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Category: Writing

If you’re not into any kind of writing, then this is highly likely to not be the blog for you.

Ya think???

How and Why Does Writing Speak to Us?

The written word is something that we have in common with the ancient Egyptians, with people on the other side of the planet, and with celebrities who we will never meet.

Fiction writing, in particular, bridges gaps in the world, and through time. Have you ever read something written by an author who is long dead?

Whether it’s Jane Eyre or The Art of War, we can hear the author’s voice as we read (and yes, I am well aware that The Art of War isn’t fiction. I’m kind of tired, okay?).

But I digress.

Independent Writers Do It All

When we do it well, and we do it right, the indie author wears many hats. Researcher. Editor. Planner. Marketer. Cover artist (or at least hirer of the cover artist). Bookkeeper. Advertiser. Tax Preparer.

Indy writing is a small business. So, like it or not, you’ve got to know these things, or be able to hire someone who does.

Past, Present, and Future Authoring

One of the best things about authoring is the concept of eternity. Now, I don’t honestly expect anything I write to end up being studied in college or becoming movie fodder. But it is still  there, and it can be there forever if you can (and are willing to) preserve it.

This is why I encourage publishing, by the way, even if you never make a dime.

Eternity.

Self-Review – Martin’s ChoiceShort Stories, Road, My Aliens, Last Patient, interview, Surprises, Props, shipwrecked, child, Killing Us Softly, Ditte, Band, three minutes, Longest Night Watch, Nothing Good Ever Happens, Complications, Your Call, Darkness into Light, canaries, gentrification, Cynthia, True Believer, Short Stories, Wilder Bloom, Dish, Gentrification, Mitalisque, kitten, Last Try, Minnesota Wish, Dominick and Angela, Alix, Alix’s Apocalypse, A Chance Encounter in Time, A Crime in Time, A Show for the Galaxy, Aenor the Wanted, Alien Justice, And the Band Played the Apocalypse, Babel 2.0, Side Pages, Camp, Courier to the Soviets, Frozen Assets, Julie's Dollar, Mandy Goes to Aspen, Martin's Choice, Mike’s Grades, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, Saddle Up, Bank Teller, Sarah’s Invention, Small Acts of Defiance, The Future Has No Foundation, The Ides of the Secretarial Pool, Unexpected Help, You Will Drink Your Coffee and Like It, Unreliable, East Side of the Universe, Eros vs Thanatos, Dust Between Our Stars, A Show for the Galaxy, A Fairy Tale for Skeptical Adults, A School for Scavengers, Frozen Assets, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, 1960s Temporal Crimes, Lizzie Borden is Vital to the Timeline, Walls Came Tumbling Down Again, The End, Will's Dog, Building Trust, Message in an Odd Bottle, Vive André, The New Kid, What's an Animal,

Self-Review – Martin’s Choice

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on February 20, 2025

A Look at Martin’s Choice

During college, I was in a sorority. In fact, I served as the president of my chapter in 1981. And while hazing never went as far as it does in Martin’s Choice, there was definitely some going on.

But in this story, a kegger spiked with nasty hazing goes very wrong, very quickly.

I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2021. But I didn’t finish it until the fourth quarter of 2024.

Background

Hazing is a very real problem in the fraternity/sorority (Greek) community. People have died, and some of that is due to the peer pressure/power imbalance inherent in a system with a rigid hierarchy. Plus, the pledges want very much to join and be accepted.

Some of the worst hazing happens when members leverage their positions and throw in malice to boot.

The prompt was just one word: keg.

The Plot of Martin’s Choice

During a fraternity keg party, true colors come out. The fraternity’s president, Ron, wants … something. But it’s clear that Ron won’t stop until he’s forced to.

A pledge named Dennis suffers the consequences of frat president Ron’s reckless power trip. Martin’s choice is to speak up and be ostracized, or stay quiet and watch what is starting to uncomfortably resemble an attempt at manslaughter.

Characters

The characters are Martin, Jules, Ron, and Dennis. There are some other fraternity members and there are a few police officers.

Memorable Quotes from Martin’ Choice

Eddie dropped the other side of the keg and shoved his way to the exit. One of his shoves connected with Stan, who lost his grip on Martin’s arm.

Martin turned to Al. “Either you let go of me, or you call nine one-one. Got it?”

The pledges and other fraternity brothers started to run for the exits. Phil looked back once.

Stan had been open-mouthed, but he snapped out of it. “Ron, they’re gonna get the cops in here.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ron’s left eye twitched. “We gotta hide this.”

“Not a chance.” Jules grabbed Ron by the collar as the wail of sirens started to fill the air.

Rating

The story has a T+ rating. There is nasty language and several horrible results come from nasty choices on a lot of people’s parts.

Takeaways

This was a nasty, difficult story, and it’s no wonder that I took a few years to finish it. Even now, I look at it and can see what an incredibly dark place it comes from. Nearly no one comes out of it well. And even then, ‘well’ is really just a relative term.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out my other articles about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Self-Review – Unexpected HelpShort Stories, Road, My Aliens, Last Patient, interview, Surprises, Props, shipwrecked, child, Killing Us Softly, Ditte, Band, three minutes, Longest Night Watch, Nothing Good Ever Happens, Complications, Your Call, Darkness into Light, canaries, gentrification, Cynthia, True Believer, Short Stories, Wilder Bloom, Dish, Gentrification, Mitalisque, kitten, Last Try, Minnesota Wish, Dominick and Angela, Alix, Alix’s Apocalypse, A Chance Encounter in Time, A Crime in Time, A Show for the Galaxy, Aenor the Wanted, Alien Justice, And the Band Played the Apocalypse, Babel 2.0, Side Pages, Camp, Courier to the Soviets, Frozen Assets, Julie's Dollar, Mandy Goes to Aspen, Martin's Choice, Mike’s Grades, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, Saddle Up, Bank Teller, Sarah’s Invention, Small Acts of Defiance, The Future Has No Foundation, The Ides of the Secretarial Pool, Unexpected Help, You Will Drink Your Coffee and Like It, Unreliable, East Side of the Universe, Eros vs Thanatos, Dust Between Our Stars, A Show for the Galaxy, A Fairy Tale for Skeptical Adults, A School for Scavengers, Frozen Assets, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, 1960s Temporal Crimes, Lizzie Borden is Vital to the Timeline, Walls Came Tumbling Down Again, The End, Will's Dog, Building Trust, Message in an Odd Bottle, Vive André, The New Kid, What's an Animal,

Self-Review – Unexpected Help

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on February 18, 2025

A Look at a Short Story, Unexpected Help

I really love World War II prison escape films. So, with Unexpected Help, I tried my hand at writing one. But this time, the time would be in the future and the captors wouldn’t be human.

I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2021. The original prompt was the word edge.

Background

The whole concept of escaping from an alien prison must have weighed on my mind a lot in 2021.

I wrote several stories with that as the premise, including not just this one, but also Stellar Stowaway, Breakout… and Then What?, Nuremberg Redux, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, and Escape from the Alien Mines all follow a somewhat similar plot.

Plot

A good ten thousand humans are taken prisoner on an alien world. When one of them, Rebecca Morrissey, is being tortured, she’s injected with something or other. The substance allows her to hear a certain alien’s thoughts.

And the first thing the alien Chadaricha tells her is that there is an underground, and they are trying to get her out.

But it’ll take a while.

Characters

The characters are POV character Rebecca Lee Morrissey, the only human in the story. The aliens are Chadaricha and Lodavinta. There are other aliens, but I don’t name them.

While these could be the Ziranqui, who have become a kind of catchall bad guy species in my writing, I’m happier for them not to be. After all, why can’t there be more than one villain species out there?

Unexpected Help with Memorable Quotes

Old World War II escape movies were my only frame of reference. Yet they were woefully inadequate when it came to trying to get out of a prison on an alien world. I couldn’t blend in with the natives. Not unless I somehow miraculously got taller, grayer, and added two fingers to each hand.

It was, perhaps, a few days later. The only way to even have a prayer of determining that time had elapsed was to count meals. But they were all over the place. If I had to judge time between meals by hunger, then time was elastic. But that explanation made a lot less sense than a more obvious one—that there were no rules as to when to feed me.

But ever since the aide had injected me, I had been given more. It wasn’t much more. Clearly, my benefactor or benefactors were trying to cover their tracks and making it so they could lean on plausible deniability if they needed to. Or maybe they had a lot of us to try to feed. Or they didn’t have much to give.

In the dark—for the room was never bright enough to read or do more than make out the barest minimum of shapes—I accepted whatever they gave me.

Rating

The story has a T+/M rating.

There are scenes of torture and violence. I am not kidding.

Takeaways for Unexpected Help

I think this one turned out better than some of the other alien prison escape stories I’ve written. There are characters and consequences, and it’s tough to tell how it’ll all work out in the end.

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Self-Review — Building TrustShort Stories, Road, My Aliens, Last Patient, interview, Surprises, Props, shipwrecked, child, Killing Us Softly, Ditte, Band, three minutes, Longest Night Watch, Nothing Good Ever Happens, Complications, Your Call, Darkness into Light, canaries, gentrification, Cynthia, True Believer, Short Stories, Wilder Bloom, Dish, Gentrification, Mitalisque, kitten, Last Try, Minnesota Wish, Dominick and Angela, Alix, Alix’s Apocalypse, A Chance Encounter in Time, A Crime in Time, A Show for the Galaxy, Aenor the Wanted, Alien Justice, And the Band Played the Apocalypse, Babel 2.0, Side Pages, Camp, Courier to the Soviets, Frozen Assets, Julie's Dollar, Mandy Goes to Aspen, Martin's Choice, Mike’s Grades, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, Saddle Up, Bank Teller, Sarah’s Invention, Small Acts of Defiance, The Future Has No Foundation, The Ides of the Secretarial Pool, Unexpected Help, You Will Drink Your Coffee and Like It, Unreliable, East Side of the Universe, Eros vs Thanatos, Dust Between Our Stars, A Show for the Galaxy, A Fairy Tale for Skeptical Adults, A School for Scavengers, Frozen Assets, Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan, 1960s Temporal Crimes, Lizzie Borden is Vital to the Timeline, Walls Came Tumbling Down Again, The End, Will's Dog, Building Trust, Message in an Odd Bottle, Vive André, The New Kid, What's an Animal,

Self-Review — Building Trust

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on February 13, 2025

Let’s Look at Building Trust, a Short Story

This is another short story that I started up during a year when I was writing every day. The original prompt for Building Trust was the word fire.

I wrote two sections and then ran out of gas. But it’s a good thing I left it. This means that I started this story during the third quarter of 2021.

But I finally finished it during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Background

Like a lot of young girls, I was into horses when I was a tween. I took plenty of riding lessons and went to a horse camp when I was eleven. I’ve also been to places like Belmont race track and the track at New Orleans, which is apparently Fair Grounds.

I don’t think I had written a story about working with horses before, not even for the Real Hub of the Universe trilogy. So, it was a great, untried source for a plot.

Also, leaving it for a good three years meant I could remake it into something very new. I have no idea what I was originally planning, and probably didn’t have much of a plan at all.

Plot

Bethany has been running Shortman Stables for a while and the stables are going under financially. So, she takes a chance and buys an untamable filly named Running Wildfire.

To keep the stable going, she’ll lead trail rides or accept fees for her stud, Dark Materials to do his thing. She sells foals out of Rose Tattoo, Marylou Cha-Cha, and Basket Case. Plus, she has a track and sulkies that others can rent.

Er, did I mention that these are Standardbred horses? They’re the kind who pull a sulky (a small cart resembling a chariot) for racing.

Bethany works with Running Wildfire and slowly gets her accustomed to people again. Along the way, she learns the filly was abused.

As she gains the filly’s trust, Bethany hires a driver, Tanya. But Tanya comes with baggage of her own, and has a lot in common with Running Wildfire.

When Tanya’s ex-husband finds out where she lives, and wants his son back, things get dicey, and just when Running Wildfire is starting to show some real promise.

Characters

The human characters are Bethany Shortman (the POV character) and her brother Sean. We also see Sean’s wife Libby and their two kids, Sarah and Brian.

Bethany hires Tanya Matthewson-Wilson to be a driver, and there’s Tanya’s son Marcus and her ex-husband Troy. There are also Dave Derricko (a TV reporter) and an intern who’s working the camera for him named Tracy. Lots of T names there. Sorry!

There’s also Henry Williams (yes, Bethany calls him Hank), who owns horses in Houston, and Andy the postmaster and Ralph the sheriff. Plus there’s a groom named Ken.

Horse characters are Running Wildfire (AKA Cherry or Cherry Bomb), Dark Materials (Matty), Rose Tattoo (Rosie), Basket Case (Casey), Marylou Cha-Cha, and Smoky, a mule. I mention another dozen or so horses but never name them.

At Henry Williams’s farm, there’s Running Total, who is Running Wildfire’s dam (mother). And there are also the other fillies in the Oak Grove Open Trot race.

Building Trust with Memorable Quotes

{She} was … seventy-three to one. But she wasn’t the longest shot. … [N]umbers always change at a race, particularly as late bettors get their wagers in. Running Wildfire was elevated to fifty-eight to one for a while there, and then came back down to earth, ending up at sixty-seven to one when the betting windows closed.

With my bet for our gal to win, I could end up with a payout of a few hundred bucks. Or just be out a twenty. Either way, I was happy.

“And, they’re off! Motormouth Mabel starts off hugging the rail with jackrabbit Dancing Poodle hot on her heels. Cataclysm and Alison Wonder Girl are battling for third. Then rounding out the field it’s Pretty Portia; Trial of the Century; Running Wildfire; All or Nothing; Katy Bar the Door; Irish Colleen; Galloping Grace; Ravenswood, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia; Too Short a Season; Antagonist; Out of Joint; Sweet Sioux; and Book ‘em Danielle bringing up the rear.”

The middle of the pack wasn’t the greatest place for my gal to be. But it wasn’t horrible, either. The last four horses were far enough back that the chances of them catching up and passing the first three was virtually zero.

“Rounding the turn, Irish Colleen starts making her move as Dancing Poodle starts to tire. Cataclysm has pulled up to Motormouth Mabel and they’re duking it out. Alison Wonder Girl has faded. Trial of the Century is coming around and looking for an opening. Running Wildfire is on the outside, making a move and looking to stave off Irish Colleen. Ravenswood and Katy Bar the Door are still in contention as the others fade.”

I crossed my fingers and gritted my teeth. The top seven was respectable for a first outing. Don’t get greedy, Bethany.

Rating for Building Trust

The story has a T rating. I describe some violence to the horses but it’s not ‘on camera’ and there are threats to Bethany and Tanya. Sean is knocked out, and Troy gets hit with a tranquilizer dart in a rather, ahem, sensitive area.

Plus, I mention domestic violence although I don’t get into the specifics.

Takeaways

I really like how this one turned out. It was definitely promising, and the stuff I wrote in 2024 changed it from just a horse story to a tale of female empowerment.

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Writing Fiction About Generation AlphaGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on February 6, 2025

Generation Alpha (2013 – 2028 or so)

As of the initial writing of this blog post, they haven’t hit any of major age-related touchstones such as turning 18 yet! So, we can’t really cover many pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Alpha.

However, we can cover the entire time frame, as far as we know it.

Considering the Entire Time Frame When Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

This time frame starts off with the aftermaths of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, Arab Spring, and NASA ending the space shuttle program.

The Covid-19 pandemic, the first term of President Donald Trump, and the Russia-Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war dominate the middle of this period. Plus, there’s the rise of artificial intelligence.

The very end of this period hasn’t happened yet. All we can really do is speculate.

Given that President Trump is supposed to only be able to serve one more term, the 2028 presidential elections will be a major event. Will Kamala Harris return? Will JD Vance run for the country’s highest office? How about someone else? We shall see.

What’s Next for Generation Alpha?

For the most part, writing fiction about Generation Alpha means writing science fiction. Certainly, you will have to speculate about the future. In general, extrapolating current events to their logical conclusions can be a good way of going about this.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

So, here are my characters from Generation Alpha.

There’s no one I specifically name. However, Glenn Storey from The Duck in the Seat Cushion is of the right age.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

As of the initial writing of this blog post, the oldest members of Generation Alpha are only thirteen years old.

Writing fiction about Generation Alpha should cover some of the tween milestones many kids go through, such as confirmation and bar/bat mitzvahs. Also, there are kids with older siblings and friends who may be attending quinceañeras.

And, unless your Generation Alpha characters are the youngest members of the British royal family, their issues, incidents, and problems are more likely to be compact and personal. As in, being affected by parental divorce versus saving the world.

Of course, you can write a ‘chosen one’ story with tweens. But that’s been done a lot lately. What would you like to write that’s different?

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About Generation ZGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About Generation Z

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on February 4, 2025

A Look at Writing Fiction About Generation Z or iGen (1997 – 2012)

Of course, as of the initial writing of this blog post, Gen Z had not yet hit 35. And a lot of them hadn’t hit their quarter-century mark, either. And 65? Forget about it! So, unless you’re writing about the future, writing fiction about Generation Z means writing about their youth.

My characters Minka Lopez, Dez Hunter, Nell Murphy, and Kitty Kowalski, all from Mettle are all members of iGen.

So, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Z.

The Generation Z Turns 18 (2015 – 2030)

This time frame starts off with NASA’s Dawn probe orbiting dwarf planet (asteroid) Ceres. The World Health Organization declares the eradication of rubella in the Americas. Also, SpaceX lands an uncrewed Falcon 9 rocket.

The Covid-19 epidemic and the first term of President Donald Trump dominate the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended. However, the period from 2020 to 2024 gave us a world where misinformation is everywhere, and there are significant political divides in the United States.

Considering this generation and the end of this time frame can mean extrapolating what’s already happened. Or try turning it on its head.

The Generation Z Turns 25 (2022 – 2037)

This time frame starts off with billions of people being vaccinated against Covid-19. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee (70 years on the throne, a record for British monarchs), and Elon Musk buys Twitter.

Since most of the middle and all of the end of this period hasn’t happened yet, we can only speculate about it. The second election of Republican Donald Trump in 2024 means he’s supposed to be president until 2028.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Z

So, here are my characters from Generation Z.

In Mettle, it’s characters Dez Hunter, Minka Lopez, Nell Murphy, and Kitty Kowalski.

There may be some in The Duck in the Seat Cushion, too.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Z

Gen Z was raised on the internet. So writing fiction about Generation Z should include computers, tablets, and smartphones. Therefore, if you wish to show iconoclasts or Luddites, or maybe a post-Apocalyptic world, then Zoomers probably wouldn’t have any of that.

And, as character Kitty Kowalski is like in Mettle, when the power goes out and they might not survive, forget her parents. She barely thinks of them at all. This insufferable spoiled brat misses her phone.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About the Millennial GenerationGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on January 30, 2025

The Millennial Generation or Generation Y (1981 – 1996)

Authors who believe that writing fiction about the Millennial Generation means only telling tales of youth are going to be in for quite a surprise. As of the initial writing of this blog post, the oldest millennials had turned 33.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about the Millenial Generation.

The Millennial Generation Turns 18 (1999 – 2014)

This time frame starts off with the euro being established as a currency, and Bill Clinton being acquitted of impeachment charges. IT professionals fret over the potential for a Y2K bug.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Boko Harum militants kill approximately 300 people in Nigeria, and the British comedy group Monty Python calls it quits. Plus, the shooting of Michael Brown triggers riots in Ferguson, Missouri.

Millennials Turn 25 (2006 – 2021)

This time frame starts off with NASA launching the first interplanetary space probe to Pluto (New Horizons), and the Human Genome Project publishing its final chromosome sequence.  Plus, there’s the execution of Saddam Hussein.

The West African Ebola epidemic dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Donald Trump’s supporters riot and violently attack the US Capitol building, and the container ship Ever Given runs aground in the Suez Canal and disrupts global trade for days. Derek Chauvin is convicted in the murder of George Floyd.

The Millennial Generation Turns 35 (2016 – 2031)

This time frame starts off with David Bowie dying of liver cancer. The gorilla Harambe is shot and killed due to an incident involving a child. Also, the Chicago Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.

The two impeachments of President Donald Trump and the 2020 election with the subsequent coup attempt on January 6, 2021 dominate the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended.

However, the period from 2021 to 2024 saw the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump, continuing issues with Covid-19 and its many variants, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

When I’m Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation

Right now, I don’t seem to have any characters from the Millennial Generation. However, it’s possible that there are some from The Duck in the Seat Cushion but I don’t have the birthdates on file yet.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation

With the youngest millennials already 28 years old, any present-day plans for writing fiction about the Millennial Generation should not be centered on high school life. Or even undergraduate life.

So, consider the young adult experience, as millennials navigate marriage, parenthood, and trying to purchase a home.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out the other blog posts in this series:

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About Generation XGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About Generation X

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on January 28, 2025

Generation X (1965 – 1980)

Sometimes the forgotten generation, Gen X is the ‘baby bust’, so the cohort is small. Writing fiction about Generation X should take into account that they tend to not dominate wider groups, because they just plain don’t have the numbers.

My character Dr. Mei-Lin Quan of Mettle is a member of Gen X.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation X. Of course, no one in Generation X has turned 65 by the time of the initial writing of this blog post.

Generation X Turns 18 (1983 – 1998)

This time frame starts off with the final episode of M*A*S*H, the invention of the 3D printer, and the first commercial mobile cellular telephone call.

The breakup of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Andrew Wakefield publishes his since-debunked study claiming a link between vaccines and autism.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami retracts a fatwa against Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie that was in force since 1989, and the US House of Representatives forwards articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton.

Generation X Turns 25 (1990 – 2005)

This time frame starts off with Germany reunifying, ARPANET being decommissioned, and South Africa releasing Nelson Mandela from prison.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, dwarf planet Eris is discovered, there’s the launch of YouTube, and Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans.

Generation X Turns 35 (2000 – 2015)

This time frame starts off with the final printing of an original Peanuts comic the day after the death of Charles Schulz, and two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers attacking the USS Cole. Plus, the hanging chads election debacle which leads to the Bush v. Gore case going before the US Supreme Court.

The development of smartphones and the launching of familiar social media juggernauts like Tumblr and X (Twitter) dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, gunmen from Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch attack the Paris headquarters of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Greece suffers a government debt crisis, and there’s the founding of OpenAI.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation X

So, here are my characters from the Generation X cohort.

In Mettle, it’s characters Noah Braverman, Craig Firenze, Jeannie Scutter Firenze, and Elise Jeffries. Plus, Dr. Mei-Lin Quan and Olga Nicolaev.

And in The Duck in the Seat Cushion, it’s main character MJ Tanner’s younger half-brother Will. There are also her ill-fated twins, Levi and Chloe. Plus, there are Sid’s children Lenny and Wendy.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation X

When writing fiction about Generation X, keep in mind that it’s a small cohort. Many of its members were latchkey children when they were younger (mothers would work and not be home when they returned home from school).

These two experiences, combined, can make the members of the redheaded stepchild of the generations a rather sarcastic bunch. It was, and still is, a major survival mechanism for them.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About Generation JonesGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About Generation Jones

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on January 23, 2025

A Look at Writing Fiction About Generation Jones (1954 – 1964)

For me, writing fiction about Generation Jones is personal, seeing as I am a member of this cohort. The term is fairly new.

Generation Jones bridges the gap between Early Boomers and Generation X. It’s got a little bit of both in it.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Jones.

Generation Jones Turns 18 (1972 – 1982)

This time frame starts off with HP introducing the HP-35, the world’s first scientific hand-held calculator, and Nixon going to China.

Associated Press photographer Nick Ut takes his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a naked nine-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running down a road after being burned by napalm.

The Vietnam War winding down and Watergate winding up, as gas prices start to rise dramatically all dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Britain and Argentina fight the Falklands War. Vic Morrow and two child actors die while making the Twilight Zone movie, and Princess Grace of Monaco dies from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Generation Jones Turns 25 (1979 – 1989)

This time frame starts off with the Shah of Iran fleeing to Egypt as Ayatollah Khomeini takes over. Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin sign an Egypt-Israel peace treaty, and the worst nuclear accident in American history happens at Three Mile Island.

The lead up to the fall of the Soviet Union dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the first global positioning satellite goes into orbit, and the US government seizes Irvine, California’s Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, thereby kicking off the S&L crisis.

And the Tiananmen Square protests occur in China. The Berlin Wall, in place since 1961, is finally toppled.

Generation Jones Turns 35 (1989 – 1999)

This time frame starts off with Iran placing a bounty of $3 million on Salman Rushdie’s head for writing The Satanic Verses, and Tim Berners-Lee producing the proposal document that will lead to the Worldwide Web. The Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 gallons of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

The Oklahoma City bombing and the sarin gas attack in Japan, and their aftermaths dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold conduct the Columbine Massacre, and JFK jr. dies in a plane crash. Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, with Vladimir Putin as the ‘acting’ president..

Generation Jones Turns 65 (2019– 2029)

This time frame starts off with the first case of Covid-19, and reports of the second instance of sustained remission from HIV. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is elected President of Ukraine.

The Covid-19 pandemic dominates the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended. However, the period from 2022 to 2024 sees Russia invading Ukraine, and Queen Elizabeth II dying.  Hamas attacks Israel, thereby precipitating the Israel-Hamas War.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Jones

So, here are my characters from the Generation Jones cohort.

In Mettle, it’s Nell‘s beloved Gran, Sally Murphy, born in 1962.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Jones

This is the younger, and perhaps more technologically savvy half of the Baby Boomer Generation. But they didn’t really get to enjoy all of the Early Boomers’ good economies and prosperity.

Their touchstones are Afghanistan and Somalia, not Vietnam, and Watergate rather than Woodstock. As the living segue to Generation X, writing fiction about Generation Jones during their childhoods might just involve showing latchkey children.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out the other blog posts in this series:

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About Early BoomersGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About Early Boomers

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on January 21, 2025

A Look at Writing Fiction About Early Boomers (1946 – 1953)

I prefer to split the Baby Boomer generation, as I feel there’s a marked difference between this group and the latter half (Generation Jones). When writing fiction about Early Boomers, it makes sense to lean into the 60s. But there’s more to this group than flower power.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Early Boomers.

Early Boomers Turn 18 (1964 – 1971)

This time frame starts off with the US Surgeon General declaring that smoking may be hazardous to one’s health. The the US government authorizes the 24th Amendment, thereby outlawing the poll tax.

The first computer program written in BASIC is run. And the first student protests against the Vietnam War happen while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed.

The Vietnam War dominates the middle of this period. Many other student protests follow the ones in 1964.

By the time this period ends, Charles Manson and three of his followers (Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten) are convicted in the Tate-LaBianca murders. The UK and Ireland switch to a decimal-based currency.

And Led Zepellin performs Stairway to Heaven in concert for the first time, in Belfast.

Early Boomers Turn 25 (1971 – 1978)

This time frame starts off with the founding of NASDAQ and Satchel Paige being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And there’s the founding of Starbucks, in Washington state.

The Watergate scandal and its aftermath dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the Blizzard of ’78 hits New York and New England, killing about 100 people. The world’s first test tube baby, Louise Brown, is born in the UK. Pope John Paul II becomes the 264th pope.

The First Half of the Baby Boomer Generation Turns 35 (1981 – 1998)

This time frame starts off with Iran releasing the 52 American hostages it had held for 444 days, just after the swearing in of Ronald Reagan as president of the United States. The first successful flight of a space shuttle happens (it’s the Columbia).

And the CDC reports that five homosexual men in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia only seen in people with weakened immune systems. This is the first documented report of HIV.

Everything from bombings by the Unabomber to scientists discovering the hole in the ozone dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the Drudge Report breaks the news of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, and there’s the founding of Google.

Early Boomers Turn 65 (2011 – 2018)

This time frame starts off with Kim Jong Un succeeding to the leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed, and President Obama announces the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Unrest in the Middle East and Africa dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, seventeen high school students are killed at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school in Parkland, Florida. Also, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed; Canada legalizes the recreational use of cannabis; and Saudi Arabia allows women to drive.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Early Boomers

So, here are my characters from the Early Baby Boomers cohort.

The Duck in the Seat Cushion is all over this cohort. There’s Sid Tanner, born in 1946, and main character MJ Tanner. She’s born in 1949. All of their classmates, and both of their spouses also belong to this group.

MJ and Sid’s stepbrother, Hal Brown, also has a birthdate during this time frame.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Early Boomers

While the 60s are a truly pivotal time for early baby boomers, they’ve done a lot since then. Their sheer size has made them the 900 pound gorilla in a lot of spaces.

So, when writing about Early Boomers, don’t stop with 1969 or with ok boomer cliches. The first half of the Baby Boom cohort is more than that.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Writing Fiction About the Silent GenerationGenerations, Thoughts on Multigenerational Fiction Writing, Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation, Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation, Writing Fiction About Early Boomers, Writing Fiction About Generation Jones, Writing Fiction About Generation X, Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation, Writing Fiction About Generation Z, Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha,

Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on January 16, 2025

My parents are/were members of the Silent Generation, and they have inspired me when it comes to writing fiction about the Silent Generation.

The Silent Generation (1928 – 1945)

When writing fiction about the Silent Generation, the Second World War isn’t quite as dominant as it is for their forebears in the Greatest Generation. It’s more of its aftermath, and the lead up to the Vietnam War that color their lives.

In addition, they deal with the fallout from the Great Depression, and may have a scarcity mindset, even decades later.

Yes, I Have Written Fiction About the Silent Generation!

Or, rather, about one particular person. I originally wrote Mettle with 2020 in mind as its temporal setting.

While that exact year isn’t really feasible anymore, due to the pandemic (and due to the year having come and gone already), I will still use 2020 as the second year without a summer until I decide on something else.

Because Eleanor Braverman is in her seventies for that book, she fits perfectly into the real-life Silent Generation. I give her a birthdate in 1938.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about the Silent Generation.

The Silent Generation Turns 18 (1946 – 1963)

When this time frame starts, the United Nations and the UN Security Council hold their first meetings. The ENIAC computer is unveiled. And Winston Churchill gives a speech about the Iron Curtain.

The Silent Generation Turns 25 (1953 – 1970)

This time frame starts off with over 70% of all TV sets tuned into I Love Lucy, to watch Lucy give birth to Little Ricky.

Also in 1953, Stalin dies, and Jonas Salk announces the development of his polio vaccine.  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed. In addition, Christine Jorgensen comes back to New York after receiving successful sex reassignment surgery in Denmark.

The war in Vietnam dominates the middle of this period. However, many of the men in the Silent Generation are too old to take part (or at least be subject to the draft) once the United States enters the war in earnest.

In 1964, at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, the oldest members of this generation were in their mid-thirties.

By the time this period ends, Apollo 13 barely makes it back to earth, there are shootings at Kent State, and Jimi Hendrix dies of an overdoes. The Beatles break up.

The Silent Generation Turns 35 (1963 – 1980)

This time frame starts off with Patsy Cline being killed in a plane crash and Tito being declared president for life in Yugoslavia. Martin Luther King, jr. issues his Letter from Birmingham Jail. The Mercury space program ends.

And of course the most significant event by far is the assassination of JFK.

JFK’s death and its aftermath, the Vietnam War, and pretty much everything we think of when we think of the 60s dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the US Olympic hockey team wins the ‘Miracle on Ice’, Reagan becomes president, and John Lennon is murdered.

The Silent Generation Turns 65 (1993 – 2010)

This time frame starts off as Czechoslovakia is dissolved, the World Trade Center in New York is bombed for the first time, and the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas results in the deaths of over seventy people, including cult leader David Koresh.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this time frame.

By the time this period ends, Wikileaks releases confidential government information to the general public. The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform explodes, and there’s the launch of Instagram.

When I’m Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation

So, here are my characters from the Silent Generation.

Apart from Eleanor Braverman, there are Graceanne Davis Mason Brown Tanner, and Susan Tanner (Aunt Suzie). Plus, there are three additional Tanner siblings who don’t reach adulthood, all from The Duck in the Seat Cushion.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation

When writing fiction about the Silent Generation, keep in mind that they have seen a lot! They’ve gone from silent films to Instagram.

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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