Snippet From My Queer Polyamorous Romance Novel, Community Witch - An Unapologetically Trope-y, Cozy,

Snippet from my queer polyamorous romance novel, Community Witch - an unapologetically trope-y, cozy, and relationship-driven romance story about the healing from trauma, found family, and joyful queer relationships. (Looking to publish next year.) ---

“My life has turned into a Lifemark movie,” Aspen groaned, flopping dramatically onto their bed. “Thirty year old enby leaves the big city, including their terrible partner and the job they hate, to move to a beautiful small town, has meet cute with beautiful stranger before running into The One That Got Away.”

There was a choking sound on the other end of the line.

“You’re allowed to laugh,” Aspen grumbled. “Even I think it’s ridiculous, and I’m living it.”

Becks didn’t laugh, but Aspen could hear the grin in her voice. “I assume the beautiful stranger is Rav, but who is The One That Got Away?”

“Remember that guy I was hopelessly in love with in high school? The wholesome football player?”

“Maybe?”

“My best friend? The one that was over all the time?”

“Oh my god, that himbo you tutored, then pined for the rest of high school? The one you wanted to smash from orbit?”

“Not a himbo,” Aspen bristled, unable to argue with the rest of Becks’ description. “Anyway. She’s Nat now. I ran into her at the gym just now when I was dropping off cards around town. And we’re going to catch up when she’s done with work.”

This time, Becks did laugh – gleeful peals that made Aspen smile despite themself.

i'm not the praying sort, but i'll probably always have a soft spot for the astronaut's prayer

Moodboard for Community Witch - my recently-finished queer fantasy romance novel. (Currently working on getting it published) Artists (where I could find credits): @kelpls Xiao Tong Kong A. Szabla Abz J Harding @mechinaries Simz Celtilia

Living in the future is dangerous

A couple days ago my husband picked up my phone while I was driving, and then he fucking RICK ROLLED MY HEARING AIDS

Also!!!! Adverbs are useful in describing body language meant to convey emotional context: Aspen stopped themself, holding up their hands apologetically.

Just saying that they held up their hands gets rid of the emotional context - you can hold up your hands angrily, or aggressively, or sarcastically. They're also a lot more useful for conveying sarcasm without just saying the character is being sarcastic: “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Becks asked sweetly from the doorway.

So yeah. Vary your parts of speech, but also

I know adverbs are controversial, but "said softly" means something different than "whispered" and this is the hill I will die on.

I have an appointment next Monday about starting HRT.

My name and pronouns aren't changing. My gender identity hasn't changed. I've just gotten worn down by the impossibility of being myself in a world that only wants to see me as "Cara's mom", and which reads me as female even when I'm wearing my pronouns on my fucking face.

I'm annoyed and sad that this version of me that I've worked so hard to learn to like is going to go away. I'm particularly sad about losing my voice. But as mad as I am about the impossibility of getting read as my gender, doing nothing is still a choice, and that choice is taking a severe toll on my mental health.

I'm looking for a new middle name that starts with A, because I wanted to make Agamemnon my middle name, but my husband doesn't want to have to write it on parenting forms and shit (which honestly, fair and reasonable), so it's going to be my SECOND middle name and I need a reasonable and normal Anglo first middle name.