great sense of humor. And all those memes! Are you kidding me??? That’s a LOT of research for your blog post. Loved your pics too. Plus, and the most important of all is your name is Janet. So is mine! And we all know Janets are fantastic people, right? Thank you for co-hosting. You are doing a great job! C ya’ next month!
Janet Alcorn
Howdy, fellow fantastic Janet! Glad you liked the blog. Have a fantastic weekend!
Elizabeth Mueller
Hi, Janet! Yeah, keep the flulff in your story, you might need it for something. Also, two questions I go by as I write and as I edit:
Does it move the plot forward? Does it deepen the character?
You probably already know that!
Janet Alcorn
Hi! I ask myself those same questions, but sometimes I have trouble being objective about the answers (because I want to keep something and don’t like to tell myself no). And yes, I keep everything. Never know when it might come in handy!
Michelle Wallace (@mishy1727)
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG bloghop, Janet!
I’m sure you had loads of new visitors and loads of fun too!
I’ll just make myself more comfortable as I scroll through your delightful memes…(removes feet from coffee table and prepares to make a second cup of coffee)
Janet Alcorn
My pleasure! I’m having a blast interacting with so many people, and my blog stats have never looked so good.
Thanks for stopping by!
Patricia Josephine
Thanks for cohosting. I love the memes. They gave me a chuckle.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for stopping by!
Toi Thomas
Thanks for co-hosting this month and for stopping by my blog.
I enjoyed your memes.
The “should I cut it or not” question is a tough one.
It has always bothered me that certain kinds of violence are acceptable while others are a breaking point. It makes more sense to me to clearly state “no violence” or “sure, violence”, but this picking and choosing leaves open too many variables for discrimination, marginalization, and censorship. I feel ike content warnings are there for a reason.
Janet Alcorn
Totally agree. There’s also a difference between gratuitous violence and violence necessary for plot and characterization.
Jennifer Lane
Those memes are so good! 😀 Thank you for co-hosting. I like “Camp WTF”.
I have included 2 rape scenes in novels, and yes, that’s a tough call. I tried to avoid explicit detail. One reader wondered about a trigger warning, and I thought about it, but I ended up not using one in the blurb.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I think I’ll be referring to home as Camp WTF from now on. It’s entirely too appropriate.
I get the need for content warnings, but I’ve never seen one included on a traditionally-published book. I suppose a blurb can convey enough about the nature of the story to make an explicit content warning unnecessary.