#kindling stories

[lazylittledragon]

ok someone please correct me if i'm wrong but am i weird for thinking those 'audiobooks don't count as reading' posts are ableist as fuck????

[meganwhalenturner]

One might assume I am reposting this because of the helpful advice on writing, but no. It’s the news that there is a new Kathleen Jennings book that absolutely made my day.

42+ ways to fix a story in progress

(Also posted on: 42+ ways to fix a story)

Here is a list of (some) ways to fix a draft or story in progress. I started it in the observation journal when I was struggling with some story changes.

In summary, these can be reduced to intensify; focus/tighten; swap/invert. But in a tight spot, specifics are often more useful. And making the list was also important, because it reassured me I knew all these techniques, and had used them before, and should calm down.

List 10 terrible endings (adapted from a Helen Marshall exercise), or just 20 endings. Or 100…

Re-outline it

Map it onto another story (I like to quick-outline fairy tales until one resonates, and then identify the parts to strengthen)

Fill it out as a synopsis questionnaire (I used to use Sue Dennard’s 1-page synopsis to trap story ideas)

Ask — what is the story behind the story?

Change the place

Change the era

Genderflip main character

Genderflip everyone

Change the genre

Change the adjectives

Describe the story in one emotion, & align/adjust

Do the same for each scene/section (see also three moods)

Flip (main) character’s personality (quiet to loud, etc)

What happens after

What happens before

What’s happening at the same time

It’s a metaphor for: ___

Pick/change emotional note for end

Scene-map

Match to 3-act structure

Match to 5-act structure

Give characters a preoccupation or secret

Start it later

Start it earlier

End it earlier

End it later

Map it onto a song

Blow something up

Make everything worse

Change [define & intensify] the aesthetic

Explain the reasons

Invert

Make it/ the weak bits A Whole Thing

Make it/ the weak bits a Good/Bad Thing

Make it/ the weak bits The Shape of the World

Tell from a non-obvious point of view (see also: by whom and to whom, and some less common points of view)

Change the type of character in the role (think archetypes and stereotypes)

Change drama – pose (?)

Change motifs

Change sentence structure

Change form, shape (e.g. list, pastiche, non-fiction)

And to these I’d add:

change voice, and

change age.

I might add more as I go. But in the meantime: hey, my debut collection of short stories, KINDLING, is now out from Small Beer Press (in the USA, and coming soon to Australia). It includes the new story “Annie Coal”. And if you look closely at the journal page above, you’ll see that was the story I was editing when I made this list.

[subjective-raven]

Hey everybody! I wrote a book! It comes out on September 17th 2024.

It’s a magical realism thriller anthology of four short stories and five poems! Each stand alone short story is set in a different season. Each story says something different about the human condition.

In “Dottie’s Final Day,” a reaper comes to Dottie Lyre in her garden. What does an elderly mother choose to do on her last day alive?

“The Door,” appears suddenly and disappears just as fast. What’s on the other side? Why won’t the door sit still? Jane’s going to find out.

Please share this with anyone you think might be interested! You can preorder the e-book on Amazon now for .99c and the paperback will be available SEPTEMBER 17th for $10.99! The price will go up a few dollars September 28th but I’ll also be getting a larger percentage of the sale.

I’ve been writing my entire life and this is my first published book so pleaseeee if you are reading this, this book is for anyone middle school to grave. It’s only like 142 pages and the cover is really pretty if you would rather just have a pretty trophy and leave me a review on Amazon like you read it and it was awesome then I also love you.

[expelliarmus]

[dnschmidt]

New Short Story: William and the Clockwork Devil

In this clockpunk portal fantasy, a young man named William finds himself transported to another world. This strange place seems like the Middle Ages, but the villagers are threatened by mechanical monsters and centaur highwaymen.

A masked doctor explains that poison has driven the kingdom mad, and William is the only remaining knight. Is the doctor trustworthy, or has he been struck with the madness, too? William must choose between pretending he's brave enough to battle an invincible clockwork dragon, or letting the masked doctor "cure" him with medieval brain surgery.

Available for Kindle for just 99 cents.

[kelyghtbooks]

Come and See.

The House of Dentium is out now! Order a paperback via Amazon or a digital copy! Celebrating release day with us is Dentium, himself! Art by @tangledarts, as the rest of the promotional materials. Plot synopsis below:

Yurt is a walking, talking self-proclaimed priceless antique who finds himself stolen from his very store by a rascal of a boy, Jacob Wilkins, and taken into a broken home.

Eugene Lazlo is a hapless layabout with little more on his mind than getting his own car who wanders absently right into nightmare.

Samantha Hale is a high school dropout and a single mother plagued by visions of death and despair. Dr. Edwin Rutherford serves as her therapist, attempting to make sense of her morbid fantasies.

Tremors in Telafette is a "reality" show, investigating the strange happenings around the decaying city. The trio behind the show stumble into an inexpiable mystery, far more real than their usual haunts, as past meets present in a horrifying brew of superstition and suffering.

A boy and his bear. A listless fast food employee. A timid single mother. A resentful scholar. Five missing children. And a TV show on the verge of collapse. All these fates mix and intertwine in the stagnant morass of small town Telafette.

[jamiesfootball]

This was the first time I noticed that when Zava messes with Jamie’s hair, he does say under his breath ‘get off me, man’

[theunboundwriter]

I'm published on Amazon Kindle!

I've joined a writing contest where winners are selected based on audience interaction, and it would mean the world to me if you could tune into my novel. Every follow counts as a vote. The first ten chapters are free to read (link included below). Thank you!

Introducing: The Curse of Cutthroat Marlowe

(previously titled The Sea is in Her Blood)

Story Synopsis:

June Marlowe, the fearless daughter of the notorious pirate Captain Damon 'The Marked,' has lived her life in the shadow of her father's ruthless legacy. Known for her cunning and audacity, June defied her father's iron grip and stole a mysterious map leading to an unknown treasure. Now, with a price on her head and her father’s vengeful gaze locked on her, June must navigate treacherous waters to uncover the treasure’s secrets.

As June sets sail on a stolen ship, she faces the formidable task of evading her father's relentless pursuit. But her troubles don't end there. Captain Bates Anderson of the British Navy, who has a personal vendetta against her, is hot on her trail, seeking retribution for past wrongs.

Amid the chaos, June finds solace in the arms of a charismatic and enigmatic stranger who aids her on her quest. Their budding romance provides a glimmer of hope, but trust is a rare commodity when betrayal lurks around every corner. June’s feelings for him become entangled with her desperate race for the treasure, raising the stakes of her journey.

Caught between her father's wrath and the British Navy’s pursuit, June is eventually captured by Captain Bates Anderson. In prison, she discovers that her father’s legend is more than just a tale of terror—an ancient curse has plagued their family for generations. The curse, tied to the treasure she seeks, threatens to consume her and all she holds dear.

As June’s love for her new ally deepens and the curse’s effects become increasingly apparent, she must confront her past mistakes, the dark legacy of her family, and the treacherous waters she navigates. With her father’s forces closing in and the British Navy determined to see her pay, June’s quest for the treasure becomes a fight for survival, redemption, and love.

In a high-stakes race against time, June Marlowe must decode the secrets of the map, unravel the curse’s mysteries, and confront the ghosts of her past to secure her future. Her journey is a perilous mix of adventure, romance, and the relentless pursuit of freedom in a world where every ally might be a traitor and every shadow could hide a deadly secret.

Reblogs would be appreciated to gain audience traction! Thank you so much for reading!

[hanaasbananas]

I literally binged the AGGGTM trilogy last month and yet somehow I managed to forget how STRESSED Holly Jackson makes me..a fact I'm v rapidly remembering now that I'm 150 pages into The Reappearance of Rachel Price oh my god

[erotica-on-amazon]

I had no idea what was in store when we pulled up to a nondescript building in the seedy part of town. I'm the new wide receiver on my college team and I'm going to have to outshine my competition if I want a starting spot. But instead of impressing my coaches, I quickly learn it's my teammates who decided wether I'd become a football star or a benchwarmer for the entire season. When a few teammates invite me for a wild night downtown, I know that I'll agree to anything if it means I can make it with them. It turns out they have a little initation, and it requires entering the Alumni Bathhouses, a steamy batthouse for current and former athletes. Before I know it, I'm alone in a room with a hairy, forty-something former footballer. If I want a spot on the team, I'll have to earn it through him. I'm totally straight, but that's about to go down the drain—along with a few other things...

[apolline-lucy]

THE HOLLOWS : sapphic witches, ghost cats, demons, necromancy, & curses.

[beaujuniperbooks]

Welcome to the world of Savor, a restaurant where culinary dreams collide with a shocking reality. In this tale of intrigue and redemption, you’ll meet Sadie, a renowned chef whose passion for food is threatened by a sinister plot. You’ll also meet Juniper, a sharp detective whose investigation leads her into the heart of a culinary conspiracy. Join them on a journey that will reveal the bitter truth hidden beneath the surface of gourmet cuisine, where envy and betrayal simmer, and every bite holds a secret.

Paperback edition is still processing but will be available soon!

Available free on Kindle Unlimited.

Total Pages: 39

Genre: Cozy Mystery

[teamstarbeams]

🌧️Rainfall Anamnesia⛈️ We are excited to announce that Vol 1 is available for FREE until Sunday! HAPPY OCTOBER 🎃

A dark magical girl fantasy adventure with action, reverse harem romance, and inclement weather abound! Reincarnated as a human, the demon princess Penumbra Rainvein embarks on a journey to track down the lost members of her harem, the Ardyais Circle, throughout the universe and reclaim her rightful throne while unraveling the mystery of her death. When a stranger shows up on the isolated island of Necatar's Pontile, she is faced with the truth of her human life and unravels a conspiracy spanning thousands of years. But before she can reclaim her kingdom, she must save her childhood friend from the gruesome Prize Ceremony!

💧DOWNLOAD HERE💧

[victor-v]

who's gonna take one for the team* and post the rc aftg new content

[fuckyeahastrophysics]

Available now on Kindle Vella!

The first 3 episodes are free. Please follow the story if you're interested! A bit more details below.

There's crude humor, heavy fucking language, violence, drama, romance, and tons of neat scifi stuff... Shit, what more could you want? *pats self on back*

There's a mysterious and hauntingly beautiful trans space witch, a hot and brooding "Emo Greek God" scientist, a cryptic and reclusive ancient alien race billions of years more advanced than everyone else, an ethereal being that lives outside of time and space, realistic autistic characters, and lots of talk about mental health.

****

Written by me an Autistic/ADHD human. Cheers if you remember this post from just over a year ago. I haven't stopped writing! This is a series that will eventually be a book (like it was supposed to be) but I find posting in this more digestible format pleasing. It pleases me. Yes, quite, indeed.

[zoanzon]

Perhaps controversial, but: why the hell do people wanna download fics as EPUBs? I'd vastly rather they be PDFs