@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

Mitch McConnell has an op-ed in the NYT today about isolationism.

Too bad he didn't write warning about the resurgence of Naziism.

#PennedPossibilities Unintentional mixed metaphor

Tseluna had tried to teach him to activate spells without speaking a word of power, but he had thus far been unable to make it work. 
"It's just a bad habit," she said. "It's totally unnecessary and it slows you down."
"It just doesn't work if I don't say it," he said.
"Okay," she said. "Let's try this." She gestured at him and he found that he was mute. He couldn't say anything. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish trying to emit a sound.

D-ro Wright looked up from his paper. He was an elderly man with a fussy, white goatee wearing a khaki vest with many pockets. He checked his wristwatch.
"You're early," he snapped.
"The trolley runs when it runs," I replied.
"Well, sit down!" he said. "Don't just stand there."
I seated myself.
"I would recommend the croissant," he grumbled. "But they're burned today."
When the waiter arrived, I ordered a latte & a croissant.
When the waited brought them, the croissant was perfect.

#wss366

#WordWeavers Do you have fans/people who enjoy your writing? What’s your relationship to them?

I have one fan (waves at @tobadzistsini). It's great! He writes fan fiction of some of my stories. ❤️

Ugh. For the last two nights, I've had really weird, intense dreams. Not quite nightmares, but pretty disturbing. Is this my brain telling me there is an insufficiency of drama in my life?

I recognize that all of us on Mastodon need to work together to protect marginalized people. But when I see people who blame Mastodon for attacks on marginalized people, I lament. That's like blaming Sharpies for all the stupid shit Donald Trump does. Yes, he uses a Sharpie, but *he's* to blame — not the Sharpie.

On general principles, I will not do anything a robot tells me to do. This unfortunately doesn't stop businesses from deploying robots to send me constant reminders demanding that I confirm appointments. Note: I will never, ever do that.

#PennedPossibilities Do you use metaphors in your writing?

Some of my characters do, e.g.: "Revin," Words said, rolling his eyes. "A man who sleeps in a bed of cobras with a blanket made of scorpions is in considerably less danger than you."

I got up early, dressed, and headed out into the hazy, still air. I walked north to Rampart and caught the streetcar. Even before I got to my seat, it started to #accelerate & headed northeast. I checked the car carefully for any signs of undead but there were only three other passengers, all living.
I counted four stops & got off across the street from the Explorer Cafe.
I entered & spotted him reading a newspaper at one of the library tables.
"Bonan matenon, d-ro Wright," I said.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub How do you handle highly intimate scenes?

It depends on the genre and audience. I'm not trying to write pornography — or even erotica. For most of my writing, I try to capture the emotional intimacy and feelings without detailed descriptions of physical actions. But sometimes it's important to the story to have more detail and I don't shy away from that. I don't have a moralistic problem with it, but it frequently has a greater potential to discourage than attract readership.

"Do you have a plan?" I asked.
"Excellent question," he said, with a wink. "I'll be giving a presentation at the Aferkunsido tomorrow. Come then and find out."
I smiled politely and, nodding to the Prezidanto, excused myself.
Afterwards, I made a point of going through the room & checking in with the komencantoj. I smiled & greeted them one after another. One ill-at-ease elderly man was by himself.
"Kiel vi fartas?" I asked.
"MIA NOMO ESTAS TODD TOM," he barked.
"Estas plezuro," I lied.

#wss366

#PennedPossibilities How does your MC handle sadness and depression?

Badly.

#WritersCoffeeClub Should books include a content warning?

I don't think it's something you can make a blanket statement about. I think authors and publishers can consider the content and the audience to make an informed decision. I'm the sort of person that disables content warnings and "sensitive" photos in Mastodon so I just see everything. I follow people because I want to see their stuff. But this is part of why I have a publisher ̈— to help me make decisions like this.

Since I didn't get a nap today, due to a long concom meeting, I've decided to go to bed early. Note: I'm totally not saying I'm going to sleep, or anything.

Today's @wss366 word is #external. With @asakiyume away, I thought I'd post a roundup. There's still time to write a bit of #microfiction and share it with the hashtag #wss366! My contribution is part of an ongoing story about the mystery of Esperanto meetings. And @tobadzistsini wrote a mysterious fragment that has echoes of a larger world. Join us!

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you have any regrets as a writer, or do you never look back?

When I was younger, I was often tormented by regrets. At some point, realized that, although I could look back with hindsight and see that past decisions may have been mistakes, I could give myself a blanket dispensation: Past me was making decisions eyes-open trying to balance current pleasure with future costs. Who was I to say that, at the time, it was the wrong choice. This strategy has served me well.

The serpentine leaf miner *Liriomyza brassicae* on *Alliaria*.

I worked the room, moving from group to group, meeting people and renewing acquaintances: "Saluton! Bonan vesperon!"
"D-ro Bierfaristo!" someone called.
An older man extended his hand.
"Prezidanto," I said, shaking it.
"I want you to meet our new Delegito de Eksteraj Rilatoj!"
"External relations?"
A very tall man wearing a top-hat stepped forward. He laughed a deep belly laugh.
"Barono," I said, inclining my head.
"No, no," he said, wagging a finger. "Here, I'm merely Sinjoro Samedi."

#wss366

Anybody going to the Bay Area Book Festival today: You can find my books (and more!) at the Water Dragon Publishing table!

#PennedPossibilities Pride Month Edition: Do you write any characters who are a part of the #LGBTQIA+ community?

Most of my stories have queer characters. And many have queer protagonists as well. *Revin's Heart* has a trans protagonist and a number of gay and bi secondary characters.

The new series I'm working on, *Cecelia's Journey*, is a sapphic romantasy about an aristocrat who falls in love with a commoner, but has to go on the run from her family that won't accept their relationship.