Chris Cave

Hey. Grab Matt Phillion's free book give-away.
everyone should freaking go get the first of the holiday offerings.

Does not have to be read with/in line with his Indestructibles series, these are stand alone stories. But you'll want more. I promise.

#booksky
#indestructibles

Writing Tip: Limit yourself to only 200 words. Or use no adjectives. Or write a scene in only dialogue.

Paradoxically, constraints force more creativity. They break you out of habitual patterns and lead to surprising, original prose.

#WritingTips #AmWriting #Creativity #booksky

Cover for SPECTRUM OF A FORGOTTEN SKY by EC TUBB

Yesterday's Word Count = 382

#Bookdsky White Clockwork now has an audiobook my book from mybook.to/whiteclockwork (free on #KindleUnlimite) #WhiteClockwork #amwriting #WritingCommunity #bookblogger #books #Novel #5amwritersclub #reader

Dialogue shouldn't just fill space—it should reveal character or advance the plot. Writing Tip: Read your dialogue aloud. If a line could be said by any character, cut it. Great dialogue has a unique voice, subtext, and purpose. If it does nothing, it's noise.
#WritingTip #WritingCommunity ##booksky

Writing Tip: Define what your character WANTS most (a goal), what's STOPPING them (obstacle), and what they'll DO about it (action).

Want + Obstacle + Action = Instant momentum.

#WritingTips #CharacterDevelopment #WritingCommunity #booksky

Your first draft is a skeleton. Revision adds the muscle, skin, and soul.

Writing Tip: Read your work aloud. Your ear will catch clumsy phrasing, repetitive words, and unnatural dialogue that your eyes skim over. It’s the simplest, most powerful edit you can do.

#WritingTips #AmWriting #booksky

Transforming Heroes is cyberpunk meta power rangers mixed with Line of Duty and seasoned with Peaky Blinders. books2read.com/u/496dGk #writing #book #powerrangers #mecha #cyberpunk #booksky

This beautiful little poem by Doireann Ní Ghríofa plays cleverly with English and Irish,how words shift in meaning and emotional resonance

#poetry
#poemoftheday
#gaeilge

Just finished reading A Life Less Heavy by Nigel Planer, what a great read. Cried with laughter at parts of it, unfortunately for me whilst on a train. #booksky

Is your writing feeling flat? Check your verbs!

Writing Tip: Strengthen "to be" verbs (is, was, are). Instead of "The room was messy," try "Clothes littered the floor and books towered on the desk." Active verbs bring your scenes to life.

#WritingTips #AmWriting #Editing #booksky

STEP 3: The Personal Stakes.
"What if the only way to overcome their phobia was to relive the traumatic memory of the enclosed spaceship accident that caused it?"

Boom. Now it's not just about saving a world, it's about conquering inner demons. The premise is now a story.

STEP 2: The Twist.
"What if that person was TERRIFIED OF OPEN SPACES?(Agoraphobic)"

NOW we have conflict! The very environment they're creating is their greatest personal nightmare. The story gets instantly more interesting.

STEP 1: The Core Idea.
"What if one person was responsible for terraforming an entire planet?"

Okay, cool. But we've seen that. It's a big trope. Time to dig deeper. #AmWriting #IndieAuthor

NEW WRITING TIP: The "What If" Ladder! 🪜

Struggling with a cliché premise? Make it uniquely YOURS by asking "What if?" three times.

Let's use my book, Transforming Hero, as an example. 👇 #WritingCommunity #WritingTips #SciFi

I will never get over how Terry Pratchett used satire not just to be clever, but to build a world where the most silly, moving stories are just about people—goblins, witches, coppers, all—trying to do their best.

It’s the most human thing there is. #Discworld #booksky

Writing Tip: Hunt for "adverb + verb" combinations. Often, you can replace them with one stronger, more precise verb. It makes your writing more vivid and immediate.

Example: Instead of "He closed the door angrily," try "He slammed the door."

#WritingTips #AmWriting #WordChoice

Back off my honeymoon. So, plan to do one post day this week.

Today, I'm off on my honeymoon cruise. This should power me to do more writing.

Writing Tip: Don't be afraid to "kill your darlings." If a line, scene, or character you love isn't serving the plot or pace, cut it. Save it in a "spare parts" document. The story always comes first.

Your writing will be stronger for it.

#WritingTip #WritingCommunity #booksky

Transforming Heroes is cyberpunk meta power rangers mixed with Line of Duty and seasoned with Peaky Blinders. books2read.com/u/496dGk #writing #book #powerrangers #mecha #cyberpunk #booksky

Whst I love about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is how it proved sci-fi could be deeply, absurdly funny. It used glorious tangents not as distractions, but as the point. It tackles the biggest question—the meaning of life—and shows the quest itself is beautifully, hilariously pointless.

Whst I love about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is how it proved sci-fi could be deeply, absurdly funny. It used glorious tangents not as distractions, but as the point. It tackles the biggest question—the meaning of life—and shows the quest itself is beautifully, hilariously pointless.

After time,
bitterness
can dissolve away
your heart's capacity
to dream,
like poison.

#booksky #poetry #micropoetry #books

Transforming Heroes is cyberpunk meta power rangers mixed with Line of Duty and seasoned with Peaky Blinders. books2read.com/u/496dGk #writing #book #powerrangers #mecha #cyberpunk #booksky

I will never get over how Terry Pratchett used satire not just to be clever, but to build a world where the most silly, moving stories are just about people—goblins, witches, coppers, all—trying to do their best.

It’s the most human thing there is. #Discworld #booksky

My September reads

I got an early start in spooky season reading with vampires this month.

#silviamorenogarcia #anthonybourdain #stephaniemeyer #bujold #rfkuang #TheTaintedCup #booksky

There is software that will read it aloud for you, so you don't have to be driven mad by your own voice.

Pictured: 12 Books by Cassandra B. Leigh. Haunting Netherfield, An Unguarded Moment, Rosings Cottage, Elegant Female, Darcy or Lizzy?, Hope & Chance, Darcy the Terrible, Remembrances, Unconsciously Done, Pride & Distance, His Folly, Crossed in Love.

I retired from my corporate job 5 years ago today. Since then, I have self-published 12 novels.

www.amazon.com/stores/autho...

#PrideAndPrejudice #MrDarcy #JaneAusten #Regency #Romance #Romancelandia #KindleUnlimited #Books 📚💙

Your first draft is a skeleton. Revision adds the muscle, skin, and soul.

Writing Tip: Read your work aloud. Your ear will catch clumsy phrasing, repetitive words, and unnatural dialogue that your eyes skim over. It’s the simplest, most powerful edit you can do.

#WritingTips #AmWriting #booksky