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#LitHodgepodge Tori calls Cole a Do Gooder (well she calls him a lot of things, but I digress). He's part Hero & Everyman, with a whole lot of Protector. He yearns for the simple life, but his do-gooderness drives him to take care of everyone around, even the interloper city-girl driving him crazy.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 4h

Those are some of my favorite types of characters. This is so understated yet shows all the nuances. Well done.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I have your "me" now I just need words. 😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Love all of this. Not that my response shows it (at all lol), but our characters have a lot in common.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

These are all so simple and peaceful. I love it.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

D- Happy? F*ck. Okay Birdy, here goes. I want to go 1 day w/o worrying my mom'll relapse. I want to erase memories of her near death. I want u to realize it's okay. U are a whole person just the way u are. Ur worthy of what I want to give. M- Ur such an a**hole. D- I want u to find a way to be happy

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Flying The Zone Dare-Winning games. Getting laid.Winning the Cup. Getting laid. Micah-Dare not being a d*ck all time. Dare-You mean not wanting my d*ck all the time, right Pretty Boy? Micah-See. This. I shouldn't have to put up with it. F*cker. Can't you ever take anything seriously?

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#LitHodgepodge Her First Rodeo Tori-My life back. Not being tossed in jail. No grumpy a** men annoying me. And ffs, shopping w/real clothes & isn't like 700 hrs away. Cole-Peace. Enough time for chores & to help townsfolk in need. 4+hrs of sleep a night. Not having to arrest his crazy new neighbor.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I'm always up for WIP chatting. :) This thread would be monstrously long if I started. 😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Yes, I'm a big talking things out person with my writing for some reason. It's always very helpful.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I should say, that was great advice on perspective. I just did that this past week specifically trying to get his voice.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The 1st scene of his book is his perspective from a scene in the last act of hers, lol. Part of his arc is that *he* sees himself as she does, but he needs to see himself as, um, himself. But man, I'm really struggling with getting his darn voice so I can help him get there.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Book 1 is pubbed, so I have to maintain consistency from that. I think my main issue rn is that MMC1 is the younger brother of FMC from Bk1 & I can only see him through her eyes. Struggling to see him as his own person.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This is me. But then I get to their book and they're like, yeah we're not really up to chatting atm. 😂🙄

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This is the bane of my existence, lol. Edits. That's all I got. I try to weed anything I catch out in edits. And I also ask my betas to look for it/mark it, too.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Lots of great advice here! I'll add that I usually let them have the convo in my head a few times first, to get the flow. Because dialogue should be in character voice, not author voice. I always read aloud a bunch of times as I edit.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Characterization. I write mostly (what used to be considered) erotic romance, and their sex stays true to who they are. And the writing in the sex scenes stays true to the way the rest of the book is written (does that make sense, lol).

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I belong to a ton of Discord groups that have channels to ask for reads. LMK if you want links. I have an old Discord server I let go pretty dead, but am wanting to revive it for brainstorming & talking & getting to personally know each other's WIPs to offer in depth help.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Dialogue is my favorite thing to write. My scenes always start with a rough conversation then I go back & fill. I read it out loud, & ask: is that how I (or someone) wld say it? People use slang & short phrases & don't say names over&over. Spelling everything out to the letter can sound stilted.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I write romance, so definitely a large heap of escapism, but I always bring in real world things/issues. My FMC's always lean into a dose of feminism & equality, and my queer characters/WIPs don't shy away from real world homophobia (eyeballing pro hockey) and equality.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

First, I don't agree that you do that.😜 I spread it through the story in bits. Some in character interaction or one MC learning through the other MC's friend/relative, etc., and some through internals.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Depends what you're researching, I think. For personal experiences, discussion groups (reddit, discord, etc). There's authoritative sites for almost anything. You can usually tell by looking at their "about" info page.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

For those who write standalone sequels, do you prepare for future books as you write 1, or do something specific to keep going through that world? I'm super struggling on this - always have. General writer's block tips would be great, too (eff off perimenopause!)! #LitHodgepodge

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I totally picture him on a horse with a lasso!

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I don't have any images of mine either. Funny, my initial reaction for a hobby for him was those lumberjack games, and I see Hope's similar response. I guess this guy looks like he'd be good with wood. 😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Shannon definitely would! (I have no pics of any of the characters I'm working on rn so no hodgepodge for me today I guess.)

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This is so good! Hobby, hmmm... let's toss her into some beer league hockey.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

None? Or... Tori calls him a crotchety 80yo in a 32yo's body. So maybe Charles. 😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Hard! Maybe Only Murders in the Building for Tori & Cole. She'd have fun helping cause the chaos they dredge up & he'd be good at solving things. Best Medicine for Micah & Dare. M could finally relax & admit how he feels about D. D would love being a prankster in a town like that. #LitHodgepodge 2

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I don't even want to admit how many 50%+ books I haven't finished over the past 20 years.😬But yes! it is totally the characters' faults.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

So we're afternoon writers who mostly never finish WIPs. (see my intro & Rodeo - started circa 2015😂)

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My motivation lately is coming in (very slow) waves. Here's to us finding our mojo this month!🤞

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

20 years was the charm for the Canes so...

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Haha. I think we write the same thing: MCs with Problems who basically just want to🦴😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm gonna try to be more present. But I got a new laptop & the ONLY thing I put on it is docs so it forces me to stay away from the "real" computer and doomscrolling. 😉

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thank you. And me too, lol. If only Micah would be more cooperative! 😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I will never get over you surviving without coffee.😜

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm Tara, writing spicy romance w/strong MCs paired w/alpharolls who support them unconditionally. Current WIPS: Flying The Zone, the MM book2 of my hockey series & Her First Rodeo, a city-girl/cowboy smalltown, both enemies to lovers. #LitHodgepodge 1

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

All I can think is, I wonder whose kid will be the first to lose the "puck" piece? 😅

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It almost looked like Drury clotheslined him. But it was hard to tell from my angle. Maybe he's still pissed about the trade.😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I got there when the lot opened & had a 20 minute wait to see the cup once doors opened, but by the time I was done, the line wrapped pretty much all the way around the building & it was like a 2 hour wait (at 6:30). So I'm guessing a lot of butts weren't in seats.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Stank scored 2. That line had 7 points - I can't wait to see what they do this season! It was such a fun game - other than the time when Drury tried to kill Hall. Sheesh.

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I went with my my son, who spends like half his income on concerts so he's there a lot. I made him drive & he knew his way around like it was his 2nd home.😂

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TL Matson @tlmatson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

And now we know the prospects have the Quintessential Canes 3rd period down. Oh! We were supposed to be scoring? Hold my beer.

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