Right now, Watson & I are ironing out some worldbuilding, namely how magic works in our world, and the governmental ramifications of magic being Known. We're also trying to bring the first six chapters into alignment with this worldbuilding. Maybe we can start some new material too! #LGBTQWriteAThon

In #Cursed, we hit the ground running in the prologue. Tara (Tristan's twin sister) and a naiad named Doug tell us about what happens when the mob boss vampire casts a wicked spell at midnight under a new moon. And then there's a werewolf. #JuneJottings #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky

In #Cursed, Shae & Monica are bffs/queer platonic partners. Nix and Tristan form a solid friendship before anything romantic happens. Nix and Tara (Tris's sister) also get along like a house on fire, and Tristan has some *feelings* about that at first. #QueerPrompts #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Tris and Nix would do just fine. Tris loves kids, and has a little brother. Even if he doesn't remember Tobin, he remembers how to take care of kids. Nix has taken care of Monica's 6 y/o as well. They'd do just fine and would have a great time. #OCASK #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Kind of. Nix explains Shae & Monica's relationship to Tristan because it's unconventional, and Tris will eventually explain his ace-ness to Nix. But Nix is pretty well versed in queer identities, so it's more of a "hey, this is who I am" explanation. #QueerPrompts #Cursed #WriteSky

I mean, the whole "waking up with no memory and a vampire mob boss trying to kill him" is a pretty good reason that Tristan needs to be in therapy. #JuneJottings #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookSky #Cursed

We don't have a "lovers" currently, we're too early on in the story. It's a pretty slow slow-burn - both Tristan & Nix have a lot of growth to do before they're ready for a relationship. Nix doesn't even *want* a relationship right now, and Tristan thinks he's not cut out for one. #LGBTQWriteAThon

This week saw a return to BlueSky, which is a big step for me (Holfelder) after a really long period of not being able to post due to anxiety. Watson and I have also started working back through what we have written of #Cursed, making changes to POV and tenses. #LGBTQWriteAThon #WriteSky

Tristan slowly comes to the realization that he doesn't want to be the one who hides behind other people all of the time. Sometimes, he's the one who is There to do the fighting, and he needs to be able and willing to step up. #WritingPrompt #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Tristan and Nix are both pretty cautious when it comes to romance. Tris is ace, and doesn't think anyone will ever want him because of it. Nix is out here convinced he doesn't need a life partner -- he has better things to do. Life has other plans for them. #WriteSky #OCASk #WritingCommunity

Nix is a "sharp dressed man", a la ZZ Top. He's come a long way from the street kid he used to be, and he carries himself well now. He likes to dress in dark washed jeans and different colors of button down shirts. You'll rarely catch him in a t-shirt. #AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky

Nix would proudly answer that he's a trainee at the Sorcerer's Guard Academy, training to protect and serve the magical citizens of the city of Pittsburgh. Tristan would stutter and say that he doesn't really know what he's doing. That happens when you don't know who you are. #AwesomeCharacters

@ Tristan (at the beginning) (Gotta have room to grow) #JuneJottings #WriteSky #Cursed #WritingCommunity

Unhinged? Uhh... - mistaken identity but no one knows who the kid actually is or why the mob boss is after him - omg-this-kid-is-a-whimp to (asexual) lovers - vampire mob boss magic-is-known urban fantasy #LGBTQWriteAThon #WriteSky #Cursed #WritingCommunity

#Cursed started out in part as a dream that I (Holfelder) had about someone else's fanfic. It coalesced into an idea for a hurt/comfort chronic pain concealed identity fanfic AU. That became book 2. Then I had to write book 1. Nothing like starting halfway through! #LGBTQWriteAThon #WriteSky

Free Friday! #Cursed is written in a world where magic is known. It's made for some interesting considerations as we think about government, colonization, & wars w/ magic being a Thing. The world building is a bit complicated when werewolves & vampires have always existed. #QueerPrompts #WriteSky

Oh my favorite question! In #Cursed, Tristan is asexual. He's firmly convinced he'll never have a partner because who would want someone who's ace and sex-repulsed? (Poor dude). Nix is gay, but isn't interested in relationships because he has places to go and things to do. #QueerPrompts [1/2]

I'm a trans person who wrote a book with 2 trans main characters, and those characters are happy and in love and whole. Like they deserve to be. Like we all deserve to be. Celebrate pride with an extremely queer book that centers trans joy. buttpirates.carrd.co

I mean, honestly, the "procrastination" lately has been killer anxiety. I (Holfelder) haven't been procrastinating as much as I've been trying to keep from melting down due to high anxiety. Watson has 3 toddlers. So...it's less procrastination here and more we need rest. #JuneJottings #WriteSky

Tristan is the one with the most shame in #Cursed. He's perceived as a spoiled rich kid, and he kinda is. He's also kind and generous, but he spends a lot of his time hiding behind other people. Once he starts to learn and grow, that shame will be something he struggles with. [1/2] #QueerPrompts

Nix perceives Tristan as a spoiled rich kid from the richer part of town who has no idea how things work in the "real" world. He's not wrong, Tristan is all of those things. But he's also willing to learn and change and grow into a different, stronger, and more authentic person. #WriteSky #OCASK

I'll mostly be at work for the day, but I thought I'd try to get a little bit of BlueSky in for the morning. That means answering some prompts and trying to interact a bit. :) Happy Wednesday to y'all! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

In the wayback, #Cursed was inspired by chronic pain. I (Holfelder) wanted a "magical" excuse for chronic pain coupled w/ a hurt/comfort plotline for an AU fanfic. It's since grown and changed *a lot*, and barely resembles that OG fic. #LGBTQWriteAThon #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

This Pride month don’t forget to BOOKMARK the cool book posts you see so you can grab them when you have the time/spoons/cash

Nix's healthiest relationship is with his aunt Shaelle. She's the one who gave him a home when he was living mostly on the streets. She's the one who helped pull him back from the edge of self destruction. She's the one who supports him daily. #AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

How dare you come into my house saying something as wild as "it's halfway through the year". Excuse you. Not acceptable. Anyhow, goals? Yeah those got derailed by toddlers (Watson) and anxiety (Holfelder). Maybe June will be the month get get ourselves back on track. #WriteSky #SpoonieAuthChat

Hey hi hello I'm back (?) It's a new month (Happy Pride!) and I'm (Holfelder) going to try to get back into the swing of posting regularly. I'm back on an anti-anxiety med, and it's slowly starting to work. Enough that I have a bit of energy for writing again. Watson & I are working on #Cursed [1/2]

Hi again! In #Cursed, Tristan's journey starts on the banks of the Monongahela River, in Pittsburgh, PA, when he wakes up & finds himself staring up at a female vampire w/ a dagger in her hand. Neither of them knows what's happening. He *runs* and thus, our story begins. #AwesomeCharacters #WriteSky

Nix is proud of where he is in life. He lived on the streets for several years, mostly abandoned by his parents. Now, though, he's attending the Academy to be a member of the Sorcerer's Guard. He's come a long way. #QueerPrompts #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

#LGBTQWriteAThon Oh goodness, I'm not up to date on actors to have a good grasp on who would be good as our characters. I'm also still getting a feel for who they are, as we recently transitioned back to #Cursed from our murder mystery. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

From #Cursed, I gotta say, I love all three protags: Tristan, Tara, and Phoenix "Nix". Nix is kinda my fav right now, though. He's our narrator, with an irreverent and sometimes snarky voice. He's feisty, smart, and ready to throw down. #WritingCommunity #JuneJottings #WriteSky

Hi!👋 From #Cursed, we have the morning after Nix & Tristan meet via werewolf attack. Tristan is a bit confused. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #JuneJottings

Hey! It's me, Holfelder, here to introduce myself & my co-writer, the fully human S. B. Watson. Watson & I met in undergrad and started writing together in earnest over a year ago. Watson is mom to 3 toddlers, & I am a mental health therapist. We write queer adventure stories! #LGBTQWriteAThon

Watson and I are currently working on #Cursed, a YA urban fantasy set in Pittsburgh, PA that follows Tristan, Nix, and Tara, three teens, as they work to undo a curse that is attempting to erase Tristan from existence. Oh, and then they have to deal w/ the vampire mafia. #QueerPromtps #WriteSky

Ima pop in here randomly because I gotta shout out my cowriter and amazing world builder: S. B. Watson @slightlyfb.bsky.social Watson is the one who asks the big (and small) questions that really build a world. I'm in awe of her powers. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #MayWorldbuilders

Unfortunately, at the beginning of #Cursed, no one knows Tristan well, not even himself. His memories are fuzzy at best, if not completely gone, and the one person who would have known him doesn't remember his existence. As for Nix, his aunt would know him best. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

If this doesn't describe us rn...though the "current WIP" is now being moved to the back burner. Off we go, plotting more! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Greetings, writers & readers alike! It is I, Holfelder, with an announcement. As of yesterday, Watson and I are choosing to set aside Life, Love & The Monongahela Murders #LLMM. We've decided that Liam & Sanal's story is not one that we feel we are capable of writing right now. They deserve [1/2]

Hi! It is we, Holfelder & Watson, two nerds in a trench coat, writing queer action/adventure stories ft queer love subplots. #Cursed: queer love wrapped up in magical realism. WIP #WOTV: queer love, family, & soul-eaters. WIP Welcome aboard! We'd love to chat w/ you about writing & our stories!

This sums up the radio silence... #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #AuthorSky

Hey there! I promise that Watson and I (Holfelder) are still here! Life is still pretty stressful for us both, and Holfelder's anxiety is not currently behaving well enough to allow room for creativity. Hopefully we'll be back to regularly scheduled posting soon. 💚 #personal #WriteSky

Do not poison your mind with "who will read this? Who will like this?" Aren't you already in love with these characters wanting their stories told who have chosen you as their scribe? What a privilege to go on an adventure together and make them real for others. Nothing else matters. ❤️‍🔥

MORNING BLUESKY! My book THE GODS OF ATALANTIS #1 is out on digital today!!! 🥳🥳🥳 2 teenagers get chosen as the new gods & must learn to work together as they face scheming leaders, fanatical cults & a prophecy of doom for their island! ❤️‍🔥 Slow-burn romance! 💎 Magic crystals! 🌏 Deep worldbuilding!

Oops! You accidentally forgot about your tea for too long 🐥🌸

writing characters be like: [writer]: you're my baby [writer]: i love you [writer]: i will spend hours writing you [writer]: *adds a torture scene* [writer]: *adds break up scene* [writer]: *adds background angst* [writer]: *adds family drama* [writer]: i love you [writer]: *adds more pain*

Howdy! Small update: we're still writing, working on a massive re-write of #LL&MM that includes changing to first person POV and starting at a completely different spot. Rajan gains more screen time (yee!), murder becomes central, and Sanal continues to be unflappable. (1/2)

Tomato plant feels like the obvious for Liam, and I think it tracks. Tomatoes are pretty strong, but they do have distinct needs or else they get pretty sad. Liam also has specific needs (physical & emotional) or he will wilt like a sad plant. #QueerPrompts #WriteSky

Who else other than @slightlyfb.bsky.social (Watson)? Every time I hit a wall, she's there to come up with a way to improve #LL&MM, which invariably reignites my passion for the story. I'd be dead in the water w/o my fellow nerd. #LoreOutLoud #WriteSky

I (Holfelder) once gave away a copy of The Curse (my first self-pub novel which is currently being gutted and rewritten). I want folks to read our stories. I need to try to value that monetarily, but also, I want folks to *read* and connect. I wish I could give away everything for free. #LoreOutLoud

Both #Cursed and #WOTV. We are doing a shit ton of learning with #LL&MM and I can't wait to apply that learning to our backburner WIPS and make them really shine. I have high hopes for those two. #LoreOutLoud #WriteSky