#@thelaughingstag

[alicewhitesblog]

Short Story by © Alice White

Claire Steading, placed her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath, while out walking her Jack Russell Terrier, Buster.

He had suddenly caught sight of a rabbit and immediately gave chase. Claire went running after both animals and watched as they darted through a hole in a chain-link fence that surrounded the half derelict Hallowmas Hall.

Claire managed to scramble up and over the nine-foot wire fence but lagged way behind in her pursuit of her dog.

“Come back boy! Look what mummy has got?” Eventually standing up waving in the air a small dog biscuit in the shape of a bone, hoping the scent of beef essence would carry.

Standing ankle deep in last summer dead vegetation, Claire couldn’t help but stare up at the hall. The place had once belonged to the famous author and now convicted mass murderer, Alastair Croxley. Unbeknown to his publisher and worldwide fans, Croxley would lure women back to the hall and after killing them, immortalise his deeds in fiction.

Claire, shivered has a gust of wind blew around the side of the hall animating the pile of dead leaves at her feet. She was about to call out for Buster again when she heard his bark echoing from within the hall.

Fearing that Buster may be trapped, she bounding up the stone steps to the front door. Inside, the hall was damp and bleak. Drapes hung awkward still attached to their collapsed curtain poles. Claire then screamed at seeing a family of mice scurry out from a hole in the wall.

Buster resumed his barking somewhere within the hall.

Eventually she found him in a large empty room, standing at the far wall scratching at the peeling wallpaper. Seeing that he was OK, she grabbed his collar and attached his lead.

“Come away!” she commanded. But Buster was reluctant to leave. Instead, he kept snarling and growling demanding to finish the tearing of the wallpaper.

Claire wanted out of the hall, but seeing that something was agitating her dog, she decided to stay and find out. Claire tied Buster to a door handle and went back to see why he was scratching at the wall.

Bending down, Claire saw that beneath the wallpaper was what looked like the edge of another door! She tore away more of the wallpaper to reveal that there was indeed a concealed entrance. Once she had peeled back the remaining paper, she placed her hand on the door knob, turned it, and went into the secret room.

Stale air escaped from the room sounding as if exhaling its final breath. The sudden gust spooked Buster, tugging himself free he ran out of the room and out of the hall. Claire was now too intrigued to go chasing after him.

Surprisingly, the room, which she concluded must be a study, was rather tidy, albeit covered in dust. There was a full bookcase running the entire length of the wall. A standard lamp, an armchair and an oak desk. To Claire’s amazement on top of which was a ‘Royal’ typewriter.

Claire looked down on what must have been the original typewriter that Croxley used. Her mind was too occupied to notice that the study door she originally came through, was starting to close, trapping her inside.

Then quite unexpectedly, the typewriter keys sprung into life making her jump and heart thump as the keys hammering out a message. When the typing had stopped she went, with some caution, over to the typewriter. Just two words were typed on the single sheet of paper. Two words that made her fall back against the desk.

‘Hello Claire.'

[thelaughingstag]

I would like to start off with a heartfelt apology. I have a habit of doing things ‘all or nothing’. I start off doing it all then get overwhelmed and do nothing. Well… not entirely nothing. During my absence I finished my masters degree, got a job in my field, and recently received a promotion. I participated and, for the first time, completed NaNoWriMo. Writing made me miss the community so here I am.

I promise I never truly forgot about you all, I have been seeing notifications for all of your work for the past several years and I’ve been quietly cheering you all on. I finally feel I have the space to give others the support that I had needed for myself. I hope you all have been well! Keep tagging the Stag and I’ll work through all of the posts I’ve been missing.

~Hin

[ink-flavored]

Magnet Monday Week 45: Magic for Pride Month

this is actually the second time i've written a Magnet Monday poem with "magic" as the theme, but since this is for pride month i'll accept a duplicate!

If you’re interested in being able to choose the topic of the next poem, make sure to vote in the weekly Magnet Monday polls! Or if you want a commission just like it, check out my pricing sheet!

Transcript under the cut!

[Ko-Fi] [Magnet Monday]

Magnet Monday Taglist (Check out my Google form to get added): @elegant-paper-collection ​ @polyphonetic @qelizhus @livums @maxdamaz @auroblaze @stardustanddaffodils @thelaughingstag @ceph-the-ghost-writer @auntdarth @damageinkorporated @srjacksin

Magic

being queer is magic

put pride in the center

of your lavender life

choose the self

and the power of change

put color in your body

see poetry in time

touch the past with love

and be the friendly hand

of today

[aalinaaaaaa]

Writeblr Introduction (a Rewrite!)

Hello everyone, my name's Alina (Twenties, female), and if I'm not studying I'm likely on here (or writing, lol). I've had this account for a while now, I use it for posting my stuff as well as the lovely writings of others.

Also a proud member of this society -> @writersuog , go give them a follow! They reblog writing prompts and their members' writings.

And here's what can be found on my blog:

- My writing (see below)

- Other people's writing

- Writeblr things I think are neat

- Eurovision posts (lol)

Just a side note for visitors (this should be common sense, but eh), please don't send me asks/messages relating to the following things.

1. Discourse of any kind (such as political and/or humanitarian issues)

2. Asking for money

3. Anything such as hate comments, advertising, scams and other foolish things.

Should one send me an ask or message in relation to any of the aforementioned above, your message will be deleted on sight. A block and/or report may also be in order, message depending.

WIP Introductions and Masterlists

Flamebearer

Obsidian Sapphires

Caointe na Mná | The Lady's Lament

Soulswapped

Flash Fiction Friday Masterlist

OC Masterlist

Taglists:

General taglist:

— @thelaughingstag @glassstardust22124 @wip-nook @thereadingfoz @thebluesthourcommunity @original-writing @bigboicol-theflamingcol @darlingsmoon @the-ellia-west @guessillcallitart @mr-orion

Tag Game List:

— @emelkae @afoolandathief @oh-no-another-idea @talesfromaurea @ettawritesnstudies @estelaiswriting @drippingmoon @pluttskutt @avrablake @bloodlessheirbyjacques @writerfae @ghost-town-story @druidx @wildswrites @enchanted-lightning-aes @jezifsterswriting @ashen-crest @writing-is-a-martial-art @thesorcerersapprentice @echoing-sailor @splashinkling @copper-dragon-in-disguise @athenswrites @talesofsorrowandofruin @notthatpanda @mk-writes-stuff @scifimagpie @sparrow-orion-writes @winglesswriter @mysticstarlightduck @thepeculiarbird @poethill

(Ask/comment/message me if you'd like to be added or subtracted from any of these lists! (Each of the wips also have their own lists))

[writeblrfantasy]

It's out! It's release day!☀️🎉☀️🎉

this baby is out in the world!

this book got its start on tumblr three years ago (wow the passage of time never fails to astound me) and i owe it all to this wonderful writeblr community. writing this series during the summer/fall of 21 was one of the best periods of my life, and i will forever be grateful and nostalgic for that time.

i truly can't believe this book is now out for everyone to read as i always hoped it would be! thank you to my incredible betas, friends, and everyone who has read this book at various stages along the way.

it's yours now. step into the world of kryos, and cerrick and njord's romance, for the first time.

You can buy it here!

orderverse taglist (lmk to be added/removed) @willowiswriting @ninazeniks @magic-is-something-we-create @ren-c-ley @justwriteyoudummy

@47crayons @yejidoesthings @ettawritesnstudies @faithfire-writes @a-forgotten-dusk

@talesfromaurea @ashen-crest @thelaughingstag @transmasc-wizard

GENERAL TAGLIST: @worldbuildng @muddshadow @nikkywrites @47crayons @directionoftime

@chayscribbles @magic-is-something-we-create @rodentwrites @notwritinganyflufftoday

[jev-urisk]

🌐7 Circles🌐 An Intro Presentation

There's no such thing as being too late to a trend (is what I'm telling myself here.)

Made using Canva. Extra slide via link cuz Tumblr caps at 10 pics. Also may be better quality.

This took a really long time but I'm really happy with the results!! 😭💕 Trying to explain or summarize my story is hard and nerve-wracking but something about making a presentation clicked for me.

Tagging everyone bc I'm so so stoked about thisss ❤️‍🔥

@the-golden-comet @lychhiker-writes @katenewmanwrites @cowboybrunch @wyked-ao3 @fortunatetragedy @zackprincebooks @urbiggestfan-01 @gioiaalbanoart @scorpiothesaint @officialauthorofanotherworld @aalinaaaaaa @smellyrottentrees @marlowethelibrarian @autism-purgatory @ddgraywrites @thelaughingstag

[thesorcerersapprentice]

This questionnaire is lifted from the popular book ‘Save the Cat! Writes a Novel’ by Jessica Brody. It’s designed to help flesh out your main character's personality, motivations, and backstory. I filled it out for Altaluna, the protagonist of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

TAG LIST: (ask to be + or - ) @the-finch-address @achilleanmafia @fearofahumanplanet @winterninja-fr  @avrablake @outpost51 @d3mon-ology @hippiewrites @threeking @lexiklecksi @ashirisu @thelaughingstag

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

The City is Ours shitty comic sans intro weeeeeeeee-

I didn't make picrews for the villains bc I was tired of making them and the villians' faces are covered by masks 90% of the time anyway XD. These shitty comic sans intros are fun as hell, more of these for my other wips (including a couple of the backburners) are on their way!

Picrew used: Makowka picrew

taglists under the cut :D (idk if it just me, but tumblr's been really funky with tagging/not tagging people lately, so if you weren't tagged let me know)

TCIO Taglist: @friendlyneighborhood-writer @jessica-writes22 @rose-bookblood @yejidoesthings @space-writes @cljordan-imperium (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

General Taglist: @enchanted-lightning-aes @thatprolificauthor @wip-nook @writeblrsupport @outpost51 @dustylovelyrun @thelaughingstag @jacqueswriteblrlibrary (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

and @aritany of course, since you've been loving these :D

[dragon-swords-prophecies]

WIP Re-Intro: Herald At Dawn

Title: Herald at Dawn

Genre: Steampunk fantasy murder mystery

Status: 30k, draft 0 mostly finished

POV: Third person limited, multiple POVs

Setting: A steampunk city called Volimere, loosely based on victorian/edwardian london. Fashion is 1890s based, technology is, uh, wherever I think is coolest before the 1940s. Technically, its set in september & october of 1891, but thats largely because any later and the sleeves on women’s shirts get unmanageable. 

Universal TW/CW: Murder, corruption, legal systems being really really shit at their job, implied homophobia, cheating/affairs on spouses (past), bribery, death, implied past sexual assault, severe injury

Plot/Synopsis: 11 years ago a woman named Marisol Ekker was murdered by the wife of her son's father, Evelyn Belmont. Despite all evidence, Evelyn Belmont was acquitted and faced no punishment. Nearly a decade later, investigative reporter Alexandrina McLelland approached Marisol Ekker's son, Nathaniel Ekker--who was 12 at the time of her death--, to write an article about the corruption in the case. It is published in The Clockwork Herald, the newspaper where Alexandrina works, and exposes the dirty laundry of one of the city’s wealthiest families, the Belmonts. Soon after a string of murders begins. At first suspicions point to someone entirely unconnected with the Ekker trial or Alexandrina’s article, but as the pressure mounts (and the danger gets much closer to home), it becomes clear that the article and the deaths are far more connected than anyone initially thought.

Main Characters & Important Side Characters (Character Into links to be added):

Alexandrina "Alex" McLelland. 31, she/her, aroace. Investigative reporter at The Clockwork Herald and the narrator for this story (most of the time. sometimes there's another narrator)! Possesses a strong sense of justice and a weak sense of self preservation. Firmly believes in pockets. She wants to finish what her father started and expose the crimes of the city’s wealthy and powerful. This is, unfortunately, going rather slowly.

James Blakely. 32, he/him, gay, editor at the Herald. Alex's childhood friend, and Leo's partner. Is best described as a golden retriever with anxiety. He worries too much for his own good. James inherited editor-ship of the herald from his uncle 10 years ago, but he had been working there in various capacities since he was a teenager.

León "Leo" Rivera. 33, he/him, bisexual & bilingual. Writes the pages on politics at the Herald & is James' partner. Leo wrote the original articles on the Ekker trial 11 years ago; he used to be a court reporter. He does his best to not get hurt by his job, but sometimes he’s terrible at it (Chapter 10. Chapter 10 is when he’s really, really terrible at it. Though to be fair it is not in any way his fault). 

Nathaniel Ekker. 23, he/him, queer. Tailor, and the son of the woman whose murder was the focus of the Ekker trial. He agreed to do Alex's article on the condition it would be anonymous (and it was). He was 12 when his mother was killed by his father’s wife. His aunts raised him, and he only returned to Volimere 4 years ago t0 reopen his mother’s shop. 

Arthur Hall. 30, he/him, cishet. Investigative reporter at the Volimere Daily, and Alex's (mostly friendly) rival. Also one of her closest friends. Despite this, they have a lot of disagreements. He was supposed to co-write the article with her but ended up not doing that.

Ronald Wilks. 65, he/him, bisexual & polyamarous. Sports & Entertainment reporter at The Clockwork Herald. He used to work with Alexandrina’s father (Donovan), before Donovan died. He was not supposed to be as plot relevant as he is and I do not have a lot to say about him (yet).

Taglist maintained below the cut, ask to be added or removed!

@thelaughingstag @gr3y-heron @another-white-void @amethyst-aster @akindofmagictoo

[indecentpause]

The Black & Blues: The End

Your talk with Danny about getting to know Akasha comes quicker than you’d expected. Cacophony of Dissonance has a show Thursday night, and while you can’t make it because you have to work, a little past midnight Danny sends you a text: Is it cool if Akasha comes back to our place?' Your throat tightens. What he does with his girlfriend on his own time is his business. You’ve slept with Josselin in his and Frankie’s bed. If they want to get up to something in Danny’s you have no right to judge. yeah sure I guess, you text back. Your phone buzzes in your pocket but you’re in the middle of a metal panel, so it has to wait. It takes about ten minutes before you can check it. It’s Danny again, as you expected. Are you uncomfortable with that? Another one sent about five minutes later. I know you’re at work, so we’ll just chill somewhere until you can get back to me. You only have a few moments to get back to him. You don’t want to seem mad. You’re a little hurt but that’s not their fault. You text back quickly, no its fine just at work busy You pocket your phone again and get back to work. You try not to think about it. She might not even be there when you get back.

read the final chapter of The Black & Blues on ao3!

or read it from the beginning here!

initially, after this chapter I was going to take a hiatus and come back. but as I explain in the author's commentary on on ao3, this seems instead to be a good stopping point.

thanks for reading with me, everyone :)

Current taglist: @abalonetea @only-book-lovers-left-alive @poore-choice-of-words @leadhelmetcosmonaut @jasperygrace

@drippingmoon @magic-is-something-we-create @winterandwords

@revenantlore @mr-orion @idreamonpaper @theoddcryptid

@thelaughingstag

Black & Blues taglist: @lynnedwardswrites

[cbairdash]

Death Whispers of the Etherwave serial fiction started!

So, Death Whispers of the Etherwave, Chapter 1: For want of a book is live now, and up on Substack here!

Taglist: @thelaughingstag

[alicewhitesblog]

72 year old Judith Brook starred in bewilderment at the image that had appeared on the inside of her left arm. Without talking her eyes off it, she reached out with her right hand towards the table in front of her and lifting a cup from it's saucer, she slowly brought it up to her lips.

Sipping her Earl Grey, she wondered how on earth the picture of a skeleton riding a motorcycle managed to manifest itself onto the inside of her arm. She knew in her old age that she was becoming forgetful, but surely she would have remembered getting a tattoo! And if she did consciously get one she would have chosen the picture of her late cat not this hideous thing!

Returning the cup to its saucer, Judith looked back at her arm. With the mystery of sudden appearance of her new, and only tattoo, occupying her mind she overlooked the small round flesh coloured sticky plaster on the palm of her hand. A reminder of the blood given to her that morning.

Then, a strange thought occurred to her, 'I wonder if someone is missing a tattoo?'

Across town, Jason Kline is in a bar drinking his beer looking down at the space in his tattoo sleeve. It had been years since he had seen the bare flesh on his arm. Before he gave blood this morning, in the vaccant space, he had a skeleton riding a motorcycle!

[author-a-holmes]

Welcome back! I hope the hibernation was a pleasant retreat <3

The Laughing Stag Masterpost

Hello writers, readers, and everything in-between. Welcome to the Laughing Stag! I have created this virtual tavern for writers to share their work (WIP, published work, fanfic, anything!), get feedback, and to connect with others in the writeblr community. Below, I will talk a little bit about myself, what I envision for this blog, and how it might work. I haven’t done anything like this before so if you have any feedback do kindly let me know. The information and guidelines below are subject to change as necessary for the sustained enjoyment of everyone in this writeblr community.

Continued below the cut

Keep reading

[ink-flavored]

Magnet Monday Week 65: Raccoon

obviously i couldn't pull off a real "i am cow" style poem with my limited words, but i hope it has the same vibe!

If you’re interested in being able to choose the topic of the next poem, make sure to vote in the weekly Magnet Monday polls! Or if you want a commission just like it, check out my pricing sheet!

Transcript under the cut!

[Ko-Fi] [Magnet Monday]

Magnet Monday Taglist (Check out my Google form to get added): @elegant-paper-collection ​ @polyphonetic @qelizhus @livums @maxdamaz

@auroblaze @stardustanddaffodils @thelaughingstag @ceph-the-ghost-writer @auntdarth

@damageinkorporated @srjacksin @alesseia

Raccoon

I am raccoon

with tiny hands

I live in tree

and sit by stream

i like to watch

and like to touch

i look for snacks

in grass and wood

a candy cloud!!

thing that's sweet!!

i take to clean

this little pink

oh...

[aalinaaaaaa]

WIP (not-) Wednesday

Tagged by @jev-urisk ! :D

Down below is part of a longer piece I've been working on (more specifically, the part that was written on Wednesday, lol)

“I understand.” Another nail to her heart. “Did your nephew get healed, in the end?” “The only good thing out of this, it seems. He recovered in full by morning.” He leaned on the railing, turning away. The moonlight gave a sheen to his hair. “It should’ve been my cost to bear. And now she’s gone.” His words and the strain in her calves beckoned her to stand, though she refrained. “If you did, you wouldn’t be here, you’d be trapped.” She got the full brunt of the glare from his light brown eyes, simmering. “That’s precisely the point, I’d be in this position, not you. Gods, I wish you didn’t interfere.” “And what then? Getting drugged and bound for your nephew’s sake? Say it to my face.” Eshani rose her face closer, meeting his gaze as she loomed over him by a slight. “Say it to my face that you loved her, and I’ll leave.”

—

Tagging @memento-morri-writes @winterandwords @akindofmagictoo @kaylinalexanderbooks @avrablake @colombette @wintherlywords @bardic-tales plus anyone else :D

Obsidian Sapphires + General taglist (ask/comment/message me to be added or subtracted): @midnight-and-his-melodiverse @outpost51 @mr-orion @the-ellia-west @guessillcallitart @thelaughingstag @thereadingfoz @glassstardust22124 @original-writing @honeybewrites

[writeblrfantasy]

🔆BETA CALL: ORDER OF THE PHANTOM, book 3 of The Order Trilogy

a political fantasy adventure novel with queer characters, friendships, and relationships.

the (very loose, very unfinished) blurb:

Cerrick Hagen is lost. The Order of the Phantom is shattered, and victory seems impossible. He must find a way to restore his crushed spirits and reunite the scattered Phantom while facing the daunting task of overtaking Rinnfell. A host of new enemies and internal challenges jeopardize the Phantom in the conclusion to THE ORDER TRILOGY. What will victory cost? Cerrick's spirits, his romance, his family, or even himself?

word count is 76k. deadline is january 15th or as soon as you're able. (i realize this is an awkward time over the holidays, so if anyone needs time adjustments you can tell me)

i’ll be looking for general feedback about plot, pacing, characters, and weakest/strongest elements. the document + list of questions will be provided upon inquiry. if you want a synopsis of the first two books before reading, i can provide that as well.

contact lilamarybooks@gmail.com if interested.

boosts welcome and appreciated!

orderverse taglist (lmk to be added/removed) @willowiswriting @ninazeniks @magic-is-something-we-create @ren-c-leyn @justwriteyoudummy

@47crayons @yejidoesthings @ettawritesnstudies @faithfire-writes @a-forgotten-dusk

@talesfromaurea @ashen-crest @thelaughingstag @transmasc-wizard @trixierosewrites

GENERAL TAGLIST: @worldbuildng @muddshadow @nikkywrites @47crayons @directionoftime

@chayscribbles @magic-is-something-we-create @rodentwrites @notwritinganyflufftoday @rustywritessometimes