Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 10h

Counterpoint: explaining to someone who knows NOTHING of football that it’s called “the Tush Push”—no I did not make that up, yes it’s a real thing I SWEAR, look the commentators are discussing it!—is inherently entertaining.

(but objectively, you’re correct on all counts)

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 12h

“Accepting that he can’t save her from herself, only support her in the decisions she makes” has my full attention; the unconditional support of friends is so important, and stubborn attempts to “save” someone can damage a relationship more than it can help (or simply miss the mark entirely).

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

True! I saw someone say it’s a matter of weighing the impact of the death against ALL that character’s future potential, and that’s really stuck with me. That said, I’m also weak for a character who actively haunts the narrative

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

When I feel like I know character but cannot seem to get their voice, it’s the most aggravating thing. I know their dialogue doesn’t sound right, but heck if I can figure out how to fix it. My friend, I beg, my good fellow, please just /talk to me/—

#weeknightwriters #writersky

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 13h

Q4: What aspects of character development do you find most frustrating? #WeeknightWriters

Notepad that says “#WeeknightWriters: What aspects of character development do you find most frustrating?"

1 2

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

He now goes on to grow and change, coming fully into himself as a main character throughout the series, although his devotion to Sachial remains his primary motivation. The result is infinitely more interesting—and satisfying—than a tragic, ultimately pointless death.

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

—and I still think I sort of was? He still has a presumed death, actually. But the world has enough tragedies and stories cut short, not to mention the dreaded Buried Gay trope I was playing directly into (in retrospect, I was absolutely parroting a lot of what I grew up with).

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

Caleb was originally going to die at the end of the first book—right when he was embracing his own character arc, beginning to change for his own sake rather than forcing himself along a given path at the perceived wishes of others. I thought I was being soooo brilliantly tragic—

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 13h

#AwesomeCharacters

Sachial was conceived as a static character—although his actions directly impact every other character and facet of their world, he remains fundamentally unchanged. There’s been some evolution in edits/rewrites, but at his core he still changes very little.

Caleb, however— 🧵

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 16h

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Let's talk about growth!🌱

Does your character change a lot over the course of the story?

If so, what about them do you think changes the most? Is it for the better, or for the worse?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

1 2

Reposted by C Murry (querying!)

Rii Abrego @riibrego.bsky.social · 21h

pumpkin patch #art (wallpapers below!)

A drawing of black cats playing in a pile of pumpkins

5 1.1K 3.4K

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

Whenever I take Sachial into a workshop, someone comes back with “I just found him annoying”—and it’s true! He’s snarky, self important, and abrasive. But he’s also earnest, sensitive, inquisitive. He’s not classically “likable”, but he is purely himself, and I love him for that.
#AwesomeCharacters

Charlie Delta (has been a ghost this whole time! 👻) @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

What is your character's most endearing/compelling trait?

What is something about them that you think will make a reader invested in them and their story?

Is it also the thing you like best about them?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

1 2

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

He sounds like an incredibly compelling character, earnestness and arrogance and all! Certainly the sort to have some fantastic stories to tell

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

LOVE this premise! The Pern x Pacific Rim vibes have my full attention 👀 Also love the strike-through vs underline imagery on the moodboard!

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

“Kade, he’s something else—the sum of this city’s devils dressed up in flesh and red paisley.” ♠️

WANDERLUST AND THE SEA
The city of Deuceridge guards its own—jealously. Yet, the call of the sea persists.

🕰️ historical—1920s
🏳️‍🌈 queer + queerplatonic rep
👽 one (1) renegade alien

#DVPit #lgbtq #sff

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

I’m so ready to devour this, 10/10 would eagerly snatch up in a bookstore! 👀

1 1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you!

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

WANDERLUST AND THE SEA

If Guys and Dolls 🎲 was an episode of X-Files 👽, plus make it queer 🏳️‍🌈✨

A cardsharp and a black market doctor, the town madam and the head of the prevailing family—each find their lives upturned by the appearance of an alien in their city of Deuceridge.

#DVPit #lgbtq #sff

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 1d

Wanderlust and the Sea - In which black market doctor Conrad Sirius upends Deuceridge in his mad hunt for an alien—only to fall for and abscond with the alien once he finds him.

🏳️‍🌈 queernormative
🕰️ historical - 1920s
🫀 gangsters or found family? both
🩶 morally gray
♠️ cardistry

#DVPit #lgbtqia #sff

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 2d

teef

a close up of Fenris, a black cat, upside-down with a paw over one eye, little vampire teeth on full display

a close up of Fenris, a black cat, upside-down with a paw partially over one eye, little vampire teeth on full display

Reposted by C Murry (querying!)

Chuck Wendig @chuckwendig.bsky.social · 2d

Do this! Bookshop.org is good stuff.

Barry Lyga @barrylyga.com · 2d

Prime Day what? Bookshop.org is offering FREE SHIPPING for October 7-8! Buy books, get free shipping, support local bookstores! Easy!

#primeday #antiprime #freeshipping #supportlocal #supportindie

Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

Bookshop.org

2 85 170

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 2d

Fault Lines is the first book I ever finished. I started it in 2014; the first complete draft is dated 01/2017! I’m now 25k words into a full rewrite, due to both plot revisions and general improvement on my part. It’s near and dear to me, and I’m thrilled with how it’s coming along!

#DVParty #sff

Graphic for “Fault Lines”; the blurb reads:
“Civilization is built upon fault lines—some well-mapped and others-undefined. Within those rifts can be found weaknesses, accountability, and volatile, unrealized potential.
Sachial thinks the whole world is out to get him; he may well be right. Caleb Lark doesn't believe a word Sachial says, but he still listens.”

Some additional notes read:
“science fiction
(not your average) dystopia
first in a series - three books and counting”

On the left, Sachial—a young boy, dark hair tied halfway back, dressed in a simple black uniform, illustrated here in black and white—holds a pamphlet labeled “Fault Lines, by Ani”. He looks /delighted/. Beside him a caption reads: “snarky lil anarchist with a martyr complex gets precicely what he asks for”.
The artist tag is “Arcana Bean”, and they can be found by that name on DeviantArt.

In the lower right, a heart-shaped illustration shows Sachial pulling Caleb down to him for a kiss; Caleb’s eyes are open slightly, looking down with affection. Both have simple rainbow paint on their cheeks. Sachial has coppery skin, and his black hair is tied only halfway back in a knot, while Caleb is pale with short, brown, wavy hair. Beside them reads “QUEER AF” in rainbow letters, as well as “happy ending! (but boy howdy they've gotta work for it)”.
The artist tag is bisexuwhale; the piece was commissioned on Flight Rising’s forums, and I haven’t (yet) been unable to track down any of their other socials, so if anyone recognizes the art style or username please let me know!!

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 3d

Music is an ESSENTIAL! My “master” playlist for WatS (that is, not sorted by character or vibes) is 671 songs atm, so this prompt was absolutely delightful but also a TORTURE of choices 😂

(♢ for Miriam, ♤ for Kade, ♡ for Asher, ♧ for Conrad)

#writersky #dvparty #sff #lgbtqia

a Wanderlust and the Sea playlist, set against the background of a nighttime seascape

the tracklist is:
Human Right - The Strike (♤)
Funky Galileo - Sure Sure (♧)
Fred Astaire - Jukebox the Ghost (♧x♡)

Connected - The Electric Swing Circus (♢)
Devils in the Canyon - The Strike (gen)

Delight - Jamie Berry (♤)
Lost in the Rhythem - Jamie Berry, Octavia
Rose (♤x♢)

Colour Morning - Night Riots (♤+♡)
Stay a While - Cemetery Sun (♡)
Good Squad - Ripe (♧+co.)
Ghost of a King - The Gray Havens (♡)

Where You Let Go - I The Mighty (♧
Degenerates - I The Mighty (♤+♧)

1 6

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 5d

THIS IS HOW I LEARN THEY’RE CANON??? Crying spinning DANCING, a very important part of me just came fully back to life 🥹

1

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 5d

Kade and Asher have been with me for a long time (upwards of a decade—we’re talking high school here), but they never had a “home” setting or consistent story prior to Deuce. The setting of Deuceridge, along with Conrad, gave rise to the book as it exists, and I’m so glad I got to write it.

2

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 5d

Conrad introduced himself to me the same night, and the second scene in question is one of his key character moments much later in the book.

1 2

C Murry (querying!) @lennwrites.bsky.social · 5d

I very rarely have coherent dreams, but two scenes in Wanderlust come directly from dreams. One is the prologue, a series of snapshots—present tense, unlike the rest of the book—depicting the city of Deuceridge.

2 1