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I don't have any rice in my WIP, so please have another source of carbonhydrates instead! #WIPSnipe #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Wardenreach, from the northwest, to be precise,” Valir said. “We met near the border, and Vrogh told us about this city of yours. Haven. A peculiar name, I have to say. What exactly are you a refuge from?”

Throkh gestured vaguely all around and shrugged. “Hostility. Prejudice. Stupidity. We’re trying to get along, like civilized people, and grow together. Not bash in each other’s heads over border disputes. Baked potatoes are fine?”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 05/10/2026

A very prominent wall in today's #WIPSnips. Much in Exiles is about that very wall. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Dagna didn’t look convinced. “A bunch of stone columns? They don’t look very alchemical to me.”
As if on cue, a wall of silent blue fire erupted between the stones far to the left, bridging the hundred meters between them with a bright curtain of alchemical energy. The phenomenon traveled between the steles within moments until it disappeared to the right. As quickly as it had appeared, the cold fire vanished again, leaving behind unsinged grass. Nothing but the bright afterimage in Kraghtol’s eyes indicated it had ever been there.
“I take that back,” Dagna said.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 04/10/2026

Half of my book is the word "contract", not gonna lie. Here's a (slightly censored) one at the end of book 2. #WIPSnips A beta reader put it as "I now realize the entire series is about a bunch of people trying to navigate their NDAs", and he is right. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Hold on. You didn’t tell us anything!” Dagna said. “At least not anything we didn’t already know. Give me the details. Who exactly are you? How old are you? Why are you like that? What can you do? With whom do you have that contract? Who are the other three?”

[…] shook her head. “Really. I can’t! You’re far too involved as it is.”

Dagna crossed her arms over her chest.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 03/10/2026

FAIRY NONSENSE! Listen to the guy, he knows what he's talking about. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunityWith #WritingPrompts

With a thud and the sound of tiny bells, something fell into the snow next to their camp, forming a crater in the powdery white. Spring flower petals and teal leaves continued to dance downwards like snowflakes as silence had already returned.
“Stars above. What was that?” Valir asked, examining the falling plant parts that seemed completely out of season.
“Fairy nonsense,” Gromvald said. His normally patient voice was grumbling with annoyance. “Best ignore it. I didn’t know they come that far.”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 02/10/2026

Look at that GOOD BOY @aowna.bsky.social created for me! Skarn, the thunderwolf, will make his appearance in Alchemical Exiles and I'm absolutely AMAZED by how well he turned out. Thank you @aowna.bsky.social! #Art

A thunderwolf, black, with a white paw, with blue fire running down the flank. In the background, there's lightning strike and a stele.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 01/10/2026

Good! Don't let the intrusive thoughts win over your healer knowledge! #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Kraghtol’s first impulse was to shake the noble until he woke up, but he forced himself to calm. With trembling fingers, he palpated the noble’s neck, searching for a pulse. When he found it, he exhaled. It was weak and fast, but it was there. With utmost care, he reached around and checked his spine for injury, and only when he found none, he lifted the noble’s body out of the debris.
Valir’s pale body was bruised all over, and his clothing was ripped, but as far as Kraghtol could tell in the dim light, the injuries seemed superficial.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 30/09/2026

It's worth mentioning that Kragh is talking to an animal in today's #WIPSnips. An animal who doesn't understand a single word. Sometimes, I worry about him. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“You could just leave the city. There’s so much empty land around here, with plenty of prey. But you don’t even consider that, right? Because centuries ago, someone planted the idea that you’d need to guard these ruins in your ancestor’s head, and it has become an instinct ever since. And what is the thanks? Now the same someone sends armed people to hunt you down and take the city back. You’re just game pieces to her, ready to get sacrificed once you stop being useful.”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 26/09/2026

This #WIPSnips is more or less a direct prequel to the one two days ago! What a less-than-pleasant troll! #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WriteSky

He dropped into the water with such force that he created a wave so big it rolled right over Kraghtol’s head. Dagna gave a surprised squeak and lost her grip. Kraghtol reacted quickly and fished her out of the deeper pool immediately, but she still spat out sulfur water as if she had nearly drowned.
The troll newcomer had observed the whole thing from his position on the other side of the basin, and slowly, his mouth split into a grin.

“Careful. Trollheim is a dangerous place for people as short as you. You don’t want to get run over by a troll, do you?”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 25/09/2026

Do you know ominous positivity? Here's an example: Alchemical Exiles is coming. It's inevitable. Related: If you have read book 1 of the series (important!), Alchemical Dreamer, and would like to ARC-read book 2, registrations are now open: books.mikestruan.com/AlchemicalEx...

Cover of Alchemical Exiles, showing an ancient stone wreathed in blue flames, with three people (dwarf, half-orc, human) in the background.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 24/09/2026

Fun fact: The speaking character in this #WIPSnips has been recently renamed, due to some very good beta-feedback! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“My name is Koltharar, son of Jomkeromp,” Koltharar said. “And what business is that? I hope you’re not planning to meddle in troll affairs.”
“Meddle?” Dagna burst out, her head tilted, trying to get water out of her ears. “We’re not ‘meddling’; we —”
“Are you referring to anything specific, Koltharar, son of Jomkeromp?” Valir asked innocently, and the troll just glared at him for a few seconds. Valir held his gaze.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 23/09/2026

Okay, so Kragh did something really embarassing. Must be tuesday. Between this and the previous #WIPSnips, one could really think I hate my main character. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Kraghtol walked slowly, occasionally supported by Valir when he stumbled or tumbled. After the immediate confusion had made way for a throbbing headache, he hadn’t said one more word. The ground hadn’t shown him the mercy of swallowing him whole, even after the memories of what he had thought — and said — returned.
“Sorry,” he said, avoiding looking anywhere but at the earth in front of him. He couldn’t see the eyebrow rising that way, but he could imagine it.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 21/09/2026

I'm afraid we don't see Kragh in his highest spirit in today's #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Only when the fog lifted and he was alone in the mysteriously glowing forest did he stop. A strangled noise, half sob, half cry of anger, broke from his chest, causing a flock of birds to flee. Tears were streaming down his face, and he was unable to stop them. He leaned against a tree and slid down the glowing trunk, soiling his clothes with resin.
His hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and he punched them against the tree until they hurt.
Four fairies fluttered near, wide-eyed staring at the huge green man sobbing. One of them asked something, but Kraghtol just swatted at them, an unarticulated growling sound forming in his throat.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 19/09/2026

Tricky one. I've decided to go with pipe instead, and the most prominent pipe-smoker in my book! #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

He took a drag from his pipe and blew the smoke into the wind.

“I know most of them since they knocked on my door, with nothing but dreams in their hearts and some rubbish tale of a mythical dwarf in their ears. Every single one of them is deeply capable and wonderfully unique. This Kraghtol lad probably knows more about alchemy than most of the dusty guild clerks back in Winterstone. And my niece… she’s a genius, plain and simple.”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 17/09/2026

As started yesterday, Valir is continuing to lie without even blushing. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“I’m sure you didn’t expect a human — or an orc and a dwarf — in this part of the world. As I said, we’re from Haven, a city where all races live together in harmony. Imagine my shock when we traveled these lands and found a conflict brewing, with no effort to talk it out.”

“Shocking, I’m sure,” the Grand Factor murmured into his beard, earning a mild side-glance from the other negotiator.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 15/09/2026

Buy my book because... ...the hunky half-orc hangs out with trolls and needs to be hand-held through the basics of asking someone to be his boyfriend, *by the guy he wants to be his boyfriend*. books.mikestruan.com/AlchemicalDr... 🏳️‍🌈📚🪐📚💙

Book cover for 'Alchemical Dreamer' by Mike Struan, Book 1 of the Alchemical Green series: a hooded figure holds a glowing blue bottle with a swirling magical liquid inside, surrounded by green mist. Tags around the cover read: Ancient Secrets, Found Family, Half-Orc with a Healer's Heart, Enemies to Lovers, Hopepunk, Slow Burn M/M Romance, Maps Inside, Guilds and Intrigues.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 12/09/2026

That was a really hard #WIPSnips. Ultimate vibe. I'm not sure Valir is happy with the snippet I've chosen. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Gromvald took the pan from the fire and added one last generous dash of powder taken from a spice rack before placing it on the table.
“Here. Eat.”
The small chunks of meat glistened in the fire’s light, and when Kraghtol tried one, his tongue exploded with an intense sweetness followed by the fiery burn of spice. It was good! Valir’s head grew red, and the noble sweated from his brow.
“Lovely taste,” Valir said, and took a large sip of water, stifling a cough.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 10/09/2026

So, um... CW for implied sexual content for this #WIPSnips, I guess. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“I don’t know. I’ve never…”

His body was already moving even while his mouth was still talking, sliding down until he was at face-level with Valir’s excitement.

“Just watch your teeth, please.”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 09/09/2026

Kragh is in a situation like this in the first book. And he really doesn't like the options. Here's a snippet for this #AwesomeCharacters. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

There was no way around this. He didn’t have the money to pay his fine; he didn’t even need to ask the guilds for mercy or postponement, and he knew no one with that kind of money to borrow it from. No, he —
He stopped. That was not entirely true. He did know one person. But no. No, no, no! He wouldn’t — he couldn’t ask him. That was the lack of sleep talking; entirely crazy. There was no reason he would help him, of all people, and the only thing he could hope for was insult to injury.
Still, his mind had latched onto the idea, refusing to let go, like a drowning man holding onto the only driftwood in sight.
As much as he hated it, the only possible glimmer of hope bore the name Valir el Greylune.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 09/09/2026

That was a very difficult one, so enjoy some ✨vibes✨ #WIPSnips. Damn the tunnel snails! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“But I also get why.”

“Huh?”

“Why you did it. Do you think I’ve never tinkered until late into the night, forgetting I was supposed to repair a pump in some flooded shaft? I think one time I forgot to tend to the mushroom farm fence gate for so long that tunnel snails had eaten all the shrooms.”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 07/09/2026

Love me some demographics! #Septopolis Winterstone is mainly human-populated, but also dwarves and elves come there. What is interesting is the class distribution over the city. While the rich and nobles tend to keep to the walled Silver Spires, the poorest of the poor inhabit the Oldport quarter.

City plan of Winterstone, showing different districts, notably the Silver Spires to the west and Oldport to the east

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 07/09/2026

This is a difficult #WIPSnips week, but I'll do my best! We'll start with a breathtaking troll-map-sculpture! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Kraghtol ignored the dwarf and followed the Spoken One. In the center of the hall, elevated on a granite socket at least ten meters in diameter, was a giant stone sculpture showing an incredibly detailed landscape. Different parts of the sculpture used various kinds of colored stone. The river running through it, for example, was made of a glittering blue gemstone. Sapphire perhaps?

“Oh! That’s here, isn’t it?”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 06/09/2026

Valir sighs a lot. But to be fair, he has every reason to. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Kraghtol sat up so suddenly he nearly knocked over the bucket.
“That’s what he wants. I’m gonna show him I’m not broken that easily.”

“Right. Provoke him into getting out the bigger weapons. I admire your impeccable foresight.” Valir said, but sighed and stood up. “Only bested by your stubbornness. Do you need help getting up?”

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 03/09/2026

Okay, I yield to the peer pressure! Want some exclusive insights into my boys? Here you go! 1 like = 1 answer, or if you have a specific question just ask! I'll choose the more interesting one for each question.

"NSFW OC Meme - repost and answer with your OCs"
29 questions

1. What's their position in bed? (top, bottom, vers, sub, dom, etc)
2. What turns them on/off?
3. How long does it take for them to climax?
4. Most sensitive part(s) of their body?
5. Easier way to seduce them?
6. How often do they masturbate?
7. What's their favorite position?
8. How did they lose their virginity?
9. Favorite place to have sex?
10. Ever been caught having sex or masturbating?
11. Are they loud or quiet?
12. Do they own any sex toys?
13. Do they prefer giving or receiving?
14. How often do they have sex?
15. Their biggest sexual desire?
16. What's the best term to describe your OC sexually?
17. Their bra or dick size?
18. What do they think about when they masturbate?
19. What's their sexual orientation?
20. What's their favorite thing to do sex-wise?
21. Weirdest place they've had sex?
22. Their favorite place on the body to be kissed?
23. Worst sex experience?
24. Have they ever orgasmed more than once in one go?
25. How often do they think about having sex?
26. Are they self-conscious about any part of their body?
27. How long does sex normally last with them?
28. Are they serious during sex or do they like to laugh?
29. Wild-card. Give us a fun fact!

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 03/09/2026

ARTWORK DROP! This absolutely stunningly gorgeous piece was done by @autumnchildart.bsky.social as a commission and shows Kragh and Valir, MCs of my novel series Alchemical Green. I can so very much recommend working with Ame! She's great! #WritingCommunity #Art 🏳️‍🌈📚

Artwork of Kraghtol (half-orc, green skin, taller) kissing Valir (human, pale skin, shorter). The sun sets over a green meadow, and there's a tent in the picture.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 03/09/2026

Let's have a look at the map, #Septopolis crew! Winterstone is located at the Bronzerun River, flowing down from the Dwarven settlement of Bronzebreak, and it's also well-connected via roads, which makes it an excellent place for trade in the north of the country. 🧵

A map fragment showing Winterstone set against the Bronzerun River flowing from Bronzebreak, a village named Caemdir and the Shifting Swamp

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 02/09/2026

My #Septopolis will be the wonderful city of Winterstone! Many events in Alchemical Green, including the complete prequel The Winged Dwarf, take place in it, and it will play a bigger role in the upcoming books as well. I already have it defined somewhat, but more is more!

Map fragment showing the city of Winterstone, located against the Bronzerun River

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 02/09/2026

Kragh, my Main Character, has a button trauma after his landlady had him trapped talking about buttons for hours. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

The troll’s clothes looked like rough animal pelts at first glance. As he turned around, though, it was really a piece of clever winter attire that would have made Mrs. Brott, Kraghtol’s former landlady and owner of a tailor shop, lose her mind. At least a dozen buttons fastened the heavy pelted leather together. He carried a long walking stick which was just as gnarly as himself.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 01/09/2026

This is a surprisingly beautiful place! Makes one wonder who lives there. #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

A single gnarly teal tree stood in the afternoon sun, the shadows of its leaves painting ever-changing patterns on the flower-packed grass. A treehouse unlike any other they had seen was fitted into its branches. It was older than the others; the wood had darkened considerably and was meticulously constructed rather than thrown together.
In front of the tree stretched a small but carefully maintained garden. More vibrant flowers swayed in the soft breeze that made dozens of wind chimes hanging from the low-hanging branches ring. The flower beds were separated from each other by a collection of gleaming shells, not unlike the one Valir was holding.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 31/08/2026

#AugustWorldbuilders Nice crossover with CartAugust! But if you ask me where I want to *live*, not where I want to visit... It's Haven. The beating hopepunk heart of my world.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 31/08/2026

BEHOLD! On the last day of #CartAugust, I have received the official map for Alchemical Exiles from my illustrator (credit 🧵below). Sharing a generous fragment! There are three places I'd want to go: The tower of the Drokn Thrukha, the city of Haven and the city of Trollheim. I can't decide!

A large map fragment of Wardenreach, done by a "Dagna Emberforge" in 371 after the unification. Showing a variety of places, including Drokn Thrukha, Haven, Trollheim

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 31/08/2026

Here's all you ever need to know about thunderwolves! INSANELY HUGE shoutout to @serraleta.bsky.social for saving my entirely un-artistic ass and drawing this absolutely BADASS thunderwolf pic! Also, huge shoutout to @serraleta.bsky.social (again!) for hosting this very fun month!

A character reference sheet titled 'Thunderwolf' on a dark green background, with a pencil drawing of a wolf's head (gray fur with black and yellow shading, bared teeth) in the top right. Text reads:

Appearance: Black-furred wolf, with a line of cold blue alchemical fire running down the flank if agitated.

Habitat: Exclusively the ruined city of Thraghbrok.

Diet: Broad range of food, mainly meat of prey. Hunting is supported by electric shocks!

Breeding / Child Rearing: Very small number, contained to the bounds of the city by ancient alchemical command. Natural cap on what the resources of the city can supply.

Life Cycle: Longer natural lifespan than normal wolves, reaching 20-30 years. Originally alchemically created.

Behavior: Aggressively guarding the ruined city. Very territorial in that. Previously domesticated and bond easily to people, becoming very loyal.

Element / Powers: Can summon lightning by intuitive limited alchemy. Fur and fangs can be charged to shock prey and enemies. Look cool doing so.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 29/08/2026

If you see this, post your green art ❇️ (okay, it's not mine, just commissioned by me, but it's GREEN!) credit goes to Ambient Pixel Design

Book Cover of Alchemical Exiles, in Green, with three figues standing behind a blue flaming stone.

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Mike Struan @mikestruan.com · 29/08/2026

Friends! The Narratess Indie Sale is ON! It'a huge sale with hundreds of e-books in Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror, all reduced and ready to be adopted by you! And my book, Alchemical Dreamer is part of it, for the first time! Check it out! indiebook.sale 🪐📚💙

Montage of 24 books with a banner saying
Indie Book Sale
indiebook.sale
FANTASY, SCI FI & HORROR
29 - 31 AUGUST

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