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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist

@faythompsonauthor.bsky.social

4.8K followers 14K following 8.7K posts

I write Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror that is slightly bent, a bit fun and certain to be an adventure. I also art. I am currently illustrating chapter headers for "The Inspectors." Nevada! NO AI here. DMs closed!

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · Nov 26

Bug Mage Art - Destine bookmark in color. I will let it rest over thanksgiving to see if I need to touch it more. Enjoy!

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1h

There are always tests to get things to work right. The figure went through 5 or 6 before I thought it was good. I'm a bit surprised this might be done by Saturday. :)

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 2h

It printed fairly well. I have my test sheet drying now. In about an hour I will go around the edges with anti-fray and let that dry overnight. Tomorrow I will cut and hole punch and see how they fit. :)

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 4h

I am waiting on my print out to dry a bit more and then I will add alcohol marker color and then scan and try to print on fabric. An adventure in printing ::hee hee::: If that works then that dries, then fray block, cutting and hole punching. Think it will work?

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 6h

So, they say that the huge Palisades fire was started by an Uber driver while he was listening to advice from an ai, chat dbt.

Worst written story ever.

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

When you produce any story for people to read, format it well. This means 11pt type properly spaced for easy reading. Make it clean, typo free, grammar correct and add in some art if you also doodle or have a family member who draws. Make it look interesting.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Your shorts stories are valuable. You can sell them to markets or, you can use them directly to reach likely readers. They are currency. How you spend them is up to you.

Recall that your zine is a first rights sale. You can still sell second rights... on that story.

#writingcommunity #booksky

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Once you own a long stapler and a cutter, you can turn several short stories into mini zines, all related to your novel.

You can do side character backstories this way too, just write them as a short story. Excite your readers to want more. Eventually your novel is more.

#writingcommunity #booksky

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Yes, you can configure this many ways. A rolled sheet is harder to carry in your pocket though. :)

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

If your zine is in the same universe as your novel, it becomes a novel magnet story too. The best way to pre-sell your novel is by making people want it through something they read.

When you are writing your short today, consider your self publishing options too.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Readers will read your zine, maybe on their coffee break.

This is one set of eyeballs on your work.

You need 100 fan eyeball sets in your fan club. The best ones have READ something you wrote and liked it enough to follow a link to find you.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines #swag #promotions

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Your objective with this type of promotion is to hand out these cheap little zines in your daily life to 'find' readers.

On the back of the zine have your QR code to your landing page (or a written link).

Your first page can be your cover. Make it interesting.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Your local office store likely can staple them and cut them for you or you can also use this kind of cutter. Again, around $30. Your regular printer machine can print them on copy paper. You print, fold, staple and cut. Per story is maybe a buck.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zinestory

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

A zine of ONE short story at 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 is the perfect size to carry around in your pocket or purse to give to people.

Remember, you need READERS who read your work.

This project is very cheap although you will need a long stapler. (under $30)l

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Once you calculate how many pages you will need at 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 based on your word count, fold as many signature as you will need for your small zine. Tuck your signatures into each other. Then number each page in order and showing the direction of reading.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

If your short story is very short it will likely fit on one signature. Test out a sample with your margins set to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Use a serif font like Times Roman at 11 pt with one-line or 12pt leading. This will give you a word count per each small page.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Let's talk a bit about single short story zines.

If you fold one sheet of copy paper in half twice you end up with 4 1/4 x 5 1/5 signature. This signature will have one edge needing a trim at the end. In the signature you now have 8 individual pages.

#writingcommunity #booksky #zines #small

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

It is perfectly okay to write some short stories for your own projects. You sell your first rights to yourself with a real contract. You can look up contract templates online and use one to do it properly. You can use a short story on its own or collected.

#writingcommunity #booksky #shortstories

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

A second focus for your short stories should be writing a set that can be published as a small collection. So, they should be related to each other in some way.

I did this in my current chapbook collection with 3 stories related by the theme Weird Western.

#writingcommunity #booksky #collections

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Today is all about writing your weekly short story.

If you are also writing a novel, try to look in your novel for small scenes with a side character that offer a good idea for a short story. These are called magnet short stories.

When possible build interest in your novel.

#writingcommunity

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Good morning lovely people.

Wednesday's get a bad rap. Although, I am up a bit late because I stayed up a bit late.

I have big equipment in the desert behind me so it sounds like beeping tanks all day. :::sigh:::

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1d

I am not looking for publishing or author services. Thank you for the kind offer.

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1d

I don't chat in dm - but happy to answer anything here :)

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1d

There are over 47 novels in my schedule. ::hee hee::: I will be busy for years.

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Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1d

The illustrations were not scanned well and are being rescanned to higher DPI and then re-framed for the individual page formatting. It's complicated but should look great. I'm picky. This is the hardcover which will publish first. :)

Fay Thompson, Author/Artist @faythompsonauthor.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you! My writing and art are intertwined a bit like dna spiraling out there in an eternal dance. :)