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Andria Kennedy

Freelance Writer | Essayist | Fantasy & Sci-Fi Writer

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Tag: definition

Brain Break (English Class)

Replacing Snow White

March 5, 2020August 9, 2021 Andria Kennedy

The antihero as a protagonist has gained in popularity in recent years, replacing the typical "always good" protagonists of the past. The comic book genre has embraced the antihero the best, but fiction is quickly closing the gap. So what, exactly, is an anithero?

Tagged antihero, brain break, character, comics, definition, wrting styleLeave a comment
September 2023
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Andria Kennedy


Virginia freelance writer, fantasy and sci-fi writer, slave to a feline demon - there's no real limit to my weirdness. Or my creativity. But you probably already knew that (it's why you're here!). If you're looking for another writer to bounce ideas off of? Pull up a chair (mind the Vemon ooze)

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Current Read or Die

andriamkennedy

πŸ“– #antiherokreative | Sci-fi & Fantasy πŸ§œβ€β™€οΈπŸ‘Ύ|
Bylines: @electricliterature @huffpost (More in Link! πŸ”—) |
🐈 & πŸ• Mom |
Fibro Warrior πŸšπŸ¦€ #invisibleinks

Andria Kennedy
There's something liberating about admitting a tru There's something liberating about admitting a truth.

Even one you aren't always fond of - like the fact your body would rather fall apart than function for five consecutive minutes.

You have to own who you are. And be proud of it.

Or at least not try to deny it so much it retaliated against you at inopportune moments.

That's what I chose to focus on with this week's Invisible Inks. Because I DO tend to shove the reality of my diagnosis aside. A lot. And it doesn't help me.

Especially when the Universe decides to pummel me.

The post goes live at noon EST, and you'll find the link in my Bio and Story. Subscribers (who don't have to pay) have every post appear in their inbox - no muss, no fuss.

#invisibleinks #invisibleillness #chronicillness #chronicpain #fibromyalgia #iamsick #invisibleillnessawareness #invisibleillnesswarrior #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicpainawareness #chronicpainwarrior #chronicpainsucks #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiawarrior #fibromyalgiasucks #fibrowarrior #fibrofighter #hermitcrabessays #creativenonfiction #satire
Book 44 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchalleng done, Book 44 of my #2023goodreadsreadingchalleng done, and I feel like I'm in a funk.

Nothing I've read lately has been completely satisfying. There's been one or two things needling at me the entire time, destroying the story.

Which doesn't make reading time pass quickly.

It's a sad day when you look at your To Read pile and feel anxious.

Here's hoping things improve with the new trilogy I have waiting for me.

In the meantime, my reviews are in the Link in my Bio (or the link in the Story).

And if you want to keep up with my reading challenge, find me on @goodreads at AndriaKennedy.

Let's be reading friends!

#2023readinggoals #amreading #bookreviews #bookstagram #readinggoals #bookgoals #2023books #bookfiend #books #booklover #bookaddict #bookpics #bookreview #bookreviewer #reading #readingnerd #reader #readingtime #readingfriends #melissadelacruz #cinderandglass #harleyquinnlegionofbats #teefranklin #asteriskwar #yuumiyazaki
I'm coming up on two weeks of being sick. And whil I'm coming up on two weeks of being sick. And while I feel better (e.g., I actually get up and attempt to function), my body isn't ready to work at normal capacity yet.

So I haven't met most of my deadlines.

And the world didn't end! (Can't make this up)

It's tempting to get down on yourself or panic when you fall behind because of Real Life. Even more tempting to try to rush back and make up for it before you're well or ready.

But all that does is produce inferior work.

You have to listen to and respect your body (and brain!) when it's sick, tired, or hurting. Give it a chance to rest and recover.

And DON'T beat yourself up for the time you step away.

Because if you break, so does all of your writing. And that isn't a sacrifice you want to make.

#writerfriendschallenge #selfcare #sickday #sickdays #bekindtoyourself #takecareofyourself #writerbrain #writingprocess #writerlife #writerlythings #writer #writers #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writingcommunity #writernetwork #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
Cue the happy dance. Booking our honeymoon (final Cue the happy dance.

Booking our honeymoon (finally) felt like a dream come true. But it was over a year away.

Granted, I've driven poor @timjk333 crazy with researching every port, studying the ship, reading articles, menus, and reviews, and learning Spanish in the interim.

(Newsflash: This is what your brain looks like on OCD)

But it still felt really far away. Even as we checked off boxes like flights and hotels and seating times.

We've officially passed up a big milestone, though: booking our shipboard activities and shore excursions!

Now when I open up the app, the itinerary populates with a schedule instead of just the list of days at sea and ports. (And everyone knows how much I love a schedule!)

It feels real in a way it didn't before.

And means I can get even crazier with my research and prep! πŸ˜‰

#vacationcountdown #honeymooncountdown #honeymoonplanning #vacationplanning #disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneycruisecountdown #firstdisneycruise #dcl
When you write, are you telling or showing? You'v When you write, are you telling or showing?

You've probably heard the advice, "Show don't tell," but odds are (if they were anything like the people who told me), they never bothered to explain what that meant.

Super helpful.

Essentially, when you "tell," you stand back and report information on your characters. It's easy, moves the writing along, and is super boring. It also leads to infodumps, which no one wants to read.

"Showing" involves stepping into your character and experiencing the world from their POV. It's richer writing, full of sensory details that puts your reader INTO the world and allows them to experience everything with the characters.

One is someone describing a movie to you, the other is watching it yourself.

You always want to show wherever possible. It's more engaging and more professional.

And the easiest way to find those "tell" moments is to look for your action verbs. (You ARE using action verbs instead of "to be" verbs, right?)

Are your characters simply moving around at your direction? Or are they experiencing the world around them?

Do they react with all of their senses? Or are you simply relying on sight to get by?

You don't need to go overboard and drop all five senses into every scene, but sprinkle then throughout where appropriate.

I promise, your writing will sparkle when you do!

(Yes, I deliberately decided to interpret the prompt this way)

#writerfriendschallenge #showdonttell #writingtips #writingtip #writingprocess #writinglife #writinglessons #writer #iamawriter #writingimprovement #writers #writeeveryday #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writernetwork #writersnetwork
As a kid, the thing I wanted most of all was to fi As a kid, the thing I wanted most of all was to fit in and belong.

Unfortunately, that was the one thing I stood no chance of attaining.

We moved every few years, so I was always the new kid in class. As such, I was automatically declared weird. I didn't grow up with everyone else and knew "odd" history facts from other parts of the country.

I always ended up ahead in my classes.

Teachers took me aside to explain the rest of the class hadn't learned things yet I'd mastered.

Classmates sneered and called me weird.

I never wore trending hairstyles or clothing.

I liked unpopular music.

I ALWAYS had a book in my hands. I read above my "age group" - with my teachers' blessings (and permission).

Instead of a journal or diary, I kept notebooks of poems, stories, and drawings. (Not that I let anyone see them)

When given a chance to write freely, I dove into fantasy worlds instead of writing about movies, celebrities, and television.

I constantly heard people call me "weird" and it embarrassed and upset me. I couldn't see the unique spark buried inside.

I didn't see the brilliant writer carving out a place for herself in the world.

Not until much, much later when I started embracing my weirdness. And discovered standing out and refusing to follow trends or the crowd served me best.

So I see that little girl getting ready to curve her shoulders in and wish she wasn't wearing her favorite unicorn sweatshirt.

I see her, and I'm proud of her. And I want her to stand up straight (so much slouching in her future) and grin at every comment of, "You are so weird."

Because, kiddo, we ARE!

#writerfriendschallenge #lettertomyself #lettertoyoungerself #lettertomyyoungerself #childhoodmemories #beweird #beyourself #bedifferent #writerlife #beawkward #writer #alwaysawriter #iamawriter #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writercommunity #writersnetwork
When it comes to fictional schools, the School For When it comes to fictional schools, the School For Good and Evil always has a special place in my heart.

(And not just because reading the books got me through a particularly horrendous surgery)

@somanc's creation is perfectly twisted and delightful. It turned the standard tropes upside down. And I love writing that breaks rules and shifts perspectives.

Naturally, I'd attend the School for Evil. (No one is getting me into a frilly dress) 

It begs the question, though: Which side would you choose?

#writerfriendschallenge #fictionalschool #schoolforgoodandevil #somanchainani #booknerd #readingnerd #reader #writerofinstagram #writerscommunity #writerofig #writersofig #writersofinstagram
And you thought teaching YOUR kids to share was to And you thought teaching YOUR kids to share was tough!

#theminions #Tonks #Ekko #catsdontshare #catantics #tuxedocats #notsharing #cattoys #catsiblings #mytoy #tuxedocatsofig #tuxedocatsofinstagram #rescuedcats #birthdaycat
Am I in the middle of rewrites following the feedb Am I in the middle of rewrites following the feedback I received from the @dragoncon Writer's Workshop?

Yes.

But this snippet isn't going anywhere. The final scene of the inciting event is unaffected by the notes I chose to apply.

And I still love it.

That's how it works when you receive feedback. You write down what you hear (and/or collect written feedback, depending on the situation), leaving personal feelings of your work ASIDE.

I like to add question marks after notes I'm not certain about. (Makes me feel like I'm still in control of the process)

Then I set everything aside and ignore it for a WEEK. No reading critiques OR my manuscript. Because the "wounds" are too fresh.

(Even if you think you're unaffected by a comment, you are. It's human nature)

With that "blind" in place, I then go back and read everything with fresh eyes.

Do I see repeat comments?

Are they bringing up points I felt unsure of myself?

Does the question push the story to a better place?

Or make a character stronger?

Once I have a new set of notes, I can approach my edits or rewrites with a better outlook. Instead of grousing over "misunderstandings" or losing my temper with blatant misreadings, I can remove myself from the "precious" stage of writing and acknowledge my writing needs work.

And go on to make it better.

Am I rewriting my first three chapters (again) because of the Workshop? Yup.

Is the book better for it?

Hell yeah.

#writerfriendschallenge #storysnippet #snippet #symbiote #mindwalkers #amwriting #amwritingya #amwritingscifi #amrewriting #amediting #dragoncon2023 #writingworkshop #writingfeedback #writingcritique #writingprocess #murderyourdarlings #writerlife #iamawriter #writersofinstagram #writersofig #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writercommunity #writerscommunity
I made it through half a workday before my chest s I made it through half a workday before my chest started hurting.

I consider that progress.

And then our idiot insurance company decided to deny a perfectly legit claim.

So it was back to the computer to write up the request for a repeal. 

Does that count toward a word count total?

Seriously, Universe, just kill me already. I'm not going to get stronger at this point.

#kickmewhenimdown #medicalinsurance #claimrejection #claimdenied #stillsick #sickday #chronicpain #chronicpainawareness #chronicpainwarrior #chronicpainlife #chronicpainsucks #outofspoons #nospoons
Sick days continue. I'm at the point of feeling j Sick days continue.

I'm at the point of feeling jealous over Tonks's ability to sleep so effortlessly.

(And slightly concerned she does so while faceplanting)

#minions #Tonks #cats #catsofinstagram #sleepingcat #tuxedocat #tuxedocatsofinstagram #tuxedokitty #tuxedocatsofig #cutecats #catssleeping #catssleepinginawkwardpositions #catssleepanywhere #rescuecat
I won't lie: One of my favorite positives about my I won't lie: One of my favorite positives about my writing is seeing my work published.

Even little pieces like this spot out in @thestrategist today!

Pitching is hard work.

I have to refine the idea, find the right market, polish the pitch, and then locate the editor's contact info.

(By the way, @ambernpetty has fantastic resources for freelance writers!)

Then there's writing the draft, revising the draft with the editor, and finalizing the copy. There aren't any shortcuts.

But the reward of seeing your work appear - WITH your name?

It makes everything worth it. And encourages you to do it again. And again. And again.

#writerfriendschallenge #writingpositivity #publicationday #thenewyorker #thestrategist #thisthingsincredible #byline #writingprocess #writerswork #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #writer #published #publishedwriter #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #freelancewriters
It's splat day. I started feeling sick Friday (CO It's splat day.

I started feeling sick Friday (COVID-negative, so at least my immune system is still working on that front). Throw in the Flare Protocol, which you'll understand if you read this week's Invisible Inks, and my body hit rock bottom this weekend.

Moving from the bed to the couch was an accomplishment.

(Many blessings on the inventor of microwave oatmeal)

I HATE splat days. I hate being sick, in general. But having negative energy reserves makes me feel like the most worthless human being on the planet.

Thinking of taking a shower shouldn't make me cry.

And losing a day of writing shouldn't make me feel guilty.

But it does. Because other people function when sick. And I already accomplished nothing all weekend aside from lying around. So there's motivation to DO something, anything besides splat on the couch.

But this is what my body does. This is how it operates (or, rather, DOESN'T operate). And complaining won't change anything.

I really do hate not being a normal, healthy, functional human being some days, though.

#outofspoons #spoonie #spoonielife #fibromyalgia #fibrosucks #flareday #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibrolife #fibromyalgiawarrior #fibrowarrior #spooniewarrior #nospoons #sickday #spooniememes
And now this thought is in your brain, too. You're And now this thought is in your brain, too. You're welcome.

#writingideas #writinginspiration #memes #saturdayhumor #humor #strangethoughts #nerdhumor #writinghumor
Is it really Friday? With the way this morning has Is it really Friday? With the way this morning has gone, it feels more like Monday.

Oh, well. (I blame my brain wanting to go back into vacation mode)

Or it could be my body deciding to shift into Flare Mode to punish me for all the walking, standing, and thinking I put it through at @dragoncon. (If you're a #spoonie, you know what I'm talking about)

And, of course, I decided that made the perfect topic to make fun of for this week's Invisible Inks post.

(If you can't laugh...)

My brain may be short-circuiting, but the post WILL still drop at noon EST as usual. You can pop by the links in my Bio and Story. Or, if you take advantage of a free subscription, it'll arrive in your inbox.

Choice is yours!

#invisibleinks #invisibleillness #chronicillness #chronicpain #fibromyalgia #flare #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicpainawareness #chronicillnessawareness #fibromyalgiaawareness #flareday #spooniehumor #spoonielife #nomorespoons #bewaretheflare #invisibleillnesswarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicpainwarrior #fibromyalgiawarrior #hermitcrabessays #creativenonfiction #satire
Ugh. Am I really only at 41 books for my #2023good Ugh. Am I really only at 41 books for my #2023goodreadsreadingchalleng?

This is what happens when I pick up a bad book. I end up bogged down and don't care if it gets set aside after a couple pages.

I mean, I only touched it ONE NIGHT while at @dragoncon!

Sure, I was exhausted (mentally and physically), but that's unheard of. I thought I'd finish it and be on to the next one.

Frustrating.

Hopefully, I'll get back on track now. (Particularly as I have at least three books coming in this month)

If you're interested, my review is up in the Link in my Bio (or the link in the Story).

And if you want to keep up with my reading challenge, find me on @goodreads at AndriaKennedy.

Let's be reading friends!

#2023readinggoals #amreading #bookreviews #bookstagram #readinggoals #bookgoals #2023books #bookfiend #books #booklover #bookaddict #bookpics #bookreview #bookreviewer #reading #readingnerd #reader #readingtime #readingfriends #mercedeslackey #briarheart
Before I signed up for the @clarionwest Flash Fict Before I signed up for the @clarionwest Flash Fiction Workshop, I'd never written a story shorter than 3000 words.

I wasn't even confident I COULD write flash.

A complete, coherent narrative in less than 1000 words? With actual characters? And setting?

Madness!

But writers need to grow and add tools to their kit, so I decided to take on the challenge.

"The Lighthouse" was my first story. And came in under 1000 words on the first try.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to see this rejection. 😊

(Yes, of course, it went through an edit before submission. I'm not an idiot)

Writers can't do the same thing over and over and expect to succeed.

You have to get out of your comfort zone and take risks. You have to grow, learn, and explore. You have to bend your mind in different directions.

Because you never know what possibilities you might be missing out on.

#rejectionletter #positiverejection #writerrejection #rejection #try #trysomethingnew #flashfiction #flashfictionwriter #flashfictionworkshop #clarionwest #orionsbelt #keeptrying #keepgoing #keepwriting #writesomething #writesomethingeveryday #writeeveryday #write #writer #writinginspiration #writerofinstagram #writerofig #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity
And we're back to the real world once more. (So sa And we're back to the real world once more. (So sad)

As hectic, chaotic, and physically exhausting as @dragoncon can be, it's still one of my favorite ways to recharge. 

I know that sounds contradictory. Allow me to explain:

The creative energy is indescribable. You're surrounded by artists and writers and artisans and sewers and crafters and molders and the genius suffuses the air. It's infectious (no, I don't mean con crud)

Then you attend workshops and panels that introduce new ideas or approaches to different aspects of writing. Or someone says something and your brain sparks with an idea.

And you spend five (maybe four, possibly six) days walking around with a huge smile on your face.

It's my go-to reset button for my writing.

I ALWAYS leave re-energized and ready to hit the computer. And not just because I have notes from the Writers Workshop.

I have new ideas. And a renewed sense of purpose as a writer.

Most importantly, I have a belief and confidence that I'm where I belong.

And I haven't found those things anywhere else as of yet.

#writerfriendschallenge #writerrecharge #recharge #dragoncon #dragoncon2023 #writerworkshop #writerthings #writerthoughts #writermind #mindset #writerinspiration #writingprocess #writer #iamawriter #yawriter #scifiwriter #writerestrepeat #writeeveryday #writerofinstagram #writerofig #writersofig #writersofinstagram
"So long, and thanks for all the fish." ~HITCHHIKE "So long, and thanks for all the fish." ~HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

DragonCon 2023 was wonderful.

Until we see everyone again!

(Special thanks to @timjk333 for the pictures I didn't catch, and to everyone for their inspired work!)

#dragoncon #dragoncon2023 #cosplay #geekandproud #geeklife #nerdforlife #nerdlife #nerdandproud #geekforlife #georgiaaquarium
I've written stories with nothing more than a one- I've written stories with nothing more than a one-word title.

My brain latched onto the word, and everything unfolded from there. (Seriously)

I don't require hours of research and pages of detail to start writing. My characters fill in the details of themselves and the plot as I go along. It's my process, and I'm not planning to change that up now.

Does that mean I NEVER do research? Of course not - that's literary homicide.

But I don't start there.

Every project is different in what launches me forward, too.

SYMBIOTE came from a dream. I already knew a select group of mammals (shrews, if you wondered) were venomous, but I needed the mechanics. And I went from there.

"Pains of Glass" - currently available in @starryeyedworlds EXISTENTIAL HOLOGRAM anthology - came from a spelling accident. And I built the story from there.

I'm currently brainstorming a story because someone said the word "Aptitude" and my brain went "YES!"

I don't bother with details before I start writing. The words will come because they HAVE to.

I'm a writer; it's what I do.

#writerfriendschallenge #wtitingprocess #writingideas #writinginspiration #writingdetails #writerlythings #writing #writer #scifiwriter #scifibooks #shortstorywriter #writeeveryday #writerofig #writerofinstagram #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersnetwork #writingnetwork
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