Drew McDowell
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drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Drew McDowell
@drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
950 followers 870 following 420 posts
Proud father and husband - gamer - goober - reader - lover of cheese and taters - MA Sociology - Loaded to the brim with Anxiety and ADHD
He/Him/His
https://t.co/xNBtkvFvPC - LinkTree
Adult SF/F writer - querying a sci-fi novel
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drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
For me, it was watching Star Trek and Star Wars when I was really young. My dad and brother were really into it, and they regularly went to conventions. After that, it was the other fans, finding people that enjoyed the genre as much as I did.
#SFPit
scifipit.bsky.social #SFPit @scifipit.bsky.social · 22d
Folks! This is not a drill, our warp drive is powered up and ready to engage!

One last question for everyone - what got you into science fiction? Was it a show a friend made you watch, a book that just drew you in?

#SFPit #WritingCommunity #writers
October 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
scifipit.bsky.social
And a big ol' Happy Friday to our dystopian adventurers, techno-enthusiasts, space voyagers, and time travelers alike!

Day 2 of 5 is here, bringing us another rotation of Earth closer to the 21st! It also brings us a new question!

#writingcommunity #SFPit #Writers
October 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Hey folks, I am 1/2 of the team at #SFPit

I am working on going the indie route for my up coming Sci-Fi work, A Fracture Within. It is currently in the final phases of beta reading!
I write mainly SFF, but have begun dabbling in horror/supernatural as well.
scifipit.bsky.social #SFPit @scifipit.bsky.social · 26d
Happy Thursday, friends!

With 5 days to go, we would love to learn a bit more about all the amazing writers who will be making this an epic event!

For today, we want to meet all the stars in our galaxy of #SFPit writers (that's you)!
#WritingCommunity #Scifi #writers
October 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Friends of all science fiction persuasions!

@jaymeLpeck and I would like to proudly announce (officially), #SFPit.

Indies, trad seekers, folks who are dabbling in the art of sci-fi - this is time-travelling, technobabble, space opera event you don't want to miss!
#scifi #writingcommunity #agents
scifipit.bsky.social #SFPit @scifipit.bsky.social · Aug 25
Dear friends, writers, #agents, interstellar travelers, interdimensional aliens, and otherwise paradoxical time hoppers!

We would like to invite you to set your favorite time-traveling device to October 21st, 2025, for the pitch event dedicated to Science Fiction, #SFPit! 🧵
August 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
scifipit.bsky.social
Dear friends, writers, #agents, interstellar travelers, interdimensional aliens, and otherwise paradoxical time hoppers!

We would like to invite you to set your favorite time-traveling device to October 21st, 2025, for the pitch event dedicated to Science Fiction, #SFPit! 🧵
August 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
scifipit.bsky.social
Cryptic Event Reveal

#WritingCommunity
#PitchEvent
#LitAgents
#sciencefiction
#SF
June 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
My fellow #scifi writers and #litagents looking to build their list of incredible scifi talent, @jaymemedinapeck.bsky.social and I would like to proudly present #scifipit

Mark those calendars!
June 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
The Shattered Divide
Adult #scifi #writingcommunity #wipsnips
“Didn’t you say you mentored him, sir?” I couldn’t control the laughter anymore. The captain stood with his mouth agape as he shook his head rapidly. I skipped over to the warden with a showboating giddiness you’d see from a kid who just got the keys to a candy shop and put my arm around him. “Let me tell you this. The captain is one of the best people you could ever learn from. He cares about each one of you like you were one of his children. But my stubborn, bombastic, and often stupid ass learned too little from him,” I said, ending my laughter. “I would have been a better warden if I took the time to learn from him. Count yourself lucky to serve under him, you have it better than most.” The captain took a breath and figured he got out of that easy – you all know I couldn’t let that sit. I returned to my chuckling. “Let’s be clear though, nobody mentored the hero from the galaxy’s edge.” Even the captain laughed at that.
February 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Been a while since I've posted here.

I've been CRUSHING some writing goals for The Shattered Divide this year. Almost at the halfway point.

When I hit that, I am going to pause and take a look at some feedback for A Fracture Within and do a big final revision pass.
February 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
I might end up pitching on #bluepit! Kind of on the fence as it's in between writing and querying.

Overall, I don't think I have anything to lose by doing it.
January 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Does anyone ever feel guilt about putting their MC through absolute hell?
I love him to death...but I keep testing that death part sometimes lol.
December 28, 2024 at 7:13 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
1,100 words today for The Shattered Divide.

I've crossed 26k now and feel like I've really got my groove in writing back.
December 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
1026 words today in The Shattered Divide.

Cannot wait to get started tomorrow on what comes next. The MC is about to go berserk.
December 27, 2024 at 5:21 AM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Hey friends! I am looking to buy some space operas or at least far-future sci-fi books.
I would love to start "local" with the writing community. Doesn't have to be traditionally published, I just need a place to buy it from!
December 26, 2024 at 11:06 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Since I set a smaller goal for myself (at least 350 words a day) I've been more consistently writing.

This has really helped me get back into the headspace of the story and the MC. It might not be more, but it is so much better than none.
December 25, 2024 at 5:50 AM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
A Fracture Within - adult scifi
#Wipsnips #amediting #amwriting #writingcommunity
The controls looked to be set on some automation to collide with the mirror. All personnel files were stripped, and not even a license of ownership was found anywhere. "Bill, we have a bit of an issue. Start towing us back, I am going to strap into the chair here." "An issue?" Bill chuckled over the comms. "Afraid to pilot?" He began to tow us back while giving me shit about my less-than-stellar piloting skills. "There's no one here." "Well, that isn't exactly unheard of, Jimmy." He wasn't wrong. "You'll have to see when we dock." I leaned my head back against the chair and stared out of the helm into infinity.
December 24, 2024 at 2:57 AM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
So A Fracture Within was written under the first-person POV of one specific person, Jimmy.

However, in writing book two (The Shattered Divide), I think I am going to provide different POVs.
December 23, 2024 at 5:22 AM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
A Fracture Within - adult sci-fi
#wipsnips #amediting #amwriting #writingcommunity
Bill was all for it. “An even better place to start. Especially if we have to go talk to Verstein.” News traveled fast. It was hardly an hour and everyone in town knew what happened out at the edge of the galaxy. There wasn’t exactly a frenzy of crowds, but people made it clear they were happy none of the wardens were hurt. The first bar we encountered was the bar for us. It was a little hole-in-the-wall style joint that had seen decades. The Plaunor Pub was a stand-alone building on the corner leading out of town to Verstein’s estate. The buildings on the street had worked-stone facades that blended brown and green paint schemes throughout. If it was night, I would be staring at a gorgeous sea of neon lights reflecting off windows and bathing everything in the colorful soul that represented the mining town.
December 22, 2024 at 4:35 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Asking for writing purposes:

Say someone was being a turd, and you wanted to knock them down a peg (physically). Would you got for a full weighted slap to the face, or ball up your fist and punch them in the mouth?

There are people to witness for context.

#writingcommunity #amwriting
December 20, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
lizzieblackwood.bsky.social
For "train," I have this bit of snark from Jenna and Tarek's first meeting. #WIPSnips
I glared at the back of his head. "You're very confusing." “Not really. I'm paid and trained to keep you from touching things you're not supposed to, not to be a tour guide coddling your sense of wonder." “You're not even looking at me while I go around touching things I'm not supposed to.” “I never said I was paid or trained well."
December 16, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
okaypoet.bsky.social
Here's your regular reminder that being mean to strangers isn't a substitution for developing a personality. ✌️
December 15, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Drew McDowell
mrschadenfreude.bsky.social
#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #writersky
I found a nice training scene with the word #train in it.
In school, she seemed mediocre because school was mediocre. This was different. She wasn’t in some under-funded hellhole; Mr. Schadenfreude taught her magic and esoteric sciences alongside sleight of hand techniques and counter-security measures. She understood why practitioners went crazy; the amount of self-confrontation involved was exhausting and then just disheartening. Mr. Schadenfreude was a rather tormenting mentor with ambush lessons and extreme exercises. When they ventured into civilization, it was worse. Some lessons required “field work” and that meant going out in public where her enemies could track her. Maya’s first combat lesson was also a lesson in trauma. She didn’t zone back in until they got back to camp and she realized she was holding onto someone else’s earring, with part of the ear still attached. “You did great and you landed the first lesson; walking away makes you a winner.” He wasn’t a real fighter, but pacifists don’t live for centuries, either. He brought her to this roadside, country/western bar he used to frequent back in the 70’s. The Railhouse was a place of loud music, rowdy people, chaos and booze. It started off as a podunk town’s one real public space: saloon, train stop, stockyard, and city hall. The Railhouse became an Outlaw venue they’ve held onto through time. Maya was sure that this lesson was going to be the death of her. As soon as they entered the bar, Mr. Schadenfreude grabbed a bottle, threw it at a random person, and then kicked Maya into the ensuing chaos. He figured the best way to learn to fight was just to get into them. It worked for him. Maya had managed to get out of the crowd, not unscathed but she held evidence she gave as good as she got.
December 16, 2024 at 4:10 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Haven't written poetry in a while. I used to write poems and lyrics when I was in high school.
today I just let myself write one without being hypercritical of myself.

#writingcommunity #writer #poetry
Downfall, a time to look up Where do I go, with what foot first Forward I move, yet down I sink Regret controls panic My breath turns into a gasp Step back you fool and see The very dirt you sank in Now mud by your own garden hose All my troubles made with ease
December 16, 2024 at 4:13 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
A Fracture Within - Adult Scifi
#wipsnips #amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity
“Deflection doesn’t work well in most suspects’ favor,” I continued to enter notes in my display as I spoke. I didn’t give him eye contact until I finished. He looked outright furious. “Just in case you were wondering. Neither does combativeness.” “Is that what they teach you in warden training?” Verstein drew a breath in and held it for a second or two. “Or did you learn that in your social law courses? Wasn’t it your grandfather, Thomas Denra, who molded how we view interplanetary social laws today? Surely you did not learn it from your parents. Where are they now?” “They are dead for all intents and purposes.” The heat coming off my face could have fried an egg.
December 16, 2024 at 2:33 PM
drewwmcdowell.bsky.social
Going to start setting a minimum of 300 words a day. I need to get out of my own head when drafting and get the story on paper.
December 16, 2024 at 4:04 AM