Meme's verses philosophy in writing.

For a person such as I, gathering as many clicks as I can happens to be paramount. Meme Monday is my best click post so far, so here goes, Meme Monday.

And for those who do not know who Simon LaTarge is, He is one of the main characters in Birth of Legends.

#epicfantasyadventure #steampunk #indieauthors #spellsandswords

The Limited value of a 'Like."

Across the news feed comes a story, an article, or a post that grabs the attention. Delving deeper, one discovers a point of view that resonates with him or her. The hand moves the mouse pointer over the infamous "like" button and "click" the post has an additional point. In all of the algorithms processing within huge server farms, those points are added, subtracted, dived and multiplied to mean something. But, what does it really mean?

Does the reader truly endorse the article, product, or idea? Do they merely smile when they read the post? Do they think that the producer of said item needs help, so they'll just click?

Then there's the "share." Does the reader want others to appreciate that post? Do they agree whole-heartedly and demand allegiance to their point of view? Or was it something that they found humorous or interesting? Maybe, it was a reveal into the person's psyche, thereby letting the recipient know about the sharer?

After all of the contacts I have made throughout life, at school, college, churches, work, and conventions, I have made a lot of friends and acquaintances. I appreciate everyone who has read my work more than I can put into words. I appreciate reviews even more. I thank each and every "click" i receive.

When thinking about what you consider when you hit that like button, know that it is important to the one receiving that click. Social media has become the new "word of mouth," community. You personally may not be stoked about my quality offerings, but that does not mean that everyone you know are of the same mind. One may not be sure just what all of their friends my like or not like. I would appreciate a mention from time to time to your friends about my books. They may find epic fantasy adventure with a infusion of steampunk fun and engaging. They may have a deep seated love of genre busting mystery mixed with classical fantasy settings, which also has a mixture of steampunk. Help me get a little "Word of Mouth," started. Thank you.

Common Sense #2,

Common sense item #2, Folly of the Bechdel test.

For the uninitiated, the Bechdel test is just one little question asked of a work of fiction, (book, short story, movie, play) “do you have more than one woman and do they talk about something other than men?”

                Right there is an implied narrative limitation that pigeon holes the work and most of the time nullifies it as a serious piece of fiction. First, is there more than one main female lead, the first implication. Why does it matter if there is only one female? If the author wants to prove the horrors of war, then women should be absent in the tale. If the author wants a isolated woman, alone with her feelings of her life and thoughts of her future while in a cabin on the side of a mountain, why must there be another to discuss it with her to make it a serious work of fiction?

                Secondly, by eliminating the work if two females talk about men, nullifies a huge section of literature, romance. (And all of its derivatives.) What’s wrong with romance? Relationships between men and women are a very important part of life, almost central.

                “Yeah, Shaun, right, I can see you snagging the latest romance novel just to get your feel on,” says the naysayer. Maybe so, however, the option should be there and I know I would learn a small part of how a woman feels and thinks. So my reply is thus, “Anything which makes me better at the most important relationship, my wife, has eternal value, and it will help me teach my boys how to begin to understand women.”

                So, my reader, decide for yourself if a story has value and merit based upon your own criteria. Leave it not for those who think they know better than you. They do not.

#bechdeltest     #wittycriticism   #thinkforyourself

What is today? Meme Monday!

I knew he would.

#fantasy #epicadventure #steampunk