Science educator, biologist, technology guru, and award-winning author of Esperanto-language haiku, haibun, and prose. he/his
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@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop
<p>This semester, I'm making my
This semester, I'm making my writing students study lichens. https://stevendbrewer.com/lichens-at-the-montague-plains/ #lichensubscribe
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#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.
<p>"Put your arms 'round my
"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.
<p>"What? No! No, I would never
"What? No! No, I would never ever try to pull on your sleeves like a goblin!" #DogsOfMastodon
<p>At the waystation before the last <a
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.
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#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."
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#WordWeavers If your MC had a themed vehicle (Batmobile, Popemobile, Mystery Machine) what would it be?
Heh. We know the answer to that because you can see *Pamela's Panties" on the cover of *Then They Fight You*." https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/then-they-fight-you/
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#WritersCoffeeClub How much worldbuilding do you do before the first draft?
Hmm. This is a tough question to answer. I guess "lots and none at all."
I generally start with a setting or a couple of characters, start writing, and just see what happens.
That said, I rarely just start writing a "first draft." I usually write a number of individual scenes or pilots before I actually start working on a "first draft". And all of those minor essays represent my efforts to do world building.
<p>"It’s as if the manufacturers
"It’s as if the manufacturers of the phones *want* to rat you out to every business with a phone app." — @philipbrewer https://www.philipbrewer.net/2024/10/30/wanted-sandbox-for-commercial-apps/
<p>This year, November is Writing Month
This year, November is Writing Month! https://stevendbrewer.com/this-year-november-is-writing-month/ #WritingCommunity #WritingMonth
<p>I have been elected Secretary of the
I have been elected Secretary of the Science Fiction And Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). Ganbarimasu! https://www.sfwa.org/2024/10/29/2024-sfwa-special-election-results/
<p>Veronica received the note from the
Veronica received the note from the messenger boy & gave him a chen.
He tugged his forelock & ran off.
She tore open the note & read it. The chief was calling her to a crime scene. Then she glanced at the address, and paled. It was Sophie's house.
"Oh, no!" she gasped.
Shaking, she turned to her client. "I… I need to…"
"Go!" he said. "We can finish later."
She spun & began to run. Her mind whirled. What if… She shook her head, blinking away tears. How could things turn out this #way?
<p>I was watching a Sistar video that
I was watching a Sistar video that had the line "Is this a fight or a date?" I shared it with my wife who asked, "Why can't it be both?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbXV2R_Yd1E
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#WordWeavers Has your protagonist ever faced discrimination?
Revin grew up in a backward community that oppresses women. Girls are married off as soon as they enter puberty and are expected to keep house and rear children. Revin escapes first by cross-dressing and then transitioning to male. In the *Revin's Heart* stories, he has already transitioned. But the story of his escape and transition is included as a side story in the collected volume. https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/revins-heart/
<p>"What should I write about for
"What should I write about for #wss366?"
"I dunno. What's the prompt?"
"#Bake."
"Hmm. Maybe something about the Butter Angels. Maybe they're trying to make *castella*…"
"That's a thought. But I'd have to look up the *castella* recipe again. And what would be the hook?"
"Good point. Any other ideas?"
"I could write a Mary story. Someone could say she's a *bakemono*."
"Who would say that?"
"I dunno. Maybe I should just punt."
"Sounds like a plan. Maybe just write some pointless dialog."
"Done!"
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#WritersCoffeeClub Do you make any of your work available for free? Would you?
I often use the microfiction I write for @wss366 as promotional pieces for my books. But I don't make my own work available for free. I might submit to non-paying publishers, but generally don't.
<p><a href="https://wandering.shop/tags
#PennedPossibilities On average, how many times per week do you write?
I write something every day (email, text messages, social media posts, etc). I write fiction very nearly every day (doing @wss366 prompts, if nothing else). But my actual productivity is really highly variable, such that an average doesn't mean very much. Right now, I'm outlining a new novel and I've been adding two or three scenes per day for the past few days. But I sometimes go a week with no progress. It just varies.
<p>She walked, feeling the weight of
She walked, feeling the weight of men's eyes on her. And not just on her, but on her breasts — as though she were a mere #object for their entertainment. Each step she took caused her breasts to bounce & jiggle. It was infuriating. She dreamed of burning their eyes out of their heads. She waited for the inevitable whistles & catcalls.
A young man approached her, blushing. Her temper grew, anticipating some rude comment.
"Pardon me, miss," he mumbled. "I'm afraid you've lost a button."
<p>The labyrinth at Silver Bay in Hague
The labyrinth at Silver Bay in Hague, New York. #SilentSunday
<p>"We need to get you some local
"We need to get you some local clothes," Tseluna said to Rory.
She led him into a boutique & picked out a stylish outfit.
"Try this on!"
After inspecting him, she spoke to the clerk in Japanese. They went to the register & she extracted eight 10,000 #yen bills to pay.
After she paid, Rory asked, "Where did that money come from?"
"I'm rich, you know," she said, archly.
"But did you have that money before?"
"No," she admitted. "I just made it with magic. It's way more convenient."