Daley Downing's Blog, page 33

The Writer’s Tag

[image error]

Hello, everyone! Yes, I am still here! Still working on two projects at the same time (yes, I’ll accept those care packages now!). And apparently this also makes tonight the perfect moment to undertake a new blog post!

Luckily I have been tagged by The Orangutan Librarian with a very appropriate topic, so I don’t have to wrack my brains for what to focus said post on! And so, here we go…

What genres, styles, and topics do you write about?

Mostly fantasy, though my current WIP is a contemporary. I like to focus on themes of good versus evil, how do you define evil, family, friendship, world mythologies, and plenty of geek references.

How long have you been writing?

Since I was approximately very small (well, smaller than I am now). I remember taking my first stab at an actual novel in high school, and before that I tried my hand at poetry and short stories. So, at least 20 years. (That’s the closest I’ll get to admitting my actual age on this site.)

Why do you write?

Because I can’t not write. I’ve always felt the compulsion to craft the words and have them make sense and tell a story. And the idea of others getting satisfaction out of what I’ve written is pretty darn cool.

[image error]

When is the best time to write?

Usually morning (when the children are in school and less likely to bug me; and when the plans — and brains — are still fresh).

What parts of writing do you love and hate?

Loves:

When it all clicks. The “a-ha” moments.
You get a great new idea that you’re really excited to work on.
You craft a sentence or paragraph and realize it’s super good, and feel pride at creating it.
As we are presently in NaNo, NaNo.

Hates:

Writer’s block.
Children bugging while I’m trying to work.
Not being able to word.
As we are presently in NaNo, NaNo.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Usually I just step away from the project causing the issue. Taking a break often brings new perspective. (If it’s a NaNo project — heaven forbid! — stuck in the throes of block, I try to enter at least a few hundred words that day, and then do something else, like blog or read or watch TV.)

[image error]

Are you working on something at the moment?

Oh, my, yes. Completing my final edits for Volume 2, and I’m participating in NaNoWriMo 2017.

What are your writing goals this year?

To release Volume 2 prior to the onset of the holidays. To finish NaNo (hopefully to win, but mostly just to reach 50,000 words on my new WIP without my head exploding). To feel ready to tackle my next endeavors (Volume 3 and the field guide) with zest and vigor!

[image error]

Mini-Reviews: The Taking a Break from NaNo Edition

It’s NaNo! Who has time to read?! you may be hollering at me. Well, remember when I recently posted the guidelines to surviving NaNo, and remember how it included taking time to do something other than writing? Reading is not writing — ergo, reading during this month is important.

(By the way, some of these selections I completed before November. I am not pushing myself too hard, don’t worry.)

So, after determining that I’ve exhausted the catalog of my local library (and I pretty much have), I’m taking great advantage of inter-library loan to obtain titles by authors I have only now heard of. At the moment, this includes Charles De Lint.

I finished Tapping the Dream Tree, which is a compilation of short stories based on his Newford series (none of which I had read, so nothing like jumping into the deep end with both feet and no water-wings). But I was able to figure out what was going on in most of the individual tales, and some of them I truly enjoyed. This author has a style that’s now rare for adult fantasy, focusing so much more on telling the story than on shock value or hitting up a current political soapbox. It was so refreshing. He has a long bibliography (he’s been publishing for many years), and I’ve already hunted down some more of his work.

     

Last weekend, wanting something light and easy, I picked up Laini Taylor’s Night of Cake and Puppets. It’s pretty short (under 300 pages), and the cover is interesting.

What was I thinking. I liked the first part of Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer, but had forgotten that NoCaP is set in the same world as her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, which made me hit the ceiling with its blatant sexual references and dark-and-nefarious-goings-on. I managed to survive intact, though there were several pages in this novella I had to outright skip over (puppets are creepy, folks!!!), and I had to look at a lot of super-cute cat pictures to be able to go to bed that night.

Moving on to one of my major disappointments in October — Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.

This is officially my last attempt at a Green novel. I didn’t enjoy Paper Towns or The Fault in Our Stars, but repeated gushing reviews of this author’s work kind of guilted/hyped me into trying his new release. ‘Tis much better to go with my gut. I had MASSIVE issues with the depiction of mental illness in this book — not only is it blindingly obvious (I’m a former psychology major) that the narrator does NOT have general anxiety, but OCD — yet the novel calls her condition “an anxiety disorder” throughout — this is also the singular thing the narrator’s entire life is about. She’s made of more cardboard than a cereal box. She has no personality, no interests, no anything other than her OCD. That simply isn’t factual when it comes to living, breathing human beings — which this MC is supposed to be. And her “best friend” is HORRIBLE to her, treating her as a burden, ignoring her serious health problems, and never trying to help her get better.

And there was a significant lack of turtles. I wasn’t the only one peeved about this. Turns out the title is a metaphor, based on some sort of astrophysics thing. I had to look it up to be “enlightened.” Some fans were saying this was great; I don’t agree (nor am I the only dissenter). It feels terribly pretentious and arrogant of an author to make his title wholly symbolic and not explain that anywhere in the text. I’m perfectly intelligent, so there’s no need to insult my intelligence because I didn’t know the reference to a completely theoretical and intangible construct, people.

Okay, onto a different category of whinge…

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was, sadly, a letdown, too. If there was an actual plot in amongst allllllll the pages of wandering the land and trying to become the Emperor’s mistress, I missed it.

Neither was Wild Beauty a fun experience…

This cover is truly astounding, and I still like it even though I didn’t like the book underneath. I guess this author’s style — “magical realism” — just isn’t for me. It’s confusing — is there actual magic, or not? Are the characters’ “ability” to grow flowers out of thin air a metaphor for their incredible gardening skills, or do they really have powers? I couldn’t figure it out, and it bugged me the whole time. McLemore was altogether too vague for my taste — how could there be so many people in the family, and somehow they’re all female…? Supposedly their spouses or lovers always “vanished” — isn’t it much more believable that they simply left them? Or was there really some kind of curse — like, the evil witch gets her revenge on one of their ancestors who seduced the witch’s husband? Again, the un-concrete-ness of the plot induced frustration and loud grumbling noises from me.

All right, now onto brighter, happier topics!

I won a giveaway hosted by The Orangutan Librarian! I used the prize to order these two novels in a MG fantasy series that White Fang read book 1 and wants to finish.

       

Please, let’s take a moment to appreciate how unselfish and lovely I was to pick something for him and not myself.

Also, if you wouldn’t mind praying for a speedy and safe delivery, that’d be ace!

How to Survive NaNoWriMo

[image error]

Hello! Yes, I am alive! Since NaNoWriMo started 5 days ago, I have been utterly immersed in getting my word count up — while throwing in some edits for Volume 2, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about that — and therefore I am flailing (in a bad way) over here.

Well, not all bad. I’ve made it to 8,000 words so far, which is pretty good for this early in the month. My goal is to finish NaNo early, so that I can then attend more than wholeheartedly to the release of Volume 2. (Title and cover reveal coming soon!)

In the meantime, I thought I’d swing by here and give you a few more recent pictures by White Fang, and the following Guide to Surviving NaNoWriMo.

[image error]

1. Eat. Sleep. Don’t over-coffee yourself. Remember that veggies are still important this month. And protein. And water. And don’t knock 2 hours off your sleep schedule on a work/school night simply in the interest of another 500 words. You can make it up another time. Trust me.

2. If you aren’t happy with the way your current project is going, change the rules. There are lots of suggestions for how to win NaNo in less than 2 weeks and be the next rock star of the writing world. GET OVER IT. If you do manage to do this, you ARE awesome and we will recognize your achievement. If you don’t, you are STILL awesome and will be appreciated for what you did complete.

If you’re “behind” on your word count goal, don’t sweat it. Seriously. Just do what you can, when you can.

If you’re really not feeling excited about the idea you originally chose, opt out. Either start a new novel/project as soon as you can (for example, within the first few days), or alter your outline. Maybe breaking your would-be novel up into a series of short stories works better to obtain 50,000 words by the end of November?

Don’t be afraid to get creative, think outside the box, push the limits.

3. The rest of the world still exists. Remember to cut your family a little slack. Yes, make it clear to them this is a very important thing for you to do, and they need to give you time and space to at least tackle the anticipated word count for the day. But don’t totally lock yourself away from now until Thanksgiving and never engage in human contact in between.

4. Don’t stay off social media. Some NaNo participants swear by refusing to log on to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. so that they don’t get distracted from their ultimate goal. Well, I’m not one of them. While I certainly won’t spend a random 3 hours scrolling aimlessly through my feeds at the moment, I will be touching base with my community. They’re my biggest supporters! We can cheer each other on, or commiserate, share advice, let out the vague whimpers or intense screams that each day of NaNo-ing produces. We are one another’s lifeline!

5. Love yourself as a writer, no matter the outcome. If you win NaNo, you rock. If November 30th comes and you’re at 16,000 words, you rock. If your finished draft is a hot mess of epic proportions, no problem. You still have what it takes to become a polished writer who creates stories and worlds that thrill readers and make them laugh and cry and think.

When December 1st arrives, write on.

[image error]

The First Book Club Meeting!

[image error]

Good morning! Today is the day! We’re discussing Masters and Beginners (Volume 1 of The Order of the Twelve Tribes). As previously mentioned, all you have to do to participate is have read the book, and be willing to answer the following questions in the comments!

What were your favorite parts of the story?

Which characters were you drawn to the most, and why?

Did you identify any particular themes?

Who would you like to see cast as who in the movie version?

The Order is a secret organization stretching back about 3,000 years. What historical figures do you think could have belonged to the Order?

All right, that’s all from my end for now! Looking forward to seeing what you all share! Have a great day, moths!

How Not To Calendar: Or, Release Date Announcement (And, No One Throw Things)

One day…I shall learn how to create less wordy titles for blog posts… But it is not this day.

So, here’s what has happened to my schedule: I forgot to let myself be aware of its existence.

Hence, I was genuinely surprised to realize I cannot be writing/editing next Monday, as Muffin has a specialist appointment out of town. Which I knew about a month ago.

And then NaNo is starting…

And here is me, with my editing: Currently only 75% done. With the formatting yet to go.

And here is Time, to me: HAHAHAHA, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Leading to the following announcement — the projected release date of November 1st for Volume 2 will very most likely not occur. My new (more realistic) goal is to have it ready for sale around November 15th.

For those of you eagerly awaiting the next installment of The Order of the Twelve Tribes, first know that I am immensely grateful for your dedication to my little series. Believe me that I really had hoped to be moving a bit quicker on this process, but there’s just no way around it. And I want to make Volume 2 the best it can be, rather than release a manuscript I’m not completely sure about. And that takes time.

So — and trust me, this is going to work — I will finish Volume 2 as soon as I can, complete what I can each day for NaNo, and not care if I finish NaNo or not. Depending on how well everything goes, I may decide to toss off the shackles of NaNo’s strict deadline and just conclude my draft for “How To Be A Savage” via my own reckoning of writing time.

The outcome has yet to be determined…

There will still be the Masters and Beginners book club meeting on Monday (though I may actually be a little late getting to the comments!). Please do visit this space when you’re notified of the post going up to share your thoughts with me and other readers.

And I will be at least somewhat keeping up on Twitter and Goodreads in November.

Somewhat. I’m putting my foot down about not overcommitting.

NaNoWriMo is a challenge and a joy when we conquer it. It’s a special and important thing for writers to participate in. I am proud of winning my first year (last year), but am not holding myself to that expectation again.

And I’ll admit, this is a little hard for me — because I like to push myself (yes, really, me, the autist) — the thrill of seeing the finish line come onto the horizon (not that I run, but it’s a good metaphor) is fulfilling.

But keeping my sanity is really fulfilling, too.

Therefore, in the interest of looking more like the cat below rather than the poor cat above, this is the new plan.

And you can take it from me — knowing what’s on your calendar and sticking to it is also an ace move.

NaNo Update: Changes, Plotting, and Some Pantser-ing

Okay, so I have decided to become a magical unicorn — with 11 days to go before NaNoWriMo begins, I changed my project.

Prior to this move, I had been suggesting to myself that I really should start on Volume 3, since my intention is to have the revisions of Volume 2 complete before November 1st.

However, we are rapidly approaching the wire, and I was not feeling it.

In the last couple of months, I have worked so hard on Volume 2 that I just didn’t want to turn into a melted puddle of disgruntled, worn out, second-guessing sequel-writing author.

This would be a very bad thing to have happen during NaNo.

My brain needs a break from focusing on a “pretty serious” novel. So I’m going to give it said break.

Instead of Volume 3, my NaNo project will be a more fun (in theory), more easygoing (hopefully), less-this-could-make-or-break-my-career novel.

I’ll be attempting a contemporary that’s part autobiography, part fiction, all about living with autism.

My working title is “How To Be A Savage.”

This comes from the fact that White Fang says hilarious things at least 17 times a week, and one of his favorite remarks lately (when he does something like eat fork food with his fingers, or kills another player in a PvP video game) is, “I’m being a savage.”

The other major reasons I’m trying this out are as follows:

There is not enough accurate and realistic — and simultaneously compassionate — representation of autism in current fiction. It took the medical community itself long enough to understand ASD better, and now the public is taking too damn long (in my view) to catch up. We’re still too often seen as a textbook of socially dangerous symptoms, rather than as real people with a neurological condition that simply makes us different from the norm.

None of this is good. I’ve been marginalized my whole life, and I want so much better for my son. In writing a novel from a first person ASD POV, my hope is to raise not only understanding but also tolerance.

So, what does this mean for my usual style of writing? Well, setting the story in the real world — super scary, by the way — will certainly be a departure from what I’ve been concentrating on for years. No magic, no fantasy-is-actually-fact. (Though there will still be plenty of geek references; that’s never changing.)

Despite having a general premise and the bare bones of a basic outline, most of it will be coming to fruition on the page, at the moment that I sit down to type it out.

This is rather different, as I like to plot ahead of time. Does this give me nightmares? No…but I am a little nervous. Winging it is not something I usually do.

It will also feel very memoir-ish, and may be pretty damn hard for me to write at times. In relating what it’s like to live with autism to people who may have absolutely no idea what this entails, I’ll have to be brutally honest and forthcoming. Trying to explain neurodiverse pathways, physical issues, emotional difficulties, social challenges, and the choice whether to take meds or not — all in a first person narrative — will be extremely personal.

While I don’t believe writers should always write what they know, there are instances where firsthand experience is the best for showing the perspective an outsider probably would (not even intentionally) get wrong.

So, while I am nervous, I am also excited.

For those of you who may be unused to the idea of me writing something other than fantasy — relax, I’m sure it’s a passing phase.

For those of you who like to see authors try an idea outside of their norm — I hope this hits all the right notes.

There has been a lot of support for this announcement on Twitter, and I greatly appreciate that.

We’ll see what the next few weeks bring!

If you’d like to follow my updates on Twitter, check out my account referenced in the sidebar.

You can also follow my book reviews or the blog on Goodreads! If you look up “Daley Downing” as an author, or search for “Masters and Beginners,” you should come across me!

And if you’re also participating in NaNo and would like to add me to your buddy list, I am found there as The Invisible Moth (imagine that).

 

Mini-Reviews: The Pre-NaNo Edition

Okay, so here I am, for one of the few posts I will be doing in the next few weeks! I am doubling down to finish Volume 2 on the original timetable (time apparently hates me, what have I ever done to it?!), AND somehow start NaNoWriMo on schedule. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment.

Rather, it means I am venturing forth on continuing my authorly dreams, and spending more of my brain power and calendar on writing fiction than writing stuff like blog posts. We’ll see if I feel the urge to write a review on Goodreads, on a book that I simply must share my thoughts now (before they slip out of my head, and because I do love to share with my friends).

Anyway, here are some summaries of my feelings about some stuff I recently finished…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling:

White Fang and I are both reading this textbook/field guide/lovely supplemental material to the world of Harry Potter. The handwritten notes are so cute. And I love getting a little more insight into this utterly amazing realm Rowling created.

A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry:

I have to say, this was a disappointment. It has a really interesting premise — set in Puerto Rico (sadly relevant right now), it follows the tale of a teenage boy who gets caught up in a possible legend-come-to-life. But I only gave it 1 star, because the plot was all over the place; we’re never given a concrete reason for the affliction Isabel suffers from; nor is that affliction itself ever firmly defined. Too much of the story wandered back and forth, between teenage crushes and the serious business of missing persons, and I didn’t feel that enough of the premise became grounded in the very realistic setting.

And I Darken by Kiersten White:

I didn’t finish this (with about 75 pages to go), because I had very conflicted emotions on it. The writing style is superbly dark and intriguing, true to the atmosphere and feelings of the time period, and I’ve read all the fictional and historical accounts of Vlad Dracul, and agree with the author that so, so much about this man is simply conjecture and the truth is probably lost to the winds of time. But what really got to me is the quite straightforward fact that her portrayal of homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire/Middle Ages Eastern Europe was just a grab at pushing a modern viewpoint. How both those cultures felt about such a lifestyle in that century would’ve resulted in heads literally rolling (or even worse), full stop. No closet gays would’ve been protected by the palace of the city. And I am not sorry in the slightest that this may offend the sensibilities of modern readers — I don’t concur with that, I don’t sanction it, but I know it is how it was, and I don’t think covering up the outdated and barbaric views of cultures long dead and gone is beneficial.

A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin:

I didn’t finish this, either, and won’t be continuing with the series. The reason is that I simply am not one for the explicit content. It’s a personal choice. That aside, I honestly am so impressed by Martin’s skills with plotting and character depiction, and I wish him all the best in releasing the long-awaited conclusion to this epic!

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg:

I just posted a long and gushing review on Goodreads about this little gem. It has the best rep of panic attacks I’ve read in a while, and the family is BEYOND AWESOME, and I am sooooo grateful to the author for developing such a supportive and nice cast. It also covers the very real and very important topics of being careful what you share on the internet, and whether connecting too much to people online versus your close friends in real life is healthy. Since all of us are reading this post online, we can verify that sometimes we come across other screen names/commenters who are just wonderful to interact with — but is it okay to base our self-esteem on our online success, or do we need to first keep in mind how our IRL people think of us? The narrator learns some hard lessons, and never once does the writing feel preachy or like the author is trying to sway our mindsets one way or another. Her narrator has to decide what works best for her, and that is vital for teenagers growing up in a culture of conformity to figure out. I highly recommend this one!

And there we are! I’ll catch up with you all for the book club meeting on the 30th! Take care, moths!

Thoughts on The Good Doctor

So, remember the post I wrote a couple months ago, stating that I had pretty much stopped watching TV? Well, this is not a done deal just yet — thanks to the premiere of The Good Doctor.

The Good Doctor is an American version of a Korean program, and the premise is that a medical student with autism gets to train at a hospital on a surgical residency. To say that this alone would suck me in is a huge understatement. I almost cried every time the ad came on the whole week before fall season premieres. It was torture, I tell you, Spock.

Anyway (for a refreshing change), this show did not disappoint. Dr. Shaun Murphy is utterly real and precious (and yes, I know it’s an actor portrayal — shush, I’m getting there), and he is so beautiful to watch.

Freddie Highmore (an NT British actor) has done an absolutely excellent job of learning how to depict autism realistically and not patronizingly. This is the first time I’ve seen stimming portrayed, as well as accurately not making eye contact and not knowing what to say or what tone to use. There are moments of long pauses, or simply not answering questions, and Murphy focuses so much more on a corner of the ceiling or the fly on the window rather than on someone’s face. I literally have BEEN there so many times, I am SOOOO grateful to know other people recognize this in ASD-ers, and some of them even ACCEPT it.

Pass the tissues through the opening in the blanket fort, if you would, please.

Of course, for there to be a plot, there has to be conflict, and some of the doctors at the hospital think that hiring an intern with autism is ridiculous, even dangerous. While Murphy often gets stuck with doing triage and reading x-rays, he also saves lives — by spotting a minor blip on a scan that actually denotes a serious medical problem, or listening to his instincts and refusing to follow protocol.

Murphy doesn’t think for a minute that everyone is like him — he perfectly understands that he has a condition that much of the world finds unusual or strange. When he can (when he’s not stressed, or when he can find the words through practice or conditioning), he explains to others why he doesn’t respond to a social custom or NT emotional process. Yet, while he is quite aware that he’s learning how a majority of humanity operates, he never for once sees the need to apologize for how/who he is.

YYYYEEEEESSSSSSS.

There are scenes in which Murphy says out loud things that I have thought my entire life and always been encouraged to keep to myself. For example, the episode where he says, “On the day the rain smelled like ice cream, my bunny went to heaven,” my eyes were wet for the next 10 minutes. (And remember, I am half Vulcan, so that’s a LONG time, folks.) He processes memories and sensory information so differently from any other doctor (or most non-doctor people), and yet this is exactly what makes him special, brilliant, valuable in his field. The fact he has such a strong and encouraging mentor (Dr. Glassman) completely makes my heart sing.

While we’re only a few episodes into season 1 of this show, and there will doubtlessly be some things I take issue with (why are the other doctors so mean to him, give him a chance and quit being so narrow-minded, you nitwits), I hold out hope that this depiction will help raise not only autism awareness but autism ACCEPTANCE. Just being different does NOT mean there’s something wrong with us. We are still important to the world — and guess what, since we were born this way, God knew just how we’d be, and He let it be so.

Historically it’s been proven that those who change the world the most — for the better — think differently than the masses. You know the guy who came up with E=MC squared? Yup, historians believe he had Asperger’s syndrome. The guy who wrote those adventures of a little Victorian girl in Wonderland that we all love so much was also suspected of being on the spectrum. And then there are the big ones — the man who signed the paper ending slavery in America, and the man who led England through World War II, are both thought to have had either some minor form of ADHD or spectrum disorder.

So, why can’t I be a bestselling author? Even though I have to take several months to finish a book, and stim while I write, and literally bust my butt to make sure my NT characters are behaving like real people? Why not?

Seriously, I’m The Good Author.

Coming Up On The TBR

[image error]

Good morning, all! Today I’ll be waxing a bit nostalgic about what will happen when NaNo is finished and I have more free time to read again. Also, I’ll be complaining a little about how I cannot afford new books very often. Okay, I just did. There, we can comiserate. I feel a bit better.

So, fall has been a big deal for new YA releases. And as usual, this is a time of year when I am not doing so hot on the wallet part of life (you know, back to school expenses and getting ready for the holidays). (So everybody go buy a copy of my short story collection, just released on Barnes & Noble.com. Wait, did I say that out loud?)

An-y-way… I am very lucky in that I live in an area with a really good public library system, and therefore I do not have to wait approximately 7.8 years to acquire titles that I am currently drooling over. Here are some of my major recent anticipated releases:

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater:

I honestly am game for trying absolutely anything Maggie Stiefvater publishes. While she just misses my list of top favorite authors, I do love the hibiscus out of The Scorpio Races and Shiver, and hence All The Crooked Saints makes this post, without a doubt.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green:

Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of John Green (maybe I haven’t hit the right one yet?), but White Fang has expressed an interest in trying his books, so I figure this would be a good way to get him started.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie Dao:

See this cover? With the lovely flower being molested by the snake? I *hate* snakes. I want to defend the flower. I will just manage to read this (despite needing to turn it facedown every time I’m not actively tackling the content), because I want to know if the flower makes it. (Hush, I know Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is about Asian-mythology-inspired fantasy, and this is a subject I am very interested in. So I *do* want to read it, although I will genuinely hope and pray for a cover change, quite soon.)

Warriors: A Vision of Shadows: Darkest Night by Erin Hunter

The latest installment in the Warriors: A Vision of Shadows series we’ll absolutely be buying. White Fang already owns most of these books, so we’re trying to complete his collection. Pre-orders are so easy for this series, and I am very grateful for that.

Wild Beauty by Anna Marie McLemore:

I was extremely on the fence about this author’s previous works (I did try them both and was not a fan). But the premise of this one sounds very much up my alley, and I totally cover judge, and THIS COVER alone is worth swooning over and grabbing ASAP.

Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic:

I haven’t a single clue what this book is about. Yup, you read that right. Do I want to? Eh, kind of? I am 100% cover judging, and sincerely crossing my fingers that my impulse pays off with a great story.

So, what new releases are you looking forward to, moths? Any of these on your TBR this season? Can we all survive until they arrive in our libraries/bookstores/on our Christmas lists?

Autistic Readers and Writers: Discussion and An Interview with Paper Fury

[image error]

Hello all! Today we have a special event — I’m co-hosting a joint interview with Cait from Paper Fury (also known as the Dragon Queen, Her Royal Scaly-ness). Today she and I both are answering these amazing questions (cobbled together by yours truly), and you can find the interview on her blog, too!

We’re both book bloggers and occupational writers, and we both fall on the autism spectrum. So this fact of life (for us, but not for everybody) creates interesting twists on our favorite things of reading and writing. Today we’re going to natter just a little about that.

1.What are your favorite genres to read, and why?

DALEY: Fantasy and YA. Sometimes historical fiction. Mostly it’s because I don’t have a very strong attention span, so I really prefer shorter novels (300 or so pages) and styles that don’t include 17-letter words that I constantly have to look up. Also I like to be able to pronounce the character and place names, so I’m not huge on high fantasy or sci-fi.

CAIT: My truest love is also fantasy, everything from magical realism to high fantasy. Basically = please let there be knives and dragons. But lately I’ve really fallen in love with contemporary YA too. I’m finding the new releases to be really emotional, raw, diverse, and prone to breaking your feels and dancing the polka on them in glee. Books are so nice. I mean.

Favorite authors?

DALEY: Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Erin Hunter, JK Rowling.

CAIT: Maggie Stiefvater and VE Schwab win for BEST OF BEST…but I also adore Cassandra Clare, John Green, Leigh Bardugo, Scott Lynch, Adam Silvera, and Jay Kristoff! (Yes I’m sorry but I’m allergic to minimizing my answers to this kind of question.)

Which genres do you prefer to write, and why?

DALEY: Fantasy, for sure, but also contemporary. (I have created my own genre, called suburban fantasy – since my plot/characters are generally set in small town communities in modern times.) It’s so much easier for me to keep up with the language and technology and fashion of an era I (more or less) understand, than trying to go back a hundred or more years.

CAIT: I’m with Daley in that my top 2 genres are definitely fantasy and contemporary. I write a lot of epic fantasy, but I’m dying to try magical realism. The idea of having WiFi and chocolate ice cream BUT ALSO faeries and dark magic just is pleasing. I also write just YA contemporary, which is 50% me being able to make a shameful amount of puns and add in Tumblr humour and 50% me trying not to let everyone get murdered because apparently that’s not normal for contemporaries. Who knew??? Amazing. I have written sci-fi before but HAHA NEVER AGAIN. I DO NOT KNOW SCIENCE.

What particular aspects of writing do you struggle with, as an autistic author?

DALEY: Making sure my NT (neurotypical) characters behave in ways non-autistic people would behave. (Depending on the scene, that can be really hard.) Also not cutting short dialogue (because I can’t come up with the corresponding emotional reactions), and explaining action sufficiently (my brain likes to get ahead of my fingers).

CAIT: I’ve always struggled with writing characters, particularly relationships…ok fine, particularly romances. (JUST KISS. WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT.) Since I wasn’t diagnosed with autism until a few years ago, I didn’t know why I this was so hard for me and it genuinely freaked me out that my characters couldn’t seem to move beyond sassing each other to death. (Though I still see no downside in that. My aesthetic.) But I’ve put a heckin’ lot of work in with a lot of research through reading and it pays off! As a writer, I think it’s our duty to write from perspectives and work at it!

I also write a lot of neurodiverse characters but not intentionally. Recently I finished a book with my first canon autistic character and my sister read it and said, “OK so who isn’t autistic here?” WHOOPS. So it slips in. Just like it’d take conscious effort for a neurotypical (non-autistic) author to write an autistic character, it’s the same for us vice versa. We have to translate and analyze. I’ll be asked by betas to explain myself more and put more emotional connection on page. “Make them touch!” I’ve been told for my romances and then realised with absolute shock that I hadn’t done that because I, unintentionally, avoid writing contact since I hate it. And just like Daley, I find myself doing a double take on how I’ve made my neurotypical characters act. It feels like a big messy puzzle and one I didn’t even know I was putting the pieces in backwards until recently. But do I enjoy the puzzle. #Yes.

[image error]

As an autistic reader, do you have specific triggers or extreme dislikes that you try to avoid when you choose books?

DALEY: I don’t like explicit, graphic violence or sexual content or lots of profanity. Too much info-dumping really bores me and makes me not invested in the story. And I’m not one for 5-paragraph descriptions of how the character’s shoes were made.

CAIT: I also hate info-dumping! My mind glazes over SO FAST. I’m opposite to Daley though in that I love dark books. Darker the better yessss. (I’m sure I’m fine, shh don’t fret.) But some of my biggest triggers are: (1) talking flippantly about suicide, and (2) actually reading bad representation of autism in books…which happens a lot. When you see “your people” in books but they’re constantly belittled or forced to change or just written with condescending stereotypes, it gets to you. I’ve finished YA books about autism and felt anxious and ill afterwards. So that’s what problematic representation does to those in the minority, peoples.

Do you feel that finding NT (neurotypical) characters in books that you can relate to is hard?

DALEY: Sometimes, yes. Often I like to read about protagonists who are introverts or who have traits that put them closer to the autism spectrum (even if they’re not actually on it), because I simply can’t connect with people who have 345 friends and are always going places and like having a 9-5 job. And finding narrators/protagonists who experience sensory issues (like a fear of crowds or loud noises and the ensuing physical responses) is very rare and precious.

CAIT: Again I’m so with you, Daley! I love finding characters who have a lot of autism traits because I instantly connect. Sometimes they won’t be diagnosed on page, but I will headcanon that they are and it IS SO NICE. (Especially in fantasy! Where are my fantasy autistics?!) However? The average protagonist…no I don’t relate to them. I actually freak out over this and all my low-star ratings on books I review. Is it because I don’t relate? Am I doing the book a disservice because my brain + that book = aren’t compatible? I CAN enjoy a book and not “relate” but honestly it’s like a 1 in 10 chance that I’ll find a character to emotionally connect to in a book.

Do you feel that writing from an autistic perspective will make your own novels difficult for most people to connect with?

DALEY: I do worry about it a little. Since I have 2 characters on the spectrum, they’re really easy to write; and yet, I truly hope I can describe their experiences in a way NT readers will understand and get something from. There are certain things about myself that I just can’t alter or adjust to seeing in a purely NT way, so I do A LOT of editing before I consider my manuscripts complete, hoping to achieve a good middle ground.

CAIT: Again, I hadn’t thought about this till recently…but it is a worry for me now. I also worry that if I write “too many autistic characters” people won’t be as interested in my work. Is that worry unfounded? Maybe??? But I see SO MANY reviewers on Goodreads reading a book with an autistic character and their first comment is: “Well I didn’t relate obviously because I’m not autistic.” It makes me sad. Then it makes me worried. I don’t think it SHOULD be a problem because if I can relate to a neurotypical, why shouldn’t you relate to an autistic? But so far, any betas I’ve had have all found my books delightfully stabby and relatable. OK fine they didn’t say “delightfully stabby” but I’m sure they think that deep inside.

How do you prepare to write? What’s the environment you need to be productive?

DALEY: I like it quiet, not many (or any) people around. The cat is fine. Sometimes I like to put on music, or a movie I’ve seen 14 million times, so it just becomes background. Definitely I need to have been thinking tons about my next plot point or moment in the character arc. Usually I handwrite my first draft, then take everything to the computer from there for easier revising and editing.

CAIT: I need 100% silence. I have noise-cancelling headphones to help with this. I also need a very tight schedule to be fully productive. So I write in “binge sessions” and will put in 8+ hour workdays with every minute accounted for (WITH RESTS OK I’M NOT A MACHINE). People often ask me how I even focus for that long and…well I literally can’t focuse like that for ANYTHING else. (I have the attention span of a gnat.) But writing? Dude, I just don’t stop. I get into hyper-focus and I’m gone.

Are you pursuing traditional publishing or self-publishing, and what were your reasons for this choice?

DALEY: Self-publishing, because I got really tired of sending out queries to agents and getting this response: “We feel your work is promising, but…” The “but” always related to something autistic I’d done (often without even realizing it) in the manuscript, and most people aren’t well-educated on ASD, so they didn’t even consider that the writer was ASD or even close to that possibility. So it boiled down to they liked my premise and my style, but they didn’t get the plot points or MC’s motivations. Through self-publishing, I have total creative control, and no one telling me “not to be autistic.”

CAIT: I’ve been so lucky to land a really lovely and understanding literary agent in the UK. I honestly don’t think I’ve had any hiccups that a non-autistic writer pursing traditional publishing wouldn’t have had too…it’s long and hard and YOU GOTTA BE PATIENT even when you want to eat a brick wall and edits are beasts. But my agent is extremely understanding and there has been 0% problems with the facts that (a) I’m autistic, (b) I can’t do phone calls because of social anxiety and I’m not good at speaking out loud, and (c) the way I think and write stories. I occasionally get my edit feedback “translated” by my family, though, to be sure I’m not misunderstanding.

What do you want people to know about being an autistic writer and reader?

DALEY: That we frequently won’t see things the way you do – we may never like the same authors you do, or the same genres, for very valid reasons. And it doesn’t mean we’re being stubborn or extremely judgemental. Often I’ve read books that weren’t for me at all, but I still considered them to be well-written and even recommended them to other readers. Also that as writers, we work REALLY, REALLY HARD to craft a tale that can be enjoyed by a variety of people (I can guarantee harder than most authors, and many of them do work their tails off). And that you shouldn’t worry that you won’t be able to relate to our writing; lots of NT readers have really enjoyed my debut novel. (You may even learn something about how we think and why we act the way we do, and that’s all good.)

CAIT: I love what Daley’s said there! I also think that it’d be nice if NT readers didn’t go into a book by an autistic author or about an autistic character with the assumption they’re not going to relate. Just enjoy the story. Don’t put up mental-roadblocks yourself. Our brains are having a slightly different party to yours, but it’s still a freaking cool party.

[image error]