Once again, it’s time for our monthly blog hop with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a place where writers of all stripes can find education, encouragement, or just a sympathetic ear. Thanks to our fearless Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month’s co-hosts T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff! Be sure to visit their posts and thank them for keeping this valuable connection humming. Join the IWSG monthly blog hop here: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
This month’s optional question: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just “know” suddenly you wanted to write?
Gotta give credit where credit is due: Batman started my writing career. Not a cool, gravel-voiced movie Batman—my writing itch was triggered by the old TV series from the ‘60s, staring Adam West and Burt Ward. Campy, corny, and already in reruns by the time I discovered it, this show appealed to my childish sense of adventure and justice. When you’re eight or nine, you care a lot about what’s fair, and Batman was the supreme enforcer of truth, justice, and punching bullies in the nose.
Of course, the most fascinating character was Catwoman, played first by Julie Newmar, then by Eartha Kitt—has any woman every had a sexier voice? Batgirl was too goodie-goodie for my taste, so I blended her role with Catwoman’s to create a new character, a catsuit-wearing teen who lent her superb climbing, fighting, and detecting skills to the Dynamic Duo when she wasn’t off on adventures of her own. I was writing fan fic years before I knew what that was! No one paid much heed to a shy, skinny third-grader with skinned knees, but my crime-fighting heroine kicked ass.
Alas, those notebooks filled with Catgirl’s adventures are long gone. I wish I could summon her today and send her vaulting into the current RWA barn fire, where she’d bash the evildoers in their smug faces and send up a bat/cat signal just in time to summon the fire brigade and save the structure from collapse.
In case you haven’t heard, the Romance Writers of America is burning. Until December 23d of last year, it was one of the largest organizations for writers in the U.S. and a powerful advocate for romance authors in their dealings with such adversaries as the Great and Powerful ‘Zon, plagiarists, book-stuffers, publishers who don’t pay their authors, and other evildoers. Despite its declared intention to advocate for all romance writers, the organization has been infested by bigots, and it appears the current national leadership—or at least several key players—have gone over to the dark side. Yeah, I’m mixing metaphors all over the place, but it’s a bloody mess, and it’s breaking my heart. As an officer of two chapters, I want to honor my commitment and contribute to rebuilding RWA—but each day’s news brings a fresh, steaming pile of “They did what?”
If you want to read more about this conflagration, here’s a good place to start. https://www.claireryanauthor.com/blog/2019/12/27/the-implosion-of-the-rwa
On that grim note, I wish you happy, productive writing in January. Do you belong to any writers’ organizations? Do you feel they represent your interests? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Love your post. I always wanted to write but never did. Then a life event I thought was terrible gave me the opportunity. The first character to spark my imagination to put my fingers on the keyboard was Haldir from LOTR.
Seems like most writers started I know with someone else’s characters. I guess that’s a compliment to the original author–we love that world so much we don’t want to leave it.
My inspiration to write was Jo March in Little Women. I always loved making up stories when I was a kid. On the sadder note, I hate what’s happening to RWA. I found my publisher there. The upheaval might make it a better organization hopefully.
From your lips to God’s ear, Ilona!
So you were inspired by Batman, eh? (Funny, but I don’t recall any erotic scenes on that show… HA)
It’s very sad to see the RWA implode like that, but like Ilona said, maybe it’ll come out of it stronger… and better… than before. Like Catgirl. (Too bad you don;t still have some of those stories.)
Happy New year!
Ah, but there was so much sexual tension between Catwoman and Batman. Wasn’t there a scene in which she tied him up and trailed her claws over his Batsuit?
Ooooh, if there was, I missed it!
Two thanks…first the reminder I had a post ready for today and second the ‘way back machine’ trip to the 60’s afterschool TV. I think “StarTrek” characters were part of my ‘gateway’ to writing. 🙂
Oh yeah, I definitely wrote some Trekkie fanfic too.
Oh, my gosh, I remember watching those reruns, too! I may have had a slight crush on The Boy Wonder. Good luck summoning your inner Cagirl to bring RWA back to its former glory.
Happy New Year!
Thanks for a little of your take on what’s happening at the RWA. I have been a member since 2016 and I plan to stay one.
Wishing you all the best for 2020.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
It’s a tough decision for everyone involved. Thanks, Pat. Happy New Year to you!
Oh man, I forgot the Batman TV show. I adored that as a kid, I vividly remember watching it at my aunt’s house. I don’t doubt that has had an influence on my storytelling brain somewhere.
I started reading that RWA timeline and I had to nope out of it. It seems anything that touches the Internet these days just goes down in flames. I’m seriously considering just going back to the days of postal mail and telephones.
It’s a minefield, for sure. What I’ve learned: if what I say on a public forum causes someone pain, the thing to do is apologize, not get all huffy and claim I had no such intention.
When I read your title, I said, “But did they?” hehehe
Once I got into it, I realized that you were referring to the ’60 Batman series A fav of mine as well. Who wouldn’t be inspired by… Same Bat Time: Same Bat Channel.
Have a good one.
Anna from elements of emaginette
I’m not a romance writer, so I only heard about the RWA implosion yesterday. What a mess, and it seems to keep getting uglier.
Hopefully something better comes of it, but I know that’s small comfort and probably hard to imagine while the fire is still blazing.
Hang in there.
As for associations, I almost joined the HWA, but they made me jump through so many hoops, I got annoyed and gave up. I still go to their conferences.
It seems most national writers’ organizations make membership contingent on having sold lots of books, which excludes most authors, no matter the genre.
The RWA is a disaster. Too bad you dont have your notebooks anymore.
Allie
http://www.alliebock.com
Eartha Kitt was a magnificent Catwoman! We dashed home every day to catch the latest Dark Shadows episode. Loved it.
RWA. Cockygate and Darkgate were amusing, in an annoying kind of way. This is just tragic.
Tragic is the right word, for sure.
You should resurrect Catgirl and make her your own superhero.
Sorry the RWA is such a mess right now.
Thanks, Alex. I have an idea for a superhero story, but the heroine will be older and a bit plump–a recruiter into the superhero realm.
I can see why Batman inspired you. One of my faves. Enjoyed the post. I’m a little late making the rounds. Happy IWSG!