Me Time
The End of the Transitional Year
As 2023 drew to a close, I ended what I now see was a transitional year. I left my full-time job at the end of 2022 and began to work as a self-employed consultant last year. It was a strange 12 months, with the first half incredibly busy with projects, and the second half much less so. As a result, I've learned a lot about going out on my own and am glad that I waited til this stage of my career, when I'm basically bumping up against retirement, to do so.
The other key feature of the transitional year was that I stopped writing , which meant not completing the third book in The Split trilogy. While I had a lot of anxiety about this, and little motivation, it was helpful to see the year as just a break. Instead, I read about 101 books, the best of which I shared in the last issue of this newsletter.
So now it's 2024 and my resolution was to write 500 words a day, a mere pittance by contrast with most of my actively writing author friends, but a good plan of baby steps for me. The good news is that I have begun writing again. Not everyday, but when I do, I meet that word count. So hopefully there'll be a book 3 completed this year. Working title: The Diplomat (but not the one starring Keri Russell, unfortunately).
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
What Is LGBTQ+ Fiction—And Does a Writer Have to Be Queer to Write It? | Jane Friedman
The LGBTQ+ representation in the book needs to be informed and respectful, queer characters must be three-dimensional, believable people and those characters must also be central to the story. In addition to these considerations that are specific to queer fiction, there are also all the usual craft elements to think about
Fifty shades of white: the long fight against racism in romance novels | Romance books | The Guardian
“People say: ‘Well, I can’t relate,’” Jenkins told NPR a few years ago, after watching white readers simply walk past her table at a book signing. “You can relate to shapeshifters, you can relate to vampires, you can relate to werewolves, but you can’t relate to a story written by and about black Americans?”
How to Generate Powerful Story Conflict - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
For conflict to have a strong foundation, we need to focus on three things.
Ensure Your Newsletter Lives Up to Subscriber's Expectations - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Your author newsletter freebie is a success! You’ve got lots of new subscribers eager to read your next email.
Now what?
Book Bans Up 33% Between Last Two School Years - Mombian
Florida and Texas led the country, comprising 34% and 24%, respectively, of all recorded bans over the last two years, followed by Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, and South Carolina. The bans extend much further, however, with a total of 247 school districts across 41 states banning books.
New Bookstore Centering Banned Books Is Coming to Central Florida
Lauren Groff, author of the Lambda Literary award finalist novel Matrix (which was also one of Autostraddle’s best books of 2021), is opening a new bookstore in Gainesville, Florida this year called The Lynx. Fittingly named after one of Florida’s two native wildcats, The Lynx will focus especially on titles being banned in Florida, LGTBQ+ books, and books by Florida writers.
News You Can Use
Jodie Foster 'Can't Wait' to Support Wife Alex at Her Sundance Premiere
the film (directed by Hedison, 54) is "a compelling portrait of Alok Vaid-Menon, acclaimed nonbinary author, poet, comedian and public speaker," and is executive produced by Foster.
‘True Detective: Night Country’ Proves It’s Still Jodie Foster’s Time - The Ringer
The ‘True Detective: Night Country’ star has been an actor since she was 3 years old, and a leading lady for decades. Now, she’s finding fulfillment in supporting and off-camera roles—while still shining when the lights are brightest.
Kristen Stewart Says the Sex Scenes in Her New Movie Will "Shock People" | Them
It’s clear that Stewart has abandoned the heterosexual constraints that once defined her career.
Kristen Stewart Talks Sexuality, Cheating Scandal
“When you’re in your 20s, you do all sorts of stupid shit. I felt for her. I wish for her that she had the space and the privacy to be able to explore herself so that she could be a full human being.”
Renée Rapp Still Believes Regina George Is a Lesbian | Them
“[Regina being a lesbian] was always my interpretation of it, still is my interpretation of it. It might not be other people’s, and I truly don’t care,” Rapp
The New York Times Gaylor Op-Ed Controversy, Explained | Them
A Times piece speculating on Taylor Swift’s sexuality has the internet burning red.
60 Best Lesbian Movies on Tubi | Autostraddle
its free service that offers a massive library of films and television shows available to all of us in exchange for our willingness to watch a few commercials along the way.
Why Understanding Legal Parentage is Critical for Queer Families - Tagg Magazine
establishing legal parentage is the best way for LGBTQ+ parents to confirm and protect their families. “Parentage is a legal term that references the legal relationship between a parent and a child,”
Workplace Discrimination Prevents LGBTQ+ Women from Coming Out at Work
The study, carried out to coincide with Lesbian Visibility Week, delves into some of the specific challenges that over 2,000 LGBTQ+ women and non-binary professionals from around the world, face at work. The findings show that seven out of 10 continue to experience discrimination at work. And, the figure is much higher for people of color, and those from more marginalized communities and ethnic minority groups.
What’s the best font? See how you and others perceive different types - Washington Post
See how fonts change the way you read and write.
Helpful Tools
Video, Images and Sounds - Good Tools #14 - by Robin Good
where to get images, music and video footage that can be re-used for free.
