That awkward moment when you write your autopsy scene really well and your alpha reader is like "um, you realize this is going to trigger some readers, right?" Neither of us were actually icked out, but she made the point that most readers are here for the atypical romance plot, not the autopsy.

Ah, yes, "river", a word which appears 37 times in #Shield&Scalpel. Here's some of the intro to S&S. #WIPSnips #WritingCommunity

To plot PJ2 or to work on S&S draft 4, that is the question. I think I'll work on #Shield&Scalpel first. Should probably try to finish this timeline fix. Hah. #WritingCommunity

Liam's smell would be that of tomato plant leaves. He doesn't smell like tomato plants, but he loves them. That warm summer green smell is something that is sacred to him. #Shield&Scalpel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Hm... I guess a happy ending is any ending where the MC is generally pretty positive about where we've left them in their story. I do loke to remember that, if you follow any character long enough, they get a sad (or at least bittersweet) ending. Happy all depends on when you stop following them.

Hey, there! It's Annie Laurie, author of #Shield&Scalpel! This #PlotTober, I plan on plotting out the sequel to S&S, affectionately called PJ2 (Postmortem Justice 2). PJ2 follows Liam post The Event in S&S as he learns to live with what happened, and as he makes some major life changes. LEZZ GO!

Oh, I'm EXCITED for this. I am doing another activity this fall and drafting a plot is October's assignment. This will help keep me on track (hopefully)

Oh, Liam is just trying to survive right now. I don't think he knows that there are better things, other options, better ways of living. He picked his job out of (misplaced) duty to his father. He's happier being a detective than a street cop, but he still kinda hates his job. #AwesomeCharacters

Liam's job as a homicide detective in Pittsburgh is highly relevant to the murdery plot of #Shield&Scalpel. As a trans man, he's not happy about being part of the police, but his dad sort of forced him into it. I'd say more but it gets a little spoilery if I do :) #AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky

Liam loves to garden. It's something he used to do w/ his mother, but never touched a plant again after his mother died. Rajan, has been teaching him how to porch garden, starting with tomatoes. If Liam could relax for a whole day, he'd listen to bluegrass, drink coffee, & garden. #AwesomeCharacters

I want to FINALLY put a cap on #Shield&Scalpel, and begin drafting it's sequel. I also have a con coming up: Library Con in Beaver Co, PA (@ CCBC). If you're in the area, come say hi! #WritingLifeMonthly #WritingCommunity

HAH. My antagonist in #Shield&Scalpel wasn't solidified until draft 3. In it's original version, there were several small cases, disconnected from each other, & several minor antags. Feedback suggested that I do one big case. Each smaller case became part of the bigger one. This meant finding[1/2]

I've been AWOL for a few days, for several reasons. I worked all day Sat, cleaned my mom's/my house feverishly with my wife on Sun & Mon, and (drumroll please) finally got tested for ADHD/autism. I support self-diagnosis, have been self dx for years now, but it's time to try meds. #lifeupdate

Howdy, I'm Annie Laurie. I'm a queer, neurodiverse writer from Western PA, near Pittsburgh. I love cats & dogs, nature, autumn & snow, Halloween & Samhain, witchy things. I have two WIPS, #Shield&Scalpel (draft 4) and it's sequel (plotting). Follow me for more updates :) #QueerPrompts #WriteSky

Hi! I'm Annie! I have two goals this month, both having to do with my Postmortem Justice duology. I want to finish PJ1: #Shield&Scalpel, and begin work on PJ2. I'm doing a challenge to first draft a project between now and Dec 13, so I'm going to do my level best to get that done! #LGBTQWriteAThon

New pinned post! Hi, I'm Steph! I'm a nonbinary, neurodivergent freelance editor from #OttersEditing. I work with indie authors in the fantasy, sci-fi and LGBTQ+ romance genres. You can check me out here, and support me by following and sharing this post. ottersediting.com

Things I hate about ADHD: sometimes, no matter how much I *want* to focus on something, I just *can't*. I have time to do so much writing but my brain and body are ready to take off into orbit with the energy I have. WHY CAN'T I CHANNEL THIS SHIT? #personal #actuallyADHD

Nope! My healers can't fully heal all injuries either. But they promote healing, and "take the edge off" of whatever is going on. Euwenn ends up with severe chronic pain as well as empathic damage, and Monica can only help him through the worst of it. #WritingCommunity

Hadn't thought this through either, but in Unbreakable, I would say they cannot. Healing magic is very taxing and requires concentration and the ability to not "take on" the injury. If one is the one in need of healing, they are already weak and struggling. #WritingCommunity

I meant to answer these and forgot... In the Unbreakable series, I do have Healers! I could have fleshed them out more, but in general, they *can* kill, but generally would not. Their magic and their lives are focused on healing, repairing damage. Causing damage is antithetical. #writingcommunity

Autopsy time! Well, time to write an autopsy, that is. Wish me luck! (Send ideas) #Shield&Scalpel #WritingCommunity

[update] Completed: #AO3 is back sooner than expected, and we have new and improved options for browsing collections! Get the details on collection tags at AO3 News: https://ao3-news.org/collection-tags

Oh, they are all special to me in different ways. I couldn't pick a top fav. There's Euwenn, my BOY, who is special bc he's my first character whose arc I finished. And then there's the 4 that I created when I was 15 who are still vying for a story...so many! #pretendpanel #WritingCommunity

I haven't really encountered gatekeepers. I mean, Trad Pub is *rough*, and my stories are not meant for The Masses. They are niche and that's okay. As far as "please pick me", I feel like I'm always doing that anyhow. More subtle, because I'm anxious but it's still there. #WritingLifeMonthly

Liam has this awkward little wave and "hi" that he does when he's not quite sure how else to greet someone. It's adorkable. Sanal will fidget with anything and is often found twirling pens or scalpels in their fingers. #AwesomeCharacters #Shield&Scalpel #WritingCommunity

It's Autumn here, my favorite season. My goals are (1) to finish Postmortem Justice 1: #Shield&Scalpel and submit for revisions, and (2) to draft PJ2 by Dec 13th for #FirstDraftFall with @weeknightwriters.bsky.social Am I crazy? Of course! What made you think otherwise??? #QueerPrompts

Using the new office space to get some work done on #Shield&Scalpel. Still fixing that timeling! #WritingCommunity

#FirstDraftFall was incredibly fun last year and we're working hard to make it even more fun - and more helpful - this year! Check out the post below for the full schedule!

Sanal has established A Reputation quickly at their new job. Others describe them as the ice queen, a bitch, and STRICT. They have adopted that persona to protect their work & their professional image. Liam is quite surprised to find that the others may have been wrong. #AwesomeCharacters

Oh, I miss the days of fanfic writing where I would toss a chapter to the masses and get comments back so fast. I now value quality over speed, but I still crave validation. Working with Watson helps that, because she edits as I write, and that's helpful. #WritingLifeMonthly #Shield&Scalpel

I can do this one! Here is Liam "discovering" the new forensic pathologist working with Rajan, a certain Dr. Sanal Chand. #LoreOutLoud #WritingCommunity #Shield&Scalpel

Both Sanal and Rajan can speak several languages. Rajan, because he spent the first six years of his life in Bangladesh, and Sanal because her family spoke their native language at home a lot. #QueerPrompts #WritingCommunity #Shield&Scalpel

I appreciate the help I’ve been given so far and I hate continuing to ask, but boosts are appreciated. 15/280 #helpsky #helpfolkslive2025 #mutualaid #maboost #disabled 💸💕

I have a workable home office again. You have NO idea how much I needed that (I didn't know how much I needed it). I can now do bills and teletherapy in a quiet, functional, cute space. (The rest of the room is controlled chaos...we don't talk about Bruno). This also means I have a space for [1/2]

Me for real. I have too many stories to write. Pass me up pls.

YES. My niche is full of queer individuals who want action/adventure but no sex. While I value sex in media, I am ace and sex repulsed. I don't want to read a story with onscreen depictions of sex (most of the time). I'm writing for others like me, so come join me! #WritingLifeMonthly

This one made me think. While Liam is depressed, I wouldn't say it's from failure. Liam has a good track record with his job. He can talk people down really well, comfort victims, and do detecting well. I think he *expects* to fail, & is surprised when he doesn't. #AwesomeCharacters #Shield&Scalpel

Liam is 32 (now younger than me, huh [it's my birthday 9/24]) and Sanal is ... something like that (I forget). I was tired of reading fun adventures of teens, young adult, and early adult. I wanted protags that I could identify with as far as age goes. #AwesomeCharacters #Shield&Scalpel

The story itself is queernormative. Liam being a transman is only hinted at until he actively chooses to come out, because I wanted it to be normal. But the world itself is basically now, so the World isn't very kind, sadly. #QueerPrompts #WritingCommunity #Shield&Scalpel

Liam would wish to be a AMAB. He has struggled with his transition and with being seen as a "real man" by others. He can "pass" fairly well, but he hates the fear of being found out. #AwesomeCharacters #Shield&Scalpel #WritingCommunity

The ONLY bit about marketing that I like is the bit where I get to talk to other readers and writers about my stories. That I like. Promos? Nope. I guess I do like design, but I'm self conscious about the limited skills I have in that area. Let me write. #WritingLifeMonthly #WritingCommunity

I mean, I'm broke af, so fast money is great. But so are higher profits. It's a decision I can't really make until I'm faced with it. #WritingLifeMonthly

I love these prompts so much! Pls know that I just can't because all of these are spoilers for #Shield&Scalpel. I wanna post so bad. AHHHHH

Hi. Im a sex repulsed asexual. Just because sex repulses me personally doesn't mean it should be censored the way it is being more and more. Just because you personally dont see the value of sex scenes doesn't mean they're irrelevant. It is not a moral failing to like porn and it shouldn't be erased

Liam and Sanal aren't in a relationship for the first book in the Postmortem Justice series ( #Shield&Scalpel) but when that happens (2nd book), yeah, most people are going to assume the two of them are cishet. They couldn't be more wrong. #QueerPrompts #WritingCommunity

#Shield&Scalpel starts out in mid May, and will travel across the entire summer, ending in mid August. This reflects a better timeline of complete autopsies, so I'm not completely ignoring reality. #QueerPrompts #WritingCommunity

Timeline cleanse

I've got a new working theory that writers draft from intuition. The stories emerge from our subconscious as vague fascinations. After that first draft it's up to us to do a sort of dream analysis and find out what it all means. Revisions and edits are meant to make the meaning clear.

Thank you to all who participated in the #OttersEditing Launch Week event! The community on BlueSky has been one of my favorites. I'm thankful for all the support I've gotten!!

Don't come near me with your guidelines. I wanna write what I wanna write, in whatever genre that piques my interest, with whatever LGBTQ+ and disabled characters that I want. And so I will. #WritingLifeMonthly #WritingCommunity