@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

We stood there skipping stones and, eventually, began competing to see who could skip the most. He was ecstatic when he won with six skips to my five.
"Hey, Dad," he said, finally. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always!" I said with a smile. (4/4)

"It's easy," I replied. "Find a flat stone and throw it like this." I picked up another rock and demonstrated.
He tried, but it just splashed in the water.
"Try again!" I said.
He picked up another rock and, time, he got two skips. (3/4)

"To the pond."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
He sighed again.
When we reached the pond, I picked up a flat stone and threw it side-arm to make it #skip across the surface, leaving a line of intersecting rings of ripples.
"How did you do that?" he asked, suddenly interested. (2/4) #wss366

"Hey. Come with me," I said.
He looked at me. He'd come home from school, heaved a huge sigh, then settled in front of the TV with a bag of chips.
"C'mon!"
He sighed, got up again, then followed me out the door.
We walked past the car and down the street.
"Where are we going?" he asked. (1/4)

"I'm very proud to be a chew-toy for Tanuki-chan," says @philipbrewer. #DogsOfMastodon

inter aliaj, eteta narcisaro… eĉ ne indas flar' / among others, a tiny bunch of daffodils… not even worth a sniff #hajko #haiku #esperanto

On the Ides of March, I'm idly wondering if history can repeat itself.

#WritersCoffeeClub Are you aware of any fanfiction about your work?

My first fan fiction was what I wrote myself as follow-on bits about my stories. But then someone told me this was not fan fiction, but literary canon.

I was truly charmed when @tobadzistsini posted the first real fan fiction of my work. I went around telling everyone who would listen that I had made it as an author because I had a fan (one!). I'm not aware of any others but maybe someday I'll have TWO fans! It could happen.

When they reached the Grand Hotel, grooms ran out to take charge of the horses and #lead them away while attendants unstrapped and unloaded the luggage from the coach. Curtains stepped down from the box and opened the door to the coach.
"We have arrived, Milady," he said. "And you are now safe. I must now return with my men."
He extended a hand to assist her down from the coach.
"Thank you, Milord, for your concern," she said, taking his hand and stepping down. #wss366

The two best things you can do for a small-press author are to buy direct from the publisher and to write a review. Both the author and the publisher make twice as much money when you buy direct. And reviews are the life's blood of publicity.

Today was what I call a "brain chemical day." I was grumpy and upset all day for no good reason I could identify. I tried to warn people. I did get some work done. And I managed to write a haiku and a story fragment, but not much else. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

A huge, scaly creature charged out and tried to grab a CuddleTum. They all squealed with terror.
A screaming report issued from the top of Angels' Wings. The creature dropped with a steaming hole blasted through its head.
"That's one!" called out Sisi, cradling an Ublyudok particle rifle. (2/2)

This time, when Angels' Wings approached Carolot there were no warnaways. Angels Wings landed again in the forest clearing. David opened the cargo hatch and the CuddleTums emerged somewhat fearfully. They stretched and hugged one another after being penned up in Hold One for so long. (1/2) #wss366

#LesFicFri "eyes"

literary arts…
a beautiful fountain #pen
execrable writing

#wss366

As of my last class today, I am now on spring break until next Tuesday. Time to get some writing done!

Unions for the win!

"Thousands of federal employees fired by the Trump administration must be offered job reinstatement within the next week […] as a result of a lawsuit brought by a group of unions and civic groups on behalf of workers fired from a host of agencies and sub-agencies." https://www.npr.org/2025/03/13/nx-s1-5325959/federal-employees-court-firing

The young blond woman stood surrounded by a small swarm of floating cameroids in front of the smoking ruins of the stockade with panicked workmen running back and forth.
"This is Mandy Fourteen reporting from Smithworld," she said. "There is still no official comment from Mump Industries, but remarks attributed to Elald Mump are unprintable."
She sent a cameroid to follow a workman.
"Any comment?" she asked.
"Aaaaah!" he screamed.
"And there you have it!" she concluded.

#wss366

a careful study
of her greatest attributes…
through sidelong glances

#wss366 #haiku

If a government shutdown will also shut down DOGE, I say, "Bring it on!"