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#WritersCoffeeClub Do you believe the magic happens in the edit, or do you have a different approach?

Magic happens at every step. I didn't used to like editing, as I initially thought of it merely as correctly mistakes. But, over time, I came to recognize that editing gives you the opportunity to delve into subtle changes of wording & pacing that can enhance the drama, heighten the tension, or pack more emotion into a scene. I love editing as much as outlining and drafting now. I love it all.

sur taksodio, arĝenta pro la roso… araneaĵo / on the yew, silver with dew… spiderweb #hajko #haiku #esperanto

Rowe leaned over the bench and, with a tiny brush, painted #minute lines of glue. Before the glue dried, he applied gold leaf. After a moment, with a razor-sharp knife, he cut away the excess. Then he did it again & again, each time extending the labyrinthine magical circuit a nail's width. The charm he was constructing, when properly consecrated & energized, would ward the wearer against curses & evil spirits — if properly constructed.
He leaned back & yawned. He was getting sleepy.

#wss366

Someone has a chew, and all is right with the world. #DogsOfMastodon

The Butter Angels took a SkyJumper to the park on a hot summer day.
Susan was about to light the fire when a #bear came out of the forest.
"I'm sorry, girls," the bear said. "It's a red-flag day. No fires in the park!"
"Aw!" they said.
The bear turned to go, but then turned back.
"Say… Does anyone have a smoke?"
"But, of course!" Zsazsa said. She pulled out a silver cigarette case & passed one to the bear.
"But… You don't smoke!" Booboo said.
"A lady is always prepared," Zsazsa replied.

#wss366

Lady Kelowan snatched the brooch out of Armand's hand.
"How dare you touch my things!" she hissed. "Get out of my sight!"
Armand, stone faced, walked away.
Then she wheeled on Cicely. "And you, you little #sow! Don't you try to cover for him! I know what a sneaking disgraceful weasel he is. Did he tell you he was going to give it to you? He's a liar!"
"No, Mistress," Cicely said, trembling. She curtsied, trying to not simply collapse in terror under the weight of her anger and fury.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub Name-check your cover artist, even if it's yourself. Share your best cover.

Kelley York of Sleepy Fox Studio did the cover for *Better Angels: Tour de Force*. I liked the covers for *Revin's Heart* that were done by a different artist, but I think the cover for the Better Angels has been more effective at attracting interest. https://www.sleepyfoxstudio.net

No wonder they call it "The Roadhouse". Good food, tho. #WesternMass

kovras la benkon ekfalintaj folioj… ombro ekmankas / the bench is covered, freshly fallen leaves… losing the shade #hajko #haiku #esperanto

Someone has a dirty muzzle. #DogsOfMastodon

Name-check any #WritersCoffeeClub members who've inspired you or helped you in the last year.

Well, it would have to be @johnhowesauthor for curating the prompts for the hashtag. ❤️

"Can I #trust you?" Cicely said. She opened her hand & showed Armand the brooch. "Do you know to whom this belongs?"
He took it from her & inspected it.
"This is Mother's," he said. "It's one of her favorites."
"What are you doing with that?" said a sharp voice behind them.
They turned and discovered the Mistress had slipped in silently.
Armand paled.
"If you please, Mistress," Cicely said with a bob. "I found it under the sideboard & was asking the young mister to whom it belonged."

#wss366

I have a new, wonderful place to write… https://stevendbrewer.com/a-wonderful-place-to-write/ #writing

Armand reached down toward Cicely, still lying on the floor.
"May I have your hand?"
"Is this a proposal?" she said, batting her eyes.
He made a show of rolling his eyes.
"Stop laying down on the job." He loved to #fence words with her, though his mother would never approve of him being so familiar with a maid.
She took his hand & let him pull her to her feet. He reluctantly released her hand as she brushed herself off & smoothed her dress.
"I really am sorry, Sissy," he said earnestly.

#wss366

#WordWeavers Where in your world would you send a loved one?

Sendia Springs is a hot-spring resort on the island of Havelock that is the premier destination on that island. It has an inn with bathing facilities and a top-notch restaurant that serves gourmet food on small plates. On the other hand, in Belleriand, is the resort town of Easton which has the best beaches and the town center was filled with hotels, restaurants, casinos, and brothels that cater to aristocrats from across the islands.

While my wife and son go to Food Truck Friday at Abandoned Building Brewery, I've come to hang out with Tanuki-chan. She doesn't get any beer, but she likes to lick off the can before I open it. #DogsOfMastodon #WesternMass

Cicely cursed, rolling on the floor & holding her head.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The mistress' son #spoke rapidly in a panicked tone. "I just thought it would be funny!"
Cicely glared up at him.
"You won't tell Mom, will you, Sissy?"
Cicely knew that telling the remote, austere mistress would be a terrible mistake. But there was no sense in giving in too easily.
"Well… I don't know…" she said.
"I'm sorry! I won't do it again," he said, insincerely.
"Oh, alright," she said.

#wss366 #microfiction

He held up a corked bottle with no label that was filled with amber liquid & jammed with twigs and roots. "This is Papa Juice. It's made with rum and sugar & my own secret mix of spices. Try some!" He pulled out three glasses & poured them each a generous helping.
They looked skeptically at the glasses. 
"It smells strong," Cecelia said.
"But it goes down smooth!" Papa laughed, downing his in a swallow.
Kasseh took a tiny sip. Her eyes widened. "It's good!"

#lesficfri (*Lady Cecelia's Journey*)

We picked up our first #UMass CSA farm share. There was a lot of stuff! Squash, scallions, tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, bok choy, kale, lettuce, peppers, and more. Now we have to figure out what to do with all this stuff. #WesternMass

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you reuse characters?

Boy, howdy. I do love to write more about my favorite characters. I used to make fun of myself by calling this additional writing "fan fiction," but a woman at a convention indignantly told me that this was *LITERARY CANON*. So, yeah. I love to write both sequels for protagonists and additional stories that take secondary characters and turn them into protagonists. *Lady Cecelia's Journey* is a new series about a minor character from *Revin's Heart*.