@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

#PennedPossibilities How is your MC or SC with animals?

The horses seemed to be able to tell Revin was nervous & one gave him a painful nip. They also evidently had particular places they wanted to be in the team & were quite nasty about Revin getting it wrong. As he brought the next horse to the coach, it tried to kick him. He partially dodged, but a glancing blow still caught him in the solar plexus & knocked the wind out of him. He sat on the ground, gasping. He was coming to despise horses.

#WritersCoffeeClub What's the minimum time you can work on your writing? Do you need a long, clear period?

I find that it's not productive to work on anything for long blocks of time. I often work for little snatches of time when the mood strikes me. I often have two or three manuscripts open at once and, when I get tired of answering emails or grading papers, I'll flip over and write for a bit. Occasionally, I'll get into a flow state and can write for hours. But that's the exception.

The Angels consulted their devices & saw the new modules. As one, they triggered them. 
"You rang?" said the Angels.
"Get scrubbed up, Ladies, and render assistance as needed!" Zaza said, with steel in her voice.
"Yes, Head #Nurse!" the Angels said.
Zaza, Rara, & Bebe returned to the stock closet, found scrubs, & got changed. As they came out, Zaza looked at the deceased terrorists and said, "Better call for some body bags." (from *Better Angels: Tour de Force* https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/ )

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#WritersCoffeeClub When writing technical or scientific detail, how much is plausible versus imagined?

It depends. In *Better Angels*, I tend to simply assert that technology exists to accomplish fantastic things & don't provide any more detail than you would about the way a car works: e.g. you press on a brake pedal & the car slows down. You don't need to describe hydraulics or disks or drums or friction. But when technology is unfamiliar to the protagonist, I try to capture their experience.

Cecelia squawked when two girls sprang on her in the bed, jumping around, giggling, & laughing. She rubbed her eyes.
"Why all the #racket?" she yawned.
"Time to do the chores!" one girl shrieked.
"What time is it?" Cecelia groaned
"Four bells.
"Chores?"
"I feed the pigs & my little sister feeds the chickens. My brother takes the goats out. Mama & my older sister milk the cows. And Daddy takes care of the horses & gets tack ready for the day's work."
"What can I do?"
"You get to help!"

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Someone got a real tongue lashing from Tanuki-chan this morning. #DogsOfMastodon

#PennedPossibilities Does your MC have next-door neighbors? Who are they?

Terrier led Revin to a different room than he had stayed in before. It was much smaller than the luxurious guest room, but more comfortable to his mind. 
"This door communicates directly with her Majesty's quarters," Terrier said, indicating an interior door. "She asked for you to be placed here so as to have you at hand as needed." (from *Rewriting the Rules*, Part Six of *Revin's Heart*.)

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you add a copyright statement to your work? How comprehensive is it?

I let my publisher do that.

I carefully slunk forward, keeping to the shadows—eyes fixated on my prey. It would lie quiescent for a moment & then twitch first one way & then another. I got within striking range & waited for the right moment. I readied myself to spring.
"Dammit, Grappler," the human said. "If you touch my ball of #yarn, you're going to be so sorry…"
I stood, then yawned & stretched. After sauntering into the sunlight, I flopped down. There would be other chances. The sweater was not even half done.

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Tanuki-chan thinks it's almost too hot for a fightin' ball today. Almost… #DogsOfMastodon

there's no rush today…
the catkins sway in the breeze
just hangin' around

#haiku #bloomscrolling #WesternMass

#WritersCoffeeClub Have you ever copied a piece from another book or movie as a homage?

When the Better Angels turn on some of their military programming modules, some of the lines they say are adapted from quotes from StarCraft, e.g. "Give Bebe something to shoot!"

#WordWeavers Who is your most fun character?

I love all of my characters so it's very hard to choose just one. If I had to choose, I guess I'd pick Booboo from the Butter Angels. She is perhaps the character I personally identify with most. She's plump & doesn't really think of herself as pretty. But her girlfriend loves her & she is supported by the other angels, even when she is impulsive & says weird, offensive, off-the-wall things. I love her unfailingly confident, cheerful, funny attitude.

Butcher lay in the grass under the farm stand. He'd done a good day's work, in spite of the heat. Numerous dangerous malefactors had been identified & repelled. He enjoyed his well-earned rest in the shade. He thumped his tail as Farmer Brown approached.
Farmer Brown looked upset. He was making disappointed sounds with his mouth hole again. Butcher wasn't sure what the problem was. All the produce was still safe on the table, just as he'd left it. He thumped his tail again reassuringly.

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#WritersCoffeeClub Is there a certain kind of story or arc that is easier for you to write as a short story than others?

Since I've never had any formal training in writing, I don't know what kinds of stories or arcs there are. I just write what I want to write. It might be better if I knew what the hell I was doing, but I'd rather use my time writing than trying to learn how to write.

#WordWeavers Are there characters and events that challenge your MC's belief system?

In *A Familiar Problem*, Rory begins by wanting a powerful familiar to support him in battles. Instead, he is captured as a familiar by a demon to enter him in an illegal familiar-fighting tournament. At first Rory is confused when his world is turned upside down. But, upon reflection, he decides that this arrangement, in spite of the role reversal, gives him everything he had ever dreamed of. And more.

#PennedPossibilities Are there any characters of yours that you wound up HATING once you were finished with a story or WIP?

Not really. There are some characters that are meant to be despicable. But usually bad things happen to them. But even the bad characters I write have redeeming characteristics. In Revin's Heart, a character consistently misgenders Revin & makes unwelcome advances. He's a horrible person and, ultimately comes to a bad end. But Revin is conflicted because he saves his life.

Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton. #WesternMass #SilentSunday

Curtains turned and bowed to the Contessa who was coming up behind him along the walkway.
"After you, Milady," he said.
She sniffed and stepped through the door. The head butler called out to the assembled party, "Milady Seria Chelone the Contessa of Sinness!" There was a quiet round of applause as she stepped forward.
Curtains stepped forward. "Milord Curtiss Belthingstone the Baron of Belleriand!"
In the silence that followed the only sound was the shocked gasp of the Contessa. 2/2

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Curtains and Roughneck approached the estate.
"Are you really going to go?" Roughneck asked. "You know she'll be there."
"Given my new responsibilities, it is incumbent upon me to put in appearance," Curtains said.
Roughneck just shook his head.
Curtains entered the gate, walked through the formal garden that surrounded the palace, and joined the line to enter.
"Huh. Their standards have really fallen, if they're letting someone like you in," a voice said behind him. 1/2

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