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@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 8:55 PM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'stream' - the old saying is always 'boys will be boys' but this scene between my protagonists is a tried and true 'girls will be girls' moment.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'stream' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - "See you, Tommy," she waved flirtatiously.

The second she slammed the door shut, Bekah's expression faded as fast as it had appeared. The once flirty girl had changed into a drained ghoul of dissatisfaction. Only when I heard Tommy's truck pull off did I finally let my laugh out. Hand over my eyes, I shook with laughter and turned away, like the very sight of her would induce the giggles once more. She was diabolical.

"I fuckin' hate that boy," she groaned, plopping back onto the couch with the pizza between us.

"He's so handsome," I shrugged, voice shrill with disbelief. "What's Logan got that Tommy doesn't?"

Bekah looked over at me, smile downturned and eyebrows high on her forehead. A silent pause of knowing only reignited the howling laughter. We laughed until tears streamed down my face and both of our faces were bright red. Of course. The only important thing to her. My shoulder trembled as the giggles started to burn, my diaphragm tight with joy induced agony. I clutched my stomach and doubled over my knees, raking my long hair back over my face as I finally caught my breath. All I could muster was a one word reply.

"Damn," I snorted.

@cjmann3.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 5:22 PM

After a lawful killing puts Cobeah on the throne, Brodny refuses to accept that the law can justify their beloved queen’s death. Premier Derya warns him that some truths are best kept to himself.

#WIPSnip with “stream” from QUEEN FOR A DAY

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Brodny grunted. “Cobeah has never been one for pomp, always preferring action over talk. Still, she might have considered all the good Disaya did before murdering her in cold blood.”

“Meter your words,” Derya said, hissing while closing the distance and glaring with their sharp green eyes. “By the letter of the law, Cobeah’s act was just. She has always had an even-keeled head on her shoulders. Do not provoke her into making an example of you because you cannot tame your tongue.”

“Subjects should not live in fear of the crown, but the crown should fear its subjects.”

“You of all people know sharp philosophy makes a poor shield against sharper steel,” Derya said. “Cobeah is a soldier. She’s pragmatic. She will not waste time debating your ethics.”
“Disaya would.”

“Disaya is dead, Brodny.” Derya’s words came flat, as if spoken to a child. “Get that through your skull. If you want to dream of improbable outcomes, then hope Aulay descends those water-hewn stairs to announce Cobeah abdicated over breakfast.”

“She should abdicate.”

Derya’s eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the sense you think you are the one to make her?”

“Someone must try—”

“Listen, old man,” Derya said, eyebrows angled, lips sneering as they brought their face close to his. “You and I can stand here agreeing on everything until hatchlings find their way downstream, but once Cobeah’s bony arse is on that throne and I am standing beside her, I cannot help you.”

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 5:25 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'signal' - this snippet gets a chance to show a tense moment of horror when the plot of my story takes an abrupt left. In a moment of anger, a sign of premeditation is exposed. The cops say it's an accident, but the evidence says otherwise
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'signal' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - Vision tunneling, I began tearing up the floor pallet looking for my cell phone. The signal was going to be shit no matter what, but I needed to call for help. I found it, stuffed just under the couch behind my pillow. I scraped my fingers frantically towards it, clawing for the device. Letting a roar of curses free, I finally swept the phone towards my palm. I gripped it so tight in my hand I thought I'd shatter it. I smashed the buttons frantically, only to discover it was dead. Another expletive, my anger raging like a sea as I threw the phone hard against the wall. It clattered into pieces, the backing and the body. Strangely, not the battery.

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 19, 2026, 5:42 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'tube' - ironically, despite the word being deeply unrelated to the current chapter of my WIP that I'm writing rn, I am however revisiting the theme of teen parties/drama mentioned here. Mild CW for mention of teen use of drugs/alcohol.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'tube' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - Mild content warning for drug/alcohol consumption - "Girl," I snorted, gesturing to my outfit. Sloppy jeans ripped at the heels, ratty hoodie fresh off the box store clearance rack, a t shirt with an anime character edited on lightning and neon letters. I was a loser. I knew that. I was fine with that. "This is not the face you invite to a sick ass party. I look like I'm going to ask about the DD. Like, come on."

We cracked up in the safety of her room. It was fine. I hated crowds, I didn't drink, and I wasn't about to smoke laced bud from an ass bag footballer. The movies made teen parties look tons of fun, but I knew it was something I only enjoyed from the sidelines. I was too much of an obedient homebody to get a thrill out of streaking and beer pong.

"I disagree," Bekah smiled at last, turning back to her mirror. She dug through one of her desk drawers unceremoniously, withdrawing a beat up eyeshadow pallet from the mess. From another drawer, she extracted a beat up tube of mascara and a bottle of foundation. "I think you'd have a lot of fun."

@paisley-rose.bsky.social Sep 18, 2026, 10:28 AM

#WIPSnip - PAYMENT

Wade has some suggestions to help the business and Lucian isn't thrilled about it.

A text-heavy graphic with a teal background featuring the title UNTOUCHABLE LUCIAN BATES. There are illustrations of two characters, a serious-looking man in a suit and a curvy woman with red hair, seated on each side of the text box. The text includes the follow snippet:

“I realize it will take some strategic planning,” Armstrong says more seriously, sitting forward in his seat like a responsible adult now. “Maybe some restructuring. Big picture stuff.”
Of course it will. And of course big picture stuff falls on my shoulders, as CEO. It’s not like I have anything better to do than orchestrate an enormous pivot in our business model single-handedly.
“But I’m not saying this is all on you, Bates,” he continues, not waiting for a response. “I definitely have some ideas of how to get new leads, but also… I thought maybe we could bring someone in. A sort of high-level strategy consultant, to get us going.”
“Wonderful,” I reply dryly. “Shall I write them a personal cheque, or will the loose change in the break room sofa be sufficient payment?”

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 18, 2026, 5:16 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'payment' - I had to go with 'pay' this time. A careful hint of what is to come from an earlier section in the draft.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'payment' but I chose the word 'pay' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - The least I could do was pay Bekah the kindness I'd always wanted. Even through the storms of chaos and fearful roars, I just wanted to know that someone cared, that someone would show up even as the dust settled. Despite her handsome beauty and proud achievements, I could still see that tender girl in Bekah's heart, desperate for understanding. I couldn't fix the problems with her boyfriend or her dad, but I could show up as the best friend that I could. I would do that for her, even to the end.

@cjmann3.bsky.social Sep 17, 2026, 8:07 PM

As head of the Royal Guard, Leola serves the crown, not whoever wears it. When danger floods the throne room, they rush into it rather than let it reach Cobeah on the throne behind them.

A #WIPSnip from QUEEN FOR A DAY

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An attacker’s sudden shout stole Leila’s attention. The oncoming man saw what remained of his dying companion, but didn’t make it far. One of Cobeah’s quoits sank into his shoulder and spun him sideways. He staggered to his knees, then forced himself upright. Magickal fire poured from his uninjured hand in a searing sheet, driving Leola back towards the throne. With the other hand, he created a small, focused shield and knocked aside a second quoit from Cobeah that would have found his head.

Sweat ran down the man’s face. Not from the fire heating his skin, but the effort of maintaining such magicks in quick succession. Leola knew any weak user of offensive magicks could unleash powerful acts with the quickest of outbursts, thoughts, and emotions. However, even the strongest of mages needed time, intention, and focus to form durable defensive magicks.

“For Disaya!”

Resignation burned in the man’s eyes as he screamed. He knew he was almost spent and meant to take everyone with him. Leola leapt through the wall of flame. Heat clawed at their armor and slipped through in waves, cooking their body within. Their short hair fused to their helm. Leola squeezed their eyes shut against the blast. Sight no longer mattered; Mother Altalune guided them now. They burst out of the flames and brought the scimitar around in one savage stroke, taking the man’s head mid-incantation.

The half-formed spell detonated.

Fire erupted in all directions. Leola crashed down, smothering the worst of the blast with their body. Agony tore through them, every nerve alight. It still paled beside the pain they would have carried if they had failed to protect the crown, no matter who wore it.

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 17, 2026, 6:35 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'effort' - what makes a true best friend is showing up for your people even when their anxiety has them flying away untethered.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'effort' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - Making no great effort to return, Bekah and I walked slowly around the block that Sigmund's occupied. I forced deep breaths in and out of my mouth, holding my chest over my heart as if massaging it into a calm. She comforted me, saying that if my mother tried to make any snide comment that she would cut her off in an instant. She reminded me that all of our friends were here to support me and that whatever was up my mother's ass was irrelevant.

"Tonight's your night," she smiled genuinely. "She'll never be happy and that's no excuse not to be happy for yourself."

Brows upturned in nervous disbelief, I couldn't believe how little things effected Bekah. I was so grateful that I had an amazing friend like her, someone that truly cared to uplift the people in her life. She could never fully grasp what a positive impact she had on my life. I was grateful for her friendship every day.

"What if I fuck up?"

"You won't."

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 7:51 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'call' - while I had hundreds of options to pick from, I chose an intimate moment between friends late at night. Sometimes, all you need is a best friend that sees you.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'call' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - "Always," I answered, smiling even if I felt weak. "The love of hateful people is only as warm as the cooling iron shackles they call bonds. The warmth won't last forever and the obligation far outlives the kindness."

"Damn," she whistled. "That's some deep shit."

"Not to sound, like, super corn ball, but I feel things so… so much. Like, I know everyone's trying to be fake deep and super intellectual, but for me," I paused, resting my chin on my hands as I leaned back onto the ledge, "I guess life does feel a lot more complicated than what it seems."

"You seem like it. Well, I guess the better way to put it is you always look like you're thinking all the time," Bekah nodded. "I don't see that in a lot of people."

"It makes you lonely, that's for sure," I sighed, looking to Bekah with a tired smile. "You never make me feel lonely, though."

"Good," she grinned.

@markweaver.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 6:53 AM

This #WIPSnip explains how someone who sticks out like a sore thumb can walk around without raising an eyebrow in "The Flipside Of Somewhen".

“Hold on a second,” said Tim, “and I don’t mean any offence by this, but how did a large furry bunny manage to wander around asking questions without drawing attention to himself?”
“Easy,” said Grey as he took a pair of dark glasses out of his pocket. “I put these on. No one noticed.”
“The real explanation,” said Eloise, “is that the human race is now a card-carrying member of the Galactic Community and has been for some time. Offworlders on Earth are nothing new, and that includes large furry bunnies.”
“And presumably squirrels, tigers, raccoons and bears,” said Lydiatt.
“If you mean Amberflame and his crew, then yes,” said Eloise. "Don’t make the mistake of thinking of them as actual Earth tigers, raccoons and the like, only bigger and more talky, because they’re not. They come from alien worlds and belong to alien races, and only happen to look like what you call a tiger, a rabbit, a raccoon and so on. It has something to do with parallel evolution.”
“But where does Amberflame fit into all this?” asked Tim.
“He was Professor of Spacio-Temporal Engineering at the University of Altair III,” explained Grey. “That was before he had a fundamental disagreement with the university about the size of his salary.

@irishbeefcakes.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 4:13 PM

Sometimes, just sometimes, my characters get invited back to someones fancy room.

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The leader yells as he runs away, the sound of squelching shoes audible over the laughing for a few moments as Gideon shakes his head and walks back over to Kurokami who takes his arm immediately. With the blockade no longer a problem everyone has begun to go about their day again and for some reason the entire city felt more open. The whole place felt more airy.

As Kurokami and Gideon approach her inn, it has become very obvious that this was the right choice. Kurokami is staying at The Royal Ace. Gideon remembers it being a very high class, fancy place. The exterior is highly maintained, dark wood, gold accents and a sign that is made from metal as opposed to wood.

“Fancy.”

Gideon comments as he glances up at Kurokami, who smirks.

“It might surprise you to hear that there are very few places that have beds big enough for me to be comfortable in.”

Gideon nods knowingly.

“That's something we both share. Though in this case I’m the least affected. Rare, that.”

Kurokami leads them in, the reception area is well lit and highly polished. Plush chairs sit empty in the corners. Though Gideon notices two empty half pint glasses that still have foam on the sides. The receptionist smiles at Kurokami, giving her a polite nod as she walks past.

“Given your display today and how public you and I have been, do you think the Shadows have found you?”

@verosthewriter.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 3:34 PM

#WIPSnip
Early in Prophecy 71, Jorang considers joining the local police force. Maybe you can guess how that goes.

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It was only a few moments before she brought him to a broad granite building with defensive window patterns, several stories high. The insignia painted on the door and on the exterior of the upper floor matched Constable Neklay’s badge. The one painted on the building had numerous stains splattered on it. Apparently there were certain members of the community who did not appreciate the constabulary’s service.
Things had been similar with the Order of the Iron River. In the end, though it pained him, Jorang had been among those who disapproved. He had shown it in a more appropriate fashion than these petty vandals, however. Perhaps he could set an example that they could hold in better regard.

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 7:40 AM

The #WIPSnip Word of the Day is 'exterior' - not a lot of things to pick from in my WIP but I chose one of the happier parts of my paranormal thriller. However, don't let this excerpt deceive you: the laughter doesn't last for long.
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The WIP Snip Word of the Day is 'exterior' - the following is an excerpt from my novel WIP Canary featuring the word of the day - Through the glass, I heard the muffled sounds of teen hooting and laughter. Logan and Neil were fake wrestling for the steps to the coffee shop while some of the others hung back and laughed. A few of our friends decided to take up a wrought iron table along the exterior of the building, tossing their backpacks behind them as they sat. Emily walked by the window, her gaze catching mine. She glared at me, face stone cold. My throat tightened, watching as she finally turned away.

@cjmann3.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 8:49 PM

QUEEN FOR A DAY opens with Queen Disaya’s death at Cobeah’s hands. Between its chapters, Requiems return to the years before: the responsibilities, compromises, and choices made that led to the first-page tragedy.

#WIPSnip #AmWriting #DarkFantasy #MythicFantasy #WriteSky

Requiem Five
(Four years before Cobeah’s act of High Treason)

In her study, Disaya watched the blazing sun begin its descent through one window, while another on the far wall framed the crescent of Luna breaking the horizon. This time of year, the lunar realm was eager, pressing into the day’s last light. In other months it lingered, letting the sun die fully before showing its moonlit face.

Beyond the glass, Pelagica prepared for night the way it always did. Doors opened. Voices rose. Meals were shared, bread broken, cups filled again and again with wine, water, and ale. The city’s joy reached her as muffled sound, softened by distance, a celebration heard through stone-thick walls.

As much as she took pride in her work, it left her with a familiar irritation when duty pinned her to the desk well after moonrise. The burden came with her mantle, and she had accepted it with an open heart. Still, she would rather have been at a table with her children, and sometimes even Aulay, laughing over food while the night cooled the house.

Not tonight. Tonight required another hour, maybe two. Seals waited. Signatures. Documents that could not be delayed simply because the moon had risen. Calder’s promotion to Admiral. Revisions to the Fishers’ Guild charter. Schedules for court and ceremony, all of them threaded around the Clepsydra’s lunar rites, because the holy calendars did not bend for mortal convenience. Disputes needed judgment. Legislation needed shaping. Qualms with neighboring realms needed addressing before they became raids and corpses. The pile on her desk had the quiet weight of a flood.

@mcwrites27.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 5:14 AM

The #WIPSnip word of the day is 'month' - Southern Gothic as a genre is nothing else if not a love letter do the deeply complicated beauty of the rolling hills, meandering rivers, and lush green valleys within.
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The WIP Snip word of the day is 'month' - the following is an excerpt of my novel WIP Canary using the word of the day - For all my pain and anguish, I did love the South. It was beautiful in ways few other people understood. Life was hard, but it was lovely, too. Saving up pocket change for months to afford a weekend camping trip in the hills made it all the more magical. Escaping the heat in the meandering creeks and rivers, the same waterways that had stretched through the mountains for eons, was a spiritual experience. The rich, earthy scent of the clay soil as you dug for mudbugs, the humid nights that sung with the song of wildlife, the whispering voices on the breeze snaking through the corn fields: no matter how I felt about her, the South was my home.

@matthewstien.bsky.social Sep 13, 2026, 5:46 PM

#WipSnip from BEERS OF WAR as one character muses on the nature of the lands beyond the Frontier.