@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

Came out for the No, Nos and La Fever for live music on the Common jn Amherst. #WesternMass

More background about the Better Angels 'zine. And how to get one! https://stevendbrewer.com/better-angels-zine/

"No paws on the table!"

"OK. You didn't say anything about no bellies on the table!"

#DogsOfMastodon

"Corporal!" Hillsong bellowed.
"Sir!" he yelped.
"Guard these two women & assure their safety."
"Sir? But what about my platoon."
"You are relieved of all other responsibilities." He glared at the corporal, his words freighted with menace.
The corporal gulped. "Yessir."
Hillsong bowed to Cecelia. "I cannot leave you behind. Yet I will do what I can to assure your safety. In return, will you give me your word to not trouble my men?"
"Yes, Milord," she said. "Thank you for your concern."

#wss366

#WordWeavers If your antagonist and MC had to civilly eat together, who would find it harder?

In *Lady Cecelia's Trial* (Part Six of *Lady Cecelia's Journey* there is a matchmaking dinner in which events do not go entirely to the satisfaction of Cecelia's mother. But I wouldn't want to give any spoilers: It's one of my favorite parts!

#WritersCoffeeClub Favorite Scene> Share a snippet of a favorite scene in your WIP.

From *Rewriting the Rules,* Part 7 of *Revin's Heart*:

I've made a 'zine about the Better Angels that includes a snapshot and description of each of the Angels including their vital statistics and "three measurements." If you buy a signed copy from the publisher, I will include a free copy of the 'zine with each order. https://water-dragon-publishing.square.site/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/354

Maybe *Callirhytis furva* on *Quercus rubra*. #gallformers

spica odoro, sur trankvila aero… la kletro floras / a spicy odor on the still air… summer sweet flowers #hajko #haiku #esperanto

My employer periodically sends me deceptive emails encouraging me to receive my W2 only electronically. "Oh! You can get it sooner! No chance of it getting lost!"

What they don't mention is that I can *already* get it electronically. They're just trying to get me to let them off the hook of mailing me a paper copy because it would save them money. Grrr. It makes me angry every time.

The officer took note of Cecelia making careful observations of the Havelock forces. He sighed & rolled his eyes.
"Just who are you?" he asked, eyeing her.
Cecelia offered her most gracious smile. "Lady Cecelia Aster Aspidelle of Belleriand."
"By the skies, but you're a #trial," he said. He bowed. "Lord Major Dexter Hillsong of Havelock. How do you do, Milady?"
"I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance, Milord," she said, with a curtsy.
Helia gaped, looked back & forth between them.

#wss366

#WordWeavers  What % of your worldbuilding or MC background info makes it into stories?

I tend to not do worldbuilding until I need to. But when I create a character or a setting, I usually have a good idea of how it fits in, even if I don't write it down anywhere. In the Revin's Heart universe, though, I'm now closing in on 100 characters and so I have a text file where I keep track of at least some basic details. And I have a CSV file for the timeline, so I know when stuff happened.

#WritersCoffeeClub Thinking about your WIP, have you changed anything in your process from earlier work?

My process has changed a lot since I started. I used to totally "pants," but now I plot obsessively (but then will still pants as I go along). I used to write from the beginning to the end. Now, I'm much more likely to jump around and write key scenes and the ending much earlier in the process. I tend to draft just dialog and action in the first draft, then add detail during revision.

At BT's Smokehouse…

"Get the men back!" the officer snarled.
Terrified, the corporal flipped him a salute, then turned and ran. He returned after a few minutes with the rest of the platoon.
The officer ordered the men back to the edge of town. As they emerged from the buildings, he motioned with his arm and Cecelia watched with horror as more platoons of soldiers stood up from where they had been concealed.
Cecelia tried to observe carefully, counting the numbers of men and types of arms they carried.

#wss366

I made a post about writing and publishing *A Familiar Problem*. https://stevendbrewer.com/drafting-a-familiar-problem/ #writing

#WriterscCoffeeClub What's the mix of character, description, dialogue, and action in this WIP? Is it your usual style?

My "usual style," huh? Each of the novelettes I write tends to start with some initial action as a hook that sets up the story. My writing tends to be dialog driven — I don't do much exposition at all. I try to develop a sense of rising action as the characters move through the story, revealing the shape of the conflict. Then have a satisfying climax for the payoff at the end.

#WordWeavers Do your MCs have colours associated with them?

No, but some have collars…

"Are you… Do you want to be my familiar?" Rory asked.
"Oh, no," she said. "You're going to be mine."
The demon gestured at his throat and a translucent collar materialized around his neck with a shining cord that she held in her fist.
(from *A Familiar Problem*.)

#WordWeavers Any revelation you wish to share?

"What are 'ghosts'?" Rory asked.
"People here have this funny idea," Tseluna explained. "that biological creatures have a part that exists separately from their body & persists after death."
"But they don't?"
"That's right. You *are* your body and after you die, that's it."
"Are people sad when you tell them?"
"Would you rather live a lie?"
"I dunno. Some people would."
"I did figure out how to pretend to be a ghost, though. That was pretty funny."

#WritersCoffeeClub Does your WIP contain any subplots (perhaps between secondary characters)?

Yes. In both *Revin's Heart* and *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, the stories are structured as a series of novelettes, where each part has a unique story arc, which plays a role in the overall story arc which spans the entire series. I really like the episodic feel of telling a story this way, probably due to the influence of reading manga.