J. Neira

I looooove "Arrive Late, Leave Early"! This is one of the most useful pieces of advice I ever read about writing scenes. It's why my WIP's first chapter starts with the MMC killing a man and ends on a cliffhanger. I don't quite mean "in medias res" but it's similar. #SummerOfStory #WritingCommunity

#SummerOfStory I appreciate this advice because it generally improves the pacing and keeps books from becoming a huge slog.

But damn, I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy chewing scenery and little slice of life moments that show me characterization or worldbuilding😅

Now, I respect it's not for everyone. I myself have fun with describing a characters pajamas. 😆 But as a rule of thumb, starting close to the action is a good piece of advice. 2/2
#SummerofStory

Yes 100. I say this as a slush reader (for Graveside Press) who has read hundreds of short story submissions, sometimes I have to read ten in an hour. Writers who catch my interest in the first few paragraphs have a better chance of getting acceptance into one of our anthologies. 1/2

#SummerofStory

I feel sympathetic to Audra Winters, and I hope she doesn't feel too bad after what happened. I made the same mistake with Maria's Farm. All you need is a good editor to iron out your typos, and that's most of the problem taken care of just like that. I really hope she perseveres & doesn't retire.

Oh, my apologies. When I'm back at Duosuma I'll double check the name of the author whose submission I was reading. It blurs together - I probably mixed you up with someone else. Sorry! 🙈

It's your submission to GRADEside. 👻

Thank you for hosting. I don't have anything in particular to announce. If anyone is going to Gen Con, maybe you can meet my friend & writing mentor (plus critique partner) @lynettebaconnguyen.bsky.social

#HorrorWritersChat Q4

Ooh, well my best friend forever is @lynettebaconnguyen.bsky.social - you can meet her at Gen Con this weekend! She writes fantasy + 🧟‍♀️ horror.
I am also reading something from @jldurona.com which atm I can't mention but I'm liking it!

I'm currently reading @kathleenpalm.bsky.social's third book (which is not out yet!) and having a blast with it! #horrorwriterschat

Just one author? That's hard 🤣

#HorrorWritersChat introduced me to @daniel-lorn.bsky.social and I absolutely love his dark tales. RED is my favourite so far (and the best vampire story ever) but I can't wait to read his latest release Formulation

#HorrorWritersChat This will be easy considering I've read their books recently. Check out the stories of @shannonknight.bsky.social, @authoriseult.bsky.social, @stevewestenra.bsky.social, and @chaoticauthor.online. They have some intriguing stories.

Love this

In my horror work, the one common theme when it comes to friendship is ✨mutual trauma✨

#HorrorWritersChat

It’s a simple one, really. That (hetero attracted) men and women can be great supportive friends, and affectionate without romance or sex ever getting in the way.

I don’t write a lot of romance as I want to focus on other relationships more. I have big plans for Nikki and Rob.

#HorrorWritersChat

I agree with this message.

In my horror work, the one common theme when it comes to friendship is its necessity. We can't save the world alone. We can't defeat evil alone. Only when decisively and confidently organised, can our collective talents and skills bring down even the worst of monsters.

#HorrorWritersChat

In my horror work, the one common theme when it comes to friendship is it may get you into a lot of trouble, but it could also save your life.

#HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat

The theme? Lately, seems to be trauma bonds. But I think pure caring. The Blood We Choose was all about caring.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS my moment has come!

Friendship is the catalyst in all my books. Much more so than love, romance: it's the friends who step forward and do the right thing.
And sometimes it's the friends you don't expect. Richard and Mina, Emily and Gemma, Brandon and Magali.

#HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat

In my horror work, the one common theme when it comes to friendship is Love

Platonic, maybe Romantic, and it's ending

#HorrorWritersChat
RIDE OR DIE. I write friendships that aren't perfect but are still inseparable. No one gets left behind, platonic "touch them and die" and "who did this to you" kind of stuff.

Love this. ❤️ 🔥

I'm not sure what the common theme uniting all my character friendships are. One thing that I like to do is have asexual & aromantic (not always both at the same time though) friendships, as I am part of that community. But not all of my characters who are friends are ace.
#HorrorWritersChat Q3

Thank you. ❤️ It's always the kind thing to do imo but it's even more important now, when there are so many frauds using AI. I've made it a habit to credit my artists so everyone knows it's human art & where to find her if they want art from her too.

This is a tough one. I feel that all of my characters are complex in different ways that if they all met from all my books, they'd probably not see eye-to-eye 😅 if I had to choose two, I feel Sammie from The House on Finvoy Road and Megan from The Whispers of Murder

#HorrorWritersChat

Vic Vogel, my MC's best friend in the Berge Sisters series, would get along VERY well with Riski, my secondary character from Normal Size, my current WIP. Both are tough, determined, and way too honest for their own good!

#horrorwriterschat

I think Madeline "Maddie" Taggert from my novel "Rose" and Anastasia "Annie" Hummel from my short story "The Dedication of the High Priestess" would be total besties. They're both talented and serious ballerinas, so they would totally bond over that. 🩰
#HorrorWritersChat

I think Olivia Taverner from my Gabriel Davenport series and Maggie O'Reilly from The Haunting of Wounded Birds would be good friends. Both no nonsense women who say exactly what they're thinking! #HorrorWritersChat

Love this. 💜