#pretendpanel Oct 10: Who inspires you?

My 1st person approach is inspired by Robert Browning, David Bowie and Japanese narrative structure eg Banana Yoshimoto. My focus is less a person than a jumble of new weird/gothic and eco, non-human agency

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

Usually, it's music. Otherwise, I'd say my developmental editor and partner @whirloglyphics.bsky.social who tireless supports me and always forgives me for over apologizing. #pretendpanel

All the trans creators out there making such amazing work despite all the various unpleasantnesses being faced in this horrible century. Too many to name, but they all give me a bit of hope.
#pretendpanel

#pretendpanel
I was figuring out this convoluted story in my head for a while, but I thought I didn't have the skills to write it.

Then I read a published book (I think it was smut), which was so badly written that I went 'I can do this better on my own'.

#WritingCommunity

#pretendpanel
Terry Pratchett will always inspire me. With his dedication to his craft, his humanism, his way of making things humourous and not didactic while still going deep on his themes. I aspire. I’ll never be funny like him, so instead, my goal is stated in this meme I want to share with you:

Inspiration can come from many sources. Teachers and mentors, orher authors, various muses in our lives, and more. Tell me, #pretendpanel …

10th: Who inspires you (specific to your writing)?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

Writing Brian Jacques fanfic when I was twelve because it always pissed me off how all the weasels were evil! And badgers are omnivores so like how does that even work?

Anyway I like weasels?

#pretendpanel

#PretendPanel

My first "Maybe I'm a writer" story was in college, "Heart of the Jackal".

Grimdark Weird West but it had my earmarks even then: an ace MC, a devil's contract, loopholes, etc.

I decided, finally, I didn't want to spend more time in that depressing world.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity

#PretendPanel
Trying to remember my writing origin story is like trying to remember how I learned to walk. Making up stories was just kind of always a thing I did, I think partially because of growing up immersed in the Southern "Family Stories and Tall Tales on the Front Porch" tradition.

In 5th grade I used our computer lab time to write what was basically a fanfic of the Magic School Bus, except using my class, and the other kids really liked it.

Then from there I started writing actual fanfic, and then from there original stories.

#PretendPanel #WriteSky

#PretendPanel
🧵2/2

- First rejection for an original short story
-First attempt at an original novel. (I’ll finish it one day.)
-Residential creative writing corse: inspiring!
-Completed original novel
-Publication!

Each spark’s has been a step on a decades long journey. It’s still ongoing.

#PretendPanel
No big bang moment, but lots of little sparks. Stand out memories include:
-Poem in primary school
-“The Alarm”: an essay in my English O level exam
-Voicing aloud for the first time that I wanted to be a novelist
-Finding fanfiction and writing friends

Happy #pretendpanel!

Writing was just...my always. Before I knew how to actually write, I dictated stories to my mom to write down for me. There was never a time when I didn't want to be a writer. Telling myself stories, fanfiction, storytelling games, writing clubs, writing major...it's my always.

I was always a storyteller.
I have strong feelings about several things, plus trauma. My stories started as a way for me to process those things. I liked the stories enough that I decided to share them?

This is why my themes are usually around social justice (also my degree).

#pretendpanel

Like the FMC of Ingénue, I was summoned to a cruel elderly relative's mansion so that he could present me to "society." It was such a strange and unique experience, and it changed my outlook on the world so profoundly, that I've been writing this WIP ever since. #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity

#PretendPanel The spark that ignited my writing?

I just know I always have, and always will. Why dark fiction? Blame my Irish grandmother who told fortunes in tea cups and with whom I watched old b/w horror movies when i was knee high.

#pretendpanel
I was drawing stories from early on as a kid, then writing Star Wars, Aliens and Terminator "fan fic" from age 10-11. Then dark poems as a teen... and picking the pen back up after decades of teaching, with a man walking down a spiral staircase (this is a forever shelved dragon story).

#pretendpanel #WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

I dunno. I always made up elaborate stories and characters when playing with my toys when I was little and on-and-off I'd write them down. I mostly spent years writers blocked, though, with no real idea how to move forward.

Watched Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade too many times as a young Beird and figured "I wanna do that"

Then I tried making movies and wasted years of time and money

And then another foolhardy notion popped in my brain

"Just do it as a book innit?"

Out of the frying pan . . .

#pretendpanel

I read a LOT as a kid and in 4th grade my teacher did a few creative writing assignments. I don't remember the minimum pages but I wrote several stories that were 5+ pages with my own drawings added 😂

She said she really enjoyed them and she told me to keep writing and to send her ⬇️

#pretendpanel