Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, is a fave for rereading. In celebration of Charlotte’s birthday, wanted to share a few best-loved quotes. Photo by MonicaVolpin on pixabay.com #charlottebronte #janeeyre #quotes #readingcommunity #bookcommunity #booksky

Celebrating International Haiku Poetry Day with: a fox on the prowl this cold, bitter, spring night dried grasses rustle –Kobayashi Issa What's your favorite animal haiku? #internationalhaikupoetryday #internationalhaikuday #nationalhaikupoetryday #nationalhaikuday #haiku #foxes

As we’ve been developing the romance between our MCs, we’re reflecting on what makes a romance feel authentic. An element we want to be sure to include is moments when their connection transcends passion. #amwriting #characterdevelopment #romancereader #romantasy #booksky

Our story is told from two POVs with characters who aren't fully human, so this article was a great read. It offers tips for ensuring characters' unique worldviews are reflected in narrative details.

Ms. Lee read Cary J. Griffith’s Wolf Kill, a great choice for lovers of atmospheric mysteries. It featured a tenacious wolf expert, a capable reporter, and a pack of dangerous wolf-dog hybrids. What’s your fave mystery thriller? #mysterythriller #booksky #readingcommunity #bookrecommendations

National parks aren’t the only option for stunning views, wild spaces are found in urban areas too. Enjoyed visiting Exploration Green, a nature preserve/recreation area that helps with flooding in SE Texas. What’s your fave city park/green space? #GreenSpace #NatureLovers #UrbanNature #ParkLife

Great research tips. Finding an expert and asking what's "plausible" and "possible" has been incredibly helpful.

Ms. Lee explores using folklore to develop our fantasy characters: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/using-f.... What’s your fave paranormal creature trope? Photo credit: kafemik on pixabay.com #amwriting #writingprocess #fantasywriter #urbanfantasy #characterdevelopment #worldbuilding #booksky

Ms. Lee just purchased her annual National Parks pass. We’re writing about the Virginia mountains, but based on the pass’s Recollection Project protective sleeve, it looks like she might be dreaming of Yellowstone. What National Parks are on your bucket list? #nationalparks #findyourpark

Exited a beachside metro station to this larger-than-life reminder of one of the characters in our book. He’s a bobcat shifter and a fave. Looking forward to the day when you can meet him. #streetarteverywhere #streetartlovers #bobcat #booksky

Ms. Lee just read Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair, an engrossing murder mystery set against the backdrop of Agatha Christie’s 1926 disappearance. Do you have a favorite historical mystery novel? Share below. #historicalmysterybooks #mysterybooks #mysteryreader #revengeplot #bookish #booksky

Wishing fellow enthusiasts a fun-filled Puzzle Day! Enjoyed putting together Readers Paradise (pictured here). What’s your go-to jigsaw puzzle artist or theme? #nationalpuzzleday #jigsawpuzzle #bookcommunity #readingcommunity #booksky

A trip to Death Valley National Park inspired our #wordoftheday : Ephemeral Like Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, China’s Chaka Salt Lake (pictured here) is an ephemeral wonderland. Photo credit: newtjitsu on pixabay.com #travel #words #landscapephotography #naturephotography #booksky

Ms. Lee’s most recent travel bookshelf with a couple of titles from In Bloom Bookery in Temecula, CA. Romance readers in particular will love this store and its staff. What’s your favorite indie bookshop? #romancebooks #romancereader #indiebookstore #independentbookstore #bookish #booksky

#todayilearned it’s the first full moon of 2026, also known as the Wolf Moon. In honor of the wolf pack in our novel, thought it would be fun to share a bit of Wolf Moon history. Illustration credit: Imstudio1989 on pixabay.com #wolfmoon #wolves #wildlife #til #didyouknow #booksky

What’s your fave novel or series with a cool magic system? Ms. Melissa liked Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson. It’s an ode to art and creativity and a race to save two worlds from ruin. #fantasybooks #fantasyreader #dualworlds #magicsystem #bookish #booksky #readersofbluesky

Great writing note. Definitely appreciate a story with varying levels of tone and intensity.

Happy birthday to the marvelous Jane Austen. In her honor, wanted to share this lovely quote from Pride and Prejudice. What's your fave Austen quote? Photo credit: Albertfotofilms on pixabay.com #janeausten #prideandprejudice #quotes #quoteoftheday #booksky #readerscommunity #bookish

Happy St. Nicholas Day to all who celebrate. Ms. Lee’s family traditions include St. Nicholas leaving oranges, small gifts, and, of course, books in and around family members’ shoes. Do you have any St. Nicholas Day traditions? #stnicholasday #bookishgifts #holidayspirit #sinterklaas #booksky

Working on a scene where our shifters in animal form need to communicate, so #todayilearned a lot about the sounds foxes make. Relying on body language and animal noises has really brought home how integral dialogue can be to a narrative. #foxes #redfox #wildlife #til #didyouknow #booksky

Today is #nationalillustrationday, so shout out to illustrators everywhere. Like these whimsical sketches from Arthur Rackham, known for how he envisioned many of our folktales. Comment below with your favorite illustrator or folktale. #folklore #folktales #illustration #artcommunity #booksky

What’s your favorite cozy fantasy romance? Ms. Lee just read and enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Music credit: Oscar Merlo #fantasyromance #cozyromance #fantasyreader #fantasybooklover #booksky #readersofbluesky #bookish #bookcommunity

Ms. Lee explores using facts to enhance our fantasy worldbuilding: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/using-f.... What worldbuilding elements help you create or feel fully immersed in a story? Photo: BrandeePember, pixabay.com #amwriting #writingprocess #writingcommunity #fantasy #booksky

It's I Love to Write Day. Celebrate by writing something–whether it’s the next chapter in your manuscript or the first sentence of the story you’ve always wanted to compose. Photo by Pexels at pixabay.com #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky

Love being able to use our #wordoftheday in our manuscript: Crepuscular “As a fox, her vision was best in the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk. In bright light, it was easy to overlook things.” Photo credit: Dan-Reyes on pixabay.com #animals #nature #words #amwriting #writingcommunity #booksky

Ms. Lee enjoyed reading Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, a creepy "what if" about cultish fandoms, reality TV, and vampire infection. Music: Oscar Merlo Photo: Pixxel_Worx, pixabay.com #bookish #booklife #bookcommunity #readerlife #readingcommunity #reading #readersofbluesky #booksky

Love exploring local independent bookstores when visiting new places. Here’s Ms. Lee’s most recent travel bookshelf with a couple of titles from Turtle Town Books & Gifts in Nisswa, MN: www.turtletownnisswa.com. #bookish #booklife #bookcommunity #readerlife #reading #readersofbluesky #booksky

Enjoyed the originally posted NYPL article on gothic horror and then went down the rabbit hole of gothic romance: www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10.... Faves on this list were Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and Nine Coaches Waiting. Will have to try some of the newer titles recommended. --M

Ms. Melissa shares her thoughts on developing both a likeable team and a believable cast of suspects in our romance/mystery mash-up: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/likeabl... Photo by: karosieben at pixabay.com #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky

Been writing scenes featuring wild spaces and wanted to share that Saturday, September 27, is National Public Lands Day. Entrance fees to national parks are being waived-- www.nps.gov/findapark #deathvalley #nationalparks #nationalparkphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #booksky

Our novel features magical shifters, so we’ve spent time researching forest animals. Here’s a shout out for National Fox Day. These creatures play an key role in our environment, folklore, and manuscript. Photo by: ambquinn at pixabay.com #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #fox #booksky

Love our #wordoftheday : Diaphanous The butterfly's diaphanous wings seemed to catch the sunlight as it balanced on a cluster of flowers. Photo credit: nvd9612 on pixabay.com #botanical #nature #booksky

For those who find literary inspiration in wild spaces, just a reminder that entrance fees to national parks are being waived on August 4th in celebration of Great American Outdoors Day. #nationalparks #nationalparkphotography #shenandoah #landscapephotography #travel #naturephotography #booksky

What do we do with sentences we don’t need now but might want to use later? Ms. Lee shares some thoughts on using a "dump list": www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/benefit... Photo by: StockSnap at pixabay.com #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky

Just had a conversation about newsletter sign-up ideas, so loved seeing this article in the feed.

Always wonderful to encounter a quote from a favorite writer out in the wild. Thanks @fig_ojai. #readingcommunity #readerscommunity #readers #poetrylovers #poetry #poetrycommunity #booksky #readersofbluesky #poetryonbluesky

Delighted by this random happiness of reading decal. It was on a window overlooking the tarmac at the Guadalajara International Airport. 📚💚 #readingcommunity #readerscommunity #readers #readerlife #readmorebooks #readersofbluesky #booksky

Are the events and characters in our manuscript evolving realistically? Ms. Melissa shares some thoughts on using timelines to help with continuity: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/timelin.... #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky

An updated look at Ms. Lee’s travel bookshelf. Una Sed Cruel was purchased at the Librerías Gonvill in Guadalajara, Mexico. And, yes, we are still plotting. #bookcommunity #readerlife #bookish #bookaddict #booklife #readersofbluesky #booksonbluesky #booksky #bookishbestie #bestiebookshelf

With only three chapters drafted, are we really working? Ms. Lee shares her thoughts on what the work of a writer looks like: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/the-wor... #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky

In honor of Maurice Sendak’s birthday, thought we’d share this lovely quote. Photo credit: mirkostoedter on pixabay.com #readingcommunity #readerscommunity #bookcommunity #readers #bookish #booklovers #bookaddict #booksky #readersofbluesky #booksonbluesky #bookishbestie #bestiebookshelf

World-Building Without Info Dumps: A Quiet Revolution "You’ve created something rich and strange. Now your job is to let readers wander through it—without giving them unsolicited directions." shorturl.at/QOofC Article by: @septimusbrown.com Blog: @jenniferlgadd.bsky.social

Love our #wordoftheday : Susurration The susurration of lapping waves makes me feel happy and at peace. Photo credit: fietzfotos on pixabay.com #booksky #words

When co-writing, how do we get on the same page about what the characters and settings in our world look like? Ms. Melissa shares some thoughts on one of our fave strategies: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/visuals.... #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #booksky

It was all romance reads for Ms. Melissa during her recent travels. #read #bookish #bookaddict #romancebooks #paranormalromancebooks #romanticsuspensebooks #booksky

We're reading Mastering Plot Twists by Jane K. Cleland & Archangel's Sun by Nalini Singh. What are you reading? 💚📚 #FridayReads #booksky #reading

The end of our novel seems so far away. How do we ensure our story continues? One strategy was inspired by the Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/the-onl.... #amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #booksky

In honor of Star Wars Day, we're reading Susan Dennard's "How to Write a 1-Page Synopsis". It uses the original Star Wars as an example. Check it out: stdennard.substack.com/p/how-to-wri.... “May the 4th be with you”, writers! #AmWriting, #WritersLife, #WritingProcess, #CreativeWriting, #booksky

Check out the Mysterious Ms. Lee’s travel bookshelf. Note the title by Patricia Highsmith. We are plotting. #read #bookish #bookaddict #booksky

"Show, don’t tell" — a 🧵🪓 This craft maxim is often misunderstood and frustrating. You can't always show. Sometimes you need to tell. The real skill is in knowing when to do each. Let’s break it down.👇 #writingcommunity #amwriting