Writerly Ways
May. 14th, 2023 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessI was thinking of why I liked Star Trek (all of them) and The Owl House so much. Star Trek embodies what I want most in science fiction, hope. Growing up I used to read tons of SF/F but in the 90s I slowly tapered off as the dystopian SF/F rose...and rose...and rose. Now we have that sliver of hope in solarpunk/hopepunk.
But what ST and TOH share is the normalization of diversity. Okay, ST struggled at times but we also have to remember when they were written. Roddenberry gave us characters of color and women as equals (yes there's argument of how equal Uhura or nurse Chapel was, but again a black woman as bridge crew was a huge step) Let's be honest, there was no way in hell the original would ever have been allowed to do any LGBT friendly in 1966.
30 years later, DS9 attempted it briefly with Jadzia, giving an on screen lesbian kiss (which got people as up in arms as Kirk and Uhura's first interracial kiss which the censors insisted had to be not their idea, hence its forced nature). But the show did put forth an effort to normalize diversity.
Skip ahead nearly 60 years from the original ST to The Owl House (and did I really just type 60 years? OMFG, how am I nearly that old?) This Disney animation gave us a fantasy world where diversity and all sexualities are completely normalized. We have Luz (bi, latinx), Amity (lesbian), Willow (pan with two dads), Hunter (Bi) Gus (black), Raine (non-binary), Lilith (ace) Darius (black, hinted he is gay and might be with Amity's dad so another bi character), all of this is 100% normalized, not one eyebrow raised. (though I do wonder if it was in part of the reason for it's early cancellation with all Disney is weathering with the Florida Nazis)
But I think this is why I fell hard for the show. It gave hope that there could be a world where we don't hate each other for skin color or orientation. (also ToH is a great study on HOW to do a villain) I like having that hope vs oh look here's another fantasy book where women/LGBT/Poc are marginalized and harmed. Yes, like I said before I know there are value in those stories too but at this point they are outweigh the ones of hope. ST especially has shaped the stories I want to tell. I hope that there remains a market for it (I'm sure there'll be one but maybe not as large as I would hope for)
How about you? Do you like these kinds of stories? Are you more a dystopian lover? What are your favorite stories/shows with some hope to them (I can find plenty of dsytopia on my own).
Open Call
Haven Speculative 2023 General Submissions Call #3
Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores June 2023 (Early Listing)
The Dance This one is interesting but very very specific
Heartlines Spec Spring-Summer 2023 Window looking for long-term relationships as the key (also looking for Canadian authors for 50% of book)
Rhapsody of the Spheres (Early Listing) speaking of hopepunk....
Alternative Truths, Southern Edition: Bless Their Hearts and this is exactly the opposite. Pays very well but I don't wany to take my mindset here. I'm struggling too much with what happens when I think about far right politics
Written in the Wind – Fantastic Tales on the Power of Names The pay isn't great but the idea is very interesting.
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Creating a Publication Timeline for Your Next Release
length and publishing a twitter thread
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Manifesto fiction
But what ST and TOH share is the normalization of diversity. Okay, ST struggled at times but we also have to remember when they were written. Roddenberry gave us characters of color and women as equals (yes there's argument of how equal Uhura or nurse Chapel was, but again a black woman as bridge crew was a huge step) Let's be honest, there was no way in hell the original would ever have been allowed to do any LGBT friendly in 1966.
30 years later, DS9 attempted it briefly with Jadzia, giving an on screen lesbian kiss (which got people as up in arms as Kirk and Uhura's first interracial kiss which the censors insisted had to be not their idea, hence its forced nature). But the show did put forth an effort to normalize diversity.
Skip ahead nearly 60 years from the original ST to The Owl House (and did I really just type 60 years? OMFG, how am I nearly that old?) This Disney animation gave us a fantasy world where diversity and all sexualities are completely normalized. We have Luz (bi, latinx), Amity (lesbian), Willow (pan with two dads), Hunter (Bi) Gus (black), Raine (non-binary), Lilith (ace) Darius (black, hinted he is gay and might be with Amity's dad so another bi character), all of this is 100% normalized, not one eyebrow raised. (though I do wonder if it was in part of the reason for it's early cancellation with all Disney is weathering with the Florida Nazis)
But I think this is why I fell hard for the show. It gave hope that there could be a world where we don't hate each other for skin color or orientation. (also ToH is a great study on HOW to do a villain) I like having that hope vs oh look here's another fantasy book where women/LGBT/Poc are marginalized and harmed. Yes, like I said before I know there are value in those stories too but at this point they are outweigh the ones of hope. ST especially has shaped the stories I want to tell. I hope that there remains a market for it (I'm sure there'll be one but maybe not as large as I would hope for)
How about you? Do you like these kinds of stories? Are you more a dystopian lover? What are your favorite stories/shows with some hope to them (I can find plenty of dsytopia on my own).
Open Call
Haven Speculative 2023 General Submissions Call #3
Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores June 2023 (Early Listing)
The Dance This one is interesting but very very specific
Heartlines Spec Spring-Summer 2023 Window looking for long-term relationships as the key (also looking for Canadian authors for 50% of book)
Rhapsody of the Spheres (Early Listing) speaking of hopepunk....
Alternative Truths, Southern Edition: Bless Their Hearts and this is exactly the opposite. Pays very well but I don't wany to take my mindset here. I'm struggling too much with what happens when I think about far right politics
Written in the Wind – Fantastic Tales on the Power of Names The pay isn't great but the idea is very interesting.
Cemetery Gates Media: Seeking Debut Authors of Horror Novel Series’
52 Literary Journals and Magazines Open to Genre Work
From Around the Web
Can ChatGPT Help You Overcome Writer’s Block?
Connection, Part II: Human Moments
The Backstory Drip (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 3 of 3)
Why Choose Indie Publishing?
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Holding Back
The Muse Has Left the Building: Getting your ‘Poe’ mojo back on the go
here. Case Study: How “A Long Walk with Mary: A Search for the Mother of God” Was Published
9 Opportunities for Writers This May 2023
What Is Your Author Brand?
How to Self-Publish a Book With BookBaby
Why You Need an Editor for Your Book
The Fascinating Neuroscience of Scene
From Betty
Tips on Hiring and Working with a Book Cover Designer (And New Cover Reveal for Dreamlander!)
How Theme in Fiction Gets to the Heart of Your Characters
Plot Twist Ideas: 8 Great Ideas for Writers
Why Every Author Needs a Website: How to Make Yours Stand Out
WHEN FEAR STOPS YOU IN YOUR WRITING JOURNEY, HOW TO CHOOSE JOY
Enneagram Bullet Journal Setup
Three Ways to Cut Rambling From Your Novel
The Power of Small Problems: Elevate Your Plot with Little Conflicts
Designing a Memorable Villain in Prose
Seven Tips for a Satisfying Mystery
The Three Types of Group Minds
How Beta Readers Might Save Your Book from Disaster I really need to find a few
Creating a Publication Timeline for Your Next Release
length and publishing a twitter thread
Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Explorer
Building Bits of Life into a Novel
How to Level Up Your Settings, Part 1
Manifesto fiction
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no subject
Date: 2023-05-15 04:51 am (UTC)If I read Dystopian stories, they have to be hopeful otherwise they are just too depressing, and I can't read them. We need hope for the future otherwise things are too bleak.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-16 04:28 am (UTC)The Owl House deserved better but if you get a chance to see if, I think you'll like it
I hear you on the dystopians