#nyc midnight

[quietbreeze97]

Anyone else writing a short story for the NYC Midnight #500WordChallenge2024 this weekend? This is my first time doing it and I'm nervous but very excited to write something fresh and new between my WIPs.

Prompts have been received, inspiration is flowing - here we go!

[only-when-i-write]

1.2.25 | I have 17 hrs left to write a short story for a competition I signed up for half a year ago thinking my brain would work again by now. At least Ill get good grades in optimism. No but really the medication I am on at the moment wrecks havoc w/ my head and my body and my life and *heavy sigh anyway I try not to think about it too much or else Ill spend my days crying. • its fucking cold this fine saturday in february! the fog wont let me see the end of the street • the day drew blood early when I was making breakfast and had my hand where the knife went. My mistake obv. • small win tho: my body lets me drink coffee again yay!* • todays the first of the month which means amazon ebook sales dropped and I can binge through random stuff for little money. • in light of recent political events (weird saying this on tumblr and not referring to american politics) I went on a late night shopping spree yesterday and am now waiting for a load of expensive plants w/ which to barricade myself into my apartment. In true fictional body/forrest-horror tradition I will let them grow wild, entomb me or transform me. Either way. Ill be safe and/or a monster sprouting exotic flowers come spring.

*zu früh gefreut. Die Tasse ist noch halb voll und mein Body hat schon keinen Bock mehr. Ich muss mich mit dem wunderbaren Duft zufriedengeben. Cant have shit really

[bg-sparrow]

Sharing an original short story I created for the second round of the NYC Midnight short story contest! The more I read it, the more I love it. Maybe I'll revist it sometime!

Round 2 Criteria: Genre: Spy (I went more Spy Comedy) Character: a centernarian Item: a deadlock

The Result: Title: The Acoustic Kitty and the Piece of Resistence Rating: T Words: 2000 Summary: Alfred has pioneered spy technology since the birth of the CIA. Now that his bickering grandsons are two of the agency’s greatest assets, he just wants to knit potholders.

[eleinwrites]

The Birds and the Bees and the Diplomacies

600-word Rhyming Story Challenge: genre: science fiction subject: dual-citizenship emotion: merry

co-written with @whycantilurk

Summary: The bee-like society on the planet Saturn and the bird-like society on Saturn’s moon Titan create a hybrid dual-citizen chick-bee species as a demonstration of their diplomatic relationship.

The hives of Saturn had a theory for why the birds of Titan were so incredibly shy. Each bird of Titan was its own separate being, even when gathered in flocks of good feeling. But as the birds developed and searched in the sky,  casting their gaze increasingly high, finding this greater exploration freeing, it was the hives in Saturn’s clouds they were seeing:

Saturn was glowing, ominous and looming,  full of hives buzzing, rowdy and zooming, each hive was one being with a million bodies or more, a queen in the center of drones that could soar all through the storm clouds, bright and booming. Hidden was the surface, underneath blooming:  no sign of the science and art of the core,  even with all of the hives’ excellent lore. 

To the birds each with only one body, no more, just two hives convening could look much like war. But the hives were clever and determined to lighten their reputation with the birds of Titan. Intent on the chance of meeting their neighbor,  seeking to enjoy the other’s favor, the hives tried to make friends rather than frighten,  the lives of both bees and birds to brighten.

Meanwhile, the flocks of Titan already understood the different perspective of the hives’ personhood.  They saw that the hives were mostly alone, on their giant planet of clouds and stone.  Rare is the stranger to greet a hive’s multitude, but the birds made the effort to break that solitude.  To isolate another, they would not condone. A way to make friends, the birds would make known! 

Both species could fly, with wings and with rockets, and had various skills in their metaphorical pockets, so they messaged each other with radio and then text, exploring much science that had left them vexed and sent each other samples secured with a lock, it’s contents complex genetic schematics. Working together to achieve what came next,  the two societies, their development skills flexed. 

And oh it worked: it worked so well! Their first success was just a single cell! The intertwined genes of bee and bird, making a new and combined third:  a chick-bee who on either planet could dwell, in either environment their health would excel. Within both societies their words would be heard,  the definition of “native born citizen” blurred.  

The long-strived-for ambassador chick-bees lived up to their destiny for diplomacies. They parlayed and partied with people all over. They buzzed and chirped and played, ever bolder. Beloved citizens of two societies –   toasted with cups of honey meads,  and feted with feasts of clover –  rarely were the chick-bees ever hungry or sober.

Success inspired the creators of hive and nest, to keep looking up and consider the rest:  Mimas, Tethys, and Rhea, to name but a few, the many moons of Saturn were now in a queue. To make family of them all was their great quest, for adding diversity in life was the best! With parties and science and genetics too: new species increased with the bee-toad and chick-shrew.

Space society became increasingly wild as “Congratulations! We have a child!” became the rallying cry of friendly invasion of the bee-toad-chick-shrew intending only persuasion. Across the varieties of moons beguiled,  they came and they landed and greeted and smiled,  always with their own happy acclamation, they proclaimed: “Let this be a joyous occasion!” 

[spellscribe]

Gosh life went crazy for a bit there.

I'm trying to stumble back from absolute chaos into slightly-less-chaotic-chaos. It's forced me to figure out Notion, which I'm currently loving, to the point where I'm *sort of* managing to make it both functional AND pretty. Like. At the same time! Woo!

While on that quest I found the most amazing The Amazon Devil stickers on ko-fi. They're so pretty!

Meanwhile, I've gone from not getting a damn word down, to... well, still not getting words down but somehow deciding that overcommitting my mother to creative projects is a FABULOUS idea. I've entered the NYC Midnight rhyming story comp, am going to apply for the Faber scholarship, have had to essentially create a story from scratch for that, and also agreed to make a teletubby Halloween costume for my 12.99 year old. Also, there is an upcoming 13th birthday 😂

Send wine, stickers, and strength

[starklyscifi]

Four years (or something like that, Idk) I’ve been doing NYC Midnight contests and I finally placed in one! (In the round of the contest, not the overall thing, but still, a win is a win)

[ghostbytesforkicks]

Another day, another set of emails making my heart rate behave as if I'm being hunted for sport.

At least these brought good news

😅

[sweensmay]

I'm working on a short-story for a writing contest and I have 48 hours and jokes on me I thought this was going to be so easy but here I am on my last 3 sentences and I'm freaking out overthinking everything!!

[sjaynebradley]

[quietbreeze97]

Well, I've officially submitted my entry to the first round of the NYC Midnight 500 Word Fiction Challenge!

I'm pretty proud of my result, and also I wrote three different drafts in less than 24 hours yesterday, which I never normally do, so this has really helped improve my self-discipline.

Fingers crossed I advance to round 2! I really hope I get in only because I've really enjoyed the challenge so far and am keen to write another piece. :D

[shapedforfighting]

I'm at that point in my writing skill progression where I can create something story-shaped that I don't love.

It's got all the elements of a story. Interesting premise. Solid characterization. Tension. Suspense. Clever wordplay. Tropes turned sideways. My partner/first reader is even impressed.

But I had to build this story very fast out of a specific prompt for a flash-fiction competition. It felt like construction rather than creation—the assembly of story out of recognizable pieces. Not discovery.

Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I put in way too many hours for work this week to have fun. But this one makes me feel hollow.

[restingcorpse]

[eleinwrites]

Fae-Blood Teal

1,000-word Writing Challenge: genre: fantasy; location: nail salon; object: night light

Summary: The past comes to visit a centuries-old draconic war hero who now runs a nail salon catering to the city-dwelling dragons. Not everything is what it seems.

=====  When the Lord of Earth and Sky, His Majesty, Ruler of all Dragons, stepped into Dak’s Nail Salon, it was only natural that the lights went out, leaving the shop dark but for the luminescence of that glorious figure and also from a novelty glow-in-the-dark nightlight that Dak kept at the reception desk, shaped like a sleepy dragon with a startled-looking fae on its back.

“You might want to work on your human form,” Dak told His Majesty. “Unless you intended to be disruptive, of course.”

The lights recovered, flickering back to full strength, masking His Majesty’s glow, but revealing his grimace. His Majesty hated not being the best at whatever he did, which helped him rule the dragons, but was a hindrance for learning new skills, like looking human.

“What are you doing here?” Dak asked His Majesty while they both ignored the other clients making hasty departures, manicures half-done.

Dak’s Nail Salon had been one of the first to cater to the relatively new community of city-dwelling dragons who stayed in human form, neglecting their purpose as dangerous predators destined to rule the skies and all below them.

The great rulers—of which His Majesty was currently the Greatest—had special servants to sharpen and polish their deadly claws.

The great warriors—among whom His Majesty numbered as well—sharpened their claws by raking them against stone and the bones of their enemies.

Dragons who weren’t great just chewed their claws into shape and called it good enough.

City-dwelling dragons—including Dak—trimmed their claws with the special obsidian blades necessary even in human form. City dwellers at nail salons also had their hands and feet massaged and got nail coloring as well, plating naturally black claws in gold or silver or more daringly scarlet or teal polish: scarlet like human blood or teal like fae blood.

Legends described Dakarth of the Forge as having claws that shone liquid teal with the blood of his enemies, never drying before it was renewed. The veracity of that was deeply suspect, not least because of the size differential between dragons and fae: an adult dragon wouldn’t dip claws in fae blood so much as awkwardly smear a bunch of fae against a claw. Plenty of dragons had killed fae by the hundreds, but it certainly hadn’t resulted in the smooth glossy finish of the Fae-Blood Teal that Dak was currently sporting.

“When I discovered my childhood companion had survived, even so diminished, I had to come see myself.”

“Well, here I am. And diminished seems a bit harsh.”

“Injured then. You didn’t need to hide. I would have guarded you under my wing.”

Dak sighed. “I know you would have. But I wanted to go out and see things.”

“Then I shall be glad that you have done so. But now I must warn you. The fae queen is up to something. I know not what, but we may need your skill if we are to face the swarms once more.”

The war between dragons and fae had ended in a negotiated peace after the fall of Dakarth of the Forge. Prior to that, the ongoing conflict had been considered pest control by the dragon hierarchy and terraforming by the fae swarms: Serious and deadly, yes, but not really the type of thing that ended in peace talks.

Until Dakarth of the Forge had dramatically shifted to human form mid-battle and demonstrated that he could communicate with both fae and dragons in that form, before just as dramatically getting swatted by both sides. It hadn’t been pleasant, but it had been effective. Peace talks were held with both sides acknowledging the other as people. A thousand years later it was still a rough transition, the current fae queen was the same one who had only reluctantly agreed to stop treating dragons as particularly rich sources of raw material, and it was His Majesty’s direct predecessor who had grudgingly agreed to transfer Fae Issues to the Minister of Diplomatic Relations rather than the Minister of Public Sanitation.

“I’m pretty sure the fae queen is just getting old and preparing to transfer power.”

“Then her successor will desire to prove herself; we must prepare.”

According to the newspaper, the fae queen’s successor was involved in shady financial dealings with big agriculture but the dragon host wouldn’t be able to address that. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” Dak said, “but I don’t think I can help.”

“It is good to see you with my own eyes. I know that if I have need and call to you, you will respond, Dakarth of the Forge.”

Dak sighed. “I missed you too.”

His Majesty was right: if he called out, Dak would try to help. Somehow. Probably not the way His Majesty wanted though. It was good to see His Majesty, but even better to have him gone again.

“A thousand years later, he finds you alive, after your death signaled the end of the war, and he isn’t suspicious at all?” said the fae who had been standing as still as possible on top of the dragon nightlight.

“We grew up together. My nails are still Fae-Blood Teal,” Dak pointed out defensively.

“Yeah, even without any polish, because you have fae blood. It didn’t occur to him to question your loyalty?”

“I am perfectly loyal! Dragons survived the war that would have killed them.”

“But at what cost.”

With the ballooning dragon population, many stayed mostly in their smaller human forms. It was easier to get enough food for a human body than for a dragon body. The leaders might spend most of their days in the mountain ranges, eating whole yak, but most dragons lived in apartments and ate takeout. And got their nails trimmed and buffed in salons rather than in bloody battle.

Dak shrugged and started cleaning up the salon. “All things change in time. I don’t think living as humans is too high a price for living.”

[n0isy-gh0st]

🩸ITS BLOODY BLASPHEMOUS🩸

(Sort of another take on a previous piece)

[hometoursandotherstuff]

OMG, this home is absolutely stunning. It's a 1920 carriage house in New York City, has 5bds, 6ba, and is listed for only $37.75M. But, get this- everything is included in the sale- the furnishings, art, and the Rolls Royce. Just bring your clothes.

So, you get this Rolls. I would definitely have to reinforce those garage doors. This is a gallery and you get all of the art with it.

Beautiful exposed brick wall, a tapestry and 3D sculptural art.

The gorgeous living room with a glass wall. You get all the art and books. This is making me sick.

Whomever said money doesn't buy happiness is a bedeviled liar. I would be ecstatically happy here.

Look at this cool kitchen. It's not huge, but I don't need much.

Very interesting bench. The cost of the art alone has to be in the millions.

Lovely dining area. Look, you get the blue sheep & pink pig eating out of bowls. How whimsical is that?

Door to the beautiful patio.

Lovely pool room.

It has an upright piano and it has doors- must be a player piano.

This may be the primary bedroom with a big brick fireplace and tons of art.

Check out the en-suite.

The guest room is just as wonderful as the primary bedroom with a brick fireplace wall, spaciousness and art.

Amazing roof top deck.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/178-E-75th-St-New-York-NY-10021/31535475_zpid/

[heavensbeehall]

Update. Barnes and Noble now lists 630 midnight release parties for Sunrise on the Reaping. I can only see 525 of them for some reason (perhaps because they are only about 600 B&N stores in the country. I used to work at two). But the good news is, if you have a Barnes and Noble near you, there's a good chance they are having a midnight release party.

This is exciting! I don't remember a midnight release party since the final Twilight. And they happened all the time with the Harry Potters. The Aughts are back, baby! (Movies have midnight releases all the time! I want this to happen more for books! Books are always better!)

Again, here is the list: Search for Suzanne Collins and keep hitting "more events" at the bottom (it takes awhile and I can't figure out how they are sorted).

I may try to hit up this one in Union Square in NYC. It's the only one I see in NYC, which isn't that surprising since it has the largest event space. Apparently I have to call the store to reserve a spot though.

More updates when I do that?