I have an idea for a book...

So I have a fertile egg of an idea for a book -- possibly a small booklet, possibly an e-book, I don't know yet; which would be basically written about ways to manage having "chaotic" tendencies. Ways for demonkin to manage being demonkin, and for fluid people who have difficulty managing their fluidity; especially since there are a number of not-helpful influences out there. I've met and known a lot of people -- mostly online but some not -- who have had difficulty with shifting identities.

This is at the point that I'm getting a better grasp of what's going on, in a lexicon which lets me actually make sense of what is happening, even though it's not a standard discourse among people in Western countries, at least. I'm wondering if I should codify it and make it my next project.

What I need to do is make a list of topics that I want to cover and somehow organize this, but above that I need to start writing it in order to get the seed of the idea into some recorded format.

Being as it is written by me, I wouldn't doubt that there would be autobiographical material in it, and I know that if I did mention the "demon" word, that this will basically call up religious protest if I introduce it to the public (oh, Legion...). It might be an interesting way to write it if I did write it for demonkin, though, and basically did not paste "demon" all over the book. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> (It gives people very many wrong ideas.)

Thoughts? Offers of assistance or encouragement? Pitfalls (other than crazy religious people trying to find out who I am)? <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" title="Razz" /><!-- s -->

If you're that set on helping people, then write a series of helpful articles and put them online where your target audience is most likely to find them / where the subject matter is most relevant. If you don't open up your works to the general populace, then there's little worry about backlash from groups that have nothing to do with the subject matter.

If you're trying to make a profit, the subject matter is both too broad and too niche, a resource for varying things (shifting identities, demons, et al) that only a select portion of the population would find helpful and even less would be willing to pay for. Unless it's *really* good, with a lot of study done and respectable sources cited, it most likely won't garner enough of an interest to be worthwhile, and even then the payout in relation to the time would probably be slim.


If you're going to write articles and stuff, I could possibly assist, but I'm honestly very against public publishing of things related to "otherkin", as not even "otherkin" are unified in their beliefs; creating a book involving such a group is bound to misrepresent at least a portion of it. Consider, too, the intensely personal nature of otherkin validation as a whole and how difficult it can potentially be for those not involved to come to an understanding.

Hello!

Rain Wrote:Consider, too, the intensely personal nature of otherkin validation as a whole and how difficult it can potentially be for those not involved to come to an understanding.

I'm not sure what is meant here by the term "otherkin validation"? Do you mean validation of a person's otherkin identity by other people, or something else?

I've been out, though I've had a chance to look in a writing book a friend gave me...This is quickly developing. I wrote about three pages last night just trying to get out whatever it was that was bugging me. For one thing, I found it very difficult to avoid mentioning the terms "demon" and "demonkin" when writing about demonkin. It was a first draft, though, so I just let it flow without trying to edit it then.

One of the things I have realized is that I can write this as either fiction or creative nonfiction. Writing this in a fictive format will get my messages out while still letting me retain a bit of protection (so I won't necessarily get blamed for being literally demonic; that is, the narrator will not be "me", even if there are parts of us who are similar). I've also realized that I can split up the issues I've dealt with (e.g. fearing backlash, unstable identity, dealing with being both nonwhite and nonstraight, having spiritual issues interfering with identity, having to deal with real life while also wanting to explore spirituality) and which other people have dealt with, under several characters, so that I won't have to worry about people being critical because one character is both LGB or T and nonwhite and demonic. I can just as easily have hir be empathetic to and assistive to someone who is unstable in their gender identity, and have hir have a history of struggling with the same things, but not have hir claim a specific (LGBT) label.

<!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> I think I'm getting creative with this. This is a very cool thing. I think my work in jewelry is firing up the creative part of my brain and making me want to write again. For some reason, it happens very frequently.

I also wrote last night a message that came, that I can effect change in the physical world and create things, and this is the rationale for my being physically embodied now. So I've rediscovered my reason for living? <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s -->

Thanks for your support, Rain. I will see if I can think up a good response to your other post, but it might not come for a bit, just to let you know. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->

Chordal Wrote:

Rain Wrote:Consider, too, the intensely personal nature of otherkin validation as a whole and how difficult it can potentially be for those not involved to come to an understanding.

I'm not sure what is meant here by the term "otherkin validation"? Do you mean validation of a person's otherkin identity by other people, or something else?

I do not know of a scientific, objective method of validating one as being otherkin. Most of it is an intensely personal journey, filled with one's own experience and perspective. It is unfair to expect those who have not shared in these experiences and perspectives themselves to understand fully, agree, or even tolerate these beliefs as being "true" in the event that it contradicts with their own worldview.

If I were to tell others my life's story, of what I am, I do not expect them to believe me to be telling the truth -- or even for me to be sane -- as these kinds of things are beyond the scope of most of the population's typical paradigm.

Quote:which would be basically written about ways to manage having "chaotic" tendencies. Ways for demonkin to manage being demonkin, and for fluid people who have difficulty managing their fluidity; especially since there are a number of not-helpful influences out there. I've met and known a lot of people -- mostly online but some not -- who have had difficulty with shifting identities.

Quote:One of the things I have realized is that I can write this as either fiction or creative nonfiction.

Quote:I've also realized that I can split up the issues I've dealt with... and which other people have dealt with, under several characters, so that I won't have to worry about people being critical...

These objectives do not align as well as you'd hope, and even fiction / creative nonfiction is scrutinized for the messages they hold. Avoiding criticism severely limits the message to the people you supposedly wish to "help"; the deeper you bury it, the more muddled it will become, or the less apparent it will be to those who would benefit from reading it. By all means, if you wish to create a story for your own personal desire to do so -- a creative nonfiction, centered on your life and experiences -- then this would naturally be of little concern, but you should understand the reasons for which you are undertaking this goal. Writing a fictive book does not readily assist those who are having problems in the real world, as the book itself is not considered valid enough of a resource for "real" problems and people in need of assistance will not be directed to it; any help you provide would most likely be incidental, at best, and still lesser than if you had taken another route.


I will clarify here that I am not at all being supportive of a decision to write a help-book, I am supportive only of your supposed desire to help others, or of a desire for self-fulfillment through writing.

Rain Wrote:

Chordal Wrote:

Rain Wrote:Consider, too, the intensely personal nature of otherkin validation as a whole and how difficult it can potentially be for those not involved to come to an understanding.

I'm not sure what is meant here by the term "otherkin validation"? Do you mean validation of a person's otherkin identity by other people, or something else?

I do not know of a scientific, objective method of validating one as being otherkin.

There's no scientific or objective method for verifying any identity really, when it comes down to it. Having a race or sex is not the same thing as having an identity. Having a heritage is not the same thing as having an identity. Identity is inherently subjective, and because it is subjective, it is very difficult if not impossible to prove with "facts."

Rain Wrote:It is unfair to expect those who have not shared in these experiences and perspectives themselves to understand fully, agree, or even tolerate these beliefs as being "true" in the event that it contradicts with their own worldview.

I doubt it's unfair to expect tolerance for someone else's identity in the event that this identity has nothing to do with the person being intolerant.

Rain Wrote:These objectives do not align as well as you'd hope, and even fiction / creative nonfiction is scrutinized for the messages they hold.

Yes, but I won't be writing a Lestat. It would damage the momentum of the non-straight and transgender communities to equate being LGB or T with being a demon or demonic. I can just as easily split up my own experience between different characters with no loss, so far as getting my message across is concerned. After all, it's an outgrowth of the same thing I'm experiencing.

Rain Wrote:Writing a fictive book does not readily assist those who are having problems in the real world, as the book itself is not considered valid enough of a resource for "real" problems and people in need of assistance will not be directed to it; any help you provide would most likely be incidental, at best, and still lesser than if you had taken another route.

I fail to see how altering the format of delivery of my main message alters its validity.

Rain Wrote:I will clarify here that I am not at all being supportive of a decision to write a help-book, I am supportive only of your supposed desire to help others, or of a desire for self-fulfillment through writing.

I'll be sure not to ask you to be a beta, then. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> And, thanks.

Chordal Wrote:Identity is inherently subjective, and because it is subjective, it is very difficult if not impossible to prove with "facts."

Exactly. That makes it a very difficult topic to discuss with the general populace who do not hold a similar identity, or have at least gone through similar experiences; the information that is necessary to bridge the gap between author and reader hinges on the reader's personal experience -- something that the author cannot control -- as opposed to objective information, which the author can provide. This is in reference primarily to "otherkin", as there are most likely at least statistical information that can be pulled upon for the other characteristics.

Chordal Wrote:

Rain Wrote:It is unfair to expect those who have not shared in these experiences and perspectives themselves to understand fully, agree, or even tolerate these beliefs as being "true" in the event that it contradicts with their own worldview.

I doubt it's unfair to expect tolerance for someone else's identity in the event that this identity has nothing to do with the person being intolerant.

It is not necessarily unfair for one to expect tolerance of a person's identity, but it *is* unfair to expect them to believe the identity to be truthful. I can show a person respect even if I think they are grossly mistaken on a topic -- I can tolerate a person's opinion, but not the opinion in question being "true". Perhaps my wording was irregular, and for that I apologize :

It is unfair to expect other people to understand, agree, or even remote believe you on basis of word alone, especially as there exists no objective method to validate an identity as being "true"; there exists only your word. The concept of "otherkin" alone can be difficult for one to believe at this point in time, and there exists no reason for those uninvolved to believe it to be true; even some "otherkin" are conflicted as to the validity of their identity as such, and they are the one with the most information on the subject.

Chordal Wrote:

Rain Wrote:Writing a fictive book does not readily assist those who are having problems in the real world, as the book itself is not considered valid enough of a resource for "real" problems and people in need of assistance will not be directed to it; any help you provide would most likely be incidental, at best, and still lesser than if you had taken another route.

I fail to see how altering the format of delivery of my main message alters its validity.

It alters the perception as to the work's purpose. Fictional pieces are often used to entertain in some fashion, whereas non-fiction -- while sometimes entertaining through its own power -- is often about the accumulation and sharing of information. Those who are having difficulties dealing with shifting identities are most likely not going to look to a fictional story about shifting identities in the hopes that it will help them with their problems. Those who are trained to help those who are having difficulties with shifting identities are most likely not going to look to a fictional story in the hope of gleaning more information about the condition. It might be used for psychological study material if it is of particular quality, but is that your intent? If someone is helped through reading a fictive book, it would most likely be incidental, the person choosing to read the book for the purpose of being entertained and finding assistance by accident.

Chordal Wrote:

Rain Wrote:I will clarify here that I am not at all being supportive of a decision to write a help-book, I am supportive only of your supposed desire to help others, or of a desire for self-fulfillment through writing.

I'll be sure not to ask you to be a beta, then. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> And, thanks.

I think publishing a book for the reasons you've stated as being your reasons is a bad idea. I don't disagree with the supposed intent behind it, or in the action of writing the book itself, mostly just what I see as a questionable path for your intention and the audience that is most likely to result from it. I wouldn't mind assisting in its creation if I were to be asked, just know that I would likely want nothing to do with it afterwards.