Attitudes towards LGB characters in your fantasy land

Diversity in books, Editing, Writing, Writing
Fantasy is a genre full of tropes, many of which I love: castles, dragons and magic are just a few of my favourites. Some of the tropes, however, aren't so pleasant. Many fantasy societies closely resemble the medieval English culture they are modeled after, including not just the castles but the strict class structure and the oppressive laws. Main characters tend to rebel against these structures(even when it makes no sense for them to do so) but they are almost always there. But... Why? Why can't our fantasy societies have different morals? They can still have castles, can still have kings and courts of nobles, without needing the entire moral code. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't make sense for most of these societies to have such identical morals. Most fantasy…
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Tips from Nanowrimo veteran CaptainQuirk

Nanowrimo, Workshops, Writing, Writing
Hello, fellow WriMos. I’m a five-time NaNoWriMo winner (plus one Camp NaNo). Here’s my advice for crossing that 50,000 word finish line. 1. Socialize Writing can be lonely. The fun of NaNo is that you’re embarking on your quest in tandem with a bunch of other people who love writing just as much as you do. Go to events. Make friends. Share your tales of joy and woe. Having fun with other writers really does make it a lot easier when you sit down alone to write. 2. Set The Tone In Your Writing Environment It can help you get into “writing mode” if you set up your writing space according to whatever makes you feel creative. For example, you can post sticky notes with inspirational quotes on the wall…
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Keeping Factsheets

Nanowrimo, Workshops, Writing, Writing
Last year I wrote about creating a factsheet about your story, but this year I'd like you to take it to the next level. I'd like you to create factsheets—pages of point form notes—documenting everything you know about the following things: Your world— what time period is your world set in? What are the places your characters live in called? Is there magic or high technology? Perhaps there's no technology. How do they document time? What religions are common? Anything you know about your world should be put on one piece of paper you can easily refer to as you write your novel. Every character— every character that has a significant part to play in your story should have a fact sheet with every piece of information you know about…
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Create a Legend

Nanowrimo, Workshops, Writing, Writing
No matter what kind of novel you're planning to write next month, and even if you haven't gotten that hammered out yet, creating a legend can still be a useful exercise. We've all heard urban legends before so don't let a modern setting sway you from this exercise. I've even had full fledged novels emerge from short two page legends, so take some time this weekend and make sure you create yours. What do I mean when I say a legend/myth? By this I mean a story that everyone in your main setting—whether that be a village, a town, a household or an entire country—knows and knows well, that may or may not be true. Usually these involve great heroes and have some sort of lesson in the way they're…
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Dealing with School/Work Related Interruptions

Inspirational, Workshops, Writing, Writing
School and work are both important, but focusing on one or the other to the exclusion of all else can be dangerous. We're often told to put these things above all else, which can lead to self-neglect and even self-hatred. Capitalism tells us to focus on what makes us money and ignore that which nourishes the soul. Since these beliefs have been drilled into us since we were kids, they're difficult to ignore. Unfortunately work and/or school will probably always be factors in your life. The key is to make sure that they don't interrupt your writing time more than absolutely necessary. So how do you keep school/work out of your writing time? 1. Don't take on extra responsibilities. If you don't have to stay at work late, don't. If…
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Define Your Success

Goal setting, Inspirational, Workshops, Writing, Writing
Success means different things to different people. The media often portrays success as a house, a long-term partner, kids and money. Your family probably has their own definition of success, based on both the media's definition success and their own feelings. Your friends probably each have their own definition of success too. Even the strange old hermit down the street has her own definition of success. Though success is only one word, it has as many definitions as there are people. What is true for everyone, though, is that you will never be truly happy if you don't strive to reach your own definition of success. Too many people go chasing after their parents' ideas of success, and end up with diplomas and careers they care nothing for. They gain…
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What’s Next?

Goal setting, Inspirational, Nanowrimo, Novels, Workshops, Writing, Writing, Writing: The Process
Usually in the first week of December I write a post discussing what to do when you've finished your novel. In the interest of organization and planning ahead, this year I've decided to write the post before November ends. So what should you do after you finish your novel? You can do just about anything, but I have two main suggestions which I hope you'll take seriously. The first is that you should keep your momentum from November. The second is that whatever you do, you shouldn't start editing your novel. Now, before you get all righteous and tell me how your family needs some love and your novel is horrible and needs editing like some people need heart surgery, let me explain what I mean. I don't mean for…
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Week Three Pep Talk

Inspirational, Nanowrimo, Novels, Workshops, Writing, Writing, Writing: The Process
Today's guest is a long time Nanoer and a dear friend, known lovingly by the ToNano community as Tabs. Though she hasn't actually lived in Toronto for the last many years, she is just as much a part of my Nano family as all the people who do. Please give her a warm welcome. * * * * It's ironic that this year has been the hardest year for me with NaNoWriMo and yet here I am, writing a pep talk. But the thing with NaNo is that not every year is going to be your golden year. We're rounding into the last week, which I always find is my toughest. I get frantic, I get upset, and as I look at my word count goal, I find myself feeling…
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What to do When You Can’t Stand Your Novel Anymore

Nanowrimo, Novels, Workshops, Writing, Writing, Writing: The Process
Whether it be due to your characters rebelling, your story shifting, your muse abandoning you or a dull ache in your wrists, at some point this month you will hate your novel. In fact, you've probably already had a moment like that. At some points during the drafting process--both inside and outside of Nanowrimo--you will be unable to look at your novel anymore. The key is to remember that these moments pass, prepare yourself to play catch up and then go off in search of something better to do than look at your novel, because staring at your novel at these times will probably give you the intense urge to delete the whole thing. Today I'm going to suggest an activity to distract you entirely from the awful draft you've…
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10K in 4 Hours?

Nanowrimo, Novels, Workshops, Writing, Writing, Writing: The Process
At my best, when I took this challenge, I reached the 10K easily. The first two or three times I did it, I wrote a little over 12K in the four hours I had been assigned. This Saturday, I devoted four hours as fully to writing as I was able--and I wrote 8.9K. I'd already been feeling slow this year, but this challenge really brought it home for me. I just can't keep the pace I used to. So what changed? It's not that I became a slower writer. I still type just as quickly as I did then. My story is falling from my fingertips as easily as any novel ever has--maybe even more easily at times. What changed is not my typing speed or my level of inspiration.…
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