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#wordweavers

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WordWeavers for 15th July, 2025

15. How emotionally intelligent is your MC?
I think she’s ok, emotionally. She’s certainly getting better at it, in the years since I first met her, but her life experiences have been pretty gruelling. Luckily she has some *very* good emotional advisors, in the shape of a pair of dragons who can feel her emotions, and send her some of their own at will. As a consequence, there are times when she pauses to analyse how she’s feeling about her circumstances in quite an analytical way.

#WordWeavers 7/14. What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

Yes.
They're all important and valuable.

Ebooks are easier to hold/carry, cheaper, and versatile.

Paperback and hardback (you forgot that one. Shame! lol) are longer lasting and give an important, tangible quality to stories.

And audiobooks allow people to multitask and add more accessibility for people.

I plan to have them all when I publish. Audio will take some time, though.

Self-promo day:
I write action-adjacent scifi set in worlds a few what-ifs from our own. Heavy on memorable characters, low on military solutions. Most are in the #Smashwords #SWSale2025 sale at 75% off right now!
smashwords.com/profile/view/K.

#ScribesAndMakers 14 July. Also related to the #WordWeavers 12 Jul prompt about self-promo comfort because I'm unreasonably proud of myself for posting ir. I was offline all wknd & always have to fight the sense I haven't Contributed Enough to justify promo.

SmashwordsK. M. HerkesK. M. Herkes writes stories that dance in the open spaces between genres, and her novels play in the literary traffic, dodging between science fiction, fantasy, thrills, and realism. Creating imaginary worlds has been a passion since childhood, but bugs, plants, computers, and chemistry also rank high on her list of interests. Professional development has included lab work, classroom teaching, animal training, aquaculture, horticulture, retail operations, and library operations. Personal development is ongoing. Cats, cookies, and flowers are involved. She writes, fidgets, and is mostly quiet with a thirty-percent chance of loud. The rest is subject to change without notice. Visit the official website at http://kmherkes.com for extras like story-inspired art, extended excerpts, and free fiction. You can find her surfing in the fediverse as @kmherkes@wandering.shop, and on Bluesky as @kemherkes.bluesky.social

#WordWeavers 2025.07.14 — What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

I'm going to be obtuse and answer that if I could find an easy and accessible path to traditionally publishing my stories and novels, I'd take it in a hot second. I'd rather let the publisher and agent hash formats out.

I suspect I won't find that.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

Continued thread

#WordWeavers 14 Jul followup.

Pls know It isn't something I judge people for *not* doing.
isn't economically or logistically feasible for many Indies to release audio or deadtree editions of everything, tho paperback publication happily does keep getting easier.

It's just why I am dedicated to doing audio & print of my books even though I know I will never make back the audio $$. (my books don't sell much in any format, TBH, and I am also committed to hiring real human narrators.)

#WordWeavers 2025.07.12 2/2 — Are you comfortable promoting your own work [in person]?

GAH! Okay, having reread this prompt, I realized I attended an SF and Fantasy convention (BayCon / WesterCon 41) over the July 4th weekend. Do I like promoting my work? Again, I repeat, GAH! I am a shy person and the amount of mental energy necessary to roll that boulder up the hill and over the crest is Sisyphusian.

But.

I did it!!!

Strangely, turns out, as a number of you writer-author folk pointed out in your replies to me (thank you!), other writers, authors, artists, readers, and fans are or have been in situations that have made them supremely anxious, too. I was surprised at how many people asked questions or led me into conversations. I talked a lot that weekend, and asked questions that let me listen to also sorts of wonderful things about craft of writing, and living that life. My palms did not betray me and remained dry when I shook hands. I did talk about my view on gender and feminist fiction, and my works, and shared about Mastodon. I even ended up pitching a small press about Mars Needed Women (not actually realizing that I was) and got instructions how to submit even though they are not accepting submissions until next year. I'm hoping the beta readers give me enough feedback that I can make it acceptable before open submission time…

Wow. Okay, I won't say I was comfortable. It was work, and I burnt out for an hour here and there, but not in front of anybody I wanted to talk to. I. Did. Not. Blather, either. It was gratifying. I should work on having a higher opinion of myself and a kinder opinion of others.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion #RSMarsNeededWomen #RSStory

#WordWeavers 14 Jul: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

All of the above. I am a firm advocate of FULL reading accessibility.
I have legally-blind who only do audio, I can only read comfortably on screens, and I'm married to someone who can only concentrate on text if he's holding it printed in hand---but those aren't the reasons I believe in multi-format availability is important.

It just IS.

*kicks soapbox back under the sofa.*

#WordWeavers 2025.07.13 — Do you regularly write reviews of others' work or promote them?

I regularly boost author books, articles, and art on Mastodon, and state as much on my profile. I need to see the post to do so. I prefer posts that include links: I am lazy and presume others are, also; links on your profile are insufficient in my opinion, especially since Mastodon shrinks links so they aren't full length. I don't boost repeated instances that are too close together as I don't want to spam my followers. You can PM me and I'll look for the public post, but nobody has taken me up on that offer, yet.

I will likely end up boosting everybody's #ScribesAndMakers self-promo post for July 14, 2025.

If I've read you book or article, I may post about it. When I see nice art by the artist, I may review it—or critique it if I think it needs a little more to become a masterpiece. I use hashtags, and suggest that you do, too. I am more regular about art since it takes a lot less time than reading.

To be clear, I don't boost work promoted other than by the artist's own account. If you are promoting your own work as well as others, I will boost that.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers #sketch #art #fineart #photography #photographer #watercolor #painting
#RSdiscussion

#WordWeavers Jul 14: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

No experience with any format except ebook which is self-published and serialized. It is an experiment given where the world seems to be heading - internet-based, bite-sized, regular bites, social media, world-building, etc. seem to be main attributes of how folks consume entertainment.

Would love to hear from y'all about comparisons!

#WordWeavers Jul 14: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

Paperback, because I'm older than dirt, and I like tangible things. That said, my publisher puts out all my novels in dead-tree and e-book editions, so all bases are covered.

#WordWeavers 14: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

E-book, as it’s easier for me to publish on different platforms. If I could also release on paperback, that would be awesome.

I’ve considered doing an audiobook of my poetry, but I’m not sure if anyone would be interested in anything like that.

#WordWeavers Jul 14: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

Paperback. Much as I am an ebook first reader there's nothing like having a copy of my books in paperback format to hold, and to use as props I can use to create memes or draw attention to my table at a market.

#WordWeavers Jul 14: What's your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

I like paperbacks. I get to do the back cover and the spine and maybe some interior art. Plus there's something about holding an actual, physical book that you wrote that makes it seem more real.

Replied in thread

#WordWeavers day 14: What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

I don't have any preference at all in what formats I release in. I suppose maybe a slight anti-preference for audio, because that requires the overhead of finding a narrator whose voice fits the material well and can do it justice, whereas printing (whether paper or electronic) doesn't have that level of variability.

#WordWeavers 7/14: What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

Everything gets released in ebook, novellas and longer also get paperback version.

Rai and I tried doing audio versions as a podcast for a while, which was awesome, but couldn't afford the hosting fees long term.

I'd love to do a proper audiobook eventually...

#WordWeavers 7/14: What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

I don't really have preferences. I know ebooks are here to stay so I know I'll always want mine published in that format. But I really want a physical book to hold in my hand, and paperbacks usually run cheaper, os I suppose that another format I'll always want.

#WordWeavers 7/14: What’s your favourite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

My first two books (a mini-series) I published on e-book and paperback. I have minimal sales on Kindle, despite advertising.
I've recently stopped Ads on Amazon, and my next book won't be available there.
I prefer physical books, but an ebook will be available too.
I've yet to publish on hardback, but if there's demand then I would.

#WordWeavers 7/14: What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

Almost all are available in paperback, EPUB, and PDF, which I release simultaneously. I've been disappointed by the POD hardcover books I've released so I no longer mess with those. They seemed shoddy and not worth the extra cost compared to paperbacks.

Never fooled with audio books, mostly because I don't listen to them myself (my attention tends to wander).

Replied in thread

14.07.2025
What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

I want at least one physical copy if I ever finish Star Ryde. Because that is something I need for my own satisfaction. For my own sense of achievement.

Otherwise I only can answer this from the perspective of a reading person. I love pocket books, the different design the soft covers and the Chaos they create in a shelf because no one ever had the idea to make them the same size.

Audiobooks are great as long they are labeled correctly and treated with respect. I always remember that butchered Terry Pratchett one where a German TV/Radio station made an Audio play out of a Disc world book and inserted a SONG about CARS and Driving Licenses into it.
Why is Death's Granddaughter singing? That doesn't fit her character. She never sings. And why does she even now what a car is???
Give me that Heine Soup advertisement in Star Trek again please...

#WordWeavers 14.07.2025 #writing #reading

#WordWeavers 7/14: What’s your favorite format to release your work (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.)? Why?

eBook
Far fewer formatting and cover art issues.
I do the ebook first, and once that is published, I go about the chore of making sure the hardcopy will strat each chapter on an event number page, no sentence fragments dangle onto a new page, and all the other little chores are done. Fitting the cover art is often a half day job all on its own.

Then ordering and waiting for a proof