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MeliSwenk Editing

@lousytshirt.bsky.social

810 followers 1.1K following 260 posts

Reader. Writer. Loves art, music, film, photography, & expression. INFJ. She/Her. #copyeditor #betareader #proofreader http://meliswenkediting.wordpress.com https://ko-fi.com/meliswenk https://www.amazon.com/stores/M.-A.-Swenka/author/B07XXBSLZ7

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 25d

Just for my BlueSky followers!

❄️ Too Cool To Ignore ❄️ Deal: 50% off!

Proofreading & Beta Reading services for books over 10k words
Available from October 1 to December 31
DM w/ word count & genre - Let's connect!

#writesky #writingcommunity #authors

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 1h

#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Jim's POV. We all know someone like Bill Wyland, don't we?
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“Go to any of the good parties last night?”
Bill Wyland was the manager of this site, not the project manager, but he just barely succeeded in keeping all these engineers in line. He was friendly but in the most obnoxious of ways.
“Just one, Bill, it was pretty good.”
“Did you meet a girl there?” Bill followed in Jim’s shadow, close at his heels.
“Yep, but I left her there, too.” Jim’s yellow construction hat bobbed in the air a full six inches higher than Bill’s orange one.
Bill gave a mighty roar at this, and Jim watched from the corner of his right eye as the older man’s features jiggled under the weight of his glee and then quickly changed to red. Jim knew the man loved a good laugh, and gave good laugh for a solid punch line. His whole body would shake, from hips to shoulders. Often he would bend at the waist and slap his knee, literally, for almost five minutes after the joke had floated away with the clouds. And all day afterward, Bill would mutter the punch line back to you, chuckle, and shake his head as he walked away. Jim could already hear echoes of “left her there, too” following him around all day.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- going with "chance" -- Stella and Gregory investigating the scene in the barn.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“Kind of,” Stella guessed, eyeing a long thin strap and larger holding area barely attached. “Looks like the bag was forcibly removed—like the strap was busted. Look,” she directed.
When Gregory finally managed to remove it from the harboring garbage can, Stella could see he was glad with its weight. The perpetrator left evidence behind, something to identify his victim and lend proof to the fact that Kylie Jo Martin was not alone the night she died. If there’s a living connection, there’s a chance, a real chance to still catch this guy.
“You know, if this guy murdered and kidnapped, it’s possible he’s done this before,” Stella offered, looking into the cracked mirror. “Disorganized and quick as it was, he may not have done it too many times before though.”
“Agreed, but what makes you think he?” Gregory stood up and pulled a plastic bag from his pocket that would have matched a gallon-storage Ziploc bag, without the well-known name on it. Instead, it was plain minus its red-trimmed zip closure.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 2d

#WIPSnips from KD & Jaz's Bk. -- Jazmine's POV, reflecting on a bit of Washington Square's immediate history, which you might recognize 👀.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

She watched one or two old cars pass by, and the big black truck made her remember the Jim Highland case—how he’d lived just down the street from her, how her father knew Bill Wyland, how she and Kylie Martin had started classes at William Hurst the same year, how Rae Andrews had totally rebuffed her when she tried to reach out.
She shook her head, glanced at the sunlight landing hard on the cracked pavement and dried grass in front of her house, and wondered when Washington Square would catch a fucking break.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you for the kind words 😍, and you're very welcome! It was a delight to read for you, and I look forward to working with you again! 😁🙌

Keegan Peter 🏳️‍⚧️ @keeganpeter.bsky.social · 2d

Been mostly unpacking this week but I have an exiting update for me book. I got a solid round of professional editing done. Big thanks to @lousytshirt.bsky.social for the editing. I'm considering self publishing now but I think I need at least one more round of editing before. #booksky #writersky

MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 3d

#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- going with synonym "hill" -- Faldor's POV, helping his army lay a fallen brother to rest.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“You are aware of the hill, just beyond us?” He pointed where his memory carried him and smiled when the majority of them smiled and nodded. “With the tabletop plane at its peak?” More smiles and nods encouraged him. “We will walk there, from here, carrying our fallen brother on our shoulders. Bearing his weight with his blood in our veins.” Faldor made a fist, curled his arm, and brought it up toward his cheek, a show of force he intended as one of unity. “Along the way, those with empty hands will collect stones and stumps, any of which appear sturdy to the naked eye. Take from nature what evil has taken from us, strength.”
Solemn nods met him.
“Upon that hill’s peak, we construct a proper pedestal from those mere stones and stumps. As the sun crests the horizon, we will lay our fallen brother’s form upon’t. Let the sun’s rays finish what evil started and could not complete.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 4d

#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Jim's POV, does anyone actually believe him? (I don't think he even believes it...)
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
{Totally spaced on yesterday's post!! 🫠}

“Never want to hurt them,” Jim muttered, eyeing his creation. “Just want to show them who’s in charge.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 6d

#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Stella and Gregory at the site of the Halloween party, looking for evidence after realizing Kylie wasn't the only victim.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“You did what you had to do, Steve, no one blames you.” Stella rubbed his shoulder again, but looked at the barn, the field, and the job they had yet to do.
“The people do; otherwise why Jones?”
“People can be strange, especially after a violent, unexpected trauma.” Stella patted his shoulder and didn’t want to give him another moment to question himself. “Come on, let’s get started on this field, and I’ll call Jones to get that team out here.”
“I want a look around in that barn, too; if those other officers didn’t even look at the field, I’m willing to bet they missed something inside, too, especially if people and other officers were still milling around.”
Stella smiled because he’d picked right up on her own silent thoughts. “Especially while we’ve got the time and opportunity.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 7d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Ankara's POV, remembering how her queen ran things in Gizli Taslar (Turkish kingdom similar to Piatra Invelis).
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

She nodded at no one again as she recalled Yekaterina’s raw joy at being able to throw “undesirables” in the dungeons, then drain them without a rightful trial. The judges were always bought, owned by the Crown, and came to a decision based on what Yekaterina or, less often, Boran II wanted from the person standing trial. The people in front of her, nearly all of them, she surmised, would have been fodder for any and all of Yekaterina’s dungeons and false trials.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 8d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 1 -- Andrew Page's POV, looking for Drake. He was missing from King Faldor's suites when he was supposed to be on duty.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Despite the heat of the sun bearing down on the castle, of which Andrew made sure he did not step into any directed beams, the air around him grew colder as he moved lower into the belly of the king’s dominion. Though, he would sometimes come down here for the silence of the library and archives; mostly, he came down here to collect a servant or something from the kitchen. Those scullery maids could rarely be counted on, except to clean up after the king’s rage.
“Messy,” Andrew breathed the word into the space in front of him as he dodged yet another beam of sunlight pouring in through one of the arrowslits in the wall. “Glad to have had Drake available for that.” His ire was often triggered by that slick page. Typically following in the king’s shadow, but ever since Andrea Ardelean started returning interest, he’d been less and less reliable.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 9d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 1 -- Evlin's POV, discussing the politics (and benefits) of staying loyal to Faldor with her father, Thyberius.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“We are natural-born Citizens, Evlin, not mere recruits. As you said, we deserve better.” Thyberius collected his own water and tore a chunk of bread from the loaf on the counter. Evlin knew both would go to feeding the birds that collected on the tree outside her father’s windows. Agnetta took such good care of them.
“No, Father, we deserve better treatment from our king, not better possessions than our peers. They drink blood, same as you!” Taking the amulet around her neck between her fingers, she felt the hum of its power sweep through her fingertips and flood her entire body. Vivid images of her mother waving the amulet around, over a body of water, through the air above her head, flash-bulbed in her mind, and she craved her mother’s presence more than normal. She would know what to do in this complicated moment.
“Easy to say when this is your home.” After having what he thought was the final say, Thyberius stopped at his daughter’s words.
“Piatra Invelis is my home, and any space within its walls in any station would be a comfort if I felt like our king saw us as more than a pestering obligation.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 9d

Such a great scene. I love how Clay and Jack talk to each other.

MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 10d

#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, seeing Evlin and Faldor through her mother's enchanted mirror for the first time.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Trying not to think about what her powers might be, I focused on the king. “Faldor, you are not who I wish to speak with. I was looking for Evlin.”
“Well, you have us both, Fantomă,” he taunted. “Say what you will.”
“You have no power over me, Faldor,” I returned, sitting to my full height with my spine erect and chin tilted up.
“I am your king,” he commanded, pointing his finger into the glass, and a certain warmth, a certain power, seemed to fill me from within.
He’s only Mr. Right Now, I foolishly thought and barely contained the snicker it invoked. “You are no king to me, and you have no—”
“I am the power over you,” he petulantly responded, “elder to you by a decade and a half! Even here, that is no blink of an eye.” The words met me through a growl. From behind him, Evlin seemed to be leaning closer and closer to the glass without coming in direct contact with the ruler. Leaning forward and reaching out, as if to touch a flower she’d seen for the first time.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 11d

#WIPSnips from KD & Jaz's Bk. -- Big D's POV, trying to get some work with "buddy" Bill Wyland after *that* headline.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Donald approached with a heavier step now. “I’ll go to Paulie about this, ya know.”
The blush on Bill’s soft cheeks turned cherry red, but he shrugged once more, nonchalant now. “Paulie’s got nothing on me anymore. Preston took care of all of that for me after that Highland mess and the part I played in getting him caught. I’m secure for life, and Paul Duggan has nothing to say about it.”
Donald visibly grimaced when Bill actually brought his hands together in front of his chest and pantomimed washing them.
“Maybe you should consider the same,” Bill suggested softly. “This won’t hurt Paul,” he nodded toward the paper, “but you aren’t Paul, Donnie.”
Donald felt the smallest he felt in a long time. Doug’s face came up to the front of his mind, and he blinked fast to send it away. “Can you suggest…?”
Bill shook his head. “My connections begin and end with William Hurst U and Washington Square School District.”
Donald rolled his eyes at the mention of the university he spent one semester at and the high school he hated every single second he’d been forced to attend. “Whatever, Billy Boy. I won’t bother ya again.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you!! 😁 I used a branch of philosophy that I already practice and relate to, and it just kind of worked in this scene, because Wilem was leaning this way anyway. He just needed to hear it from an outside source.

MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 12d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Wilem's POV, in class, discussing Philosophy and seeing parallels to his own situation. Lily Kokinos, a fellow student, is speaking at the beginning of the snip.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“My father reads Aurelius often and quotes his Meditations to me. I believe there is a certain power in self-control and self-awareness, but I also believe that the external has a great deal of power. Anger sometimes is the best tool to handle it.”
Mr. White nodded. “There is a power in letting yourself feel your emotions, acknowledging them. Aurelius tells us that, too. But ultimately, what Aurelius wants us to know, to keep with us, is that all we ever have control over is ourselves. That is the mantra, if you will, of the Stoic philosophy.”
Wilem startled at the words, remembering what his father said about watching out for himself. That sometimes, the only side he could rely on was his own. It brought to mind the conversation he had with Lady Uthman, as well, about being a wild card. There could be a kind of instability in only relying on yourself, though, right? Wilem studied his professor and wondered if this Aurelius had any advice about that.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 13d

#WIPSnips from KD and Jaz's book -- KD's POV, talking with Betsy about Washington Square's local mental health facility; one of the places KD can work in town without being on the payroll.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Betsy openly shuddered. “Don’t ever talk to me about that place. You know how I feel…” She pointed her freshly lit cigarette at KD as she sat at the table. “They killed my sister, and I’ll never forgive them!”
KD knew when an outburst required no response, so she nodded, gave her friend an understanding glance, and pulled some more breakfast onto her plate alongside the cheesy toast. She ate in silence while her friend smoked and glared at nothing. Tension filled the air, but not between the two women sharing the table.
“Did your lawyer…”
Betsy just shook her head and flicked her ashes without looking at her friend.
“You on today?”
“Night shift,” Betsy responded, a little easier.
KD nodded.
“That mean you goin’ to that place?”
She nodded again, pushing the last bits of her breakfast around on her plate before reaching for the cigarettes and a sip of coffee. “If Erich is working laundry today…”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 14d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, from the scene where Evlin arrives to convince her to come back home.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Where she’d hesitated before, she thoughtfully touched me now; and in just a few seconds, the hairs on my arm stood straight up. Heat rushed through me, made me feel as if I were on fire, but not burning. Merely glowing. At that exact moment, Joni came back through the kitchen’s threshold and grunted to see us sitting so close together. Evlin’s voice had gotten much softer when Joni vacated the room, and I’d inadvertently gotten closer to hear her. Joni sat next to me, and I nearly pulled back from Evlin’s touch except that, much like a barbed electric fence, I couldn’t; I was stuck in the loop of her power.
“How can you know that?”
“My father worked with your father through the years of crusades that lead up to the war that took you all from us.”
“The king and queen left the Territories, too?” My heart leapt into the back of my throat. Any other words got stuck back there with it.
“Not like you did, Highness; though the hope is coming off of you in waves.”
Evlin’s hand tightened first around my arm, then slipped down to grip the flesh of my wrist. For a second, feeling the beat from her very fingertips, our hearts seemed to move in tandem. Hers speeding up to match mine.
“It is a glorious feeling, hope.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 15d

#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 2 -- Monah's POV, chatting with Rykan, a guard in the dungeons, about a visit Radomir made to Faldor's cell.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“When I was comin’ to, he said ‘there’s a plan.’” Rykan shrugged, then looked back down the hallway. “Perfect timin’, though. I’m gonna need ta get back.” He tilted his head in the direction of the dungeons.
“That’s just fine, Rykan. Thank you for wanting to find me and let me know. You did good. In fact,” I pulled him in close with a strong hand on his shoulder, “if you see or hear anything strange going on in or around Faldor’s cell…”
“Ah course, ah course, Ya Highness, anythin’ for ya.”
I grinned and welcomed him when the large, muscle-bound man wrapped me in a warm embrace.
“Anythin’ I can do ta help ya. So glad ta haff ya back!”
“I’m very, very glad to be here.” For the first time in a bit, saying it felt true. “Thanks again!”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 16d

#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- going for vibes with "winning" -- Yasmeen's POV, Faldor's resistance discusses strategy and political alignments. {Yasmeen is Criseyde's assistant and trusted confidant.}
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Khoda turned on her. “How could anyone know that? When Faldor is preparing for war.”
“Oh, war is coming,” Radomir stated, “but who gains more from winning?”
“Faldor, of course, he maintains his throne. Runs his father’s nation. One built for him.”
Yasmeen shook her head slowly. “No, Khoda, I don’t agree.”
Now he turned his ire and frustration on the strong assistant. “Why not?”
“He’s old news,” Yasmeen started, taking slow steps around the edge of the circle. “Monah will have an upswing of renewed interest. The Elders’ prophecies have come true, if she is who she claims to be. Faldor, if I’m being honest, if we all are, isn’t well liked. While there is a percentage of pure bloods…”
“Tread carefully, Miss Yas,” Khoda warned, tightening his arms against his body.
She shook her head against his tone. “…more Thipps exist, period.”
Radomir nodded slowly, making eye contact with each member of the circle.
“Frankly,” Criseyde added, “Monah aims to gain more from winning. Faldor is the underdog. Odds are against him.”
Khoda smiled a knowing smile now. “Which lines him right up to win.” He extended his arms out to his sides, opening up to the space between them. “He is the rightful heir.”

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 17d

#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- going for vibes with some violent interaction -- Jim's POV, walking into a trap he never could have expected.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

Paulina’s body was totally limp, her bottom half nearly falling off of the vanity’s bench and her top half draped over it as though someone had shoved her from behind. Her arms were as much over her head as the small vanity’s top allowed, and her hands were loose little fists. The right side of her face and hair were caked with the flowing red liquid.
He couldn’t believe it was blood. There was nothing here she could commit such an atrocity with, but Jim’s eyes caught the necklace at her feet. It would have been messy, but the stud backing of the earrings he’d left could have done some damage. But, enough for her to die in the amount of time he’d left her alone? With absolutely no medical history to speak of, Jim couldn’t really be sure. So, he knew he had to approach slowly, and doing so from behind seemed the most protective. With a shaky hand stretched out before him, he meant to approach her as if she were asleep, to touch her shoulder lightly. Applying pressure, not necessarily enough to shake her awake, he meant to speak softly over her hair and into her ear.
“Motherfucker!”
An elbow came out of nowhere and plugged Jim in the ribs, as he toppled back from the vanity he saw big red splotches landing on the vanity, the wall behind the beds, and on the floor between them.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 18d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 1 -- Faldor's POV, after Evlin's father, Thyberius, confronts him, his page Drake makes the mistake of confronting him about political strategy. It all only makes Faldor more hungry.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“What does a king have to do to not be reminded of his lineage or his strategy by lesser beings?” His voice threatened to bring down the entire castle around them. “I know who I am and what I must do; do you?” His fist and pointed finger nearly landed right on Drake’s nose.
“Apologies, Your Royal Highness.” Drake pressed his chin even closer to his chest.
Faldor paced before his page, trying to collect the thoughts that raged against the lining of his skull. Thyberius had known too much, seen too much, and now he had no way of handling him except to let him continue on as if his little outburst had not just occurred. “Take me to the dungeons.”
Drake’s surprise could not be hidden. “Wha—Your Majesty?”
“The. Dungeons. Drake. Do you not comprehend what I say to you?”
“Yes, I do, Your Highness.” He reached for the keyring he kept on his belt and scuttled before him as Faldor’s footsteps rang out behind him.

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 19d

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Monah's POV, she and Ankara take control when a group of Faldor's Sons attack the center of town and Piatra's birthday preparations.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“Your Majesty.”
The familiar alto came from behind me, and her hand on my shoulder bolted a new round of strength through me. The shield wavered again, only to take on a kind of green tint. Her yellow, my blue. The whimsical thought struck me right in the gut, but I didn’t dare do anything to break the connection with her.
“Your Majesty, you are saving your people.”
I shuddered at her whisper and put even more strength toward the shield as five more fireballs struck and exploded against my shield. “Keep your hand on me.”
“As you wish,” she replied, pressing her palm closer to my shoulder.
Undo the damage done repeated through the front of my mind. “Can you see any end to this?”
“None so far, Your Majesty.”
I hated to send her beyond this shield and away from me, but I needed eyes outside the shield. “Can you permeate the shield safely?”
“I know not, Your Majesty.”

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Reposted by MeliSwenk Editing

Jack White @officialjackwhite.bsky.social · Mar 7

“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed” -Edgar Allan Poe

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MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 19d

That's just one of Evlin's skills 😁

MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · 20d

#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, Evlin's arrival in Washington Square wasn't all soft words & heat flooding Monah's body. Evlin was assertive, & Monah wasn't going to back down.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters

“Hey, now, wait a damned minute here, Miss Whoever-You-Are.” She’d searched my brain! She’d easily gone looking through my grey matter as if it were a filing cabinet to pull open and leaf through at will. “You just read her name out of my mind. I felt it. And you don’t get to talk to her that way. She’s going to be my wife.”
“No, that cannot possibly be true.”
The disgust rolled off not only Miss Leather-clad’s words but her expression, too.
“It most certainly is. We’ve been engaged for over two years. We’re getting married next year, not that it concerns you.”
“It does concern me. You must choose to come back with me. Even though this is not a normal . . .” She hesitated over a word and looked nearly in pain for having to even utter this word in front of Joni. “Recruitment.”

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