Dan F. Beast
@danfbispo.bsky.social
120 followers 87 following 220 posts
Professional word extruder. Author of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Currently working on: FIRST LIGHT, a sci-fi novella
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danfbispo.bsky.social
This whole snippet is absolute fire. I love the use of pacey but evocative prose to keep it flowing while also saying so much and implying even more. What's this from?
Reposted by Dan F. Beast
danfbispo.bsky.social
I really thought the only push I had in my story was going to be mother of all spoilers, but nah. Turns out there are other options, and we shall remain unspoiled this day :)

From First Light:

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Nobody knew. Nobody could have known. And if they did—would they even have cared?
They walked in single file down a wide street, lined on both sides by ramshackle buildings, uneven and jagged, some bent, all covered in street art and fading calls to action. A mass of commuting bodies struggled to flow; a thousand species, a hundred models, the local and the ethereal all pushing impassively past each other. The concept of a crowd, until recently little more than a theoretical construct to her, had lost no time in becoming an omnipresent nuisance.
danfbispo.bsky.social
I really thought the only push I had in my story was going to be mother of all spoilers, but nah. Turns out there are other options, and we shall remain unspoiled this day :)

From First Light:

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Nobody knew. Nobody could have known. And if they did—would they even have cared?
They walked in single file down a wide street, lined on both sides by ramshackle buildings, uneven and jagged, some bent, all covered in street art and fading calls to action. A mass of commuting bodies struggled to flow; a thousand species, a hundred models, the local and the ethereal all pushing impassively past each other. The concept of a crowd, until recently little more than a theoretical construct to her, had lost no time in becoming an omnipresent nuisance.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Looking forward to this!
danfbispo.bsky.social
This is a wonderful initiative--goblincore in the best way possible.

I'm going to be staying with my family for a while and I can't wait to see what's around the area. There's a town nearby where everyone has avocado trees hanging over the sidewalk, and nobody ever harvests them...
herbygardens.bsky.social
Reposting the falling fruit map in case anyone wants to know where to forage in their area 🌱

fallingfruit.org
danfbispo.bsky.social
In time (the sequels, he means the sequels), other problems will arise, some of them with human faces. An unequipped Yana would fold immediately--but by then, she will not be that person anymore. She has gained in wisdom and companionship. She can face them head on. 3/3
danfbispo.bsky.social
As these minor challenges pile on, they become more than the sum of their parts. An amorphous mass of Problem-stuff that the protagonist, Yana, has not been equipped to overcome.

But sometimes all you need to do is find a loose seam, and the whole thing comes undone. Friends help. 2/3
danfbispo.bsky.social
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

#PlotTober Day 12 is "Antagonists" - of which there are none in First Light. Rather, the opposing force is culture shock, inner demons, and the dangers of an unsafe physical environment. 1/3
gunsmile.bsky.social
#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!
danfbispo.bsky.social
I was wondering what you'd bring out for this one!

I love seeing how each author tackles scenes where an introspective 'how did we get here' moment is sparked, even if it's a minor one. It reveals a lot about the character, and a little bit about the author too, I think.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Fooled me for a bit, unfortunately.

I'm not used to bot-infested waters like these. It will take me some time to get good at identifying them. Thanks for looking out for people!
danfbispo.bsky.social
This is gorgeous, I love it!
Reposted by Dan F. Beast
danfbispo.bsky.social
Hope comes up a lot in this one, both thematically and spelled out. That's probably a good thing.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
“Well, we’re here, aren’t we? We should disembark and look for our contact.”
At a loss for excuses, Yana rolled her shoulders and gestured for Rook to lead the way, and lead the way they did. Within minutes, the two were negotiating the tubelike corridors of the small ship with a familiarity that made Yana suspect Rook had been wandering them restlessly since their last meeting—and when they came to a halt in front of a completely nondescript door and started knocking, Yana had to take it at face value.
Like before, there was no answer. Yana tried button she hoped was a the doorbell, but still, nothing.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Hope comes up a lot in this one, both thematically and spelled out. That's probably a good thing.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
“Well, we’re here, aren’t we? We should disembark and look for our contact.”
At a loss for excuses, Yana rolled her shoulders and gestured for Rook to lead the way, and lead the way they did. Within minutes, the two were negotiating the tubelike corridors of the small ship with a familiarity that made Yana suspect Rook had been wandering them restlessly since their last meeting—and when they came to a halt in front of a completely nondescript door and started knocking, Yana had to take it at face value.
Like before, there was no answer. Yana tried button she hoped was a the doorbell, but still, nothing.
danfbispo.bsky.social
I really appreciate that! I can always use some guidance.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Oh, I have no doubt the price would be fair and 100% worth the money. I have many artist friends and it's remarkable to me how fantastic their work can be for how much they charge for it.

I'll look into Canva! I think I may have messed around with it before, actually.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Luckily anti-AI sentiment is widespread enough that it's not difficult to find great creators who don't touch the stuff. Which is a relief--a few years back I was convinced we were in the minority there.
danfbispo.bsky.social
That's fair! I would like to believe my art is worth a few coins, though. I can barely afford rent as is, so it would be great if my writing wasn't yet another money sink.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Making my own seems to be the wise thing to do here from what people are saying. I did get a premade one years ago for my previous novel, and I like to think I lucked out there because it fit the novel pretty well.

But now that them being AI-made is a possibility, I don't want to risk it anymore.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Yours are really good! Unfortunately, that kind of money is way beyond what I can afford at the best of times. I suppose commissioning was wishful thinking--I'm already operating at a loss as is.
danfbispo.bsky.social
That's pretty cool! And I guess it fits pretty well with the character I wrote, so I'll take it as a happy coincidence.
danfbispo.bsky.social
Coincidence, I'm afraid! I've never seen Doctor Who.
danfbispo.bsky.social
As her story furthers, Yana will have to stop running from her demons and come face to face with the unfortunate history of her homeworld, Vara IX--the colony that went dark.

She makes some progress in First Light, but it's a long journey, and she is just now taking her first steps. 4/4
danfbispo.bsky.social
This is something I hope to explore in the next novella in the series, but the seeds are scattered across this first book as well.

Lots of trauma, doesn't like thinking about the past or planning for the future, finds escapism in the present, and in keeping herself busy with work. 3/4