Rico Shackelford ✍🏼✨
@r-shackelford.bsky.social
YA fantasy author | vampires, witches & hidden worlds
Dark whimsy • haunted towns • folklore magic
Trying to survive my road to publication 🪦🥀🐈⬛🔮✨
Dark whimsy • haunted towns • folklore magic
Trying to survive my road to publication 🪦🥀🐈⬛🔮✨
First full manuscript rejection and I’m surprisingly okay. #writingcommunity #querytrenches
a woman in a plaid shirt is crying in front of a cardboard box that says ' fragile ' on it
ALT: a woman in a plaid shirt is crying in front of a cardboard box that says ' fragile ' on it
media.tenor.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:23 PM
First full manuscript rejection and I’m surprisingly okay. #writingcommunity #querytrenches
Live look at me hawking my inbox. Was proud of myself for taking so many query rejections in stride, but… waiting to hear back on the full manuscripts that went out has got me a little feral 😅 Send good vibes 🙏🏼 #writingcommunity #amwriting #amquerying #query
a stuffed fox holding a can of skinny pop
ALT: a stuffed fox holding a can of skinny pop
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Live look at me hawking my inbox. Was proud of myself for taking so many query rejections in stride, but… waiting to hear back on the full manuscripts that went out has got me a little feral 😅 Send good vibes 🙏🏼 #writingcommunity #amwriting #amquerying #query
When your MC is a little too much like you #writing
a woman with vampire teeth is holding a doll in her hands
ALT: a woman with vampire teeth is holding a doll in her hands
media.tenor.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:03 PM
When your MC is a little too much like you #writing
Today I spent most the day researching poisonous plants just to write five sentences about a deadly garden. Killed a gnome. Channeled some serious 80’s fantasy vibes. Discovered that one of my characters is a mermaid. And thought about (but didn’t) do laundry. Never a dull moment as a #writer 🥀🧜🏻♀️🗡️🧦
January 17, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Today I spent most the day researching poisonous plants just to write five sentences about a deadly garden. Killed a gnome. Channeled some serious 80’s fantasy vibes. Discovered that one of my characters is a mermaid. And thought about (but didn’t) do laundry. Never a dull moment as a #writer 🥀🧜🏻♀️🗡️🧦
👏🏼
Bandcamp has banned AI music.
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
Bandcamp Bans AI Music
AI music has become a big problem on streaming services. Remember the AI-generated psych-rock band the Velvet Sundown and the AI-generated metalcore band Broken Avenue racking up streams on Spotify? R...
stereogum.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:55 PM
👏🏼
Hit 10k words on my new WIP. I thought after finishing & editing my first novel I would be able to dive straight into this new project, but it’s taking me a while to shake off the characters I spent so much time with. Happy to say I’m finding my flow again with this new cast. #writingcommunity
September 27, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Hit 10k words on my new WIP. I thought after finishing & editing my first novel I would be able to dive straight into this new project, but it’s taking me a while to shake off the characters I spent so much time with. Happy to say I’m finding my flow again with this new cast. #writingcommunity
4th (and final!) round of edits on my debut novel. Then the dreaded query letter… and finding agents into goth-adjacent, irreverent YA fantasy with vampires, witches, small towns drenched in folklore—and a protagonist who refuses to stay dead. 🥀 #amediting #writingcommunity
June 30, 2025 at 4:06 AM
4th (and final!) round of edits on my debut novel. Then the dreaded query letter… and finding agents into goth-adjacent, irreverent YA fantasy with vampires, witches, small towns drenched in folklore—and a protagonist who refuses to stay dead. 🥀 #amediting #writingcommunity
Released my first #lofibeat ! When writing my first book (officially on the 2nd round of editing) lofi playlists helped me focus. Paying it forward by creating my own. Hope you enjoy & I'd appreciate making it onto your writing/study playlists
open.spotify.com/track/1PpBkz...
#lofimusic #newmusic
open.spotify.com/track/1PpBkz...
#lofimusic #newmusic
March 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Released my first #lofibeat ! When writing my first book (officially on the 2nd round of editing) lofi playlists helped me focus. Paying it forward by creating my own. Hope you enjoy & I'd appreciate making it onto your writing/study playlists
open.spotify.com/track/1PpBkz...
#lofimusic #newmusic
open.spotify.com/track/1PpBkz...
#lofimusic #newmusic
When I write I listen to lofi. Spent a year+ listening to it everyday as I worked on my novel, so naturally I’m now starting to record some beats of my own. It’s kind of a full circle moment, as I started my music journey in high school making loops in GarageBand before getting into bands. #diymusic
January 31, 2025 at 3:13 AM
When I write I listen to lofi. Spent a year+ listening to it everyday as I worked on my novel, so naturally I’m now starting to record some beats of my own. It’s kind of a full circle moment, as I started my music journey in high school making loops in GarageBand before getting into bands. #diymusic
📖✍🏼 When I first started writing, I dreaded getting to editing because I kept hearing how horrible it was. But now that I’m there with my first novel, I’m having the most fun. There’s just something so satisfying about it all! #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #editing
January 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
📖✍🏼 When I first started writing, I dreaded getting to editing because I kept hearing how horrible it was. But now that I’m there with my first novel, I’m having the most fun. There’s just something so satisfying about it all! #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #editing
Editing begins because I finished my first draft! Aiming to shave off 30k words🔪😅 Wish me luck! #writingcommunity #writing #editing #amwriting
January 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Editing begins because I finished my first draft! Aiming to shave off 30k words🔪😅 Wish me luck! #writingcommunity #writing #editing #amwriting
Writer friends—what are your writing goals for the year? I’m ONE chapter away from being done with the first draft of my first novel, and plan to spend 2025 editing + querying. Going to start on a second novel (a much shorter one this time! 🤣🫣) #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #fantasywriter
January 1, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Writer friends—what are your writing goals for the year? I’m ONE chapter away from being done with the first draft of my first novel, and plan to spend 2025 editing + querying. Going to start on a second novel (a much shorter one this time! 🤣🫣) #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #fantasywriter
Writers! Come join the Writer's Block on Discord. It's been a pretty chill and supportive group so far. Here's your invite! discord.gg/Gs9h4MxuPJ #writers #writingcommunity #amwriting #writingdiscord
Join the Writer’s Block Discord Server!
Check out the Writer’s Block community on Discord - hang out with 24 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
discord.gg
December 15, 2024 at 6:20 PM
Writers! Come join the Writer's Block on Discord. It's been a pretty chill and supportive group so far. Here's your invite! discord.gg/Gs9h4MxuPJ #writers #writingcommunity #amwriting #writingdiscord
Any writer's using Discord? New to it and looking for some writing channels #writingcommunity #writing #discord #amwriting
December 12, 2024 at 1:44 AM
Any writer's using Discord? New to it and looking for some writing channels #writingcommunity #writing #discord #amwriting
When I write, I have playlists of dark ambient synth music and lo-fi beats playing in the background. They help me focus and set the mood. Judging by this year’s recap, I wrote a lot. Honestly, I couldn’t have named a single artist on this list without it 😆 #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity
December 4, 2024 at 6:18 PM
When I write, I have playlists of dark ambient synth music and lo-fi beats playing in the background. They help me focus and set the mood. Judging by this year’s recap, I wrote a lot. Honestly, I couldn’t have named a single artist on this list without it 😆 #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity
Sit with it. Even when you want to run away from your writing. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working on this first novel, it’s that we can do the hard things. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writersky
November 30, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Sit with it. Even when you want to run away from your writing. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working on this first novel, it’s that we can do the hard things. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writersky
November 28, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Rico Shackelford ✍🏼✨
Friendly reminder that I created 5 #writers Starter Packs for anyone looking for the #WritingCommunity!
go.bsky.app/NdWXHvd
go.bsky.app/H2VaLPo
go.bsky.app/6QVvmGj
go.bsky.app/Et5jCbt
go.bsky.app/K42DnMC
go.bsky.app/NdWXHvd
go.bsky.app/H2VaLPo
go.bsky.app/6QVvmGj
go.bsky.app/Et5jCbt
go.bsky.app/K42DnMC
November 27, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Friendly reminder that I created 5 #writers Starter Packs for anyone looking for the #WritingCommunity!
go.bsky.app/NdWXHvd
go.bsky.app/H2VaLPo
go.bsky.app/6QVvmGj
go.bsky.app/Et5jCbt
go.bsky.app/K42DnMC
go.bsky.app/NdWXHvd
go.bsky.app/H2VaLPo
go.bsky.app/6QVvmGj
go.bsky.app/Et5jCbt
go.bsky.app/K42DnMC
Deadlines vs. daydreams. Is there any worse feeling than wanting to write but being buried in work? My characters are tapping on my shoulder, begging for attention, while project deadlines lurk beneath my desk, ready to pull me under and devour me 😳 #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #writing
November 27, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Deadlines vs. daydreams. Is there any worse feeling than wanting to write but being buried in work? My characters are tapping on my shoulder, begging for attention, while project deadlines lurk beneath my desk, ready to pull me under and devour me 😳 #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting #writing
November 23, 2024 at 3:40 AM
I’m *only* three-ish chapters away from being done with my first novel 😊😭✨ #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #yafanstasy
snow white is in a cell with bars on the wall
Alt: snow white is in a padded cell with bars on the wall
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2024 at 5:42 PM
I’m *only* three-ish chapters away from being done with my first novel 😊😭✨ #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #yafanstasy
I’m doing that terrible thing of rereading the chapters I’ve written instead of writing new ones today. #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting
a man with a mustache is sitting at a table and says `` i regret nothing , the end . ''
Alt: a man with a mustache is sitting at a table and says `` i regret nothing , the end . ''
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:34 PM
I’m doing that terrible thing of rereading the chapters I’ve written instead of writing new ones today. #writingcommunity #writer #amwriting
Where my YA fantasy authors at? I need more vampires, witches, and trolls in my feed. Say hello and make yourselves known! 🧌🔮✨ #writingcommunity #fantasy #fantasywriter #writing #yafantasy
a woman in a black dress is sitting in a chair and says `` i 'm not a total monster . ''
Alt: a vampire woman in a black dress is sitting in a chair and says `` i 'm not a total monster . ''
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2024 at 12:26 AM
Where my YA fantasy authors at? I need more vampires, witches, and trolls in my feed. Say hello and make yourselves known! 🧌🔮✨ #writingcommunity #fantasy #fantasywriter #writing #yafantasy
Officially cringeless
November 18, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Officially cringeless
I see @markhamillofficial.bsky.social has joined the resistance! Welcome to BlueSky(walker)
Still one of my favorite illustrations I’ve done. Can’t go wrong with Pilot Luke #illustration #art #starwars #skywalker
Still one of my favorite illustrations I’ve done. Can’t go wrong with Pilot Luke #illustration #art #starwars #skywalker
November 18, 2024 at 7:58 PM
I see @markhamillofficial.bsky.social has joined the resistance! Welcome to BlueSky(walker)
Still one of my favorite illustrations I’ve done. Can’t go wrong with Pilot Luke #illustration #art #starwars #skywalker
Still one of my favorite illustrations I’ve done. Can’t go wrong with Pilot Luke #illustration #art #starwars #skywalker