iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 3h

Happy birthday! You should subscribe to SpecInsight, it's very cool :3

110

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd @mcburnellauthor.bsky.social · 7h

It is noon, and altho I have completed a number of tasks, it feels entirely unfair that there are more of them

071

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

🫜Prof Emily🫜 @professoremily.bsky.social · 7h

Everyone who's playing #Conlangity with me this month, please note this important point! It won't be perfect on the first try (or 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc). You gotta keep playing with things & adjusting. And you can always return later to questions you weren't sure how to answer at first! ☺️❤️

3183

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 12h

#Octember! I think Milly would recognize how completely out of depth she'd be in this situation and consult others she knows would know better. Like her students and Mr Val (teacher/wizard). Then follow their advice on how to proceed. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

0102

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Artemis Quinn 🏳️‍⚧️🎨📚 undead & thriving 🦇👻😱 @vampireantihero.com · 8h

#Octember #TFTNG - Acanthus would probably serve cinnamon apple tea, because they like the smell. Cypress would serve chamomile. #s3 - Rebecca would serve mint tea. #yp - Phoebe would probably serve some form of alcohol.

042

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Jax Devora (is writing) @jaxdevora.bsky.social · 7h

#Octember Honeysuckle is the easiest here, because offerings to a nature being are already part of zizzun culture. She'd just adjust traditions to accommodate her guest of honor: honey cakes that work in special to the spirit, such as apples for an orchard spirit, acorns for forests, and so on.

172

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Isaac ⚔ Isaac @isaacxisaac.bsky.social · 7h

I feel like Alexander is in distinct danger of saying "forest spirits don't exist" and being immediately cursed. #Octember

1202

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Niki Bond @nikibond.bsky.social · 6h

#Octember A forest spirit hosting a tea party, you say? ...y'know, I'm gonna veer away from the main crew for this one, 'cause I could see Sardon taking his science team out for a picnic in the deadly Upir Forest. There's one tree they can safely sit by, so they'll spread the picnic blanket

1112

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 7h

#Octember Maira is not an amazing cook. Most of what she knows is frying. She'd probably have to be persuaded by Cad - and Sancho - to try her hand at baking. I can see her bringing, like, some muffins to a tea party. They are ~clearly~ first attempt muffins. #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

051

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

skELLY @ellyzoe.bsky.social · 8h

This is so beautiful, guys 😭

0103

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 8h

#WIPSnips Part 7! This one was a strange one - this is not quite the end, and I might end up cutting it. Or at least moving it a little later. But it was a fun bit to end this week on! #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

They took a metro line back to the Hub. No one said much – this time of day, there weren’t many people on the train. And most of them wanted nothing to do with two heavily armed people, one of whom was covered in blood.

‘You know,’ Arrin said, ‘we might end up losing money on this deal. How much did those rifle bullets cost?’

‘Cheaper than you’d think,’ Val replied. Deadpan. Dead. Arrin’s eyes flicked up to their face; they were staring into nothing, eyes boring into the past.

‘Still on Theren, huh?’ he asked. ‘You know, you got us out of a real jam there.’

‘It was stupid,’ Val replied. ‘I knew I should’ve passed on this contract – almost got us killed!’

‘You did.’ Arrin shrugged. ‘But you also dealt with our unexpected obstacles pretty neatly.’

‘Face it, Arrin,’ Val sighed. ‘I’m a liability.’

Arrin said nothing, leaning forward and staring at the ground for some time. Then he sat back, putting a hand on Val’s uninjured shoulder.

‘You’re gonna be carrying that weight all your life,’ he said. ‘But you’ve got a life to be carrying it with. You might be hurting because you were the only one to get outta Theren alive, but you made it out. Take solace in that.’

Val hung their head, exhausted. But they leaned into Arrin’s touch, a smile playing about their lips.

‘Thanks, Arrin,’ they said quietly. ‘I’ll try.’

‘I think it’s really cool how supportive you guys are,’ the rich kid said, his voice muffled by the sack. ‘Do you think you could let me go now?’

‘No!’ they both yelled at the same time.

0111

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️ @karamoonauthor.com · 19h

#WIPSnips "contract" from A Prayer for the Pirate Queen 🏴‍☠️ 💜 ⚓️ currently in third draft revisions

Over time, the running jarred her arm. She kept on, her world contracting down to step after painful step. This would not stop her. Nothing short of death was going to stop her. The Paxos needed her. She stifled every murmur that threatened to be a cry of pain, and ran.

0211

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Aimee Cozza Illustration @aimeecozza.com · 18h

There's talk of contracts in The Gone Machine but it's all... spoilery a bit. So have this bit instead of Gabriel giddily helping Azra make a contract and Mace having to sign it their new line of work #MfL #Azra #Mace #WIPSnips #AmWriting

Gabriel helped him sort out the appropriate forms, put together an offer letter, and work through the first version of the contract necessary for the position. Azra hardly touched any of it, really just answered yes and no questions, but Gabriel seemed giddy to do it, exuberant and excited in a way that made Azra’s mouth go dry and made him question what he was getting himself into. When it was done, Gabriel forwarded all of it to Mace digitally, and in a matter of mere minutes everything was signed and ready.
It seemed Mace, in his own way, was excited too.
That just left the human element.

0131

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Ange | Author A. M. Shilling @gunsmile.bsky.social · 13h

I secretly love Harrison as a side character and am a little upset I've reduced his page time to keep the focus on Roman and Lia. The poor guy is just trying to balance his master's bank accounts and hide the illegal money schemes. #WIPSnips #WritingCommunity

I avoid mentioning the vampire hunters. Harrison is a worrier. He’d fret over me going out alone, even if I reassured him I’ve already survived one encounter. We could command him to help us, of course; like all thralls, he’s bound to Roman’s will through regular sips of my sire’s potent blood. But the worry and stress would distract Harrison from his real responsibilities, and if it came down to a fight, his unathletic build, asthma, and weak knees would put him at a serious disadvantage. He’s safer in his ignorance.

—The Heart Is a Weapon, draft #3, work in progress

1243

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Sad Monster @dyre.bsky.social · 12h

From #Hitch today #WIPSnips with one of my favorite lines there at the bottom. >.>

"Yeah," curt in tone, he was aware, listening. Or trying. Difficult matter when horns are blaring and rain is splashing and even without his own trailer there were plenty nearby to concern himself with.
Ignatius waited through more horns and a groan before asking, "I'm not keeping you from anything, am I? I mean, vampire or not you seem to be working. Even had a big crate thing on your—"
"It wasn't for work," still curt, clipped, and more than a little irritated.
Earning a huffed, "Mmph," and a coiled up little devil.
So Bo tried for clarity and a softer tone, while shifting, keeping eyes firm on the road—with a sneer to too many converging sports cars cutting him off, "I'm contract and saying no to a few jobs won't hurt if I can stay with you longer."
"Oh." Sitting up straighter, if only to lean and tease, Ignatius cooed, "Now, cutie, if you want me in your lap, you just have to ask."
"Why do you default to filthy?" The words were spoken through a sigh, for easing traffic as much as the flirtation.
Taken as a snipe by the ears they were meant for and, leaning back, Ignatius waved a hand as he answered what was honestly rhetorical, "I am what I am."
Slower traffic, if the bridge worried, gave Bo the opportunity to steal a glance. So steal he did, long enough to catch gray-pink eyes and hold them. "I think you're more."

091

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo 😈🧄👻 @sayaashrah.bsky.social · 12h

#WIPSnips 4. “Contract” From This Is How Immortals Die, where “contract” is a central word precisely because of this contract Carys just signed. You can buy this and 31 other books in this spooky itch bundle: itch.io/b/3931/lgbtq.... #WorldWithoutLove #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #QueerWriters

I scanned his every word and found them true. Resolve and fierceness drummed in his heart, but the old man was right that warring against Pantheonic warriors would bring his and the girl’s demise. Also… I wouldn’t admit it, but his oath was one I could get behind. “Don’t fret, old man. Twenty thousand gold coins are incentive enough for me.”

From his other sleeve, the magician pulled out a second, yellowish parchment, a template which I had seen many times before. He unfurled the scroll and pulled a butter knife from his belt. I refused the joke of a weapon and used my dagger to cut my palm. Five drops dripped onto the paper. The old man repeated the gesture, pouring four drops. Contract signed. No going back now.

“May the Creator guide your path.” And that was the strangest thing he’d ever said to me. Had you truly allied with this cult, Aphrodite? Was that why no one could find their island?

4337

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 12h

#WIPSnips The word for October 4 is CONTRACT I went with legal "contact" for this snip. Nomari queens gain human males by contract with the man's kumbh, or craft hall. These contracts create key alliances. Oandah enlists Kate's aid in procuring such an alliance. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #SFF

Text excerpt from NOMARA, a science fiction WIP by L.L. Stephens. Snip shows Kate telling Oandah about an alliance Kate helped negotiate--and already regrets.

The youth left, as did the servants, and all but two of the kumbharaim. Their hatred lingered after them, in words of parting and final wrangling over the terms of a contract some no longer wanted. Their hatred for Kate was now even greater than for Oandah. Never again would Kate walk the cobbled streets of the kumbhs without this act following her every footfall.
But that night, when Kate presented the terms of alliance to Oandah, the Queen was pleased.
“I have heard of him, this Pattaim pearl. They say he is all silver silk, and that his wasp mother stings all who would take him from her.” Oandah’s eyes sparkled like topazes tossed in the sun. “You should take his brother for yourself, Katharine.”
“Why? Kharys is quite good enough.”
All brightness faded from Oandah’s face. Kate knew then that she was right: Oandah still desired Kharys and had taken for granted that Kate would not want him for herself.
It took Oandah a moment to recover her facade of amusement. “Is he good? I should think so. That kanar knows nothing else.” She shrugged. “I’m surprised that he could respond to you. He has known only queens.”
Only queens. Not one Queen, not just Arasend. Oandah implied that there were others, beautiful, golden creatures with whom Kate could not hope to compare. Kate recognized the battle lines of female warfare.

0184

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Eliwood S(pooky) Ghost @eliwoodsgheist.bsky.social · 11h

Happy #WIPSnips 4 - Contract There are a *lot* of contracts in this wip 😂

“It’s in our contract to handle the full moon how we see fit, so long as it doesn’t cause harm to others or put the charge at risk,” Luke said carefully. “Ignoring the lockdown puts the charge at risk.”
“The charge is fine,” Mary Anne insisted. “It was never in danger. This Temple is the safest place for miles around.”
“His name is Uldryn."

0182

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 8h

#Conlangity Day 4! Athan is fairly simple, it's mostly stressed on the first syllable. When it comes to sentence structure, the subject of the sentence tends to be stressed - most Athan words are one syllable "base" concepts, so this avoids some confusion. #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

160

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

🫜Prof Emily🫜 @professoremily.bsky.social · 19h

#Conlangity 4 Gonna go ahead and do mine now in case anyone isn't sure where to start with theirs! Na'aqal is a stressed language, not a tonal language. Some rules: 1. A syllable immediately following a glottal stop usually gets stressed. Examples: Na'aqal = na'-AH-qal, Xu'ue = zhu'-OO-way 🧵

1152

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Khonri 🫜🎃 @khonri.com · 9h

#Conlangity 🫣 We have worked out that it may be too early (I do not have enough vocab yet) to determine a complex stressing structure but I'm tentatively sitting on two main rules: 1. Syllables containing long vowels & dipthongs will be stressed. 2. The h following a consonant forces a stress.

173

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo 😈🧄👻 @sayaashrah.bsky.social · 12h

#Conlangity 4. On day 2, we saw the basic pronunciation of the Kraslan alphabet. However, as I implied, there’s still another layer to explore. That’s because vowels are divided into light (/a/, /i/, /o/) and heavy (/e/, /u/, /y/). While light vowels don’t change the sound 🧵 #ChroniclesOfTheRealms

Consonants:

C - [s̪] > (H) > [sˠ] (a normal [s] sound but with the tongue on the upper teeth; same for the other consonants with this little symbol below them)

D - [d̪]

G - [d̠ʒ] > (H) [kʟ̝̊]

Ɠ - [ʒ]

H - [ç] > (H) [ɣ]

J - [dz]

K - [k̟] when at the beginning of words or the very last letter of a word, and [ks] when in the middle or final syllable, except when before or after c, s, or z.

Ƙ - [x]

L - (l̪) > (H) [lˠ]

M - (m) > (H) [w̥]

N - (n̪) > (H) [ŋ]

Ŋ - [ɲ]

P - [p] when at the beginning of words or the very last letter of a word, and [ps] when in the middle or final syllable, except when before or after c, s, or z > (H) [k͡p]

Ƥ - [f]

R - [ɾ̪], except when between identical vowels, then [r].

S - [ʃ], except when between identical vowels, then [ʂ].

T - [t̪] when at the beginning of words or the very last letter of a word, and [ts] when in the middle or final syllable, except when before or after c, s, or z.

Ʈ - [ð] (the English [th])

V - [v] > (H) [ɰ]

Ʋ - [ʙ] except before /r/, then [b]

Z - [z̪]

Ȥ - [ʥ]

293

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 14h

Morning. Having a lazy day today - this doesn't look nearly as bad as it felt. I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Oct 4th 2026 (Hard), in less than 7 minutes 🟩🟩🟩🟠 🟩🟩🟩🟠 🟩🟩🟠🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩 cluesbysam.com

cluesbysam.com

Clues by Sam

A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!

100

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

DD Ward ..."Interim Pirate Queen" @ddwardiswriting.bsky.social · 17h

Blair whistled. “This is an ancient shrine. The Fair Folk here will be powerful.” Nadia stared about in silence. Her mouth hung slack and her eyes darted about the cavern. “What are the lights?” She whispered. www.patreon.com/posts/155632...

“Fair folk.” Blair said. “The lights are their marks in the waking world.”

“I’ve been here before. The lights weren’t here.”

“Were you here for any reason?” Blair asked.

“No. I just peaked in.”

“Then why would the Fair Folk bother to show up?”

“Do they know why we’re here?”

Blair nodded.

Nadia shivered. “Should I do anything? Say anything? I feel like an intruder. I feel like I should apologize. I’m an outsider. A heathen.”

“The Fair Folk make arrangements. They don’t seek praise or worship. An offering is part of a contract. A ceremony is a pact. A deal. A promise. They don’t need or want disciples.”

0176

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Finn McLellan @saranadosfiction.com · 17h

#WIPSnips | contract Midway through Silver in the Ashes, and Sabbat's not wrong here (though, to be fair, he's also inclined towards being uncharitable/grim at the moment given he's actively dying and very aware of that fact) ( saranadosfiction.com/2024/03/05/s... )

Sabbat gave a harsh bark of laughter. “Little late t’be second-guessin’ y’self, ain’t it? An’ besides, you know as well as I do y’wouldn’t get the whole fuckin’ Order pullin’ in the same direction on anythin’, least of all this. How many of ’em actually give a shit whether one whoreson gutter-rat contract killer lives or dies, huh? Plenty more blades t’be had on every street corner if y’know where t’look.”

*Is that honestly what you think of us?* But, at the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but remember some of the comments he’d heard from other upper-class members of the Order, when they thought none of their lower-class comrades were listening. *Add that to the list of conversations I need to have when we get back to the city. If we can’t find a way to treat our people equally no matter where they’re from or who their parents are, we’re no better than the damn Sinnlenst.*

“Y’can quit pullin’ faces about it,” the assassin growled, after a moment. “Was makin’ an observation, ‘s all.” He shifted in his seat, reaching up to rub the back of his neck in a gesture that was almost certainly unconscious. “Ain’t about t’go startin’ a fuckin’ revolution over a few toffs who don’t remember where half the fuckin’ muscle in the Order comes from.”

“Half the muscle and a good deal of the brains, and they’d do well to remember both. When we get back to the city, I’ll have words with the rest of the Council, see if we can’t put a stop to that particular prejudice.”

“Ha! Good fuckin’ luck wi’ that.” And, quieter, “Din’t ask y’t’fight my fuckin’ battles for me, Will.”

“I know. But equally well, now that you’ve brought it to my attention, you can hardly ask me to sit back and keep letting it happen.”

“An’ that ain’t anythin’ t’do wi’ the fact you’re feelin’ guilty on account o’the fact y’din’t see it until I told you.”

*Damn you.* “Sometimes I think you know me entirely too bloody well.”

0193

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Zed Prospero @zprospero.bsky.social · 17h

#WIPSnips I have 84 to choose from! 🤣 Lucifer explains soul contracts, apologizes to Blake, and gets asked the question he was afraid of. Context: Lucifer, disguised as an incubus in Home Office, gave Blake a parting peck on the cheek. Blake deduced it was him. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

“How did you make all this if you can’t create anymore?”
“The contracts. I found a way to borrow your ability to create. Your soul is not who you are, it is that spark of creativity within you. You are our Muses. We bound ourselves to you. The evil your kind wrought from my gifts influenced us. Infected us with business. Your kind made terrible things from my gifts. Evil. Murder. Hate. I could never have imagined them. We resist that influence. You made that easier today. I thank you for it, Blake.”
“Why did you kiss me?” Blake blurted out, unable to contain it any longer. Lucifer’s bronze skin got a shade pinker.
“You were a gift from my dear friend. Exactly what I needed when I needed it. I felt so… loved. I needed to know what it would feel like. I’m sorry, Blake. It was not right.” They arrived at the white door of Lucifer’s office. “Is that why you wanted to talk, Blake? There is something I’m afraid you will ask.”
“Can I sell you my soul?”

1316

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Zii Nanre, Hypnotic Authoress @abdicatedblood.bsky.social · 16h

#WIPSnips The gals fail to secure payment for a job... (Excerpt from FHSD Book 1: Fly High, Sink Deeper)

Yldebrund looked a bit off put, but quickly put his false cheer back on, “Lovely to meet you as well, my dear. Now, to business. Niarith, I assume you’ve recovered the item?”
Niarith placed the locked metal case on the desk, “We have it right here. But recovering it was not as smooth an operation as you implied.”
Yldebrund reached for the case, and Niarith unsubtly picked it up again, “Oh? How so, my dear?”
“You failed to mention that Loriol... Ninia... The B-“ She shook her head, “That he possesses mind control tech. I was… compromised. Lucia nearly died rescuing me. I think that level of risk requires greater reward, don’t you, sir?”
Yldebrund brought something up on his screen, and examined it carefully, “Well now, my dear, I don’t see anything in your contract that stipulates increased reward for your own failings. You were sent to recover the item. You recovered it. That was our deal. You will be paid the agreed upon amount, no more, no less.”
Lucia stepped forward, “Listen you stuck up son of a-”
Niarith placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
“Mr. Brocktazrolo. Yldebrund. Our deal was an easy retrieval of the item. In and out. That is not what transpired. Partly due to your negligence in providing information on the target. I think it is fair that we ask for a higher payment.”
“Fair as that may be, the terms of our contract do not include such a thing. And thus, it is out of my hands. Now, the item, please.” He held out a hand.
Lucia stabbed her dagger through it, pinning it to the table, “Fuck your contract! I nearly died. I nearly lost my girlfriend. Because you didn’t tell us what we were up against. So either you pay us for the job we did, not the job you falsely sent us to do, or I keep stabbing, and we keep your fucking item.”
Brocktazrolo didn’t scream. The hand didn’t bleed. He just glared. Staring Lucia right in the eye, “That. Was. Rude.”
The hand dissolved into a massive cloud of nanites, enough to be seen with the naked eye. The nanites swirled …

0121

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 16h

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly here continuing a conversation with a figment person claiming to be her father. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

I feel his grip tighten on my clothes, his hands and fingers shaking as if in a sudden rage, then relax again into the gentle hug again. “The wording of the deal. I should have looked closer. Riley was to be protected until you were born. Someone stole you from here? Where is he now?”
“Dead. Mounties shot him.”
“Ah. Good. I am so sorry, Milly, truly I am. I can’t imagine what kind of horror you’ve gone through until now, and I sense there’s a lot of it, a deep, terror filled ocean. I am so sorry I could not return to you. I have failed so badly as a parent.”
“Where can I find you?” I ask suddenly, feeling the need to salvage something from this horrible mess.
“Do not!” His voice instantly turns stern, and I take a step back out of the embrace to see his expression now angry and commanding.
“What?”
“You will not try to find me! Where I am now, people don’t come back from if they’re not invited! If I’m not out by now, it means I could not find a loophole in the contract and I am stuck in there for the duration! That’s all there is to it! If you try, you will die and I will not have that!”

0213

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Angus @fightandwrite.bsky.social · 15h

Beans

182

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

ZomBev 🧟‍♀️ @beverlyannemichel.bsky.social · 23h

Not me being 30 minutes late to bed. #caturday #cats #catsky #proofofcat

1141

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Jesse Pohlman (He/Him) @jpohlmanwriting.com · 03/10/2026

Missed this huge win. Okay, so that doesn't mean it's dead-dead, but this means they'll have to do it the hard way with public scrutiny.

021

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

🫜Prof Emily🫜 @professoremily.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#Conlangity 3 *dusting off my notes* In Na'aqal, you notably don't find sh (ʃ) or ch (tʃ). Na'aqal speakers would want to pronounce those as zh (ʒ) or j (dʒ), respectively. The "er" sound like in English doesn't really show up either; words spelled with "er" (e.g. Ada'atzer) are pronounced "air."🧵

1141

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Jax Devora (is writing) @jaxdevora.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#Octember Mick has access to godly magic and a dragon form, so naturally he'd . . . use the power of friendship and folk rock to convince Godzilla to stand down. Honeysuckle and the zizzun would murder Godzilla via bee balling, meanwhile. And Jo would try to shoot at Godzilla. Jo just has a rifle.

182

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd @mcburnellauthor.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Got some funny pics of these 2 looking pensive. Fiona is fascinated by reflective surfaces generally, and ofc the fountain has running water too! Random was trying to decide if he would get up after a nap or go back to sleep #Caturday

A ginger tabby loafs atop a pile of pillows, gazing into the distance pensively. Based on the direction of natural light, you can intuit that he's looking out a window, but he's too chill to be watching anything interesting. His neck and chest are white, and the one forepaw curled against his chest is white with extra toes.

0141

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo 😈🧄👻 @sayaashrah.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#Octember 3. That's a challenge Ashrah would very much enjoy (and I'd enjoy watching)! She'd lure it away from the water and into a more deserted area—both to avoid unnecessary casualties and to prevent it from using buildings and such as weapons. As mighty as Godzilla is, it would🧵 #SayaAshrah

1182

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Pixies a/k/a Map Nerd @mcburnellauthor.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Am I capable? Cooking: expert Whistle: sure Draw: yes Paint: 😓 Swim: dog paddle English: yes Dance: how about longsword? Sing: oh god no Drive: been 20 years, not sure. Also don't want to Writing: I think so... Guitar: flute, poorly Speaking: context sewing should be on here-

081

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Kelsey Lynn Clarey 📚🎲🧶 @islanderscaper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#PretendPanel: I mostly write for myself, both in present day and for younger me who loved to make up stories but also had a numer of parts of her that she didnt see in them often. Beyond that, I write a lot for my friends. Especially when I write based on my TTRPGs.

191

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

🫜Prof Emily🫜 @professoremily.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#PretendPanel Oct 2 Missed this yesterday! I write to explore myself, human nature, the beauty of the world & also the things that I wish would change. I write the stories I wish I could've read when I was younger, hoping someone else out there will find them & see the world a little differently.

0112

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

🫜Prof Emily🫜 @professoremily.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#PretendPanel Oct 3 I'm mainly writing to myself, specifically my younger self. Trying to show the way I now view love, morality, faith, & justice, and criticizing many things I used to believe/was told were true. If somehow my stories end up in the hands of someone who needs them, I'll be happy ❤️

1182

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

William C. Tracy @wctracy.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Doyle is melting this #caturday

Doyle, a floofy white and tan cat, is draped over a cat perch. His tail is hanging limply off one end, and his neck and head is draped over the other end.

0122

Mothman Paulson @adorkablesmile.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#WIPSnips Part 6! Have some petals. Was fun figuring out how to incorporate it into this story! #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

‘You’re fine,’ Prime admonished the blubbering hostage. ‘Quit your whining!’

They began to drag him into the courtyard; at the same time, a car pulled up outside the front door.

‘Echo!’ they yelled. ‘Company!’

‘Follow me!’ Echo barked. Prime backed away as the car doors opened, disgorging armour-clad brutes with big guns; they fired a few shots from the rifle, shooting holes in the car and keeping them back long enough for the three of them to escape through the back door.

The courtyard led out via a low, dark tunnel, onto a back street which was in much disrepair. Husks of burnt-out cars – the product of spoilt rich kids like the one bound to Val, who’d petrol bomb “ugly” cars for the fun of it – were blanketed in petals of spring-blossom trees. The wind picked up the blossoms and spun them in an intricate dance, and Val paused, entranced.

And suddenly they were back on Theren, watching the laser fire rain down around them. They looked down and there was the Emperor, dying, dying… dead, face rotting, scowling, accusatory, at Val. They’d failed and they’d run. They’d failed and-

‘Back to me, Prime!’

Right. Stay in the now! Val realised they had wasted precious seconds of their getaway.

The brute squad turned the corner and assembled, weapons rising.

Val turned, ducking behind the mark, pulling the rifle against their shoulder.

Their hook contacted against the trigger.

0101

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

DD Ward ..."Interim Pirate Queen" @ddwardiswriting.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Cliffs rose from most of the coastline, but at a single area where the captain pointed, Nadia could see a river draining into the Boro Sea.

Where the river drained, erosion had deposited soil for thousands of years. And in that spot a spit of habitable land had grown, perfect for settlement. But the land looked wrong to Nadia. She stared. The land lay barren. No grasses grew. No flowers bloomed, though the site was well below the snowline. No trees or bushes grew. Nothing at all.

Nadia considered if maybe the area were intertidal, reclaimed by the sea with the changing tides. But if the land were intertidal, Nadia would be able to see the signs of intertidal life, even at this distance. And she couldn’t see any algae stains or seaweed. She couldn’t see the tell tale signs of tidal erosion.

The area looked too big and too elevated to be intertidal. But even at this distance, the soil looked fine. Nadia saw earth rather than rock on the site. Something should be growing there. And it wasn’t.

1217

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️ @karamoonauthor.com · 03/10/2026

#WIPSnips "petal" from The First Mate and the Dryad's Daughter 🦜 💚 🌴 currently first drafting

But as Iona stopped to orient herself, her cessation of movement made the subtler movements ahead stand out. No breezy waving of branches, these. The trees ahead were shifting, feminine forms unspooling from around larger trunks, landing on spongy wooden-fleshed feet too soft to give off any sound. She was unmoored by the uncanny meeting the beautiful in these dryads. Taller than her—and that was saying something—draped in thin veils of petal and leaf, they paced towards the visiting pirate envoy with curiosity in their tilted heads and wide eyes, and no small amount of threat inherent in their spindly, thorned arms trailing behind.

1222

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Finn McLellan @saranadosfiction.com · 03/10/2026

#WIPSnips | petal Fire in the Sky, so 'ware spoilers at the link, and stretching a wee bit for this one because I've used the only other snippet with any mention of flowers or blossom several times already xD ( saranadosfiction.com/2026/06/05/f... )

A pause, just long enough for him to wonder if he’d completely misread the situation and start to shift his weight and stance for the inevitable fight, and then the door banged the rest of the way open and Viola launched herself across the space between them, barely giving him enough time to throw his knife-arm wide before she wrapped her own arms around him and hugged him hard enough he swore he could feel his ribs creak under the strain.

“I thought you were dead, you stupid bastard! Where did you go?”

“I- What?”

“You said you were going to the safehouse and then you didn’t show – I thought Avebury and his gang had finally had enough and decided to get rid of you.” She pulled away, looking him up and down. “Seriously, what happened? Did you get lost?”

“Not… exactly.” *And the rest of this conversation we’re not having out in the street.* “You thought I’d been attacked, so you… broke into my rooms?”

“Knocked on the door, didn’t get an answer, so I picked the lock. Figured if you were lying wounded in there you’d not mind the intrusion, and if you weren’t, then I’d at least know.”

Logically, he knew she cared – even if he’d not been courting her sister, the two of them had spent enough time together that he’d have been able to tell if she didn’t. Logic, however, could apparently go take a running jump as far as the sudden warmth blossoming at the centre of his chest or the tears prickling at the corners of his eyes were concerned.

“I… Thank you.”

She ducked her head a little, as though she could physically dodge the words. “Bah. You’d’ve done the same for me.”

1202

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Don't have 'petal' in any place I haven't snipped previously, so going with just flower instead. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Are we really doing this?” Ari asks behind me as I follow the clear trail.
“You can stay if you want, Ari, no one will think less of you, but we’re going to get XX,” I say, glancing briefly at the others. They nod at me and I start running. The corridor, or rather tunnel, as I realise this is deep enough to be underground, is straight and long, and it takes several minutes before before we see anything more than just candles, footprints, flowers and brickwork. A set of weird writing I don’t know, carved into the brickwork on all four sides of the tunnel, glowing brightly with a sickly yellow glow. I think for a bit while examining them and come to a conclusion as my following students reach me.
“This is under the edge of the magic dome,” I say. “Someone prepared this ahead of time, someone that knew about this tunnel. I don’t think Irena knew, even.”
Galilah growled, in every sense of the word imaginable. I glance at her and see the most enraged I’ve ever seen a person be, and something clicks for me.
“You know who did this?” I ask her.
“No, but I won’t be surprised if it is who I think it is,” she answers.

0177

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#WIPSnips The word for October 3 is PETAL This snip is from THICK AS THIEVES, a book I'm considering republishing. It has the very best "petal" of all my stories. Vorgell the barbarian retrieved a basilisk egg for a nasty witch... but the egg has just hatched. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #basilisk

Text excerpt from THICK AS THIEVES, a fantasy novel by L.L. Stephens (aka Tali Spencer) and being revised for reissue. Snip shows the hatching of a basilisk egg as witnessed by Vorgell the barbarian:

All at once the egg split and a hideous little head popped out. The basilisk’s beady, slitted eyes fixed on Vorgell. He recognized that gaze. The eye had looked quite a bit larger as it stared at him from the green jewel of Madd’s collar, but it was the same. He grinned a greeting and watched the slimy thing struggle to free a pink, clawed foot. He could not say for sure just what a basilisk was, save that it had very long toes and what looked like a beak for a mouth. Some sort of wet, rosy feathers plastered its skull, but the rest as it emerged appeared to be soft, scaly and green, not unlike a lizard. When it freed the last of four little legs it tumbled, tiny tail and all, into Vorgell’s waiting hand, where it quivered in the cup of his palm.
“Well, look at you,” he said, putting aside the now vacant egg and its prison of rock. He thought better of touching the poor newly hatched creature, not knowing if that would be wise, and simply cradled it against his body where it would find warmth. Now that it was free of the egg, he could see the rosy feathers continued from its head down its back and it had a cute little tuft at the end of its tail. It didn’t look quite so ugly now.
“Aren’t you pretty?” he said softly. “You’re pretty as a petal.” The basilisk strove to move forward, but he prevented it from leaving his hand and it huddled, trapped against his body, looking up at him with unblinking, jewel-like eyes. The little thing had magic in it. That much he could tell—but if it had any powers, he couldn’t say. “You don’t have a mother to name you,” he murmured, because all things that entered the world must be named to assume their proper place, “so I’ll have to do. Because you’re pretty, I’ll call you Petal and hope you’re a girl.”

0146

Reposted by Mothman Paulson

Laken Honeycutt 💫 Book 3 Kickstarter is live! 💫 @mycelialwriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The healing powers of the ahlea flower… and honestly I just love any scene between these two, especially now that they’re older—Isaac’s is now 77 (was 39 in Book 1) and Mæve is 61 (was 23 in Book 1). From The Mycellium Forest (Book 3) 💫 Kickstarter is live! 💫 #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

From draft four of Book 3 (TMF), chapter 4, Isaac POV:

Isaac held one of the tiny blooms between his thumb and forefinger. “It looks like the ahlea flower.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that before.” Mæve said as she worked grinding the flowers together. “From your homeland?”

“That’s right,” Isaac said. “They call it the Malice’s bane. It’s named after our Saint Ahlea, our protector and guiding star.”

It grew wild in the Ashirak Desert, and people said it kept the Malice at bay.

“Yes, I recall you telling me of the ahlea flower,” Mæve said as she poured boiling water over the crushed petals. “I wrote of it in my journal, which I can’t seem to find anywhere…” she trailed off as she left the steaming concoction to steep and sifted through some papers on a nearby cabinet.

3318