Tracy St. John/T.W. Jacobs

Pale, watery light
Heralds the dawn
The long night
Hanging on
Tho its grip slips
Inch by inch
Why do we cling
To the dark
When called to wake
Open your eyes
See

#vss365 #pale

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#cyborgromance #scifiromance #booksky

Slipping through my fingers
Tiny grains of sand
Became the many dunes behind me

When did youth dart to the past
Laughing prankster
Before I could catch him at his game?

Call a truce, unreliable time
Run your eternal course
But cease this dash to the end

#vssdaily #unreliable

Slender shoots
Ten in all
Peek from the soil
Two dozen were planted
Less than half woke
Perhaps a quarter will thrive
Even so
In the end
The gardener gathers
A good harvest
A lesson when it comes to
Your odds for dreams
The more you nurture
The more seeds you plant
The more you reap

#2WordPrompt

Storm’s churn can uproot treasure.

#7syllablesentence #churn

Rory emerged into the #pale light of day, thin wisps of mist curling across the ground.

He always did this. Taking on adventures for characters of a higher level than Esme had achieved. At least she hadn’t died, but it had been close several times.

He really needed to slow himself down.

#vss365

The view screen could magnify the image, but Dylan held it just the way it was, staring at the #pale dot thousands of kilometres away, slowly getting closer. Not yet within range of missiles that the ship could pick off with point defence.

A sacrificial lamb now. He’d faced worse odds.

#vss365

#vss365 #poetry

Sometimes the world’s
Just a spinning cube
The moon a yucky #pale yellow
With the stars barely holding
The sky up

But still I wake up
To march on
Thinking about the sunshine
While my soul slithers away
Withering invisible with time

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#AlienRomance

The cover of Dark Thoughts displayed against a backdrop of blood. The cover of Dark Thoughts features an all knowing, all powerful bare-chested male alien ruler concealed partially by shadows.

Dark Thoughts
Primitive. Deadly. Powerful.
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#MonsterRomance

SciFanSat: The Monthly Magazine for Science Fiction, Fantasy and More! February’s theme for issue 31 is ENTRANCE. The deadline for submissions to issue 31 is February 19th, and it will be published on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.

Calling all writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy and More: The doors are open for submissions to February’s #SciFanSat issue with its theme of ENTRANCE until 02.19.2026 at scifansat.com/landing.html!

#SFF #AmWritingScifi #AmWritingFantasy #WritingPrompts

Searching in shadows
For a glimmer of light
Digging in the darkest despair
For a thin vein of hope
Where do the lost go
While they wait
To be found?

#vss365 #shadow

Spies grow too close to their subject.
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#scifiromance #spaceopera #booksky

At the nexus of depravity:
Selfishness
Gluttony
Jealousy
Hatred
All birthed from one seed:
Fear
Find what inspires their dread:
Loneliness
Insignificance
Mockery
Thrust the spear of terror
Into their hearts
Again
Again
And Again
Watch them fall
Slain by their own
Nightmares

#vssdaily #terror

Alarm screams
Rips me from dreams
To diurnal damnation
Day, my soul’s night
Steals heaven from sight
Zones me to alienation

Tomorrow, don’t wake me
Don’t call, don’t shake me
Leave me in dark retreat
Safe from the travesty
Of waking’s tragedies
Secure in eternal dream
#2WordPrompt

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The Captor Becomes The Captive.
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A Cyborg Guided By Fate
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#CyborgRomance

I’ll be a storyteller
And tell you a silly tale
For a free—hot tea cuppa

Crickets play a tune
Upon wickets stood
Beneath a midnight moon

Is it a love song
I can't say
In case I'm wrong

Only a long #shadow
And stars formed by my tall
Telling magical pen—truly know

#vss365

Rory hid Esme in the #shadow of a deep rock cluster while he sorted through her inventory. He’d forgotten to stop off at the merchants and the bank and now Esme’s inventory was full.

He’d forgotten didn’t like destroying things he could deconstruct for parts or sell, but he had to do it.

#vss365

The helm eased the Anthill out from behind the #shadow of the moon and didn’t bother to adjust alignment with the the vessel ahead.

Holding up his hand, he waited … waited … then gave the silent order to the weapons officer, sending out the laser to tap the engines.

Training exercise.

#vss365

SciFanSat: The Monthly Magazine for Science Fiction, Fantasy and More!

AVAILABLE NOW: The January issue of #SciFanSat Magazine is out! Enjoy thrills and chills aplenty with cool stories of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and More from the #SFF authors of today and tomorrow at scifansat.com!

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I don’t loaf
Though I slump
Eyes glazed
Before the telly
Can’t you see
I’m thinking
Plotting
My moves
Concocting
A ruse
Solving
The world’s ills
From my couch
Though no time
To put plans
Into action
My show’s on

#vss365 #ruse

“Love, love, loved” -Amazon review
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#scifiromance #bestseller #booksky

If you could grasp your dream
Would you?
Are you ready to leave the safety
Of fantasy?
Are you ready for dreams made real?
Catch a star
Your problems don't end but change
Still you
No matter what glories arrive
Will you
Stumble over victory when sabotage
Lurks within?

#vssdaily #ready

“It could be the All got wind of our expedition.” Rorix aimed his comment at his weapons commander. “And perhaps the reason Kalquor set it up. Or maybe they’re just curious. We are a large group of ships, certain to catch the interest of anyone who sees us.” Signis rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Agreed. We’ll have to keep a careful watch.” Rorix regarded Laughter for a moment. It was a brief glance, but it felt weighted, as if he were considering something of tremendous importance. Instead of speaking to her, he trained his intent gaze on Veko. “Inform the convoy every ship is to keep sensors at full sweeps with someone to man them at all times. Marauders are placed on watch alert, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. I’m to be informed immediately if we detect anything following our ships.” “Yes, Captain.” Rorix’s eyes shifted toward Laughter again. Before their gazes could meet, she lowered hers to examine her readouts. She wasn’t one to duck any sort of confrontation, especially when it came to standing up to jerks, but his powerful regard made her feel off balance. Her stomach churning slightly, she kept her concentration on her computer podium until she felt he no longer watched her. A glance told her he’d gone to his own station, where he scrolled through a hologram report. She drew a breath as her shoulders loosened. It was funny that Rorix’s attention had brought more tension than the ship tailing the convoy.

Alien Quest 1 (Untitled)
#WIPSnips #notice #scifiromance #spaceopera #amwriting

Hayley put in a quick call to the hospital where Pritchard and Buddy would be taken as the taxi drove her to the Ethics Department’s office. The answering AI confirmed she’d be informed when the doctors had information on what exactly had happened to the victim. Then she called Ben to gather background on Pritchard and see if any of it matched up to Anand’s case. “I should have asked Buddy if they were acquainted Anand and Rahul,” she mused. It’s hard to remember everything at a moment’s notice, especially when emergency personnel are rushing you. Ben’s information will be thorough, Everly assured her. Her AI’s tone warned her something bothered them. Hayley stopped talking out loud. You sound preoccupied. It seemed to upset a number of people Bud had taken control of Pritchard’s body. It isn’t unheard of for someone’s AI to do so in an emergency situation. It’s because in such cases, the AI is trying to get their person to help. I suppose the knowledge an AI was having a meal in their person’s body was a bit disconcerting. Everly was silent for a few seconds before continuing. Humans had a fear of AIs taking over against their wishes when the tech began to be used.

Artificial Life
#WIPSnips #notice #sciencefiction #AI #amediting

I have no taste
For the shallow soul
The ego that shouts
ME ME ME
Give me depth
A bottomless well
Of life and substance
A silent, endless song
Of peace
Of grace

#2WordPrompt

Mouths gape, shaping enraged howls.

#7syllablesentence #gape

From ‘Just Stay Calm!. Prompt: ‘Notice’.

#WiPSnips