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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 4h

#PretendPanel Oct 3: Maybe it's pretentious, but I write for queer kids out there. More specifically those socialized as boys through gentle, concerned pressure of well meaning family.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 5h

Just a few images from my WIP's (very new, like, just put it together) mood board. 😅 #LGBTQWriteAThon Oct 2.

The protag as a male courtesan (in world term šren).

A bit of general flavor. The world has gas lamps and printing presses.

More of the same... the protag is also a student-scholar restoring an archive.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#SongsOfSeptember Day 23: I play this whenever I start a good writing sesh: Loreena McKennitt's "Sun, Moon, and Stars" It's more about the setting... Which is vaguely Andalusian.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I would LOVE to say "get back on the horse" and write more, but... It's a hell of a week. Probably won't be happening. I can hopefully pick it up again next week. Meanwhile: work out the snag the book is in, so I can write my way out of it! Also, maybe: stay gloriously queer! 🏳️‍🌈 #QueerWriters

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

And during, 😂 But in all seriousness: yes. It's an easy period where I keep my word count goals by exploring other projects and ideas. But no pressure to produce. #QueerWritersChat

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A bit blocked and busy. Went shopping while plotting my way out of this slump... #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Drafting

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This one feels personal, somehow, because it ties into themes, don't it? Dear #QueerPrompts, my characters recognize the world is unfair and there isn't much they can do about it, but they believe they can find safety and survival if they're smart enough and careful enough.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This is, in fact, an integral part of the initiation ceremony for becoming a courtesan/Rose. They do it with invisible ink, so for a few days it's just an irritated area. Carries on an old tradition of using invisible ink to tattoo "words of power" (or the equivalent in this world). #QueerPrompts

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

#Septopolis, 12: The dominant "philosophy" is the Dicta of the High Priory, which denounces all gods' divinity and worship. Think of chanting Bible verses to wipe away magic or supernatural claims. But also, persecuting queerness and the old ways of the land they conquered.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

#SongsOfSeptember #14: Got *nothing* for the MC, but my villain LIVES "Hellfire" from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Trust me, though I haven't written that equivalent scene yet. 😂

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Had D&D today, so no new writing done. Here's a little snippet from my WIP The First Blade ("prequel" of Illusion's Bane). Very first draft, be gentle if you're inclined to comment/critique. #AmWriting #WriteSky #AuthorLife #QueerFantasy

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I've long now realized my voice has a very soporific effect, so I probably won't be reading it myself. But I'll think about paying someone to record it professionally, if the ebooks or print is doing well. Sure! That's such a long way from now, #PretendPanel. Gotta focus on just #WritingFiction now.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

#QueerPrompts, Sept 12: The one I intend: Queerness is sacred and beautiful. Another possible one: Survival isn't enough. Fight to protect your loved ones! #LoveIsABlade.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#PretendPanel Sept 11: I like audiobooks and I am very picky about them. I *prefer* to read along when possible because my mind does wander. But I don't really have a commute any more... Harder to pause daily life and listen.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

So many agendas! Yllan is rife with plots and rumors of plots. Most prominently, you have the quiet Cynae restorationists who will soon find a plucky scholar-courtesan as their figurehead, and the ruthless Priory, leashed for now, always ready to enforce orthodoxy. #Septopolis

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Caelan was a serious child who learned fun later. But he would totally give Aric - a street urchin he adopts as a little brother - a plushie. Just because he doesn't want the boy's innocence to fade in the harsh realities of Yllan, Turncoat City. #QueerPrompts

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Who, me? Still trying to work through The Spear Cuts Through Water, but literally everything keeps my earphones off and the audiobook paused. #QueerPrompts

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

YLLAN is a small canyon city. It has about 45% Cynae (older) ancestry and 35% Varanian, with the rest being either Raethi attendants or mixed/uncounted. That's my #Septopolis, I guess.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Dubious milestone: got a publishing scam email pretending to be from HarperCollins. QUITE unsolicited! 😆 #Flattered #Reported #Deleted Meanwhile, I wrote a nice spicy scene for my chapter two. #AmWriting #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Stickman's Fiery Writing

ALT: Stickman's Fiery Writing

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I arrived at Yllan sort of randomly. During the War of the Banners, which saw the "conquest" of the peninsula by the Crown of Var, Yllan capitulated to the armies coming down from the North without a fight. Since then, it's been known as Turncoat City. It's essentially a puppet. #Septopolis

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

#QueerPrompts Sept 7: You mean, who already did? Caelan did. Aimé and Wardelyn have lots of money, but Caelan spent all he had (not much) to restore the old, neglected archives under the Domes and restore books there.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Caelan is a courtesan, serving the illicit pleasures of the kingdom and yes, he's very good at it... But he's far more passionate about BOOKS. Right now balances the inner nerd with the forbidden role. How long will that last? 😁 #Septversary

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Caelan's mentor would have him flayed, but with stern words and disappointment. Which is worse. Her cane whacks, but her words kill. Also, maybe, a learning institution or two would burn to the ground because of some damn zealots. #QueerPrompts #HesACourtesanScholar

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Okay, now that I've chosen to continue Caelan's story... Hell yes! Caelan doesn't say much, observes much, and catches everything. So when he speaks, he's delivering a blow to someone's psyche, or a seduction, or dropping lore bombs. His friends are sarcastic noblings, no less sharp. #pretendpanel

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

And here's the alternate project I could work on. Much more ready and far more needed (wrote the sequel first, thinking it would be the first book of the series and only realized I needed a book "before" to establish character and setting better). #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #QueerFantasyFiction

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

My current audiobook obsession, except I can't find the quiet time to just sit down and listen. 😆 Need long commutes, again. #WritingInspiration #BookSky #QueerBooks

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Dunno if this is the "new project" but it's what "came through" last night before going to bed. Been a while since a specific thing has arrived in full. It's meant to be the "ending"? We'll see if compelling enough characters arrive. Four of them? #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #PostApocFiction?

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

After two weeks, I think I am ready to write again. Life kept me busy, but I think I should be able to squeeze a few hours to pump out 1,000 words again. 𝓛𝓮𝓽'𝓼 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓼𝓸! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I'm surprised I wrote a romance at all. Romantic subplots, yes, sometimes. But Vessel made the romance part of the technology and the war, given it's ancient Greek inspo. So there I went. Won't spoil the end, but I had a choice between writing a character faithfully and genre conventions. #SumLuv

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Difficult to tell, but I prefer clean covers with almost logographic designs... Either that or very apt croppings of Renaissance art for my fantasy stuff. #PrerendPanel

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Plotting my queer political fantasy prequel in a 7-book epic. Invoking the great wisdom of the #QueerFantasy writing/reading masses: What tropes do you LOVE and which do you HATE? What do you think we need more of? Talk to me. #AuthorsLife #WritingCommunity #BookSky #WritingAdvise

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Man Typing on a Daktilo Typewriter

ALT: Man Typing on a Daktilo Typewriter

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I keep them apart. But honestly: Faren just lost his husband and soul mate (less destined, more manufactured). Evander was assigned to replace him. I honor the grief. But also... Faren is already keenly aware that war consumes love and doesn't want it to happen again. #SumLuv

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Skeletor Laughs In Evil

ALT: Skeletor Laughs In Evil

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Aaaannnd it's cloudy. At least the beach wasn't too hot???

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Going to the beach to watch the eclipse in 8 hours! 😂 Hope I don't bake in the sun...

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Hey look, a trope: forced proximity. But Evander feels empathy and compassion first, and Faren begins to rely on Evander's rock-solid emotional maturity. That gives way to little acts of service/caring S a shared love language... And before long, my boys are cooked. #SumLuv, eh?

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Missed yesterday's and it's such a fun one! 😁 I'd say the tinder is dry until the sparks can't be contained anymore, then it's a nonstop inferno. Well, okay, one of them has a fun night in the flames at start with a long extinguished old flame. Otherwise, it's just #SumLove.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

First draft of Vessel (Book 1 of 3) is finished at just under 40k. It's a novella, then... 👍🎉 Needs several passes before beta readers, but 10,000 thanks to the two good souls that helped with the first 3,000 words! On to a new/old project! A prequel. #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorsLife

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Just wrote the climax chapter of my WIP and... It's still under 40K! Only one chapter or two more left for denouement and that's it for Vessel. IS THIS A PROBLEM? Second "book" I finish this year under the standard novel length of 50K and I'm starting to worry. #WritingAdvise #WritingCommunity

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Bunny Schneiderman: Any Advice For Me?

ALT: Bunny Schneiderman: Any Advice For Me?

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Not really, other than the soundtrack for AC: Odyssey which has more to do with the setting inspo (and writing fuel for me). Guess I haven't thought about it! Or had reason to include it. #SumLuv

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Wrote more than usual today--two chapters!--but had to stop myself after a few paragraphs of the third chapter. Was getting misty-eyed writing the heart-wrenching finale. No spoilers, but let the emotion and the image give you a hint. #AmWriting #QueerFiction #ScifiRomance

Not the Sacred Band, this shows Achilles bandaging up Potroclus, supposedly in the Trojan War. STILL, SAME THEME.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I guess it could be made historical romance, or even a fantasy romance... but I wouldn't do it. You have to take many things on board with a seemingly slight subgenre change, and I wanted to specifically write this story. It's #SumLuv.

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Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

The romance and military stuff was baked in: I'm writing about the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite unit of male lovers (historically). But the sci-fi lets me queer that even more. Created technology that literalizes the lovers' bonds, and expanded the lovers to any queer couple. #SumLuv, hunty.

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