MeliSwenk Editing
LightNews LightNews
banner
lousytshirt.bsky.social
MeliSwenk Editing
@lousytshirt.bsky.social
860 followers 1.1K following 300 posts
Reader. Writer. Loves art, music, film, photography, & expression.
INFJ. She/Her.
#copyeditor #betareader #proofreader
http://meliswenkediting.wordpress.com
https://ko-fi.com/meliswenk
https://www.amazon.com/stores/M.-A.-Swenka/author/B07XXBSLZ7
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
lousytshirt.bsky.social
MeliSwenk Editing @lousytshirt.bsky.social · Oct 1
Just for my BlueSky followers!

❄️ Too Cool To Ignore ❄️ Deal: 50% off!

Proofreading & Beta Reading services for books over 10k words
Available from October 1 to December 31
DM w/ word count & genre - Let's connect!

#writesky #writingcommunity #authors
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Inside Evlin's head, just after she's brought Monah to Piatra Invelis.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
Several thoughts clouded her mind as she walked home. Could there truly be a civil war in response to revealing the princess’s return? With so many Termthippian Citizens, could it even be determined anymore if one lineage outnumbered the other? A loud faction, certainly, railed against Termathippians, but a definite number? A percentage? Could one even dare say a majority, with one line definitely overtaking the other? Overall, choosing to hold just one lineage over the other, among such innumerable diversity seemed a blatant act of wasted effort.
November 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Inside Corinne's head as she goes to meet Nanette for the first time. {Pretty sure I've shared this with a previous snip, but I like it, so you're getting it again 😁)
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
She’d spent nearly every spare second over the last two days with her priest. A kind old man, he’d looked totally lost when she broke down to sob out loud in his office yesterday. Without Kylie, she didn’t know what she would do, could do. From the day she’d been born, just two months after Corinne’s own eighteenth birthday, that little blonde had been her mother’s entire world, let alone the whole of her life. Every motion had been to care for Kylie Jo, every breath dedicated to giving her what Corinne had only hoped for as an only child—caring parents, a solid family home to rely on. Now, now, her home was decimated by a brute, a man who couldn’t have even bothered to learn her daughter’s name. If he’d only talked to her, he never would have killed her.
November 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
Hope those who celebrated had a Happy Thanksgiving!! 😁

#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 1 -- going for vibes w/ Faldor's physical action in this scene. It's closer to oscillating, but he's moving stiffly back & forth among the three people around him.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
When she stood back up, Andrea caught Drake’s eye, and he could merely shrug, standing tall behind his king. Keeping eye contact, she formed the clear thought. He hasn’t been down here in ages, Drake. Something rile him? Drake simply nodded and secretly admired her Territories-style speaking patterns. Thyberius Grey. Faldor turned on them sharply, skating his gaze between the two of them, as if willing them to keep their thoughts to themselves, and then turned back to Darion. “So, who among these heathens are being processed this evening?” Andrea stepped boldly up to her king and then looked at the guard around his shoulder. “That is precisely what I wanted to know.”
November 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 2 -- using synonym "prevent" -- Monah's reading a passage from Aleksander's journals that describes their initial journey to Piatra Invelis.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
He inquires as to where we aim, yet Thyberius and I had no plan, no map, no agenda on this journey. Merely to defect from the corrupt leadership of Boran and his mother. Should the remainder of our journey reflect our terrible interactions in Istanbul, Gökhan will be the least of our worries. For all of our power, we must submit to the humans when we traverse in the Territories, yet Duke Gökhan is propelled by nothing more than arrogance and ignorance. It troubles Thyberius and I, as we meant to travel under cloak, without disturbance. Gökhan will yet be the death of us, we are both certain. If I could travel back through time and prevent him from seeing us, I would give at least one limb to do it.
November 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Stella's POV, getting the details on Kylie's autopsy from Bonnie in Forensics.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“Gregory and I are still waiting on results from Evidence, regarding the loose strand of hair from the scene. Scene investigators are looking into some prints left, possibly, from the perp’s shoes and into a cell phone dropped at the scene. Have you at least made ID?” “That was the easy part. Kylie Jo Martin was twenty-one at the time of her murder, which took place between the hours of midnight and, roughly, four a.m. I’m leaning closer to midnight though.” “And it was being slammed into the mirror, right?” “Yep, that’s got to be the cause of death. The only other thing in her system was dinner and alcohol.” “Well,” Stella looked sadly at the still girl on the table, “now it’s just notifying the family. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find her in the system.”
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 2 -- using synonym "first" -- Monah's POV, with Evlin, who is trying to get some details about what happened when Ankara took Monah from the Grey Meadow.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
I leaned into the familiar embrace. Once more, I had to force Ankara from my mind, and I thought I had done it quickly enough, but Evlin still caught me off guard. “Speaking of enemies,” she said slowly. This was not the first time she had approached me about what happened when Ankara took me in the last couple months. I wasn’t ready to talk about it, let alone with Ev. It sounded ridiculous, but I wanted it to be mine for a little while longer. I thought of the forest, the Grey Meadow, as if I were trying to pull up the memory more than hide it from her. I maintained my proximity, because I didn’t want her to think anything untoward about where I was going to take the conversation. So I cracked a joke. “You’ll need to be more specific than that.” Evlin broke the embrace and took me by the shoulders, gently, but there was no mistaking her intention. “You know of whom I speak.” “Ankara,” I muttered, trying to step away from her hands, but she wouldn’t let me. “You must be forthright about what happened that day. What you saw. What she told you.”
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Wilem's POV, in class -- pretty sure I've shared this paragraph before, but it's the only use of "global" in my WIPs.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
This particular class was one of his favorites, language and literature. Where they also learned about global languages, dead and alive. The professor was kind, but aloof, and always drilling them on practice and dedication. “It doesn’t matter what language you choose or what creative strikes your fancy, just focus, hone, and practice always.” Wilem glanced up at the board and saw the professor writing a name he didn’t recognize on the board.
November 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, as Doliu helps prepare her for meeting her parents in a space and time beyond the present.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“Come, my child,” Doliu spoke in a hushed whisper. The room glowed with candlelight, so many had been lit. I wasn’t sure how she had the time, and I nearly laughed at the vivid image of her running around striking matches, cursing each time one blew out. The Wise Woman stood behind a long table that had been dressed like a bed. A small pillow laid in front of her, and a faded, yet colorful quilt covered the top. Five shiny crystals in different colors laid out in a semi-circle around the pillow caught my eye in the amber fire glow. “Lay down and close your eyes,” she directed, keeping that husky whisper just loud enough for me to hear. “Connect to the space around you.” The pillow cradled my head, and I felt the padded blanket shift underneath me. The smooth top of the table not holding it in place. Doliu’s hands pressed against my shoulders. “You will seek comfort in another time, another place. Now is not that time, nor place.” Her hands pressed harder against my shoulders.
November 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from KD & Jaz's book -- Jazmine's POV, considering the new information she has and how to use it or even confirm it.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
After a few moments of silent meditation, Jazmine took herself into the kitchen where she had her Paul Duggan story notes out on the table. She passed over surveillance notes and pictures, picking up the Mayse folder and glaring at the information it had taken Clive’s direction to get her to see—the dots she’d failed to connect. “Kaitlin Daisy, oh darlin’, where are you?” For once, she didn’t even know where to start. Except the obvious. She could go talk to her dad, her uncle, or even Paul Duggan himself—but each and every one of those men had shut her down in the past—she’d never even spoken with Captain Mayse when she filled in for the Crime Stoppers section of the Sunday edition. She had direct connections with a couple detectives. Her favorite—that Stella Holden who’d investigated Kylie Martin’s murder. “Gorgeous,” she muttered to no one, looking at Kaitlin’s file to find some detail she’d missed before.
November 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Monah's POV, in the archives seeking out her father's journal.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
My father—my mind toyed with the words, and even after the last couple months of being reminded that Ursah and Aleksander were my parents, Mother Bette a stand-in for them, it still felt strange to consider that I had a father. Looking at portraits of Ursah and seeing my face still unsettled me. So much about this kingdom still felt foreign and beyond myself. “Maybe if Thyberius and Evlin actually included me in running things, that might change,” I grumbled at the walls of the archives when I walked through the door and closed it behind me. The fire started, and the sconce lighting quickly joined it in giving off illumination. The shelves and tables glowed in front of me. My memory floated back to the first time I was in this room with Evlin, even though I had been back numerous times in the last couple months. How Evlin had chanted special, personalized words given just to her at a square in the wall, right next to the door. The square I had visited most was next to the fireplace, even though I had approached and opened several blocks in the walls looking for anything that would bring me clarity, guidance, even closure for what had happened in the throne room.
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, remembering how she and Joni met.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
Meeting Joni back in college had seemed to change that. My heart swelled at recalling how she’d looked when she walked into that classroom eons ago. Another lifetime, almost. Still on the austerity plan for ‘no one night stands’ even into college, I approached Joan Winters as though we could be friends. I commented on the team apparel she wore—she played for the university softball team—and she asked if I ever go to the games. I told her I prefer baseball, and when she gave me a crooked smile while sending a flat palm through the air as if to say, “You don’t know what you’re missing,” I agreed to go to the season opener. She was the catcher, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her—even when she was sitting on the bench at the bottom of the third. We sat next to each other in that Intro to Composition class the rest of the semester, and I helped her with all her homework. In return, she got me into all the away games for free. After seeing her eyes light up when I surprised her at the first one, I had to be at every one.
November 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- going for vibes with "backward" -- Rae's POV, in the middle of a physical confrontation proving to Jim she won't end up like the others.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
Rae huffed the next couple of breaths, then pulled her knee back to aim the bottom of her foot at his knee. Imagining the joint bending all the way backward and popping out the back of his leg. She grunted with the effort, not daring to let go of the bars until his hands clamped down on her upper arms. His pulling on her gave her the leverage to kick her leg all the way back and reconnect with this leg. A loud snap resounded through the space.
November 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Wilem's POV, after the Sons of Faldor make it abundantly clear that Wilem is no longer welcome among them.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“The whole damn group,” he grumbled, taking stumbling steps back from the end of the bed. Could this have something to do with Faldor? Could my king have directed this? The ruler’s words floated back up into Wilem’s consciousness. “You would not do me false? Not after declaring your loyalty?” Wilem could only shake his head against the king’s accusation. “He knew,” Wilem muttered under his breath, “he knew all along.” But, Wilem realized he could not act like he knew this. He needed to remain loyal, at least on the surface. Staying true after this attack, Wilem nearly smiled to himself, will prove how loyal I am to Faldor King himself. Going beyond the Sons. Heading back out of the barrack’s door, just the way he’d come in, he still needed to find a place to sleep. Or, at least, spend the day. He stood at the intersection just outside the reinforced building; one path led to the castle, and the other would lead to the Grey estate.
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Jim's POV, watching Rae in his monitors on the morning after the party.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“That’s a first,” he spoke to the humming technology. The first girl ripped all the wallpaper off hoping to dig her way out through the walls. The second one pried up the flooring in the shower stall hoping to climb out through a pipe. Even after their time spent in punishment, those girls just weren’t the right ones. They tried to run away, to escape. Jim slammed his hands against the metal table beneath his monitors and didn’t flinch when they rattled. This girl, she didn’t scream, didn’t break things, and she didn’t try to escape. Still in her nightgown, she looked almost like she belonged there. Like she wanted to be there. Jotting quickly, not stopping to think or consider words. She just wrote. Feet pulled up to just behind her buttocks, the young girl sat with her back against the wall and the uncovered pillow buried at the curve between her lower spine and the wall. Her head was bent forward and unaware of the rest of the room.
November 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, Thyberius explains to her the very basics of life in Piatra Invelis.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
I studied the older man in front of me as he tried to explain how life progressed for Vampires, or Sanghremata, as the line was called, and Witches, or the Viragian bloodline, and the mixed bloodlines, like mine, or Termathippians. Blood and regular food are available at any establishment in the city that serves all the covens. The Mines Realm worked together with the Farm and City Realms to construct refrigeration units that preserved the blood taken from animals or criminals to be distributed to the Citizens on a daily or per-order basis. I tried my best to remain coherent while he spoke and tried not to think about the growing hunger rumbling in my torso. “Do Sanghremata hunt?” As I asked the question, energy surged through my limbs, and I thought I could feel my strength growing. An unexpected desire to run and lunge filled me, and all I could think about were all the times Joni had tried to get me to go out and exercise with her. “They can,” Thyberius replied, visibly stunned by the question. “Typically, they do not, because we live amongst humans. We learned quickly it is easier to take our blood pre-drawn. There is a collection agency within the City Realm, which also distributes to every Citizen. For those among us who perform magic rites, blood is collected from some livestock for that alone.”
November 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Jim's POV, on the work site, where he was hired to construct new office buildings that are "homey and welcoming."
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
When Jim got to work, the construction site was busy. Large equipment hummed, hauling scraps of wood and metal from the residential site where they started demo a couple weeks back. All the houses in a one-block radius were being scrapped for the sake of a new office building. More glass and metal to make this city feel less inhabitable. The people who owned the homes were well-compensated and probably living in a new neighborhood at this very moment. Each mother was probably decorating the house, making it a home with baked goods and framed photos of happy family memories.
November 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah's POV, taking her first steps into Piatra Invelis.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“The war began over a hundred years ago.” Evlin took my hand without the slightest provocation. Anger, hurt, and sadness flooded my frontal lobe. “It lasted for decades, and still we are reconstructing and building anew in its wake.” Smooth, mud-colored stone opened up from the cobblestone path behind us, and people began to greet Evlin as we entered the town proper. At first, the people were greeting me as if they knew me, then one child approached me and took my hands. “You look like Mother’s portrait of Queen Ursah. All my love and all my loyalty, Highness,” she said, resting her warm forehead against the backs of my hands. She met my gaze and continued speaking before Evlin could stop her. “You have her kind eyes and strong chin. I thought she died, Lady Grey.” Now the girl turned her attention to Evlin. “Sola Fazekas, you are too bold. Where are your mothers?”
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from KD & Jaz's story -- KD's POV, bit more of her breakfast conversation with Betsy.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
There was no denying that, so KD picked up her dishes, headed to the sink, and scraped the scraps into the cagey disposal, expecting its bloated death-rattle of a voice. She flipped the switch, smirking over her shoulder, and startled at the smooth, churning motor of its chewing. “Yep, yep, you’re lucky. Got that cute maintenance guy out here finally, Saturday, last weekend.” “A Saturday?!” KD chuckled and continued to rinse her plate and the sink. “Uh-huh,” Betsy returned her chuckle, then cleared her throat, “dishwasher’s still out, though. Said he’d be back next weekend with the part.” KD glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Betsy close her eyes in ecstasy as she grabbed the heft of her own breast through her threadbare shirt. She chuckled at the lewd gesture and expected nothing less from her best friend. “Lucky you!” “Let’s hope,” Betsy replied.
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips -- Didn't have "burger," so I searched "food" -- from Survival Instinct -- Rae's POV, breakfast from James on her first day of captivity.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
Just when Rae thought staring at the door hard enough would finally make it melt, a small slat at the bottom of the door opened instead. First, a tied bundle of clothes was sent through. She picked them up, found them unfamiliar, and set them down on the vanity pushing the cheap baubles to the floor with a plastic clatter. Secondly, a tray with wheat toast, scrambled eggs, and sausage links was sent through. Pulling the bench seat from under the vanity, moving the clothes to the end of the bed she slept in, Rae sat down to look at the food. Served on a foam plate with a plastic fork, it left her no hope. It also told her she wasn’t the first he’d taken this way. Before she completed her second bite of toast, she pulled the bench seat over to the spot under the camera. Retrieving the notepad and marker, she removed a sheet, wrote on it, and stood on the bench again to interact with the modified voice. HOW MANY OTHERS? WHERE ARE THEY? “Two, dead” came over the speaker. “Now eat. Made it myself. It’s safe.” Rae looked directly into the camera and produced an expression of cynical doubt.
November 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah Bk. 2 -- Khoda and Criseyde are following an iffy lead on Basalt's last known whereabouts, a bazaar at the border of Iran and Turkey.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“Did we have to come inside?” “I’m sensitive to the sun. Did you forget that?” Criseyde cast a sidelong glance at him. “Why did you insist on coming to the bazaar now, then?” “Basalt is not sensitive to anything, Khoda, so we need to meet him on his plane.” Khoda shook his head as he admired antique weapons laid out at the front of an old shop. “These need cleaning,” he said, using the local dialect humming around them. Criseyde grinned as the old shop owner sent his thumb up in the air without even looking at Khoda. “Maybe keep your opinions to yourself.” “They are treasures, Seyde. If one is trying to sell treasures, why display them at their worst?” “Maybe so someone like you will pay to take them home and baby them appropriately.” Khoda just shook his head again and started to pick up his pace. “What makes you think he will meet with us?”
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Monah's Bk. 1 -- Monah wakes up in Evlin's family home shortly after arriving in Piatra Invelis takes its own unique toll.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
As I woke up to the moonlight pouring through my window, something had its eyes on me. Slowly moving my head, I tried to get a picture of what it might be, but nothing seemed immediately apparent. Clearly, there was nothing in the room with me, but something was watching, seemed to be waiting. I wanted to sit up. I wanted to find my clothes and get out of this itchy, woolen gown; although, the bedclothes around me were soft and light in their comfort. My feet met the cool wooden floor beneath the bed, and I sat back down as quickly as I’d tried to get up. Leaning over toward the headboard, I stretched my hands out until they latched onto the molding of the frame so I could pull myself up against its stability. Every single fiber of my body felt like it weighed a million pounds.
November 9, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by MeliSwenk Editing
wasphole.bsky.social
Found this helpful (it's a whole long thread with examples) for fellow... queryists? Queryers? Querylings?

#amquerying #writersky #writingcommunity

Either way, a great thread!
colelanahan.bsky.social Cole Lanahan @colelanahan.bsky.social · Jul 8
Let’s talk about the one-sentence hook. It's the line that makes someone say, “I need this book in my life.”

It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from KD and Jaz's story -- KD and her friend Betsy have a little convo over breakfast.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
“When is Pete due back?” KD crossed her arms as she leaned against the counter to face her friend. “Three, I think?” Betsy looked up to the right, then shook her head. “Probably earlier. Harold at that stupid market keeps everyone under full-time so he don’t have to give ’em benefits.” KD shook her head and jumped a little at the toaster pinging and popping her slices up. “It’s an epidemic.” “Of Stephen King proportions,” Betsy declared. “It’s the Square’s sheer size that’ll keep it from becoming a dust bowl.” “That and the asylum,” KD added absently.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
Watched Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein tonight, & I was thoroughly impressed! Just beautiful, from lush sets to gorgeous costumes; a stellar cast, & that signature GDT style. 5⭐️
#frankenstein #guillermodeltoro #Netflix #writerslife
November 8, 2025 at 4:22 AM
lousytshirt.bsky.social
#WIPSnips from Survival Instinct -- Jim's POV, talking with Rae doesn't go exactly the way he expected, and he learns that she isn't like the others.
#writesky #writingcommunity #queerwriters
You’re not like the others. Jim wanted to scream it into the microphone, in his own voice, pouring out of his own throat. What was this girl going to do? Did she really believe she could make it out? Her slow movement caught his eye, and she was writing again. It was quick this time, just two words. In fact, it took her longer to regain balance on the bench than it took her to write her response. She spent more time thinking about the two words. SO WHEN?? Partial words from the message on the back could be seen around her new response. She was calm; the look on her face was thoughtful, almost serene. She wasn’t angry or frightened. She wasn’t even scared. Almost insistent, she demanded to know when he was going to take her life, and only because he’d subtly threatened her with it. He’d never even had conversations with the other girls, only to tell them their time was over, they weren’t right. Neither of them could make the perfect bride. “That’s all up to you.” Jim’s modified voice finally moved through the microphone. Tonight, after the sleeping pills kicked in, he’d place a microphone in the room she could speak into. Though she’d probably never hear his voice, Jim definitely wanted to hear hers.
November 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM