What’s your WIP aesthetic?

Hello authors! Tell me, what books inspired you to become a writer? Some of mine are: -Shantaram -Miracle in the Andes -Can’t Hurt Me -War and Peace -You Shall know Our Velocity by -When Breath Becomes Air

I spent 4 hours making a booktok today 😭

HUM is out in paperback today. 2 events: DENVER, CO: Thur, 6/12, 7pm @ Lighthouse, alongside Eileen Myles, @tonytula.com, & Matthew Zapruder: lighthousewriters.org/.../visiting.... KINDERHOOK, NY: Fri, 6/27, 6pm @kinderhookbooks.bsky.social, in conversation w/ Paul Yoon: www.kinderhookbooks.com

My author goals for the next 30 days • Query 30 Agents • Post daily on BlueSky • Post 30 BookToks • Visit 3 countries

Just sent my first query 🙌🏼

📚 On the traditional publishing track? Save this thread I built a free Query Tracker Spreadsheet to help you stay organized and avoid mistakes. It flags duplicate agents, tracks your progress, and gives you a clear picture of where you stand at every step.

Finally finished my revisions 🙌🏼

Submitted my query letter to r/pubtips for a community review and it was immediately rejected 😂 The auto response from the mod gave a lot of tips for writing the query. Much more detail than the reedsy article I used. Glad the space exists tho. So glad I don’t have to go into the trenches blind

I’m leaving Montenegro soon and I’m not sure if I have enough time to finish my revisions 🥲 Might extend my stay a few days. I’m so close

Four hard-earned beans today. Almost done with one of the major rewrites. Everyone who has read the manuscript mentioned that about 3/4 in the book slows to a point where they thought about quitting. Not good. Fixing it now. The chapter in question is too much description. I wanted my Marlow to

Today was not a productive day 🙃

I’m all out of small and medium revisions. Just gotta knock out these three big rewrites and I’m ready for the trenches. 20 beans today 🫘

Not supposed to look like we were transporting a corpse… anyways had a nice day off yesterday

I have three big rewrites I’ve been holding off on. When I started revising I just panicked and didn’t get anything done. Then I took some time if and regrouped. I’ve been very productive this round I started with the small stuff. Now I’m working my way through small rewrites. I have three major

Remember when I batch edited a characters name from “Mara” to “Lodi” or “Lodore”? Well it turns out that replacing all “Mara”s in the text also replaced the Mara in maraschino cherries 😂 Caught this one but I hope there aren’t any other lodischino’s hiding in my text somewhere

I winced at the first few cuts. How could I dissect the very things I spent so much time creating? This flows to that. I cant mess that up! But it needs to be done Now I’ve picked up the cleaver. Too much fat has got to go. I still wince but the swings are easier 10 hard earned beans yesterday 🫘

9 beans today 🫘 Not mad about it. They were pretty complex revisions

Each moment is an opportunity to begin again

Only 8 beans today. I know i shouldn’t beat myself up about it but I definitely dropped the ball. Was scrolling when I should have been revising

Day five of tracking my revisions with beans 🫘 I thought it’d be cute to make the names of the main character couple alliterate. According to all my beta readers it not. Just annoying. Been dreading changing the name but it was a lot easier than I expected. Physically not emotionally.

Looking 👀 Day 4 of tracking my progress with beans 🫘 My @reedsy.bsky.social editor told me every time I write “they looked” I’m telling not showing My manuscript had 243 instances of “look”. Spent the past couple days getting that down to 147 55 beans today You guys have any revision tips 👀

Day 3 of tracking my revision progress with beans: 39 beans today - I’m out of easy stuff to work on. Beans might be harder to come by from now on but I’m so close to being ready to hit the query trenches I can feel it in my bones

40 beans today. No big deal

Unconventional Editing Tip: For every revision move a bean 🫘 Today I’ve earned 10 beans… Genius or insanity, I’ll let you decide

Slow progress is better than no progress

Struggling with this revision. Ive built up too much pressure in my mind about what I need to do that it’s getting in the way of actually doing it. So after a long and eventful break I’m coming at it with a gentle approach. Doing what I can, skipping the sticky parts, building up my confidence 🤞

Walked the Camino with my 78 year old 😃 but now it’s time to get back to writing.

2️⃣8️⃣ Can you share a sneak peek of your next project? What’s it about? Tease your next big thing—whether it’s a WIP, an idea, or a work in progress! Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! We made it! Our first #AskAnAuthor done and dusted!

2️⃣7️⃣ Does your work have a hidden message, secret detail, or subtle meaning that isn’t immediately obvious? Easter eggs, themes, or personal touches—what’s hidden between the lines? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like & share if you love a good hidden gem. 🔎

2️⃣6️⃣ What are three things on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish in the next five years? Writing-related or not, what’s on your dream to-do list? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share to manifest those dreams. ✨ #WritingCommunity #Booksky

2️⃣5️⃣ What’s a quote or saying that you find yourself coming back to time and time again? Something that motivates, inspires, or guides your journey? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like & share so we can build a collection of inspiration. 📖 #WritingCommunity

2️⃣4️⃣ If you could go back to the day you started your WIP or published book, what advice would you give yourself? Hindsight is 20/20—what do you wish you had known? Repost with your answer & tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! ❤️ & share to pass on your wisdom.💡 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

2️⃣3️⃣ What’s your favorite way to unwind when you’re not writing? Any hobbies, rituals, or habits that refresh your creative mind? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share so we can swap ideas for recharging. 🔄 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

2️⃣2️⃣ Is there a belief or value you hold that you think more people should embrace? Something that shapes your writing, your life, or the way you see the world? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like & share to spark a thoughtful discussion 💬 #WritingCommunity

​​2️⃣1️⃣ What’s a writing habit or routine you’ve developed that you swear by? Early mornings? Late nights? Sprints? Daily word counts? Share what keeps you on track! Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Don’t forget to like and share to keep the conversation going. ✨

2️⃣0️⃣ What’s something about you that most people would be surprised to learn? A hidden talent? A past career? A random fun fact? Let’s hear it! Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share to spread the excitement. 🚀 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣9️⃣ Does a drink or a puff help you get in the zone? Does alcohol or cannabis (legally consumed!) boost your creativity or derail your focus? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! 🔎 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣8️⃣ What’s the weirdest or most unexpected piece of research you’ve done for your writing? Have you gone down a bizarre rabbit hole for the sake of accuracy? Spill the strangest fact you’ve learned! Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! ✨ #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣7️⃣ When the words aren’t coming, what’s your go-to method for getting back on track? We all hit rough patches—what’s your best trick for breaking through? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share so we can build a collection of inspiration. 📖 #Booksky

1️⃣6️⃣ Your book is hitting the big (or small) screen! Who’s your dream director? Who would bring your story to life exactly as you imagine it? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share to pass on your wisdom. 💡 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣5️⃣ Your turn! What’s a question you want to ask the community? Let’s get interactive. Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share so we can swap ideas. 🔄 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣4️⃣ Let’s get personal—what’s your biggest fear as a writer? Imposter syndrome? Doubts about your story? Something else? Let’s talk about it. Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share to spark a thoughtful discussion. 💬 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣3️⃣ Did you choose traditional publishing, self-publishing, or hybrid? Why? Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Don’t forget to like and share to keep the conversation going. ✨

1️⃣2️⃣ Art inspires art! Share a painting, photo, song, or design that reflects your project’s mood, themes, or atmosphere. Repost with your answer and tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like and share to spread the excitement. 🚀 #WritingCommunity #Booksky

1️⃣1️⃣ Writers supporting writers—what’s a podcast, blog or community you love? Shout out the resources that have helped you on your writing journey. Bonus points if you tag them! Repost with your answer & tag #AskAnAuthor so others can find it! Like & share if you ❤️ a good hidden gem🔎 #Booksky

🔟 Comp titles: a necessary evil or a fun challenge? What recent books, films, or shows (less than 5 years old) best compare to your project? Repost with your answer, tag #AskAnAuthor, and like and share to support fellow writers! 🎬📚 #AskAnAuthor #WritingCommunity #Booksky

9️⃣ How much of your story is drawn from reality? Give us a percentage—be honest! Do you weave real-life experiences into your work, or is it all pure imagination? Repost with your answer, tag #AskAnAuthor, and like and share to engage with others! ✨ #AskAnAuthor #WritingCommunity

#pretendpanel Many years ago I went to war. My job was to find and removed IEDs from the battlefield. The crazy thing is I’ve lost more friends to suicide than I have in combat. It’s because of them that I write and because I was almost with them.