Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 12h

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #dungeon. I went with #prison. The resident school mean girl (who is also transphobic) accuses Cainen of a crime he may or may not have committed. Weird unexplainable things are happening.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #transmasc #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #deadname

"I don't know what you're doing,
Clementine, but I know it's your fault. Next time, instead of attacking my friends, just come for me yourself. You wanna be a real man? Fine. Then fight me like one."
"That's not my name."
Eva laughs.
"I don't care. They'll still put you in a
women's prison."
"They'll put you in the women's psych ward
long before I go to prison. You're delusional.

The last quotation mark is omitted because I cut off the end of the dialogue (too spoilery)

1 11

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

thesassybirdie.bsky.social @thesassybirdie.bsky.social · 1d

I get so tired of every character in every fiction book being some kind of ideal beauty. I see this in even the best written fiction. I want imperfect characters please! More Eleanor Oliphants please!!! These perfect characters are so unrelatable.

6 2 25

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 1d

Your monthly reminder:

Keep writing. When no one cares, persist. When things appear to be crumbling, keep at it. When it's difficult, push through. When you feel alone, listen to the stories in your blood. Just write. The world needs your stories.

6 64 210

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 1d

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #safe. A lot of options for it, but I went with this snippet from the end of part two.

#wip #writing #horror #ya #notaromance #queer #trans #writesky #supernatural #novel

White text on a black background.

"Get some rest," Red whispers. "T'll be
here."
"Don't let me..."
I can't finish. I'm not sure how to finish.
The message is clear. I hope.
He kisses the back of my head. I can feel the
energy draining out of me like the color being bleached out of a building by the sun. I'm a crumbling ruin, a victim of centuries of exposure to the elements all occurring in the blink of an eye.
Everything falling down all at once.
"I won't. It's okay. You're safe."
And I, like the idiot I am, believe him.

3 14

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 2d

that bizarre feeling halfway between elation and depression that comes with finishing a story

2 3 110

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 2d

There are many lol. I could make just about anyone a main character. The easiest would be Annabelle/Nicole or another character that I won’t name for spoiler reasons. Either one of them could be a main character.
I’ve also written a novella from Andee’s point of view, so he’s a good option, too.

1 1

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 2d

PSA:

If reading wasn’t political, they wouldn’t be banning books.

1 200 700

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 2d

The #WIPsnips word for today is #miss. Cainen is dwelling on his dead parents again.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #grief #ya #horror #fiction #nightmares #writesky #mentalillness

White text on a black background.

"Spare me the lecture, Wright. You're not
my dad."
"No, I'm you. Therefore I have a vested
interest in your continued survival."
I'm thinking about my parents again. Stupid.
One dumb little snipe at Wright and now I'm ruminating again.
It's funny, I almost miss the nightmares. It was a part of them still here, even if it was a rotting, distorted piece. It was better than nothing. The shame, the regret, the guilt. Better than nothing.
The empty void the nightmares left behind feels almost worse.

1 1 11

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 3d

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #store. Cainen reminisces on past memories and opportunities lost.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #grief #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #mentalillness

White text on a black background.

I force myself to finish the food. It's not
terrible today. Or, at the very least, it's not completely inedible. I'd never admit it aloud, but the mixed vegetables were actually kind of good. It reminds me of when my parents would do movie nights. The rule was that I had to eat my serving of mixed veggies, and then I could eat my dinosaur chicken nuggets on the floor while the movie played. I wasn't allowed to sit on the couch with them. I was too much of a messy eater, and the couch was real leather. I'm pretty sure they had me sitting on plastic whenever I sat on it until I was, like, thirteen.
Lot of good that does now. I bet whoever sold the couch afterwards made a good chunk of money. Should've stained the couch when I had the chance. Now it's gone. Not our couch anymore.
Now it's some other suburban family's prized possession, or it's gathering dust in some used furniture store.

1 11

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 3d

I have read bad books. I have read bad series. I have read bad books that I enjoyed as a kid but wouldn’t enjoy today. I have watched bad movies. I have never felt like I’ve “wasted” my time on reading a book or watching a movie. Sometimes you gotta… just do it if you want, or don’t if you don’t.

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 4d

And yes, as you’d expect, this dynamic ends badly for all three of them lol.

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 4d

Cainen: I don’t know. I like women. And also Red. And maybe this other guy. I’m a guy sort of I guess.

Andee: I am a trans man who likes men. Also I will fight you if you insinuate otherwise.

Red: I’m a straight man. Uh. Except for Cainen though. (Sure buddy, keep telling yourself that…)

lady protector | 7.3 spoilers @bluberryffxiv.bsky.social · 7d

late night #wolqotd inspired by a tumblr post:
how would your oc describe their sexuality and/or gender? like if they had to tell another person how would they go about it

1

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 4d

This is terrifying to me lol. I can’t smell. The idea that I wouldn’t be able to pick up on someone’s emotions, or that other people would somehow be able to tell how I was feeling just like scent… spooky. Very cool, though!

1 1

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 4d

This is such a cool idea! I’ve always liked the idea of gods having power proportional to the humans that believe in them (thanks Rick Riordan lol) (As a side note, I also love urban fantasy lol).

1

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

Carly Goodman @carlygoodman.bsky.social · 4d

I don’t think we can ever forgive the people who turned every sphere of human expression, art, news, analysis, literature, communication into content whose value is only that it can be counted and tracked

6 49 280

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 4d

Today’s #WIPsnips is #hunt. A long one today. I went with “hunters” instead. Cainen learns about Wright’s superpowers while hiding from his (bad) therapist. They’re still mostly unaware of Wright and the extent of his abilities.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #writesky #mentalillness

White text on a black background. The word hunters is highlighted in green.
Context: Cainen is telepathically talking to the voice in his head. His lines are italicized in the style of thoughts. The mental voice is formatted like normal dialogue.

I still gotta ask you—
"Later, buddy. First I need you to get in a corner and stand very still. Oh, and unlock the stall door."
Are you crazy?
"Are you?"
Touche.
I unlock the stall door and stand in the corner nearest to the door. Worst case scenario, maybe I can make a run for it.
"Perfect," Mystery Voice says. "Now don't
move and shut the fuck up."
What're you gonna do?
"I said shut up," he says, just as the door opens and nearly flattens me against the wall where I'm hiding.
"What're you doing?" Red asks. I don't respond. He's not worried about being heard, but I am. I'm watching the uniformed officer with his hand on a baton as the door automatically swings shut. I am, for all intents and purposes, what hunters would call a sitting duck.
"Hello, anyone in here? Kid, your mom's out there. Worried about you. Come on out, make things easy for all of us, yeah?"
She's not my mom. But I can't exactly tell
him that.
"Shut... up," Mystery Voice says. If he had teeth, he'd be gritting them, I'm sure. He sounds like he's constipated. "I... heard... that…."
Oops. My bad.
The officer slams the bathroom stall door
open with more force than necessary. He finds nothing.
Whatever M.V. is doing, it works.
He gives one last look around the bathroom— I could swear he makes eye contact with me— sighs, and leaves. I don't envy the conversation he's no doubt about to have with my aunt— What do you mean he's not in there, where else could he be?

1 11

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

This is definitely true in a literary sense. And both of them are really hard to write 😂😂

1

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

PEN America @penamerica.bsky.social · 5d

"I became a writer because, as a Houston high school teacher, I wanted my students to find books with characters they could relate to" writes Ashley Hope Pérez in the @houstonchronicle.com, "people looking to create vibrant lives in difficult circumstances." www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...

First Texas schools banned my book. Now it's 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

The problem isn't just the new state law. It's how some school leaders are reacting to it.

www.houstonchronicle.com

6 18

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

My current WIP is definitely inspired by Dead House by @dawnkurtagich.bsky.social. It remains the only book I’ve ever checked out from the library multiple times, because I loved it so much as a teen that I *had* to read it again. Still have a copy. Changed my brain chemistry for sure, lol.

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 6d

#PlotTober Day 3: Inspirations from other media

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

3. Did other existing media inspire your ideas for your WIP? For example, any recent shows/movies you watched, books you read, games you played, or music you listened to?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

7

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

Fic is absolutely real writing with quality just as good or better than published writing. However… writing a fic is a different skill from writing a novel. Neither is better or worse than the other, just different. For example, writing a horror is different from writing a historical fiction.

1

Reposted by A.C. Wolfe

carl 🎃 @constantheadaches.bsky.social · 5d

people online have been talking about writing things down and documenting everything and honestly real watch me come out with a book about everything going on rn

1 20

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

I also have too many ideas. Unfortunately I am only allowed to rewrite one single idea every two years. Like clockwork. I’ve “finished” it three times, working on a fourth. Maybe this time I will finally publish it and be free from the cycle…

1

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

Cainen can’t stand up for himself (if he could, the story would be a lot shorter).
Andee can’t succeed (he sets lofty/impossible goals).
Red can’t exist (he isn’t real).
And I can’t write characters without trauma/mental illness… lol.

1 1

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

Currently writing a psychological horror (ish). But one thing I’d like to do someday is a more classic horror story setting, supernatural elements, lots of ghosts and stuff. My current WIP is supernatural in a different way, and it’s fun, but sometimes you just want a good old haunted house story.

Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @cometkins.bsky.social · 5d

Tell me about the horror you’ve written! Or if you haven’t yet, something you’d like to tackle. #WritingPrompt

5

A.C. Wolfe @whitewolfe32.bsky.social · 5d

Posting a little early today as it’ll be a busy day for me, but here is today’s #WIPsnips. The word is #hibernate, I went with #asleep. Cainen is tired (more so than usual).

#wip #writing #fiction #ya #queer #trans #mentalillness #horror

White text on a black background.

It hurts more now that Wright has free reign.
Side effect of my heightened senses. But it also feels better, too. Two sides of the same coin.
Everything is worse, and everything is better at the same time.
I'm tired.
That's gotten worse, too. I'm exhausted all the time. Just existing takes up far too much of my energy. I'm almost falling asleep at the same time as Andee these days.
No nightmares, though. So maybe it is worth it. Maybe I don't care what Andee says.
Maybe him and Nicole will keep bickering like scorned children and it won't escalate. Maybe no one else has to get hurt.
Except you don't really believe that, do you?
No, Brain. I don't. Not even a little bit.

1 13