Noelle (she/her)
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noellefreds.bsky.social
Noelle (she/her)
@noellefreds.bsky.social
37 followers 54 following 29 posts
Writer, gamer, and lover of high fantasy and epic worldbuilding.

My writing focuses on the themes of memory, identity, community and the quiet force of resilience in the face of hardship.
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noellefreds.bsky.social
Finally back at it, working on my debut novel: Returning!

Never discount the importance of editing, y'all. It's a long and arduous process (I'm basically re-writing part 1 from scratch), but it's 100% worth it.

GL out there fellow writers!

#writersky #amwriting #authorsky #authorlife
October 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
Just as a quick FYI -- I know I haven't posted any other WIP Snips in a few weeks... and it'll still be a few more yet 😅

Real life has been very busy and so I've had to put writing on the backburner for a bit. There will be a "Returning" though, don't worry 😉

#WriteSky #amwriting #writerslife
September 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
janefriedman.com
Writers are often told (by people like me) that a newsletter is an important tool to build their audience. But what do you put in a newsletter if you don’t have a book out yet?

@writerfagan.bsky.social discusses how she surprised herself with ideas & enjoying the task of writing her newsletter.
Writing a Newsletter When Your Book Isn’t Published Yet | Jane Friedman
Even with no book to promote, one author finds that writing a monthly newsletter nourishes her life and craft in surprising ways.
janefriedman.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
12th Aug. - "split"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Wartok experiments with his newly-realized magical abilities!

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
Wartok glances around before kneeling to the ground, being careful to disturb the grain stalks as little as possible. He looks up first to the sky, then digs his fingers into the dirt and concentrates. Divination from the stars, huh…? If this works, I swear to the Gods, he snickers as he recalls Cyana’s lesson from earlier. His brow furrows as he pictures the night sky in his head. He knows the stars practically like the back of his hand from navigating on the seas. He finds a constellation in his mind as he thinks, connecting the bright dots with invisible imaginary lines. Maybe one of those lines could lead him to his destination, just as they always had. A slight throb pulses from the shoulder where his Sigil is etched into. The dry soil turns soft and wet under his fingertips, and he cracks an incredulous smile. Wartok crawls forward slightly on the ground, reaching his hand out just above the dirt. Small tremors pulse through him from his fingertips to his head. He winces but doesn’t stop. Slowly, his fingers curl inwards towards his palm. Wartok’s mind goes blank with clarity for a split second–the energy of a shimmering, silver mass reflects into his mind’s eye. A trail of damp soil snakes out in front of him, twisting and turning to the northwest.
August 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
I might be one of the few writers who actually hates rainy days lol I can't focus and don't get *anything* done

#amwriting #writesky #writerslife
August 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
11th Aug. - "real"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Cyana wakes up, without any memories, in the home of the person who rescued her from a storm...

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
Before the sun even peeks over the horizon, all manner of birds and insects sing joyfully into the cool morning air. Cyana’s eyes slowly flutter open and she rubs her lids and stretches her arms. The clouds have broken, and a gorgeous alien sight greets her: an enormous blue orb hangs in the sky, encircled by a shimmering halo of iridescent clouds as the stars twinkle dimly. The night before, she half-expected to wake up and either be buried in soot or find herself at home… wherever that was, anyway. But she wakes up exactly where she had fallen asleep. Everything still feels like some sort of dream to her, and yet, it is as real as could be. The crisp morning air, the smell of old books, the noises from the creatures outside–they’re all so palpable.
August 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
10th Aug. - "flower"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

A moment of warmth and merriment for the protagonists 🌺💃

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
The mood is too light to pass up the opportunity. Wartok gets up and folds his arms behind his back, clicking his heels noisily against the stone floor as he moves–the way the Aegean sailors dance. He can hardly feel the pain in his leg anymore. It isn’t long before everyone except Blueth and Cyana are moving on the floor, dancing back and forth in rotating pairs. Her inhibitions stilling, Cyana takes another sip of wine and slowly rises to her feet. She’s shy at first, but gradually begins to find her rhythm. Wartok’s eyes shine as he watches her; he’s astounded that Cyana actually seems to be a decent dancer. She moves so light on her toes, twirling in ways he’s never seen before. Cyana reaches out for his hand. Wartok takes it. She takes the lead and he’s happy to follow. In her other hand she twirls the hem of her dress in sweeping patterns that resemble flower petals blowing in the wind.
August 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
9th Aug. - "brush"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Desperate times call for desperate measures for Wartok...

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
He raises his empty hands to indicate surrender. The woman squints at him, studying his features, and then–without breaking eye contact–lowers her knife. She brushes past him in the doorway, whipping him with her tail. As soon as she turns her back, Wartok can feel his Sigil glow hot under his shirt. He sees Zova in his mind’s eye–shivering silently in fear. Anger wells up in his chest–he’s frustrated by his own weakness and powerlessness. But this time, even if his back was against the wall–or, rather, because of it–he can save them. He can protect them. His fingers clench into a fist and the mana takes shape.
August 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
8th Aug. - "update" ... going on vibes, though ✨

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Wartok has a conversation with Count Blueth--a powerful and outspoken reformer in the Kingdom of Asteria.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
August 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
jangoeswriting.bsky.social
It looked like a pixie without wings. A little rough around the edges, sharp teeth. But it wasn’t a pixie, it was a #brownie, and they weren’t nearly as nice and playful.

Still, Rory didn’t want to kill it so tried to walk Kluhm away, but the tiny creature wasn’t alone as others emerged.

#vss365
August 7, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
cjpayling.bsky.social
It's finally here!

#Reader #ReaderSky #ReadingCommunity
#Penstricken

@penstricken.bsky.social
August 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
boy oh boy I love hurricane season revealing potential leaks in my house....... 🫠
August 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
7th Aug. - "frequent"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Cyana begins to learn more about who the King of Asteria *really* is beneath the public facade.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
“Yes, His Majesty was very shy as a child. He found it difficult to speak to others and would frequently doubt himself. In no small part was that due to the fact that the late Queen Siobhan, his sister two years his junior, was blessed with a Sigil where he was not. When it appeared, she was immediately named the previous King’s successor. Under normal circumstances, the oldest child would be allowed to take the throne. His Majesty grew up believing that he was nothing more than a burden to his parents and lived in the shadow of Queen Siobhan. But he began to change–for the better–once he was acquainted with Sir [Blank]. He showed His Majesty companionship in a way he had never experienced before inside the palace. Finally, met with someone he could call an equal, His Majesty began to flourish into the man I know today.” She touches a hand to her mouth. “Of course, both His Majesty and I see very much of Sir [Blank] in you. You share many of his mannerisms, I must say,” Magnus sighs. “And I see some of His Majesty in Sir Wartok. The young man is well-spoken, but quick to put others before himself–even to his own detriment.”
August 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
jangoeswriting.bsky.social
And “The Ballad of Purgatory Ridge” is done. Less than 94k words, but it was a natural ending. Any more & it would have felt like I was padding it out.

As for my ‘afternoon’ WiP from tomorrow? No idea. I’ve ideas, but none have really jumped out. I’ll figure something, or just start writing & hope.
Ships. The kind of ships that the shapes had burrowed into his brain and he could never rid himself of them. Ships he saw in his nightmares. Ships he had flashing, brutal memories about. Ships he wished he would never have to see again, but, somehow, in the darkest corners of his mind, he knew it was only a matter of time. Inevitable. The Enemy. Those were Enemy ships and Dylan just wanted to blow the whole damned System apart at the sight of them. The War had never ended.
August 6, 2025 at 12:36 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
6th Aug. - "compete" ... although I hope "fight" is close enough 😅

From my WIP novel: Returning!

One of our protagonists, Cyana, begins to reflect on what the concept of legacy means to her.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
20th of Five-Month, 647 A.Y. My name is Cyana. I’m twenty-one years old (I think) and I might be the only person alive on Ehelym with the Sigil of the Floralist. It’s a new variant that has never been recorded before called the Biomorph. I’m still learning how to use it, though, and there’s a lot about it that I still don’t understand. My mentor– Cyana swishes her mouth back and forth slightly. She crosses out the word ‘mentor’ and writes a new word in its place. My father taught me all he could before he suddenly passed away around a month and a half ago. He may not have been my father by birth, and, admittedly, our time together was short, but he was the most wonderful man I could have ever hoped to have taken me in and raised me. His name was [Blank]. [Blank] lived a complex life, the likes of which I’m still only just scratching the surface of. He was by no means a perfect man. But he didn’t need to be. He lived and loved, cried and hurt, got into fights and made compromises–just like any other person. And I love him all the more for his imperfections.
August 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
5th Aug. - "boss"

From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖 ✏️

Exploring a derelict mansion, the group finds evidence of necromancy being used within the halls....

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
“What’s wrong?” Siola asks, her voice low. “This ain’t just stale mana,” Akka spits out. “There’s void craft residue all over the floor–we’re looking at necromancy, boss. Hold on, I’m gonna brew us something real quick–we need holy water!” Wartok draws in a sharp breath. Thank the Gods he had the good sense to get help from this lot. He isn’t a stranger to ghosts–hardly a day would go by without someone on the crew telling a ghost story. But he knew better than to assume ghosts were just some folktale told around a fire. Real ghosts lurked in the open waters, waiting to hollow out the entrails of wayward fools and wear them like jewelry. The minutes it takes for Akka to heat up a holy concoction feel like hours in this rickety mansion. Beau sits on the floor in silence, grumbling under his breath. Cyana swears she can feel vibrations through the walls with her feet, and Fern, in particular, seems very uneasy. He keeps touching his left shoulder, as if he’s afraid his Sigil might betray him. Something about the mana in the air keeps itching like coarse wool against his skin.
August 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
4th Aug. - "positive"

From my WIP novel: Returning!📖✏️

A quiet, domestic moment where one of the protagonists is confronted with a new angle of what losing the memories of your past means.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
“Tell you what, Cyana, I’ll go ahead and help Zova out,” Wartok offers, seeing the joy on her face watching the child run around. In truth, though, he really wants to get as much information as he can as soon as possible. “Are you sure?” she asks tentatively. “Positive. You ladies take a load off and we’ll have food on the table in no time!” He puts two fingers up as he turns around to locate Zova. “Well, Cyana,” Lily says as she carefully sits down on a cushioned bench, “to what do we owe the pleasure?” “I, um…” she pauses and considers making up an excuse, but decides against it. “Well, Wartok had something he wanted to talk about with your spouse. Regarding their previous employment. They didn’t want to talk about it in the street, so….” “Ah, I see. You’re trying to help the Count, aren’t you?” “Well… if we can. Truthfully, I’m not sure what happened between them and Selanno,” she admits. “But, we’re here to try and set things right in any way we can!” Lily laughs, but quickly runs out of breath. “Are you alright?” Cyana asks, worried. “Oh, please, don’t worry about me!” Lily waves her hand. “The baby’s just about ready to come out. You lose your breath easily when you’re ready to burst like this! I take it you haven’t got any children?” Cyana shakes her head. Lily smiles and beckons her over. She takes Cyana’s hand and places it on her stomach. To Cyana’s surprise, it feels like something inside Lily’s belly is moving. “Feel that? That’s the baby kicking,” she strokes her stomach lovingly. “Sometimes I swear I can hear them trying to babble.” Something between awe, longing, and endearment rushes through Cyana’s chest. She finds it difficult to suppress the tears welling up behind her eyes. Are they tears of joy or grief? No… they’re both.
August 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
havetsavain.bsky.social
Day 1:

Hiya! I'm Kim!🌻

I am the co-author to a fantasy series, Havetsavain!

I love sunrises, sunflowers and karaoking!

We are hoping to start streaming again to showcase our book characters! (Voice acting is included 😆)

As always! Have it so fine at Havetsavain!

#booksky #FantasyIndiesAugust
August 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
purrinink.bsky.social
Sound on 😽🤍
August 3, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
shamerli.bsky.social
D&D adoption for Rukov!
August 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖✏️

Can't think of a better trend than history repeating itself, even in a fantasy world 🔁

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
“Complicated?” Wartok interjects. “History is just facts. Compared to all the magical theory mumbo-jumbo he dealt with, that sounds like nothing.” “Is that what you think?” A wry, pained smile forms on Padraigh’s lips. “I’m afraid you’re sorely mistaken; history is naught but a fairy tale fashioned up in the threads of truth. The likes of magical theory are far more objective and constant compared to the biased recordings of people. “Who writes history, Wartok? Those who wield power. And they write it in a way that allows them to preserve their power. Over time, history becomes ‘fact’ only because there is nothing left remaining to prove otherwise. When I told you earlier today that, as King, I have forfeited the opportunity to be ‘good’ or ‘right,’ this is in part what I meant; I am a biased arbiter who decides what history is passed down and what is left in the darkness. My shortcomings are not lost on me. Come, follow me.” The clacking sound of his boots reverberates sharply against the sanctum walls.
August 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
From my WIP novel: Returning! 📖✏️

The line between history and legend is often fainter than it seems!

(Inspiration drawn from real-world Polynesian sea swell maps)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
There exists in Aegean orature a rare, and disputed, legend passed down among seafarers–told only by those families who engage in the profession of dioramic cartography: the act of mapmaking by crafting a network of salt-resistant fibers that uses ocean currents as reference points. In these legends, the sailors tell of a time, possibly six or seven centuries prior to current date, of people fleeing, via sea, a grand citadel besieged by an army crafted and animated from the flesh and bones of fallen warriors. Those who fled the city, they say, are the true ancestors of Ehelym; bringing with them knowledge, language, and magic. One variant I have heard gave this ancient place a name: Agnalocia–however, the elder who recounted it for me insisted on Agnalocia being not a singular civilized dwelling, but a larger landmass altogether. No dioramic cartographers I spoke with, however, had recorded any disturbances or inconsistencies in the oceanic swell to indicate the existence of a separate continent. I would have concluded my research there and filed this project away as an Aegean origin myth had I not shared my experiences with one Miss Suyeon Lei of the Rift Corps division of our fair Academy. Miss Lei confided in me that she and her team had observed strange measurements in residual signatures that seemed to indicate that the mana particular to rift craft seemed to be decelerating at a rate that defied known mathematical models. Given time and distance, she seemed rather interested in the possibility that the existence of another body of land might be responsible for this observed anomaly. However, because rift magic is now more unstable and dangerous to use than it once was centuries in the past, practical investigations involving distances greater than around one hundred kilometers are completely out of the question in the interest of safety.
August 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
ctoddstoll.bsky.social
Grey Filter

Todd Stoll ©
August 2nd, 2025
Realme phone camera

#Photography
August 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Noelle (she/her)
unenthusiast.com
live action catbus looking pretty sweet
orange cat lying on floor with square lights reflected on his flank that resembles lit windows
August 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
noellefreds.bsky.social
Definitely a slightly loose interpretation of the prompt... hopefully that's okay 😅 From my WIP novel: Returning.

A mysterious man is the victim of sabotage...

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #Writers #writerslife #writersofbluesky #Fantasy
“One day, when [Blank] was working, somehow, the reagents he was using backfired. There was an explosion. It shouldn’t have happened–[Blank] wouldn’t have made such a basic mistake!–I just knew it had to have been sabotage. But I had no evidence to levy a formal accusation: it all went up in smoke that day. He was barely clinging onto life when I rushed to see him in the infirmary–” Padraigh's shaky hand covers his face as he composes himself. He breathes in deeply before continuing. “I immediately went to confront the person who I thought responsible: Professor Tanuk Quenari. They were the next most likely to garner the votes necessary to become Elder and an outspoken traditionalist opponent of [Blank]'s. I still remember the way they spoke to me. ‘Your Highness, whatever can you mean? There is simply no possibility for me to have ever interfered with Dean [Blank]’s research. Please, I invite you to investigate me. You will find that I am innocent, I guarantee you.’
August 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM