Eclectic wordsmith crafting enchantments through fantasy novels. Beyond the realm of quills/keyboards, I unleash my creativity on witchy things, clothing design, make visual art and dabble in the mystiques of IT. An ardent devotee of tea, my world is adorned with jars, bathed in the green of plants and moss, and serenaded by the whisper of seashells. I am Dutch and dyslexic. While I do my best to minimize errors, please forgive me the occasional slip-up.
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npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy
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npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy Show more details
Published at
2023-12-25T23:10:42+01:00 Event JSON
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Last Notes npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw I love it when absolutely no plan comes together. It always amuses me how little story puzzle pieces just drop into place. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Yeah, I'm not buying the idea that they can't talk. I have definitely heard one yell, "PEANUT!" at me. It won't be long... npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana I was looking forward to those cherries. Now I just have tubby, smug-looking jaybirds in my garden. Adorable feathery thieves they are. #bird #birds #gardenbirds #garden https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/739/695/305/346/985/original/0b73464eba656cfe.png npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #pennedPossibilities 363: Have you been able to reach your intended audience with your stories? Hmm, well, my intended audience so far has been me, myself and I. Who aren't always as easy to reach as you might think but I suspect I've managed. 🤷♀️ npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 358 How would your characters react to an apocalypse? "Hmm, it must be Wednesday." #writing #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 25 MC fight of flight When she's in danger, she tries to avoid a fight and does her best to resolve whatever conflict there is peacefully but she'd never run from a fight. If that danger is to people she loves, she is very resolute and will disembowel first and ask questions later to minimize that risk. If it's a danger to her children, she will hunt it down in the dead of night and drown it into the earth by wielding moss as a murder weapon. (Book2 chapter 3) 💚 #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Half Pixie, half Paul McCartney... so.. mischievous but melodic. Yeah, he's up to something. *Gleefully twirls invisible machiavellian author moustache. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 22 Plants While Freya is not as botanically inclined as her mother, she has a sense for plants to the extent of utilizing them as a murder weapon. Pelliniana, on the other hand, could bring on a very green-looking apocalypse if she sneezes wrong. During the finale, at the end of book two, Freya and Pelliniana pull on the life magic around with such force that they turn the city into a forest and all the wood in their home sprout branches. #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #writerscoffeeclub 20 Do you ever write in a cafe or bar? I tried, but I have a "Chat to me" face. Last time, I left with 0 written words and a complete list of self-help books a man named Freddy is going to write just as soon as he gets the hang of his new tractor. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 19 Does the slash (/) have any place in fiction? I have no trouble imagining a good use for that: Haunted command line. The sudo rm -rf /* is coming from your own IP address! #writing #linux npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 18 If your book came with a small toy, what would it be? A quil. I plan on adding blank pages throughout the books and encouraging the reader to use it as a grimoire while reading. #witch #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 18 Show, don't tell I'm not against a bit of tell. Adhering to this rule as gospel can lead to vague and convoluted writing and slow the pace down to a crawl if you're not careful. So, as with most things in life, it's all about balance, which I mostly work on during editing. I'm fond of playing with the show aspect. So many assumptions to toy with! So I suggest: Show, tell and deceive! *Insert evil laugh. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 15 Is your work child or teen-friendly? Whimsical as it might be on occasion, it's not for children. Teen-friendly really depends on the teenager. The series deals with heavy themes and includes a lot of content and trigger warnings. Officially, it would certainly not be deemed suitable, but I usually disagree with that. Everyone develops at their own pace, so blocking all teenagers from reading certain material never sits right with me. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub Describe a bit of ask-an-expert research you've done presenting yourself as an author. Hmm, I mostly just talk to and study people. They're experts at being, well, people. Personal philosophies, stories we tell about ourselves and how we see others. That sort of thing. Other things I can usually find online and research on my own, but there is nothing like hearing people's stories first-hand. The diversity of what it means to be alive. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 13 What's your favourite antagonist to write? Villains, anti-heroes, rivals? Villains The flawed human beings stumbling into a situation that makes their flaws flourish. All the backstories and trauma most antagonists are set up with have started to feel like such an excuse. Just like IRL people, some of my characters are impossible to comprehend or empathize with. #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #pennedpossibilities 339 — Does your MC learn from their past, or are they prone to repeating the same mistakes? She learns from some, repeatedly makes others and starts making new mistakes. Don't we all? She explicitly tries to learn from them. At the start of the series, she is far more naive and merciful, but now, in book 8, she is much more calculated and ruthless. Her character changes, most notably in behaviour and decisions, while her motivations remain largely unchanged. #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 8 Where would your SC go if they had a bad day? - Cedric would sit on the rooftop at night and play his violin. - Sabre would go find something to fight in the woods. - Dionysus would go to the training grounds and kick something inanimate. - Pelliniana would go tell the trees in the garden what's bothering her. - Valentine would crawl into a nook near the window and write in his grimoire. - Zonasius would go to his workshop to fix something that wasn't broken. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #TimeTravelAuthors 7 How many time travellers in your story? The spirit of any Ethereal being persists. Which only retains memories of strong emotions. So when Freya re-ignites time and hurls herself into her two-year-old self, in a way all Ethereals deities "travel" with her. But no one knows how many Ethereal deities have chosen a corporeal form. Not even they do. Besides that, Cedric and Castus jank the entire city of Finialura into the past using the Dream Realm. So, around 100.000 🤷♀️ npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #pennedpossibilities 338 — How would your MC/SC respond to someone betraying their trust? Sabre has been betrayed so often that he's become dangerously resolute about it. It's used against him, and at one point, he becomes convinced Freya's affection is fake because she's just an assassin trying to get close to him. A lot of self-hate makes that fit into the narrative he has about himself. As a result, he nearly kills her. It takes some very tough love to snap him out of this. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 7 - What can make your MC cry? The ephemeral state of life and the fragile nature of reality. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #writerscoffeeclub 6 Have you queried agents for traditional publishing? I stumbled into an agent through a friend of mine last year and got enough of a taste to know traditional publishing is likely not the world for me. Honestly felt more like he was trying to be my pimp, but that might have just been my aversion to marketing lingo. Or perhaps I was just a bit overwhelmed. Chatting with you all has really helped me be more confident about my writing. 💜 #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Haha, yeah. This dude is not subtle. His ghost doesn't believe he's dead. He keeps denying it and pretends to drink coffee. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Totally with you on this. The sexiest sex scenes are the ones that significantly contribute to the story and characters. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 4 Antagonist POV: is it easy for you to apologize? The ghost of King Armand: I am the best at apologizing. I am so incredibly humble, more humble than anyone else. But I am never really wrong on anything, so it doesn't come up too often. But when I do, I express sincerity like no other, and everyone accepts it instantly. I am an expert in managing my own ego. It never gets in the way. My ego is the best ego a person could have. It is very well crafted. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #writerscoffeeclub 4 — How do you handle highly intimate scenes? With care? Intimacy is an intricate part of, well, people, so I don't avoid it at all. One of the most intimate scenes I've written recently is Freya giving birth. I did not want to cut to the next scene or have the narrator stand outside the room. The details of giving birth to a child are very significant, so I could not omit them and decided to explicitly embrace them. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 334 How does your MC handle sadness and depression? Freya was never taught that the self could be cared for. She cares for others and even explicitly teaches others about self-care, but her own emotions stack up until they overwhelm her. It's after she gets married to Cedric and Sabre that they manage to point that out to her. Cedric helps her set a few rituals and meditations, but she constantly struggles with this, so they keep an eye on her and call it out when needed. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #wordweavers 3 Most creative character? Creativity is hard to measure like that. What I like is the unexpected creativity. Various characters are raised to be fighters. The men in the kingdom are solely applauded for their martial skills, so I like it when Lazarus writes poetry while commanding an army, Dionysus draws funny animals as he is competing in a tournament, and Sabre, who was raised to be an assassin, uses his shadow magic to illustrate bedtime stories for his daughter. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub Regrets as a writer? I regret believing that the written world wasn't for me. I believed I was too dyslexic and too unintelligent to ever write anything, even though my mind swirled with stories from a very young age. I could have enjoyed this world and these characters I now have instead of that mental space being deemed a mere symptom of a personality disorder to be medicated. Luckily, the regret pales in comparison to the sheer joy of writing. #writing #dyslexia npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Yay! It looks positively glorious. Good matching style and I love the expression on his face. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 332 — What were your MC's childhood obsessions? Age 2-6: Mud. Sticky mud, shiny mud, stinky mud. Age 6-8: Rocks. Shiny rocks, round rocks, pointy rocks. Age 8-10: Plants. Pretty plants, stinky plants, tasty plants. Age 10-12: Sea shells. Big shells, small shells, spiky shells. Age 12-16: Moss, fluffy moss, sparkly moss, tiny moss. Age 16-18: Mushrooms. Age 18> : Alchemy #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #wordweavers 1 Introduce your cast as if they were a famous music band I'd imagine it as a confusing mix of Heilung and The Mars Volta accompanied by a choir and orchestra because my cast is vast. ✨ 🎶 Dive into and experience the immersive soundscapes of Ethereal, a musical ensemble in which Freya's voice weaves transcendental intricate melodies seamlessly, complemented by Cedric's hypnotizing and melodic guitar and theremin work and Sabre's powerful, passionate drums. 🎶 ✨ npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Ha! Absolutely. I will ducktape all the strangeness with some profound-sounding nonsense logic. 💜 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw To be fair, it totally works. It promptly shuts up any flirtatious teasing, and she does end up marrying the two guys. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 31 Has your MC ever desired a better understanding of themselves? When we land in the series in book one, Freya has nearly forgotten who she is. She is deep down in a numbing dark void and can not see the colour of the world anymore. She knows she's in there somewhere, in that blank, expressionless face in the mirror. At that point, she's tired of this dark murky limbo and pleads to the self she once had to get her out of it. #writing #depression npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 330 How does your MC go about expressing or not expressing their sexuality? Any expression of sexuality is largely accidental. Whenever it is on purpose, she's not subtle about it and bluntly drops her clothes mid-conversation. She accidentally reveals her attraction to Cedric by beating him in combat training and restraining him on his knees with a couple of ghost vines. The mutual blush on their faces was a little too obvious to ignore. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #wordweavers 30 Writing from the POV of a child? It took a little getting used to and some in-depth interviews with my three-year-old nephew (Did you know happiness is made of grandma and pancakes?), but I finally managed to write Freya as a two-year-old, including a train of thought that matches her age. I'm comfortable with it, but it certainly is not easy. I like child characters to have personalities, but I also dislike it when they're portrayed as adults. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 30 How do you achieve a sense of wonder in your stories? Beautifully detailed descriptions of bat-shit crazy creepy absurdities. #writing #writingcommunity #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Ha! I knew random review guy would show up again sooner or later. The old disembodied voice of anonymous arbitrary disapproval... npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #pennedpossibilities 329 How is your SC typically seen by others? Pelliniana is small for her age and a kind-looking, adorable teenage girl. She wears dresses and giggles a lot. She's fully aware of the innocence she portrays, and if anyone messes with her family in any way, she literally starts collecting eyeballs. Beneath the surface, she is feral, angry, and unforgiving. She has a profound capacity for love which is precisely why she is volatile and deadly at times. #writing #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 29 How would your MC react to spider in their house? Greet it like a friend and admire the cobweb. #writing #fantasy #art #illustration https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/524/669/538/869/998/original/a20ac85b36e652a0.jpg npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 328 Meet your characters I clear my throat, stand up straight and decide not to be subtle. "I am the consciousness of the conjuring attic!" I start with a theatrical gesture I have yet to master. "I document your stories and visualize your shadows. I've been there for all of your lives and will be there for all that follow. I see into every Realm, connect to every timeline and have adored you all since before time began." I pause, and smile. "Would you like some tea?" npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #wordweavers 28 Did your MCs have comfort objects they carried as a child? For Freya's sixth birthday, her brother Lazarus wrote her a story about climbing the highest tree in the world and plucking a few stars from the sky while he was up there. He told her he stuck some of those stars in a peach pit so they could have a nap and gave it to her. "If you're really quiet, you can hear the little star snore." She believed him, and on a bad day, she can still hear it snore. #writing #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 28 advise Safeguard the digital sovereignty of your writing. When using cloud storage, do not rely on companies based in countries you do not trust or know the laws of. These laws might obligate them to break the privacy of your data. Make a conscious and informed decision on how to handle your data. You put your heart and soul into your writing, so please don't just click accept. 💜 #privacy #writing #author #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 27 What would your ideal writing group be like? A group of anonymous, kind, open-minded, encouraging and philosophically inclined mega dorks with obscure passions. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 27 What's the ideal story length? Use any definition of length you like, not just word count. "Ideal".. Hmm. Let me overthink this for a moment... Infinite? An unending story resonating through time to accompany our own. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Gotta love a day where you can simply do you. 💜 Instead of life getting in the way of, well..., life. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 326 Favourite places Freya loves the glass coral reefs that line the coast of the Enta province. They're full of nearly invisible, shiny ghost fish that are equally fascinated by her. Cedric adores the caves in the Enta celest forest. He loves the echo of his voice in there because it sounds like his twin brother. Sabre is very fond of the secret spot on the roof of Solitra palace, which he discovered with his cousin, especially at night. #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana Sometimes, I wish I could identify as "why is this relevant?" as a gender when signing up for a service. 99% of the time, it does not seem relevant at all. The "prefer not to say" option does not accurately express my confusion about this. Also, I don't like how that option speaks for me. I'd rather it simply be called "Nope" #rant #gender npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/ultrasonic-theremin 🤓 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 300 — How does your MC or SC react to change? Do they struggle to adjust or go with the flow? Dionysus reacts the most heavily to change, especially when he's younger. He never had much as a child and is aware that he needs the other Rascals to feel that he can take on whatever fates throw his way. If anything in the dynamic changes, he gets uneasy and scared to the point where he gets frustrated and angry until the others notice and find a way to reassure him. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #writerscoffeeclub 30 Are you writing to prove a point to anyone? 🤨 Oh yes, totally, absolutely. The utterly profound point is that it is better to lick the dark side of an ice cube than to twirl around in a teacup, thinking you're a sugar cube, and I shall prove this to you all one day! npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Oh, I like the idea of a doctor dropping by. Tardis got the hiccups and landed in the Thudiverse. Smack into a pile of Doctor Who glittery sticker keepsakes. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana There are billboards lining the city streets telling me that my smile looks good on me and every single time I pass one my brain goes: #feminism #vampire #smile https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/344/675/153/190/405/original/e321427ed350ddf2.jpeg npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/344/634/190/035/115/original/9b129360e869bbc5.jpg npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 26 - In your story who's hiding? Leandra, Cedric's mother. Not entirely intentionally, but when she died, the Ethereal deity of Imagination shoved her spirit into the Dream Realm instead of letting her pass on. She had been spying on her sons (Cedric and Castus) and watching them grow up from their dreams. She then spent years manipulating her grandchildren's dreams to get them all to safety back in reality. #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 27 Who's blaming who in your story? The wealthy are blaming the re-emerging witch cultures for anything bad as they are a direct threat to societal hierarchy. Most of the kingdom is getting pretty fed up with the blatant attempt at scapegoating, but there are still large groups who really want to believe it. They're tempted into such a belief by the wealth dangled in front of them like a carrot in front of a donkey. #writing #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Well, someone has to try it. I've never tasted a good shoelace meal. Perhaps Patchy and Batman could become food critics. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #TimeTravelAuthors 21 How historically accurate is your story? Any real historical figures? Historically accurate it is not. But we do have one historical character. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Elder In #MagicMageMadness, he is known as Plinius the Backward. He naturally does everything backwards and really has to focus on doing or saying anything chronologically. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub16q5…ds4s I wish I could but the sexy cat girl is confusing me. 🤨 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1d62…tshf Deep down, that is her actual fear. Becoming an abstract entity with a consciousness floating around in nothing, losing everything as it slowly fades from her over aeons. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 292 MC POV: What is your biggest fear? Being unable to avoid reality from falling apart and so losing everyone and everything I love to the unfeeling void of nothingness as my consciousness lingers on for eternity alone and shapeless until the memory of my loves and life is nothing but a distant faded echo in a language I no longer comprehend. Also evil sockpuppets. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw I bet it tastes better than a flying hippopotamus. 😋 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #Wordweavers 17 What personal expertise of yours makes it into your books? I have a fascination with botany that clearly shows, but what stands out most is my ability to conjure up detailed characters, resulting from a life filled with ludic dreaming and daydreaming. Can we acknowledge that as a skill? That mental space, that room to dream? The fight it took to hold on to that wonder. Screw it: I am a proud expert at dreaming. Who is with me? #fantasy #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/282/650/375/349/256/original/6fb4d43822976b92.mp4 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 16 - If your MC hosted a talk show Freya is very frustrated by the medical reports on which she has to base her alchemical work. They're created by an institute of mages who ooze patriarchal nonsense with every breath they take, and so it completely omits nearly anyone who is not a middle-aged, upper-class man. I can imagine her doing a "Sick of it" talk show in which she interviews people from all walks of life to get a clearer picture while pointing out their incompetence. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana Today's #WritersCoffeeClub question has made me curious: What is your favourite chapter title? #writingcommunity #writing #amwriting #author #authors npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw It's a shame that care and soul are not recognized enough. Ensuring your coworkers are happy and can do their thing is also work. I hope the change in dynamic within your team is still positive regardless. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Oh, yeah. That hurts. Besides that, it's almost impossible to replace such people. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Ah, that sucks. It inevitably leads to more work and less connection. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 284 What are common traps for new authors? Sucking the fun out of it. The most crucial thing is that it keeps being fun. Don't let ambition or self-discipline blind you to that, or it will murder your delight. Preserve the enjoyment of writing. First and foremost. This also means you should not fall for the romantic idea of being obsessive. Invest in healthy working habits for your creative endeavours. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Elli: "As happy as a bee on a frisbee, Eddy." npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Excellent embrace of errors. I like this approach. 😀 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw One misplaced comma, and now Eddy is purple. Suppose the whole bakery is bathed in purple light and that does include Eddy. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #PennedPossibilities 276 What is the most significant smell in your WIP? Burned cinnamon. Whenever a witch has a set of identical twins, she performs a spell that gives each a distinct smell. Therefore, Castus smells like vanilla, and her husband Cedric smells like cinnamon, if slightly burned by his spell casting. No matter where Freya ends up and what happens to her memories, the smell of burned cinnamon triggers the memory of the love, her perpetually inevitable Madeleine moment. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 7 Write a poem which describes you as a writer. Poetry is not my skill set, but here is an attempt: In my mind, I draft a tale, of magic's captivating glow, A realm where mystic wonders flow, and timeless passions grow. I scribble on about the lost, the philosophies I weave, In silent solace, I reside, in my world of make-believe. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 374 Antagonist POV: How do you feel about animals? Armand junior: They lack the intellect to serve their betters unless forced. Showing them kindness is nothing but a weakness parading around as a virtue. Each of them screams out for subjugation. The genuine cruelty is leaving these wretched souls stumbling around in the dark with no light to follow. And yes, this includes humanity. Aimless beast with half a brain cell and the arrogance to think themselves equal to me. #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #writerscoffeeclub 3 Do you use semicolons? I like using a semicolon to make the seemingly unrelated related; reading is a little more fun with unpredictable polka dots in the mix. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 2 — What books/resources have you used to improve your writing? I’ve tried the advice of a myriad of books on writing, but none of them has helped me more than others. The main and most crucial thing I have learned from all of the bits and pieces floating around my mind is that none of it should be taken as gospel, and writers who write about writing are a little too fond of the word “should.” #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 2 Do you keep a journal? Once upon a time, I did, but I learned how dangerous it can be to keep a record of private thoughts, and as a result, I now only journal in my mind. Please be safe and secure your journals. Even the seemingly innocuous can be weaponized against you. #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 31 For a giveaway, what swag would you like to offer with your book? I've always imagined adding empty pages to the back and selling the book with a large rainbow-coloured quill so that the novel could be used as a grimoire and the reader could doodle their own spell designs. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Haha, yeah. The more absurd, the more difficult it is to adhere to a consistent size. We should add something for scale that Eddy can call out. "Oh, that is at least 88 pineapples large." npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw I figured we could use some battle bunnies! How have you been? Catch up on some proper rest? npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw https://mas.to/@SmudgeTheInsultCat/112190560508764500 npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WritersCoffeeClub 28 Do you prefer to write protagonist-driven stories or ensembles? I adhere to the MC as the viewpoint, but an ensemble drives the story. The MC isn’t the hero of the story, nor any single character. The motivation is more external; the characters can drive their subplots, but the main progression is caused by external factors crashing into their world and stories, needing to be addressed. It’s more ‘people dealing with a mad world’ than ‘hero on a quest’. #fantasy #writing npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana The 'now' is beautifully strange. Arbitrarily, feeling more fragile than usual. The world is a little more strange in my eyes today. It is one of those days when the absurdity of life itself is a little more overwhelming. I try to stand still and focus on the beauty of it as I accidentally sip my empty cup of coffee. Am I alone in my twilight zone? #neurodivergent npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana I like the books I do not like. I've wandered onto a few sites with hateful reviews on novels, which makes me wonder who is forcing these people to read and review them? I've always felt quite free to stop reading something I dislike. Is it such an insult to encounter something you don't like? The world is full of books I don't like, which is a fact I kind of like. Go love that thing that is not my cup of tea. I'll love that thing that is not yours. 💜 #writing #writingcommunity npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana #WordWeavers 25 Would your MC enjoy the same books and shows you do? Why or why not? As part of the world-building, I added a show to the festivals called “No such thing as an inanimate object.” It’s a lot like my favourite podcast, #nosuchthingasafish , and has a panel of quirky dorks banteringly discussing interesting facts about the world. It’s a great place to add odd facts about the world that have not come up in the story. We’re both fans. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw @npub1s3u…emev @npub1yy2…7vpm @npub1yse…jaay That is an excellent magic power. "The narrator of the mind!" npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1yse…jaay Is it old-fashioned? I suppose it's the original "Once Upon a Time..." What irks me is when the tense and POV do not match the story. When 3rd person and past tense is taken as the default. I like present tense for stories in which you are not really supposed to know what is going on or have to figure it out but don't get it served up. Past tense seems to make more sense for structured story arcs and closed-ended stories. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw They landed and one man dismounted. He walked up, cleared his throat and looked like he was about to commence a solemn speech. "We are the order of," he started before Polly interjected. "Wankers." Tickled by the notion Eddy decides to go with it. "Good to meet you, oh grandiose order of wankers," he declared as he theatrical bowed. "No, that's not..." the man started to counter but Patchy interjected. "Hello mister Wanker. My name is Patchy." #MagicMageMadness #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw "But then contrasts was not missing. Was it?" Patchy asked a celebrating Eddy. He promptly stopped dancing, and one could hear the gears in his head turning. "Cold, dark. Dry, wet. Intelligent and, well, never mind," Elli mused teasingly as she raised her eyebrow at Eddy. "Okay, maybe not. Still, we have to be getting closer, right?" Eddy proposed as he looked around, his eyes landing on Kra. "No idea. But we will help," he answered. #MagicMageMadness #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Also, we'll need a reason to utilize 'Attack Glitter' somehow. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Whahaha it reminds me of the time when someone got this very nice Marrie Currie cake instead of the Mariah Carey one she ordered. https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/112/151/702/600/330/302/original/31e90264b6ed1ab8.jpg npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Hail Polly the wise! She has been leading the pirates in a fight against the order of Entropy! Safeguarding all of reality! I thought we needed a sprinkle of antagonists. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Elli skimmed through Sam's book. "Here it is," she mumbled. "Reality started when the light and the darkness bumped into each other on a Wednesday before the universe existed and fell in love at first sight. The physical, feathery incarnations of the concept of contrast now roam the world, hunted by order of Entropy," Elli read aloud. "See? Currse! Orrrderr of Entrropy wankers be at it again!" Polly remarked. The man nodded in solemn agreement. #MagicMageMadness #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana I wonder what tense you've all chosen to write in and why. I know past tense is likely the most common, but I have experimented with both and decided that present tense offers more direct immersion for my purposes. This also ties into who the narrator is. In my WIP, it is a person in the room invisibly tagging along with the MC. How did you decide, and is it reflected in the identity of the narrator? #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #author #authors npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw "Ah, don't be so dramatic, Polly," the man dismissed. "Dramatic! Dramatic ya say! I, the glorious Polly, would never in a million years be doing the dramatic in the slightest, you salty scoundrel!" the parrot declared. Patchy approached the pair and stared up at them with big, wide eyes. "Love?" Patchy inquired. Kristina kneeled and smiled a silent confirmation. "What is you?" Patchy probed gently. "We don't remember," Kra answered calmly. #MagicMageMadness #fantasy npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw They're low-maintenance and sing lovely shanties. Each one is more burly than the last. Adopt your pet pirate today! I can see the commercial. npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw The parrots have pet pirates! npub1suyj9mvhw8zc67djnlnz7r2njd7qjvlfwemy7v4k0cyd3v9swc9s2yqccy HeliaXyana @npub1k24…26zw Ah! I love Polly's look! I feel like making her Kristina's captain. Put the parrot in charge for once. Oh, or all pirate ships had always been secretly captained by a parrot! Yes, that makes sense...