Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 10h

Join us this coming week for a free online summit that will give you tools and resources for getting your writing done in the face of every obstacle. Get your free ticket here: www.writeanywaysummit.com

Write Anyway Summit

A free online conference for authors offering mindset tools and inspiration from top professionals to overcome any and all obstacles to your writing life.

www.writeanywaysummit.com

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 10h

It's not easy juggling kids, a job, and everything else you have going on in your life. There's often a feeling that something has to give. And too often, that something is our writing.

Got a day job? Write anyway.
It's time to make your writing a top priority.
Grab your free ticket and join us October 20-23 for the Write Anyway Summit!
writeanywaysummit.com

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 18h

Grab your FREE ticket now at www.writeanywaysummit.com

Write Anyway Summit

A free online conference for authors offering mindset tools and inspiration from top professionals to overcome any and all obstacles to your writing life.

www.writeanywaysummit.com

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 18h

We have a super exciting lineup of speakers waiting for you at next week's Write Anyway Summit! Where else can you get stories and strategies for conquering your writing obstacles from Marion Roach Smith, Bridgett M. Davis, Laura Munson, Bill Kenower, and twenty other writers and professionals?

A graphic showing 20 small photos of speakers for the Write Anyway Summit

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 1d

Take your story from blank page to first draft with Novel November, the only challenge that helps you write 50,000 words in 30 days, with advice from bestselling authors. Join at tinyurl.com/mr47zn5z

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 2d

Objectionable content warnings are intended to filter out readers who would take offense at parts of your story. It also helps adults select books for young readers. And, frankly, it can help limit one-star reviews from disgruntled readers.

Look for more posts about content warnings from Anne!

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 2d

This list could be virtually endless. And a moment’s reflection will reveal that it overlaps quite a bit with triggering content.

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 2d

* politics
* religion
* violence in general
* explicit sex, nudity
* swearing, foul language
* drug use, alcohol use, smoking
* insects or reptiles
* bodily waste
* blood & gore

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 2d

From Anne Hawley, developmental editor at Pages & Platforms:

I’ve seen lists of all sorts of elements that might offend or alienate a reader, but arguably wouldn’t actually cause a PTSD incident. Some of the categories of objectionable content include:

Manuscript Moment
Objectionable Content Warnings
They differ from trigger warnings, but there is some overlap.

Categories of objectionable content

politics
religion
violence in general
explicit sex, nudity
swearing, foul language
drug use, alcohol use, smoking
insects or reptiles
bodily waste
blood & gore

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 3d

It's totally free and you may come away with some fresh new ideas. Get your ticket here: www.writeanywaysummit.com

Write Anyway Summit

A free online conference for authors offering mindset tools and inspiration from top professionals to overcome any and all obstacles to your writing life.

www.writeanywaysummit.com

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 3d

While being a parent can be demanding, it doesn't have to mean the end of your author career. Join us at the Write Anyway Summit where you'll hear from other writers who have met the challenges of raising a family while nurturing their writing dreams.

Got kids? Write anyway.
It's time to make your writing a top priority.
Grab your free ticket and join us October 20-23 for the Write Anyway Summit!
writeanywaysummit.com

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 4d

Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube at youtu.be/mJXg19UHo4U

Why Bother Writing in Dark Times

In this episode of the Write Anyway Podcast from Pages and Platforms and the Happily Ever Author Club, Anne and Rachelle discuss the importance of creativity and writing during turbulent times. They…

youtu.be

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 4d

Times are dark. Who do you think you are, writing stories when the world is burning? Join Rachelle and Anne as they discuss the importance of creativity and writing during challenging times in the latest episode of the Write Anyway podcast.

Write Anyway Podcast
Why Bother Writing in Dark Times?
Anne Hawley & Rachelle Ramirez

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 5d

What's stopping you from writing? Chances are we'll be talking about it next week at the Write Anyway Summit. We've got 20+ speakers lined up who will discuss all kinds of obstacles to getting your writing done. There's a free ticket for you at www.writeanywaysummit.com

Defy obstacles and learn to write anyway.
It's time to make your writing a top priority.
Grab your free ticket and join us October 20-23 for the Write Anyway Summit!
writeanywaysummit.com

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

Your honest answers will help you decide whether to use trigger warnings in your work.

Look for more posts soon about content warnings from Anne!

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

- Do I believe that words on the page can cause or provoke PTSD symptoms in a reader?
- Do I believe that I as a writer have any responsibility for that distress?
- Have I ever read anything in a story that disturbed me enough to cause PTSD-level distress?
- Am I motivated to help others avoid that?

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

For example, it never crossed my own traumatized little mind that a less-than-perfect romance ending for my story could trigger somebody’s PTSD, but readers assured me that the shock was significant.

If your work includes elements from the list above, here are some questions to ask yourself:

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

Are there others? Undoubtedly. Can you know for sure what story elements might cause an incident? No. You can know what might cause such an event for _yourself_ if you happen to suffer from PTSD, but for everyone else, you’re making your best guess based on lists like this one.

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

Elements that could activate a trauma response:

- homophobia or transphobia
- rape and sexual violence
- child abuse
- incest
- animal abuse or death
- racism
- self-harm
- suicide
- pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage
- eating disorders
- sizeism or fat shaming
- traumatic medical diagnosis

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

When the disorder is activated, i.e., “triggered”, the person can experience intrusive memories, flashbacks to the original trauma, and mood changes. These symptoms can cause distress and dysfunction for hours, days, or longer.

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

The concept of trigger warnings arose as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) entered the mainstream. The disorder affects more than war veterans or victims of large-scale violence. Many people—including me—have been traumatized in smaller ways that nonetheless result in PTSD symptoms.

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 6d

From Anne Hawley, developmental editor at Pages & Platforms:

The term “trigger warning” first appeared in 2005 and has come into prominence in the past ten-fifteen years, especially in academia.

MANUSCRIPT MOMENT
Trigger Warnings
The concept of trigger warnings arose as PTSD entered the mainstream.

Story elements that some psychologists think could activate a trauma response include:

- homophobia or transphobia
- rape and other forms of sexual violence
- child abuse
- incest
- animal abuse or death
- racism
- self-harm
- suicide
- pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage
- eating disorders
- sizeism or fat shaming
- traumatic medical diagnosis

Questions to ask yourself:

- Do I believe that words on the page can cause or provoke PTSD symptoms in a reader?
- Do I believe that I as a writer have any responsibility for that distress?
- Have I ever read anything in a story that disturbed me enough to cause PTSD-level distress?
- If so, am I motivated to help others avoid that?

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 7d

Snag a free ticket today at www.writeanywaysummit.com

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 7d

Does it feel like your writing is always taking a back seat to other things going on in your life? You're not alone! Join us for the Write Anyway Summit and hear from writers who will share inspiration and ideas for writing in the face of every obstacle.

Got a lot of responsibilities? Write anyway.
It's time to make your writing a top priority.
Grab your free ticket and join us October 20-23 for the Write Anyway Summit!
writeanywaysummit.com

1

Sue Campbell @suecampbell.bsky.social · 7d

Today is the Let Freedom Read Day of Action. Do you have five minutes? 15 minutes? A half-hour or more? There are things you can do right now to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read. Here's a great place to start:
uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-...