What indeed… #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #YA #fantasy #writesky #writingcommunity

Jiro’s older brother makes him spitting mad on sight. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Ryo and Taro’s friendship is one of my favorite things, because it’s unshakeable with zero fear of confrontation. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Ryo has to maintain a careful balance of protecting Rin from yokai AND from the political machinations of his own clan. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

My two most impactful resources are James Scott Bell’s lecture series “How to Write Best-Selling Fiction” (overlaps significantly with his book “Plot and Structure”) and “Save the Cat.” I use other resources plenty, but those were the game changers. #summerofstories #writesky #writingcommunity

I was surprised I had this word! #WIPSnips #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #amrevising #amediting #YA #fantasy

There’s a running gag that Rin’s manager is always red in the face because she’s always exasperating him, so he gets a different description for being flushed every time he shows up lol #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Does anyone know if agents want your word count to include front and back matter if applicable? For example, my book has a necessary glossary. That isn't part of the actual story word count, but it would be part of the cost of printing the book, etc. #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky

I write the way I’ve always written. Writers and people who professionally assess writing know that isn’t really a sign of AI generated text, and they are aware of the actual signs. As a writing teacher, I never assume an em dash means generated text. #summerofstories #writesky #writingcommunity

The shift from a particularly hot summer into winter is relevant to my story, so there’s actually a lot of talk about heat and humidity. I was surprised I didn’t actually use the word “humid.” #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

I used to start with some specific ideas in mind and kind of pants around it, but I’ve become more of a plotter over the years. If I don’t plan, I let the story get way too loose because I keep opening doors, and then I end up with something monstrously long or unfinished. #summerofstories #writesky

Jiro offers to walk Rin home because he needs to talk to her, but she’s in such a fog of grief and automatic self-reliance she can’t get the hint. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

I had nothing even in the *ahem* ballpark of this word, so I went with a synonym that was contextually irrelevant 😂 #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #YA #fantasy #writesky #writingcommunity

I’ve been told my style leans literary for YA, but not overly so. I tend to make drafts way too long and end up cutting a lot of unnecessary interiority and choreography in revisions. My bad habits are interior looping and stacked descriptions 😅 #writesky #writingcommunity #summerofstories

See how I didn’t post this at 3am? That’s the sign of a mother whose baby is sleeping better 🙏🏻😮‍💨 The midpoint conflict ensues! #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

From Ryo’s opening scene. I recently added this bit because I wanted to introduce Shinji earlier. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Chapter One Rin is on the struggle bus. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Ryo fighting angry instead of his usual levelheadedness. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingconmunity #YA #fantasy

Rin and Ryo are both introduced reflecting on a confusing but profound loss. Rin stands in the alley where her brother’s murder took place, while Ryo stands at the grave of his recently assassinated daimyo. #AwesomeCharacters #writesky #writingcommunity

Jiro immediately gets on the defensive any time his older brother shows up. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

I recently tweaked this scene and may tweak further. I know for sure that I added the line about being strong, but I think I might remove it again. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

One of a series of bad days for Rin. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Sensation is really not a synonym for sensational, but we’ll go with it 😂 #WIPSnips #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #amediting #amrevising #YA #fantasy

Kawa shinobi are supposed to leave their past behind, but this piece of Ryo’s childhood refuses to go away. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

If we eliminate straight up antagonists, then it’s Ashe. He’s Ryo’s self-proclaimed rival, primarily because of his own drive to get stronger no matter the cost. But he does have to reckon with that cost and whether it’s a price he’s willing to pay. #AwesomeCharacters #writesky #writingcommunity

Such a frequently snipped scene, but I feel like a lot of my other fox mentions have spoilers. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Taro. He’s Ryo’s best friend, but they are nothing alike. He’s always willing to give caution to Ryo (and call him out on his bull), or offer wise insight to Rin. He’s also the best at staying level headed in a tense situation. If Taro gets angry, you better listen. #AwesomeCharacters #writesky

A reference to triangles was the closest thing I had to pyramid. Where’s a good MLM scheme when you need one? 😂 #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Hello #writer friends! If anyone is interested, a friend of mine recently did some (very helpful) beta reading for me, and she’s looking to expand her portfolio by doing some pro bono reads. Drop a comment if you’d like to connect with her about your MS! #writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting

One of those days where I'm trying to fix what's ultimately a minor (but valid) criticism that requires rewriting a scene/chapter transition. I've been working on different versions all day and I'm not convinced the original isn't the best one. 🫠😂 #writesky #writingcommunity #amwriting #amrevising

Guess I overlooked a Rin POV when I said they were all Ryo this week! #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

@erikaarivett.bsky.social Does anyone in the #writingcommunity know of an online printer who will do a single print of a perfect bound 6x9 book WITHOUT also publishing it? Every one I have found is operating as a publisher when printing, and I'm seeking traditional publication, so that's a no-no.

You guessed it, Ryo: That’s not it. I realized last night that other than yesterday’s #WIPSnips, I accidentally used Ryo’s POV for every day this week 😅 #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Rin enjoys cozy, but often in really minimal ways—like she’s the sort of person who can make good out of not much. For Ryo, cozy isn’t an option. It makes him feel like he must be doing something wrong (a major character point in the tentative book two). #AwesomeCharacters #writesky

Wanted to go with something other than drawing a blade. Here, Rin is first told about the cracks forming between the spirit world and the human world. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Ryo and Jiro have never seen eye to eye. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

You know, people often talk about their colors or songs, etc., and maybe I’m just weird, but I don’t think about writing that way? I DO have very strong visuals of my characters, so there’s certainly an aesthetic, but I’ve never been into things like mood boards or playlists, etc. #AwesomeCharacters

No one in this story is ever lounging except Koji 😂 #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Tetsuya will always show up for a crisis, but is pretty unreliable in other areas. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

I have a “ghost message” in my DMs (a notification, but no message, no message request), and it’s driving me CRAZY. I’ve logged out and in and can’t get it to go away. 🫠

Ryo is recovering from tsuchigumo venom, so he’s not tracking this conversation fast enough to piece things together. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Jiro is one of Rin’s oldest friends, but he’s getting harder for her to read. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Going for a different type of tree today lol #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Tetsuya is a secondary character, but I already decided if I ever did a companion novel, it would be his child/teen years. He’s not as noble as my current MCs, but still has some admirable qualities. I like the nuance of a character that is lovable despite obvious/severe flaws. #AwesomeCharacters

I didn’t have any uses of “era” or “period,” but so much “time” I got sick of looking! This time, that time, last time, next time, first time, by the time, running out of time…who knew we said time so much?! #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Only use! #WIPSnips #amrevising #amediting #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Spoiler alert: They’re monsters/demons. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amrevising #amediting #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Sooo many uses of “blade,” so I intentionally went with grass instead of swords 😅 #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

I literally used this exact paragraph last week for “happen,” but then it was my only use of “gripe.” 🫠 #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy

Lost in Kawa-jo, the clan castle. #WIPSnips #amwriting #amediting #amrevising #writesky #writingcommunity #YA #fantasy