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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸

@authorvcwillow.bsky.social

810 followers 560 following 1.9K posts

Writer. Feminist. LGBTQ+. She/her. Socialist. Whovian. Unapologetic bookworm, word nerd and lover of humour. Human rights, equality. Writing novels one word at a time.📚 Author contact: [email protected]

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · Jan 16

You can't separate the art from the artist when they're still alive because they're still benefiting from the financial leverage, access to platform and power through influence that art provides.

Supporting abusive artists makes you an accomplice to harm.

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 25m

Jane Eyre, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and Dracula are all novels I go back to (semi) regularly and then get the joy of not only loving them but the joy of remembering how much I LOVE them.

#Books #Writers #Writing #WritingCommunity

Blue 9 (they/them) @odinscrow.bsky.social · 2h

You return to a beloved book for the Nth time, however much you remember loving it only to get reminded, no, you LOVE it.

Sweet Lady Hel Below, I fucking LOVE Frankenstein.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 30m

I can not overstate what a bad idea it is for a writer to get into a petty argument with random guy on the Internet about their book.

You're not going to get everyone to like your #book or get everyone who would like your book to see it. Ignore and move on. It looks unprofessional.

#WriteSky

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2h

😊 there's lots more to come I promise.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 8h

#WritersCoffeeClub 11th October

Have you ever written an unlikable protagonist?

The protagonist in my WIP #TamLin is heroic and brave. But in #BrookbankLane she is manipulative, scheming, selfish, self-serving & violently ambitious. The joy is hopefully reading her comeuppance

#WriteSky #Writing

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 8h

#WritersCoffeeClub 10th October:

Have you written a likable antagonist?

The Queen of the fairies who has captured #TamLin is willing to sacrifice him as a tithe to hell after kidnapping Tam and holding him hostage for seven years. She's an angry fairy queen, but she is a force of nature
#WriteSky

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 9h

#PlotTober 10th October

The story and plot of Tam Lin is centuries old, yet the original text gives us very little information or idea about the backstory or traumas that may have formed Janet's personality and motivations. Tam Lin's is all plotted out. Janet's will need work.

#WriteSky #Writing

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 1d

#PlotTober Day 10: MC backstory & traumas

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

10. What are some potential backstory or contextual reasons for your main character(s) having this kind of personality or behaving this way? In other words, what could have caused them to be the person they are at the start of your WIP?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 15h

#LGBTQWriteAThon October 10:

It's promo Friday! Today, share something that makes you happy! Don't forget to boost others' posts!

Everyone knows I love writing, books, Doctor Who, Lego & the smell of freshly cut grass in summer. But which to choose?

#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 21h

Revolver is a great album that still works all these decades later.

Is it my favourite Beatles album, no. But it is a mighty fine album with some stunning songs, From, I'm Only Sleeping, Eleanor Rigby, And Your Bird Can Sing, Here, There and Everywhere to Yellow Submarine. There's not a dud song.

Colin Smith @colinsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Before listening to classic albums, I’ve got in the habit of playing the singles chart from the week of their release. So, before Revolver, I cue up the 1st chart of August ‘66. (It’s a pretty fine chart!) Somehow Revolver sounds amazing afterwards. It’s always great. Now it’s strange & surprising.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

#Frauds with #SuranneJones and #JodieWhittaker is in turns hilarious, stylish and gripping.

Best thing on #ITVX for a long while

Advertising shot for the ITVX series Frauds with Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

News reporter: The three men who are wanted in connection with an ongoing police investigation...

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

Sorry. That's just shit. It shouldn't be like this. x

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

*trans

🫣

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

The best revenge is to live happily.

Keeping posting tans joy and ignore/block the f**kers.

Don't let them steal your joy!

a cartoon of a person sending a virtual hug and loading a hug sent .

ALT: a cartoon of a person sending a virtual hug and loading a hug sent .

media.tenor.com

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

#LGBTQWriteAThon 9th October

There's no pride or LGBTQ+ representation in Tam Lin. While I've included a feminist interpretation, I decided against adding a LGBTQ+ interpretation as it's too far away from the feel of the original text

Feels strange, as I normally have LGBTQ characters🏳️‍🌈

#WriteSky

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · 1d

#LGBTQWriteAThon October 9:

Share pride flags or pride flag inspired moodboards for your WIP today!

#writesky #queerwriters #writers #lgbtqwriters

Image: a burnt orange background with two jack o' lanterns. Text: #LGBTQWriteAThon Use the tag and follow the feed on BlueSky! Tag @LGBTQWriteAThon in photos on Instagram! October 9: pride flags/moodboards.
BlueSky: @amaralynn @rebeccafrostwrites.com Instagram: @LGBTQWriteAThon @amarajlynn @krakengoddess

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

#QueerPrompts 9th October:

Bad luck is the catalyst for the plot of #TamLin

Tam Lin falling from his horse among the hills where the queen of the fairies dwells is how he becomes her capture and is put under threat of being sacrificed as a tithe to hell.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Writing

🌈CJ Aralore @cjaralore.bsky.social · 2d

#QueerPrompts October 9: Curses or bad luck in story?

Graphics: The background is pumpkins surrounding a stack of books. The border has broken chains saying "BANNED", a rainbow saying LGBTQ History, books wrapped in tape or chains, pride flags, and cute Halloween characters.
Text: "October 2025" on top and "#QueerPrompts" and "Host: @CJAralore" on the bottom, all in a rainbow font.
Center text is:
#QueerPrompts October 9: Curses or bad luck in story?

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

#PlotTober 9th October

Janet's determined and brave in the face of danger. She acts fearlessly even when she and others are in great danger and she's wildly independent, unafraid to buck expectation. She's also too stubborn which makes her undiplomatic and impulsive.

#WriteSky #Writing #TamLin

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 2d

#PlotTober Day 9: MC personality & behaviors

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

9. What are some personality traits and behaviors, both positive and negative, that you think would suit your main character(s)? How do these traits affect your main character's goals and motivations?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

'I wrote my thesis in 90 hours and got an A. AI can't do that'

No you didn't. No university is that shit it'd give an A to that thesis. You can't function properly after three nights of no sleep.

#AI can't reproduce the creativity and EI of humans but lets not enter into ad absurdum rhetoric.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

That's hilarious and makes the point really well. Unless it's enthusiastic, willing consent it's not consensual. Of course a Brit had to use tea as an analogy, we're practically pumping the stuff through our veins 🤣🤣🤣

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 1d

Sound up 📢

Brilliant bit on consent by Brit mum using tea as an analogy.

It's funny but gets the point across.

Always, always get enthusiastic, willing consent, or sex is not consensual.

#Consent #WomensRights

Lawrence Williams @ldwilliams-uk.bsky.social · 2d

An interesting way to get the meaning of consent across

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Reposted by V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸

Mike Dawson @mikedawson.bsky.social · 2d

Not only have editors prevented me from showing my ass in public, so has hiring sensitivity readers. I’m a big fan of both. Having someone be honest with you while also keeping your best interests at heart is something to be valued not dismissed

violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 2d

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2d

#PlotTober 8th October

Janet's conflict comes from both the mortal and spirit world.
The strict morals of the mortal world demand she conform; in the spirit world she must survive the trials she faces as the queen of the fairies tries to prevent her rescuing #TamLin

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 3d

#PlotTober Day 8: Conflicts for the MC

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

8. What are some potential reasons the main character(s) haven't, couldn't, and/or can't pursue these goals yet? Consider other characters, backstory events, circumstances, environmental factors, etc.

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2d

#QueerPrompts 8th October

Most of my characters are LGBTQ+ but not in my current WIP. I'm working on a novelisation of #TamLin a 16th century Scottish folk ballad. As you can appreciate there were few out characters during that period so instead let me wish you a blessed #InternationalLesbianDay &

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2d

It seems unlikely

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V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2d

Other people being unable to understand that a critical analysis of text or an ability to critically think is the exact reason we need people who read English for their degrees as they can provide intelligent analysis of political culture wars which endanger our democracy.

V.C. Willow 📚 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇸 @authorvcwillow.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks, it sorted itself out after a bit. Who knows what shenanigans were going on. I have past prompts from our lovely host so I wasn't completely adrift.

Just a gremlin in the machine I guess.