As an author, my mantra is to tell challenging stories and minimize harm. The major failing I see with sexual violence in many media forms is where the point of view and gaze fall. Particularly in western media, that gaze is often heterosexual masculine. That means sexual violence comes from that same perspective, and makes grotesque GoT Sansa scenes where her rape is all about the men (either perpetrator or witness). The violence is there to horrify and titillate the viewer. We should be horrified. We should never be titillated. Respect for the survivor is missing in these situations. I could break down where this failing is in a lot of media, but I don’t think that is the most important conversation to have. I think the more important questions are: 1) should sexual violence be included in stories for shock value, and 2) how can sexual violence be written.
"Just gotta have a little faith," Character Review: Let's talk Dutch. Let's talk Red Dead Redemption 2.
Worldbuilding isn’t just about building the settings or the cultures of the world you’re populating. Character histories are important, and your character is going to have preexisting relationships prior to the start of your story. Those relationships shape your protagonist and therefore impact the plot, especially so in character-driven stories. Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2)is a character-driven plot (I would argue that most good narrative games are character-driven) that focuses on the player character, Arthur, and his relationship with the gang’s leader Dutch.
Everything You Need to Know About Writing Horses Part 2: Riding 101
All You Will Ever Need To Know About Writing Horses, Part 1.
The Writing Process, or “How L.J. Writes A Novel”
Everyone has a different approach to writing and it’s important to find what works and feels true for you. I throw on music (with lyrics even) or else I can’t work. Others wouldn’t be able to work in such a noisy, distracting environment. I can’t get my characters to work unless I throw a little emotional chaos into the mix. With that caveat, there are a few general techniques I want to talk about to help other writers turn into authors.
Fantasy V.S. Mythology: What's the difference and why does it matter?
Author Update: More Artwork!
World Building: Politics
Love it or hate it, politics informs how we live within a society. Now, the ‘Politics’ page outlines the hierarchy of how the nobility and ruling class fit into Shai’Khal.