#writersofmastodon — Public Fediverse posts

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Mysteriously, this can vary depending on how distracted I become.

I might end up here checking out my latest notifications or maybe I just reread the last thing I last wrote.
This can have a knock-on effect of sending me to Wikipedia to research some upcoming plot point.

Although on a good day I could, if I’m lucky, get straight down to writing.

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Mysteriously, this can vary depending on how distracted I become.

I might end up here checking out my latest notifications or maybe I just reread the last thing I last wrote.
This can have a knock-on effect of sending me to Wikipedia to research some upcoming plot point.

Although on a good day I could, if I’m lucky, get straight down to writing.

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Mysteriously, this can vary depending on how distracted I become.

I might end up here checking out my latest notifications or maybe I just reread the last thing I last wrote.
This can have a knock-on effect of sending me to Wikipedia to research some upcoming plot point.

Although on a good day I could, if I’m lucky, get straight down to writing.

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Mysteriously, this can vary depending on how distracted I become.

I might end up here checking out my latest notifications or maybe I just reread the last thing I last wrote.
This can have a knock-on effect of sending me to Wikipedia to research some upcoming plot point.

Although on a good day I could, if I’m lucky, get straight down to writing.

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Mysteriously, this can vary depending on how distracted I become.

I might end up here checking out my latest notifications or maybe I just reread the last thing I last wrote.
This can have a knock-on effect of sending me to Wikipedia to research some upcoming plot point.

Although on a good day I could, if I’m lucky, get straight down to writing.

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

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/27: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

*maniacal laughter* Sometimes it's mere minutes, and other times, when the AuDHD kicks in, it could be hours. There's no telling how long it could be. It's like playing Russian Roulette, the Writer's Version.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/27: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

*maniacal laughter* Sometimes it's mere minutes, and other times, when the AuDHD kicks in, it could be hours. There's no telling how long it could be. It's like playing Russian Roulette, the Writer's Version.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/27: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

*maniacal laughter* Sometimes it's mere minutes, and other times, when the AuDHD kicks in, it could be hours. There's no telling how long it could be. It's like playing Russian Roulette, the Writer's Version.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/27: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

*maniacal laughter* Sometimes it's mere minutes, and other times, when the AuDHD kicks in, it could be hours. There's no telling how long it could be. It's like playing Russian Roulette, the Writer's Version.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/27: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

*maniacal laughter* Sometimes it's mere minutes, and other times, when the AuDHD kicks in, it could be hours. There's no telling how long it could be. It's like playing Russian Roulette, the Writer's Version.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#ScribesAndMakers Sept 27:
Was there a time you got stuck this month? If so, how did you get through it?

Generally I get through being stuck by writing something else.
Rarely have less than four stories on the go at once, so if it become obvious that the brain is just not going to play ball, I switch games.

#Writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersofMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27 Sept:
How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?

Depends very much on the day.
Especially on days I'm writing to deadline for a sub, I pretty much get to the work within a couple of minutes (tea needed first).
Other days, it's as described yesterday.

#Writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersofMastodon

#PennedPossibilities 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Last night, when I performed a tiny, silly poem at my first ever open mic night.
🦸‍♀️

#Performing #AmPerforming
#Writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersofMastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27/9: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?
Variable. Sometimes the words are ready to spill out and I can hardly get seated and open the laptop fast enough. Other times, I have to read back over previous work to find my way in—and sometimes that turns into more of an editing exercise. That’s progress too, but indirect.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27/9: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?
Variable. Sometimes the words are ready to spill out and I can hardly get seated and open the laptop fast enough. Other times, I have to read back over previous work to find my way in—and sometimes that turns into more of an editing exercise. That’s progress too, but indirect.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27/9: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?
Variable. Sometimes the words are ready to spill out and I can hardly get seated and open the laptop fast enough. Other times, I have to read back over previous work to find my way in—and sometimes that turns into more of an editing exercise. That’s progress too, but indirect.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27/9: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?
Variable. Sometimes the words are ready to spill out and I can hardly get seated and open the laptop fast enough. Other times, I have to read back over previous work to find my way in—and sometimes that turns into more of an editing exercise. That’s progress too, but indirect.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WritersCoffeeClub 27/9: How much time passes between sitting down to write and actually writing?
Variable. Sometimes the words are ready to spill out and I can hardly get seated and open the laptop fast enough. Other times, I have to read back over previous work to find my way in—and sometimes that turns into more of an editing exercise. That’s progress too, but indirect.
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WordWeavers 27/9: What interesting quirks do your characters have?
I don’t think in terms of ‘quirks’; that smacks (to me) of assembling characters from a kit of parts, like a glorified Photofit picture. To work for me, characters should be whole people that I get to know in the same way as in real life. Doesn’t mean they’re not quirky, but I don’t want the tail (quirk) wagging the dog (character).
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WordWeavers 27/9: What interesting quirks do your characters have?
I don’t think in terms of ‘quirks’; that smacks (to me) of assembling characters from a kit of parts, like a glorified Photofit picture. To work for me, characters should be whole people that I get to know in the same way as in real life. Doesn’t mean they’re not quirky, but I don’t want the tail (quirk) wagging the dog (character).
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WordWeavers 27/9: What interesting quirks do your characters have?
I don’t think in terms of ‘quirks’; that smacks (to me) of assembling characters from a kit of parts, like a glorified Photofit picture. To work for me, characters should be whole people that I get to know in the same way as in real life. Doesn’t mean they’re not quirky, but I don’t want the tail (quirk) wagging the dog (character).
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WordWeavers 27/9: What interesting quirks do your characters have?
I don’t think in terms of ‘quirks’; that smacks (to me) of assembling characters from a kit of parts, like a glorified Photofit picture. To work for me, characters should be whole people that I get to know in the same way as in real life. Doesn’t mean they’re not quirky, but I don’t want the tail (quirk) wagging the dog (character).
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#WordWeavers 27/9: What interesting quirks do your characters have?
I don’t think in terms of ‘quirks’; that smacks (to me) of assembling characters from a kit of parts, like a glorified Photofit picture. To work for me, characters should be whole people that I get to know in the same way as in real life. Doesn’t mean they’re not quirky, but I don’t want the tail (quirk) wagging the dog (character).
#books #writing #writersofmastodon

#TodayIProcrastinated, let me count the ways:

• I decluttered, packing books and throwing away magazines.
• I watched anime.
• I wrote replies to hashtag challenge games citing my WIP.
  

Score: -3

#author #writer #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

#TodayIProcrastinated, let me count the ways:

• I decluttered, packing books and throwing away magazines.
• I watched anime.
• I wrote replies to hashtag challenge games citing my WIP.
  

Score: -3

#author #writer #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

#TodayIProcrastinated, let me count the ways:

• I decluttered, packing books and throwing away magazines.
• I watched anime.
• I wrote replies to hashtag challenge games citing my WIP.
  

Score: -3

#author #writer #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

#TodayIProcrastinated, let me count the ways:

• I decluttered, packing books and throwing away magazines.
• I watched anime.
• I wrote replies to hashtag challenge games citing my WIP.
  

Score: -3

#author #writer #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

#WritersCoffeeClub #WCC 2026.09.26 — How does your faith feature in your works?

Does it feature? Arguably it does.

Faith in humanity spiced with an understanding that we're all human.

I'm fascinated by religion, and ended up studying a lot about non-Abrahamic religions at university. I've written deeply faithful characters: one was a shaman. When I wrote 3rd person narrative, I worked to depict the faithful without hypocrisy (enough fiction deals with the opposite and is cross-purposes to my narratives). But— Big difference here. But, I strive to do this objectively. For instance, the reader of the shaman story should equally see that the MC truly believes in the reality she lives in, or is a woman who controls her hallucinations and psychosis to her benefit and that of her world. My favorite TV series was Joan of Arcadia, with its ambiguity and vagary of what was real and what wasn't being the best part. I highly recommend binging it.

My current series of stories lack the concepts of faith, belief, fortune, luck, spirituality, the supernatural, and supernatural beings. They don't even have the words to describe such concepts. (Makes it hard to write, though!) So… How do I write about "my faith" in my works? I could say faithfully. Re-read this paragraph, then the one above.

You are welcome to guess my faith.

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub #WCC 2026.09.26 — How does your faith feature in your works?

Does it feature? Arguably it does.

Faith in humanity spiced with an understanding that we're all human.

I'm fascinated by religion, and ended up studying a lot about non-Abrahamic religions at university. I've written deeply faithful characters: one was a shaman. When I wrote 3rd person narrative, I worked to depict the faithful without hypocrisy (enough fiction deals with the opposite and is cross-purposes to my narratives). But— Big difference here. But, I strive to do this objectively. For instance, the reader of the shaman story should equally see that the MC truly believes in the reality she lives in, or is a woman who controls her hallucinations and psychosis to her benefit and that of her world. My favorite TV series was Joan of Arcadia, with its ambiguity and vagary of what was real and what wasn't being the best part. I highly recommend binging it.

My current series of stories lack the concepts of faith, belief, fortune, luck, spirituality, the supernatural, and supernatural beings. They don't even have the words to describe such concepts. (Makes it hard to write, though!) So… How do I write about "my faith" in my works? I could say faithfully. Re-read this paragraph, then the one above.

You are welcome to guess my faith.

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub #WCC 2026.09.26 — How does your faith feature in your works?

Does it feature? Arguably it does.

Faith in humanity spiced with an understanding that we're all human.

I'm fascinated by religion, and ended up studying a lot about non-Abrahamic religions at university. I've written deeply faithful characters: one was a shaman. When I wrote 3rd person narrative, I worked to depict the faithful without hypocrisy (enough fiction deals with the opposite and is cross-purposes to my narratives). But— Big difference here. But, I strive to do this objectively. For instance, the reader of the shaman story should equally see that the MC truly believes in the reality she lives in, or is a woman who controls her hallucinations and psychosis to her benefit and that of her world. My favorite TV series was Joan of Arcadia, with its ambiguity and vagary of what was real and what wasn't being the best part. I highly recommend binging it.

My current series of stories lack the concepts of faith, belief, fortune, luck, spirituality, the supernatural, and supernatural beings. They don't even have the words to describe such concepts. (Makes it hard to write, though!) So… How do I write about "my faith" in my works? I could say faithfully. Re-read this paragraph, then the one above.

You are welcome to guess my faith.

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub #WCC 2026.09.26 — How does your faith feature in your works?

Does it feature? Arguably it does.

Faith in humanity spiced with an understanding that we're all human.

I'm fascinated by religion, and ended up studying a lot about non-Abrahamic religions at university. I've written deeply faithful characters: one was a shaman. When I wrote 3rd person narrative, I worked to depict the faithful without hypocrisy (enough fiction deals with the opposite and is cross-purposes to my narratives). But— Big difference here. But, I strive to do this objectively. For instance, the reader of the shaman story should equally see that the MC truly believes in the reality she lives in, or is a woman who controls her hallucinations and psychosis to her benefit and that of her world. My favorite TV series was Joan of Arcadia, with its ambiguity and vagary of what was real and what wasn't being the best part. I highly recommend binging it.

My current series of stories lack the concepts of faith, belief, fortune, luck, spirituality, the supernatural, and supernatural beings. They don't even have the words to describe such concepts. (Makes it hard to write, though!) So… How do I write about "my faith" in my works? I could say faithfully. Re-read this paragraph, then the one above.

You are welcome to guess my faith.

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

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

#WritersCoffeeClub #WCC 2026.09.26 — How does your faith feature in your works?

Does it feature? Arguably it does.

Faith in humanity spiced with an understanding that we're all human.

I'm fascinated by religion, and ended up studying a lot about non-Abrahamic religions at university. I've written deeply faithful characters: one was a shaman. When I wrote 3rd person narrative, I worked to depict the faithful without hypocrisy (enough fiction deals with the opposite and is cross-purposes to my narratives). But— Big difference here. But, I strive to do this objectively. For instance, the reader of the shaman story should equally see that the MC truly believes in the reality she lives in, or is a woman who controls her hallucinations and psychosis to her benefit and that of her world. My favorite TV series was Joan of Arcadia, with its ambiguity and vagary of what was real and what wasn't being the best part. I highly recommend binging it.

My current series of stories lack the concepts of faith, belief, fortune, luck, spirituality, the supernatural, and supernatural beings. They don't even have the words to describe such concepts. (Makes it hard to write, though!) So… How do I write about "my faith" in my works? I could say faithfully. Re-read this paragraph, then the one above.

You are welcome to guess my faith.

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Because of reasons of revealing spoilers, I'll speak for Bolt. She has a dim view of herself. Other than her athletic past, she never feels heroic. However, she does find herself in a tableau that she feels could escalate into deadly force†, which her side could not win.

She would cite that moment.

She defuses the situation. She uses sex.

Which is problematic in so many ways I'm sure any of us could list, but super useful for a gender fiction author like me. Discussions of dignity, and use of the right tool for the job, follow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†She's not as dumb as she thinks she is: #WordWeavers Sept 26/26 https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/117340884948889941

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Because of reasons of revealing spoilers, I'll speak for Bolt. She has a dim view of herself. Other than her athletic past, she never feels heroic. However, she does find herself in a tableau that she feels could escalate into deadly force†, which her side could not win.

She would cite that moment.

She defuses the situation. She uses sex.

Which is problematic in so many ways I'm sure any of us could list, but super useful for a gender fiction author like me. Discussions of dignity, and use of the right tool for the job, follow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†She's not as dumb as she thinks she is: #WordWeavers Sept 26/26 https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/117340884948889941

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Because of reasons of revealing spoilers, I'll speak for Bolt. She has a dim view of herself. Other than her athletic past, she never feels heroic. However, she does find herself in a tableau that she feels could escalate into deadly force†, which her side could not win.

She would cite that moment.

She defuses the situation. She uses sex.

Which is problematic in so many ways I'm sure any of us could list, but super useful for a gender fiction author like me. Discussions of dignity, and use of the right tool for the job, follow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†She's not as dumb as she thinks she is: #WordWeavers Sept 26/26 https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/117340884948889941

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Because of reasons of revealing spoilers, I'll speak for Bolt. She has a dim view of herself. Other than her athletic past, she never feels heroic. However, she does find herself in a tableau that she feels could escalate into deadly force†, which her side could not win.

She would cite that moment.

She defuses the situation. She uses sex.

Which is problematic in so many ways I'm sure any of us could list, but super useful for a gender fiction author like me. Discussions of dignity, and use of the right tool for the job, follow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†She's not as dumb as she thinks she is: #WordWeavers Sept 26/26 https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/117340884948889941

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Because of reasons of revealing spoilers, I'll speak for Bolt. She has a dim view of herself. Other than her athletic past, she never feels heroic. However, she does find herself in a tableau that she feels could escalate into deadly force†, which her side could not win.

She would cite that moment.

She defuses the situation. She uses sex.

Which is problematic in so many ways I'm sure any of us could list, but super useful for a gender fiction author like me. Discussions of dignity, and use of the right tool for the job, follow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†She's not as dumb as she thinks she is: #WordWeavers Sept 26/26 https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/117340884948889941

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

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#WordWeavers 2026.09.26 — Authors talk about how smart their MCs or villains are, but have you ever written a slow-witted character?

Funny you should ask. Bolt in my current WIP is my premeditated attempt at doing just that, though I think "slow-witted" rarely is applicable and often derogatory. I'd say she's… differently-smart, not conventionally. She is a jock and is proud of her physical prowess and physique.

Think about those oft-caricatured varsity-letter high-school athletes in our male-dominated world that seem to have too high an opinion of themselves, but are always surrounded and adored by the opposite sex… Well, that was Bolt in upper school except that she's female. She had her string of ponies (her term for the guys she had as friends and otherwise enjoyed), and aways expected she's have them with her. With no interest in academics—only enough to stay eligible for athletics—she's not somebody who'll carry on an intellectual conversation with you, but if it's about training, anatomy, health, physical therapy, flying fast (and crazily), or aerial acrobatics, she's chatty, supportive, and helpful.

What she wasn't was full of herself, though. She earned her adoration and her team's championship—the team was all male but for her—by showing them they could, and demonstrating how. Though her life went crazy afterwards, and now a dozen years later she's coping with the fallout of bad decisions, she's still earnest, honest (as much as an employee of the mob could be), and tries to make everything right.

But slow-witted? She considers herself stupid. In her 1st person narration, she says that of herself when a lot when things don't work out. Mistakes. Past tense, but still. Lots of them, all right? She's not the hero of her story, but the catalyst without whom the heroes won't succeed, and she will earn her HEA (for now, anyway 😈).

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

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#WordWeavers 2026.09.26 — Authors talk about how smart their MCs or villains are, but have you ever written a slow-witted character?

Funny you should ask. Bolt in my current WIP is my premeditated attempt at doing just that, though I think "slow-witted" rarely is applicable and often derogatory. I'd say she's… differently-smart, not conventionally. She is a jock and is proud of her physical prowess and physique.

Think about those oft-caricatured varsity-letter high-school athletes in our male-dominated world that seem to have too high an opinion of themselves, but are always surrounded and adored by the opposite sex… Well, that was Bolt in upper school except that she's female. She had her string of ponies (her term for the guys she had as friends and otherwise enjoyed), and aways expected she's have them with her. With no interest in academics—only enough to stay eligible for athletics—she's not somebody who'll carry on an intellectual conversation with you, but if it's about training, anatomy, health, physical therapy, flying fast (and crazily), or aerial acrobatics, she's chatty, supportive, and helpful.

What she wasn't was full of herself, though. She earned her adoration and her team's championship—the team was all male but for her—by showing them they could, and demonstrating how. Though her life went crazy afterwards, and now a dozen years later she's coping with the fallout of bad decisions, she's still earnest, honest (as much as an employee of the mob could be), and tries to make everything right.

But slow-witted? She considers herself stupid. In her 1st person narration, she says that of herself when a lot when things don't work out. Mistakes. Past tense, but still. Lots of them, all right? She's not the hero of her story, but the catalyst without whom the heroes won't succeed, and she will earn her HEA (for now, anyway 😈).

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

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#WordWeavers 2026.09.26 — Authors talk about how smart their MCs or villains are, but have you ever written a slow-witted character?

Funny you should ask. Bolt in my current WIP is my premeditated attempt at doing just that, though I think "slow-witted" rarely is applicable and often derogatory. I'd say she's… differently-smart, not conventionally. She is a jock and is proud of her physical prowess and physique.

Think about those oft-caricatured varsity-letter high-school athletes in our male-dominated world that seem to have too high an opinion of themselves, but are always surrounded and adored by the opposite sex… Well, that was Bolt in upper school except that she's female. She had her string of ponies (her term for the guys she had as friends and otherwise enjoyed), and aways expected she's have them with her. With no interest in academics—only enough to stay eligible for athletics—she's not somebody who'll carry on an intellectual conversation with you, but if it's about training, anatomy, health, physical therapy, flying fast (and crazily), or aerial acrobatics, she's chatty, supportive, and helpful.

What she wasn't was full of herself, though. She earned her adoration and her team's championship—the team was all male but for her—by showing them they could, and demonstrating how. Though her life went crazy afterwards, and now a dozen years later she's coping with the fallout of bad decisions, she's still earnest, honest (as much as an employee of the mob could be), and tries to make everything right.

But slow-witted? She considers herself stupid. In her 1st person narration, she says that of herself when a lot when things don't work out. Mistakes. Past tense, but still. Lots of them, all right? She's not the hero of her story, but the catalyst without whom the heroes won't succeed, and she will earn her HEA (for now, anyway 😈).

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

#BoostingIsSharing

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

#WordWeavers 2026.09.26 — Authors talk about how smart their MCs or villains are, but have you ever written a slow-witted character?

Funny you should ask. Bolt in my current WIP is my premeditated attempt at doing just that, though I think "slow-witted" rarely is applicable and often derogatory. I'd say she's… differently-smart, not conventionally. She is a jock and is proud of her physical prowess and physique.

Think about those oft-caricatured varsity-letter high-school athletes in our male-dominated world that seem to have too high an opinion of themselves, but are always surrounded and adored by the opposite sex… Well, that was Bolt in upper school except that she's female. She had her string of ponies (her term for the guys she had as friends and otherwise enjoyed), and aways expected she's have them with her. With no interest in academics—only enough to stay eligible for athletics—she's not somebody who'll carry on an intellectual conversation with you, but if it's about training, anatomy, health, physical therapy, flying fast (and crazily), or aerial acrobatics, she's chatty, supportive, and helpful.

What she wasn't was full of herself, though. She earned her adoration and her team's championship—the team was all male but for her—by showing them they could, and demonstrating how. Though her life went crazy afterwards, and now a dozen years later she's coping with the fallout of bad decisions, she's still earnest, honest (as much as an employee of the mob could be), and tries to make everything right.

But slow-witted? She considers herself stupid. In her 1st person narration, she says that of herself when a lot when things don't work out. Mistakes. Past tense, but still. Lots of them, all right? She's not the hero of her story, but the catalyst without whom the heroes won't succeed, and she will earn her HEA (for now, anyway 😈).

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

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#WordWeavers 2026.09.26 — Authors talk about how smart their MCs or villains are, but have you ever written a slow-witted character?

Funny you should ask. Bolt in my current WIP is my premeditated attempt at doing just that, though I think "slow-witted" rarely is applicable and often derogatory. I'd say she's… differently-smart, not conventionally. She is a jock and is proud of her physical prowess and physique.

Think about those oft-caricatured varsity-letter high-school athletes in our male-dominated world that seem to have too high an opinion of themselves, but are always surrounded and adored by the opposite sex… Well, that was Bolt in upper school except that she's female. She had her string of ponies (her term for the guys she had as friends and otherwise enjoyed), and aways expected she's have them with her. With no interest in academics—only enough to stay eligible for athletics—she's not somebody who'll carry on an intellectual conversation with you, but if it's about training, anatomy, health, physical therapy, flying fast (and crazily), or aerial acrobatics, she's chatty, supportive, and helpful.

What she wasn't was full of herself, though. She earned her adoration and her team's championship—the team was all male but for her—by showing them they could, and demonstrating how. Though her life went crazy afterwards, and now a dozen years later she's coping with the fallout of bad decisions, she's still earnest, honest (as much as an employee of the mob could be), and tries to make everything right.

But slow-witted? She considers herself stupid. In her 1st person narration, she says that of herself when a lot when things don't work out. Mistakes. Past tense, but still. Lots of them, all right? She's not the hero of her story, but the catalyst without whom the heroes won't succeed, and she will earn her HEA (for now, anyway 😈).

[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 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Zerika: The first time Elric turned to me, looking for my… input. When he looked to me for advice. We were fighting against a band of brigands. It was because he appreciates and trusts me, that trust is honestly what keeps me going some days. I do what I do to *help* people, usually despite who and what they might think I am, and Elric’s trust (as a gift of sorts) felt like a reminder of that very thing for me. It made me feel like I *could* be a hero. That was the day I realized I had fallen for him.

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#PennedPossibilities 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Zerika: The first time Elric turned to me, looking for my… input. When he looked to me for advice. We were fighting against a band of brigands. It was because he appreciates and trusts me, that trust is honestly what keeps me going some days. I do what I do to *help* people, usually despite who and what they might think I am, and Elric’s trust (as a gift of sorts) felt like a reminder of that very thing for me. It made me feel like I *could* be a hero. That was the day I realized I had fallen for him.

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

#PennedPossibilities 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Zerika: The first time Elric turned to me, looking for my… input. When he looked to me for advice. We were fighting against a band of brigands. It was because he appreciates and trusts me, that trust is honestly what keeps me going some days. I do what I do to *help* people, usually despite who and what they might think I am, and Elric’s trust (as a gift of sorts) felt like a reminder of that very thing for me. It made me feel like I *could* be a hero. That was the day I realized I had fallen for him.

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

#PennedPossibilities 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Zerika: The first time Elric turned to me, looking for my… input. When he looked to me for advice. We were fighting against a band of brigands. It was because he appreciates and trusts me, that trust is honestly what keeps me going some days. I do what I do to *help* people, usually despite who and what they might think I am, and Elric’s trust (as a gift of sorts) felt like a reminder of that very thing for me. It made me feel like I *could* be a hero. That was the day I realized I had fallen for him.

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

#PennedPossibilities 1140: MC POV: When was a time you felt like a hero?

Zerika: The first time Elric turned to me, looking for my… input. When he looked to me for advice. We were fighting against a band of brigands. It was because he appreciates and trusts me, that trust is honestly what keeps me going some days. I do what I do to *help* people, usually despite who and what they might think I am, and Elric’s trust (as a gift of sorts) felt like a reminder of that very thing for me. It made me feel like I *could* be a hero. That was the day I realized I had fallen for him.

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

#ScribesAndMakers Sept 26:
#TTMD Talk To Me Day, featured creator: @WhatACharmingHouse

How are the rats in the attic?

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#ScribesAndMakers Sept 26:
#TTMD Talk To Me Day, featured creator: @WhatACharmingHouse

How are the rats in the attic?

#Writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersofMastodon

#ScribesAndMakers Sept 26:
#TTMD Talk To Me Day, featured creator: @WhatACharmingHouse

How are the rats in the attic?

#Writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersofMastodon