Notices by Kagan MacTane (kagan@wandering.shop), page 5

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: You're at a coffee shop table at the end of the universe, what 3 writers are you chatting with?

Shakespeare, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Susan Cooper.

(I don't care if it sounds pretentious to say Shakespeare. I've honestly really liked his stuff since high school.)

#WritersCoffeeClub 26: How many drafts do you go through before the final manuscript?

I'll find that out after I finish the first draft!

#WritersCoffeeClub 27: Hollywood has optioned your work for a movie. Do you disown it if they change things?

This is a tough one. "Change things" *how much?* Some things *need* to change when going from a written medium to a visual one. But speaking of core, crucial things…

I'd try to hold out for contract clauses that would allow me to scuttle a project that was going to mess with important stuff (or keep them from doing so in the first place!), if possible. 1/3

But I realize it probably wouldn't be possible. Especially for me, as a first-time writer! So…

If "disown it" just means that I say publicly, all over social media and in any interviews I can get, "I disown the movie that's coming out next week. It's a travesty; don't go see it"? (Sort of like Anne Rice did with the 1993 _Interview With the Vampire_… until she suddenly changed her mind for reasons unknown?) Yeah, I'd do that. Absolutely. Why not? 2/3

#WritersCoffeeClub 28: Table of contents or no table of contents? Discuss.

I don't much care either way, but I am thinking very hard about whether to have themed chapter names/titles. Or chapter names at all; it seems like very few books do, but I really love the idea of having them have a theme or connecting thread.

Of course, if you have chapter titles *and* a ToC, you need to make sure none of those titles deliver spoilers! But that should be easy enough.

Okay, I can actually see why not, if you're hoping for royalties. And no shade or disrespect to any writers who need their movie royalties to be as big as possible because they need to pay the bills! You do what you gotta do under capitalism.

But for myself, I already have a career. I can afford to say that I want my works to stay true to a particular vision, where the legacy is more important than the pay. I have that option, and I'd take it. But I can understand the other side. 3/3

#WritersCoffeeClub 29: Have you ever left an autographed copy of your work in a hotel or guest house?

I don't have that option yet, still being unpublished.

#WritersCoffeeClub 30: Did the education system inspire you or put you off writing?

Neither, really. It taught me some about writing essays, but not really about writing fiction. OTOH, it did introduce me to lots of works of literature. Ehhh, really 🤷🏻 six of one, a half-dozen of the other. Or "not a major influence in either direction".

#WritersCoffeeClub 31: Does your work include any horror elements? What's the most frightening thing you've written?

I have plans for one of the villains to do some things that are pretty creepy, but I'm trying to be very careful of the usual "ways creepy guys violate other people" tropes. Also, I'm writing #UrbanFantasy, not horror, so I do want to avoid suddenly hitting readers with a level of scariness that they hadn't planned on signing up for.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: Do you keep a notebook or digital device by your bed if you have an idea during the night?

Not specifically in that way, but... I have made it so I can take notes and edit any and all of my writing files on my phone. And I do keep my phone by my bed when I'm sleeping, albeit mostly because it's also my alarm clock.

So, the two things combine to make this a "yes", even though I didn't intend those actions quite that way.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: What's the best writing advice you've heard or read?

Write for the people who will enjoy your work, not for the asshole on the internet (whose voice you've probably internalized by now!) who picks everything apart mercilessly. Don't write defensively; write for joy.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: "Are dialogue tags flexible?" laughed John.

I think so, because you can do some nice stuff with them, but I also think you should use that very carefully. You want to deliver information about what the characters are doing and how they're saying things; you don't want to draw attention to the writing itself.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: Have you ever seen a movie which was better than the book?

Oh, absolutely. _The Hunt for Red October_ comes immediately to mind, and I feel like there's another one that I have in the same category, but can't bring it to mind ATM.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: Would you consider an audiobook of your novel or short story?

Sure, I don't see why I'd be opposed to such a thing in principle. I might oppose a certain, specific implementation, or not be willing to sign a particular contract, but I'm definitely open to the idea, and "would consider" it.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 5: How are you affected by reviews of your work?

I haven't received any yet, as I haven't yet got any work that could be published.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: How would you describe your WIP's core plot? E.g. Found family, redemption, gunpowder treason?

A small band of heroes fight the rich and powerful to make the world better.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: What does your most productive writing space look like?

The comfy armchair in my living room, where I can park a drink on the table by my left hand, and I can just turn on my writing music mix and go and go, reaching out to take sips whenever I'm thirsty or in need of motivation.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: Is there any kind of scene you could never write?

I absolutely hate the kind of "humor" that's based on embarrassing someone. Even if I decided to write such a thing for some godforsaken reason, I'm sure I'd be awful at it.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: Does your writing include comedy? How do you add comedic moments?

I sure hope so! I want some laughter and mirth in there. But I want it to bubble up out of the fun that people are having; I don't want to try to force funny things to happen.

That's what I want, anyway. I'll find out what I actually do, once I start doing it.

#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: What's the biggest mistake you've made in your writing journey?

I'm just at the beginning of my writing journey. I don't think I've had the opportunity to make many mistakes at all yet.