Just Some Cynic

In which I attempt to explain my chaotically systematic outlining process for BOTC this July...

I’m gonna start this off by saying I’m not a horoscope nut. I’m not! I don’t superstitiously believe in star signs, but I like to believe in them. There’s lots of things I like to believe.

Anyways.

For my July Camp NaNo project, I decided to re-outline my biggest baddest fantasy WIP, because it just wasn’t working for me in its current form. And I hadn’t re-outlined since like, 2016 (about…

Review: Abbott by Saladin Ahmed

Cover art by Taj Tenfold.

I’m back at it with the reviews! I know my reviews aren’t usually very timely, but honestly I just want to rant about books. Anyways!

This is the first work I’ve read by Saladin Ahmed and wowee it did NOT disappoint. I read it in one sitting, as I usually do with comics and graphic novels, so a reread addition to this review will be due soon. BUT FOR NOW. Here I go.

This…

Life Update: #SilenciLaunchParty, The Rite Of Movement, possible Patreon

Here’s a long-due update on what I’m doing. Today at midday EST (GMT-5) I’m hosting a twitter launch party for Silenci! There will be giveaways and a livestream in the afternoon, don’t miss it!

Also, I’m in the process of writing a sort of fairytale! It’s like a musical but in novella form! I’m using Hozier songs and though I don’t use the lyrics directly in the narrative, I name chapters after…

You guessed it, fellas, my debut novella that I talk about oh-so much, Silenci, is now available for preorder! If you order now, you’ll get a 15% discount from the list price, and it’ll be available to download upon release, on May 1st.

Art by Paula Wong. Watercolor on Fabriano paper, 3.8 x 5.3 cm. Not a book cover.

Abadosos is twice cursed; first by werewolves, then by silence. When Joaquím is…

Ten Lyrics To Write About – Benjamin Clementine edition

I have my girl to thank for introducing this artist to me, and I think everyone should know about him.

You know the drill. Roll a d10 (or generate a random number from 1 to 10). Compare it with the list below. Write something based on the result! You don’t actually have to have heard the song, you can just read the quote and let your imagination fly! Share it in the comments— or not, I’m not the…

My top 5 favorite renditions of King Herod's Song from Jesus Christ Superstar, because I'm in a musical mood apparently and 50 years late to the party

I realize this is definitely not writing related, but indulge me.

Because I’ve been obsessed with Jesus Christ Superstar as of late, I wasgoing to do a side-by-side analysis and comparison of both film versions, 1973 and 2000. But I decided against it. For now at least. King Herod’s Song is probably my favorite, right up there with Everything’s Alright, so I binge-watched different renditions of…

(late) Ten Pieces To Write About - videogame edition

Wooo hey, sorry about the lateness with this, I was having quite the weekend! This should serve as a lesson for myself to schedule posts more often. I’ll post the flash fiction monday later in the day.

Roll a d10 (or generate a random number from 1 to 10). Compare it with the list below and listento the piece. Preferably with big comfy headphones, and preferably with your eyes closed while doing…

Silenci Blog Tour Sign-Ups Open!

Hello friends! You may know that my debut novella, Silenci, comes out this May 1st. In celebration and promotion, the two weeks before its release, I’ll be conducting a blog tour.

And I’m inviting you, fellow blogger, to take part in it!

If you haven’t read my previous blog post about Silenci, here’s some things you can find in it:

a traditional approach to werewolves, with a twist

super…

He used to wear all black. Not for any particular reason, it was just a practical color. Less prone to stains. And in his line of work, stains were common.

He wasn’t there anymore. He figured it was time to finally spread his wings and get a job that wasn’t in his father’s business, wasn’t about doing dirty work for him. But he had to admit, being so hands-on gave him an advantage.

He had the…

Ten Pieces To Write About – contemporary edition

So, I didn’t want to include movie/game soundtracks, but I was running out of options here heheh. No lyrics again! Just modern composers.

Roll a d10 (or generate a random number from 1 to 10). Compare it with the list below and listento the piece. Preferably with big comfy headphones, and preferably with your eyes closed while doing nothing else, but maybe you’re time-crunched. Write something…

Review: Unkilted by Erin O’Quinn

Woo, two reviews in a week? I’m on fire! Well, I was reading these two books simultaneously, so I finished them at around the same time.

Anyways, Unkilted!

I found this book through the author in a Facebook group for LGBT Writers, and okay, I wasn’t convinced at first, but something about the description got me. Something like, do it for the rowdy Scottish Highlander aesthetic. And oh boy, I was…

Flash Fiction Monday 14/01/19

Kapa o pango! Aue hi! Ha!

The end of the All Blacks’ Haka was the signal for Kai to take the fish out of the fridge. The lemon should’ve done its thing already. He entered his kitchen, his pride and joy, and took out both the bowl of marinating diced fish and a can of coconut cream. He frowned at the can. He missed having access to fresh coconut, drinking straight from it, but sacrifices had to…

Ten Lyrics To Write About – non-English language edition

Sometimes I sneak in songs in other languages (mainly Spanish) into the Sunday inspiration posts. Not today though. Today, they’re ALL non-English! Most of them are in Spanish, yes, because that’s what I understand, but I like to think there’s more variety this time!

You know the drill. Roll a d10 (or generate a random number from 1 to 10). Compare it with the list below. Write something based on…

Review: Thrall by Avon Gale and Roan Parrish

Sorry folks, no worksheet today! (But I am taking suggestions for those, just leave a comment if you have one!) Today I’m reviewing this queer, modern Dracula retelling involving true crime, social media, and missing people. Book cover by Garret Leigh.

So. Thrall. Whoo.

This is a spoiler-free review, but I’m gonna start off by saying that this book did not turn out as I expected. That’s not…

So hey, I interviewed fellow author Lin Darrow for a guest post in LGBTQReads! We talked about her work, inspirations, and sneaked some advice on writing great romances in there! Check out the interview here (plus some more promotional art for Silenci, by the one and only Paula Wong).

In other news, I’ve been reading more queer things! I’m loving these books so far: Thrall by Avon Gale and Roan…

Flash Fiction Monday 7/01/19

Their hair was born dirt blonde, but Angel had always preferred to bleach it pearl-white. That worked in their favor when, covered in a white fur overcoat and their own unruly mane, they tiptoed out into the snow in the middle of the night.

The cage had been open and so was their window; they had to find their pet before it died of frostbite, even though they couldn’t comprehend how it opened a…

Ten Pieces To Write About

Yup, no lyrics today. Just instrumental pieces.

Roll a d10 (or generate a random number from 1 to 10). Compare it with the list below and listen to the piece. Preferably with big comfy headphones, and preferably with your eyes closed while doing nothing else, but maybe you’re time-crunched. Write something based on the piece. Share it in the comments— or not, I’m not the boss of you.

Pyotr Ilyich…