The Problem with Online Writing Groups

This is going to be an issue with those who join writing groups hoping for the support they need, yeah, there are some that are great, some who legit care. Though there are those who don't, just want to use the group as some way to find others who can write their way! 

I joined one such group called Writing Fiction on Facebook, the admins were relatively good to start with, they were open, to start with. But recently I saw red flags coming, one came in the form of a gentleman who was asking about doing a political thriller about something similar to COVID-19, I was like cool. I was about to ask a question regarding it, when comments were turned off, there was nothing even remotely hostile in the comments. I was interested and felt a little turned off about the way this one admin, Heather was acting. She was basically putting up posts and some saying, "You can't do this or you can't do that. 

So for me, I posted a piece of my cover art, which was on my phone, I was nowhere near my laptop to submit a piece of art for others to see. I was frustrated when the comments were turned off with HEATHER posting, "You cannot post work promoting your book, all posts like this will be deleted." Yeah, I was turned off, I was frustrated and I just let it go, but then it turned int something else when I saw the post from the same guy asking if anyone else was feeling uncomfortable.

I posted that I felt uncomfortable about my artwork, I just felt very upset that was told something, I felt like Heather was telling me that I was promoting my book, when I did post, "This is a SAMPLE!" I don't do well cropping with my book on a phone. A few people asked and yeah I posted pictures of my artwork in the private messenger. 

This morning the Admin Heather posts yet again the "You can't promote your work," and I decided to also emphasize something else, "You cannot post your own artwork for your book because it is for promoting your book,. You might as well TRASH IT!" 

She turned off comments and said, "Stop complaining." 

I did message the bitch and tell her, "I'm considering leaving your group, it is entirely too hostile here and it doesn't do well for me, good luck to you." I was done, I was finished with the group and tried to warn another group and I was told that my attitude was a problem. So I left Writers Helping Writers, I figured I'm done dealing with people who do this shit to authors. This is not about popularity, artwork, or who makes what. 

I am still upset that people are being treated like shit! It isn't fair toauthors who join a group and then get blasted for asking a question. So for my friends and fans I want to make sure you guys understand that when you join groups, you don't need to take crap! 

Am I Transgender rights? And other book information

My Transgender Rights Vent

While I try to stay nonpolitical on this blogger, I'm going to mention my views of transgender rights. I am going to mention that yes, I agree with the idea that being transgender is a human right and I disagree with Rowling. I used to admire that author, but I went far from that and started to enjoy the comments and commentary of Lev Glossman. He has spent five years on a show called The Magicians, something he wrote and worked on, put a lot of heart into. 

I worked on my book while watching the episodes of the show and I also admired how up front it was regarding transgender rights in general. There was even a transgender character in teh show that is the Fairy Queen, she did an amazing job. 

Rowling is just hurting herself and as a fellow author on a youtube channel has said, yeah, she's got that right to point it out too. I am going to jsut give n this author a huge thanks for speaking what has been in my mind for awhile. 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NViZYL-U8s0&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1wh0UMuiWadHg8D5VrKMX85jUXxAmvFgLsl4vAjpL0RsMw8oMSj4eFgQ4

News for my books

Now I have two places where people can purchase merch for my works and also support the books that are forth coming in 2021. I was going to announce this before my surgery, but I have some time on my hands so I am going to have to talk about it. 

As most people know that the Patreon is still up and running, though I have to make sure I check it for a change.  The links will be listed below. 

Now for the news, again the con I work with Daku Con was cancelled for 2020 and will be back in 2021. I am going to be working strictly on the material that will be released for the book. I am also working on the artbook which the staff will be helping me put together as we have decided on what will be in and what will be out. The truth is I am going to also bring it to patreon as well. 

The title of the second book will be announced in 2021 in January, I will be talking to the directors of the con about what I will be releasing through the Redbubble and Zazzle sites. I will be mentioning that later in the links below. I am also going to bring news on here as well. 

I am going to make more announcements over the summer on what will be part of the book series and also what artwork will be showing up soon. 

Links: 

Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/reccaredscale

Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238632455474065443

 

I was cyberbullied and it did delay my book...

When I mention to people I had my book since 2013 being edited and worked on, I was not lying, and there was a huge reason. I was being cyberbullied by a person who spent his time picking on me. I was upset and it made me not want to help anyone. While I mention that this was a thing that happened, it was painful nonetheless and it made for the worst case of not thinking I was capable of writing, but I still worked on the book regardless.

The person who did this was called regretfulflyer, a person who was Facebook, Deviant Art, and many other sites I was on. I was forced to abandon my YouTube channel called Naginaoeofschwarz and go onto something better. I went into just not being interested in dealing with the drama. 

I felt alone until I was told by other Anime and Sci-Fi fans I wasn't, that this person was bullying others, he was kicked off a Furry group site. He was building on the idea that he was allowed to bully not just me, but everyone who disagreed with him. 

So yeah, I felt horribly and my book was put on hold because of those words and I also felt he would turn around accuse me of plagiarism. He wouldn't have much proof of that, I worked on the Dragon's Library and I worked so hard, the last I would need is him pulling that shit. 

I am hoping he never finds out or if he does, he doesn't attempt to attack me over it.  I grew a backbone because of my fiance and my friends, and I am going to wait for this to hit the fan, I'm going to wait for his brother (him) or himself to go after me.

Ever lose respect for an author?

While I strive to remain neutral on many things, there is one thing I am not neutral about, transgender rights. I don't believe in taking the rights of a person who is  transgender and dressing them in a way that could be considered mentally harmful. While I sat down and read that tweets that one author did, and I will mention I used to respect that lady, right now I do not. I'm disgusted and I would never attack someone based on it because I have too many friends who are transgender and much of the time, they're friends.

I grew to hate it when a person assumed my friend who was dressed in a dress, had her hair up, but still had voice issues due to being born a man was laughed at. I oftentimes had to bite my tongue and my friend would see become annoyed or distraught because I could clearly see how unwelcome we were. The truth is it is not about just acceptance in my eyes, it's about being human! 

My first experience with a transgender person was when I was in my twenties, the first time was with a friend and for the most part, I didn't clearly say, "no," to the meeting. Here we were in the LGBTQ office at a college, here we were making comments about Little India which catered the food for the meeting. How much we enjoyed the chicken korma, the game of phase 10, the moments we laughed at our jokes. She was and always has been a friend to me ever since. 

Yet when I saw Rowlings's words, I was wanting to tear up every copy of Harry Potter I own. Then I thought, no, that isn't how to work this out. The best way is to make something equally opposing to her views, make something that teaches that even a transgender character is a character who is worthy of love. I considered it my challenge, I have thought about doing it a while, yes, I have a transgender character in the world of the Planor, has she made an appearance, yes, she has. She's in book two and I'm not about to tell anyone yet until the book has been published sometime at the end of the year. I am starting to draw in the fact I want this character to show where she can go. 

I have been wanting to do this long before I heard about Rowlings being transphobic, the truth is I wanted to make a character that was based off a good friend of mine. She inspired me to make the character and while I will not name her yet, it is going to be a joy to add a new character to the world I created and enjoy. 

So I look forward to 2021 when I have brought up my webpage and also the characters that will inhabit the world of the Planor. 

Well...here goes the history

I have going to work with this, I'm going to be working on my book and Final Fantasy XIV due to illness, as of July 3rd, I'm going to be recovering from surgery. I am hoping that by the time I get well on July 11th, the new book will be done. 

The Dragon's Library Second book will be finished sometime in August and will be projected to be done with editing in December to be ready for next year. Yeah, this is going to take awhile.

The Pride Month story will be out sometime next month, it will be late, but at least it will get a release date sometime in the end of the month. 

Pride Month: Thadious and Quil'recca Get a Story

I was asked a while back about two characters in the book and I thought about it, yeah, I could do it, and yeah I will make it about these two characters. I was thinking about doing their side story for awhile and while I am working on the second book, it started to become clear that their story needs to be told. 

I was never so sure until I was reading through the book, then I realized how much work I have been doing on everything. I was thinking about it, and while I am going to be laid up from surgery coming up in July, I have to finish this book off.

The second book is having issues

Working on the side story

So when you think side story for the Dragon's Library, yeah I am deciding to do the story with Belsom and his boyfriend, Quil. While I know it will be requested in the future by an LGBTQ audiences, I am hoping to say my favorite gay men are going to be getting their own story. 

I am pretty much saying, "Yeah, we have pride month right now and BINGO, bring in Quil'reca and Belsom!"

I am feeling that this could be a great idea!