@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

#ScribesAndMakers What's your favorite visual art media, either to view or create with?

I would have to say Inkscape https://inkscape.org/

I've used Inkscape for many years as a vector illustration program. I first used Aldus Freehand (in the late 1980s) and then Abobe Illustrator. When I discovered Inkscape (~2004), I switched and never looked back. I've used it to create all kinds of illustrations, including many scientific figures as well as my airship-pirates ribbons & stickers.

I wrote another longish post about why I like Mastodon. https://stevendbrewer.com/weirdos-posting-stuff-to-social-media/

Ooh! I got a *postcard*! It even has a fancy manatee stamp too! Thanks @tobadzistsini!

Sharing the wealth…

#WordWeavers Describe the most unusual/intriguing marketing opportunity you've encountered.

The best ones I've been involved with for my books were my badge ribbons. My airship-pirate ribbons were a huge success at Chicon8. The human-dna ribbons at the most recent Worldcon were fun, though less successful. https://stevendbrewer.com/whats-in-your-dna/

But the coolest marketing opportunity I ever saw was the Lost Ring alternate reality game. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Ring

I wasn't writing fiction (in English) then, tho.

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you write daily? Why or why not?

I write daily, if you include exchanging Signal and Discord messages with my family. I almost always write to the @wss366 prompt. I frequently write other stuff (email, blog posts, etc.) I often work on manuscripts (revising, reorganizing, editing, ktp.) I don't always actually do much fiction writing. My productivity is highly variable. I'm between projects right now and trying to figure out what I want to write next.

Recent events have reminded me of the particular horror of the early cyberpunk stories, that were mostly about billionaires finding ways to live forever.

After their second set, The Hendersons Blues Band walked through the crowd to play an acoustic number. #WesternMass

The confetti dissolved and disappeared.
While he wasn't looking, a stray squirt caught Forrest on the side of the head.
He shook his head angrily.
"Who did that?" he said looking around.
Another squirt caught him from the other side.
Furiously, he took to his wings and flew away. (4/4) #wss366

He pulled out a bottle of water and sprayed it on the confetti. It vanished.
"See?" he said. "It dissolves."
"Do the rest!" Forrest ordered.
"Ah! We have a solution for that! Kids!"
The children pulled out giant squirt guns and began spraying each other with abandon. (3/4) #wss366

Forrest went into a steep dive. He zoomed toward the ground, then pulled up and — with powerful wingbeats —— he hovered over the children.
"Stop that littering! Pick up that litter!" he shrieked.
The children started running in circles and screaming.
"Relax!" said one of the adults. "Watch!" (2/4) #wss366

Forrest circled high above the Volpex Picnic Park. A group of small children was having a party. They ran in circles, screaming, in the annoying way children did. Then they were given a popper and when they pulled the strings, they showered confetti and strings of paper everywhere. (1/4) #wss366

The Henderson's are playing some hard-driving blues at Berkshire Brewing Company. A perfect complement to a pint of bitter Foxglove DIPA after a long week back at work. #WesternMass

While out walking, we saw some cool blister beetles.

"You'll do just fine," Zsazsa said. "You'll be with me!"
She turned, so Booboo could reach the zipper.
Booboo slipped her hands inside the dress, under Zsazsa's arms, and reached around toward the front.
"Now, now, darling," Zsazsa purred. "We can do that after."
"Promise?"
"Promise." (2/2) #wss366

"#Zip me up?" Zsazsa said. She and Booboo were getting dressed up for a fancy reception.
"Do we really have to go?" Booboo groaned. "I won't fit in at all."
One of Zsazsa's acquaintances, a marquessa, was announcing her engagement. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there. (1/2) #wss366

"I'm afraid she's not here, Ruhrow darling," Zsazsa said.
Ruhrow heard a noise and saw the closet door start to swing open.
Zsazsa threw herself across the futon and pushed the door until it closed with a #snap.
"She'll be back soon," she said, her face now more red than pink. (2/2) #wss366

Ruhrow knocked on the door. He heard a commotion, then Zsazsa said, "Come in."
He opened the door. Zsazsa was sitting on a futon, looking slightly disheveled, with pink cheeks.
"What do you want?" she said.
"I was looking for Booboo," he said. "She said she'd help with a new recipe." (1/2) #wss366

#WordWeavers Do your protagonists deserve a happily-ever-after? Why/why not? Will they get one?

I almost always write happy endings. I hate stories that don't have a happy ending. Life is enough of a downer without having to read or write depressing stories.

She expertly whipped them. He stared at her chest which jiggled as she beat the eggs.
She drew the whisk out and showed him.
"Stiff peaks," she said. "That's how you know the meringue is done."
"Okay," he said. He was thinking of other stiff peaks. And it made something else stiff too. (2/2) #wss366