Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · 3d

Hahaha so relate!!

Mike L Tilford 📚 😺 @thatwriterguy.bsky.social · 5d

Reached the "I hate my novel and I never want to look at it again," phase of my draft.
#writing #writingcommunity #amwriting

a fluffy animal with yellow eyes is sitting on the ground

ALT: a fluffy animal with yellow eyes is sitting on the ground

media.tenor.com

2

Reposted by C. C. King

Prof Emily but Spoopier Now @professoremily.bsky.social · 3d

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writingcommmunity #writers #writesky

🪟

From #Tenement, my dystopian mystery about people living in an infinite building.

I’d never seen an actual window before, but I knew right away what it was. The Tenement had a habit of sometimes developing windows in unexpected places. One day a normally blank wall would inexplicably have a window, and then some time later—maybe a few hours, maybe a few days—it would vanish again. You never actually saw the windows appear and disappear; it always happened when no one was looking. And everyone knew that if you ever spotted one, you were supposed to pretend it wasn’t there until it finally obliged you by going away.
This window wasn’t large—about half the height of a door—and it was covered by a pair of dingy gray drapes that looked heavy with age.
I knew I was supposed to ignore it. I knew the Rule. And yet...
I set down the laundry basket.
Nan Enokido would have said the Tenement was testing me. My father would have grabbed my arm and dragged me away from that hall as fast as he could. Kazuo probably wouldn’t have stopped me, but he would have said I was crazy for even thinking about it. Ryota and Ryuki would have warned me I’d be evicted—and for once, they wouldn’t be joking.
But my mother?
She would have looked right along with me.
“Might as well do it,” she’d say. “Sure, it’s against the Rules. But if we don’t, we’ll always wonder what we might have seen. And I don’t think I could live with the wondering. Could you?”

6 19 56

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · 3d

I finally finished my first novel draft (!!) ... and honestly, I learned a lot the hard way. 😅 Turns out, word counts weren’t the magic key. Here’s what I figured out:
#AmWritingFiction #writinglessons #writingtipsforauthors #fictionwritersofbluesky
www.caitrincking.com/post/writing...

Writing a Novel: Lessons from Accountability, Word Counts, and Finishing My First Draft

What I learned about writing a novel from joining an accountability group: daily word counts, finishing my first draft, and finding my own process.

www.caitrincking.com

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · 3d

If you're like most #writers , finding the time to write is a challenge. I've got you covered with this guest post from author Amy S Cutler !
#AmWritingFiction #writingtips
www.caitrincking.com/post/finding...

Finding the Time to Write on a Busy Schedule (guest post)

Finding the time to write isn’t about a perfect schedule—it’s about passion. Guest author Amy S. Cutler shares how she makes space for stories, even on the busiest days.

www.caitrincking.com

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · 16d

For this month's #craftbook lessons, I dove into John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story and pulled out 4 lessons every #fictionwriter can use.

These ideas are already reshaping the way I think about my process. Curious how they might help yours?

👉 Read more here: www.caitrincking.com/post/craft-b...

Craft Book Lessons: The Anatomy of Story—Fiction Writing Essentials

In this month’s craft book lessons, I dive into John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story and share insights for fiction writing on character, conflict, and theme.

www.caitrincking.com

2

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · 18d

Series or standalone? 🤔 Every #novelist faces this decision. In her #guestpost, author Nancy Christie shares her journey and lessons from the Midlife Moxie novels.
#amwriting #AmWritingFiction #amreading #writingprocess #writingcommunity
www.caitrincking.com/post/decidin...

1

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Sep 14

Every worry about your #writing process? I do. Here's a look at how mine led to 140,000 words in 10 weeks, and what happened next...
#writingcommunity #writingprocess #writingproblems #learntowrite
www.caitrincking.com/post/confess...

Confession of an Overwriter: How My Writing Process Led to 140,000 Words in 10 Weeks and What Happened Next

I’m an overwriter, and my writing process took me to 140,000 words in 10 weeks—way too long for my genre. Here’s what I learned.

www.caitrincking.com

1

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Sep 5

What if the Wicked Witch of the East had her own story? 🧙‍♀️ Ekta R. Garg thinks she should—and her take on short fiction is too good not to share. Catch our full chat here!
www.caitrincking.com/post/author-...

#Writing #shortstories #amwriting #shortfiction #readingcommunity #amreading #fairytales

Author Interview: How Ekta R. Garg Brings New Life to Short Fiction

What makes short fiction so powerful? In this author interview, Ekta R. Garg talks about her process, her inspirations, and her new book, The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.

www.caitrincking.com

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Sep 2

Mr. Fuzz Face has some opinions on what I should be wearing today... Apparently anything as long as it's covered in cat fur lollll #catsareessential #catsallday #becausecats #catpics #kittylove #kittylove #meow

4

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Sep 2

I never thought I’d linger in the pre-drafting phase as long as I did, but that experience changed the way I see my #writing process.

👉Read my new post: www.caitrincking.com/post/what-st...

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #PreDrafting #WritersLife

What Staying in the Pre-Drafting Phase of the Writing Process for Longer Than I Ever Thought I Would Taught Me About Writing

What if the pre-drafting phase of the writing process could make or break your novel? Here’s how it turned mine into my strongest first draft yet.

www.caitrincking.com

3

Reposted by C. C. King

The Fiddlehead @fiddlehd.bsky.social · Sep 2

It's the final day to submit to our fiction contest!

Don't miss your chance to send us your work and win $2000 and publication in The Fiddlehead!

Submission guidelines: thefiddlehead.ca/contests/fic...

#callforsubmissions #fictioncontest

A purple graphic for The Fiddlehead’s 2025 Fiction Contest. From top to bottom the graphic says: Spin the tale only you can tell. Enter our 2025 Fiction Contest. Deadline September 2, 2025! Enter via Submittable. Judged by Anuja Varghese. $2000 Prize plus publication. For more info visit thefiddlehead.ca/contest/fiction or email fiddlehd@unb.ca. In the background is a picture of loop of purple rope and in the lower right corner is a picture of Anuja Varghese. In the upper corner is a red section with the words "closing soon!" and the deadline is circled in red.

4 6

Reposted by C. C. King

The Hudson Review @hudsonreview.bsky.social · Sep 2

1/3
Our fiction contest is open! Submit a story of up to 10,000 words online at hudsonreview.com/submissions by 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2025. 1st prize: $1,000 + publication; 2nd & 3rd: $500 + publication. As always there is NO FEE to submit.

1 2

Reposted by C. C. King

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Aug 19

It's sign up time for September! Our first September writing task goes live on September 1st, so we'll be letting new members into the workshop a few days before the end of August to do some onboarding. Write with us. Community works. #notacult www.smokelong.com/smokelong-fi...

SmokeLong Fitness — The Community Workshop - SmokeLong Quarterly

In September 2022 SmokeLong launched a workshop environment/community christened SmokeLong Fitness. This community workshop is happening right now on our dedicated workshop site. If you choose to join...

www.smokelong.com

1 7 13

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Aug 15

I have the cutest officemate in the world... #catsareessential #catsallday #becausecats #catpics #kittylove

2

Reposted by C. C. King

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Aug 14

The story that inspired the most mail The New Yorker had ever received in response to a work of fiction—and caused some readers to cancel their subscriptions.

“The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson

Fiction, from 1948: “The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions; most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around.”

www.newyorker.com

85 280 1.4K

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Aug 15

Happy Monday #writers: I’ve been working on my novel for a few months... and I finished! 🥳 These 10 free writing tools have kept me drafting, revising, and inspired. #writingcommunity #writingtools #writingtips #writingtipsandtricks
Here’s my list! www.caitrincking.com/post/10-tota...

10 Totally Free Writing Tools I Actually Use!

Here are 10 free writing tools I’ve relied on while drafting and revising my novel—from organizing scenes to finding the perfect character name!

www.caitrincking.com

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Jan 17

📚 I love reading books that make me think about #storytelling! ✍️ From bold world-building to thought-provoking themes to pacing, this book had me reflecting on #craft.
www.caitrincking.com/post/book-re...
#amwriting #amwritingfiction #amreading #amreadingscifi #writingcommunity #writingtips

Book Review: No Life But Immortality by Liudmila Brus

Detailed review of the dystopian novel 'No Life But Immortality' by Liudmila Brus as I dive into reading like a writer...

www.caitrincking.com

2

Reposted by C. C. King

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Jan 16

Time for another journey-to-publication interview with a writer long-listed for the SmokeLong Workshop Prize! This week it's @fionamckay.bsky.social, whose SLQ Fitness story "You Almost Never Walk Anywhere With Your Father Now" was published in Flash Flood 2024: www.smokelong.com/an-interview...

1 7 33

Reposted by C. C. King

Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · Jan 16

"Let it all out. You got two minutes." 🏧

New fiction today by @russellnichols.bsky.social: "Rage Against the Venting Machine"

Read it here: www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-...

Graphic featuring a pull quote from Russell Nichols's short fiction "Rage Against the Venting Machine," which reads: "They stand in a line, outside in the dark, halos over their heads spinning black."

4 6

Reposted by C. C. King

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Jan 16

Up to Issue 86 now :) We tried to find everyone we’ve published who’s on Bluesky; let us know if we’ve missed you out!

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Nov 22

Well this has been an undertaking, but we have assembled a set of starter packs of Bluesky contributors to all 85 issues of SmokeLong Quarterly published so far. Twenty-one years of brilliance in one thread. If we missed you or you've just joined, please tell us!

Here's the cover for Issue One:

Painting in white on indigo ground of a woman against backdrop of white pine trees, with text overlay: SmokeLong Quarterly Issue One, 09/15/2003. Charlotte Jones, Peggy Duffy, Marcia Mascolini, Darlene Cah, Ann Zimmerman, Beverly C Lucey, Stephanie Dial, Jade Walker, Beverly Jackson, Catherine Talley, Linda Pierce, Margaret A Frey, SH Gall, Nance Knauer, Gary Glauber, Sheila A. Killian, Jeff Lindsey

6 26

Reposted by C. C. King

Tin House @tinhouse.bsky.social · Jan 16

🎙️✨ Tune in as poet Aria Aber joins @davidnaimon.bsky.social on the latest episode of Between the Covers podcast! Aber discusses her debut novel Good Girl, a book coursing with desire and shame, flight and pursuit.

bit.ly/BTCAriaAber

@bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social

1 3 16

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Jan 16

Me, too! :)

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Jan 15

SO EXCITED to have my flash fiction up at @eunoiareview.bsky.social! 😀 Check out my story, "The Break" eunoiareview.wordpress.com/2025/01/14/t... #amwriting #amreading #flashfiction #literaryfiction #writerslift

The Break

The second time it broke, my brothers tell me the bone stuck through the meat of my arm like a finger pointing to the sky. They tell me it glistened like a finger dipped in thick, viscous honey. I&…

eunoiareview.wordpress.com

1

C. C. King @caitrincking.bsky.social · Jan 14

I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for a cheesy #quiz. So I created one for #writers. Let me know what you think! :) #amwriting #writinglife #writerslift #writingfun #writing #amwritingfiction www.caitrincking.com/post/just-fo...

Just for Fun: Which Fiction Writing Style Suits You? A Quiz!

Ever wonder what kind of writer you are? Take this fun fiction writing quiz and find out which style suits you best!

www.caitrincking.com

1 2

Reposted by C. C. King

Sarabande Books @sarabandebooks.bsky.social · Jan 3

🔔Sarabande's annual contests are now open to submissions!🔔

Now through 2/15, Sarabande is accepting full-length manuscript submissions to the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, & the Sarabande Prize in the Essay.

Learn more & submit at the link in bio!

6 15