(no subject)
Jul. 31st, 2011 10:56 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
ribbon-scythe.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
crowdfundingThis is my somewhat apprehensive first post. My favored pen name is Forced Simile, hence it became the name of my Dreamwidth account where just began posting all my sci fi/fantasy novels, short stories and everything in between. The landing page is here.
Right now, I only have two I'm actively posting, though if my readership grows, I'll probably add another.
First one is The Hour House (Table of Contents). What would you think the consequences of mucking about in the time stream would be? A giant, shape shifting monster probably is the last thing you’d ever think of. Yet this is what comes through the time portal a commissioned by the Empress. While their country is being torn apart, Molly, Lucinda and Gilbert find themselves trapped in a house in which time and space create a maze. Each room is a window into the house’s former history. As the children navigate this strange place, the true reason for the monster's existence becomes questioned. Can they unlock the secret of the house before the monster destroys them?
This story is updated every Monday.
The other project is Days (Table of Contents). This one is a bit more open ended. It follows the life of a boy named Asa as he grows up in a fantasy world. Asa wants to be the greatest hero the world has ever known but there are so many obstacles. He's too young, his older brother is way better at this "heroing" business and the world hasn't had the decency to fall into chaos so he can save it. As Asa grows up in his small port town dreaming of hunting sea monsters with his father or training to fight creatures of the night with his uncle, Asa finds that the life he assumed was so quiet isn't as boring as he thought.
As this one spans years of Asa's life and I haven't written a whole lot of it, I'm leaving a better portion of it up for commission. As of right now, I have eight installments written and a rough outline of what should happen, but there's a lot of room for suggestions. Right now, I'm more interested in getting readers than making money, so I'll trade any sort of publicity or promotion for a chapter prompt.
This story is updated every Wednesday.
I'm new to this, people don't know me, how consistent I am, or my style, so I'm not really comfortable asking for money just yet. But a donation button is located on my profile page. Feedback, criticism and suggestions are all greatly appreciated.
And two projects I'd like to give a bump.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. I could gush forever about how funny this show is, but creator Issa Rae's description is important, because it hits home why we need more shows like this to exist.
"Television today has a very limited scope and range in its depictions of people of color. As a black woman, I don’t identify with and relate to most of the non-black characters I see on TV, much less characters of my own race. When I flip through the channels, it's disheartening. I don’t see myself or women like me being represented. I’m not a smooth, sexy, long-haired vixen; I’m not a large, sassy black woman; an angry Post Office employee. I’m an awkward black girl.
And I’m not alone.
I created this series as an extension of my everyday experiences, as well as my friends. I wanted to change the perception and portrayals of black women in television by creating characters and storylines that moved beyond stereotypes and one-dimensionality.
Ever since I launched the show in February, the response has been overwhelming. I’ve received hundreds of letters from fellow “Awkward Girls” all over the world exclaiming how much they relate to the show and the central character’s social struggles as she navigates through life’s many awkward situations. They are relieved to know that they aren’t alone. They're excited to see a character who represents them. Finally.
Now more than ever, we need more diverse characters and stories on-screen. The golden era of the 90’s is long gone. The great television shows from my childhood days—The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Living Single— are examples of what great television can and should be. Those shows were diverse, human, entertaining, and intelligent. Though the casts were primarily black, the show’s themes and storylines were universal, which was reflected in the millions of people who watched them every week.
Like Cosby and Fresh Prince, I believe ABG is also universal. It’s a series with a black female character in the lead role, but at its core, it’s about being “awkward,” which is a unifying and universal thing that we all have experienced in some capacity. With the series, the lead character, J, faces the most mundane and trivial problems, but they are problems that we all have encountered—and that’s where the humor and heart from the show originates.
ABG is simply about embracing the “awkward” person in each and every one of us and learning to accept and love ourselves for who we are."
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jackshoegazer of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
iconomicon is getting married! He is asking for donations of any sort, but anyone who donates $5 or more will get a custom icon or banner. He's also selling prints of his photography on jackart. Details here.
I'm bumping him because his graphics are amazing. I can waste hours upon hours just staring at every post oniconomicon. His icons are tongue in cheek, edgy at times and made me realize just how artistic a 100x100 pixel space can be. If nothing else, give the community a look. I'm looking for new icons and I'm so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of crazy and fun icons I can't choose just a few!
Right now, I only have two I'm actively posting, though if my readership grows, I'll probably add another.
First one is The Hour House (Table of Contents). What would you think the consequences of mucking about in the time stream would be? A giant, shape shifting monster probably is the last thing you’d ever think of. Yet this is what comes through the time portal a commissioned by the Empress. While their country is being torn apart, Molly, Lucinda and Gilbert find themselves trapped in a house in which time and space create a maze. Each room is a window into the house’s former history. As the children navigate this strange place, the true reason for the monster's existence becomes questioned. Can they unlock the secret of the house before the monster destroys them?
This story is updated every Monday.
The other project is Days (Table of Contents). This one is a bit more open ended. It follows the life of a boy named Asa as he grows up in a fantasy world. Asa wants to be the greatest hero the world has ever known but there are so many obstacles. He's too young, his older brother is way better at this "heroing" business and the world hasn't had the decency to fall into chaos so he can save it. As Asa grows up in his small port town dreaming of hunting sea monsters with his father or training to fight creatures of the night with his uncle, Asa finds that the life he assumed was so quiet isn't as boring as he thought.
As this one spans years of Asa's life and I haven't written a whole lot of it, I'm leaving a better portion of it up for commission. As of right now, I have eight installments written and a rough outline of what should happen, but there's a lot of room for suggestions. Right now, I'm more interested in getting readers than making money, so I'll trade any sort of publicity or promotion for a chapter prompt.
This story is updated every Wednesday.
I'm new to this, people don't know me, how consistent I am, or my style, so I'm not really comfortable asking for money just yet. But a donation button is located on my profile page. Feedback, criticism and suggestions are all greatly appreciated.
And two projects I'd like to give a bump.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. I could gush forever about how funny this show is, but creator Issa Rae's description is important, because it hits home why we need more shows like this to exist.
"Television today has a very limited scope and range in its depictions of people of color. As a black woman, I don’t identify with and relate to most of the non-black characters I see on TV, much less characters of my own race. When I flip through the channels, it's disheartening. I don’t see myself or women like me being represented. I’m not a smooth, sexy, long-haired vixen; I’m not a large, sassy black woman; an angry Post Office employee. I’m an awkward black girl.
And I’m not alone.
I created this series as an extension of my everyday experiences, as well as my friends. I wanted to change the perception and portrayals of black women in television by creating characters and storylines that moved beyond stereotypes and one-dimensionality.
Ever since I launched the show in February, the response has been overwhelming. I’ve received hundreds of letters from fellow “Awkward Girls” all over the world exclaiming how much they relate to the show and the central character’s social struggles as she navigates through life’s many awkward situations. They are relieved to know that they aren’t alone. They're excited to see a character who represents them. Finally.
Now more than ever, we need more diverse characters and stories on-screen. The golden era of the 90’s is long gone. The great television shows from my childhood days—The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Living Single— are examples of what great television can and should be. Those shows were diverse, human, entertaining, and intelligent. Though the casts were primarily black, the show’s themes and storylines were universal, which was reflected in the millions of people who watched them every week.
Like Cosby and Fresh Prince, I believe ABG is also universal. It’s a series with a black female character in the lead role, but at its core, it’s about being “awkward,” which is a unifying and universal thing that we all have experienced in some capacity. With the series, the lead character, J, faces the most mundane and trivial problems, but they are problems that we all have encountered—and that’s where the humor and heart from the show originates.
ABG is simply about embracing the “awkward” person in each and every one of us and learning to accept and love ourselves for who we are."
jackshoegazer of iconomicon is getting married! He is asking for donations of any sort, but anyone who donates $5 or more will get a custom icon or banner. He's also selling prints of his photography on jackart. Details here.I'm bumping him because his graphics are amazing. I can waste hours upon hours just staring at every post on
iconomicon. His icons are tongue in cheek, edgy at times and made me realize just how artistic a 100x100 pixel space can be. If nothing else, give the community a look. I'm looking for new icons and I'm so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of crazy and fun icons I can't choose just a few!![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-31 03:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-31 04:47 pm (UTC)Welcome!
Date: 2011-07-31 06:01 pm (UTC)Also, congratulations on your engagement!
Welcome!
Date: 2011-07-31 06:07 pm (UTC)Thank you for sharing!
>>Right now, I only have two I'm actively posting, though if my readership grows, I'll probably add another.<<
These sound promising. I'm amused by some of the parallels with a shared-world project I frequent, Torn World. We deal with meddled time and sea monsters. I think it's cool how the universe throws out ideas that people pick up and do different things with, at the same time.
Would you like to swap promotion? I'm going to go share your landing page link with my audience. I've got a Poetry Fishbowl coming up on Tuesday (theme is "corruption and redemption") if you'd like to reciprocate.
Thank you also for describing projects that you support! We're trying to boost the patron side of activity here.
Re: Welcome!
Date: 2011-07-31 11:06 pm (UTC)And I'll certainly swap promotion with you!
Re: Welcome!
Date: 2011-08-01 01:55 am (UTC)One of my Torn World stories that deals with time technology and its challenges:
http://www.tornworld.net/storypageview.php?id=112
One of my sea monster stories:
http://www.tornworld.net/storypageview.php?id=284
>>And I'll certainly swap promotion with you!<<
Yay, thank you!