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Aldwin Beckett

@aldwinbeckett.bsky.social

140 followers 170 following 110 posts

I'm writing sapphic fiction. Debut novel Souvienne (sapphic, historical) to be published this October. Pinned post for more info. https://linktr.ee/aldwin.beckett https://aldwinbeckett.substack.com

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 12

Cover reveal cause I guess no better time than now.

A few months of work are right here, in this hand-drawn cover with faux fabric spine. Wish I had proof-copy to show up everything, oh well.

More of what, when and where to read—in the thread below. ↴

[💙📚] #art #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Cover of Souvienne by Aldwin Beckett. The cover shows the meadow with the tree in the centre with two female silhouettes on the both sides, looking at each other. On the background there are pine trees and mountain range.

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 21d

Deirdre finds her poncho (and since then she always wear ponchos)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips

“I thought witches wear robes,” Gwyn remarked, as they combed through the parallel aisles of the clothing store like two combine harvesters in a field.
“They do.” Dei rustled something that shushed with a whispering sound. “A dress is permitted, provided it is black. But personally, I believe—” She paused, fishing out a short, shimmering something, snorted, and returned it to its place. “—the choice is a poncho.”
“If there are witches in Mexico, they wear ponchos for sure.”
“Do witches exist in Mexico, though?”
“By the way.” Gwyn perched on tiptoe, peering over the clothing row at her. “I’ve just found a nice poncho. Care to take a look?”

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 22d

Sara gets on a hunt.

Even though the main book isn't even started to be written, I'm already thinking about the continuation. This is Tiny Tea Book, a stories that happens after Gwyn and Dei story.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Sara had been a disaster since birth.
No matter what she tried, everything fell apart despite her relentless effort. By twenty-five, she had a menial job, a cramped dorm room, no future, and a single, foolish dream she’d never shared with anyone.
She knew she was meant for something greater.
Sara would never forget the day two young women approached her on the street. The blonde began explaining something about “abilities” and “potential”—Sara was lost in an instant. The dark-haired one cut her off and turned to Sara with a simple question: “Want to be a witch?”
If it wasn’t a something greater, then what was?
After that, everything changed.
A strange cosy house on Margit Island that seem to be growing by itself; a bedroom barely larger than her dorm room, but warm and inviting; a library of strange, forbidden books; classes that stretched from morning to night…
And now, two years later, she was on her first solo journey: Sara, like all the other trainees of Deirdre, was on a hunt.
For books.

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 24d

Gwyneth makes a decision.

(with that rate, I'll write all the interesting parts in no time)

#whistpr #WritingPrompt #WritingCommunity

With absolute clarity, Gwyneth realised that the moment she’d been dreaming of all this time had arrived: the chance to drop everything and simply live the way she’d always wanted; but why was it so bitter?
It’s so simple. Tell them: go home, the fairy tale is over.
Instead, she lifted her chin. “Alicia, a word.”
Behind the library door, Gwyneth lowered her voice. “Keep the girls occupied.”
“I can’t—I mean, without—“
“You can.” She surprised herself at how firmly she sounded. “Debes, ergo potes, Alicia. We’re all entangled now, you know? Go on, keep them busy with something useful.”
The fairy lightly clapped the witch on the shoulder. “And I’ll go straighten out our dear Deirdre.”
Easy to say.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 24d

Deirdre finds out more about fairies and puts her Veil training to a good use.

(trying not to make any (big) spoilers)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips

“Oh, now I understand,” Deirdre studied something ahead, warming her hands under her poncho.
Gwyn saw absolutely nothing special except the cliff houses she’d already seen. “What’s there?”
“A Veil, a classier one than ours.” The witch freed her hands, spread them wide, and Gwyn thought she almost heard a heavy hum, like a huge string… and then everything went silent.
“Well, that’s it. Hibernation.” Deirdre turned to her. “I could have left it as is; the locals don’t come here, but let’s do it according to the rules. You put the house to sleep too, when we left.”
“That’s different.” She swallowed hard, remembering. “I had to. When a fairy leaves her house, it dies.”
…the houses sank into the ground…
…drowned…

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 25d

Gwyneth is a melancholic autumn enjoyer, especially in Budapest; this time of year matches her inner self.

Deirdre doesn't care much about seasons, but she'd rather prefer warm weather, rare occurrence around her native Inishtrahull.

#AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 26d

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

It's now October, and things are getting cold where I am. Which makes me wonder, what season/temperature does your character prefer?

Do they like to be cold and bundled up, or warm and at the beach? Neither?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 26d

Gwyneth loves water running through her beloved Budapest.

(at this point I'm writing random snippets, but the outline is almost done)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips

Gwyn was silent for a long time, and it seemed to Deirdre that she would never speak again, but she finally woke from her daydream.
“The river flows, and it doesn’t care about us, you know? There were no people, no witches, no mermaids, no one else, but it ran here, carefree water. People put the river into a concrete bed, crossed it with bridges, and it still flows.” Fairy stared at the water again.
“Someday we’ll be gone, but it will still flow. Our girls will come to this place and look at the water like we do. Chin up, Dei. Let’s get to work, we only have a couple of centuries left.”
“Gwyn, you’ve grown up.” Deirdre glanced at her sideways.
“I can’t grow up. I’m a fairy, remember?”

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 26d

I’ve tried to read Mistborn and it was too boring. I dunno. He has his audience, I guess, but I’m out of this set.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · 28d

Deirdre finds Gwyneth's tea supply.

Something from my next writing. Rest assured there will be a lot of tea parties, because, you see... Gwyn loves tea. She also loves folk music, but it's a very different story.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips

She found the kitchen next.
Scents of cooking lingered in the air, and she sensed the place had been used often, with energy and care. She peeked into the cupboards, curious, but found nothing unusual—until she reached the last one by the door, a floor-to-ceiling double-doored unit, opened it and froze.
Dozens of glass jars, neatly arranged in square compartments, stared back at her, each labeled in tiny, precise handwriting: Assam, Chamomile, Darjeeling, Earl Grey...
“You’ve found my great secret,” Gwyneth said with joyful tease, somehow sneaked at her.
Deirdre jumped, slamming the cupboard shut. “S-sorry—”
“Curiosity isn’t a sin,” the fairy said, entering the kitchen and heading to fill up the kettle. “Bear with me, I’m a tea addict.”
“No, really, I shouldn’t have been rummaging around like I was at home,” Deirdre said, feeling awkward.
Gwyneth lit the stove, set the kettle on, and turned to her. “Make yourself at home. There’s plenty of space here for me alone.”

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 27

I say that: Cassandra is honest.

But at one point she lies to herself and pays for that later when she forced to face it.

More than that, she knows that she lies to herself, yet refuses to wake up from her sweet reverie.

#AwesomeCharacters
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · Sep 26

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Are your characters honest?

Are they dedicated to the truth? Do they stretch the truth at times, when needed? Are they shameless liars?

Do they do it to spare feelings, to manipulate, to cause harm? Other?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

a man with a pen written on his face says the pen is blue

Alt: a man with a pen written on his face says the pen is blue Jim Carey, Liar Liar

media.tenor.com

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 25

Cassandra was this “Mrs who has no children being few years in marriage”, but she has got out of fashion.

Virginia is locally known as “that pilot lass”, and she got known around the Scotland islands over the years of delivering mail and stuff.

But none of my characters are craving for a fame.

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · Sep 24

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Does your character have *A Reputation*?

Do they have fame or infamy? Will strangers they meet have heard of them?

If so, what for? If not, does that change during the story?

Do they want recognition?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 24

Cassandra wakes up her girl with questionable outcome.

(in the meantime, edits are done and I'm ordering the proof copy soon)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips

“Wake up, sweetheart,” I chirped, gently tugging the blanket from her head. 
She muttered something grumpy and unintelligible, clearly not eager to leave the warm cocoon of sleep just yet.
 I left her to doze for a few more minutes while I splashed some water on my face and shook off the last vestiges of slumber. When I returned to the bedside, one eye peeked out at me balefully, as if daring me to disturb her peaceful reverie.
I held back a smile as she looked so comical, all rumpled and sleep-tousled, peering at me from under the blanket like an annoyed little owl.

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 24

Share your favourite black and white movie

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 24

Cassandra is in her early 30s. I tend to write adult characters for some reason, sometimes young adult.

I think it’s this age when person has some life experience yet still hold enough energy to move on.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · Sep 23

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Let's dig into one of the basics today! How old is your character, and is that important to the story?

Why did you pick that particular age group for them?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 24

Out of curiosity: does cover note "blah blah bestselling author of some book you've never heard of blah blah" sell it to you? Speaking of fiction, of course.

Because I couldn't care less. Bestsellers nowadays shows marketing success, not writing value.

#booksky

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 23

I grew up on sci-fi and epic fantasy. Naturally, I should've been writing something of this area, but I was starting with low fantasy and ended up with sapphic historical fiction. Go figure.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 21

Ohh one of my favourite teenage books. Was fun to read at my 14.

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 21

Kind of. It’s a low fantasy in general, but global plot works around Codex, a rule of silence preventing ordinary people from finding out about the witches.

The books are covering different timeframes and main characters in the same county, akin to Faulkner’s fictional county.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 21

In my planned witch universe there is one book that doesn't have any fantasy elements in it, yet happens in the same fictional witch county. We meet familiar witches, but as we follow the characters of this book, we have POV of an ordinary person who has no idea about the other world.

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 21

In the chapter 24 Cassandra sees a small plane flying by. This seems random, but it is actually a reference to my next book: under different circumstances Cassandra and Virginia could know each other.

It's not a genre swap cause both books are sapphic historical fiction, but it's something.

Also ↴

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · Sep 20

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Yesterday's genre swap was fun! So, let's reverse it.

What is an existing fictional character (or set of characters) from a different genre that you think would fit well into your story with your characters?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Willy Wonka Strike That GIF

ALT: Willy Wonka Strike That GIF

media.tenor.com

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 21

I'd rather say I can write a few projects at a time, but I always have a main project to receive a set amount of time before I get to the others.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 20

A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf.

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 20

I'm rather the opposite. First edits are easy, it's hard to stop and publish it already.

(so no link yet)

Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 20

Such a nice cover; I have no idea what's on the back, but I'd take a look just based on the front. It's rare to see a simple, concise cover nowadays, drowning in this ocean of overdone ornaments, block fonts and "bestsellers".

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Aldwin Beckett @aldwinbeckett.bsky.social · Sep 20

Cassandra would be a nice forest witch. She almost is: just look at those herbs hanging in her kitchen! And she has a cat (although it’s a question who has whom)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · Sep 19

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Oh no! You have to abruptly pivot genres for your writing, but you want to keep your main characters.

What new genre do you think your characters would fit best in, and why?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

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