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Brooke Lorren

@brookelorren.bsky.social

1K followers 89 following 550 posts

Aspiring author- speculative fiction and mostly medieval nonfiction. Christian, (still) NeverTrump conservative.

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Jun 11

She wants to prove her innocence. He just wants to live indoors again. THE ELF AND THE OUTLAW. A better title than NaNoWriMo 2022, lol.

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · 26d

They obviously haven’t read your book if they think food shaming is okay.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 19

I think they were trying to intimidate me into joining their cult. Instead, it made we dislike their Dear Leader that much more.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 18

Books are better anyway. Another book that would be appropriate right now is Sebastian Haffner’s unfinished memoir “Defying Hitler”. I just got it from the library again for a reread.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 18

I’m a NeverTrump conservative. Yeah, wishing death upon someone is really going to convince them to come to your side.

I’ve never had liberals say my family should be dead to my (virtual) face, just Trumpists. 2/2

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 18

So in 2015 T#*+# said that he wanted to kill the family members of terrorists. My husband’s bio-dad was a criminal. When I pointed out the unfairness of killing people based on who their family was, they pointed out that Romans would regularly go into town and kill people to send a message. 1/2

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 13

Erenya only trades with Soyuza because they have been isolated from the rest of the world. It’s usually done via wagons or on rivers. Ship trade existed thousands of years ago when they traded with the nations to the South.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 11

Most of them, no. One of my characters, in a book I plan to rewrite in November, has a “No Regerts” tattoo, spelled wrong on purpose.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 11

I read books while working with my son at Taco Bell.

In my off time, I’m working on my 13th draft of a book. A few people say what they’ve read is good. Hopefully I can get a few more eyes on it and query after the next draft.

And I’m going to Europe next month for a nice vacation.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 8

Ability isn’t there, but able is.

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 7

Even better, it will cost millions to change the name, and when we get a sane president without murder aspirations we’ll have to spend millions to change it back!

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

The one thing that concerned me the most when watching Alien was whether they go back to get the cat. If they left Jonesie on the ship, that would have immediately knocked off several stars from my rating.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

He lost after he went pro-T#%*#%. I really don’t understand why people don’t see this.

This November I plan to rewrite my NaNo2019 book. Some critique partners thought I was writing about T#%*^, but it was a book inspired by Sebastian Hafner’s book Defying H$tler. Although there’s coincidences.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

Maybe now, but what would happen if I put you in the Middle Ages and falsely accuse you of murder or sorcery? I bet your character would do interesting things then.

#StoryCrafter

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

Several times. I don’t even try to disguise it sometimes. I name the characters after myself 🤣.

But sometimes even my regular characters get my flaws. They sometimes like some of the same things I do.

#pretendpanel

Hiria Dunning @hiriadunning.bsky.social · Sep 6

Tell me #pretendpanel:

September 6th: Have you ever written a self-insert character?

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

#pretendpanel
a daily prompt tag hosted by @hiriadunning.bsky.social
September 6th: Have you ever written a self-insert character?
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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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

Lila and Ren met in a cave while she was fleeing the palace.

Melody met Quintus while he was crying behind her barn after his parents had had a fight (domestic abuse, they were 5).

#dailyocs

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Sep 6

Happy birthday! Enjoy your wonderful day.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 27

From SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST:

She might never get to be the astronomer to the king, but something told me that this wouldn’t be our last adventure together.

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · Aug 26

The #WIPSnips word for August 26th is "adventure"

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
August 26 - adventure
Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration
Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics
Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine.
Support others on the #WIPSnips tag!
Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social

The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 26

I’m on Volume 3 of “The Way it Was”. I think volume 1 started in 2016. I try to explain life to someone reading from the future, because I realized there’s a lot of mundane things that people don’t know about people from the past. It’s on paper because of bitrot.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 26

Wow. Pretty ironic. Difficult to see how some people don’t see it.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 25

From SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity

The battlefield spilling across the canvas looked like it covered more area than our entire village. Dying elves lay in front of the queen, some with their intestines hanging out, nearly all bleeding. It was the most gruesome sight I’d ever seen.
“Do you think this was a real battle?” Melody asked.
“I don’t know. We don’t get a lot of news from Soyuza. Perhaps, if it is, then it explains why the elves are so desperately building a new city here. Didn’t Lily tell us that the queen and her daughter didn’t see things the same way?”

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 23

Congrats!

Was it a peach smoothie?

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 23

I almost never use said because I usually write present tense 😂. I often use say or says.

But I prefer to use action tags when it makes sense to do so.

#SummeeOfStory

Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 23

Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 23: Dialogue Tags & Action Beats

Disclaimer: This is a prompt game to discuss common writing tips & techniques, not an attempt to tell people how to write.

Over to you: This is a controversial one. Very curious to hear everyone's takes.

#WritingPrompt

1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction

This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text 'August 23rd' at the top and the writing prompt 'Dialogue Tags & Action Beats' in big script letters. There is a typewriter in the corner with a note saying 'TOOLS not RULES'. On the right, there is a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm leaf background.

Transcription:
August 23rd
Dialogue Tags & Action Beats
What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before — or do you avoid it?
Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene.

2: What & Why

This slide looks like a piece of lined notebook paper with teal palm leaves in the background. Headings 'What?' and 'Why?' are taped to the page. A counterpoint note is taped across the top. A blue butterfly decorates the corner.

Transcription:
Counterpoint: Dialogue tags are one of the most divisive topics in style. Many writers argue that synonyms for said can signal tone, emotion, or energy in ways that enrich the dialogue.
What?
Most modern style guides recommend keeping Dialogue Tags both simple and scarce. They advise using only said (or asked), which is considered unobtrusive, and limiting their frequency. When attribution is obvious, Action Beats — brief gestures or movements — are often preferable to extra tags, since they identify the speaker while adding texture.
Why?
Proponents argue said disappears into the background. Unlike more expressive synonyms, it doesn't intrude on the scene or compete with the dialogue. That invisibility lets the words themselves carry emotion, tone, and subtext.

3: In Practice

This slide looks like a piece of graph paper with teal palm leaves in the background. On the left, an excerpt from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice appears in a beige box. On the right, a taped paper section explains Austen's use of dialogue with minimal tags. A speech bubble highlights her approach, and a bluesky butterfly decorates the page.

Transcription:
Jane Austen: Dialogue Without Distraction
Chapter 10
[Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen]
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen relies mostly on said, though she occasionally uses synonyms like cried or observed. Often she lets dialogue stand alone, trusting the voices and rhythm to carry tone. When she does break in, it's usually with something minimal — "He made no answer," or "He was silent" — which shapes pacing without intruding.

4: What do you think?

This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using dialogue tags and action beats. There's a speech bubble repeating 'TOOLS not RULES', a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background.

Transcription:
What do you think?
What's your take on Dialogue Tags & Action Beats? Do you stick with said, or do you prefer to vary your tags for colour and rhythm? Do you use tags scarcely or attribute most dialogue? Do you find yourself leaning more on action beats to handle attribution, or do you like the clarity of a tag?
Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome — just please don't set anyone on fire!

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Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 23

I’m still working on my 2018 novel… so you’re faster than me.

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 23

Lila has food and clothes in her bag. Ren would have food, clothes, a knife, a firestarter, a block of wood, and coins in his bag.

#dailyocs

Brooke Lorren @brookelorren.bsky.social · Aug 22

My characters go to a masquerade ball too. Probably for different reasons though.