@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange
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VampiresAndRobots

@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange

Washed up has-been-but-maybe-kinda-still author, artist, and robot apologist.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Seriously heard someone saying they don't listen to many black artists, because they aren't really into rap. Bitch please, feel free to share songs from Black artists from any genre. Here is one of my favorites, if you like this song please check out her other work:

https://youtu.be/KovrJ8HXI1Q?si=HOYIG7YMuAUTsJz6

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@RickiTarr I haven't gone through every reply yet, so I'm not sure if anyone's brought up Death yet: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(proto-punk_band)

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

Huge news!

"South Breaks" made it into SPFBO 10.

It was basically a 50% chance, with almost 600 submissions and 300 books in the running.

I'm very excited. Of course, we will wait for the finalized list, and then we'll wait even longer for the reviews to trickle in. Eventually, each reviewer will list three favorites, and the final winner will be chosen from those 30 books.

I doubt South will be among those, but one can dream.


VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz congratulations!!! I hope you make all the way to the finals!

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz I've never entered, but I did the SPSFC two years ago and made it all the way to the semifinals, but I'm not sure how because every review I saw seemed negative. Regardless, I was pretty pleased about it. I'm rooting for you.

jake4480, to 80s
@jake4480@c.im avatar

Since this week's theme is and I was born April 1980, I have to talk about TELEKON.

Gary Numan released Telekon, my favorite of his records, in 1980. It was the first vinyl I bought as a teen in the 90s. Hearing this intro track and the album that followed was mindblowing. Definitely listen to this whole record if you get a chance.

Here's "This Wreckage", the first song on Telekon, one of the best album opening tracks EVER:

https://youtu.be/XSvH78ZYqmc

@Kitty

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@jake4480 @Kitty I bought this from a 99c bin at a department store sometime in the early 90s. Loved it.

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

23: Which do you figure out first—MCs' looks or personalities?

Always personalities.

Looks are less important to me, I often don't even know the hair color for quite a while. (Possibly because I am Autistic.)

Eventually, I find a way to figure it out because I know readers want visuals.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz I have so many characters for whom I have no clear mental picture.That may be the reason I prefer 1st person narration. Let the reader pick who they want to be.

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

This morning, someone bought four of my books. Bought, not downloaded a freebie. This will get important.

I was really happy. It meant that the month was off to a good start (yes, €10 do mean that much).

Two hours later, all books were returned.

So I'm thinking that this is not just a reader disliking book 1 (which is actually free) and then ditching the rest.

No, I believe this is a pirate helping themselves to my series for free. That hurts.



VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz it sucks and I'm sorry it happened to you. My books are on soany pirate sites now I've just given up.

VampiresAndRobots, to books
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

The for The Princess Rebellion is finally live! This is the second book in my scidence fantasy space opera series, The Kyroibi Trilogy. The third is also underway and I can't wait to have a whole series finished!

https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CWB1YM3F/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-387228&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_387228_rh_us

ChrisJagged, to gaming
@ChrisJagged@mastodon.social avatar

From the perspective of lore, aesthetic and world-building, the Dark Souls series are my favorite games ever.

From the perspective of gameplay, creation and discovery, Terraria is my favorite game ever.

Don't think I could choose between them.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@ChrisJagged I'm planning to play Elden Ring, but I am really weirded out by "realistic" games. Should I go for Dark Souls first?

futurebird, (edited ) to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Alex Jones was born in 1974... He's... so much younger than I thought! I thought he was two decades older than me but it's less than one.

Some things age you, I suppose.

(ETA: a photo... he's not just "gen X" he's a late gen Xer. borderline Millennial. )

(ETA 2: He made a lot of his fortune, which he isn't paying out to the victims of his attacks... selling HEALTH PILLS. They obviously don't work!)

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@futurebird I see things like this and wonder if I look older than I think I do. I knew he was my age, but also assumed he looked way older due to his, for lack of a better term, "disposition."

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

From tonight's very deep and philosophical conversation in the McMullen household:
The existence of menopause suggests the existence of menoplay and menostop.

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

Just applied for a new position at my place of employment. I'd be going from a big department to a department of one. Kind of excited. Also kind of: oh God, what have I done?

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

Starting the final listen on the audio book for The Princess Rebellion today, and then getting the contract ready for the 3rd book in the series. Based on a poll I did last year, three separate narrators is unorthodox, but hey, so am I. My goal isn't really to sell a ton (though given my dental bills it should be), but to give a bunch of new voices a chance to stand out.

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

Translation software is normally a godsend, given that I work in a retail setting in a very international area, but sometimes it fails pretty spectacularly. I'm pretty sure the customer who was frustrated with what I was trying to explain to her didn't mean to tell me she loved me very much before demanding free shipping.

eclectech, (edited ) to random
@eclectech@things.uk avatar

Observation for the Day

In the absence of context I read the word DOING as an onomatopoeic sound that rhymes with BOING.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@eclectech the little dance your soon to be doinged person is doing is the most adorable thing!

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

The end of year sale starts today and all of my books are either free or 75% off! I've got sci-fi, science fantasy, humorous fantasy, ya, satire, and short stories. In fact, I have one humorous urban fantasy series that is completely free! Please check it out!
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ChristinaMcMullen

Firlefanz, to meta
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

Just had a wild idea.

You see, I hope my instance blocks Meta, simply because we're so many authors.

I could make a second account on another instance that does allow Meta. But I won't post much personal stuff on there. And no snippets of my writing.



VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz agreed. There are many reasons NOT to allow federation, but the official stance of our instance, at least a while ago, was wait and see.
I've got a lot of friends who went there and as nice as it would be to see them, it's not worth the risks.

futurebird, to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Why are the major US toothbrush brands that are in all the stores so ugly? They still have that late 90s swoop design that looks like it's trying to be in motion when it's just sitting there. They hurt my eyes. Look at international brands and there are so many elegant options. What are you doing Colgate and Aquafresh? You don't even make them here... the cool looking ones all come from the same factories. It's just enforced ugly design.

Like sticking an ugly sneaker in your mouth.

A selection of less expensive brushes with interesting designs. Dense bristles in charcoal in attractive bunches, bamboo handles for using less plastic, bold colors with matching bristles, a simple cheerful design.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@futurebird target sells a 99cent 2 pack of plain Jane toothbrushs that work just as well as the sneakers. What I'd really like to see is those bamboo brushes here. There's no reason to make them plastic.

The_BookishWolf, to bookstodon

The movie will never be better than the book. I’ll say it again for those in the back. Star picks up megaphone star “the movie will never be better than the book!“ @bookstodon @romancelandia @alttextgroup

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@The_BookishWolf @bookstodon @romancelandia @alttextgroup and this is why I don't join book clubs. There are tons of movies better than the booksand I'm not just talking about opinions (which, let's face it, this mostly is). Older books can be problematic and modern adaptation can fix this.

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

11/14: Share an example of Chekhov's gun in your work.

Ugh. I find that so hard. Most of the time, my brain does it and I realize after the fact. But here is one:

In Book 1 of my Wolves, Ben forgets his jacket in a cabin. Took me a while to notice, and then I turned it into a plot point for Book 2 - someone finds that jacket and that is an important piece of information for that someone.

Wolves of the South (Book 1 is free.)



VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz I can't tell you how many of my clever plot devices were thanks to fortunate coincidence.

lexx3000, to actuallyautistic German
@lexx3000@masto.ai avatar

@actuallyautistic i keep seeing here ocd or "extremely organised" as a definitely autistic trait, while messy being assigned to adhd and i'm (adult diagnosed) living with a diagnosed in a childhood person and we're messy as hell, especially in combination while neither of us suspect adhd and it's just very annoying to have it as a given here, does anyone share this even?

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@benetnasch @lexx3000 @alexisbushnell @actuallyautistic this is all too familiar. I'm by no means organized, but I will spend half the day panicking that I left the stove on despite checking it four times and knowing full well the stove has a safety feature that turns it off.

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

Gotta love an article bemoaning YouTube's new ad blocker policy hiding behind a popup telling me to disable my ad blocker to read it. 🤦

futurebird, to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

It’s election day in NY!

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@futurebird And Elsewhere! It's disheartening to me when we have bond elections and less than 5% of the population shows up, then wonders "how did we get where we are?"

VampiresAndRobots, to random
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

I love the idea of the . Unfortunately the timing doesn't really work out for me to participate (I'm working all weekend and my books are all still Amazon only until mid month), but I'm happy to have this opportunity to find new authors and books!

Firlefanz, to random
@Firlefanz@writing.exchange avatar

11/3: "Are dialogue tags flexible?" laughed John.

One of my pet peeves as editor and proofreader. John can either laugh or speak, but it's kind of hard to laugh words. (Yes, nitpicking, not sorry.)

I'd always advise to use dialogue tags sparingly and pick words that carry power. (But please, please, don't go with all those terrible, old-fashioned words. No "ejaculated".)

I also believe that "said" disappears into the background, so use it if you must.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@Firlefanz I agree, but I will say, as someone with a lot of social anxiety, I have definitely laughed words. Not intentionally, but more often that I'd care to admit. 😅

futurebird, to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

I regret to inform you shirt stays (not collar stays the other kind) are
1 comfortable
2 incredibly effective
3 make you look suspiciously neat and tidy

Nothing that looks this stupid should work so well. If you have some suspicious little neat nick in your life whose shirt is always magically tucked in? I regret to inform you they probably have them on.

It’s all very disturbing.

VampiresAndRobots,
@VampiresAndRobots@writing.exchange avatar

@futurebird I've never in my life looked kempt or felt comfortable with my shirt tucked in, so I might be your demographic.

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