Writing when you're single, Part Three

I'll answer one more question about writing as a single woman—actually, as a single black woman—to wrap up the Writing when you're single series...

#3 How is being a black woman writer different? You’re the one who said it was, so no chickening-out, now.

So, some things are common to the human experience and to a woman’s writing experience, of course: wishing you were published like any writer, concern about being taken seriously within your genre (I think Anne McCaffrey is a good example—a woman writing what folks realized was science fiction in the 70s), and so on. But, has anyone here ever tried to write a fantasy fiction story for their favorite video game, did decently well, drummed up a good fanbase, and then wondered whether your fans even knew if you were black? Wondered if that would cause them to question what they’re reading, whether her characters in a fantasy universe (when these are predominantly white) really were so well-informed, or wondered if it would just be safer to keep your racial identity to yourself, or simply not bring it up so that you can keep focusing on enjoying the story? Can you even call that enjoying the story?

Writing when you’re single

Oh, yes I did draw a black
Wonder Woman with cornrows...

I’ve had some funny hehe (entertaining) and funny haha (oh, how embarrassing) moments writing as a single woman. Even as a black single woman, which adds another layer to what you may experience when you’re drafting your novel at home in singlehood, trying to explain your story-babies to folks at work, and even “secretly” sharing risqué fantasy fiction from beneath a cute moniker for your favorite video game… 

So, I realized it might be helpful and really, amazingly goofy of me to share how the single-writing-female thing goes down, for any avid fiction readers who wonder how it does all come together when real life is in the way, or for any other lady writers out there looking for friendly reflection from a fellow Diana Prince by day, Wonderwoman writer by night type of gal.

This will be a three-part series, so hold on tight! (You’re holding on tight because it’s exciting. Omg, are you still not holding on tight? You just hurt my feelings...)

#1 How the hell do you write good romances when you’re not dating?

Oh my God, so how many times over the years have I plunked down on the sofa at the end of a frustrating day of trying to work, while at day-job and not focusing on some guy who was great/letting me down at the moment, and then tried to come up with something noble, sexy

Get inspired by Daft Punk and Rolling Stone

How I rocked, ro-bot-rocked my way to feeling recharged about writing...

I get energized by really outstanding, super-weird creative people. And, Daft Punk's feature in the June issue of Rolling Stone was so goddamned satisfying for a fangirl like me. They cover everything I've been fiending to learn about: the helmets, three eras' worth of their muses, and the secret, new pieces that intend to break pace with current non-trends in electronic music.

Also, Daft Punk's new masterpieces should accomplish what they've done with music samples and that technological sound, "but with people"... Okay, so, at that point in reading, my goofy artist's imagination reeled from some kind of soylent green 'dear God, the riffs... they're made from people!' scenario (probably because these guys always dress like scary robots), before touching back to earth again when it was soon explained that Homem-Christo and Bangalter can rush through their studio mid-song to switch cables from input to output ports, or turn up one of a gazillion dials on custom made sound systems to produce a truly organic — from-the-soul sound that can't just be repeated precisely from one performance to the next. Wow, imagine an electronic music duo who isn't afraid to say that most music in their genre is "not deep, it's surface." Now, they're busting their asses to keep their own sound emotionally provocative.

Hrm. Like how I feel about breaking the black experience into mainstream fantasy-fiction... Ouch.