@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

Peter Elbow, the UMass Amherst professor who was the architect of the junior-year writing program I've taught in since 2002, has passed away. I met him in a writing workshop once that he offered around the time he retired in 2000. (gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/education/peter-elbow-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0U4.ZAnf.n10fy8Zfj-TC&smid=url-share

On Using Social Media Wrong… https://stevendbrewer.com/using-social-media-wrong

The SFWA Nebula Awards Conference will be June 5-9 in Kansas City, Missouri. https://nebulas.sfwa.org/

Small Publishing in a Big Universe is going back to the Watch City Steampunk Festival! https://stevendbrewer.com/small-publishing-in-a-big-universe-at-watch-city/ #WatchCity #steampunk #waltham

#WritersCoffeeClub Feb 27: Post an image that reflects the tone of your WIP.

In Ecorozire! Revin visits a destroyed city in the airship the Queen of Belleriand.

Read more about Captain Racy Reckless and the rest in Better Angels: Tour de Force, only at the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy! https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/

"No! Never!" he said flatly. "I #refuse."
David turned and they walked back through the lounge where the Angels were sprawled out on pillows and couches.
"Well, if you won't rescue the cute little CuddleTums, then I guess they'll all just be eaten."
Bebe's ears perked up. "CuddleTums?" (2/2) #wss366

Racy heaved a huge sigh. David drew himself up and crossed his arms.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance!" she said. "But it requires more cargo space than I've got in my little Mark III."
"No," David said.
"You haven't even heard the deal!"
"No."
Racy sidled up next to him. "So. Much. Money." (1/2)

To be fair, I spent some little time considering alternate ways to express "stopping" that involved means, but went for simplicity.

The real trolley problem is finding and stopping the ones who keep tying people to tracks.

In December, the NYT ran an article about special hardcover book editions (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/books/deluxe-book-editions-decorated-edges.html?unlocked_article_code=1.z04.8Owb.t3d5Wlwf_sE6&smid=url-share

Sat @4pm PT, the SFWA Indie Authors Meetup (SFWA members and Nebula attendees) is talking about specialized hard copy production: who to go to and how to do it. https://events.sfwa.org/

Read more about Captain Racy Reckless and the rest in Better Angels: Tour de Force, only at the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy! https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/

"Oh, it's about…" David began, and then his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Wait just a minute! Why do you want to know?"
"I really like what you've done with it!" Racy gushed. "With the mirrors and rail, the Angels must use this as a dance studio, right?"
"Don't change the #subject!" (4/4) #wss366

"What do you want to see?"
"Can you show me your cabin?" she said, rubbing up against him.
"Keep dreaming," he said. Then he led her through the lounge and showed her the galley, the Angels' staterooms, and then Hold One.
"How big is the hold?" she said, innocently. (3/4)

"Ever since she found a package there, she always hopes it will be a delivery."
David eyed Racy suspiciously. "So what brings you to Angels' Wings?"
"Can't a friend just come to visit?" she purred. "I just wondered if you'd show me the renovations you did to this old DR-420 troop transport." (2/4)

When the buzzer sounded at the hatch for Angels' Wings, Bebe screamed, "Bebe will get it!"
When the hatch opened and Bebe saw who it was she just said, "Oh. It's you." She turned her back and walked away.
"That's not much of a welcome," Racy harrumphed to David when she arrived on the bridge. (1/4)

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you read outside your era, country or language?

Well, some of my favorite books include The Three Muskeeters and Treasure Island. I read a vast number of manga (and manhua and manhwa). And since I speak and read Esperanto, there is no "outside of my language."

I've started getting a bunch of fake docusign spam. They want you to click on a link that goes to "bigprick.html" which seems like a bad idea.

It's somewhat poignant to me, given the current cultural environment, that the #1 children's steampunk book at Amazon right now, is The Third Time's the Charm, my fantasy with airships and pirates that has a trans protagonist. https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/third-times-the-charm/

Note: It's not just for children. And if you like it, there are six more novelettes in Revin's Heart.

"So this guy is in a balloon, see?"
"Why would a guy be in a balloon? Wouldn't he suffocate? How would you even get him in there!?"
"No. It's like a hot-air balloon."
"Oh, like one of those popcorn poppers?"
"No. He's in the balloon and he's lost, see?"
"We know right where he is. He's in a balloon."
"But he doesn't know!"
"He doesn't know he's in a balloon? What! Is he stupid too?"
"This is the last time I try to tell you a joke."
"You were supposed to use the word '#project' anyway."

#wss366