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Dierdre Cieran

@dmcieran.bsky.social

190 followers 480 following 85 posts

I write fantasy for all ages, exploring themes of resilience and perseverance. I have two kids and two cats. Outside of writing, I like to garden, crochet, draw and paint.

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Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · Aug 6

ENCANTO VIBES IN A POST-MODERN SETTING

UNDER THE BRIGHT SUN is about a girl with the ability to see the future in an isolated village who must uncover the secret of a stranger's arrival to recover lost magic before everyone falls to an endless sleep from magic withdrawal.

#QuestPit #Q #MG #F #S

mages of a desert with mountains in the background and saguaro cacti in the mid ground

pictures of book covers for "The Alchemy of Letting Go," "The Stars of Whistling Ridge," and the movie poster for Disney's "Encanto."

A picture of a saguaro cactus and a pink backpack.

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Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 17m

Of course I forget the tag 😂 #weeknightwriters

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 18m

The characters usually come to me first, with a hint of the world, and the world follows.

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 4h

Q1: Do you build your world to suit your story and/or characters or does the world come to you first? #WeeknightWriters

Notepad that says “#WeeknightWriters: Do you build your world to suit your story and/or characters or does the world come to you first?"

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 6h

I have plans to get all of it out one of these days, bit by bit.

What’s a story you have shelved but still have plans for?

#amwriting #amquerying #blueskywrites #revspirations #fantasyauthor

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 6h

Or maybe I’ll expand it into a novel. Who knows! Either way, it’s in the same world as my epic fantasy series (of which I’ve proto drafted the first trilogy, re-wrote the first book twice, realized it still needed a lot of work, and set it aside to improve my crafting of stories.)

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 6h

Teaser Thursday

I have a snippet from A realization. Showing some gritty feels after an encounter. It’s a short story that didn’t go anywhere. But that’s okay because it ties in very nicely to a novelette that didn’t go anywhere. One of these days I’m going to combine the two into a Proper Novella.

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 3d

I don’t worry about my prose or consistency or if my dialogue sounds good, or if I have enough descriptions. The first draft is channeling my creativity. From my imagination to a page. The first draft makes it exist.

What does your first draft look like?

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 3d

At least, this has been my process so far. The first draft is me figuring out my characters. Who they are. How they respond to situations. It’s about seeing what they need to learn in order to grow. It’s about feeling out the story and figuring out what kind of story I want to tell.

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 3d

Motivation Monday

“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” — Terry Pratchett

Top right picture is of a person writing in a notebook. Bottom left picture is of a trail through a forest.

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Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 5d

Looking forward to reading my feedback on the 24th! Thank you #RevPitEditors!

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · 5d

#RevPit #10Queries Winners have been drawn at random and assigned to editors (also at random), and emails went out to those whose submissions were selected.

Join us Oct 24 to get tons of helpful querying advice. Anyone can benefit from this feedback, even if you weren't selected or didn't enter

Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you everyone who entered! Our editors are eager to get their hands on these submissions. Keep an eye on this space, and don't forget to follow our editors for their #10Queries posts!

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 5d

It's a great name!

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 5d

Happy Caturday! My girls Nimbus and Stratus. Two years old and queens of the house.

#caturday #writingbuddies #revspirations

Two cats side by side in the top of a cat tree. Left cat is a fluffy void, right cat is a panda.

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Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · 6d

"I just entered #RevPit #10Queries. Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages"

Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Catherine “Halloween meme participant” Winters @catherinewinters.com · Aug 6

Nia Moredi just wants to look out for her little brother. Miss Laval needs to attend a governess-teacher meeting. Baarsin Dorvierre's being watched. Wren the pickpocket needs to recharge her misdirection charm. If only Nia could remember which of them she's supposed to be today. #QuestPit #YA #F #W

A mood board of eight tiles and a centre square with lockpicking tools and ancient writing:
1. Always have an escape plan.
2. A swindler never lets herself feel like a fraud.
3. Don't look for the easy grab, look for the easy mark.
4. Never get involved with golems.

The pictures depict, clockwise from upper right:
A) A city of canals and towering footbridges. There are minarets and steeples and red-tiled roofs.
B) A market selling elaborate lanterns, all aglow.
C) A porcelain and gold hand, reaching upwards.
D) Two figures leaping across rooftops against the coming dawn.
E) A pocketwatch--or is it? Constellations and continents cover the front, the body of the watch engraved with runes. It's sitting on ancient parchment.
F) A wax stamp with removable chits that function as coins in a card game.
G) The lords of the city overlooking grand canals and issuing edicts. They are dressed in fine red robes and silks.
H) Assorted bones and shells used for divination and more.

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

allison e. crisostomo @aecwrites.bsky.social · Aug 6

When the fates of a genius artificer and a ghostly warrior collide, they must outmaneuver seductive half-truths trying to keep them apart. Otherwise a brewing rebellion, demonic beasts, and betrayal will lead them to destroy the land and the people they’ve both sworn to protect.

#W #A #F #questpit

10-photo collage featuring a bright light, an engine, a lighthouse, agates, birch wood, a dock, a bicycle, a tall ship, weapons including a blade and kali sticks, and a crystal.

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Sophie Pinkoski @sophiemlpink.bsky.social · Aug 6

UMBRELLA ACADEMY x HILL HOUSE
For rockstar Aster Maddox, dying is as easy as breathing.Staying dead is the hard part.Eager to uncover the truth behind his divine intervention, he crashes an artists retreat.But the demon queen who has his answers is about to rock his every belief. #QuestPit #A #Q #H

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Neѕѕα @nessamoulay.bsky.social · Aug 6

CITY OF BRASS x the Scorpion & the Night Blossom

A girl with dormant magic infiltrates a gilded empire to save her best friend—only to uncover a court built on ancient blood oaths, the boy she once mourned, and a lost heiress no one wants found.

#YA #F #wip #questpit

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Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · Aug 6

Thank you!

Dierdre Cieran @dmcieran.bsky.social · Aug 6

that's not what the post is about

Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Sam Peil 🧟😈 @sampeil.bsky.social · Aug 6

DON'T NAME THE DEAD in which three bi disasters navigate the zombie apocalypse.

#horror, headshots & hookups 🏳️‍🌈🧟‍♂️🥼

#H #na #a #q #agentsguide #sf #questpit #lgbt

yellowed background with red blood splatter and top of zombie head in lower corner. George Washington head faintly visible (Mount Rushmore) along left. Text says: AN AGENT'S GUIDE TO DON'T NAME THE DEAD By Sami Peil 90 words Adult/NA HORROR

yellow background with light red blood splatter. Torn out page from a journal, along bottom of screen you can see rocks from mount rushmore

text says: Reader Comments
“Obsessed”
“I'm hooked. so hooked on this book. I need it on my shelf.“
“Love this description. Impeccable delivery,
so cinematic”
“OMINOUS”
“VICERAL”
“I literally cackled”
“I was not prepared”
“Sharp, shocking, love it”
“Seriously this is so fucking cinematic wth”
“I love him”
“IF YOU EVER CHANGE THIS FIRST LINE I WILL FIGHT YOU”
Sami Peil @sampeil
FROM THE JOURNAL OF STETSON JOHN MATTHEWS

April 27, 2025 Donner party @ Black Hills bunkers, current population 280ish.
don’t name the dead

yellow background with red blood splatter, along top right is a zombie with open mouth teeth growling

3 images of book covers: sister maiden monster has tentacles, orange, knife; the z word has an image of a brain, two femmes kissing, teal hands reaching up, a piece of pizza, an axe; the last of us has a man and a girl turned toward the camera as they walk toward ruins; along the right, text reads: If three queer 20-somethings manage to not get eaten by the pandemic zombies, they’ll still have to dodge a preacher bent on building his post-apocalyptic flock.
Love triangle
Survival shenanigans
Headshots
Hookups
Busted bunker

close up of mount rushmore presidents with light red splatter across the image. text reads: Sami Peil @sampeil
don’t name the dead
Vivvi was getting wasted for her 21st until she woke up in a drunk tank, which was the only protection from the cop zombies trying to eat her brains.

Stetson was painting his nails and avoiding his family's far right extremist bunker party, unaware that the virus they all ignored would mutate, and he’d have to fight his way out.

Dove was home alone in a post-wisdom tooth coma, still dreaming about her hot dentist, while infected people turned and began to eat immune survivors.

The Dentist was doing an after-hours call, where a patient bite transformed him into a flesh craving monster.

They all want each other—but not in the same way.
And they really need to stay the hell away from the Preacher.

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Kim Cayley @kimcayley.bsky.social · Aug 6

✨FATED FAKES✨ facts:

🔮 terrible psychic FMC

🙅‍♂️ science teacher / skeptic MMC

👻 a haunted school

🛌 disturbing, nonsensical prophesies

📖 it was supposed to be fake; turns out it was fate

#QuestPit #W #R #PR #QueryingSoon

Image is a photo collage depicting the vibes of FATED FAKES by Kim Cayley. Thumbnail images include a journal, an amphibious vehicle, Halifax's Old Town Clock, a person's hands on a steering wheel, a three-diamond ring, tarot cards, palm reading, a classroom, and a rain storm

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Sophie Pinkoski @sophiemlpink.bsky.social · Aug 6

DAISY JONES x ROMEO + JULIET x PENNY DREADFUL
Demon queen, Helene Saturnine has been separated from her cosmic lover again & again. It doesn’t stop her from gathering sacrifices to bring him home to her every time. But one day, their lost child might just be among them…🥀 #QuestPit #A #H #DF

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Jade Mason @jademasonwrites.bsky.social · Aug 6

I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL x HAPPY PLACE x THE WEDDING PEOPLE

My #ownvoices adult coming-of-age novel (82k words) explores job struggles, grief, identity, and love while showing the quiet strength it takes to want something better. #questpit #q #a #wf w/ #r #agentsguide 📌 #bookclubread

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

kj is ✨querying✨ @kjsilver.bsky.social · Aug 6

❤️‍🔥 THE HEALER WITCH ❤️‍🔥

Some of my favourite quotes, from some of my favourite characters.
🌙Morally grey FMC
🔥Elemental magic
🌸Meddling Gods
✨Multi POV
❤️The slowest flame to ever burn
🍒Spanish+Gaelic Folklore

#questpit #Q #A #F

Image of Deva Cassel in her role in The Leopard, I have used Canva to put a mask over her eyes and edit the image. Text reads. Lunaryn M. Redwood "I got a bit carried away and used my fire. They kind of...um, how should I say this...combusted"

Image of Orlando Bloom, unsure in which role. Text reads: Onwyn Storm "Listen here, you little shit. I've had enough of your attitude. You will talk to her with respect, or I'll have you spending a couple of nights in jail for insubordination."

Image of a black model, unfortunately I couldn't find out who it is. Text reads: Damian Maghanty "I must look horrendous if you'd give up your virtue for me. Although, now that I think about it, it would do you good to get laid. Always working so hard and for what? You have no time for fun"

Image of Jessica Chastain in The Huntsmen. Text reads: Ignis Silver "Oh, sure. Because our friend can't be trusted but a random daimon from the biggest illegal market in Melya can be? Are you insane?"

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Ivy T. Woods ✨is agented✨ @ivytwoods.bsky.social · Aug 6

PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN X A bisexual BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL

Pirates of the Caribbean but if Elizabeth was a bisexual mage, Will was a lesbian monster/pirate, and James Norrington was an age-appropriate hottie that didn’t suck. Then add more angst and a cult

#A #F #R #FR #W #LGBT #OV

A moodboard that says “Sculptor of the Waves”
There are pictures of:
Waves in the top-left
A tall ship anchored in the bottom-left
An octopus writhing in the bottom-left-middle
Lightning on a dark blue sky in the bottom-right-middle
Cliffs overlooking a body of water in the top-right
In the bottom-right “Pirates of the Caribbean X A bisexual Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil”

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Reposted by Dierdre Cieran

Katie Knightley @katieknightley.bsky.social · Aug 6

SHIPPED X THE LOVE HATERS

💕 A romantic who doesn’t trust guys
+
😎 A walking red flag who’s only had 1 night stands
=
🤝 Teammates in a work competition where the stakes are high but the tension is higher.

Goal: win the promotions with their hearts intact.

🏝️🛥️🤿🌊🫶

#QuestPit #Q #A #R

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