Kris Arden
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karden.bsky.social
Kris Arden
@karden.bsky.social
210 followers 200 following 97 posts
spec fiction writer, aussie, silly little owl, she/they 🏳️‍🌈
#amquerying
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Reposted by Kris Arden
helenicchi.bsky.social
Heads up to artists still using Twitter- Twitter is now adding an "Edit image" button under all images posted on the site that allows everyone to feed it into genAI and modify it as they wish with a prompt
Edit image button
December 24, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
guygavrielkay.bsky.social
Yes. And translators, badly paid, have been trying to make people aware of this, but they have only a small platform. Need writers and readers to be aware and speak out.

All my foreign language contracts going forward will stipulate that a real person translates.
aliettedebodard.com Aliette de Bodard @aliettedebodard.com · 13d
Deep breath
Ok I'm going to try and stay calm
But I'll point out that AI translation is literally causing translators to be fired (see the whole Harlequin line in France)
(1/?)
December 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
karden.bsky.social
There are a couple choices for "silver" when you write a vampire novel. Here's one of the 41,700 options #WIPSnips #amquerying
I felt more trapped in this city than I ever had covered in silver chains in the facility.
December 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
karden.bsky.social
This plantser just finished baby's first full outline! All 29 chapters of sapphic fantasy wip have a lil summary on Scrivener. I worried it might sap motivation but it actually made me more excited to start on the draft. Plantser identity officially under threat #WriteSky #AmWriting
December 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
ecatherine.com
Hoping to see more submissions from under-repped groups in my submissions—don't self-reject, it's easier to send me a story about death. We're open until 12/31 (midnight eastern).

psychopomp.com/the-deadland...
The Deadlands Guidelines - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
Fiction
psychopomp.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
moudhy.bsky.social
Clay letters from ancient Mesopotamia are alive with idiom, sayings, and everyday language that I love.

Here are just a few random ones so you can enjoy them too.
December 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
karden.bsky.social
#WIPSnips "welcome" - when the pacifist aroace vampire's still got to eat
Excerpt from Prometheus, Returned, by Kris Arden If I could avoid it, I no longer killed my prey. I found I could often get by approaching thralls. There were over one hundred in this court, and though most were attached to particular vampires, some appreciated being fed on so much that they would welcome other interest. Assuredly, though, I did not like to feed this way. These thralls who welcomed other vampiric interest were a bit, well, intense. They would watch me approach, unblinking, an obsessive gleam in their eyes. The moment my fangs broke skin they would begin a symphony of sighs and moans, at which point I suppose I was meant to commence ravishing them against the nearest wall. Instead I drank in furtive, quick sucks, then retracted my fangs and melted metaphorically into shadow, hoping this gave an aura of mystery rather than revealing my awkward dread and desire for escape.
October 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
karden.bsky.social
#WIPSnips action at the end of act 1! CW: some violence
“I didn’t notice the attacker, for all this time they had been crouched behind the chair in one of the upper rows. Smart. They slashed upward, aiming for Nightingale’s heart. She realised at the last moment and jumped back. This caused the knife to pierce lower, just under her ribs. Shouting in irritation, the soldier sharply thrust down and then wrenched the knife from Nightingale’s gut; blood sprayed out onto his face and his uniform. Nightingale’s blood. Earth’s most unique A-positive. The soldier drew back, preparing to thrust again. Brad snatched the gun from Nightingale’s grip and aimed it; there was a staccato tick-tick-tick of firearms turning off their safety.” Excerpt From Prometheus, Returned Kris Arden
October 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
karden.bsky.social
Adoring There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak! How is there a book that hits so many of my hyperfixations (Victorian London AND Mesopotamia) while also being about enduring influence of storytelling and culture even if we don’t realise it, aakdjfjsjfg lovelove
October 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
dongwon.bsky.social
Hello! I'm open to unsolicited submissions for the first time in ages...

Looking for: Adult Epic Fantasy and Horror only

Guidelines are here: www.dongwonsong.com/submission-g...
Submission Guidelines — DongWon Song
www.dongwonsong.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
guilhernunes.bsky.social
stupid cat is distracted by his cell phone and will be attacked by a vampire
at night in a coastal town a cat crosses the bridge looking at his cell phone while another cat, a vampire with a black cape, prepares to attack
October 2, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
victoriajayneoh.bsky.social
Offering query package editing services!

I just got an enormous medical bill, and as you all know, i’m unemployed due to my health. But I love editing query packages, and I’m pretty good at it too.

Please DM me if you’re interested! Shares are welcome.
Editing services query package $15–Query Letter $20–First Five Pages $30–QL & First Five +$10 per additional 5 pages—up to 50 pages $300—Whole package including agent guide, pitch posts, 50 pages, query letter, and synopsis @victoriajayneoh on all socials Credentials summa cum laude B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in political philosophy sensitivity reader for trans, lesbian, neurodivergent, disabled storylines 26 requests across 3 projects Big Five Editor interest (x2) based on pitch and agent guide agent interaction from every pitch event autistic special interest in writing autistic special interest in editing @victoriajayneoh on all socials
September 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
weeknightwriters.bsky.social
Looking for something to fill the NaNoWriMo-shaped voice in your life? Check out #FirstDraftFall, our challenge to write a first draft in the fall, separated into three parts:

October - Planning
November - Drafting
December (until the 12th) - Wrapping up

See the full schedule at the link below!
#FirstDraftFall - Weeknight Writers
The Weeknight Writers answer to NaNoWriMo, #FirstDraftFall is a challenge to write a first draft in October - December.
weeknightwriters.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
karden.bsky.social
#WIPsnips this was a fun scene to share - from vampire novel, currently revising
Text reads: When you are in London, she is safe. “Now off you go. We’ll talk again soon.” And we will talk soon. You are going nowhere. Because the moment that you try to leave? Vacate this city and this dreary country and take once more to the French caves or Austrian mountains? Anchiale placed a hand on Nightingale’s shoulder. Her claws had unsheathed, subtly, barely covering her human nails, sharp ends resting a fraction from Nightingale’s neck. Anchiale smiled. “Let your friend and I have our little reunion.” I do not think you’d like to find out what will happen then. Excerpt From Prometheus, Returned Kris Arden
September 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
karden.bsky.social
First time #WIPsnips, long time listener, very tired so this day is appropriate, enjoy
Text on a background of a Nightingale on a branch: “I looked completely different when I was nineteen. Was some emaciated tits-on-a-stick, with a buzz cut ‘cos I got sick of cleaning spew out of my hair. Eyes red and wild since I was always high off being bit.” Nightingale slumped with tiredness or relaxation. “I changed so much after I came back to London. Best five years of my life, Prom. You have no idea. Lady Anchiale wanted all of me. She liked my blood, and my personality, and my body, and she brought me into her clan and I met everyone there and suddenly London wasn’t lonely anymore.”
September 2, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
photosteve.bsky.social
A Great Horned Owl digging deep in its wing feathers to preen
#birds #owls
August 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
karden.bsky.social
Actively disagree with the view that depressed characters are passive and, hence, “boring”. Passive implies no skin in the game. Often depressed characters have TOO MUCH skin in the game and it’s already been burned (hopefully metaphorically), and they are feeling hopeless and helpless and want to
July 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
racheldeering.bsky.social
The Owl, Voysey, 1897.
Owl design perched in oak with acorns.
July 21, 2025 at 7:24 AM
karden.bsky.social
It’s funny that even when writing short stories, the 75% mark is where I schedule my breakdown. Like, I am 2300 words in oh God I shall Never Finish this Monstrosity how can I summit the mountain I suck everything is awful the HUMANITY >:O #amwriting
July 10, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
nickarvin.bsky.social
Writing tip: As a writer, it's essential to find your voice. Have you tried your jacket pockets? Have you looked in the car? Perhaps it's on the nightstand or the bathroom sink? Have you checked on top of your head?
June 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
karden.bsky.social
Coming to realise that my two primal character archetypes are “the one who apologises” and “the one who says sorry isn’t good enough” #amwriting
July 10, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
alanbaxter.bsky.social
The two hardest things in writing are starting and finishing.

So many people want to, but so few start.

Then of all the people who start, so few finish.

Start the thing, then finish the thing. Everything else comes after. Finished can be made good, but it must be finished first.
June 3, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
owldaily.bsky.social
A Great Grey Owl in a stunning flight.

📸francoispotvin.photography
#Nature #owl #Bird
May 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Kris Arden
mishellbaker.bsky.social
Being a person with deadly, incurable cancer who is nonetheless still alive for an indefinite timeframe gives me an interesting metaphor that helps me deal with things like large-scale corruption in government or commerce.

Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
January 21, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Kris Arden
chyand.bsky.social
For Booksky 📚

❌ Goodreads: owned by Amazon.

✅ StoryGraph: black woman-owned, inclusive, has mood based recommendations!

❌ Audible: owned by Amazon.

✅ Libro.fm: supports local books stores.
January 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM