Author R.A. Gasparac

-Dark/Paranormal/Fantasy/Horror AUTHOR -Human/Hyrax Hybrid -Dark Empress of Delayed Reactions

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  • Making art is a form of protest.

    Remember the last thing a fascist regime wants is people to make more art because art makes people think. It’s ok to use your art as an act of protest.

    #writingadvice

  • Soothing The Writers Soul

    Ok, I have yet to work on the most important part of my Query Letter for my Novel, but I have sated the sleeping dragon. I realized recharging my batteries was more important than the multitudes of deadlines I imposed on myself. So, as I left my day job, sleet ( a wintery mix of ice and rain) began to trickle down from the heavens. A familiar bone chilling wind hit my face, and I was brought back to a better time.

    I remembered myself as a child, coming in from the winter after hours of play on the south shore. I grew up in the suburbs between Montreal proper, and the end of the Appalachian ( for my US readers) mountains. I knew I wanted stew, but not just any kind – it wasn’t exactly French, but it was made with French technique. My father, a Serb/Croatian would favor thick hearty stews, and left me with the know how.

    I spent an hour preparing all of the ingredients, and subsequently another two hours of cooking time. All I had eaten was oatmeal for breakfast, and four chocolate chip cookies for lunch ( because we all try to eat healthy meals apparently.) Thirty minutes into cooking. I chastised myself every time I would reach to tear open the pot and devour whatever was there our of sheer survival, but my head won out. Patience would reward me with layers of flavor.

    Sitting down with that first bowl soothed something deep within me. I wasn’t judging myself for what I didn’t do for the day, and allowed myself to take in a bit of life before it starts all over again. This is my mental break. I know I’m no closer to being a bestselling Author the longer my Query collects digital dust, but I had to stop beating myself up about my unrealistic production goals. The Query will come, but like the stew, I have to layer the flavors, carefully prepare each sentence before I combine them all on the page to create something so savory, that I will have my choice of Agents and Publishers.

    So far it’s been three days in a row that I’ve actually written sequentially on here. I should feel bad for that, and calling myself a writer – but it’s ok. I am perfectly imperfect. Rome was not built in a day, and my writing career will not be either. One ingredient at a time.

  • Audra Winter & The Age of Scorpius: BookTok Backlash Explained (& Lessons for Indie Authors)

    Big TikTok buzz, a bestselling launch, and a wave of reader backlash. In this video I summarize the reported facts and statements about Audra Winter’s debut The Age of Scorpius, cite primary sources, and — most importantly — walk through practical, actionable lessons for new and indie authors on editing, marketing, pre-orders, and crisis communications. Disclaimer: This video reports on publicly posted allegations and reader reactions. I present cited sources below as links to public posts, reviews, and reporting. Nothing in this video is a legal finding. Sources:

    • Amazon — product page & reader reviews:

    https://www.amazon.com/Age-Scorpius-A…

    • TikTok — compilation of reaction videos and viral clips:

    @sentirachel @tess_redarrow @jmclarkthewriter ‪@ChainsawReacts‬ (Also on YouTube!) JOIN THE CONVERSATION I want to hear from you! Find me on Social media under: INSTA & TIKTOK – @ragasparac BLUESKY – ragasparac@bluesky.social FACEBOOK – Author RAGasparac Don’t forget to like, SUBSCRIBE , and hit that notification bell to stay updated on my latest content! Let’s explore the future of writing together, and remember—your story deserves to be told!

  • 3 No-Cost Writing Resources

    Stop Paying for Writing Advice: 3 no-cost options you ignore

    Too many people hide valuable writing help behind a paywall — not on my watch. I’m R.A. Gasparac (human/Hyrax hybrid, dark empress of delayed reactions), and after 20+ years of writing I’m unpacking three totally FREE resources every writer needs — including the one everyone overlooks.

    In this video: – Why subscription culture is choking free writing resources – Free site deep dives: Jamigold & AdvancedFictionWriting – The most underrated resource of all:

    YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY — research help, writing groups, author events, grant support, indie author programs, and more –

    Real-life tip: how I wrote Bloody Flesh and Deadly Shadows at the library (and why you should get a library card today)

    Free resources mentioned – Jamigold — worksheets, beat sheets, scene & revision checklists, planning tools, guest-author posts (https://www.jamigold.com) –

    AdvancedFictionWriting (Randy Ingermanson) — Snowflake Method, scene tips, publishing & marketing advice (https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com) –

    Your local library — get a card, use databases, join writing groups, learn about the Indie Author Project (find your library via your city/county website or https://www.worldcat.org/libraries)

    Challenge: Get a library card this week and tell me what you found in the comments. I’ll read and reply. Like this video?

    Hit Subscribe, ring the bell, and share it with a writer who needs a break from paywalls. Hashtags: #WritingResources #IndieAuthor #LibraryLove #WritingTips #SnowflakeMethod Follow me: ragasparac.wordpress.com TIKTOK/INSTA- RAGasparac BLUESKY- @RAGasparac.bsky.social Want more videos like this? Drop topics you want covered next in the comments.

  • PSA

    I’ve come to the conclusion that this final push to finish Bloody Flesh and Deadly Shadows book one needs my full attention. I’m pulling back from daily posts until it’s complete. Deadline is less than a month. I can do this. #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #writersky #dothething

  • Just another Author rant about using AI to produce books

    I Tried Editing My Novel With AI

    Me: Just another #indieauthor and thier #rant about why they don’t recommend using AI services while producing their Novels.

    Have you ever wondered how AI is changing the landscape of writing and editing? Can a line of code really compete with the unique voice of a human author? In this eye-opening exploration, I put two popular AI editing services to the test.

     

    LETS LOOK INTO –

    My personal journey as a hybrid author navigating the ethical dilemmas of AI in literature. – A candid review of Nova AI ChatBot and AutoCrit—what worked, what didn’t, and why your unique voice matters more than ever. – Shocking results that reveal the limitations of AI in understanding context and emotion in writing.

     

    JOIN THE CONVERSATION

    I want to hear from you! Have you tried using AI in your writing process? Don’t forget to like,

     

    SUBSCRIBE (and hit) that notification bell to stay updated on my latest content! Let’s explore the future of writing together, and remember—your story deserves to be told in your voice!

  • How to write a book Part one- Prewriting

    Let’s talk pre-brainstorming!

    #amwriting #brainstorming #prewriting #writer #writingprocess #writingcommunity #writingjourney

    How to Pre-Write like a pro!

    How to Write a Book (Part 1) – Pre Brainstorming

    You’ve got a Book idea… NOW WHAT??!?

    Hello and welcome to this video installment of pre-brainstorming to help get your novel out of your head and on the pages. After years of trying every method known to man, I have distilled everything about this phase into a short, digestible video.

    I’m Author R A Gasparac, and I have twenty plus years writing, and want to help you get where I am. In the final edits ( as of writing this description) of my Debut Novel, Bloody Flesh and Deadly Shadows (Book 1) of the Queendom of Deadly Shadows (5 book) Series.

    In this video, I’m going over some things that I have learned will help make your life easier in the long run. Theres always a rush to get to writing, but many find that they stall out before momentum can hit. Here’s why – you don’t know where you are going yet.

    Important Takeaways from this video are:

    Types of conflict:
    (There are more sub genres, but we are sticking to the main ones for now.)

    1-MAN VS NATURE
    2-MAN VS SELF
    3-MAN VS SOCIETY
    4- MAN VS MAN

    Non extensive list of possible Tropes to consider before Brainstorming:

    1- THE CHOSEN ONE
    CAUTION- Highly overdone. Only one person has a set of skills to save people/the world.
    2- THE QUEST
    Think of the basics of any role playing game. Where characters find themselves as a group in search of an object or person/ free the princess.
    3- THE LOVE TRIANGLE
    One person, and two lovers. They have a hard time choosing between one ( if they do), and takes their time deciding.
    3- RELUCTANT RULER/ HERO
    One person who doesn’t want to be in charge, and should be. Spends all narrative trying to convince themselves they shouldn’t, and at the end they suddenly realize they wanted to all along.
    4- ENEMIES TO LOVERS
    HIGHLY popular trope that has a healthy fanbase. Two enemies slowly find themselves falling for the last person they expected or wanted to. Usually ends in a ‘Happily Ever After’ ending.
    5- SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
    Can be Enemies to lovers, to-enemies, to-lovers… again. It can also be a later in life second chance, like an old boyfriend/girlfriend pops up after visiting hometown after a negative life event.
    6- FORCED PROXIMITY
    Usually starts as an Enemies to Lovers. Usually ends with the two stuck in an Inn with only one bed. Forces them to both come to terms with their true feelings.
    7- FAKE RELATIONSHIP
    Whatever the reason, two people are pretending to be in a loving relationship to both gain something. A bet? Inheritance? Crowned rulers of a far-away realm? Frequently used in billionaire romance.
    8- EVERYMAN TURNED HERO
    A normal John Q. Public AKA ‘Everyman’ finds themselves in a life or death situation and rises above their fears to save others.

    THE STORY SPINE
    A one or two sentence summation of the phases of your story.

    1-THE STATUS QUO:
    What the world was like before an event changes the status quo.
    2-THE COMPLICATION:
    Event that changes the status quo.
    3- CROSSING THE THRESHOLD:
    Why can’t your character go back to how life was before?
    4- THE NEW WORLD:
    How does your Main Character come to terms with the new status of world?
    5- EXTERNAL OBSTACLES:
    What other small problems can you throw in your Main Characters way to keep them from focusing on their main goal?
    6-TEMPTATION:
    Tempt your Main Character to give up. Give them a good reason that is almost good enough to make them quit.
    7- DARK MOMENT:
    What is the worst thing that could happen to your Main Character right before they succeed?
    8- FINAL CONFLICT:
    What was your villains hidden fatal flaw you can hint at from the beginning that comes into play now?

    If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to my YouTube! It helps small creators like me get these videos out to the people who need them ( like you!)

    OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT:

    TIKTOK – ragasparac
    INSTAGRAM – Ragasparac
    BLUESKY – @ragasparac
    SUBSTACK- RAGasparac
    WEBSITE- RAGasparac.wordpress.com

    Thanks for watching!

  • Go and Play!

    Remember- if you are a writer you should enjoy the process of writing. If the business of writing is making creativity dwindle, I challenge you to find a way to let your inner child play. Take a step back and allow yourself to be curious and go off-book.

    #amwriting #writing #writingcommunity

  • Writing Cliffhangers

    My #hottake : Watchibg bad reality TV teaches a writer how to inflate and build drama. Pay attention to how a scene is cut and how cliffhangers are utilized and copy those methods. I said what I said. 🤣

    #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #writertube #authortube

  • If this meets you are the right time

    Do you ever find motivational posts show up right when you need them with what you need to hear?

    YOUR STORY IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.

    Now get it out there, already!

    #writingcommunity
    #amwriting
    #amrevising
    #writing
    #writertok
    #writertube
    #authortok
    #authortube

  • Utilize your Comments Function!

    Never underestimate the power of the comments function in your word processing software. Don’t constantly trudge through slop. Focus on areas in need. Give detailed notes. This keeps you from being lost to an editing doom-cycle.

    #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writingcommunity

  • Start Before You’re Ready