#pennedpossibilities — Public Fediverse posts

#PennedPossibilities 1124. MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

#ArkanCotton: "Have I ever *not* heard anyone asking stupid questions?"

#amWriting #ZuriStories

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

What she did before everything turned out wrong was her choice. It felt good. It validated her existence. It challenged her physically and she could be the best at it. How she handled her frustration when her profession got denied her was what made it all go wrong. As a day angel born into the same circumstance, she'd inevitably make the same mistake because with her personality she'd still be at odds with her family, who wanted her to go to college not become a laborer; she'd have nobody counsel her as to how to overcome her obstacles.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

Zerika would be an entirely different person. For one, mainly, she would never hunt down and kill monsters for coin. She also wouldn’t have followed in the path of what her father wanted, either. He begged her to settle down, marry, and bear children. Instead, she would have chosen a life of freedom for herself. She would have settled down in a small town, perhaps worked at a tavern or pub, and enjoyed her life. She would have had many friends, maybe even a lover of her own choosing, many interesting stories to tell the locals, etc. Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

Zerika would be an entirely different person. For one, mainly, she would never hunt down and kill monsters for coin. She also wouldn’t have followed in the path of what her father wanted, either. He begged her to settle down, marry, and bear children. Instead, she would have chosen a life of freedom for herself. She would have settled down in a small town, perhaps worked at a tavern or pub, and enjoyed her life. She would have had many friends, maybe even a lover of her own choosing, many interesting stories to tell the locals, etc. Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

Zerika would be an entirely different person. For one, mainly, she would never hunt down and kill monsters for coin. She also wouldn’t have followed in the path of what her father wanted, either. He begged her to settle down, marry, and bear children. Instead, she would have chosen a life of freedom for herself. She would have settled down in a small town, perhaps worked at a tavern or pub, and enjoyed her life. She would have had many friends, maybe even a lover of her own choosing, many interesting stories to tell the locals, etc. Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

Zerika would be an entirely different person. For one, mainly, she would never hunt down and kill monsters for coin. She also wouldn’t have followed in the path of what her father wanted, either. He begged her to settle down, marry, and bear children. Instead, she would have chosen a life of freedom for herself. She would have settled down in a small town, perhaps worked at a tavern or pub, and enjoyed her life. She would have had many friends, maybe even a lover of her own choosing, many interesting stories to tell the locals, etc. Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1130: If your MC could have a do-over and another life, one of their own choice this time, what would their profession be?

Zerika would be an entirely different person. For one, mainly, she would never hunt down and kill monsters for coin. She also wouldn’t have followed in the path of what her father wanted, either. He begged her to settle down, marry, and bear children. Instead, she would have chosen a life of freedom for herself. She would have settled down in a small town, perhaps worked at a tavern or pub, and enjoyed her life. She would have had many friends, maybe even a lover of her own choosing, many interesting stories to tell the locals, etc. Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music at half speed.

#PennedPossibilities 1124: MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Finally found one! Bolt narrates this #excerpt.

Rainy Days' idi had resembled fern leaves and sticks at the interstellar gateway [instead of a burst pillow after a pillow fight, now]. What? Was this a twin sister…? Impossible. People would know. I'd have heard. But who had an idi that changed once surfaced?

Stupid question, featherbrain!

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#PennedPossibilities 1124: MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Finally found one! Bolt narrates this #excerpt.

Rainy Days' idi had resembled fern leaves and sticks at the interstellar gateway [instead of a burst pillow after a pillow fight, now]. What? Was this a twin sister…? Impossible. People would know. I'd have heard. But who had an idi that changed once surfaced?

Stupid question, featherbrain!

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#PennedPossibilities 1124: MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Finally found one! Bolt narrates this #excerpt.

Rainy Days' idi had resembled fern leaves and sticks at the interstellar gateway [instead of a burst pillow after a pillow fight, now]. What? Was this a twin sister…? Impossible. People would know. I'd have heard. But who had an idi that changed once surfaced?

Stupid question, featherbrain!

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#PennedPossibilities 1124: MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Finally found one! Bolt narrates this #excerpt.

Rainy Days' idi had resembled fern leaves and sticks at the interstellar gateway [instead of a burst pillow after a pillow fight, now]. What? Was this a twin sister…? Impossible. People would know. I'd have heard. But who had an idi that changed once surfaced?

Stupid question, featherbrain!

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#PennedPossibilities 1124: MC POV: What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Finally found one! Bolt narrates this #excerpt.

Rainy Days' idi had resembled fern leaves and sticks at the interstellar gateway [instead of a burst pillow after a pillow fight, now]. What? Was this a twin sister…? Impossible. People would know. I'd have heard. But who had an idi that changed once surfaced?

Stupid question, featherbrain!

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#PennedPossibilities 1127: Character quirks?

• Bijou: Drinks, gourmet, and dad and other bad jokes.
• Emily: Snarky, independent (rare for her time), secret reader of steamy romances.
• Airisu: Talks to humans, educated. (Her rudeness and humor are not quirks; they are normal for crows.)
• Sumiko: Fascination with shrine maidens.

#NMPP #NMPrompts

#PennedPossibilities 1127: Character quirks?

Carrie hates herself to a degree, which manifests as tugging on her hair.

Heather dislikes society, often not bothering to match socks, or wearing her shirt inside-out.

Chartreuse has hints of a valley girl accent and brings out crystals when troubled.

Peaches doesn't understand emotional intimacy and flirts to fill the void physically.

#TimeTravelAuthors bonus

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Gothic doom metal.

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Gothic doom metal.

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

What genre is the Princess Bride soundtrack? That genre.

1129. If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Folk, celtic, folk rock. Like Clannad, Jethro Tull... NOT Enya (sorry, overload, not her fault).

#PennedPossibilities

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

Apart from when the Gothic Dancer, The Mistress Cassandra is performing her act, music doesn’t really feature in my contemporary urban fantasy novels.

Her music is chosen with her audience of mainly Goths in mind.

I’m not sure I can think of a suitable soundtrack to accompany my books.

Any suggestions?

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Not a genre, but an artist: Loreena Mckennitt. She fits many of my stories.

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

It's not a genre, but Chat Pile's new album would do.

#writing

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

That "modern" jazzy noir sound of old timey PI movies.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

That "modern" jazzy noir sound of old timey PI movies.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

That "modern" jazzy noir sound of old timey PI movies.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

That "modern" jazzy noir sound of old timey PI movies.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

That "modern" jazzy noir sound of old timey PI movies.

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#PennedPossibilities 1129 #WritingCommunity

If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Traditional Irish folk music, especially with fiddles and voices.

#PennedPossibilities 1129. If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I hadn't thought of this, but Gwen Stefani immediately came to mind, and then the "Go" soundtrack.

This book of the Problematic Audrey series has a guest MC. I thought I'd built enough character for her, but maybe she also has a dash of Stefani persona.

That might decide the music genre.

#romance #erotica #books

#PennedPossibilities 1129

If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

Can't really tell since I'm not firm in specific music styles, but it would change gradually from tame and nice country music to hippie style throughout the progression of the story.

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I have two. Let’s go with a mix of traditional Nordic music and Viking metal for this one.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I have two. Let’s go with a mix of traditional Nordic music and Viking metal for this one.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I have two. Let’s go with a mix of traditional Nordic music and Viking metal for this one.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I have two. Let’s go with a mix of traditional Nordic music and Viking metal for this one.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1129: If you had to choose a genre of music that best matches your current WIP, what would it be?

I have two. Let’s go with a mix of traditional Nordic music and Viking metal for this one.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon #TheScarletMirror #FatedByFire #CozyFantasy #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #Romance

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

Ethan, technically, but for reasons, I won't spoil how.

Brand, Lutie, Jet, Bit, Feng, yeah, I do tend toward that. XD

@floofpaldi So, wrt #PennedPossibilities 1128, I assume you were being ironic (about your MMC's name being unique) …

#PennedPossibilities 1126: What your narrator sounds like in your mind?

No clue. Voices are a legitimate blind spot for me. Might be why my early writing had me head hopping way more frequently, characters simply don't distinguish themselves that way. Male, female, old, young, accent or not, it's all in a blender. Even in fanfic, unless I'm concentrating.

@sfwrtr mused about being more visually imaginative than vocally, and I guess I'm like that too.

@cstross Oh no. Behold! My bookshelf. I am a *huge* Michael Moorcock fan. I love Sword & Sorcery. 😋

#PennedPossibilities

#PennedPossibilities 1128: "Does your MC have a name that’s unique?"

Henry? Certainly not, intentionally not. Mr. Maybe does, but he got stuck with that as a kid; and Dr. Don't is just what people call her, not her name (which turns out to be Alice).

In "The Dream Makers", Amir has a name that's unusual in fiction, and his last name (Alcott) was the Americanization chosen by his dad when emigrating from Iran.

#PennedPossibilities 1128: "Does your MC have a name that’s unique?"

The Trickster King and the Murder Queen go by many different names in each of their reincarnations: they're Jum and Tabitha to each other, during instars when they meet and connect, but otherwise? Bodies are masks, names are masks on top of masks, their secret identities add more masks on top …

1128. Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

All my characters have plant names as first names, and something nature-related as their last name. Bluebell Ravenhold is no exception, and not unusual in her world.

When I see the odd names people give their kids sometimes, I don't consider Bluebell a unique name.

#PennedPossibilities

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

Kes is short for Kestrel.

#PennedPossibilities 1128
Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

The MC in my current WIP is called Maggie, which is common. But her true name is Maguire, which is less so.

Most of my MCs have normal names. Except for Calianthema. And maybe Giadella. Oh, and Dhana.

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

No. The MCs are Jack and Jill. You have heard of them.

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

No.

In one series of books the MC is Jeffery Davidson (aged 11-12). I maybe nicked it from an Enid Blyton book, "The Treasure Hunters" where there was a character of the same name and age, who with his sibling foiled a plot by a crooked businessman to cheat their grandparents. Also, when I was 13 one of my best friends had that name.

In another series the MC is Tiffany Devenish. aged 10. I chose that when I discovered that Tiffany is short for Theophania, and one of the themes of the book is that Tiffany has an epiphany.

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

His first name is rare in Germany, but not unique - Bjarne. It means "bear", which does not fit him at all, physically. He does not know his family name, and the village keeps him kind of out of the public eye.

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

No, there’s no way the name, Nathan Cutter, is unique.

It’s derived from two sources, the cult film, Cutter’s Way, for some unknown reason the name resonated with me; and from the name of the actor Nathan Fillion.

In my ongoing series of contemporary urban fantasy novels, The Wheel of the Year sequence, it can be dangerous for you if other people know your true name.

So, I have a bit of fun with the names of the characters Fillion has played, mixing up the various given names and surnames to create new ones Nathan can use when he’s assuming a different identity.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

No, there’s no way the name, Nathan Cutter, is unique.

It’s derived from two sources, the cult film, Cutter’s Way, for some unknown reason the name resonated with me; and from the name of the actor Nathan Fillion.

In my ongoing series of contemporary urban fantasy novels, The Wheel of the Year sequence, it can be dangerous for you if other people know your true name.

So, I have a bit of fun with the names of the characters Fillion has played, mixing up the various given names and surnames to create new ones Nathan can use when he’s assuming a different identity.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#PennedPossibilities 1128: Does your MC have a name that’s unique?

No, there’s no way the name, Nathan Cutter, is unique.

It’s derived from two sources, the cult film, Cutter’s Way, for some unknown reason the name resonated with me; and from the name of the actor Nathan Fillion.

In my ongoing series of contemporary urban fantasy novels, The Wheel of the Year sequence, it can be dangerous for you if other people know your true name.

So, I have a bit of fun with the names of the characters Fillion has played, mixing up the various given names and surnames to create new ones Nathan can use when he’s assuming a different identity.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel