First Cup of Coffee – December 8, 2023

The kerfuffle in the writing world this week-where an author created sockpuppet accounts to downvote other books and upvote her own-why writers aren’t in competition and the key importance of friendship.

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - December 8, 2023

December 08, 2023

Jeffe Kennedy

The kerfuffle in the writing world this week-where an author created sockpuppet accounts to downvote other books and upvote her own-why writers aren't in competition and the key importance of friendship.

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The XKCD comic is here https://xkcd.com/386/

Nyad is here https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5302918/

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Social Distancing and Social Media

I’ve been complaining a bit lately about the internet.

Well, maybe “complaining” is the wrong word. I’ve been thinking a lot about how surfing the internet rewires our brains and impacts peace of mind and productivity. And the steps I’ve been taking to counteract that – staying off the internet for the first couple of hours of the day, not looking at any email or social media until after I’ve gotten my three-thousand words written – have been truly revelatory. At the risk of jinxing myself, I’m making wonderfully smooth and steady progress on THE PROMISED QUEEN, and it’s felt fantastic. Plus I have more energy and focus for dealing with stuff like email in the afternoons.

But, as we in the U.S. are holding our collective breaths, waiting to see if the COVID-19 pandemic explodes beyond the current, relatively low levels here, we are talking a lot about self-isolation and social distancing. Other countries are much more experienced with those measures to quell epidemics and minimize the community spread of disease, so in the U.S. we’re having to think our way through it. Those of us who work from home already, and who tend to be introverts happy with little external social life have an advantage. I’m still laughing at this XKCD:

(The mouse-over text says “Turns out I’ve been ‘practicing social distancing’ for years without even realizing it was a thing!”)

As I weigh what social events matter enough for me to attend – and my major concern is that I could carry the virus and spread it to others – I am counting my blessings that I have social media. Used judiciously and with intention, social media can be a wonderful tool. It connects us to the world at large, literally! I have friends all over the world I can connect with and enjoy.

Who knows – maybe we’ll be doing Hangouts video calls with cocktails in our separate homes while we wait this out. I don’t see that as a dire prediction of the future as so many seem to. (SFF writers, who are a lot of my author friends, are super good at spinning dystopian futures.) It’s a temporary fix, until we beat this bug and can hug again without worrying about the consequences.

It’s way better than not having any contact at all.

First Cup of Coffee – March 6, 2020

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - March 6, 2020

March 06, 2020

Jeffe Kennedy

On hand-washing songs, saving water, Woody Allen and the walkout at Hachette, along with thoughts on COVID-19, yoga, taxes, and planting sweet peas.

The Woody Allen article I mention is here (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/millicentsomer/why-has-no-one-accused-woody-allen-of-brainwashing) and the XKCD comic is here (https://xkcd.com/2276/).

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

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First Cup of Coffee – February 14, 2020

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - February 14, 2020

February 14, 2020

Jeffe Kennedy

Some observations on increasing my productivity by staying off the internet first thing in the morning, and other thoughts on the choices we make.

The article I mention (again) is here (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/starting-your-day-on-the-internet-is-damaging-your-brain). The XKCD comic is here (https://xkcd.com/2266/)

First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!

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Keeping Up with the Virtual Joneses

I just returned from a week with my family on Lake Coeur d’Alene. So lovely and relaxing! During some conversation, I mentioned Ed Sheeran, and my aunt – who’d never heard of him – asked me how I kept up on discovering new music.

It was an interesting question, and one I had to think about. Finally I said that I see a lot of recommendations on Twitter. Instagram, too. People share Spotify lists or post YouTube videos. She nodded a little at my answer, clearly a bit daunted at the prospect of emulating me there. So, I sent her two Ed Sheeran albums for her birthday.

Coincidentally enough, our topic at the SFF Seven this week is “Keeping up with trends and changes in social media.” Not an easy thing to do for any of us. Come on over to find out more!

First Cup of Coffee – January 3, 2019

 

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - January 3, 2019

January 03, 2019

Jeffe Kennedy

Creaking back into the working schedule and talking about more about habit and routine - and how those fit into the creative life, or anything we try to do. I also talk about obsessiveness and why we need that, ponderous prologues, and three strikes that let me bail on a book. I also rant a bit about banishing the trope that with the loss of tech, human societies revert to male domination. 

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First Cup of Coffee – December 6, 2018

We have an adobe kiva-style fireplace which doesn’t adapt well to stocking-hanging, so I’ve hung them with care on the wall instead.

 

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - December 6, 2018

December 06, 2018

Jeffe Kennedy

Talking today about XKCD and watching creator's work evolve - how it's akin to a writer producing a million words to refine voice. Also dealing with fragmented days, catching up wordcount, Sorcerous Moons being translated into French, and the delights of nail polish.

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First Cup of Coffee – October 9, 2018

 

First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

First Cup of Coffee - October 9, 2018

October 09, 2018

Jeffe Kennedy

Today is the Release Day for THE ARROWS OF THE HEART! So, I talk about that, with thanks to the early reviewers for getting stuff up on Amazon so fast! I also talk a bit about spoilers and why America's Sweethearts isn't a better movie. 

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