Fast food for thought. New worlds, cool cats, and fresh ideas—follow Inkican for fun sci-fi stories and friendly vibes. Change the world by changing yourself- one story at a time.
Friends!
Today, I present to you the cover of Convergence of Connection!
Isn’t it stunning? 🤩 🥰
Check out my latest blog post for an in-depth look at what’s on the cover, and to read the blurb. (NOTE: The blurb talks about what happens in book three; naturally, that means there are spoilers for books one and two.)
Blog post: https://sarahjhoodlet.com/blog/cover-reveal-convergence-of-connection/
#CoverReveal #Books #ComingSoon #Fantasy #RomanticFantasy #Readers #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #Author
Introduction to R.S., Author, Novelist Updated 03/22/25
First, a few words:
"One thing you learn from watching TV, movies, anime, and reading best sellers, to pulp, to fanfic: No story is perfect. There's always hopeful contrivance and caricature in plot or character, a little or a lot... but it works. We like it. It gets bought, published, produced, noticed, sometimes loved despite the warts.
"Authors and playwrights of all levels... take heart. Complete your project and go on to the next. Complete is the superpower you can have, perfect doesn't exist."
And something that works for me: Are you blocked by your internal censor? Do you worry you're revealing your embarrassing true self? Say what I say to myself:
I am not telepathic.
Repeat that: I am not telepathic.
Louder: I AM NOT TELEPATHIC!
I DON'T know what the reader is going to expect.
I DON'T know if the current scene is going to frighten, trigger, or be too explicit for my audience...
Because I DON'T have anyone looking over my shoulder, clicking their tongue, and saying, "Tch, tch, tch!"
I am going to take a deeeeeeep breath, now,
clear my mind,
and write the flapping scene—
full stop.
Who is R.S.?
I am a formerly published feminist SF author and a prosaist—which is what a poet is to poetry, but for prose.
I write #fiction stories that often address issues of gender at least peripherally. I'm aiming to short list for an Otherwise Award.
My genre tags are #sf, #sff, #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and #romance.
I'm a fan of rhetoric and elocution; I'm a prosaist, remember? Humor makes life and writing tolerable.
My community is #author, #writer, #writingCommunity, and #writersOfMastodon.
I hosted the #EngenderedWriting hashtag. See: #EngenderWritingQ.
I post often to various writing hashtags, which are variously called games, prompts, or challenges: #pennedPossibilities, #wordWeavers, #ScribesAndMakers, #writever, and #writersCoffeeClub,
If you become confused about my gender, that's intentional. I write gender fiction, so if I revealed mine, it would add subtext to my stories. If you know or learn it, please keep it to yourself. Thanks!
#ActuallyAutistic, which explains how I can overly focus, seem obtuse, or end up running down rabbit holes. No worries. It's actually a superpower.
This link leads to a list of shorter stories I've written to post exclusively on Mastodon (#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic). I retain the copyright on those stories.
https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110470537747067765
I'm building a network of authors by entertaining you, and by sharing what I've learned through decades of doing it the hard way. My motto: There Shall Be Content! I want to help our writing community by helping authors overcome what keeps them from completing stories. I'm learning self-publishing as a business. I want to push back the loneliness that's part and parcel of this solitary profession.
I follow serious authors, which means people diligently writing or working at completing stories or articles or anything containing words with the intent to publish, whether that's #fiction, #nonfiction, #scripts, #comics or #manga, or #games. I will read your profile to check for content before following. You need not courtesy follow in return for a follow.
I boost posts that announce authors' work and publications. I want my followers (largely artists, authors, and photographers) to see your work. We're all creatives here, trying to be professional. Everyone needs to promote their work; I want to help you. Don't repeat too often. Since I follow so many people, my timeline is full. Don't feel bad if I miss something. Private mention @sfwtr@eldritch.cafe!
I'll follow an #artist upon seeing interesting artwork, #photography or hand-drawn/painted #art. I am partial to #charcoals and #pastel, appreciate #sketch art, but love #watercolor. If wowed, I'll discuss what's great in reply, or #critique if you're close and I I can help. I commission cover and interstitial art. I do fine art photography and some wedding and event photography.
Life and Everything Else: I have a weird sense of humor, which follows since many of my characters are snide and cynical.
Favorites: My clicking the favorite button means something caught my attention, was particularly apropos to the idea, was entertaining, or somehow pithy. If I reply to your post, I've definitely noticed something!
Hot Buttons: Feminist issues are my bread and butter. So too labor issues, like jobs being automated out of existence without ensuring former employees can support themselves. If you want to use #genAI, #chatGPT, or AI to replace writers or artists, or jobs, you're barking up the wrong tree, buster! I post those road apples under #theComingLaborApocalypse.
I believe Boosting is Sharing. I appreciate when people boost my posts when they affect them.
#PennedPossibilities 324 — SC POV: If you could relive one day of your life without changing anything that happened, which day would you choose? Tootfic: Reframing the Experience
[When my SC says armor, it's really a weightless magical exoskeleton that melds with her body. It looks like blackened bones, because it is. —R.S.]
Oh, there's plenty of days I'd relive unchanged. Like the day I fledged, when I first flew on my own. Or the day learned the thrill of hauling things through the sky. Both good events in a rather dull and awful childhood that turned to cinders when my parents disapproved of the way I wanted to live my life. Said I aimed for the dirt not the sky. Maybe they weren't so dumb—I ended up badly, flying messages for a crime boss over a dozen years. But, then, there was that day last week...
I've told you a few times how I ended up with the armor and a new job training as a pretorian, you know, having faced down the greatest thaumaturge who ever lived, having nearly killed her. Impressed her.
I thought.
Well, my drill instructor was training me that dawn. I wore the armor. The thaumaturge dove at me, full speed. She's a monster flier, taller, more massive, immortal. I jumped into the sky. Fled.
She followed.
Though the armor let me fly like a sparrow, change direction in a heartbeat, and take a thumping only slightly changing my course, it had been her armor once. She kept appearing before me, striking at my face or heart, sending me into spins toward the ground, stalling me out, almost panicking me into flying into trees or buildings. For all her mass and the inertia that implies, I barely avoided her, half the time with her cackling at my barrel rolls or dives that sent down feathers flying. She had muscle; I tired despite the armor until I thought my heart would burst from my chest, at which point a flyby pitched me into the ground.
I skid across the running track on my belly right up to my instructor. I don't know how I didn't break a wing or my neck. Ok, I do: The Armor.
She landed beside me with a loud thump. She wasn't even winded! She told him, "She lacks stamina. Train her harder."
She leaned down until her face was in my face. I smelled maple syrup on her breath. She said, "You need to use the magic in the armor. There's a class at first bell in the Ivory building, room B7. Shower and be there ON TIME."
I have wings.
I don't do magic.
I showered though, once my legs stopped shaking. I slunk into the class still half-frightened out of my wits. My new friend was there, the curse breaker, a former prizefighter, the one I'd fought beside against Her, that ended up with me getting the armor. It was some sort of advanced special Ed class for mages. I suddenly felt totally inadequate and I cried. Me. At the age of 27, I cried telling her my story, pointing to my purpling bruises, complaining that had She gotten in a good strike She would have caved in my rib cage.
My friend was having none of it. She said, "You're a day angel who just went ten minutes fighting Her. Somehow, you're still alive."
I hadn't thought about it that way. I later learned the word, "Reframing."
The instructor came in with a truckload of tomes and grimoires. She had prepared him for me. He gave me a magic primer. I knew it was a primer because it had PICTURES of youngsters playing. Despite the stares of the other students, I read the book.
Half hour later, I got the armor to glow dull red, like iron out of a forge. Truly. Awesome. Didn't know what it did except look intimidating, but still...
Awesome.
I felt my heart grow large in my chest, and it struck me. Someone (okay, the ruler of the nation) wanted me for who I was and who I could become, and because I was capable. She wanted me to aim for the sky. My new friend supported me and pushed me forward. I liked this, who I was, what I was finding I could be, could become.
And.
Oddly.
I realized, for what it was worth, my parents would approve. (And flap them if they didn't!)
Best. Day. Ever.
[Author retains copyright (c)2024 R.S.]
#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool
#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory
#Links to #Story Samples Written by R.S.
I've written very short fiction stories in my universe for #Mastodon under various hashtags. They're first citizen samples of my 1st person writing, in my casual—made to be read aloud—writing style, and include my still evolving characters. None tally much more than 750 words, with a hard character limit set by my instance. I think they're an easy read. Some are based on my earlier works, some on works not yet written. Most of what was written for Mastodon was written quickly, edited immediately, then posted. It could be better, but I've resisted more than revising typos or inappropriate words. Everything is experimental; nothing should be considered canon.
Stories:
Not Carrion https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110993252771253246
Lest Night Fall https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/111168341654222870
After Birth https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/111191533450077751
Memories Fade https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/111537950013710864
Young Love https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110743266787135458
About that First Kiss (CW) https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110698098034001478
The Wanted Poster: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110136451462609798
Wild Encounter: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/109842477740039509
Ms George and the Dragon
https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110603595653290409
Where Most Comfortable: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/109826357405137553
Friends Amongst Thieves: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110448415650126821
Crowned Not in a Good Way https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/111164297800442997
The Masquerade Invitation: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110250683189485013
Dream of Being Alive, of Laughter: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110340314616596061
Love Can't Wait: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110425766506783077
Trust Issues: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110385678774151219
Sharp Tool a'Traveling: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110487865412278719
She has a Birthday in Autumn: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110277659480504706
Reframing the Experience: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/112497915608418589
Excerpts with proposed titles:
I'm not the Thaumaturge You're Looking for...: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110064129027510807
Not Chattel: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110057414498422658
Dangerous Word Play: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/109943717912031929
Fight for Real: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110317141401752671
Daemon at the Door: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110362730587455597
Bling with Strings Attached: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110345919252932146
Interviews:
"What do you envy about your closest friend?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/109966079428055171
"Briefly describe your relationship with your parents.": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110006348394099406*
"The three most important things in your life?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110016958897411843
An unusual question: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110091209716356788
"If you could teach one subject...": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110142692823048417
"What do you never leave home without?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110165508077506058
"What annoys you the most?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110182258491654419
"What do you find attractive in him?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110198914541850851
"What is your idea of a perfect day?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110241319393777199
"What attracted you to her?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110217050633826912
"Who Am I?": https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110312478082661315
Other:
Vignettes asking whether she's attractive: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/110391891938480784
[Author retains copyright to all posted words]
All my answers to #writingWonders can be found by clicking: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/tagged/WritingWonders
#BoostingIsSharing #CommentingIsCool
#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #1stPerson #writersOfMastodon #story #RSstory #storySamples #excerpt
#microfiction < 500 words
#suddenFiction ~750 words
#WritingWonders 4.3 — The Wanted Poster by R.S.
Someone knocked with what proved to be a clipboard before coming into the conference room, and the various lieutenants' bodyguards stiffened. The thug still had a bandage over his eye and an arm in a sling as he walked in and discreetly handed the clipboard to me. I looked at the single page.
"Not a joke?" I whispered, my mouth wide open.
"No, Boss."
The poster had official diffraction stripes with rainbow lettering. It displayed two images, one snapped after I'd shoved the boss down on the seat of the brougham as we fled the summit, less than a minute before the carriage exploded. It showed me in a hooded cape with my chin mask up, unluckily glowering at the lens. The second was a bank image. The scale showed my above average height. This time my hood was down for visibility and my hair up in a gangland bouffant. The chin mask was intact. Despite soot from the riots on my face, you could see my flattened nose and brushed eyebrows, but not the most important part. I escorted the boss past on the sidewalk. Between the crash gate grate and her having just darted to my right, you couldn't see her wings or face.
You could identify the Old Harbors Post Office across the street by its century old architecture.
Fortunately, the image of me drenched in blood that evening, the one under the headline in the morning edition, wasn't included. The constables hadn't made that connection, except to the extent that the first line of the wanted poster read, "Detain for questioning by order of Rainy Days, Director of Home".
I shivered. The evil woman was too close to connecting the dots. I had to excise the Mustang elements that could take advantage of the chaos and to prevent the syndicate from spinning into internecine war. I was already responsible for too many deaths because I'd been too cowardly to do what I knew was right. This poster meant I had to disappear and leave the east coast sooner than later. It was if I watched my plausible deniability lining up at the window like a string of rats and, one by one, defenestrating itself.
It read further, "Wanted for questioning in regards to the Old Harbors Post Office and the Three Forks Bridge explosions. Suspected of transporting illegal goods and wanted persons, assault, racketeering, attempted murder, and terrorism. Goes by the name Gelding and other aliases. Aged between 15 and 35."
I muttered, "A two-decade range? I'm barely two decades old." I really worked on disguising myself, and it paid off.
"High-level thaumaturge without a limiter. If apprehended, shackle to a hard surface to prevent escape. Consider dangerous. Reward for information leading to arrest: 2 years basic."
I loved praise and grinned at being recognized as high-level, but added, "I'm not dangerous."
South Beach snorted, then sat there her chest bouncing as she struggled with a hand over her mouth to hold in her laughter. I looked around the room. The men and women smiled, getting the joke, but others looked serious. Feathers made rustling noises. They knew I had the kiss of death.
I grinned, handing the clipboard back to my thug secretary. "Burn that."
"Yes, Boss."
[Author retains copyright]
#fiction #fantasy #sf #sff #sciencefiction #writing #writer #writers #author #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #except #flashfiction
#programming #engineering #author #history #commonLisp #lisp #essay #thoughts #interview https://screwlisp.small-web.org/show/Kent-M-Pitmans-Whither-Original-Thought/
My thoughts and vague summary of our conversation with @kentpitman on the #lispyGopherClimate dealing with admonishments to modern authors and programmers not to experience authoring works themselves but to look at what past people did themselves, illustrated by Kent's own (world first) experiences.
You have to listen to it and think yourself too. #retoot ! https://communitymedia.video/w/gUXEKmEnQcamtg4EZk45Un
Honestly wish I'd discovered Clive Barker sooner, especially after this direct quote.
Noting Rowling’s vast financial success, Barker felt that Rowling’s newfound position of fame ought to exclude her from discussing trans rights. He added, “It really just seems redundant for a woman as successful, as validated in the world, as Ms Rowling, to be negative, to be disruptive if you will, to a very beaten up subculture. These are human beings. She has no right to opine, I think, upon the lives of human beings that she does not know.”
“I feel very protective of people who are on the edge of our culture as gay people still are,” Barker continued. “And certainly transgender people are on the edge of our culture. And here you have one of the most successful people in the frigging world – Ms Rowling. Going after a very emotionally vulnerable portion of our culture. It just seems unnecessary and unfair.”
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/hellraiser-clive-barker-publishing-homophobia/
Have any of you written any DRM-free, easy going, hopeful / not-too-depressing sci-fi books recently?
I'd like something new to read.
Please do share purchase links!
Introducing the Tinker WriterDeck OS!
Convert any laptop and most chromebooks into a writer deck: A device designed solely for writing.
No distractions.
No internet.
No apps. No games. No social media.
Just writing.
The Tinker WriterDeck is very light weight and specifically seeks to lower the barrier of entry to creating writer decks. It converts older, reused, refurbished, or inexpensive laptops into a dedicated writing machine.
A digital typewriter.
The Tinker WriterDeck sits on top of a "headless" Debian Linux image and boots directly into a console based text editor.
We're using the Tilde Text Editor because it is a simple text editor, has an intuitive User Interface, and allows for customized color schemes for light and dark modes.
Operating System download and instructions on how to convert your laptop into a dedicated writer deck for free are found here: https://tinker.sh
See below for an example of the writer deck in light mode and dark mode.
If anyone has any questions or needs any help setting your laptop up, let me know here!
#solarPunk #linux #writerDeck #bookstodon #writing #writingCommunity #author #libraries
Greetings to everyone at the retro pizza parlor. As Mick Jagger likes to sing, "Please allow me to #introduce myself…"
I'm the #author / #illustrator of a #TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) who enjoys posting the odd pencil #sketch, #ink outline, or full #color #illustration of what eventually became #art for the game —plus a few things that never made it in.
I also like to share whatever #book, #podcast, or #art is currently filling me with #RPG #inspiration.
'Times may be getting tougher, but a hell of a lot of people are committed to doing good. And the best of the good is the #nature that makes up our planet.' ▶️ https://steadyhq.com/en/naturematchcuts/posts/718b5dba-b9d3-448b-96a7-38e99d4ef017
My new blog post about #writing in hard times, developing a story, messy mind palace rooms, #accents, and the sweet poison of #passion. @writers @writing
#storytelling #podcasting #blog #naturelovers #accent #languages #interviews #moreThanHuman #creativity #journalism #solarpunk #hopepunk #author
My map commissions are open!
Prices start at 100€ for black and white Medium-sized maps and are hand-drawn, take abour 2-4 weeks to complete from start to finish, and you get good karma from supporting a disabled artist!
Plase share, and help me reach those who may be in need of a new map for their story, thank you! <3
#map #fantasymap #art #illustration #illustrator #disabledartist #mapillustration #bookstodon #author #indieauthor #books #book #DnD #story #commission #getfedihired
“If sci-fi was a planet, Inkican would be its ambassador.” Fast food for thought. Middle-grade sci-fi author seeking like-minded adventurers who love unique stories and cats. Let's read together!
hey, I rebooted my substack; https://thock.substack.com - subscribe for early access to chapters from my upcoming book #leadership #author #amwriting #management
My name is Christin Löhner, I'm a #trans #activist, #politican, #feminist, #blogger, #author, #tutor, #teacher, #sexworker and a #transsexual #woman. I'm living in #germany, in the "Black Forest" (Schwarzwald). If you want to get much more information about me, including some tv-documentations, please read here: https://r3y.de/en/press
I'm the owner and manager of the #mastodon #instance https://lsbt.me which is especially for #queer and #lgbt people and for their allies.
This is all me:
Curator of Natural Sciences at the Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall, UK (#NottNatHist)
Palaeontologist focussing on Mesozoic marine reptiles, especially plesiosaurs
Children's author: The Plesiosaur's Neck and The Tyrannosaur's Feathers
Founder of DinoToyBlog.com & AnimalToyForum.com
#Curator #Nottingham #Museum #WollatonHall #Palaeontologist #Author #ThePlesiosaursNeck #Dinosaur #DinoToyBlog #Animal #AnimalToyBlog
Updated #Introduction time! (Again)
I'm a writer, editor, & perpetual volunteer. BFA and MFA in creative writing. Master's in Library and Information Science. 📚 Co-founded Round Table Writers.🖊️ Dad.
Words published online and in print.
Keep up with me via my Newsletter: https://odinhalvorson.com
**You must have a strong profile and posting history for me to follow you!**
🚀 Fan of: #StarTrek #Mythology #VintageFashion #Socialism #Anarchism #Scifi #Fantasy #WritingCommunity #FOSS #Philosophy #Writing #ttrpg #RichmondVA #Virginia #California #Writing #PKM #Libraries #Librarian #Academic #Babylon5 #Farscape #Writer #Author #PKM #KnowledgeManagement #DataScience #Philosophy
New to this server, so an #introduction is in order. I'm a licensed #therapist, former #software architect, and current #author.
I'm a #designer, #parent, #foodie, and #gamer
I'm #queer, #trans, & #agender
My debut #fantasy duology is available now wherever you like to get your books, and my first #scifi novel came out Jan 1st (see my website for details: https://knbrindle.com)
oh, it's #FediBookFair this weekend! Well, my #booksofmastodon has been out for a mere week, so it's still hot and fresh!
As for hot: It's about two mages, who fight the good fight and fall in love with each other.
I'd love it if you gave Roots of Rebellion a chance!
https://www.bod.de/buchshop/roots-of-rebellion-janera-ticiano-9783758300073 available in print and ebook format.
#bookstodon #writer #author #fantasy #fantasybook #gayromance #novel
#introduction Where to begin and what labels do we use to describe who we are? I say we as I feel I am many people, but all with one goal. To live as freely and with as much resilience as one can do in the face of extreme conditions.
I'm into #permaculture #foodforests specifically, #syntropicagroforestry I #homestead and raise animals and #growfood I also help shape little people via #forestschool and I'm guide for #adventurewalks and a soon to be official, #author
Let the journey begin.
“If sci-fi was a planet, Inkican would be its ambassador.” Fast food for thought. Middle-grade sci-fi author seeking like-minded adventurers who love unique stories and cats. Let's discuss the multiverse over coffee and rescue kittens.
Just finished creating cover designs for the 12 days promo Christine and I are launching on DEC 20th. We're offering 12 days of free downloads, ranging from energy audits, mindfulness exercises, manifesting, sales/business playbooks AND MORE. The retail value of the offerings ranges from $97-$497 each.
Want to learn more? Register for free:
Calling All Authors - The 2024 Winter Blogfest Is Open for Submissions! https://lydiaschoch.com/calling-all-authors-the-2024-winter-blogfest-is-open-for-submissions/
#WritersOfMastodon #WritingCommunity #GuestPost #Bookstodon #Author #Blogging #Winter #LongAndShortReviews #AuthorsOfMastodon
#lispyGopherClimate With #guests?! If everythink works. https://archives.anonradio.net/202412040000_screwtape.mp3 #archived wonderful show everyone!
#climate #haiku by @kentpitman
Hopefully @sacha will tell us about the #emacs #emacsconf this weekend!
+ #webcomic #author, @shizamura https://sarilho.net/en/ ? emacs-people = alien-robot-people?
Also #lisp emacs, I want to talk about porting #ZWEI like Kent did ^ https://tumbleweed.nu/r/sys/dir?ci=tip @amszmidt
#lambdaMOO too!