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#WritersCoffeeClub What's the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I've made several purchases for book promotion. I've gotten my book covers printed on poster boards and I have those standing up behind me in my zoom window. I also designed and purchased Airship Pirate ribbons & stickers to give away at conventions. These have been very effective at helping me sell books. And I wrote a post about how much fun it was to see people wearing my ribbons at Worldcon. https://stevendbrewer.com/airship-pirate-ribbons/

I think it's funny to see people talking about how to work around Apple's 30% grift on the iPhone apps. The correct answer, of course, is that you should never use any apps. Apps are just webpages delivered via a locked, spyware-laden browser you can't run an ad blocker on.

You've heard "I don't have to outrun the bear…" What if the bear gets you to fight each other. Then he doesn't even have to run to eat both of you.

I'm going to attend this workshop on translation in a few minutes: https://strawdogwriters.org/post/translation-reading-the-world

Afterward, they all laid together naked in the bed.
"So, how did you meet?" Helia asked.
"Well, we were both students at the Westland Finishing School," Cecelia explained.
"But what made you fall in love with her?"
Cecelia blushed, tongue-tied.
"It must have been for my #mind, because it certainly wasn't for my body," Kasseh said, gesturing at herself. "Now for *my* part…" She reached over and gave Cecelia a squeeze, causing her to blush even more.
"Oh, you're terrible!" Helia laughed.

#wss366

Tanuki-chan watches very intently every morning, waiting for me to arrive. #DogsOfMastodon

I had a great zoom meeting with @asakiyume @philipbrewer and @tobadzistsini to talk about writing for @wss366 It was fascinating to hear how everyone thinks about and approaches choosing prompts and writing #microfiction. We agreed to do it again before too long!

#WordWeavers Tell two truths and one lie about your story.

Demons are magical creatures that self organize in high-magic dimensions

The world Rory lives on was seeded with Earth flora and fauna during the last ice age.

When Aimee says she hates Rory, she means it.

*A Familiar Problem* is coming in January 2025!

My term as SFWA Secretary begins today. I've begun the onboarding process. I'm excited to get started!

Somebody got a new Fightin' Ball today… #DogsOfMastodon

"The main thing we need to assure is that you can send & receive communications securely. For that, let's use a book cipher," the Baron said. "But not a book you have or carry with you in case you're captured. What's a book you could get in the library on Devishire?"
"How about *Throes of Her Unbridled Passion*?" Revin suggested.
The Baron raised an eyebrow.
"I… Um… happen to know that the library there has a copy of that book," Revin mumbled.

#wss366 (from *Devishire!* a Revin's Heart sequel).

So *that's* how he did it!

We had two or three more parties of kids, and then a pack of college students. They were really too old to trick-or-treat, but we had plenty of candy and they were both polite and appreciative. And I think that's a wrap for the night.

One party of one child and another party of five! And the night is still young.

This semester, I'm making my writing students study lichens. https://stevendbrewer.com/lichens-at-the-montague-plains/ #lichensubscribe

#WritersCoffeeClub What's your tip for getting into a writing groove?

I wait for it to happen. Anything else would be forcing it and that's never worked for me.

"Put your arms 'round my neck," she said. "Hold on tight!"
Cecelia put her chin on Kasseh's shoulder, perplexed. Kasseh closed her eyes for a moment & a thick, blue towline snapped down & began to lift the satchel, which lifted Kasseh, which lifted Cecelia. She squeaked & clung to Kasseh for dear life as they rose out of the grotto. Kasseh kicked off the rocky walls as they approached the overhang, then let them drift over the edge. The towline snapped off, dropping them to the ground.

#wss366

"What? No! No, I would never ever try to pull on your sleeves like a goblin!" #DogsOfMastodon

At the waystation before the last #leg of the journey, Veronica changed into her new dress.
When the coach arrived in Arkwhite, she attracted stares as she stepped off the coach wearing a scarlet ruffled dress & immense hat with large plumes of feathers. Heads turned, then turned away once they caught her sharp expression.
Using Honey's directions, she walked directly to the pleasure quarter.
"Hey, baby!" one man called, and then writhed on the ground after she kneed him in the groin.

#wss366

#PennedPossibilities What goes bump in the night in your story?

"So what are these ghosts people keep talking about?" Rory asked.
"People have this idea," Tseluna explained, "that they have some kind of spirit or soul that exists separately from their body & persists after death."
"But they don't?"
"That's right. You *are* your body & after you die, that's it."
"Does it make people sad when you tell them?"
"Maybe. I figured out how to pretend to be a ghost, though. That was pretty funny."