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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 3h

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Day 9

Very loosely ranked.

Is it a bit cheesy now? Probably.

Does the fact my kids will sing along in the car qualify it for a place in my favourite 80s songs? Definitely!

👨‍🎤 Bon Jovi
🎵 Livin' On A Prayer (1986)
💿 Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

YouTube video by BonJoviVEVO

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 16h

Ray Davies (of The Kinks)

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 18h

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 8

Most of my books have an entire soundtrack/playlist, but not usually a specific song for a character.

The theme song for my next WIP, and for its protagonists as a collective, is Mis-Shapes by Pulp.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #AuthorChat #BookSky

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 22h

My current WIP has no dungeon, but it does have a character Rapunzeled away in a tower...
#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorChat

'I'm here Charlie,' he said. 'Where are you?'

'It's Charlotte,' she said pointedly. 'I don't know, I think it's an attic of some sort, or a junk room... You'd love it.'

'Where is it?' Phil repeated. 'Can you see anything outside?'

'If I stand on a table I might just be able to see out of the window...'

Charlie went quiet, but Phil could hear faint shuffling noises, as of a table being moved, then a sudden startled scream, and a naughty word he didn't know Charlie knew.

'Charlie?'

'It's dark,' she growled.

'Ah,' Phil said sheepishly.

'And I think there's some kind of creature in here somewhere,' Charlie added. 'Or possibly a triffid. So you know, any help you can offer will be gratefully received.'

'I'm coming,' Phil took a second to get his bearings again, and set off in the direction of the Landmark. 'Don't go anywhere - I will find you.'

'I'm locked in an attic, Dad.'

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like I should point out here that the existence in my writing of a cute lady mechanic who owns a classic Mini Clubman is in no way related to this poster existing when I was 14.

Probably.

Charlene from Neighbours (Kylie Minogue) sits on the bonnet of her green Mini, in mechanic's overalls, holding a spanner and what looks like an important piece of the engine.

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 1d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Day 8

When this came out I was trying to look cool, pretending to like real bands like The Cure and whatever Paul Weller was in that week.

Now I know better of course, and enjoy a guity pleasure for it's own sake.

👩🏻‍🎤 Kylie Minogue
🎵 I Should Be So Lucky (1987)
💿 Kylie

Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky - Official Video

YouTube video by PWL

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 1d

Today on #WIPSnips, Magic Knight Phil Grundy is overwhelmed at Joust, and turns to some improbable Easter eggs for help.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky #AuthorChat #GameLit

'Now what?' he said, adjusting his posture as Sir Galahad took to the skies again.

'Recite the incantation.'

'What incantation?'

'Abracazobadee.'

Phil gave an incredulous look at no-one in particular. 'What?'

'No,' Sam said patiently, 'abracazobadee.'

'Oh what the heck,' Phil muttered to himself as he turned the car at the end of the jousting field. 'You're a Magic Knight. Time to do some magic.'

And so, waving his lance in what he felt certain was a Hermionesque style, he triumphantly called out the magic word:

'Abracazobadee!'

A bolt of special effects magic streaked improbably from the tip of his lance and surrounded the goblet. A generous measure of mead jumped out and took refuge under the barrier, and as Phil looked on from a safe distance, the goblet slowly filled with something a lot more viscous and substantial.

'Phase one is a success,' he said quietly.

'Phase one?' Sam repeated.

'We have rice pudding,' Phil scanned the skies eagerly. 'Now we just need to see the bird take the bait.'

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 1d

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 7

Editing something I wrote in a Nanowrimo-style word vomit, or was just pantsing and took a wild direction change in the middle. Fun to write, but an absolute nightmare to turn into something usable...

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorChat

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 2d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 07 📚

Okay, so yesterday we did our fav part of the process, now tell us what you wish you didn't have to do...

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 07 What's your fav part of the writing process?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Day 7

Probably not the best Cure song; probably not even my favourite, but for me it was the gateway, that first glimpse into the weird world of Robert Smith.

Also there's a bloke playing a comb inside a wardrobe.

👨‍🎤 The Cure
🎵 Close To Me (1985)
💿 The Head On The Door

The Cure - Close To Me

YouTube video by TheCureVEVO

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

It's been a while since I did the full 50k but I have ended up with some semi-usable first drafts that way.

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

I love a good playlist!

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

Good luck! I will probably follow the NaNoWriMo tradition of failing to write 50k in 30 days...

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

Same! What's the challenge? I'm plotting a new WIP at the moment and ready to dive in as soon as the timeline etc makes sense.

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 2d

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 6

Obviously drafting is the fun part - telling yourself the story as Sir Pterry once said - although as some of my writing is in the #GameLit genre I must admit there's some fun to be had in researching...

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorChat

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 3d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 06 📚

There are always parts of a job we love more than others. What's your fav part of the process?

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 06 What's your favourite part of the writing process - drafting, editing, or researching?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 3d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Very loosely ranked.

Day 6

Paul Weller's most underrated incarnation was actually responsible for some decent 80s pop. I've chosen this one mainly as it was first I remember hearing.

👨‍🎤 The Style Council
🎵 Walls Come Tumbling Down (1985)
💿 Our Favourite Shop

The Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down!

YouTube video by TheStyleCouncilVEVO

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 3d

Today on #WIPSnips, Magic Knight Phil Grundy explores Romford Castle.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity

As he clanked uncomfortably through the castle's corridors, he found himself passing a colourfully painted door, upon which the words "King's Fun Room" were carved in large, friendly letters.

Phil was struck with the kind of insatiable curiosity that he hadn't felt since the first time he crossed the Cold Store in Jet Set Willy; just what kind of 'fun' would require a room of its own, he wondered? Would it be a euphemism for 'chamber of inexpressible horrors', or a dartboard and a pool table? A place for knights to arm-wrestle over a flagon of ale, or a soft play area filled with inflatable dragons?

At a push, the door opened, and the unmistakable whine of an 8-bit game loading filled the air. Or maybe the hinges really needed WD40 to get invented.

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 3d

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 5

Well honestly, who doesn't want to be friends with a sentient ZX81?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorChat

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 4d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Very loosely ranked.

Day 5

I was going to put a cheeky U2 joke in this space but it was a bit close to the Edge.

👨‍🎤 U2
🎵 The Unforgettable Fire (1985)
💿 The Unforgettable Fire

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by U2VEVO

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 4

Gary the Hi-vis Ninja. As the action hero of The Ambivalence Chronicles he's pretty much the least like me there is.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #AuthorSky

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 5d

#90sTop30 is going to be fun... this was when my singles collection graduated to 12" and my taste in music left the mainstream as a dot on the horizon.

James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 13d

#90sTop30 Starts 1st November.

Select your thirty favourite songs released in the 90s and post one song per day throughout November.

If you suffer from omissions guilt, you can post any songs that didn’t make your thirty (but you wanted to include in some way) throughout the month of October.

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 5d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Day 4

Is it even the 80s if there's not at least one ridiculous but catchy novelty tune in the Top 30?
Some niche references for non-Brits, but you'll know who John Kettley is...

👨‍🎤 A Tribe of Toffs
🎵 John Kettley (Is A Weatherman) (1988)
💿 For Fruitbats Pleasures Only

A Tribe Of Toffs, John Kettley (Is A Weatherman)

YouTube video by rocky storm

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 5d

Another one that almost made my #80sTop30

Jolanda @bsrjs.bsky.social · 5d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

4|Falco - Rock me Amadeus

youtu.be/cVikZ8Oe_XA?...

Falco - Rock Me Amadeus (Official Video)

YouTube video by FalcoVEVO

youtu.be

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 5d

#WritingLifeMonthly Day 3

It's where the magic happens, and also a convenient dumping ground for spare shampoo and Calpol. Also shown, a selection of writing books and my collection of 8 bit word processing software.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky #AuthorChat #writingdesk

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Steve Trower @sptroweresq.bsky.social · 6d

#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge

Very loosely ranked.

Day 3

In 1986 women won the right to rap, and within a couple of years the likes of Neneh Cherry, Wee Papa Girl Rappers and Salt N Pepa were showing the boys how it's done.

👩🏾‍🎤 Salt N Pepa
🎵 Get Up Everybody (Get Up) (1988)
💿 A Salt With a Deadly Pepa

Salt 'N' Pepa - Get Up Everybody (Get Up)1988

YouTube video by Morgan Fako

youtu.be

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Reposted by Steve Trower

Gareth L. Powell @garethlpowell.bsky.social · 6d

Remember, chasing your dreams is a radical act. Writing books and making art are expressions of optimism and faith in human nature. Conceiving of better worlds makes them possible.

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