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C Alexandra

@nerdcactus.bsky.social

490 followers 310 following 990 posts

I'm a #writer of the three Gs: gods, ghosts, and (usually magical) girls. She/Her. Neurodivergent. Ace. Unapologetically leftist. I even write with my left hand. Say nice things about Detroit! #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hey! Do you want to hear about the badass leftist lesbians who shaped Eleanor Roosevelt's politics and (almost) the entire FDR presidency?

I know you do! Because who doesn't love badass leftist lesbians? #womenshistory #mythsogyny #americanhistory #lgbtqhistory

www.buzzsprout.com/1855074/epis...

Eleanor Roosevelt 2: "You Gain Strength, Courage, and Confidence..." - Mythsogyny

“...by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.In episode 2 of our Ken Burn's style odyssey about Eleanor, Chesnaye covers the roaring 20s. Flappers, t...

www.buzzsprout.com

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 33m

16. The inciting incident for Death Reborn is Shade appearing to Rei for the first time (she only heard his voice when they made their bargain) to tell her a map has entered the city and if she joins the expedition to follow it, their bargain will be fulfilled. #PlotTober #writingcommunity #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 17h

#PlotTober Day 16: Inciting Incident

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

16. Let's rewind back to Act 1 and explore the Inciting Incident. What are some ways the MC could realize something is different about their world/life without necessarily taking action yet? For example, a sudden death, a strange encounter, a mysterious letter, a lottery gone wrong.

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 3h

Coffeeshop and fancy pen vibes! Such progress! Much immaculate!

Reposted by C Alexandra

Dr Luke Steubenstein 👹 @lukesteuber.com · 1d

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Robin Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams, also recently slammed people who are making Al-generated videos of her late father, calling the clips "gross." She added, "To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to 'this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that's enough, just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop pup-peteering them is maddening. You're not making art, you're making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else's throat hoping they'll give you a little thumbs up and like it."

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 1d

15. A lot of trade routes follow the old roads of the Ancients. But as humans spread beyond the ancient borders, new ones have developed. Kythe grew powerful specifically because they can bypass old land routes and go as far as the Kansamere by ship. #OctoberWorldbuilders #writingcommunity #writesky

Prompts for October Worldbuilders writing game. Day 15 is Trade routes.

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 1d

15. The midpoint of the story is Rei accepting who and what she is. She's been fighting her need to belong and for family her entire life because she thinks not having them is true freedom. She's also been looking for a way out of her bargain with Shade but comes to embrace it. #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 1d

#PlotTober Day 15: The midpoint

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

15. The midpoint of the story serves two purposes: (1) it reveals critical information to the MC and (2) causes the MC to confront both who they used to be and who they need to become to grow, change, and/or achieve their goals. What are some ways you could do this?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 2d

14. The ending I have in mind is satisfying insofar as Rei and the Kythene story are concerned. There are some threads about Getaera that will continue in the sequel trilogy set up north. The Morsidae will get their comeuppance, Rei gets a happy ending, and the world continues. #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 2d

#PlotTober Day 14: Story endings

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

14. Now that you have some ideas of your story's beginning and the main character's goals & growth, can you come up with a few different story endings that would be satisfying for a reader?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks!

I did try plotting an in medias res opening, but the bulk of the story is several years later, so I just gave up and let myself write a dramatic resurrection scene as an opener. Much more fun this way anyway.

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 3d

13. A magical dagger she must use to complete each sacrifice to Shade. There is no evidence of her throat being slit, and she is healthier than she's ever been. But now she is bound irrevocably to a deity she loathes with her entire being. And he holds her literal life in his hands. So that's fun!

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 3d

13. Now, Rei loathes the Morsidae as she was sold to them as an infant and subject to immense cruelty growing up. Because she doesn't know Thadis doesn't approve of them, she assumes he's just like them. But she wants to live so badly, she accepts the deal and awakens on an ancillary island with-- 🧵

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 3d

13. Thadis actually has nothing to do with it, and one's resurrection depends on standing within the organization. Rei is a reject, so her murder is legitimate. Unlike the others, however, Thadis (Shade) does come to her and offers her a deal: 12 souls a year in exchange for returning her life. 🧵

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 3d

13. I'll be starting with a prologue. Deeply against fashion, I know, but a bit necessary. In it, Rei is brought for her Ascension, which is meant to be a ritual murder in which Shade's chosen are resurrected and the others remain dead. But as the Morsidae are wholly corrupt-- 🧵 #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 3d

#PlotTober Day 13: Story beginnings

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

13. Let's begin brainstorming the main plot points of our WIPs. Knowing what you know of your main character(s), what are a few potential ways you could begin their story?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

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C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 4d

12. Rei is as much up against herself as she is external forces. Her own fears and prejudices get in the way a lot. But she's also up against the Praesor, who recognizes her as supposed to be dead and knows she's a threat. There are also numerous political issues to deal with. #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 4d

#PlotTober Day 12: Antagonists

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

12. What could you use to represent obstacles that try to stop the main character(s) from achieving their goals and from growing into the person they could potentially be? Consider other characters, forces of nature, difficult circumstances, etc.

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 5d

10. I've discussed this a bit already, but Rei was sold to the Morsidae as an infant. While the life of a Morside can be opulent and powerful, it required a bloodthirsty ambition she never acquired. As such, she was emotionally abused her entire life until they murdered her. #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 6d

#PlotTober Day 10: MC backstory & traumas

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

10. What are some potential backstory or contextual reasons for your main character(s) having this kind of personality or behaving this way? In other words, what could have caused them to be the person they are at the start of your WIP?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 6d

9. Kythe has games that are a lot like chess and backgammon, but they prefer dice games, boat races, & balance games based on running along narrow beams over the canals that link some of the smaller islands. That's as far as I've gotten on this one. #OctoberWorldbuilders #writingcommunity #writesky

Prompts for October Worldbuilders writing game. Day 9 is Board games in your book's world?

C Alexandra @nerdcactus.bsky.social · 6d

9. Rei's a bit extreme personality-wise. She lives & parties hard, but she values silence & solitude. She wants no tethers but collects devoted friends & children, & chooses to save the god she once hated. She wants to be a misanthrope but is way too empathetic to succeed at it. #PlotTober #writesky

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 7d

#PlotTober Day 9: MC personality & behaviors

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky