@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

#WritersCoffeeClub Share an experience of writing in a restrictive format (sonnet, drabble, haiku, novella, script, etc).

Writing #Esperanto haiku is magical. The juxtaposition of the rigid constraints of haiku (three independent phrases, 5-7-5, separated by a single kireji, about nature, with a kigo or seasonal indication) stands in contrast with the utter flexibility of Esperanto (you can assemble roots to make any part of speech with no fixed word order and elide syllables when convenient).

I've been watching Lycoris Recoil with my son (while I tussle with his boxer dog). It has a similar gap-moe vibe to what I was going for with the Better Angels: cute girls doing cute-girl-things interspersed with scenes of ruthless, mind-bending violence. It's fun. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_Recoil

A longish post about selling books at pride events… https://stevendbrewer.com/selling-books-at-the-queer-artisan-market-and-first-amherst-pride-parade/

A spectacular sunrise this morning…

Tanuki-chan loves to roll on her back and tussle with me. She acts very fierce, but she's got a soft mouth and is actually very gentle. #DogsOfMastodon

"Oh, the usual," she said, looking around. Everything was still a mess. There was so much clutter it made no sense to be sweeping.
He sweated as she inspected his work.
"You've made good progress!" she said.
"You're very #kind!" he said. But "You're kind of stupid…" is what he thought. (2/2) #wss366

His eyes popped open when she put the key in the lock. He sprang to his feet, grabbed the broom, and started pretending to sweep.
The door opened and she came in, looking harried as usual.
"How'd it go?" he asked, hoping to deflect attention from his lack of progress. (1/2) #wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub How much of the finished work do you need to have in mind before you start writing?

When I started writing, I would begin with some characters and a setting and only a general idea of where the story would go. At some point, I started having anxiety that I would write myself into a corner and I began making outlines as guardrails. I've discovered, however, that the outlines don't really constrain me. So I make them, but still end up letting stories go where they want.

Before the Nebula Conference in Kansas City, the SFWA Board held a strategic retreat to talk about plans for the coming year. I was really encouraged by how well things are going. https://stevendbrewer.com/sfwa-strategic-retreat/

After reading this article, I'm tempted to start a book club. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/style/fiction-books-men-reading.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Rk8.I2lj.-nmjHA7spcVj&smid=url-share

#WritersCoffeeClub How frequently do other languages (or conlangs) appear in your writing?

My forthcoming book, *A Familiar Problem*, has scenes set in Japan, and there's a little Japanese to go along with those scenes. In *Ecorozire* (a Revin's Heart sequel), they travel to a place where a different language is spoken (that I developed the outline of a conlang for). But I'm cautious about using other languages. I'm a language geek and if I really let my geek flag fly, it might turn people off.

Tutu looked at the glass then at Bebe. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Hmph!" Bebe said, looking away.
Tutu put the glass down and sat on the floor.
Bebe pushed Bellotrix into her glass and knocked it over. It spilled all over Tutu's lap.
"Hey!"
"Oops! Bebe told you Bellotrix was thirsty!" (4/4) #wss366

"Where did you hide my glass?"
"Bebe didn't take it!"
Tutu clenched her fists and took a step toward Bebe. Then David returned from the galley.
"There was was a fly in your drink," he said, handing her the glass. "So I got you a fresh one." (3/4) #wss366

The Angels looked up and around at each other, but no-one said anything. Then Bebe spoke up.
"Maybe Bellotrix was thirsty."
She held her teddy bear up as evidence.
"Bebe! That was #mine! If you're thirsty, get your own drink!"
Bebe looked shocked. "Bebe didn't drink it!" she protested. (2/4) #wss366

Tutu carried her glass out to the lounge and set it on the table. When the replicator dinged, she went back to galley to get her popcorn. She passed David on her return to the lounge. When she arrived, her glass was gone. She eyed the other Angels.
"What happened to my drink?" (1/4) #wss366

The temperature topped out at 101.2°, but it's dropped all the way to 99.6° now! There's a weather station at Computer Science, about a quarter mile from my house. https://weather.cs.umass.edu/

From *The Better Angels and the Military Morale Mishegoss* in *Better Angels: Tour de Force*, only at the Truck Stop in the Center of the Galaxy. https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/

#WordWeavers 24. Have you ever created an imaginary animal? What is it like?

The 'pede soldier morph was a large centipede-like creature. They had little intelligence and carried no weapons, but were vicious and single-minded. They were highly flattened with thick exoskeletons, huge pincers, and many legs, that could roll at great speed like a hoop.
Their spacecraft were flown by the soft, grub-like 'pede officer morph. They were highly intelligent, devilishly clever, and cunning pilots

He blew on the #punk, keeping its ember alight, waiting for the signal. He listened to the waves lap against the gunwale as the small boat bobbed up and down. Then he heard a shout and the clash of arms.
He touched the punk to the fuse of the first rocket and, with a hiss, it sailed up into the sky. A moment later a brilliant light shone down from the pyrotechnic flare that hung in the sky on a parachute. It cast a garish light on a scene of combat as the marines assaulted the ship. #wss366

It lies, but still…