News Archives - Joyana Peters

NanoWriMo: How Do WE Protect Our Most Vulnerable Authors?

NanoWriMo Young Writers Program

This post saddens me to write, as I have been a long-time supporter and participant in National Novel Writing Month challenges. You may even remember my post (here) from just last year citing the benefits of participating. I still stand by the benefits of pushing yourself to get into the habit of prioritizing writing for a month. But I can no longer say I stand by or respect the NanoWriMo organization or platform as a whole. Here is what is unfolding in this NanoWriMo controversy. (I will use the term allegedly for legal protection where necessary.)

Those of you familiar with the platform know that in addition to your own Dashboard where you create your work in progress and receive your milestone badges there are also a multitude of chat threads and forums.

Last spring, it was uncovered that a moderator of these forums was allegedly using the platform to lure teens to a fetish site that he allegedly owned which showcased content involving minors. There were also allegations made that this same moderator was approving users from that same fetish site into the forum and allowing them to engage with teen NanoWriMo users.

The story gets more upsetting in seeing how long it took for NanoWriMo staff to intervene and take action and in the lack of transparency and accountability the organization has been taking in regards to the situation.

My reasons for sharing this information are two-fold. One- I feel the writing community needs to know about what allegedly transpired and how the organization failed to respond. Especially since they offer a Young Writers Program targeting teens under the age of 18 and K-12 educators.

Two- I feel there is a larger issue here that needs to be discussed. How do we protect young writers who want to participate in writing communities? And honestly, is it even appropriate for teens to be participating in some of these adult writing communities?

Should age play a role in an authors’ journey?

This is a situation where I feel technology and its accessibility has played a role. For instance, I’m involved in a number of engagement groups on Instagram. These are all geared towards authors and bookstagrammers. But there is no limit on genre or content that participates. As a result, there are some very explicit erotica book covers and reviews being showcased.

Not long ago I saw that a thirteen year old girl was admitted to some of the groups since she had written a book. It was discussed in some of the chats that authors were uncomfortable sharing this content with her. I brought it to the attention of one of the moderators and she said she wanted to support the girl in her writing endeavors, but she did understand the concern. Eventually, the girl was removed from the group.

This is where the internet has blurred the lines. If this had taken place in an actual physical setting would we have had a sole child sitting in a room full of adults sharing this content? But with the faceless nature of online presences that incongruous distinction is easier to overlook.

I wish I could say I had an answer to this dilemma. As both a former educator and a once voracious young writer myself, I get it. Teens want support, they want to learn, they want mentorship and community. But online writing communities might not be that answer. In general, online hobby communities might not be the answer. They are too difficult to monitor and there is no way to ensure security.

Instead, look for in-person learning opportunities in your community. Check for school clubs and classes. Many local colleges offer camps and young writing programs. See below for some examples. Try entering young writer competitions- still the broader potential without the online presence.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Follow up Resources and Ideas-

Young writers workshop

encourage a Young writer day

Washington college

Scholastic art &. writing awards

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE! You can also find my collection of bookish merchandise on Etsy.

Are you a VIP Member yet? If you’re interested in seeing Joyana’s Bonus content and ALL of her past newsletters make sure you sign up today! JOIN HERE.

Make sure you are the first to hear when I release a new book or novella! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Tracing their Steps: The Triangle Fire Memorial Unveiling

One hundred and twelve years ago a fire stole 146 lives. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was one of the worst workplace disasters in American history. The fire was also the turning point in workers’ rights history. And now finally, after many years of waiting, the Triangle Fire Memorial has been unveiled!

Rising nine stories high, the Memorial was constructed on the very building that housed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and the historic fire. It is located at the corners of Greene Street and Washington Place in Greenwich Village.

The Triangle Fire Memorial is a beautiful installation. It wraps around the building like a ribbon and tells the story of the fire in the languages of the victims, English, Italian and Yiddish. The names of each of the victims is listed backwards along with their ages. Backwards so when the sun shines through, the name is projected through to read on the sidewalk below. Mounted plaques also list the many legislative and historic workplace changes the fire inspired.

When I heard the Triangle Fire Memorial Unveiling Ceremony was occurring I knew I needed to attend. I felt like after spending so much of my life researching and writing about these women, I needed to be there in person to honor them. Little did I know just how special attending the event would become.

For starters, I soon discovered that part of what makes this memorial so special is it’s not only a memorial to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory victims, it’s also one of the only memorials dedicated to workers in the country. As a result, the event was being attended and honored by trade unions and labor organizers from all over.

If you know me, you know my dad was a steamfitter and proud Local 638 member. So I knew this would be right up his alley. Sure enough, we soon discovered his union would be attending the event with a banner and buttons. If you’ve even been fortunate enough to meet my dad, you know he’s someone that goes all in. He’s a networker and manages to make amazing connections.

A day or two before the event, my dad called and told me we’d not only be meeting up with the steamfitters at the event, but he’d also arranged for us to march in the parade from FIT downtown to the Brown Building. So we did. Shirtwaists waving and all. Then the magic continued.

We arrived at the event and met up with Local 638 business agents, Charlie Pellegrino and David Johnsen. It turned out the Brown Building recently began construction and Local 638 steamfitters were currently working on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors, the VERY floors where the fire occurred!

David Johnsen is a very kind man. And apparently he could see what an absolute nerd I am. Because next thing I knew he was taking us on a tour of the historic floors. Now, I’m sure many have traversed these fateful floors over the years, but what was truly amazing about these particular circumstances was with the construction they were ripped down to the studs. That meant the original brick walls that were probably there in 1911 were what I saw today. I touched the original walls of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory! Then he brought us up to the roof where Max Blanck and Isaac Harris crawled across a ladder to safety.

I will be forever grateful for this day. It was a historic day where this beautiful memorial will now eternally commemorate the stories of these women. I also got to meet many of the amazing people from the Remember the Triangle Coalition who have worked tirelessly over the years to make this all happen. And I got to walk side by side with my dad and many other amazing tradespeople and workers currently building and working in our cities today. What a truly glorious day.

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Are you a VIP Member yet? If you’re interested in seeing Joyana’s Bonus content and ALL of her past newsletters make sure you sign up today! JOIN HERE.

Make sure you are the first to hear when I release a new book or novella! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Writers Strike 2023 : What Do Writers REALLY Want?

The Writers Strike 2023 came up in conversation the other day as bbq conversation. This is not the first time and as things continue in their stalemate fashion, I’m sure it will not be the last. But what really struck me during this particular conversation is the misunderstanding people have about why the writers are striking.

I’m appreciative that Hollywood actors joined the picket line in solidarity. I think this was imperative for the writers to make any headway. But unfortunately, I do believe their joining contributed to the confusion about the issues at hand. They say they’re fighting for the same thing, but that’s not exactly true. All I heard from multiple people during this conversation was there was no way the writers could win, AI was here to stay. I finally asked, what do you think the writers strike is about?

Every single person answered that the issue was AI and the writers’ fear of replacement. My stomach plummeted at this response and it honestly proved my worst fears about the way the media has been covering the strike. While yes, AI is a concern that’s been brought to the table, it most definitely is NOT the chief reason the writers went on strike. And it most definitely is not why they walked away from recent negotiations and are still at a stalemate.

Working conditions for many across America have worsened. I’ve written about the abuses of mislabeling “independent contractors” in the past and how we’re being forced further and further into a gig economy that does not benefit the worker. The true heart of the Writers Strike 2023 lies in this same issue.

Your Hired! Job Title: Independent Contractor

In the past, writers were picked up to be employees on set for a show. They were employed for the full season of a show, creating sixteen to twenty something episodes. Writers were paid a living wage for all of those episodes, they also received contributions to their WGA pension fund and health insurance plan. They also received residual payments for TV reruns and movie showings.

Streaming has changed all of that. With shorter seasons with fewer episodes and content coming out constantly, all the protections of previous writer contracts have gone out the window. To avoid paying for more than the studios believe they need, they’ve opted instead to fall into the corporate abuses of the gig economy.

Instead of writers being hired as employees for a full season run, they’re now being hired as independent contractors for short gigs. Those gigs are paid with minimum hourly paid contracts. They’re pushed into writing pools, think tank rooms, where they’re forced to write an entire season’s worth of episodes over the course of a few days and then they’re dismissed. There are no contributions made to their pension or health insurance and there are no residual payments.

So, what are the Hollywood writers fighting for in the Writers Strike 2023?

They are fighting for the right to be employees. This a penultimate moment in American working history. Workers across the country are losing their employee protections by being forced to “independent contractor” status. Data from 2021 showed that an astonishing 1 in 3 workers are now classified as gig workers. This number rose to a record 51 million in one year alone. A 34% jump compared to 2020. Some of this was by choice, but many were not.

Most gig work does not pay enough to cover parental leave or health insurance. This puts gig workers at a major disadvantage to other regular employees. These numbers speak for themselves, it’s time to pay attention. If we don’t want this to be the future for American workers, we need to speak up and do something about it. The Hollywood writers are taking a stand. And man, I hope it’s enough.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Are you a VIP Member yet? If you’re interested in seeing Joyana’s Bonus content and ALL of her past newsletters make sure you sign up today! JOIN HERE.

Make sure you are the first to hear when I release a new book or novella! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Signs of Growth: The End of Blockbuster Names

Books and movies have always had a special relationship, so what does the end of blockbuster names in movies mean in books?

I recently watched a movie on Netflix with my husband and realized there was not a single actor or actress I had heard of in the movie. We discussed it and realized that’s happening more and more these days. I used to think it was because I’m getting older and more out of touch. But then I did some digging as I’m apt to do and found this is actually a “thing” now.

In the past there were always the gatekeepers. The content curators. The studio heads who would greenlight which few movies got made per year. Or which shows were chosen for the fall season on the main channels. We were limited on what exposure we got to content. We only got to partake in what the curators chose for us.

However, that’s all changed with streaming platforms. Movies and shows are now launched with regularity. Suddenly we can get access to almost anything. You can go down rabbit holes of niche topics and shows. Gone are the days when the curators kept us limited.

But with that constant stream of content there are less and less of those big Hollywood “stars” rising to the top with the notoriety of the past. How could they? They can no longer be cast in everything. More actors HAVE to come to the stage and play.

The same is happening in publishing. With self publishing becoming more popular and writers launching new books with regularity there is just more content out there. More content equals more competition and less opportunity to rise to the top like the John Grishams, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and other “blockbuster” writers of the past.

So does that mean that fame and fortune is a thing of the past? Will there never be another Jennifer Aniston or Brad Pitt? Possibly.

I can honestly say I’m okay with that. This might sound surprising coming from me as a writer. Wouldn’t I want the possibility of becoming a “blockbuster” success? Yes, but so few ever got to be. Whereas, in this current oversaturated market it’s anyone’s game. How though?

It’s all about niche marketing. Think about it. As content consumers we all have our particular genres of books and films we prefer. Netflix sets up our recommended for you algorithms as does Amazon. There are also the follow buttons. You like an author’s book you can follow them on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub. Then you get an alert whenever they publish something new.

I do this with all my favorite authors. And as soon as I get that alert, I know to preorder the next book they have coming out. I just did this with Fiona Davis’s new book The Spectacular (was fabulous by the way) and Marie Benedict’s The Mitford Affair and The First Ladies.

There is the same loyalty garnered with these systems. Just like you’d always go see the new Julia Roberts movie, you’re continuing to follow people you like. It’s just more spread out and catered to your specific tastes.
In the long run, I feel it’s a more equitable and sustainable market. What are your thoughts on the matter? Are you enjoying the availability of more content or do you miss the days of content curators? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Can’t get enough of Joyana Peters? Going the VIP Member Access for bonus content and exclusive early access to new releases!

bECOME A VIP!

SHOP MY BOOKS!

Stay up to date with book releases and upcoming events! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Women’s Right Convention & The Women Who Risked it All

July 19th and 20th of this year mark the 175th Anniversary of the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls!

For those not familiar, this historic two day convention was the first event to focus on “the social, civil and religious condition and rights of women.” About three hundred women attended and after two days of discussion, they drafted the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. This document described the ways in which the laws of their time failed women. They failed to protect their rights, their safety and their potential. Their proposed solution was calling for the woman’s right to vote.

This was the official launch to the women’s rights and suffrage movements. Sadly, it took seventy years for women to actually be granted this right and few got to ever celebrate or see the fruit of their labors. But there was at least one woman, Rhoda Palmer, who at 102 cast her first ballot in the 1918 New York State election.

It’s amazing how second nature and even taken for granted voting seems today. I’m guilty myself of not voting in every election. It’s just a small one. There’s no candidate I care for, etc. But, to think of the blood, sweat and tears so many put in to grant us this simple privilege, I know I should do better.

As we head into what appears to be another contentious election season, let us remember these courageous people from our past. And let us most importantly remember, even one vote can make a difference. Let your voice be heard!

Are you currently registered to vote? REGISTER TODAY!

For more information about the Seneca Falls Convention and to really get a clear picture of the attendees and the risks they took to attend the convention that day– take a look at this keynote speech from the 150th anniversary.

Can’t get enough of Joyana Peters? Going the VIP Member Access for bonus content and exclusive early access to new releases!

bECOME A VIP!

SHOP MY BOOKS!

Stay up to date with book releases and upcoming events! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Become an Amaryllis VIP!

Interested in gaining access to exclusive VIP content? Join today!