iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

The epitome of the entitled Ugly American.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Slack isn't something I'm familiar with. I've created an account but how do I find your channel? Or am I meant to?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

I'd love to know what possessed her to do this. Did she think she'd "win"? Glad they let her know how they felt in no uncertain terms.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Yay! A coverup! That's how we got rid of Nixon!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Golfing if it's warm, and needlecraft if it's cold. Can't seem to concentrate enough to write for more than a few minutes. Squirrel!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Widows Tears by Susan Wittig Albert is one I can read over and over, as well as Timeline by Michael Crichton. Of course, To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite, and All Creatures Great and Small. I could go on; I have a box of favorites I can't read until I un-memorize them

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

I have dozens (hundreds?) of favorite books so my favorite authors are the ones that bring it, every time. For MG: J.K. Rowling, Laura Martin, Gary D. Schmidt, Victoria Schwab, Jessica Townsend.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

It may help you to find out your learning style; I had a bunch of employees and couldn't figure out why some of them couldn't "get it". Turns out if I gave them the info in their preferred style (reading it, hearing it, or hands-on learning) they did much better!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I really like this! Hope I get to read more!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

“Hey,” I said without thinking. “Turn the flashlight off.” He shrieked and whirled around, the flashlight sailing by my head and crashing into the wall. With the crack of breaking glass, it blinked out. “Well, that’ll do it,” I said, poking my toe at the wreckage of the flashlight.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

I'm sure the GOP Congresspeople are freaking out that they are being held accountable by their constituents. The nerve of us! They've cried to their leadership, whose advice was to stop having town halls, but if they HAVE to, here's some talking points and suggested remarks. NOT WORKING, hahaha!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

63,000 as is. If I lose the subplot it's closer to 44k.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Hello! I have an upper Middle Grade fantasy that clocks in at 220 pages. I've read that (especially debut) novels need to be shorter than that, due to production costs. I could cut a substantial subplot, which would drop it to around 140 pages, but make a tighter main story. Thoughts?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

It's more of a progression. Plot point A leads to B, subplot point A leads to C, and B and C combine to make D, which is the inciting incident.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Allie has a voice in her head, whom she calls SpyGirl. Her family has moved cross-country and she's had to leave her bestie behind. It's been a long time since she had to make a friend, and every move she makes backfires. Thank heaven she still has SpyGirl to talk to! Then SpyGirl comes to life...

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

My ms is a middle grade contemporary fantasy. My MC has a sequence of experiences that lead to the inciting incident on page 22 of a 220 page novel. Betas have suggested it takes too long to get to the incident, but all the other pieces have to be in place for it to occur. Is pg 22 too late?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Lanes are for people that need them! I spent all my life reading adult mysteries but when I started writing I went right to middle grade fantasies. Much more fun!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Most intrigued about the dog's name. Dean, or Winchester? I've never gotten anything at Disneyland but mouse ears - lucky you, to score a husband!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

This looks so interesting! So many intriguing elements!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

You can do math...AND write words? You are truly the whole package.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

#revpitwaiting My book intro: A lonely tween has moved cross-country, leaving her best friend behind. But at least, her imaginary friend is still with her! Then our heroine starts displaying superpowers - including having the imaginary friend become sentient, with opinions and needs of her own.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

That is SO COOL. See my profile pic? I'm sitting on a throne in the Great Hall at Stirling Castle. Love British history.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

You sound fun! What is this about waving swords?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

#revpitwaiting This is the most fun of the contest! Love meeting new people. They say "write what you know" - well, my MC lives in the Pacific Northwest, is snoopy and has an imaginary friend she talks things over with. Check, check, and check.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Thank you for your responses! The ghost is "present" for the entire novel, but only emerges in the last 20 pages. My hope is that when the reader is finished they go back to re-read, and find the little nuggets I've left that hint at it.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

If I have a mystery novel and a ghost pops up at the end to help the MC, is it a mystery, or a paranormal? I want the ghost to be a (somewhat foreshadowed) surprise.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I've got several ideas for sequels to my debut ms - in my query letter, is it a plus to say "stand alone with series potential" or do agents care at that point?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Shame, mostly. Then cowardice.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

This would be a great approach if you want to enrage tRump. But since most Americans (and esp magats) get their news from American sources who seem to be terrified to report the actual, truthful NEWS, they'll never know about it. But yes, let's piss the old boy off!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I was a Purchasing Agent, so I was a professional shopper! Happily retired, I live 6 months in Oregon and 6 months in Arizona golfing, writing, reading, and tending a diva named Drama. I spend way too much time on social media, so I'm trying to get back into crochet and handheld gaming.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

As an ordinary kid, I always wanted to do or be extraordinary. I've lived vicariously through my story and had a great time doing it! What kid doesn't want (somewhat unusual) super powers?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

My RevPit submission is middle grade contemporary fantasy. I'd love to connect!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I submitted, because if I didn't I'd wear out the first 5 pages revising them. Are we going to see any data? I'd love to see how many total subs, in what genres and subgenres. In fact, I'll bet that most of the subs are YA, and most of the YA subs are fantasy.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Why, obsessively rewriting my first paragraph and rethinking the whole book, why?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I've been excited since I saw it was on Bluesky this year! Txitter is so negative these days, and that is NOT the vibe for RevPit!

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

The voice in Allie’s head wakes up and becomes sentient, but what will happen to her if the lonely tween is forced to give up all her powers to save new friends from danger? Would "alive" be better than "sentient"? Should a logline be a question?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Let's do it! How shall we proceed?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

I set my books in the real world, then I throw in some fantasy stuff because I like to make my own rules.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

My manuscript is a mg contemporary fantasy, written like an adventure game with side quests and fun characters. The "A" story is fairly straightforward but complex, but if I add in even one of the "B" stories the synopsis could double in length! A succinct synopsis, or a detailed one?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Just curious: of all the material we submit, what do you turn to first? The query, the sample, the synopsis? What do you feel gives you the best window into quickly assessing a manuscript?

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I'm in! And would love to meet and support other MG writers!

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Reposted by Ciandra

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 04/03/2025

For more info about each of these #KidLit books, visit creator Bluesky feeds and/or see this week's #KidLitLaunches: bsky.app/profile/debb...

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Be sure it's the little bay shrimp! I find the bigger ones fight, rather than blend with, the other toppings.

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

This does sound fun! (But now I'm thinking your MC is a dog. And I want to write a story about a dog with a ghost sidekick. BRB.)

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Ciandra @ciandrawrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

I like your idea of "dressing up", but I draw the line at broccoli on pizza. However, I would share my Canadian bacon, pineapple, tomato and shrimp.

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