iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author

#1stLinePit @1stlinepit.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Next #1stLinePit: 2025-04-05 (April fifth) Time: TBA, but the US West Coast will have a VERY bright and early start, while East Coasters get a slightly lazier morning. Europeans start around noon, and Australians begin late in the evening. The event will run for 24 hours. #WritingCommunity

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

#WIPSnips To set the "scene", Orion is a defector from the early days of the Federation. He has feelings about it. #writingcommunity #writesky #writingprompts

Orion flipped a switch beneath the console to reboot the interface and then sat back and watched as the screens around him flickered back to life and cycled through a startup and download. “It’s working.”
“Great, should take about twenty minutes and then we’ll test.”
“Great,” He echoed under his breath and crossed his arms, settling in. Another twenty minutes to be stuck in his own thoughts. To be stuck in Boyev.
It wasn’t as if the nightmares were particularly violent. They were all one scene, really. There was a river that horseshoed around the borders of Boyev. Wide and frozen over a large chunk of the year, its thawing season was part of what made cordoning off the city so easy. Tumultuous and harsh, the chunks of ice coasting down the waters and crashing into each other made it impossible to cross, as had detonating all of the bridges. With heavy anti-air capabilities, any other avenue of attack aside from the heavily guarded narrow land passage was futile.
In his dream, he sat near the water at a familiar lookout point, fixed in place, unmoving. It was quiet, save for the whisper of wind through barren trees, the gurgling of the river, and creaking of chunks of ice as they drifted past. The rest was silent, not even birds made a noise.
But what he knew of this place and this moment reverberated through every corner of his mind. Behind him, out of sight, was the beseiged town of Boyev, half destroyed with its population imprisoned by the very occupation he served. By his people, by his hands. Events he would give anything to reverse. For hours, all he could do was sit and watch the icy waters flow past, the biting cold his constant companion.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

#WIPSnips To be fair, I wouldn't be able to make direct eye contact with a shirtless Orion either. Though it's a view many might "appreciate", it sets a pretty awkward tone for conversation. #writingcommunity #writesky #amprocrastinating

“No problem,” She said quickly, still looking away, “But, um, I wanted to thank you again… for coming to the rescue earlier. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t show up.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t have let Williams drown. It was nothing.”
“No, it was not nothing,” she countered. “I was struggling, and you came through for me― us, really. I feel like I owe you.”
“If anyone owes me, it’s Williams,” he thoughtlessly spat and then cleared his throat. “Really, it’s fine. Just watching out for the team.”
“I see that,” she smiled softly, eyes still averted, “And I appreciate you for it.”
He blinked at her as a pocket of tension seemed to ease in his chest at her words. She appreciated him. His mind went blank as he pried it for a response. An awkward silence stretched between them.
“Anyway,” she finally said, her voice elevated. “Team meeting in a couple hours.”
“I figured.”
“Right,” She clapped her hands together and rotated towards the stairs. “I’ll see you there.”

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

#WIPSnips This was too juicy a word not to give you two for the price of one. N another note, I'm a bit "touch" and go right now and posting late from my phone as I'm travelling. #writingcommunity #writesky #amediting #inmybrain

He grinned and leaned toward her, his forearm now resting on the wall above her and face inches closer. “That’s not why I did it.”

“Why, then?”

His eyes moved down to her lips, and he reached out and tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear, his fingertips stroking the sensitive skin there. “Because I wanted to.”

Her mouth opened to respond, but she couldn’t manage to make a sound.

“And I was pretty sure you did also. Was I wrong?”

She shook her head quickly without any other thought.

His smile broadened and he slid his hand down her arm as he inched closer to her. “Am I wrong now?”

Her head shook again.

He sunk down, his breath hot on her left ear as he whispered, “You have to show me.”

Eyes drifting closed on their own, every inch of her skin tingled with awareness of his proximity. “Sh–show you?”

His hand squeezed over her wrist, and she realized she was making a fist. She released it and his fingers wove through hers. “Touch me,” he said, “So I know it’s okay.”

She tilted her head towards him as she breathed in his warm scent. “And how will I know it’s okay?”

He closed his hand over hers. “I’ll have touched you already.”

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

#WIPSnips Oh, the plight of a "smart" girl... Kira opens up about her insecurities to the man she finds wildly attractive. What could go wrong? #writesky #writingcommunity #amediting

She swallowed the lump in her throat and made her way beside him, staring down at the churning waters beneath as she propped her elbows on the rail. She inhaled deeply, the sea air refreshing and cool as the sun beat down on her neck.
“They used to call me a prodigy, you know,” She spoke over the racket of propulsion beneath them.
“I could see that.”
“It sure went to my head a lot,” she shook her head, “All I ever had to be was smart. It was enough until it wasn’t.”
“Ah,” he nodded, “The ‘promising young woman’ grew up to be an actual person.”
“I guess you could say that. I’d also say maybe my identity was entirely dependent on the approval of authority figures around me,” She scoffed, “turns out that’s not sustainable.”
“I get it,” He was staring down at the water with a reserved look, his arms folded in front of him.
“You do?”
“What if I told you I was an absolute disappointment to my parents?”

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

#WIPSnips You get "lungs". A natural fighter, Kira is not. She can take a beating, though. #writesky #writingcommunity #amwriting #amediting

They struggled with it, him trying to wrestle it out of her death grip, his own rifle swung to his side, hanging from his shoulder. He pushed her suddenly, knocking the wind out of her as her back struck the armored frame of the car.
Her grip loosened and he yanked the weapon from her. Iron fingers clasped her around the neck, squeezing the sensitive flesh and pinning her. The man screamed in his language, spittle flying in her face. Each syllable was punctuated by the bashing of her head against the side of the truck. The world spun as his grip tightened, crushing her throat. She clawed and kicked, trying to push him away, managing to bloody his arms and strike his legs and groin. He didn’t stop. He just kept yelling and squeezing and bashing.
A shot rang out and the vile man screamed again, this time in pain. Finally, he released her. She gasped, holding her throat and fighting for a gulp of breath that stung her lungs.
The man turned towards the tarp and her breath seized once more. Jack had thrown the tarp from himself and fired at the man with his handgun, hitting him in the shoulder. The ire that had just been beating her into the side of the car was now trained solely on her injured companion.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

#WIPSnips Mystery airplane stays mysterious, more at 10. In other news, I accidentally took a honk-shoo pill with my afternoon round, so I guess I'm in for the rest of the night. #writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting #doingmybest

“How exactly did you guys manage to do that?” Kira crossed her legs and rested her head on her hand.
“As the test pilot, pretty sure you’ll be finding my answer less than satisfactory…” He chuckled. “But the idea was a tri-system engine, could go from open air to closed cycle. Jet to Rocket to Ionic thrust.”
“Rocket. Was it a breakaway?” She leaned back.
“She was all one big unit.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Even today you aren’t getting into space without riding a half ton of the most advanced propellant out of the atmosphere and then ditching it for recovery.”
“All I know, it was light. Saw a low power test of it is all. Thing was hot, but sure pretty, all them colors.”
Kira tented her hand in front of her mouth and looked down. “I don’t get it. Testable, reusable rockets, jet engines, ionic propulsion. Fuels efficiency. There’s something I’m missing here.”
Beau simply shrugged. Kira breathed out a slow sigh. He was right. She never should have expected to learn too many details from someone not directly involved in the craft’s design.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

#WIPSnips Been blah lately. Ain't much for it, might as well write. Have some words: #writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting

Leading the recovery “mission” with a man she was actively at odds with was an obvious factor. The heaviest weight on her mind wasn’t the impending conflict of such an arrangement, however, but what Hana had said to her when she asked why it had to be Lorenz.
Her answer was simple: “He’s the person I trust most to make the right decision, no matter what.”
It was a very high endorsement, no matter how she looked at it. It begged the question of what else he was right about. They had been working together for months now and, albeit for brief glimmers of cohesion, he regarded her much the same as on the first day. He believed she was inept, dangerous, maybe even an enemy. She couldn’t think of anything to convince him otherwise, and she was finished trying. But what if he was right?
She would catch him looking at her randomly each day, but he never engaged her. She could practically see the admonishment or curse behind those tight lips, just waiting on the tip of his tongue. What if what she dreaded was the truth?

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Haunted by a violent past, ex-Federation pilot Orion Lorenz seeks redemption with Hyperion. Tasked with rebuilding a top-secret craft, he clashes with unorthodox engineer Kira Collier. With war raging, Orion must confront his inner demons or risk losing everything again. #Questpit #A #Q #SF

THE GUARDIAN PROJECT
A collage of 15 images: An assortment of papers, tools, a pen and calculator; a woman's bust, she has a messy braid over one shoulder, is wearing coveralls and has a resolute look on her face; a black jet flying through a dark cloudy sky; a long black fighter jet; an aircraft carrier in front of a large setting sun, a text image reading "we own you"; a sheet of blue plasma with sparks flying from it; the interior of an aircraft carrier hallway with pipes running along the ceiling; a dark-haired soldier sitting in the snow next to an icy river, his head is down looking sad; a text reading "I remember all of them"; a cobblestone path between stone buildings in Cyprus; a man with his face in his hand, one eye glaring intensely between his thumb and forefinger; a view from the inside of a jet cockpit flying towards a cloudy sunrise with a single-engine fighter jet flying in front of it; a large gray flying fighter jet front view; the torso of a soldier with a blue shirt and olive colored plated vest with many pouches, he has fingerless gloves on and is holding a rifle in one hand

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Exiled engineer Kira Collier and battle-worn pilot Orion Lorenz join a diverse team to rebuild a stealth spacecraft. As tensions and trials rise, they must navigate trust, loss, and the morality of innovation, forging bonds that could mean survival—or destruction. #Questpit #A #Q #SF

$A collage of 9 images. left to right and top to bottom: A large fighter jet, grey, flying head on with a gradient blue background. A sheet of blue plasma with sparks emitting from it, blue and orange. A sketch of a man with his face in his hand, one intense eyes glaring between his thumb and forefinger. A narrow, lit hallway inside an aircraft carrier, pipes line the ceiling. A blue and green fractal pattern with superimposed text that reads: "The Guardian Project. A near-future science fiction novel. C.R. Neal". A building lined walkway in the Mediterranean, the buildings are brick with terracotta roofs and green vines stretch between them. The sketch of a woman with a pleasant face and thick braid over one shoulder, she is wearing a coverall uniform. Notepaper with engineering figures and equations, a yellow sticky notepad with a pen and some tools on a desktop. A second type of fighter jet from the side flying view, long, thin and black, with a speckled blue background.$

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Not saying the DOD DOESN'T need to be audited. But it sure as shit shouldn't be by a rich entitled nepo twat with vested interests and ties to foreign adversaries. Join me in reporting this threat, especially once DOGE sets foot in the Pentagon. #fuckdoge #insiderthreat #beaproblem

ditmac.experience.crmforce.mil

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Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author

Darling Axe Editing @darlingaxe.com · 05/02/2025

If you've done much research into the "art" of the query letter, you may have noticed many (often conflicting) recommendations. However, if you look at some successful query samples, you’ll find many of them break a “rule” or two. A thread 🧵🪓 #writingcommunity #amquerying

media.tenor.com

a purple cartoon character is giving a peace sign and has the word querying written above it

Alt: a purple cartoon character is giving a peace sign and has the word querying written above it

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Ovechkin was paranoid, but he was right. And he'll never let the protagonist forget it. He just needs to find the traitor first. Now adept at the abilities forced on him, he's torn between bringing the man back to the side of the Federation or making him pay for the consequences of his disbelief.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

#WIPSnips This one stings a bit personally, but it's one of the reasons I love Orion as a character. #writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting

The questions would always be there. Would more have lived if he had worked harder? Would more have died if he’d done less? No matter how much or how little he did, it didn’t change the fact that the people would continue to die despite any of his hidden efforts. Because the ones responsible decided they should and the ones with the power to stop it decided they could.
Yet, when it all boiled down to his responsibility, however small at the start, he had always had to pull a trigger. It only came to a head when he decided which direction the barrel was pointing. The order, the rules, the power put in place to intercept morality and ensure these terrible things could happen were beholden to a particular chain of complicity. He broke that complicity when he made his choice, when he turned. And for two and a half chaotic hours, power and order were beholden to the bullet, the blade, the flesh.
That made all the difference.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

My boy left me alone all morning to deal with kids and work emails, but has to be held once he hears my happy clacker keyboard I use for writing. Certified "plotblocker" Rocky. How do I work in these conditions? #cats #amwriting #tryinganyway

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

#WIPSnips No lie, I'm posting this in my "kitchen". You ever had a bone reset? It tickles a bit... #writingcommunity #Writesky #writers #amediting #again

“Right, but now you’ll be able to use it in the future,” He held her hand and wrist carefully, “Rethinking those pain meds now?”
“Yes!” She tugged on his shirt in a short shake, “Give me anything, jesus…”
“Okay,” He was stifling a smile. He held her hand still while he led her into the building.
It was oddly spacious for such a small location. A big square room with windows wrapped around. There were a couple of desks, some couches, a television, and a kitchen and dining area. It was obvious the procedure had taken place on the dining table. It had been cleaned up, but there was still a staging of bandages and blood smeared atop the surface.
Sam laid across one of the couches already, a throw pillow over his face and one leg over the back. Jack was tucked into another, deep asleep from a cocktail of trauma and drugs.
Ben led her to the counter, where his medical kit sat, and placed her hand and wrist atop it carefully, “Don’t move that.”

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Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author

Darling Axe Editing @darlingaxe.com · 30/01/2025

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Character is plot, plot is character.” And he was right. We come to understand characters the same way we do people in real life: by watching them act, struggle, and make choices. A thread🧵🪓 #writingcommunity

media.tenor.com

cookie monster is sitting at a table with a tray of food and the words choices written on it

Alt: cookie monster is sitting at a table with a tray of food and the words choices written on it

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

#WIPSnips I'm back at it again. Orion's such a "card", thinking he can trust a commanding officer to prioritize his team's safety. Silly man. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky #writers

“The way it had to be…” He echoed her prior statement in a near growl. “Why?”
“Listen, I don’t have the time to justify my decision making to you right now―”
He hung up on her and handed the phone back. It started ringing again. And Joanne gave him a worried look as she held the phone away from her, as if it were hot to the touch. Orion held a hand up and nodded in reassurance but said nothing. His mind buzzing, his very soul seething with the disturbed anger respondent to what felt like betrayal. He had heard enough. Hana pulled the command card on him. She blew off his concerns, even when it had to do with the well-being of the team.
Williams rejoined the group with his pack. Jang was walking back with the gas can and Orion met her halfway, taking it from her hand.
He marched back towards the entrance, glancing back at Williams, and finally spoke, “We’re leaving.”

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Disgraced aerospace engineer Kira Collier joins mercenary group Hyperion to rebuild a top-secret stealth craft amid war. As tensions rise with haunted pilot Orion Lorenz, Kira must lead, confront her past, and decide if saving their mission is worth the cost of her humanity. #YouDeservepIt #A #Q #SF

A collage of 15 images: An assortment of papers, tools, a pen and calculator; a woman's bust, she has a messy braid over one shoulder, is wearing coveralls and has a resolute look on her face; a black jet flying through a dark cloudy sky; a long black fighter jet; an aircraft carrier in front of a large setting sun, a text image reading "we own you"; a sheet of blue plasma with sparks flying from it; the interior of an aircraft carrier hallway with pipes running along the ceiling; a dark-haired soldier sitting in the snow next to an icy river, his head is down looking sad; a text reading "I remember all of them"; a cobblestone path between stone buildings in Cyprus; a man with his face in his hand, one eye glaring intensely between his thumb and forefinger; a view from the inside of a jet cockpit flying towards a cloudy sunrise with a single-engine fighter jet flying in front of it; a large grey flying fighter jet front view; the torso of a soldier with a blue shirt and olive colored plated vest with many pouches, he has fingerless gloves on and is holding a rifle in one hand

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Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author

J Packer Samms • The Whisker Society @jpackersamms.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

A magical cat is swept into a hidden world of secret agents, underground cities, and strange allies, only to realize she must reclaim her power or watch her ruthless mentor destroy everything she loves. #YouDeservepIt #Q #MG #F

A suburban alley, a cat with silver eyes, a scraggly dog, a magical parrot, an angry owl, and a small mouse holding a letter. The text says, THE CAT WITH THE SILVER EYES; what if the rose bush in The Secret of NIMH led to a magical animal society hidden in plain sight?

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Exiled engineer Kira Collier and battle-worn pilot Orion Lorenz join with a diverse team to rebuild a stealth spacecraft. As tensions and trials rise, they must navigate trust, loss, and the morality of innovation, forging bonds that could mean survival—or destruction. #YouDeservepIt #A #Q #SF

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Taking some solace in the fact that, thanks to the absolute dipshit ignorance of bigots and by executive decree, everyone in the US is now female. We're also a couple hundred million lesbians richer than two days ago. Win.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

It always gets worse before it gets worse.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

#WIPSnips Some "division" of the team during crisis. Happy Caturday! Here's Rocky the Floofer in jail for his misdeeds(knocking over a child's block tower(I forgive him)). #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky #caturday

“Right, the woman who single-handedly rebuilt a team immediately after the last one was all but wiped out,” Iseul threw a hand out emphatically, “Surely, she has no need to prioritize the mission and exploit any weaknesses towards that end.”
“What weaknesses?” He mirrored her movements.
“Do I really have to say it?” She groaned but continued anyway. “You’re pussy-whipped.”
Kira covered her mouth to stifle a choking laugh as Jack sputtered behind her. She wondered if he knew he was the reason Iseul was being so confrontational about all this.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” Sam snapped.
“Oh, is that too crude for the little, sweet, Commander of a division-level force in a deadly mercenary group?” Iseul mocked, “We all know she fights the war with watercolors and kind words.”
“Jang, that’s enough.” His words came out through gritted teeth.
“Pull your head out of your ass,” She snapped at him. “It’s not like you’re doing her any favors putting her on a pedestal. She’s an extremely powerful woman, and you just see your cute, innocent crush.”

A floofy grey and white cat licking his lips behind the bars of a chair. He's too cute for jail, he was released promptly.

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Exiled engineer Kira Collier and battle-scarred pilot Orion Lorenz join forces with a diverse team to rebuild a stealth spacecraft. As tensions and trials rise, they must navigate trust, loss, and the morality of innovation, forging bonds that could mean survival—or destruction. #P2Ppit #A #Q #SF

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Morgan Wodring 🦑 NEW WEIRD NATION @morkalmarrh.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

PERDIDO STREET STATION x ANNIHILATION Rescued at sea with no memory, Trigger’s body is changing into an unknown species. When a sunken lab's forbidden prayer protocol promises him answers, he risks tearing a hole in his head to find out who, or what, he is. #P2PPit #Q #SF #A

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

#P2Ppit Disgraced aerospace engineer Kira Collier joins mercenary group Hyperion to rebuild a top-secret stealth craft amid war. As tensions rise with haunted pilot Orion Lorenz, Kira must lead, confront her past, and decide if saving their mission is worth the cost of her humanity. #A #Q #SF #U

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Path2pub (Path To Publication) @path2pub.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

#P2Ppit has officially begun! 🎉

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

#WIPSnips This should foot the "bill". Kira is flabbergasted to see Orion smile and Iseul is her amazing self. The good ending to an awkward dinner. #amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky

Lorenz: What about everything else?
She sighed and sunk back in her chair before typing her reply. ‘It’s worth pursuing if it can minimize risk to the pilot. Besides, stealth is about prevention. If we wanted it to be a gun with wings, we’d just pull the A-10 out of retirement again, seal the cockpit and strap a rocket to it.’
He smiled. Holy shit, he smiled. It would be nearly pleasant to look at if it wasn’t so off-putting at the moment.
Lorenz: Fair enough
Their eyes met again, the smirk still on his face, and she held her breath. No way this was real.
“Ready to go?” Iseul asked, snapping her out of the strange world she had found herself in. She let out the held breath and nodded, gathering up the napkin and pen and stuffing them in her pockets before she stood.
“What was that?” Iseul asked.
“Just some work stuff,” Kira admitted and looked around the table, noting that Ben was gone, and she had not even noticed him leave.
“God, you are so boring.” She rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Kira’s. “Come on, bill’s paid, you can walk me back.”
“Rude.”

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Darling Axe Editing @darlingaxe.com · 14/01/2025

Ever notice how often your characters shrug, nod their heads, or look at things? These generic gestures don’t bring them to life. Let’s dig into how to write gestures and beats that are fresh, meaningful, and layered with character. A writerly 🧵 #writingcommunity #amediting

media.tenor.com

a man wearing a green shirt is making a sad face .

Alt: star trek characters nodding

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

#WIPSnips This took a good, long think since I have zilch about "zodiac" in my story, but I decided to "manifest" a vibe. It's two parts of different scenes with two of my favorite interacting characters. #writingcommunity #amediting #writesky #writers

“Lorenz, you dog! If you’re going to use that information, leave me out of it. You’ll get us both in trouble. The nerve of this guy, seriously. Don’t you think you’re manifesting trouble by looking for it at every corner?”
“That’s not how anything works. I mean to look out for this ship.” They reached the entrance to the restricted section. “If that means stepping on the toes of some privileged woman, then so be it.”

-A COUPLE OF SCENES LATER-

Redha swung his helmet to his head and slapped it on haphazardly as he made his way towards his Titan. “Maybe you missed some stragglers and you can witness some real flying.”
Orion sighed, gearing himself up to prep his own craft as well. “Don’t speak such idiotic things into existence.”
“Oh, so you do believe in manifestation.”

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

The Guardian Project Ex-Federation soldier Orion Lorenz, now a pilot for Hyperion, is forced to confront his past when recruited to a deadly project under a fumbling engineer, Kira Collier. He will do whatever is needed to prevent another disaster—even take her down. #BluePit #A #W #SF

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Alissa is Querying ✨🔥🧪 @alissalindemann.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Shadow & Bone X ARCANE 250 years after Promethea’s star went dark a new heir plots revenge against the ruling pyromancy cult with help from a girl born with the power of starlight and a lovable alchemist. 🔥 Fibro/Chronic Pain Rep 🌈 LGBTQ+ Characters 🧪 Science & Magic ✨ #bluepit #w #ya #sf #f

A collage of images including an eclipsed star, a scientific beaker lit on fire, flames, the night sky with the shadow of a person looking up, and a femme person holding a torch to the night sky.

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Liz J. Bradley🌠 @lizjbradley.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

When their latest heist gets them tangled with an intergalactic criminal enterprise, Val and the other women of the Rainbow 🚀must use every trick they know to uncover the crimes, or be buried themselves. LEVERAGE meets FIREFLY in this romantic, feminist, space opera. #BluePit 📖 #A #SF #LGBT #Q

$a mood board for the sci-fi novel Betrayal on Pollux b. Nine squares include a woman looking to the side with rainbows refracted on her face, a microscopic view of blue blood, an eye with a rainbow across it, a purple and black star field and nebula, gold jewelry, two women walking in a field, a space ship, and a woman with purple hair falling across her face looking at the camera. All photos from unsplash.$

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Nick Badot @nickbadot.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Dublin, 1903 Soufiane and Bartolomeo discover an ancient manuscript that alludes to an impending apocalypse. After their professor is murdered and the text goes missing, they become embroiled in a dangerous occult conspiracy as they are drawn towards INFERNAMUS and its secrets #BluePit 📖 #Q #F #A

Occult mansucript showing a splayed shadowy-gnome like figure surrounded by symbols
Image Credit : Kaia B on Pinterest

Celtic Art displaying a goddess figure crowned by the sun and a druid worshipping her
(Public domain image)

Image of Prometheus reaching for the fire - his hand and head are crowned in flame and his legs are shrouded by waves. Red background
Image Credit: Kobmastivarov on Pinterest

Image of the Trinity Library in Dublin - long, tall hallway, dark wood interiors, rows of bookshelves either side punctuated by marble heads
Image credit: Sarah Bunk

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

#BluePit The Guardian Project Aerospace engineer Kira Collier joins a wealthy mercenary group to salvage her career, tasked with reviving a top-secret spaceplane with tech beyond her imaginings. Amid war and her new leadership role, she must struggle between success and survival. #A #W #SF

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C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

#BluePit When a struggling ex-prodigy engineer and a hardened turncoat pilot must work together on a team rebuilding a classified military spaceplane, sparks fly. Literally. The plasma shield system is super unstable. #A #WIP #SF

1123

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

#WIPSnips I "broke" my streak by missing 2 days... Enjoy some workplace aggression! #writingcommunity #amediting #writesky #writers

Orion found himself suddenly in front of her with his hand up across his chest. Doubt finally flicked across her features with a flinch. It did not temper the fury now, shaking his shoulders. His vision narrowed, the corners of it becoming black and fuzzy. He saw only her face as her eyes squeezed shut. The urge to bring the back of his hand down hard across it burned itself into the pit of his stomach and tensed the entirety of his arm.
Her chin tilted down, bracing for an inevitable impact. Withdrawing his hand in a painful movement, he stepped back, realizing what he had almost done. He let out a sigh, stinging in his throat as it left, and his peripheral vision slowly returned.
Williams stood directly beside Collier. He rested his hand on her shoulder and her eyes blinked open again, first landing on Orion and then looking back at Williams in shock. To the left were the others, much closer now, and poised to intervene.
Collier looked back at him and they stared at each other for a moment. Her shock faded as she eyed him over in a probing way. The burning rage gave way to a sick and heavy feeling.
Fuck.
He turned on his heel and marched towards the exit. Behind him, the room came back to life.
“Are you okay?” Williams asked.
“I..” Her voice broke. She cleared her throat. “Yeah. Of course. I’m fine.”
Their voices faded and then went silent as he walked out of the workspace and slammed the hatch after him. The hangar outside spun as he hurried away from the scene.

061

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

#WIPSnips Took the truck for a "spin", ended up with a hole in the radiator and then blown head gasket, now stuck in the mountains with a medical emergency. ✨Just girly things✨ #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky #writers

Hopelessness kept finding a way of spinning around and gripping them by the throat that day. Just when it seemed the situation was bearable, at least for a little longer, it shifted.
The sinking of the sun behind the mountain brought with it a brief relief from the overbearing heat that was quickly crushed by the realization of how much time had passed. Kira did everything she could at that point for Jack and his leg. She made sure he stayed hydrated; she used up every cold pack she could to cool the limb; she cleaned around the bandage, and she put his sock back on so he couldn’t watch his foot slowly die.
The genuine problem was that she had no other course of action and she couldn’t stop what was happening. She wasn’t a doctor. It was a miracle they had come this far, if she was being honest. It had been hours; she wished she could say how many, but suddenly time was dragging on and on as they were awaiting rescue.
She thought of going for help, but she would need to leave Jack behind. She couldn’t stand the thought of it. Besides, it was at least a two-hour hike. She couldn’t very well go trotting into a village with a rifle slung over her shoulder and expect a warm reception and offer of help. What if her first encounter was with Federation forces? It’s not like she was going to shoot her way out of that situation and come out unscathed.
Unfortunately, being rescued by the others was still their best chance. As the hours slogged by, however, different scenarios kept drifting into her mind. There was no guarantee the others were even alive.

071

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

#WIPSnips We are mid-trauma dump now. The "maniacal" isn't here, but the maniac is mentioned, on the floor(of a mental ward, probably). #writingcommunity #amwriting #amediting #writesky

“There were a lot of doctors and scientists that suddenly showed up. My platoon… We had to pull security for the incoming medical staff. Thought there was an outbreak of some sort in the camps,” He tried to calm himself as he spoke, though every alarm was going off in his head, “We engaged no one, barely knew they were trying to get into the city. I had a soldier, Ovechkin. He warned me there was more going on. We thought he was manic, losing it. But I… I had a feeling. It was like the air was heavy, quiet… I did nothing, though, just went along with orders…”
He rubbed his hands on his pants. “Ovechkin went missing. The commander said that they had arrested him. I recommended he was having a mental health crisis. They assured me he would be taken care of. I just let it go… for a long time, weeks. Until the bodies started coming out.”

082

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

#WIPSnips I am slacking today, but here's my "flock" of (probably) seagulls. Beau ran, he ran all night and day. He couldn't get away. #writingcommunity #amediting #writesky #writers

What came of the prayers was the eerie calm of Luke’s deathly pale face as he asked Beau to tell his mother he loved her and lie that it was quick and painless. To tell the squadron he was a badass and there was nothing they could have done. Beau’s pleas amounted to his dying ward telling him it was okay as his eyes clouded.
Resuscitation efforts were a red blur and, an hour later, Beau sat alone, covered in the cold, drying bits of those efforts as he bled into the sand.
Sea birds called to each other overhead, riding the morning breeze. An osprey dove into the sea and disappeared for a long stretching moment before reemerging, struggling against the current to spread its wing again and lift off, talons empty.
Enough, he thought as the world came alive around him. He had done enough. He was done. He struggled to pull the small notepad and pen out of his front pocket, and rested it on his knee as he carefully scribbled out his last words.

061

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

#WIPSnips Oh yeah, gentle wind, quiet clear night...The "conditions" are right for a dynamic-shifting trauma dump. #amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writesky

“Why can’t you just let it go?”
He flinched at the phrase again, but it clicked in his brain this time.
“Because I don’t,” he explained. “I hold on because the last time I let something go, many people died.”
“What?” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
Orion groaned inwardly, regretting already what he was about to divulge. Yet he motioned to a bench nearby, inviting her to take a seat. Surprisingly, she did, looking genuinely curious about what was about to come out of his mouth. He sat beside her and took a deep breath of the jasmine and lavender-scented breeze, resolving to push the words out.
“The fact that I was a Federation soldier has not escaped your attention, I know,” he started, staring out towards their lodging, plenty visible from the vantage. “But I think you have not been privy to the exact conditions of my defection.”
“Beau said you were the ‘Hero of Boyev,” she remarked.
He shook his head. “That’s generous of him. I was just a lucky idiot.”

072

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

A lighthouse on fire at night, Joseph Wright of Derby (1770) Vibes mostly, but also metaphor?

030

C.R. Neal-Author @crneal.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

#Januwrite 4 They call him Charles "Beau" "Scene-stealer" Mendel for a reason. Well, I call him that. #writingcommunity #amwriting #authorsky #writersky

They walked behind a curtain into one of the makeshift patient rooms. In the center was a bed surrounded by monitors and an IV stand. On the bed, a broad-shouldered man had his face hidden behind a tablet, only the dark blonde fuzz of his scalp visible.
“Shit, Doc, what do I gotta do to get rid of ya?” He grumbled, not looking up from the screen. “I mean, what if I was tryin ta get some titties in my face and have a nice wank, eh? Is that what you want to walk into? Some old man whacking it?”
“You’re hardly old.” Williams replied with a flat tone.
“Really, that’s whatcha bothered bout?” He lowered his tablet to his lap, eyes slow to leave the screen. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d love a nice BIG lookit my—woah, hey, who’s this? New nurse?”

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