Kali Benson
@authorkalibenson.bsky.social
I write to give the voices in my head something productive to do.
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Romance Author
🕵🏽♂️ Detective Thriller Author
🏳️🌈 Demi + Aro 🏳️🌈
🧠 Bipolar2 + Autism + ADHD
✊🏾 Completely Radicalized Democratic Socialist
https://authorkalibenson.com
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Romance Author
🕵🏽♂️ Detective Thriller Author
🏳️🌈 Demi + Aro 🏳️🌈
🧠 Bipolar2 + Autism + ADHD
✊🏾 Completely Radicalized Democratic Socialist
https://authorkalibenson.com
I did the thing. dl.bookfunnel.com/yah1asi5zq
The Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion aims to increase accurate, authentic, compassionate, and respectful representation of the vast and varied neurodivergent experience.
#PublishingJourney #MMRomance #DebutAuthor
The Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion aims to increase accurate, authentic, compassionate, and respectful representation of the vast and varied neurodivergent experience.
#PublishingJourney #MMRomance #DebutAuthor
Does time heal all wounds? Or just create more?
A 53K-word slow-burn low-spice novella
Being co-owner of Ambassadors Publishing means there’s not much room for anything else in Luke Shepherd’s life, let alone love. His life is simple. The steady ro...
dl.bookfunnel.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
I did the thing. dl.bookfunnel.com/yah1asi5zq
The Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion aims to increase accurate, authentic, compassionate, and respectful representation of the vast and varied neurodivergent experience.
#PublishingJourney #MMRomance #DebutAuthor
The Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion aims to increase accurate, authentic, compassionate, and respectful representation of the vast and varied neurodivergent experience.
#PublishingJourney #MMRomance #DebutAuthor
10 days.
Freaking 10 days until Luke and Orion step out from beyond my brain to the wide reading world.
You can download the first 11 Neurodivergence in Queer Romance stories here, available for free ONLY for the month of January: tinyurl.com/ndiqr-info
#NeurodivergenceRep #QueerRomance
Freaking 10 days until Luke and Orion step out from beyond my brain to the wide reading world.
You can download the first 11 Neurodivergence in Queer Romance stories here, available for free ONLY for the month of January: tinyurl.com/ndiqr-info
#NeurodivergenceRep #QueerRomance
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
10 days.
Freaking 10 days until Luke and Orion step out from beyond my brain to the wide reading world.
You can download the first 11 Neurodivergence in Queer Romance stories here, available for free ONLY for the month of January: tinyurl.com/ndiqr-info
#NeurodivergenceRep #QueerRomance
Freaking 10 days until Luke and Orion step out from beyond my brain to the wide reading world.
You can download the first 11 Neurodivergence in Queer Romance stories here, available for free ONLY for the month of January: tinyurl.com/ndiqr-info
#NeurodivergenceRep #QueerRomance
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
#OhGodItsHappening
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
#OhGodItsHappening
a man in a tie dye shirt is standing in front of a wall of plaques
Alt: a man in a tie dye shirt is standing in front of a wall of plaques and openly gasping for air
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 AM
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
#OhGodItsHappening
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
My manuscript is at the interior designer...
#OhGodItsHappening
I'm really, REALLY doing this! My debut novella goes live in a little over 3 weeks as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance promo event on BookFunnel! 🫢😬🫣
#AmWriting #IndieAuthor #MMRomance #NeurodivergenceRep
#AmWriting #IndieAuthor #MMRomance #NeurodivergenceRep
January 8, 2026 at 7:36 PM
I'm really, REALLY doing this! My debut novella goes live in a little over 3 weeks as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance promo event on BookFunnel! 🫢😬🫣
#AmWriting #IndieAuthor #MMRomance #NeurodivergenceRep
#AmWriting #IndieAuthor #MMRomance #NeurodivergenceRep
Of course it's two days after I send the manuscript to beta readers that my Muse is like, "OMG, you know what would work here?? That epilogue you deleted from the outline!"
#WriterProblems #AmEditing #RevisionPlanning
#WriterProblems #AmEditing #RevisionPlanning
a bald man wearing a plaid shirt and a black vest
Alt: a bald man wearing a plaid shirt and a black vest turning away from the camera in frustration
media.tenor.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Of course it's two days after I send the manuscript to beta readers that my Muse is like, "OMG, you know what would work here?? That epilogue you deleted from the outline!"
#WriterProblems #AmEditing #RevisionPlanning
#WriterProblems #AmEditing #RevisionPlanning
The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go.
*sigh*
*sigh*
December 19, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go.
*sigh*
*sigh*
Line/copy edit draft? ✅
Compile in Scrivener? ✅
Format in Word? ✅
Convert to PDF? ✅
Send to beta readers?? ✅
Guys... What do I do with my hands now?
#WeeknightWriters #WritingCommunity #MMRomance #IndieAuthor
Compile in Scrivener? ✅
Format in Word? ✅
Convert to PDF? ✅
Send to beta readers?? ✅
Guys... What do I do with my hands now?
#WeeknightWriters #WritingCommunity #MMRomance #IndieAuthor
December 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Line/copy edit draft? ✅
Compile in Scrivener? ✅
Format in Word? ✅
Convert to PDF? ✅
Send to beta readers?? ✅
Guys... What do I do with my hands now?
#WeeknightWriters #WritingCommunity #MMRomance #IndieAuthor
Compile in Scrivener? ✅
Format in Word? ✅
Convert to PDF? ✅
Send to beta readers?? ✅
Guys... What do I do with my hands now?
#WeeknightWriters #WritingCommunity #MMRomance #IndieAuthor
First Draft word count: 49,981 words
Chapters Line/Copyedited: 15/21
Current word count: 49,914 words
Total Words Cut? 67
😑
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingProcess #WritingCommunity
Chapters Line/Copyedited: 15/21
Current word count: 49,914 words
Total Words Cut? 67
😑
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingProcess #WritingCommunity
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 AM
First Draft word count: 49,981 words
Chapters Line/Copyedited: 15/21
Current word count: 49,914 words
Total Words Cut? 67
😑
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingProcess #WritingCommunity
Chapters Line/Copyedited: 15/21
Current word count: 49,914 words
Total Words Cut? 67
😑
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingProcess #WritingCommunity
Today I start line editing my draft. Why so soon after finishing?
Because this bad boy comes out on February 1st as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion event!
EEK!
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingCommunity
Because this bad boy comes out on February 1st as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion event!
EEK!
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingCommunity
December 15, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Today I start line editing my draft. Why so soon after finishing?
Because this bad boy comes out on February 1st as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion event!
EEK!
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingCommunity
Because this bad boy comes out on February 1st as part of the Neurodivergence in Queer Romance BookFunnel Promotion event!
EEK!
#AmEditing #RevisionTime #WritingCommunity
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 2,231 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +3,279 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 49,981/estimated 50,000
Chapters to Go: 0
Total Writing Days: 74
MY FIRST DRAFT IS DONE! 🫢😯🥹😭😭😭😭😭
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WritingCommunity
Draft: 2,231 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +3,279 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 49,981/estimated 50,000
Chapters to Go: 0
Total Writing Days: 74
MY FIRST DRAFT IS DONE! 🫢😯🥹😭😭😭😭😭
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WritingCommunity
a woman is making a funny face while touching her nose .
Alt: A Black woman with braided hair making a funny face while touching her forehead in confusion.
media.tenor.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 2,231 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +3,279 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 49,981/estimated 50,000
Chapters to Go: 0
Total Writing Days: 74
MY FIRST DRAFT IS DONE! 🫢😯🥹😭😭😭😭😭
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WritingCommunity
Draft: 2,231 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +3,279 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 49,981/estimated 50,000
Chapters to Go: 0
Total Writing Days: 74
MY FIRST DRAFT IS DONE! 🫢😯🥹😭😭😭😭😭
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WritingCommunity
There may come a day when Kansas's "Carry On (Wayward Son)" does NOT remind me of Supernatural.
Today is not that day.
#WritingPlaylist #AmWriting
Today is not that day.
#WritingPlaylist #AmWriting
a black and white photo of two men standing next to each other looking at each other .
Alt: A gif of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles (Sam and Dean Winchester of Supernatural) dancing next to each other. Jensen looks at the camera at the end.
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
There may come a day when Kansas's "Carry On (Wayward Son)" does NOT remind me of Supernatural.
Today is not that day.
#WritingPlaylist #AmWriting
Today is not that day.
#WritingPlaylist #AmWriting
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,708 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,767 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 46,591
Chapters to Go: 2.5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~90%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #AlmostDone #WTFIsEvenHappening #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Draft: 1,708 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,767 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 46,591
Chapters to Go: 2.5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~90%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #AlmostDone #WTFIsEvenHappening #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
kermit the frog is covering his mouth with his hand and looking at the camera .
Alt: Kermit the Frog is covering his mouth with his hand and looking at the camera while shaking.
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,708 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,767 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 46,591
Chapters to Go: 2.5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~90%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #AlmostDone #WTFIsEvenHappening #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Draft: 1,708 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,767 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 46,591
Chapters to Go: 2.5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~90%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #AlmostDone #WTFIsEvenHappening #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,374 words
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +1,936 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 44,364
Chapters to Go: 3.33
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~85%
ALMOST THERE 😱😭
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
Draft: 1,374 words
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +1,936 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 44,364
Chapters to Go: 3.33
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~85%
ALMOST THERE 😱😭
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
December 9, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,374 words
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +1,936 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 44,364
Chapters to Go: 3.33
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~85%
ALMOST THERE 😱😭
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
Draft: 1,374 words
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +1,936 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 44,364
Chapters to Go: 3.33
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~85%
ALMOST THERE 😱😭
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
Tonight's progress:
Draft: -39 words
Chapters to Go: 4
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~80%
The whole premise almost fell apart. Cue 16-hour author panic. Finally threw out the last four chapters' outline and redid it. Back on track.
#AmWriting #WriterProblems #FirstDraftFall
Draft: -39 words
Chapters to Go: 4
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~80%
The whole premise almost fell apart. Cue 16-hour author panic. Finally threw out the last four chapters' outline and redid it. Back on track.
#AmWriting #WriterProblems #FirstDraftFall
December 8, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: -39 words
Chapters to Go: 4
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~80%
The whole premise almost fell apart. Cue 16-hour author panic. Finally threw out the last four chapters' outline and redid it. Back on track.
#AmWriting #WriterProblems #FirstDraftFall
Draft: -39 words
Chapters to Go: 4
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~80%
The whole premise almost fell apart. Cue 16-hour author panic. Finally threw out the last four chapters' outline and redid it. Back on track.
#AmWriting #WriterProblems #FirstDraftFall
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,115 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +595 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 42,963
Chapters to Go: 4
This most recent chapter was so much harder to write than I ever expected. My heart hurts.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MentalHealthMatters
Draft: 1,115 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +595 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 42,963
Chapters to Go: 4
This most recent chapter was so much harder to write than I ever expected. My heart hurts.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MentalHealthMatters
December 7, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,115 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +595 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 42,963
Chapters to Go: 4
This most recent chapter was so much harder to write than I ever expected. My heart hurts.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MentalHealthMatters
Draft: 1,115 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +595 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 42,963
Chapters to Go: 4
This most recent chapter was so much harder to write than I ever expected. My heart hurts.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MentalHealthMatters
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 947 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,634 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 41,848
Chapters to Go: 4.56
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~70%
#AmWriting #AlmostThere #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance
Draft: 947 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,634 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 41,848
Chapters to Go: 4.56
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~70%
#AmWriting #AlmostThere #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance
December 6, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 947 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,634 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 41,848
Chapters to Go: 4.56
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~70%
#AmWriting #AlmostThere #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance
Draft: 947 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +1,634 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 41,848
Chapters to Go: 4.56
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~70%
#AmWriting #AlmostThere #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance
Reposted by Kali Benson
Dialogue-only drafts are truly one of the most effective ways to figure out who your characters are in relation to each other and the world around them. They're also a fun way to let your subconscious run free for a bit.
I write first drafts in chaotic bullet points with dialogue snippets tossed in like confetti. It makes no sense to anyone else, but it gets me past the blank page. Later, I sculpt. First comes mess, then meaning. #writinglife #process #amwriting
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Dialogue-only drafts are truly one of the most effective ways to figure out who your characters are in relation to each other and the world around them. They're also a fun way to let your subconscious run free for a bit.
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,509 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,419 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 40,901
Chapters to Go: 5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~60%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Draft: 1,509 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,419 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 40,901
Chapters to Go: 5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~60%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
December 5, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,509 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,419 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 40,901
Chapters to Go: 5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~60%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Draft: 1,509 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,419 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 40,901
Chapters to Go: 5
Chance of finishing by December 15th? ~60%
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance #WritingCommunity #WeeknightWriters
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 925 words
Elsewhere: 498
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +905 MMC
Total Draft Word Count: 39,387
Chapters to Go: 5.55
Chance of finishing by December 15th? 65-ish%
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
Draft: 925 words
Elsewhere: 498
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +905 MMC
Total Draft Word Count: 39,387
Chapters to Go: 5.55
Chance of finishing by December 15th? 65-ish%
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
December 4, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 925 words
Elsewhere: 498
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +905 MMC
Total Draft Word Count: 39,387
Chapters to Go: 5.55
Chance of finishing by December 15th? 65-ish%
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
Draft: 925 words
Elsewhere: 498
Difference between MMCs' word counts: +905 MMC
Total Draft Word Count: 39,387
Chapters to Go: 5.55
Chance of finishing by December 15th? 65-ish%
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #MMRomance
If you need a callback to the good ol' days of Al Gore's interwebs, go to Google and search "Geocities".
This is what I get for slipping random references that show my age into my manuscript. 🪦👵🏾
#ComicSans #MyBackHurts #WriterProblems
This is what I get for slipping random references that show my age into my manuscript. 🪦👵🏾
#ComicSans #MyBackHurts #WriterProblems
December 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
If you need a callback to the good ol' days of Al Gore's interwebs, go to Google and search "Geocities".
This is what I get for slipping random references that show my age into my manuscript. 🪦👵🏾
#ComicSans #MyBackHurts #WriterProblems
This is what I get for slipping random references that show my age into my manuscript. 🪦👵🏾
#ComicSans #MyBackHurts #WriterProblems
I just reached out to a super-famous queer romance cover photographer about licensing/buying one of their images for my novel.
The gasp I gasped! 😱😱😱
"The image you requested is available. Price is $1,250."
#WriterProblems
The gasp I gasped! 😱😱😱
"The image you requested is available. Price is $1,250."
#WriterProblems
sulley from monsters inc is making a face with his hands
Alt: Sulley from Monsters Inc. is making a face with his hands and fainting.
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I just reached out to a super-famous queer romance cover photographer about licensing/buying one of their images for my novel.
The gasp I gasped! 😱😱😱
"The image you requested is available. Price is $1,250."
#WriterProblems
The gasp I gasped! 😱😱😱
"The image you requested is available. Price is $1,250."
#WriterProblems
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,527 words
Elsewhere: 322
Difference between MMCs word counts: +96 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 38,462
Estimated Words Left: ~13,000
Chapters to Go: 6 😱
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance #FirstDraftFall
Draft: 1,527 words
Elsewhere: 322
Difference between MMCs word counts: +96 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 38,462
Estimated Words Left: ~13,000
Chapters to Go: 6 😱
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance #FirstDraftFall
December 3, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Tonight's progress:
Draft: 1,527 words
Elsewhere: 322
Difference between MMCs word counts: +96 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 38,462
Estimated Words Left: ~13,000
Chapters to Go: 6 😱
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance #FirstDraftFall
Draft: 1,527 words
Elsewhere: 322
Difference between MMCs word counts: +96 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 38,462
Estimated Words Left: ~13,000
Chapters to Go: 6 😱
#AmWriting #WeeknightWriters #MMRomance #FirstDraftFall
Draft: 2,256 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,240 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 36,194
Chapters to Go: 7
If I write a chapter every other day, I'll finish in time to do a final line-edit readthrough before I send it to my sensitivity/beta reader(s)! 🫢😱🤯
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,240 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 36,194
Chapters to Go: 7
If I write a chapter every other day, I'll finish in time to do a final line-edit readthrough before I send it to my sensitivity/beta reader(s)! 🫢😱🤯
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall
I haven't written anything in two days. I'm going back to my drafting notebook. It always helps me get out my own way.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Draft: 2,256 words
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,240 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 36,194
Chapters to Go: 7
If I write a chapter every other day, I'll finish in time to do a final line-edit readthrough before I send it to my sensitivity/beta reader(s)! 🫢😱🤯
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall
Difference between MMCs word counts: +2,240 MMC1
Total Draft Word Count: 36,194
Chapters to Go: 7
If I write a chapter every other day, I'll finish in time to do a final line-edit readthrough before I send it to my sensitivity/beta reader(s)! 🫢😱🤯
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall
I haven't written anything in two days. I'm going back to my drafting notebook. It always helps me get out my own way.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife
November 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I haven't written anything in two days. I'm going back to my drafting notebook. It always helps me get out my own way.
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife
#AmWriting #FirstDraftFall #WriterLife