Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 94

Answering These Zombie Questions Three at Maggie Slater's Blog

Today I'm over at fellow author and The Zombie Feed, Volume 1 contributor Maggie Slater's website. I answer three questions about my story entitled "Tomorrow's Precious Lambs."

Here's how Maggie describes my story:

Monica Valentinelli's contribution to The Zombie Feed Vol. 1 is a visceral, irreverent, stream-of-consciousness narrative from the perspective of troubled Officer Mike Francis, a badge-carrying member of civilized society's last-stand response to a world gone mad. It's not the zombies Office Mike worries about–with a little fire, he can manage them–it's all the other nutcases left behind, the ones who hide behind their fancy gated mansions and pretend like nothing's changed. With them, you just never know what to expect, and that can be deadly. This is no quiet tale of love and loss: it's a story that cuts to the quick and reveals the rotten madness even the living try to hide. If you're brave enough, check out Monica's story, "Tomorrow's Precious Lambs" in The Zombie Feed Vol. 1!

Visit Three Questions: Monica Valentinelli and find out more about my writing process, my favorite fiction character and what I think about writing in the dark!

25 Blog Ideas for Speak Out with your Geek Out

Today's post is to give you some ideas to blog about. If you want to help, please share your ideas for blog post ideas in the comments below or contact me to do a guest post.

Before I do, I want to share with you one of the debut posts encouraging people to sign on. Read Speaking Out by Gary and maybe you'll get inspired to write your own story.

List of Positive Blog Ideas for Geeking Out

1. What words of reassurance do you want to share with people who feel embarrassed about their hobbies?

2. Why are you proud to identify yourself as a geek? Can you do this in a way that doesn't condescend or sound elitist?

3. True confessions: If you have engaged in nerd rage or edition wars, what would you say to someone who said they weren't going to try your hobby because you were too negative?

4. When was the first time you realized you loved your hobby (or vocation)?

5. For professionals out there, how did you turn your passion for your hobby into a career?

6. Remember a time when someone put you down for the hobbies/vocation you love so much. Now, imagine sitting down to a table and introducing them to your passions and how they make you happy. How would you do it and what would you pick?

7. Is there a hobby or vocation you think you'd be passionate about but haven't had the time/courage/opportunity to learn?

8. Name someone you admire for their hobbies/vocation. Post an online fan letter telling them how much they inspire you.

9. Teach us something cool about the hobby/vocation that you're into in a way even beginners will understand.

10. Interview someone you know who's into a hobby/vocation you know nothing about.

11. Review your favorite book, game, comic or other media in a way that tells us how this property affected you.

12. Come up with your own Speak Out with your Geek Out manifesto. Tell us why this movement is important to you.

13. Talk about something you want or have that represents your hobbies or interests better than anything else.

14. Was there a person in your life who encouraged you or taught you about your hobby or vocation? Write them an online "Thank You" letter.

15. Write a letter to a younger version of yourself. What would you say to inspire you?

16. Share with us the positive aspects of your hobby or vocation on your community.

17. If you've dealt with stereotypes and name-calling before because of your hobbies, how did you persevere?

18. Photo bomb! Show us pictures of your favorite geek-or-vocation related activity.

19. Geeks are often stereotyped. Write your own, positive geek stereotype that turns the negative around.

20. Give us ten reasons why it's good to be a geek.

21. Start an internet meme that tackles your interests. Then tag us to respond.

22. Did you abandon your favorite hobby or interest because you didn't have the time? Pick a night and dive back in. Then write about it!

23. Dig deep and tell us how your hobby or vocation has made your life, or the world around you, a better place.

24. For professionals: If you have a product, website or service to sell, share with us your passion for what you have created or what you have to offer. This isn't a chance to use marketing-speak on us, be genuine!

25. For professionals: Sponsor a give-a-way or contest on your blog to encourage people to share your interests.

Answering Questions: So Who is this Crazy Monica Person?

Since Speak Out with your Geek Out began, it's gone from my blog post to a small group of people to (as of this post's publication) hundreds of participants pledging to participate through Facebook. Since many of you may not know a lot about me or my work as an author, work as a consultant with Dork Storm Press and other clients, or my efforts as a game designer, cat whisperer and other roles… I opened up the floor to questions.

Here's what I got:

If you could hold up one thing that you have created as the pinnacle (thus far) of your creative endeavors, what would you choose? Why?

Whatever work I polished and delivered last. I am of the belief that I will always have something new to learn as a writer, so I try not to think of that one thing I'm oh-so-proud of. (I used to hate doing readings just for that reason, until a certain editor told me to suck it up and my last reading went so well a reader asked when the sequel was coming out.) I'm kind of afraid of that concept, because feel if I have a pinnacle achievement, even if it's thus far in my career, then I have some place to fall from as opposed to some place I want to go.

Instead, I'm looking at this process as a journey. I wander from place to place, telling new stories or contributing to new games, to stretch my creative abilities and travel through some interesting (if not treacherous) paths. I experiment often and dig deep.

What is the status of OCCUPATION?

Sigh. So, for those of you who don't know, OCCUPATION is the name of a dystopian science fiction game based on a world I created. Two stories have recently been published in this world and the game was a global setting where overpopulation wasn't the only problem. The key concept was the threat of a single alien everyone wanted to find in this world filled with secrets kept, shared and traded for survival. The game fell apart because we couldn't find a dedicated group of playtesters outside our circle. Because this is such an expansive setting, coupled with the fact that I'm really close to the material, we felt it was best to have outside playtesters to provide us with feedback. I have oh, about 40,000 words written just sitting on my laptop. *sniffle* Now that the hobby games industry has changed dramatically, I'd still want playtesters, but I'd also go with an existing system rather than my own and offer a few tweaks. It is now, officially, in limbo.

Shoe size.

Hah, you wish. I have teeny, tiny, perfect little fairy feet. OF COURSE.

Favorite midget wrestler.

Um… Willow? (If you don't know who Willow is, then sadly Madmartigan nor I will be able to help you.)

What you did on your summer vacation.

Yeah, so that's an easy one: WHAT VACATION? I recently took a staycation, and that was spent playing Dragon Age. Again. But with a rogue elf assassin named Sha'relea.

What got you into writing?

I was unexplicably drawn to words, music and the arts at a very early age. Started reading when I was three and published my first short story when I was nine. (It placed in a Halloween contest.) The word probably means something different now, but at the time I was considered a prodigy. I don't think of myself that way, though.

Which author helped to mold your 'voice' in words?

I fall in love with almost every author, but for different and specific reasons, because I marvel at the written word as an act of creation. Edgar Allen Poe was the very first. I loved Poe as a child. His ability to characterize within the short story format in such a dark and delightful way is something I greatly admire. I recently went back and re-read all of his works, and I see so much of my earlier stories were heavily influenced by him.

Tell us about your heroic alter-ego?

Alter-ego you say? Heroic? For those of you who have met me in person, I am very much the same person online as I am in person. My nickname is Miss Random USA for. a. reason. I'm excited by everything, though when I'm not, it can be… Well… kind of cloudy. I guess if I had to pick an alter-ego, it'd be Demonica. There's a joke there, if you look really hard.

What kind of a lunch box did you have?

Um, still have. STILL have. I have a Magic: the Gathering lunch box and I've confiscated a very cool, vintage Marvel lunch box because it has Thor on it. Before that, though, I was always behind on whatever was popular. I, unabashedly, had a Mork and Mindy lunch box and still imagine there is much power in an egg.

What one piece of advice would you give to us just getting into the Game Development and Publishing Industry?

Read my monthly column at Geeks Dream Girl. I take every budding freelancer on an adventure to Dice Castle!

Observations from Coordinating Speak Out

Yesterday, we surpassed 1,000 people on the Facebook event who have pledged to be positive about their geekery. So? Today's post is my random list of observations from coordinating Speak Out with your Geek Out.

Do you have thoughts to share? Post 'em below!

+ Sometimes, the difference between getting annoyed and understanding what someone has posted is a matter of semantics and an utter lack of smiley faces.

+ More than a few people identify themselves as geek because they're damn proud of it.

+ It's quite possible people post and forget someone else is reading their words.

+ It is all too easy to be negative and it takes a lot of effort to keep sharing the happy.

+ Enthusiasm IS contagious.

+ One negative post or update can ruin someone else's mood.

+ People want to understand what the word "geek" means because they want to feel included rather than excluded.

+ It's all too easy to get hung up on the meaning of one word.

+ It's not true that being mean is the only way to be heard on the internet.

+ Many people aren't all positive or all negative, but rather shades of both.

+ Some people look for any way they can to be an advocate for their personal philosophy, religion or political background.

+ Community is a word that means something different to different people.

+ It's hard to understand that some people struggle with being accepted for their hobbies when another has no problem with it.

And last but not least?

+ We're a lot more alike than we think we are.

Originally posted at SpeakOutWithYourGeekOut.com

[My Guest Design Essay] Dystopia and Cybernetic Birds at Apex

Today I popped in to Apex Book Company and talked about my new story entitled "Tailfeather," which was written for Apexology: Science Fiction & Fantasy. As I was writing the story, several themes emerged between the paragraphs.

When I sat down to write Tailfeather I did not craft the tale with these themes in mind. I imagined a place where there are so many people the food has to be rationed. I pictured a world where some societies have split in two, where half their population operates at night and the other half during the day. I thought about what people — women, especially — would to do survive. What would they be willing to do for food? Shelter? Love? — SOURCE: Dystopia and Cybernetic Birds in TAILFEATHER for Apexology

I hope you will do we the honor of giving the essay a read. If you're interested in the anthology, it's only $2.99 in digital and contains several stories.

FAQ for Speak Out with your Geek Out

Q: So, what are you considering a geek?

A: The minute we define what a geek is someone, somewhere will be excluded. The goal of this event is to fight labels and stereotypes that others would use to describe us. So far, people have spoken up that they feel like a geek because they're devoted to math, science, their children, comics, games and a myriad of other topics. This event is designed to share our passions in a positive way with the community, to give voice to those of us who are normally afraid to simply love what we love and be who we are.

Q: I post about this already. What makes Speak Out with your Geek Out any different?

A: WONDERFUL. Unfortunately, many people out there are afraid of being stereotyped or their love of their hobby/vocation takes on the form of geek cred, edition wars or nerd rage. This week is about happiness, positivity and openness. It's about inviting those who are shy to step forward and encouraging those who can't "grok" us to share in what we do. It's about telling people who have been bullied for their interests that there is nothing wrong with being a geek. It's about setting aside our differences and focusing on the positive. It's about doing this for those who can't and being a part of the geek community.

Q: Is this in response to a specific event?

A: While it was inspired by the latest internet gaffe, there is always another one just around the corner. This week goes beyond that, it's to think "big picture" as opposed to min/maxing the hell out of the next faux pas. It's to say that it's not cool to use geeks to bait us, because we'll just make our own brand of cool.

Q: How can I participate? I live in a foreign country.

A: The event is virtual, so if you have a blog or website, if you have a social media account, if you're online? Post away.

Q: Wait, you said you wanted to hit a 1,000 bloggers. How can I be counted?

A: I'm going to make this as EASY as I possibly can. If you want to be "counted" toward that number, then visit this Tumblr or the Facebook event or my website or the official Speak Out with your Geek Out website during that week and add your link to the initial post in the comments below. It will be VERY clear where you can do that. It will also be helpful if you can use the Twitter hashtag #speakgeek and snatch the logo.

An Open Letter to Professionals for Speak Out

Dear Professional,

I am thrilled that you have managed to turn what you love into a vocation. Maybe you're an author who has published a book. Maybe you're an artist with a studio. Maybe you're a business-savvy professional who helps other people.

AWESOME.

You may have heard of an event called Speak Out with your Geek Out. It's taking place from Monday, September 12th through Friday, September 16th. This event began with a post I wrote entitled Calling all Geeks! Post About Your Hobbies and it's now swelled to hundreds of participants. Bloggers range from fans to pros like myself, Jess Hartley, Matt Forbeck, Brennan Taylor, Matt M McElroy, Liz Danforth, Lynne M Thomas and many, many others. We'll have an official website up shortly. We have a logo. We have a tagline. We have everything we need to make this happen.

SPEAK OUT WITH YOUR GEEK OUT

Sometime during the week of Monday, September 12th to Friday, September 16th post about what geeky hobby you love. Then, tell us why we should try it, too. Leave your fears (and edition wars) at the door. Forget about your latest rant. Tap into that well of positive energy and share in the excitement of all things geek.

This isn't just about gaming. This isn't just about comics or movies or books. This is about taking a stance against negativity and feeling isolated for our interests — whether they be sports, games, music, crafts, whatever — and putting our energy toward being enthusiastic about what we love. This is about people who feel like they're geeks because of their interest or vocation, and who will stand up and say that's it is not cool to put them down. They're not going to be angry about it. Oh, absolutely not. Instead, we will talk about how much they love what they love, what you or I might do for them as pros, and why others should share in this joy, too, in the hopes that others will be more tolerant.

This is not an opportunity to market these people to death. This is not a chance to shill your product or service. Many of these people look up to us because we turned what we love into a hobby or career. This is an opportunity to be a part of the community and lead by example.

I apologize if this post comes off as being a little preachy, but I had a reason to. You see, someone already broke that rule. It was an innocent link, but I want to say something now, before this week of awesome begins. I want to tell you that your fans may be talking about you, and that may be part of the reason why. I want to say that sometimes? People don't want to talk to a marketer — they want to simply hang out and be themselves without fear that someone is going to sell them something or make them feel bad if they don't.

Having said that, though, I will tell you that I trust you. I encourage you to show your own enthusiasm for what you do. If that means tying that into a give-a-way to give people the option to participate in your flavor of geek? AWESOME. You have your fans and your audience, and I know you understand the best way to reach them. You are smart and you know that there is a difference between being genuine and throwing sales pitches all over the place. All I'm asking, is that you keep that in mind. In order for this enthusiasm to combat negativity, sometimes we need to remember that community is about multiple people, not one person's sales.

I look at you, and I see you as a pillar of the community because you are the reason why people love their flavor of geek that much. You are the reason why something like this can happen in the first place. I hope you know how amazing you really are.

Thanks for listening! I wish you continued success in your endeavors. Live long and prosper.

Best,

Monica Valentinelli

Founder, Speak Out with your Geek Out

Author and Game Designer who lurks in the dark

http://www.mlvwrites.com

Jess Hartley on Tolerance vs. Acceptance for Speak Out with your Geek Out

Today's post is by Jess Hartley. Recently, a commenter on Twitter asked why we were using the word tolerance instead of acceptance for our event and I asked Jess to handle a detailed response. She nails the reason why and really gives us all something to think about. In this post, she uncovers not only why I'm not defining what geek is, but also why I'm using the word tolerance. Let's listen to what she has to say.

I take my interpretation of the word "acceptance" from the Eastern philosophical perspective. If I strive for acceptance in a situation, I seek to experience them without effort to change, protest or remove myself from it. And, while I'm great with the first two for most things, I'm afraid I'm really not up for the third.

One of the great things about being a part of Speak Out With Your Geek Out is that it's inclusive of all forms of geekery. If you're a "classic" geek and groove on sci-fi movies, computers, fantasy novels and roleplaying games, that's awesome. Let your geek flag fly! But there's also more than enough room for music geeks, history geeks, sports geeks, scrapbooking geeks – being geeky is about being more-enthusiastic-than-the-mainstream about whatever it is that floats your boat, regardless of the topic.

If I were to strive for acceptance of all geeks (by my definition) that would mean I was just as happy sitting and listening to Joe Nascar discuss the average times of his favorite driver as I am listening to folks talk about their White Wolf character. And, not only am I not; I have no desire to be. I think it's completely cool for folks to be as geeky as possible about whatever their chosen focus is. That doesn't mean I want to hang out and listen. To me, that is why I don't use the term acceptance. I don't believe we all have to be interested in, participate in, or even put our support (ie: expend time, energy or resources) towards a geekery that isn't our own.

However, I do believe in tolerance of geeks and non-geeks alike. Just because I don't want to spend an hour at my favorite convention attending a panel on fantasy football leagues doesn't mean that I want to block a FFL geek from doing so, or that I don't wish her the best in organizing it. I strive not to insult, look down my nose at, put myself above or in other ways treat other forms of geekery as less valuable, less okay, less valid than my own. To me, that is tolerance, and that is something I can strive for in every interaction I have with other people, whether virtual or face-to-face.

That is why I choose the term tolerance, rather than acceptance, when referring to how I want to interact with other geeks.

Ultimately, however, I think that the choice to use one word over the other is a personal one. I choose "Tolerance" because of what it means to me. If "Acceptance" works better for you, and that empowers you to be positive and inclusive; so be it! Let's concentrate on that, rather than quibbling about the minutiae of whether one positive word is more appropriate than or should be used in place of another positive one.

Especially for word-geeks like me, it's hard to fight the temptation to nitpick about definitions and interpretations. (Don't even get me started on how "ironic" is misused!) But investing energy in that argument, and thus creating an unnecessary and potentially divisive line really detracts from the inclusive intent of Speak Out With Your Geek Out. I want less lines between me and the rest of the world, not more.

Why I'm Trying To Keep "Speak Out" as Generic and Simple as Possible

Came across a great post today entitled My Thoughts on Speak Out with your Geek Out. In it, Donna explains how she is already outspoken about her hobbies and wasn't initially buying into the event. Then, she goes on to talk about how passionate and positive we were, after reading two other posts, and how that struck her. She's now on board.

Donna is not alone. Many people have stepped forward (as of right now we're over 600 bloggers on Facebook…). In part, that number has a lot to do with Amanda Yahner Valentine and Jessica Banks who have been filling the event page with their enthusiasm. Though, what's been interesting is that not everyone has been super excited about the project off the bat. Some were looking for keywords: what defines geek? Others were saying they did this already. But this event is not about what we're already doing, it's about what we're not. And for that, I was thrilled to see Donna's realization that this may just be something different after all.

I laughed when Donna mentioned her sock collection because I have one, too. While both of us may be perfectly fine with that, there are so, so many people I know out there who aren't. They are afraid of being isolated or having a stigma for doing what they do — kids and adults. Am I geektastic about my socks? Absolutely. But that's not all there is to me, just like what Donna had mentioned in her post. We are not just one kind of geek; often, we are many flavors.

For all these reasons and more, this is why I am trying to keep the event as generic as possible.

I hope this week of positivity and light will inspire people to do and say some very awesome things. Which is why I can't and will continue to strive not to define what geek is. The minute I put a keyword in there, is the minute someone either says: "Well, you're not including my hobby…" or "You did include my hobby." is the minute we go down the road of elitism, exclusion and isolation. Instead? What this is all about? That one thing, that one precious thing that is tying us all together — OUR ENTHUSIASM.

The reason why I'm attempting to keep this as simple as possible, is because the more complicated this is, the harder it will be for people to participate and the more challenging it will be to manage. If you don't have a blog or website, there are many people who'd be willing to host your post, including me. I expect there will be some commentary about geek culture and whatnot that comes out of this, but I'm not sure that's such a bad thing. Maybe all it takes is a little smile and a bunch of happy people to let us look a little deeper into ourselves and realize that maybe, just maybe, we're not so different after all.

I, for one, am looking forward to seeing all these posts fly. Not just because of the people who share similar interests, but the ones who don't. I'd love to read more about unique hobbies because hey, maybe one of you will inspire me to try yours.

Tumblr, New Logo and the Goal of 1,000

We are now averaging 100 bloggers a day for this event and there's already talk of making it an annual occurrence.

Thanks to A.J. Freemont and everyone who voted, we now have a logo. I uploaded it here. You are ENCOURAGED to take this on your website or blog and post about the event that takes place from Monday, September 12th through Friday, September 16th.

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This logo has been uploaded to the Speak Out with your Geek Out Facebook Event and a new Speak Out with your Geek Out Tumblr account.

Today's post is about my "wish fulfillment." I would love to see us hit 1,000 strong. Next week, I'm going to need your help to spread the word and help others get some blogging ideas down. So if ANY of you want to write posts for the Tumblr account or my blog for this, the door is open.

Can We Hit 1,000 Bloggers?

A long weekend is on the horizon for many people, which is why I wanted to give you some food for thought:

I want you to think of this number —> 1,000.

Here's why:

When I think of the "geek" stereotype, I think of that awful scene in the lunchroom where a bully is pestering a kid about his love of comics, video games, books, dice, Cthulhu or whatever. I think of the name-calling and all the crap that kid has to go through just because she likes to dive into her math books.

And then I think of what it felt like to be in school. How we feel very much alone, even if that's not the case, because others around us are afraid to speak up. Are fearful that they won't be as cool, because life is easier if they sit at that lunch table over there.

I think of those kids, and I think of how many of us have made our own cool later on in life. I think of every kid that's ever been bullied — regardless of shape, color, orientation, culture, religion — and I think of what we can do for them.

And then I think of Speak Out with your Geek Out, where we've been averaging 100 bloggers a day signing on.

I think of an army of happy, positive posts about what we love and what we'll encourage others to share. Of the topics we'll write to show that we are not a stereotype, that we are something that transcends being stuck in a bucket and forgotten about or bullied for someone else's amusement.

I think of us standing behind those kids and showing them that there is nothing wrong with being who they are, because we have 1,000 people who may not be just like them, but who share something in common and who have made it through.

Are you with me?

If you are, then let's make this happen. How can we make it to 1,000 bloggers?

a) 1 big name celebrity

b) 10 popular blogs

c) 100 people tagging 10 of their friends

d) 1,000 people to post their love, their passions during that week and share it with all of us

What do we have control over? Right now?!?!

c) and d)!

MAKE IT SO.

Have a great weekend!