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Rachel Beth Ahrens

@rachelbeth99.bsky.social

180 followers 76 following 780 posts

Crochet cosplayer, designer, #ownvoices unpublished speculative fiction writer, content creator on Patreon and Ko-Fi. Continued from Twitter & Mastodon. Writing WIPs: Eureka the Dragonheart, Debutante of Cassiopeia.

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 26d

Hey #WritingCommunity and #writersky along with the #crochetsky of this awesome butterfly app-
Good news, I won my Social Security case, but I'm also loosening up on my Patreon posts. More in this newsletter below. Please feel free to keep supporting me:
www.patreon.com/posts/what-k...

What kind of September it's been... For everyone- important update | Rachel The Faire

www.patreon.com

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 35m

#WritingCommunity #writersky #ownvoices
I feel you. I really do. I have almost the same problem in writing with my laptop, even writing in cursive a lot of times. Used to type thing instead of think a lot, even write it then cross it out at times. As a neurodivergent writer, I know I make too many.

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 9h

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day15 📚

So, as someone with #dyslexia I can tell you I've made hundreds, possibly thousands of such mistakes. But one I made over and over again was writing "abortion" instead of "aboriginal" 😳

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 15 What's a funny or embarrassing typo you've made while writing?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 39m

#WritingCommunity #writersky
There are TWO at least:
Myth #1: Writing is for neurotypical people. WRONG. There needs to be more authors with mental illness and autism out there.
Myth #2: Writing is for people who are 60 years and older. I'm 37 and I wanted to be published young. Writing is my life.

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 2d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 13 📚

I have two myths for this one
(1) Writing is easy
(2) Artists should work for love, not money

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat #thehillIwilldieon

October #writinglifemonthly Day 13 What's one myth about being an author you'd like to debunk?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 43m

#WritingCommunity #writersky
I've even tried entering a couple design contests for Lin-Manuel Miranda's TeeRico merchandise store and for LinFam DBS Day (Drama Book Shop in Broadway, NY), and I never got an honorable mention. Told you I'm bad at sketching and designing other than crochet stuff...

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 43m

#WritingCommunity #writersky
Apologies. I've never been published and I don't know anyone who can give me a great book cover for my novels, other than my boyfriend who can make one in DAZ software, but again, it's based in computer media. And I really hate Canva, too much advertising and hype.

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 43m

#WritingCommunity #writersky
Oh man, I don't like this prompt... I don't make cover art at all and I'm not a great artist other than drawing a cursive J-f to make a butterfly with my writing hand.
I tried making a design in Wattpad once, but the story never got off the ground. I'm BAD at covers...

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 1d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 12 📚

Published - Feel free to use this one as a promo

Unpublished - Don't tell me you haven't made a mockup

Readers - Share one of a book you want made 😁

Artists - Share your creations

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat #bookcover

October #writinglifemonthly Day 14 Post a mockuo of your book cover.
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 1d

I feel you. I hope you are well, I wish you all the best in recovery. You're doing everything you can, and I have faith in you. :)

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 1d

-I'm still a work in progress, and still trying to get better, it's an uphill battle. I'm still trying to get diagnosed with autism, but the good news is, I won my SSI/SSDI case, and I really hope that RFK Jr. doesn't touch me. Still waiting for the shoe to fall. We have the right to be worried.

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 1d

Love you right back. :) I know how you feel about this, believe me, I also have bipolar, plus autism, anxiety, and other mental illnesses a mile long. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with bipolar when I went off my anxiety meds because I lost my parents' insurance. Didn't know how messed up I was...

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 2d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
Practically the first couple paragraphs when I wrote them made me jump out of my seat and laugh. It's the first intro to the story, and it's pretty silly, at first.
The chapter ends like this:
I had no idea I was headed to who I really was.
A half siren. Part sorceress.

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 2d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
(cont)
"Mabel Luisa Darling, standing out in the cold streets of New York, waiting at the queue, wearing a very heavy silver dress with a corset back I can’t breathe in... dying to leave here, after our exploits with my best friend proved to be worthless?"

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 2d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
Black Magic Door, ch 1:
"“One trip to New York won’t hurt us,” she said. “Let’s go try to find him at the Drama Book Shop,” she said. “If not, we’ll try to see him at the New York Masquerade Ball and wear glamourous dresses doing it!” Fuck. Why was I...

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 3d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 12 📚

Easy one today, just a few lines, something you like, something you've changed, something you want feedback on, anything you want. Make sure you tell us a little about why you shared this piece.

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat #WIPsnippet

October #writinglifemonthly Day 12 Share a snippet (a few senteces) from a new project you're working on.
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 3d

#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
In fact, before he died, Robert Asprin praised my dad's filk group the Boogie Knights (from Maryland) as one of the best fantasy parody music groups here in the US. My dad was overjoyed to hear that about being a former filk writer.
It was around college in 2007.

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 3d

#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
As I've said before, Jane Austen influenced me a ton as a writer. Also, my dad told me to read Robert Asprin when I was in my 20s, especially the Myth books. I'm reading Dragons Wild, love that story.
I miss those authors and my dad most. Learned a lot from them.

Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.bsky.social · 4d

#pretendpanel I can't wait to catch up with your responses! Life is super busy here - I'm at a fundraising dinner right now - but let me know...

October 11th: Is there a deceased author, writer, or poet that you've really connected with?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

#pretendpanel
A prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social
October 11th: Is there a deceased author, writer, or poet that you've really connected with?
~ please support your fellow #pretendpanelists with replies, likes and reposts ~
New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
-Austen's novels like Northanger and Pride & Prejudice are the core essentials to helping me at the cornerstone of being a good writer. Similarly, reading sci fi fantasy stories like Red Queen, Fourth Wing, and comforting stories by Robert Asprin also teach me loads.

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
-Jane Austen also wrote novels to be something of satire over the Georgian/ Regency era, to be somehow chaotic and funny to laugh at and criticize how women in those times had nothing, along with hope for women in the future to seek what they desire...

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
-Catherine Morland goes to all these grand parties at the age of 18 in Bath to be entered in society, but she's too hopped up on the Gothic novels, which the author Jane Austen hated, as the chaos. It's love that sets Catherine right, and there has to be calm in chaos..

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
This is easy. From a dead author, Northanger Abbey is my favorite book of Jane Austen, and it definitely shaped my writing in a romance concept between my MCs and love interests through sci fi and fantasy. Northanger gave me a sense of calm in times of chaos-

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 6d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 09 📚

This one's not just a book you love, but one that makes you want to write. It could be fiction or non-fiction. What about it inspires you?

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 09 Tell us about a book that inspired your own writing.
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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
(2/2)
I hope I'm remembered for the things I've written as tales people can look back on to help make a difference in the world and shape the future. I hope that when I die, people will see the errors of the early 21st century, and the hope of tomorrow.

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 4d

#WritingCommunity #pretendpanel
This is a tough one, and it's a bit scary to answer this...
Since my mom is the only next of kin I have left now, and I will never be a mom, I sure hope that in my will, my next of kin will be my friends and my readers who will keep my writing alive. (1/2)

Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.bsky.social · 5d

#pretendpanel, I'm at a retreat over the next few days so I am incorrigibly absent! However, tell me...

October 10th: Writing and reading are kinds of necromancy. How do you hope your writing will hold/reflect your ghost after you're gone?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

#pretendpanel
a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social
October 10th: Writing and reading are kinds of necromancy. How do you hope your writing will hold/reflect your ghost after you're gone?
Please support your fellow #pretentpanel posters with replies, likes and reposts
New #pretendpanel questions every Friday and Saturday. Hop in any time!

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 5d

Agreed.
I also love the Snoopy photo...
#WritingCommunity #writersky

Barbara Nicholson @barbaranicholson.bsky.social · 5d

Writers - write with conviction and hold on to that positive attitude as you do.

#Author
#WritingCommunity

It’s Friday. Believe that anything is possible. Have a fantastic day and a wonderful weekend.

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 7d

That Fall Out Boy song is one of my favorites! Kudos! :) You have good taste!

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 7d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
(cont.) (2/2)
"What a Time to Be Alive"- Fall Out Boy
Eureka the Dragonheart (Eureka): "Land of Confusion"- Genesis, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"- Celine Dion
And not a single Taylor Swift song in sight because I can't stand her- I'm a rocker chick...

Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 7d

#WritingCommunity #writersky
I'd have a playlist for my MCs:
Debutante of Cassiopeia (Marina): "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" from the Hamilton Mixtape
Black Magic Door (Mabel): "Girl Next Door"- Saving Jane, Theme from the first Aquaman movie
How to Serve Gamers (Elina)- (1/2)

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 7d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 08 📚

Is there a song that instantly makes you think of your MC?

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 08 If your main character had a theme song, what would it be?
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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 7d

Sadly, I'm too broke to get an editor, a professional one... My boyfriend is a much better editor than me, but he prefers to read short stories, but he's my biggest supporter in writing and in love. But as I'm on SSI/SSDI, I'm trying to be careful where I spend my money...

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Rachel Beth Ahrens @rachelbeth99.bsky.social · 7d

I'm in a couple of writers' circles right now, and I've gotten some feedback on that first draft already... I'm definitely looking to revise that one soon enough.
I think I'm good, thank you, though.

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