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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 2d

✨The Annora Project✨
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky “battery”

Annora’s POV—

I fish my MP3 player out of my purse. Hopefully I can finish my pizza and maybe an oatmeal cream pie before the battery dies. Music blasting, I don’t even hear the jingle of the bell on the door until a familiar form is sliding into the booth across from me. A Fanta orange now sits in front of me. I can’t help it—I smile. I smile because he’s still one of my best friends. Because he knew I’d be here in this booth alone. Because even though I’m in love with him and not sure that I can even stand him right now, I can’t imagine not having him in my life—even if it’s not in the way I dream about.
“Nor?”

carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 3d

“Cell” instead of “dungeon”
A very rough excerpt from book 2 of ✨The Annora Project✨
#wipsnips #writesky #writingcommunity

Dystopian future: Fynn is hoping now that they’re here, together, they can be something more than friends. But there’s always something or someone in the way…

Fynn’s staring at me—panic etched on his face. “I’ll be back, Nor. I meant what I said.”
“I’m coming with you.”
There’s no way he’s leaving me here when Zane is somewhere in this compound. In truth, I’m more than a little hurt that Zane asked for Fynn and not me, but he must have a reason. Fynn sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“Where are they holding him?” He turns back to address Elias.
“In holding cell B. I don’t know if it’s a good idea for her to…” Elias says in a hushed tone like I’m not ten feet away.
“I’ll take care of it.” Fynn cuts him off.
“Hurry up. The general’s getting impatient.”
Fynn shuts the door gently, his back toward me—head hung low and an arm resting on the solid metal. Suddenly he turns, stalking toward me. Reaching for my hand, he pulls me up from the bed and straight into his chest.
“I need to keep you safe, Nor. They’ll be listening to everything,” he whispers against my hair. “Can you stay here, please? For me?”
I almost break at the pleading in his voice.
“I can’t. You know I can’t, Fynn. I’m sick of being kept in the dark.”
Pushing against his chest, he sighs as he allows me some space. Dark blue eyes search mine, his brow furrowed, hands still gently gripping my waist. Jaw clenching, he finally nods, knowing I’ve made up my mind, and I’m coming whether he likes it or not.
“Fine. But this” —he motions between us— “this isn’t done. Come on then, we have to hurry.” He hands me my boots, waiting as I slide into them before leading the way toward the holding cells.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 5d

If I dare try it, I’ll let you know!

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 5d

I think you might be right! 🫣😂

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 5d

I might have to try that!

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 5d

That is a good idea! I debated about a dry-erase board! 🤣

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 5d

A #wipsnips from A Recipe for Romance 💘
#writingcommunity #writesky

This scene (but characters reversed) may have been inspired by true events 🤣🫣

Lost in her thoughts, Maggie almost missed the soft nudge against her glove. Will continued walking slowly beside her but held out his hand—an offering, if she wanted it. Glancing at his face, she noted the deep inhale, the lack of teasing—the missing smirk. Was he nervous she’d deny him? Suddenly taking his hand felt like she was accepting more than just warmth and companionship. She forced a swallow. Scanning for witnesses and finding none, she allowed her hand to slide into his warm, strong one. Something about it just felt…right.
“Thanks. My hands were cold,” she muttered, not really knowing what to say.
He coughed, stifling a chuckle. “Right. No problem.”

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 6d

🤣 love it!

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 6d

“Shed” instead of “store”
Book 2 of The Annora Project (a very rough draft)
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky

Future dystopian world—Zane, Fynn, and Annora are testing out some equipment, and end up in the area of Annora’s childhood home where a fire destroyed her family.

We’re approximately two-hundred yards from what used to be a large home—the only evidence being a small shed that’s partially intact behind heaping piles of ash and debris. I turn toward Annora, only to find her tearing toward the cluster of torn buildings ahead. Weeds grow from cracks in the concrete, the wind carrying a bitter smell that never seems to leave this place. Breaking into a sprint, I follow after, Fynn already two steps ahead of me like he expected this to happen. Suddenly the detector shrieks, and she stops, shaking it.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 7d

No wanting her outage to simmer, she hustled after him, wading through the congested hive of excited well-wishers. #saturdaysnippet

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 7d

Aw, thank you!! ☺️ I keep going back, trying to add in more layers and texture!

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 7d

“Search” instead of “hunt”
A Recipe for Romance 💘
#writingcommunity #wipsnips #writesky

He falls first—

Finishing his last bite of cake and homemade ice cream, Will wandered out onto the back patio in search of Maggie. He found her resting on the railing, staring at the sunset, the lavish streaks of reds, oranges, and yellows warming her dark chocolate curls. He clenched his fist, wanting nothing more than to run his fingers through them.
“Hiding?” Will leaned onto the railing, close enough that their shoulders touched. He noticed her stiffen slightly before relaxing into him.
“It’s a little nuts in there—a lot of…hot air. Plus I don’t get too many sunsets like this in the city. Or quiet.”
He hummed in agreement, breathing in the crisp, fresh air—his exhale a slow, visible cloud that hovered a moment before dissolving. She bumped against him.
“Enjoying your surprise party, birthday boy? There were quite a few candles on that cake.”
“Don’t I know it. If the candles didn’t remind me, the crick in my neck this morning sure did.”
Maggie laughed. He wished he could bottle up that sound and listen to it whenever he wanted.
“What did you wish for?”
Will scoffed. “And break the cardinal rule of wishes? No way. If I tell you, it won’t come true.”
“Alright. Well let me know when it comes true.” She grinned at him, and he thought she had never looked more beautiful than she did right now—with the sunset in the background creating an almost angelic glow from within.
He liked this relaxed version of her.
“Oh, you’ll probably know.” Will cringed, clearing his throat like it could make the words disappear. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud—not with things between them hanging precariously by a thread.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 8d

True! I might need more coffee because the thought didn’t even cross my mind this morning! 🫣🥴🤣

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 8d

“Sleep” instead of “hibernate”
✨The Annora Project✨
#writingcommunity #writesky #wipsnips

Someone getting debriefed in the future—

I may have left out some very vital information about those final moments in Driscoll Engineering. Not because I’m suffering from PTSD, although I may very well be, but because I know Driscoll did something to me. Changed something within me. And I’ve been trying to secretly figure out what it is, with no luck. Whatever it is, I can feel it. Deep within. A monster, sleeping. Dormant. I have to give him something. But I’ll be damned if I tell him that.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 9d

Aw, thank you so much! It makes my heart happy when what I want to convey in a scene comes through! Made me a little teary-eyed ☺️🥹

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 9d

I don’t have “salmon” but my characters play a lot of Go “Fish!”
A Recipe for Romance 💘 #wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky

Will always carries a deck of cards, and Maggie’s just trying to repeat her mantra (annoying, arrogant, enemies) to keep from falling for his charms—

“Why do you call everyone else ‘love,’ except me? I’m starting to feel a little left out.”
Maggie had not been expecting that. She waited for that signature smirk, or even a grin, but he seemed to be completely serious. Contemplating her answer, she finally shrugged, eyeing the cards he was dealing.
“It’s…different with you. I don’t know, I guess.”
He continued to deal out the cards, but kept his eyes glued on her.
“Different.” His brow furrowed—lips pressing into a thin line. “Different because—you hate me.”
Maggie sighed. Annoying. Arrogant. Enemies.
As much as she wanted to say yes, she was a bad liar. The truth hung on the tip of her tongue—I’m trying but failing to hate you. In fact, I don’t think I hate you at all—not even a little bit. She sighed. Not hating was far from friends and even farther from lovers, but Maggie was determined to fight the attraction—it couldn’t lead to anything good. Nothing, absolutely nothing good would come from them succumbing to it. And with how much she found herself not hating him, even friends seemed like a bad idea. Acquaintances seemed like the safest option.
“I don’t hate you, Will. Not for lack of trying.”
He chuckled.
“I don’t hate that you don’t hate me,” he murmured.
“Yeah?” she said, quietly.
“Yeah.”
She smiled, eyes on her hand. “Four of hearts?”
There was that signature smirk. His eyes crinkled in the corners. “Go fish.”

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 10d

Tipsy Nora is crushing hard! 😜

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 10d

I’m almost positive I’ve posted this one before…oh well. ✨The Annora Project✨
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky “river”

Fynn rescues a tipsy Nora—

The ride home is quiet, Fynn’s newest burned emo CD playing in the background. I’m flushed with both embarrassment and from whatever’s currently running through my system. Glancing over at Fynn, I find his eyes already on me, frozen on my dress that has bunched way too high on my legs. He quickly looks away, and I’m pulling at the hem, huffing at the lack of material.
“New dress?”
This time his eyes stay glued to the road.
“It’s from Jess. She insisted.”
He chuckles, and I’m pretty sure I’m actively dying from embarrassment. I slump down in the seat, covering my hands with my face.
“Nor…”
The way he says my name—like a smooth river flowing over me, turning my insides to rhubarb jelly. Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I find him grinning, and he winks at me. He winks at me. My heart stops. Time of death: 11:30 p.m..
“It looks…” He coughs, clearing his throat. “I like it.”
My eyes widen in shock. I can’t look at him, as I’m actively trying to contain a smile that I know will be alarmingly big. It’s not a long drive to my house, but by the time we pull into the driveway, I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open. My arms won’t coordinate with my brain, and Fynn is out of the car and opening my door before my hand even finds the handle.
“Come on, trouble. Let’s get you into bed so you can sleep this off.”

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 11d

So true!

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 11d

I swear my brain mockingly gives me my best ideas in the shower—no pens or paper in sight. An entire seamlessly hilarious conversation between characters. By the time I get out, I can recall approximately 50% of one line. Never mind that I’ve been staring at the same scene for the past 45 minutes. 🤦🏼‍♀️

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 11d

No “paw” so went with “foot”

A Recipe for Romance 💘
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky

He took a deep inhale, leaned back against the seat, and sighed. He smelled disgusting. He was hungry. He hated this city. And stupidly, he missed her. Will wasn’t worried at all, more curious really, as he took the elevator to the fourth floor. Taking another deep breath, he rapped on the door. Listening, he heard a few muffled sounds in the apartment, steps getting closer. He took a step back at the ferocity at which the door swung open.
Her.
“What the…”
“Hello, lo…” Maggie finally made eye contact and stopped mid sentence. “You.”
He couldn’t help himself, allowing his traitorous eyes to soak up the sight of her. Dark curls were piled on top of her head, although a few ornery ones had escaped and framed her face. Her normally well-dressed figure sported baggy pajama pants and a tank top—a tantalizing bit of skin peeking out between the two—taunting him. Were those tiny spatulas on her pants? A bare foot with painted pink toenails tapped impatiently by the time his gaze made its way back to her face, a glare piercing through him, her cheeks tinted pink.
“I take it from the look on your face, you were expecting someone else?” Will raised a brow.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 12d

I thought she might need a few friends (other than to the two boys fighting over her). 😬

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 12d

✨The Annora Project✨ book 2
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky “bear”

A very rough draft. Annora getting settled in the compound—

The space is filled with a low hum, the sound of generators, and distant chatter. Jackie walks silently ahead, purposeful, glancing back every so often and offering a small smile. She’s sharp-eyed and wiry, a long dark braid down her back, wearing a matching brown tunic and pants.
“You get used to the smell after a while. And the noise. It’s never really quiet down here.”
I hum in response, scanning the welded metal doors as we make our way through the maze of hallways. I like the noise. In the silence, my thoughts and memories become too loud to bear.
Throwing a quick glance back, Jackie’s narrowed gaze meets mine, studying me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Just wasn’t sure what I expected to find here.”
Jackie slows, then stops in front of a narrow metal door. She taps a code into the keypad, and it clicks open with a hiss.
“Welcome to your new room. It’s not much, but feel free to make it your own.”
The room is sparse. Confined. There’s a small cot in one corner and several shelves bolted to the wall. A small table and chair sit in the opposite corner. The single exposed bulb in the middle of the ceiling gives the space a dim glow. A tiny prison—that’s what this feels like. But beggars can’t be choosers, and I’d rather be in here than out there with the robot birds. Jackie tosses a duffel bag onto the cot.
“I went ahead and grabbed the items they had in storage—you know, from when they…found you. The rest is standard issue: two uniforms, boots, sparring gear, a thermal jacket, and because I like you, I threw in an extra pair of socks. You’re gonna thank me for that later.”
Opening the duffel, I immediately reach for the Nokia phone. The screen is cracked, but when I hit the power button, there’s still some juice left. The thing’s practically bullet-proof. Somehow my MP3 player isn’t cracked but the battery’s dead. I’m about to ask where I can get some double AA batteries, when the light catches something in the duffel making it sparkle.

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 13d

I had the same issue! I couldn’t believe I had that many instances of “ink” in my WIP. Turns out I had none… 🤦🏼‍♀️

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carlyhiebner.bsky.social @carlyhiebner.bsky.social · 13d

A Recipe for Romance 💘
#wipsnips #writingcommunity #writesky “Color” instead of “ink”

“We should probably get him back to his mom,” she murmured, taking a step away from him.
Will found himself wanting to be closer, but nodded. “Okay, lead the way…Boss.”
There was that signature glare. Good. He chuckled as she turned on her heel and marched into the hospital room, leaving him to catch his breath in the hall. The woman was dangerous. He was just having a bit of fun with her. She was a tornado of chaos—a flash of color in his otherwise comfortable, gray-toned life. Every Nebraskan knows, it’s better to watch the storm from the comfort and safety of your own front porch—close enough to get a glimpse, but not close enough to have to clean up afterward.
Just fun. Definitely nothing more.

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