#commentingiscool — Public Fediverse posts

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.17 — What's your favorite instrument?

The pen.

It is far mightier than the sword.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.17 — What's your favorite instrument?

The pen.

It is far mightier than the sword.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.16 — If you had to live solely off of food you could grow yourself, how well would you be eating?

I'd have starved.

I do grow strawberries. In the past squash and tomatoes, but farming? Heck, no. In our climate zone, everything (except the strawberries) gets downy mildew or similar fungus and DIES HORRIBLY.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.16 — If you had to live solely off of food you could grow yourself, how well would you be eating?

I'd have starved.

I do grow strawberries. In the past squash and tomatoes, but farming? Heck, no. In our climate zone, everything (except the strawberries) gets downy mildew or similar fungus and DIES HORRIBLY.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.11 — Have you ever exhibited artwork in a public place?

Yes. I entered this on in a contest and it got accepted for exhibit.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer chef #cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.11 — Have you ever exhibited artwork in a public place?

Yes. I entered this on in a contest and it got accepted for exhibit.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer chef #cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.13 — What foods can't you stand? This can be a sensitive subject for some people, so consider using a CW if you think it might be difficult.

Cilantro (the wicked weed) and coriander (the seed of the weed). As someone who cooks, I realize the former is important to Mexican and the latter to Indian. I eat both cuisines, but what's important her is moderation. For Mexican food, Cilantro used as a spice provides a distinctive "background" flavoring, but when used as a decorative flourish, or worse as vegetable mixed in with the dish, it is far too much of a good thing. When I find cilantro leaves, or worse more-or-less anonymous cilantro sprouts, mixed in to field greens salad, I become annoyed as it takes over the flavor of the salad. To me, it is both horribly aromatic and chemical tasting.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
photographer #chef #cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.13 — What foods can't you stand? This can be a sensitive subject for some people, so consider using a CW if you think it might be difficult.

Cilantro (the wicked weed) and coriander (the seed of the weed). As someone who cooks, I realize the former is important to Mexican and the latter to Indian. I eat both cuisines, but what's important here is moderation. For Mexican food, Cilantro used as a spice provides a distinctive "background" flavoring, but when used as a decorative flourish, or worse as vegetable mixed in with the dish, it is far too much of a good thing. When I find cilantro leaves, or worse more-or-less anonymous cilantro sprouts, mixed in to field greens salad, I become annoyed as it takes over the flavor of the salad. To me, it is both horribly aromatic and chemical tasting.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
photographer #chef #cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.10 — What kind of photography do you most enjoy? (Taking, viewing, or both.)

As a photographer who's done weddings, events, and fine art #photography, I can be more fine-grained in my answer instead of simply stating: Both.

I find taking photos far more interesting than viewing them, and I spend much more time shooting than viewing. What I really enjoy viewing is street photography (think Henri Cartier-Bresson), and were I not a shy person, I would engage in it more often. Working a wedding or a child's party, I take candids, not posed pictures. I endeavor to be invisible and capture the special fleeting moments of who people are rather than what they want us to think they are. Kind of like street photography, huh?

I am currently writing a novella where the main character's street photography leads to her finding friends and overcoming adversity. For me, it might be aspirational.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.10 — What kind of photography do you most enjoy? (Taking, viewing, or both.)

As a photographer who's done weddings, events, and fine art #photography, I can be more fine-grained in my answer instead of simply stating: Both.

I find taking photos far more interesting than viewing them, and I spend much more time shooting than viewing. What I really enjoy viewing is street photography (think Henri Cartier-Bresson), and were I not a shy person, I would engage in it more often. Working a wedding or a child's party, I take candids, not posed pictures. I endeavor to be invisible and capture the special fleeting moments of who people are rather than what they want us to think they are. Kind of like street photography, huh?

I am currently writing a novella where the main character's street photography leads to her finding friends and overcoming adversity. For me, it might be aspirational.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.08 — Do you like baking? If so, what do you usually bake?

Yes. Salmon. With squeezed lemon, garlic, and basil. Wrapped in parchment paper.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
photographer #chef #cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.02 — Do you have artwork on your walls? If so, describe one of the pieces.

Mine (on the right) and other artists (on the left). Both copyrighted, so the image is small and blurry-cammed.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.02 — Do you have artwork on your walls? If so, describe one of the pieces.

Mine (on the right) and other artists (on the left). Both copyrighted, so the image is small and blurry-cammed.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#photographer
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers #ttmd 2025.08.03 @JulieLiddellWhitehead Author Talk to Me Day

Sometimes I get the opportunity to research and sometimes I don't, like today (I'm currently unwell). I hope I'm asking a fair question here; beyond that, that it's not something I should have seen in a bio if I'd looked.

Your book collection of short stories appears to be about characters living through hard times and dealing with hard decisions made or needful. It feels like something an author would write in part to work through their own demons or to make sense of a nonsensical world. Is this the case for you? If not, what drives you and your writing? What do you wish the reader to feel they have learned when they finish the reading the last page of your story?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers #ttmd 2025.08.03 @JulieLiddellWhitehead Author Talk to Me Day

Sometimes I get the opportunity to research and sometimes I don't, like today (I'm currently unwell). I hope I'm asking a fair question here; beyond that, that it's not something I should have seen in a bio if I'd looked.

Your book collection of short stories appears to be about characters living through hard times and dealing with hard decisions made or needful. It feels like something an author would write in part to work through their own demons or to make sense of a nonsensical world. Is this the case for you? If not, what drives you and your writing? What do you wish the reader to feel they have learned when they finish the reading the last page of your story?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.01 — Alt: Word.

This word comes from Mars Needed Women, which is in beta. The Decath Crown, as it is referred to, is one of a number of antagonistic organizations the book's MC ends up dealing with, but it is also the most insidious. I don't expect anyone to read about this out-of-context, but I will admit that I invented the religion for a fascist state instead of using a real one to diffuse my fear of needlessly picking on one religion and likely upsetting part of my potential audience. After the fact, it feels a bit like I am picking on all religions, only kind of passive-aggressively. I'm okay with that. Everybody needs their nose tweaked now and again. What follows is a slightly [annotated] excerpt from the glossary in the book.

Decath - A religious organization which was a successor to the various Christian nationalist faiths that created NADS [North American Decath States] from its predecessor state [the United States], consolidated into a theocratic state-supported ministry. The religion is now world-wide, except where banned in five catholic countries. Adherents say it is not a successor to Catholicism, but a rejection of it. It comes from Dissenting Catholicism, and teaches that the liberal interpretations promulgated by the various orthodox and protestant churches regarding Christ's word was unfounded, and furthermore misrepresented God's will based on improper readings of both the new and old testaments. Their catholicism is a new orthodoxy that properly interprets an apostolic church structure while supporting a protestant ideal of a priesthood of believers that is guided by ministers. It is accurately spelled De-cath not Dis-cath. This because the members of the initial Synod of Alabama—which drew together the leaders or designates of various nationalistic churches, their largest corporate sponsors, and hundreds of US congressmen and sixty-nine senators—thought having the word sound like decaf would sell better amongst the disparate flocks they shepherded.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSMarsNeededWomen

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.01 — Alt: Word.

This word comes from Mars Needed Women, which is in beta. The Decath Crown, as it is referred to, is one of a number of antagonistic organizations the book's MC ends up dealing with, but it is also the most insidious. I don't expect anyone to read about this out-of-context, but I will admit that I invented the religion for a fascist state instead of using a real one to diffuse my fear of needlessly picking on one religion and likely upsetting part of my potential audience. After the fact, it feels a bit like I am picking on all religions, only kind of passive-aggressively. I'm okay with that. Everybody needs their nose tweaked now and again. What follows is a slightly [annotated] excerpt from the glossary in the book.

Decath - A religious organization which was a successor to the various Christian nationalist faiths that created NADS [North American Decath States] from its predecessor state [the United States], consolidated into a theocratic state-supported ministry. The religion is now world-wide, except where banned in five catholic countries. Adherents say it is not a successor to Catholicism, but a rejection of it. It comes from Dissenting Catholicism, and teaches that the liberal interpretations promulgated by the various orthodox and protestant churches regarding Christ's word was unfounded, and furthermore misrepresented God's will based on improper readings of both the new and old testaments. Their catholicism is a new orthodoxy that properly interprets an apostolic church structure while supporting a protestant ideal of a priesthood of believers that is guided by ministers. It is accurately spelled De-cath not Dis-cath. This because the members of the initial Synod of Alabama—which drew together the leaders or designates of various nationalistic churches, their largest corporate sponsors, and hundreds of US congressmen and sixty-nine senators—thought having the word sound like decaf would sell better amongst the disparate flocks they shepherded.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSMarsNeededWomen

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.01 — What's on the docket for this month?

Complete Reluctant Courier (for the Mob), preferably this weekend.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.08.01 — What's on the docket for this month?

Complete Reluctant Courier (for the Mob), preferably this weekend.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.31 — Alt: Yellow?

Citron is a cute gangly teenage guy who is both seriously dangerous and seriously loyal. His hair has been described a being like lemon meringue pie, that is, various shades of yellow swirled with very light blond. It's a stand-out feature.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.31 — Alt: Yellow?

Citron is a cute gangly teenage guy who is both seriously dangerous and seriously loyal. His hair has been described a being like lemon meringue pie, that is, various shades of yellow swirled with very light blond. It's a stand-out feature.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.31 — How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?

My biggest July project was attending BayCon / WesterCon and talking with the guests of honor, writers, and publishers without turning into a shrinking violet. I wrote about that in another post.

It went arguably well. I talked to pretty much everyone, the writers who are M. A. Carrick, and a small press publisher. The latter went pretty well, since I got an invite to submit before submissions open in February. Now if my beta readers were only a bit faster. Having that I was a shy person on my badge helped; some noticed, but I had it as a backup that I never really needed.

This month doesn't involve conventions, so I'm safe!

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.31 — How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?

My biggest July project was attending BayCon / WesterCon and talking with the guests of honor, writers, and publishers without turning into a shrinking violet. I wrote about that in another post.

It went arguably well. I talked to pretty much everyone, the writers who are M. A. Carrick, and a small press publisher. The latter went pretty well, since I got an invite to submit before submissions open in February. Now if my beta readers were only a bit faster. Having that I was a shy person on my badge helped; some noticed, but I had it as a backup that I never really needed.

This month doesn't involve conventions, so I'm safe!

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.29 — Why do you like your genre(s)/style(s)?

Scribe

Frankly, I love writing in the science fiction and fantasy genre because I control the horizontal and I control the vertical†, essentially, I can control all aspects of how society works. My knowledge of our current reality, and how people operate it is too incomplete to write mainstream. I might, otherwise. What you get from me is a (hopefully literate) mixture of adventure, wonder, and slice of life. I am increasingly good at the latter. You can judge for yourself with the excerpt in this reply to Writers Coffee Club today: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/114939073843956961

Maker

My photographic style is not the compromise that Scribes presented above. My primary style is contrasts, especially color contrasts. This may be due to two things. The first was taking a class in drawing (charcoal and pen & ink) and in color (pastel and colored pencil). What I learned was how to portray volume in 2D images, and that's through contrast. The second was that I really got into the Carlos Castaneda books.There I encountered the concept of seeing shadows instead of the object, and learned to do that. (I also learned to lucid dream, but that's another topic.) It's called Negative Space in art speak. It thrills me when I capture an image that pops brightly out of the background because the background is dark or a contrasting color. The following copyrighted image is from the Glass Koi series (under another pseudonym). The fish colors render in sRGB as bright red, but when properly printer profiled they render as a burnished bronzy orange. It nevertheless demonstrates color contrast.

=-=-=-=-=-=
† This is a Twilight Zone reference.

[Author and artist retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.29 — Why do you like your genre(s)/style(s)?

Scribe

Frankly, I love writing in the science fiction and fantasy genre because I control the horizontal and I control the vertical†, essentially, I can control all aspects of how society works. My knowledge of our current reality, and how people operate it is too incomplete to write mainstream. I might, otherwise. What you get from me is a (hopefully literate) mixture of adventure, wonder, and slice of life. I am increasingly good at the latter. You can judge for yourself with the excerpt in this reply to Writers Coffee Club today: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/114939073843956961

Maker

My photographic style is not the compromise that Scribes presented above. My primary style is contrasts, especially color contrasts. This may be due to two things. The first was taking a class in drawing (charcoal and pen & ink) and in color (pastel and colored pencil). What I learned was how to portray volume in 2D images, and that's through contrast. The second was that I really got into the Carlos Castaneda books.There I encountered the concept of seeing shadows instead of the object, and learned to do that. (I also learned to lucid dream, but that's another topic.) It's called Negative Space in art speak. It thrills me when I capture an image that pops brightly out of the background because the background is dark or a contrasting color. The following copyrighted image is from the Glass Koi series (under another pseudonym). The fish colors render in sRGB as bright red, but when properly printer profiled they render as a burnished bronzy orange. It nevertheless demonstrates color contrast.

=-=-=-=-=-=
† This is a Twilight Zone reference.

[Author and artist retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.18 — Show us the cover to yesterday's book, and tell us what you don't like about the cover.

The cover art features a woman with a knife and what looks like a wookiee. Whilst dressed nominally (and correctly) as a man, she looks like an anglo white Vogue model that would convince nobody she's a guy; she's supposed to be ethnically Japanese. There's a vast difference between a sheep dog and a wookiee. I dislike covers that are wrong in great detail, but the publisher sold through a big printing, without any advertising, using it, so I forgive them. Since there were virtually no returns, I suppose even the duped Star Wars fans loved the story.

I am not showing the cover as I did not publish it under my current nom de plume. Sorry.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.18 — Show us the cover to yesterday's book, and tell us what you don't like about the cover.

The cover art features a woman with a knife and what looks like a wookiee. Whilst dressed nominally (and correctly) as a man, she looks like an anglo white Vogue model that would convince nobody she's a guy; she's supposed to be ethnically Japanese. There's a vast difference between a sheep dog and a wookiee. I dislike covers that are wrong in great detail, but the publisher sold through a big printing, without any advertising, using it, so I forgive them. Since there were virtually no returns, I suppose even the duped Star Wars fans loved the story.

I am not showing the cover as I did not publish it under my current nom de plume. Sorry.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.17 — Tell us about a book you like despite its cover (don't show the cover yet.)

The elevator pitch is "Yentl in the future." Google Yentl. My novel†. An SF YA. Published years ago before I took the R.S. nom de plume.

=-=-=-=-=-=
† I edited the post to be clear, Yentl is not my novel; I am simply not stating the title. Aren't the vagaries of English wonderful?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer #chef #cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.17 — Tell us about a book you like despite its cover (don't show the cover yet.)

The elevator pitch is "Yentl in the future." Google Yentl. My novel†. An SF YA. Published years ago before I took the R.S. nom de plume.

=-=-=-=-=-=
† I edited the post to be clear, Yentl is not my novel; I am simply not stating the title. Aren't the vagaries of English wonderful?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer #chef #cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.14 — Self-promotion day. Show us what you're proud of. Let's boost away.

What I'm proud of today, I'm going to title Savory Soup. It features both my writing and cooking skills, is 502 words, and provides a good insight into the character of one of my women MCs—from what may yet turn out to be a cozy (yet spicy) romance fantasy (it has dragons) novella. Best of all, the excerpt is posted here on Mastodon. It ought bring you a smile, so please give it a read.

Savory Soup: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/114814396383680088

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#romance #fantasy #sf #sff
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSInklingsStory

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.14 — Self-promotion day. Show us what you're proud of. Let's boost away.

What I'm proud of today, I'm going to title Savory Soup. It features both my writing and cooking skills, is 502 words, and provides a good insight into the character of one of my women MCs—from what may yet turn out to be a cozy (yet spicy) romance fantasy (it has dragons) novella. Best of all, the excerpt is posted here on Mastodon. It ought bring you a smile, so please give it a read.

Savory Soup: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/114814396383680088

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#romance #fantasy #sf #sff
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSInklingsStory

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.10 — How difficult would it be to continue your creative activity(ies) if you couldn't have your favo(u)rite beverage?

More worrisome would be why I couldn't have my favorite beverage. Is it a world disaster? Am I being marched off to a concentration camp? Has climate change destroyed the crop forever!? All or any of that would worry me a lot and I might fail to write. That's not going to happen, is it? Is it? Oh, noes! Now I'm REALLY anxious…

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.10 — How difficult would it be to continue your creative activity(ies) if you couldn't have your favo(u)rite beverage?

More worrisome would be why I couldn't have my favorite beverage. Is it a world disaster? Am I being marched off to a concentration camp? Has climate change destroyed the crop forever!? All or any of that would worry me a lot and I might fail to write. That's not going to happen, is it? Is it? Oh, noes! Now I'm REALLY anxious…

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.04 — How do you feel about breaking the fourth wall? If you write, have you ever done it?

I generally write in 1st person POV. Such POV characters tell their own stories, aware they're being read. They take license to be secretly snide to influence or entertain the reader whilst being proper in dialogue. They'll lie or misrepresent facts (for later reveal, of course). It's an opportunity to demonstrate the duality of people's personalities and how we cynically self-censor.

Do these characters converse directly with the reader? If it fits their personality, or it follows from their narrative: Yes. Whether it survives revision depends on whether it works well or not.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.04 — How do you feel about breaking the fourth wall? If you write, have you ever done it?

I generally write in 1st person POV. Such POV characters tell their own stories, aware they're being read. They take license to be secretly snide to influence or entertain the reader whilst being proper in dialogue. They'll lie or misrepresent facts (for later reveal, of course). It's an opportunity to demonstrate the duality of people's personalities and how we cynically self-censor.

Do these characters converse directly with the reader? If it fits their personality, or it follows from their narrative: Yes. Whether it survives revision depends on whether it works well or not.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.01 — What do you want to work on this month? Alt: Bread?

Baking bread—instead of trying meet the guests, schmooze, and network at an SF convention as a shy published author trying to recreate their career—would be a lot less scary and far more pleasant, despite being on a low carb diet. Oh my, am I craving carbs right now. Ice cream, please.

I've made a badge extender that states what I am and that I'm shy. I am reading one of the guests of honor's book (M.A. Carrick). I've researched the others. This weekend is all I can think of for this month.

Will I survive peer interaction?

If you never hear from me again after this weekend, you'll know what happened!

Meanwhile, if you have ideas for conversing with authors or a comics artist, or just anyone, a suggestion or two might help me survive.

🍞🥖🥐😥

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.07.01 — What do you want to work on this month? Alt: Bread?

Baking bread—instead of trying meet the guests, schmooze, and network at an SF convention as a shy published author trying to recreate their career—would be a lot less scary and far more pleasant, despite being on a low carb diet. Oh my, am I craving carbs right now. Ice cream, please.

I've made a badge extender that states what I am and that I'm shy. I am reading one of the guests of honor's book (M.A. Carrick). I've researched the others. This weekend is all I can think of for this month.

Will I survive peer interaction?

If you never hear from me again after this weekend, you'll know what happened!

Meanwhile, if you have ideas for conversing with authors or a comics artist, or just anyone, a suggestion or two might help me survive.

🍞🥖🥐😥

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.24 — Tell us about a time when you pushed yourself outside your comfort zone with your creativity. How did it go?

Work in progress!

I am attending Westercon over the 4th of July weekend. I registered at a level that gets me invited to guests of honor events, including a luncheon. I am a shy person.

Normally, this would not end well. Already my heart is racing just thinking about what I will encountered a week and a half from now…

In an effort not to lock up and become unable to speak, I am trying these strategies:

1. I will add to my name tag that I am an SFWA member.
2. Add a small picture of a novel I wrote.
3. Add the line: "Shy person, but I WANT to communicate."
4. I will study and memorize all the information I can about the guests of honor.
5. I will write a list of questions I can ask.
6. I will write a list of topics I can talk about if I go blank.

Any other tips or suggestions?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.24 — Tell us about a time when you pushed yourself outside your comfort zone with your creativity. How did it go?

Work in progress!

I am attending Westercon over the 4th of July weekend. I registered at a level that gets me invited to guests of honor events, including a luncheon. I am a shy person.

Normally, this would not end well. Already my heart is racing just thinking about what I will encountered a week and a half from now…

In an effort not to lock up and become unable to speak, I am trying these strategies:

1. I will add to my name tag that I am an SFWA member.
2. Add a small picture of a novel I wrote.
3. Add the line: "Shy person, but I WANT to communicate."
4. I will study and memorize all the information I can about the guests of honor.
5. I will write a list of questions I can ask.
6. I will write a list of topics I can talk about if I go blank.

Any other tips or suggestions?

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.19 — Did you ever try talking a friend or loved one into taking up your creative activity too? How did it go?

No. Never tried, never will, never happening, Becoming an author requires faculties very few people possess, that must be combined with discipline. You have to want to tell stories and be okay with working alone like a monk, possibly never having anyone read any of those stories except yourself. Despite knowing before I was twenty that this was my avocation, and having sold and published, I still burnt out for 15 years.

I'm of the opinion that friends don't encourage friends to become writers. Okay, maybe sadistic friends do…

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.19 — Did you ever try talking a friend or loved one into taking up your creative activity too? How did it go?

No. Never tried, never will, never happening, Becoming an author requires faculties very few people possess, that must be combined with discipline. You have to want to tell stories and be okay with working alone like a monk, possibly never having anyone read any of those stories except yourself. Despite knowing before I was twenty that this was my avocation, and having sold and published, I still burnt out for 15 years.

I'm of the opinion that friends don't encourage friends to become writers. Okay, maybe sadistic friends do…

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.18 — Share pic(s) of something you've created. (Don't forget the alt text.)

This. More in #AltText.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking #photo #photography
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.18 — Share pic(s) of something you've created. (Don't forget the alt text.)

This. More in #AltText.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking #photo #photography
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.16 — Have you ever tried hyperbolic crochet?

I can be hyperbolic at times, but I'm never crochet-y.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.16 — Have you ever tried hyperbolic crochet?

I can be hyperbolic at times, but I'm never crochet-y.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.13 — Self-promotion day: show us what you're proud of. Let's boost away.

While I plod at composing story, work at revising stuff, have brought a decades old story into Scrivener to rewrite, and work with beta readers on the most recent novel, what I'm proud of is some of this month is my photography. The moving images are photos: live photos rendered as a wigglegram aka a Harry Potter photo. It includes one tree from my Trees project.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.13 — Self-promotion day: show us what you're proud of. Let's boost away.

While I plod at composing story, work at revising stuff, have brought a decades old story into Scrivener to rewrite, and work with beta readers on the most recent novel, what I'm proud of is some of this month is my photography. The moving images are photos: live photos rendered as a wigglegram aka a Harry Potter photo. It includes one tree from my Trees project.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer chef cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.11 — Do you give any of your work away for free?

Those that follow me may recall that I started recovering after a burnout in 2015. For the next seven years I wrote in another "medium" under a different "pen name" than I write my SF now. During that period, practicing my craft, perfecting (to the extent that's possible) writing in a 1st person POV, I wrote the equivalent of nine standard novels, a total of 45 stories. My output consisted of a handful of novels, a few series arcs, novellas, novelettes, and short stories. About 900K words.

I gave it all away. Free. Because of the medium, I could not sell it if I wanted to. In return I got plenty of feedback (though never enough), likes, and comments. A few fans.

If I could have had a $1 for each view, I'd have made a nice chunk of change, though, frankly, it would have been way under minimum wage.

As for the last three years, I've been writing SF and fantasy exclusively. The first result of that is being beta read. Do I give away any of my work for free? Plenty. Take a look at my samples! I have a Samples post pinned to my profile. When I get closer to publication, with some inventory to ensure people who like my writing can find more of it, I'll likely make excerpts free on a yet-to-be-created author website. I may write short side-stories. I won't commit until I see what's necessary.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef
#mystery #thriller #romance #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.11 — Do you give any of your work away for free?

Those that follow me may recall that I started recovering after a burnout in 2015. For the next seven years I wrote in another "medium" under a different "pen name" than I write my SF now. During that period, practicing my craft, perfecting (to the extent that's possible) writing in a 1st person POV, I wrote the equivalent of nine standard novels, a total of 45 stories. My output consisted of a handful of novels, a few series arcs, novellas, novelettes, and short stories. About 900K words.

I gave it all away. Free. Because of the medium, I could not sell it if I wanted to. In return I got plenty of feedback (though never enough), likes, and comments. A few fans.

If I could have had a $1 for each view, I'd have made a nice chunk of change, though, frankly, it would have been way under minimum wage.

As for the last three years, I've been writing SF and fantasy exclusively. The first result of that is being beta read. Do I give away any of my work for free? Plenty. Take a look at my samples! I have a Samples post pinned to my profile. When I get closer to publication, with some inventory to ensure people who like my writing can find more of it, I'll likely make excerpts free on a yet-to-be-created author website. I may write short side-stories. I won't commit until I see what's necessary.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef
#mystery #thriller #romance #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.10 — What role do you think social media plays in shaping photography trends today and impacting emerging photographers?

Opinion here, not fact.

I do not think "Social Media" shapes photography trends, just shows what's trendy today and not necessarily tomorrow, and it's not necessarily what people are buying.

Social media is both good and bad.

In the pre-Internet days it was clubs, school galleries, photography contests, hustling for assistant jobs with established photographers, and maybe getting a photo featured in a local newspaper. The costs of printing were expensive, especially compared to the costs of posting online today, not to mention the skill necessary to master a darkroom, or worse, the willingness to forgo and print directly without a darkroom. Thus social media and Internet posting sites (really variations of the same) are very good for encouraging photographers to capture, post-process, and post their results. Practice is always good. People get exposure that would never have gotten it before.

It feels like democratization.

What's bad is the sheer multitude of images online. You are about as likely to be noticed by your photography alone as you are to be hit by lightning. That doesn't mean you won't get likes; it means there's so much fabulous work out there that you will likely be missed, or your name when noticed will be forgotten in the cloud burst. This can be construed as bad.

Being one of a crowd that is occasionally noticed can also be taken as a chance when previously chances were slim.

Building a business via social media will take time, maybe a lot, so patience is key. Jumping on opportunities that present themselves is key. Discovering unique content only you (mostly) can provide is key. Mixing posted photos with other content is important, as is an actual web presence (at minimum a personalized store) so that you can sell images or your services.

In any case, if you like capturing images, social media at minimum provides exposure [pun intended]. Be aware that you may very well lose copyright to images you post simply by posting online (even on Mastodon), especially on the big photo sites run by the tech companies.

Read the terms of service!

Don't post full size or even usable size to social media. Watermarking is also important, but less so.

Mind your metadata! If you don't add it, or even know what that means, the first step toward being professional is to (1) find what metadata is, and (2) to learn the best practices for using it.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer #photography #metadata #copyright cooking
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.09 — Tell us about the book that received the fewest votes yesterday.

Ratha's Creature by Clare Bell.

Clare Bell is an emotive and talented author of a number of what might be considered YA books. Ratha's Creature fits my description of science fiction as a story about how technology affects people. In this case, it's the discovery of how to use fire. The people here, however, are sentient leopard-like cats, but make no mistake, they are human stand-ins with a different biology and a very different society. You know you are no longer in Kansas, Toto, yet the main character is very accessible and easy to empathize with. A lot is said about fearing change, about being female, and about abuse. The latter is devastatingly subtle and you might find yourself not noticing it, but the author realized it in a sequel, which is well worth reading, also. The story is poignant and a good, fast read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.09 — Tell us about the book that received the fewest votes yesterday.

Ratha's Creature by Clare Bell.

Clare Bell is an emotive and talented author of a number of what might be considered YA books. Ratha's Creature fits my description of science fiction as a story about how technology affects people. In this case, it's the discovery of how to use fire. The people here, however, are sentient leopard-like cats, but make no mistake, they are human stand-ins with a different biology and a very different society. You know you are no longer in Kansas, Toto, yet the main character is very accessible and easy to empathize with. A lot is said about fearing change, about being female, and about abuse. The latter is devastatingly subtle and you might find yourself not noticing it, but the author realized it in a sequel, which is well worth reading, also. The story is poignant and a good, fast read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author photographer chef cooking
#sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.06 — What’s your best dish? What are the ingredients and how do you make it?

Not going to say it is my best, but it is a new favorite invented by my spouse. It's super easy super tasty, and I want to share it with y'all.

Soufflé Hamburgers 🤤😋

This recipe creates fluffy tender moist burgers that almost fall apart. It is not suitable for the bbq grill. I've only pan cooked them, but the recipe might work in the oven. Practice raw meat and egg safety when making this.

Makes 4 large burgers.

Essentials:

• 2 eggs or 3 egg white portions (see criteria below)
• 20 oz of ground meat: beef, chicken, or turkey
• 1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese; more to taste. Substitute similar cheese if desired

Add ins to taste:

• Your usual burger seasoning if not wet, or add salt and pepper being aware the cheese is a source of salt

Or mine:

• Fresh torn basil leaves, 6 or more
• Fresh chopped oregano, about a tsp minced or more
• Rosemary leaves chopped, 1/4 tsp or more
• Cloves of garlic minced fine — I use a tsp (1 clove) freeze dried, ground in a mortar
• 7 Black peppercorns ground in a mortar, or more

Preparation:

1. Mix (by hand recommended) ground meat in a bowl with egg
2. Mix in seasoning
3. Mix in cheese

This makes an intentionally soupy mixture (like a thick pea soup, but it mostly holds shape). If your meat is very dry, or your mixture isn't soupy, you may need to add more egg. For this reason, a carton of egg whites might be easier to work with.

Because of the soupiness, we often freeze between parchment paper 4 large burgers, then cook from frozen in a ceramic surface pan with a tiny bit of olive oil (enough to prevent sticking). However, you can ladle or spoon into a hot pan immediately. If so, you'll need slightly more oil. Be careful when turning to wait for the burger to harden on a side first.

These burgers cook much faster than you expect! Use your food thermometer.

Extra credit:

Place a bottle of cooking sake, red wine, or large glass of hot, preferably boiling, water together with a silicone cooking brush beside the stove. As the burger cooks, the fat browns and burns on the surface of the pan. This is part of the taste produced by the Maillard reaction, lost! Pour in at least an ounce of liquid (do not drown pan) and brush the pan as if deglazing, scrubbing up and dissolving all burnt or browned juices. Add enough that it doesn't boil away. Once the burger has a hard shell on top, brush the glaze on the burger. Repeat while flipping until the meat reaches doneness. I often start with the wine then when there is a few ounces in the pan, I switch to water. Brush flipped burger on plate with any remaining liquid.

Serving Suggestion:

On a bun or toasted low carb bread (I recommend Inked Bread Co. Keto), lightly slathered with brown or Dijon mustard. Extra decadent? Top burger with a medium fried egg and squash the bread down so the yolk runs!

Bon Appétit!

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#chef #cooking #burger #food #burgers #hamburger #hamburgers #recipe #photograph #photo #gender #fiction #writer #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.06.06 — What’s your best dish? What are the ingredients and how do you make it?

Not going to say it is my best, but it is a new favorite invented by my spouse. It's super easy super tasty, and I want to share it with y'all.

Soufflé Hamburgers 🤤😋

This recipe creates fluffy tender moist burgers that almost fall apart. It is not suitable for the bbq grill. I've only pan cooked them, but the recipe might work in the oven. Practice raw meat and egg safety when making this.

Makes 4 large burgers.

Essentials:

• 2 eggs or 3 egg white portions (see criteria below)
• 20 oz of ground meat: beef, chicken, or turkey
• 1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese; more to taste. Substitute similar cheese if desired

Add ins to taste:

• Your usual burger seasoning if not wet, or add salt and pepper being aware the cheese is a source of salt

Or mine:

• Fresh torn basil leaves, 6 or more
• Fresh chopped oregano, about a tsp minced or more
• Rosemary leaves chopped, 1/4 tsp or more
• Cloves of garlic minced fine — I use a tsp (1 clove) freeze dried, ground in a mortar
• 7 Black peppercorns ground in a mortar, or more

Preparation:

1. Mix (by hand recommended) ground meat in a bowl with egg
2. Mix in seasoning
3. Mix in cheese

This makes an intentionally soupy mixture (like a thick pea soup, but it mostly holds shape). If your meat is very dry, or your mixture isn't soupy, you may need to add more egg. For this reason, a carton of egg whites might be easier to work with.

Because of the soupiness, we often freeze between parchment paper 4 large burgers, then cook from frozen in a ceramic surface pan with a tiny bit of olive oil (enough to prevent sticking). However, you can ladle or spoon into a hot pan immediately. If so, you'll need slightly more oil. Be careful when turning to wait for the burger to harden on a side first.

These burgers cook much faster than you expect! Use your food thermometer.

Extra credit:

Place a bottle of cooking sake, red wine, or large glass of hot, preferably boiling, water together with a silicone cooking brush beside the stove. As the burger cooks, the fat browns and burns on the surface of the pan. This is part of the taste produced by the Maillard reaction, lost! Pour in at least an ounce of liquid (do not drown pan) and brush the pan as if deglazing, scrubbing up and dissolving all burnt or browned juices. Add enough that it doesn't boil away. Once the burger has a hard shell on top, brush the glaze on the burger. Repeat while flipping until the meat reaches doneness. I often start with the wine then when there is a few ounces in the pan, I switch to water. Brush flipped burger on plate with any remaining liquid.

Serving Suggestion:

On a bun or toasted low carb bread (I recommend Inked Bread Co. Keto), lightly slathered with brown or Dijon mustard. Extra decadent? Top burger with a medium fried egg and squash the bread down so the yolk runs!

Bon Appétit!

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#chef #cooking #burger #food #burgers #hamburger #hamburgers #recipe #photograph #photo #gender #fiction #writer #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.31 — How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?

Got the beta out to beta readers; this was good. Worked through pushback from the internal censor. Got only one chapter finished, but boy howdy: it clarified the antagonist's motivation in starkly scary terms, and it made one MC quite proud.

Next month. More composing; revision should be subservient to that work. If I can gain momentum, finish the novel.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#mystery #thriller #romance #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.31 — How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?

Got the beta out to beta readers; this was good. Worked through pushback from the internal censor. Got only one chapter finished, but boy howdy: it clarified the antagonist's motivation in starkly scary terms, and it made one MC quite proud.

Next month. More composing; revision should be subservient to that work. If I can gain momentum, finish the novel.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#mystery #thriller #romance #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.30 — Did you have a teacher who either supported or hindered your creative activity?

Weird story.

I had an AP analytic geometry class. I'm bad at arithmetic but good at logic. So long as I don't have to plug in numbers, I can solve math problems. I don't usually do good at these things, but I was excited that I might get a good grade and studied very hard. Very. Hard.

I arrived and the final was open book. Easy.

I had so much creative energy built up, I went home and over Christmas break wrote and completed my first novella (25K typewritten) in two weeks.

True story.

Okay neither supported nor hindered, but I give the teacher credit nonetheless for inadvertently starting my career.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.30 — Did you have a teacher who either supported or hindered your creative activity?

Weird story.

I had an AP analytic geometry class. I'm bad at arithmetic but good at logic. So long as I don't have to plug in numbers, I can solve math problems. I don't usually do good at these things, but I was excited that I might get a good grade and studied very hard. Very. Hard.

I arrived and the final was open book. Easy.

I had so much creative energy built up, I went home and over Christmas break wrote and completed my first novella (25K typewritten) in two weeks.

True story.

Okay neither supported nor hindered, but I give the teacher credit nonetheless for inadvertently starting my career.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.29 — What is your proudest or best moment with your creative endeavor this month?

Got the novel out to beta readers and an author associate has agreed to also look at it.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSMarsNeededWomen

#ScribesAndMakers 2025.05.28 — Have you ever made an app?

Was a programmer. 'Nuf said.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion