C. W. Maurer
@cwmaurer.substack.com
Author of epic fantasy and low-tech sci-fi. Engineer, coach, gamer, mom, and hobby collector in New England.
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Fueled by tea, video game soundtracks, and dog snuggles.
(She/her)
Belated update: I listened to it while doing some crochet the other day, because that seemed appropriate, and it was very fun 😁
Thank you for writing it!
Thank you for writing it!
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Belated update: I listened to it while doing some crochet the other day, because that seemed appropriate, and it was very fun 😁
Thank you for writing it!
Thank you for writing it!
👏👏👏
For science!
Gotta be getting that data!
For science!
Gotta be getting that data!
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
👏👏👏
For science!
Gotta be getting that data!
For science!
Gotta be getting that data!
Our current field has fewer insect-distractions, but I do miss calling a halt to practice to have everyone admire a walking stick or praying mantis (before relocating it somewhere with less squash-risk)
New field gets turkey flocks wandering through now and then, though, so it's not all a loss.
New field gets turkey flocks wandering through now and then, though, so it's not all a loss.
November 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Our current field has fewer insect-distractions, but I do miss calling a halt to practice to have everyone admire a walking stick or praying mantis (before relocating it somewhere with less squash-risk)
New field gets turkey flocks wandering through now and then, though, so it's not all a loss.
New field gets turkey flocks wandering through now and then, though, so it's not all a loss.
I think my favorite part of this (which is all wonderful) was the note at the end.
As a coach of middle school soccer players, I have had this sort of thing occur multiple times over the years. Especially when the field was next to the woods, and we'd get interesting bugs hanging out on the goals.
As a coach of middle school soccer players, I have had this sort of thing occur multiple times over the years. Especially when the field was next to the woods, and we'd get interesting bugs hanging out on the goals.
November 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I think my favorite part of this (which is all wonderful) was the note at the end.
As a coach of middle school soccer players, I have had this sort of thing occur multiple times over the years. Especially when the field was next to the woods, and we'd get interesting bugs hanging out on the goals.
As a coach of middle school soccer players, I have had this sort of thing occur multiple times over the years. Especially when the field was next to the woods, and we'd get interesting bugs hanging out on the goals.
When my husband and kiddo go out on errands, I'm always reminded that the range of weird sad noises a single large dog can produce is remarkable.
How could they abandon him so, to leave him with the other person who loves and feeds and scritches him and is right over there on the couch?
How could they abandon him so, to leave him with the other person who loves and feeds and scritches him and is right over there on the couch?
November 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
When my husband and kiddo go out on errands, I'm always reminded that the range of weird sad noises a single large dog can produce is remarkable.
How could they abandon him so, to leave him with the other person who loves and feeds and scritches him and is right over there on the couch?
How could they abandon him so, to leave him with the other person who loves and feeds and scritches him and is right over there on the couch?
The vast majority of the time, it's fine (thanks to regular strength and mobility work).
As a coach who sometimes jumps into activities with the team that I'm definitely not in shape to be doing, I put it through a lot.
The fact that it doesn't give more trouble is the more surprising thing.
As a coach who sometimes jumps into activities with the team that I'm definitely not in shape to be doing, I put it through a lot.
The fact that it doesn't give more trouble is the more surprising thing.
November 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The vast majority of the time, it's fine (thanks to regular strength and mobility work).
As a coach who sometimes jumps into activities with the team that I'm definitely not in shape to be doing, I put it through a lot.
The fact that it doesn't give more trouble is the more surprising thing.
As a coach who sometimes jumps into activities with the team that I'm definitely not in shape to be doing, I put it through a lot.
The fact that it doesn't give more trouble is the more surprising thing.
Oy. Knees are good at getting things pinched in end ranges of motion.
I had ACL reconstruction in college, and when weather is funky, it does all sorts of weird things if it's straightened or bent the whole way.
It often involves lots of "Will it be fine tomorrow? Or will it mean months of PT?"
I had ACL reconstruction in college, and when weather is funky, it does all sorts of weird things if it's straightened or bent the whole way.
It often involves lots of "Will it be fine tomorrow? Or will it mean months of PT?"
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Oy. Knees are good at getting things pinched in end ranges of motion.
I had ACL reconstruction in college, and when weather is funky, it does all sorts of weird things if it's straightened or bent the whole way.
It often involves lots of "Will it be fine tomorrow? Or will it mean months of PT?"
I had ACL reconstruction in college, and when weather is funky, it does all sorts of weird things if it's straightened or bent the whole way.
It often involves lots of "Will it be fine tomorrow? Or will it mean months of PT?"
I hate driving, so when I have to do it, I enjoy adding in the adventure of "solo concert, featuring me" where I (an alto at highest. Probably a contralto if I'd ever done any proper voice training) pretend I can hit all the notes in pop songs.
(I can't. But I have fun)
(I can't. But I have fun)
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
I hate driving, so when I have to do it, I enjoy adding in the adventure of "solo concert, featuring me" where I (an alto at highest. Probably a contralto if I'd ever done any proper voice training) pretend I can hit all the notes in pop songs.
(I can't. But I have fun)
(I can't. But I have fun)
Fitting, then, that this one is on my Thanksgiving travel reading list because parenting and general life responsibilities aren't going to allow me the time to sit down and enjoy it before then. 😅
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Fitting, then, that this one is on my Thanksgiving travel reading list because parenting and general life responsibilities aren't going to allow me the time to sit down and enjoy it before then. 😅
I did miss it! Thank you for the notice. I will now be checking this out immediately! 😁
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I did miss it! Thank you for the notice. I will now be checking this out immediately! 😁
It depends on the scene, for sure. And on the character.
I have some characters who will gladly muddle through their own thoughts for pages (sometimes engagingly, sometimes it needs a lot of trimming).
Others have very little verbal internal monologue, which means needing to be more strategic.
I have some characters who will gladly muddle through their own thoughts for pages (sometimes engagingly, sometimes it needs a lot of trimming).
Others have very little verbal internal monologue, which means needing to be more strategic.
November 9, 2025 at 1:32 PM
It depends on the scene, for sure. And on the character.
I have some characters who will gladly muddle through their own thoughts for pages (sometimes engagingly, sometimes it needs a lot of trimming).
Others have very little verbal internal monologue, which means needing to be more strategic.
I have some characters who will gladly muddle through their own thoughts for pages (sometimes engagingly, sometimes it needs a lot of trimming).
Others have very little verbal internal monologue, which means needing to be more strategic.
Just read this one last month, and have been counting down days til I can get my hands on the sequel!
November 7, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Just read this one last month, and have been counting down days til I can get my hands on the sequel!
Appa says that it is time for scritches, not naps.
November 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Appa says that it is time for scritches, not naps.
100%
Our floof gets similarly miserable when we don't let him go say hi to the neighbor skunk.
Like. We would all love for you to be able to be out there. But not right now
Our floof gets similarly miserable when we don't let him go say hi to the neighbor skunk.
Like. We would all love for you to be able to be out there. But not right now
Like.ni
November 4, 2025 at 11:11 PM
100%
Our floof gets similarly miserable when we don't let him go say hi to the neighbor skunk.
Like. We would all love for you to be able to be out there. But not right now
Our floof gets similarly miserable when we don't let him go say hi to the neighbor skunk.
Like. We would all love for you to be able to be out there. But not right now
The wind was wild today. It flipped our neighbors' trampoline over onto their patio set, and I'm not sure either part went unscathed 🫣
November 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The wind was wild today. It flipped our neighbors' trampoline over onto their patio set, and I'm not sure either part went unscathed 🫣
But...that sounds hard 😅
This is one of those things that I have long known, and that I tell myself regularly, and yet something in my brain finds it so much harder to do the short story unless there is a specific submission call or deadline for a specific idea. 🤦♀️
This is one of those things that I have long known, and that I tell myself regularly, and yet something in my brain finds it so much harder to do the short story unless there is a specific submission call or deadline for a specific idea. 🤦♀️
November 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
But...that sounds hard 😅
This is one of those things that I have long known, and that I tell myself regularly, and yet something in my brain finds it so much harder to do the short story unless there is a specific submission call or deadline for a specific idea. 🤦♀️
This is one of those things that I have long known, and that I tell myself regularly, and yet something in my brain finds it so much harder to do the short story unless there is a specific submission call or deadline for a specific idea. 🤦♀️
Enjoy! I have a feeling my noise sensitivities would make going to one of the shows far less fun than it should be, so I'll be continuing to hold my living room solo concerts for now 😂
October 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Enjoy! I have a feeling my noise sensitivities would make going to one of the shows far less fun than it should be, so I'll be continuing to hold my living room solo concerts for now 😂
The soundtrack always ends up in our annual streaming roundup because my son will have it playing on repeat pretty much all through October and November 😂
Which is fine with us. It's an excellent one.
Which is fine with us. It's an excellent one.
October 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The soundtrack always ends up in our annual streaming roundup because my son will have it playing on repeat pretty much all through October and November 😂
Which is fine with us. It's an excellent one.
Which is fine with us. It's an excellent one.
That definitely makes sense. I can see where "Wednesday" would be a good fit as well.
October 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
That definitely makes sense. I can see where "Wednesday" would be a good fit as well.