Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!
September 3 question -
What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, storybible, or creating outlines\beats?
I'm not cool enough to know what any of that actually is, so I don't have any thoughts on it. I don't use it. I do use Grammarly, which I have been very open about, and even have a link on my sidebar. I use it for spelling and editing. I don't use any of the "write it for me" features.
August 18 - August 24 report:
TOPIC CHANGE!
Time to talk about my novella, or novelette, Jewels of Darterra.
Before writing, I discovered this term, STARGENDER.
"In more accurate terms the word may also refer to worldly non human gender that is beyond which genders are discovered, coined or comprehended by earthly terms."
I considered the possibilities of this when writing the story. The characters do not technically have genders, as reproduction is handled entirely by the moon world. (Yes, they have emotions, feel love, and express it. But they do not get pregnant, give birth themselves, or have reproductive organs. And I did use pronouns- though it's debatable if those pronouns are accurate.)
Consider the Orcs in the LOTR movies.
As a Native American, I considered how I could tie this knowledge into my world-building. Which is how the antagonist Jaildarn was created. Those with a gold jewel were depleting in number, no longer relevant to the world. Unable to deal with this reality, they get all genocidal. This gave me Belp, the protagonist, and the question "Could Belp have prevented all this death, and if so, why didn't he?"
While it is a speculative fiction story set on a moon world, it's easy to draw parallels to social issues here on our real world, if one is so inclined.
(A "race" that was known for exploration and discovery is declining in population and generates a villain, and a "race" known for their connection to the stones, rocks, the very world itself, produces a hero.)
Has a word or concept you had not previously encountered ever inspired you to write a story?
9798231627950 ISBN
Please 👏 add to your "want to read."
Expected publication September 9, 2025
🕮 - J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
💖Thank you to the 37 friends who wished me well on my Facebook profile timeline facebook.com/j.lennidorner
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social My current favorite social media site.
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https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features: Sept 3- Intergeneration Month - Arlee Sept 17- Condiment Month - J
Interesting concept. Cool it's something you can use.
ReplyDeleteYup. Made it work!
DeleteWow, such a fascinating background, I love hearing about this sort of thing about stories. Stargender is a beautiful word!
ReplyDeleteDeniz from thegirdleofmelian -- blogger won't let me log in!
48, two before me on the IWSG list! I found you. I couldn't get comments to work last month on nearly every site. Crazy!
DeleteI haven't gotten a story idea from a word, but your idea is an interesting one. It shows that ideas are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThere are actually a few other words I found that landed in the story. One from watching Jeopardy.
DeleteFirst time I have heard that word. Paper genocide though - so much history and events have been wiped out in the past few years because people want to pretend it never happened. It's sad when people and events can be deleted so quickly like that.
ReplyDeleteSometimes history is written by the "winners" of wars. Other times, it's rewritten by the descendants of bitter survivors.
DeleteI love learning new words, though I don't remember a word serving as inspiration for a story before. I've never used Grammarly--the productivity meter sounds motivating.
ReplyDeleteIt has a lot of features I don't use, and many I hate being without. Works great with a Chrome browser, if you use that.
DeleteI never heard of the word. Terrible practice of wiping away history.
ReplyDeleteToday you learned... 😊 I adore learning new words and concepts, and sharing that experience is absolutely gratifying.
DeleteI like how you've come up with your story. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Seasonal Creativity For Authors
I know you got a peek during April. But I wanted to make it a book. There are a few scenes that never landed on the blog. Plus, I changed the tense of most of it.
DeleteFascinating post. Paper genocide really scares me and I love the term stargender. Huge congrats on your novella. May it be read by many.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Certainly hope so!
DeleteI tried Grammarly, but it kept getting in my way. I'd type something and then it would put an annoying icon over the letters so I couldn't see where my cursor was. Grrr. Maybe I did it wrong.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, loved the new word and how it kickstarted you on your
It seems AI decided I was finished and posted my comment when it wanted to, not when I did. I need to add....STORY to the end.
Deletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/
Substack won't let me leave you comments at all. That's worse. I miss reading and commenting on your blog.
DeleteI've never heard the term 'paper genocide' but it's accurate. When I was 20, I went to the Soviet Union to read their version of history--WWII, Stalin, the Romanov's. It is so different than ours.
ReplyDeleteYup. I've known a few Germans who have some very different history lessons.
DeleteExcited for your new book! I love how you find inspiration everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteI think your story sounds fascinating, and the story of how it came about even more so.
ReplyDeleteInteresting statistics from Grammarly.
ReplyDeleteAlso I didn't think about paper genocide, but it definitely happened before and is happening now all around the world. Alas, not only Native Americans are affected, but many other groups of people as well, both ethnic and political.
Best of luck with the new book!
ReplyDeleteThose stats are quite intriguing - I'd like to see those 111 words to se how a text with that many unique words reads. The 14 non unique words has to be almost entirely 'and', 'the', 'is', 'are', 'has' ect. :D
ReplyDeleteGratz on your new publish!.
I had not heard either of those terms before. Those are good ones to know. Learning new vocabulary is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to learn. And yeah, there are so many new words I've learned that have helped me with my writing.
ReplyDeleteJ, I always find your posts so interesting, and I definitely want to read "Jewels of Darterra." The LOTR clip you posted was one of the creepiest/scariest scenes in the film trilogy (for me). I find Saruman's (Lee's) expressions perfect. In my home country of Canada, the government tried for over a century or more to eliminate Indian status. They failed, and native peoples can retain their status. I loved your stats! All the best to you in September!
ReplyDeleteI'd not heard the term 'paper genocide' before but there's no doubt that a term needs to exist for the practice. Brilliant way for you to integrate your personal experience into your writing.
ReplyDeleteDebs posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Also found at Debs Despatches
Ooo, J, that video clip is too scary for me. All the luck with your new release. Such an interesting post. Thanks!
ReplyDelete