VIDE VERT

... i am only an aimless soul ... c. she/her. twenty. writeblr.

[ljegers-deactivated20181129]

Cilantro drawing from the other month 

[l2g-deactivated20240513]

green moments in august

[missydunaway]

A cloudy day, a sunny day.

[ma-sulevin]

hey!! i was wondering if you were making a 2022 writing tracker again this year? the 2021 saved my LIFE and i loved it sm!! <333

Yes! I'm so glad you enjoyed using the 2021 tracker. I didn't really change anything for 2022, but I did go through and update the dates so it's fresh and ready to go:

Grab your own copy here.

The link includes the year-long tracker and the smaller sheet with the 30- and 31-day mini-trackers for month-long challenges like NaNoWriMo or Writetober.

[whitemourning]

what soup ingredient are you.. options include garlic carrot potato corn and a secret option 🌽🍅🥔🍲🥕🧅🧄

[whitemourning]

glad to see that we are all loving the soup 🥰🥄

[conteur]

is writeblr dead or is it just me 

[conteur]

INTRODUCING ... conteur !!!

⇁ chelsea (c.g.p.) | she/they ⇁ prev. urls duvyena; treadswater; videsnoir ⇁ twenty — born april 04 ⇁ aries sun, leo moon, sagittarius rising ⇁ english lit major & creative writing minor ⇁ human embodiment of the tower card

— hi, again ...

chelsea, crawling back to writeblr? more likely than you think! honestly tho, this was my first real writing community, and so i thought i'd dip my toes back into it. i missed it. i missed y’all!

currently, i’m focused on writing queer mysteries in the YA genre; my first book is currently on submission to editors; i’m working on my second book (affectionately titled book2) right now, in preparation of sending it to my agent in the new year.

i like the color green, drinking coffee, and buying books i never end up reading. if you remember anything about me, you might know i’m kind of the king of changing projects, but thanks to ✨therapy✨ i’ve actually gotten over that, and am good at sticking to one thing until it’s finished. i recently queried my first novel + acquired an agent to represent me, and now that that’s over, i’m just writing again! falling back in love with characters and plots and oh so sweet twists.

— current projects ...

X MARKS THE SPOT ... on submission ... content ∣ inspiration ∣ ost ∣ board

Daphne, an amateur treasure hunter, must team up with her ex-girlfriend Ivy in order to find a hidden fortune in the Louisiana bayou, getting wrapped up in a murder mystery along the way.

(aka, the book that got me an agent! technically, XMTS isn’t a wip, but also, it isn’t finished until it’s published, so i’m counting it here, lmao. i wrote it in 22 days during camp nano, and it’s kind of my pride and joy.)

BOOK2 ... in progress ... content ∣ inspiration ∣ ost ∣ board

After discovering he was abducted at birth, Evan moves to the small town of West Chapel to unravel the mystery surrounding his kidnapping with the help of his newfound sister, Sienna.

(aka my second go-around at writing a mystery! this one is coming together a lot slower than XMTS did, but honestly, i’m not even complaining. i adore these characters so much. they’re idiots and i love them)

— find me elsewhere ...

twitter ∣ spotify ∣ pinterest ∣ goodreads ∣ website

ok, that’s it i think!! i’m much more active on twitter, but i’m eager to get this blog back into shape, so i’ll be here too! i’m always down to talk, be it about my querying/submission journey, my writing, or like. idk, cats or something. my dms are open!!!

[conteur]

url change :D

videsnoir ⇁ conteur

[writerforfun]

7 Plot Points for Basic Story Structure

In fiction writing, plot points can serve as a map for basic plot structure. Many classic stories follow a similar basic structure made up of seven key plot points:

Hook: A hook is a compelling event, usually in the first chapter, that captivates the reader and encourages them to keep reading. This is usually the inciting incident of your story, in which the status quo of your main character is disrupted for the first time.

First plot point: The first plot point occurs in the first act (usually around a quarter or a third of the way through the story) and propels the main character into the central conflict of the story as they break from the status quo. This is usually the first significant event of the story and serves as a catalyst for the sequence of events to come. The first plot point is also known as the point of no return.

First pinch point: The first pinch point occurs in the middle of the story and is a moment where the protagonist faces intense pressure as a result of the first plot point. Usually, the first pinch point forces the character into a critical decision, the consequences of which will reverberate throughout the rest of the story.

Midpoint: The midpoint is the moment in the middle of a story where the protagonist makes the decision to take action. This usually involves them forming a new goal as a result of newfound confidence, resolve, or the provocation of an antagonist.

Final pinch point: In the later part of the second act, the character experiences another pressure point related to the main conflict. This could be a battle with the main antagonist or simply a continuation of the stakes of the first pinch point. It usually results in the formation of a new plan that propels the character out of act two and into the third act.

Final plot point: The final plot point (also known as the second plot point) finds your protagonist at their low point, when it seems like all hope is lost. The plan has failed, and it seems like the bad guys have won. This leads your character directly into the climax and resolution.

Resolution: The resolution results in the completion of your story arc, as your protagonist makes a final choice that reveals something profound about their character and brings the narrative to a satisfying conclusion.

Article source: here.

[anghraine]

so I’m looking at short story publishers (fantasy)

Tor, cream of the crop. 25 cents a word. Stories can be read for free (YES). Slowish response time at ~3 months. Prefer under 12k, absolute maximum is 17.5k. Don’t bother if it’s not highly professional quality. SFWA qualifying.

Crossed Genres. 6 cents a word. Different theme each month (this month’s is “failure”). Submissions must combine either sci-fi or fantasy with the theme. Response time 1 month. 1k-6k, no exceptions. SFWA qualifying.

Long Hidden, anthology from CG. 6 cents a word. 2k-8k, no exceptions. Must take place before 1935. Protagonist(s) must be under 18 and marginalized in their time and place. Must be sci-fi/fantasy/horror. Deadline 30 April. Response by 1 October.

Queers Destroy Science Fiction. Sci-fi only right now, author must identify as queer (gay, lesbian, bi, ace, pan, trans, genderfluid, etc, just not cishet). 7.5k max. Deadline 15 February. Responses by 1 March. You can submit one flash fiction and one short story at the same time. (My network blocks the Lightspeed site for some reason, so I can’t get all the submission details. >_>) Probably SFWA qualifying?

Women in Practical Armor. 6 cents a word. 2k-5k. Must be about 1) a female warrior who 2) is already empowered and 3) wears sensible armour. Deadline 1 April. Response within three months.

Fiction Vortex. $10 per story, with $20 and $30 for editor’s and readers’ choice stories (hoping to improve). Speculative fiction only. Imaginative but non-florid stories. 7.5k maximum, preference for 5k and under. (I kind of want to support them on general principle.)

Urban Fantasy Magazine. 6 cents a word. 8k max, under 4k preferred. Must be urban fantasy (aka, the modern world, doesn’t need to be a literal city). 

Nightmare. 6 cents a word. 1.5-7.5k, preference for under 5k. Horror and dark fantasy. Response time up to two weeks. SFWA and HWA qualifying.

Apex Magazine. 6 cents a word. 7.5k max, no exceptions. Dark sci-fi/fantasy/horror. SFWA qualifying.

Asimov’s Science Fiction. 8-10 cents a word. 20k max, 1k minimum. Sci-fi; borderline fantasy is ok, but not S&S. Prefer character focused. Response time 5 weeks; query at 3 months. SFWA qualifying, ofc.

Buzzy Mag. 10 cents a word. 10k max. Should be acceptable for anyone 15+. Response time 6-8 weeks. SFWA qualifying.

Strange Horizons. 8 cents a word. Speculative fiction. 10k max, prefers under 5k. Response time 40 days. Particularly interested in diverse perspectives, nuanced approahces to political issues, and hypertexts. SFWA qualifying. 

Fantasy and Science Fiction. 7-12 cents a word. Speculative fiction, preference for character focus, would like more science-fiction or humour. 25k maximum. Prefers Courier. Response time 15 days.

Scigentasy. 3 cents a word. .5-5k. Science-fiction and fantasy, progressive/feminist emphasis. Fantastic Stories of the Imagination. 15 cents a word. 3k maximum. Any sci-fi/fantasy, they like a literary bent. (psst, steinbecks!) They also like to see both traditional and experimental approaches. Response time two weeks. 

Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 6 cents a word. 10k maximum. Fantasy in secondary worlds only (it can be Earth, but drastically different—alternate history or whatever). Character focus, prefer styles that are lush yet clear, limited first or third person narration. Response time usually 2-4 weeks, can be 5-7 weeks. SFWA qualifying.

Clarkesworld. 10 cents a word up to 4000, 7 afterwards. 1-8k, preferred is 4k. Science-fiction and fantasy. Needs to be well-written and convenient to read on-screen. Appreciates rigour. No talking cats. Response time 2 days. SFWA qualifying.

Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show. 6 cents a word. Any length. Science-fiction and fantasy (along with fantastic horror). Good world-building and characterization. Clear straightforward prose. Response time three months. Yes, OSC is editor-in-chief. SFWA qualifying.

Interzone. Sub-pro rates if anything (but highly respected). 10k max. Short cover letter. Science-fiction and fantasy.

[avi-why]

This is several years out of date, here’s the updated version (as of July 21, 2021)

Pro rates are now 8 center per word. SFWA information is drawn from this page, which will likely be updated far more frequently than this post.

Tor no longer accepts unsolicited submissions.

Crossed Genres is closed, but SFWA-qualifying for stories published between 2013 and 2015.

Long Hidden is a completed anthology, which can be found here. 

Queers Destroy Science Fiction is a completed anthology, and can be found here. 

Women In Practical Armor is a completed anthology, which can be found here. 

Fiction Vortex seems to be ongoing, but the link to their submissions portal is broken.

Urban Fantasy Magazine is not accepting short fiction for the foreseeable future.

Nightmare is currently closed to submissions, but will reopen at some point soon.

Apex is open to submissions.

Asimov’s is open to submissions.

Buzzy Magazine is no longer publishing short fiction, but SFWA qualifying for stories published through October 2016.

Strange Horizons is currently closed to submissions, but will reopen at some point soon. 

Fantasy And Science Fiction is open for submissions.

Scigentasy seems to be ongoing, but the link to their submissions portal is broken.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies is open to submissions.

Clarkesworld is open to submissions.

Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show is closed.

Interzone is open to submissions.

I would also like to add my own personal recs:

Fantasy and Lightspeed Magazine(s), sisters to Nightmare

Diabolical Plots

Uncanny (currently closed, will reopen soon)

anything under the Escape Pod umbrella– Cast of Wonders, Podcastle, Pseudopod, etc.

Augur Magazine

the Dread Machine

[wintersongstress]

wilf (wip i’d like to finish)

[niyarest]

write your url by only using emojis

[conteur]

is it so much to ask to be part of a small discord where we egg each other’s projects on and do sprints and are obsessed with each other’s work? 😭😭

[peanutpalace-deactivated2023011]

you all hate to see a gnc bitch thriving in a marsh environment

[ashstfu]

x

[conteur]

A BLOOMING DECEIT — a novel by c.g.p.

Amsterdam, 1636. The city that thrives on floraturgy—the magical potential of plants—is abuzz with a rumour that the coveted Semper Augustus tulip bulbs have the power to change the course of war. Saskia de Haas, slighted by the richest man in Holland—the man who is in possession of the bulbs—is determined to get her revenge and assembles a team of young ladies to help her:

A botanical magician masquerading as a boy.

An artist's favoured muse with a sordid past.

A gambler with an artificial streak of good luck.

And a penniless heiress engaged to the mark.

Together, they will help Saskia pull off the unthinkable: a theft from the most secure place in all of Amsterdam. But as she begins to fall for one of her co-conspirators—and confront the ghosts from her past—Saskia’s heist takes a turn she did not expect—a turn that might just end up deadly.

a young adult historical (light) fantasy featuring queer girls in need of therapy, a unique magic system, an alternative history of the dutch golden age, and a lot of references to the language of flowers

find me on twitter / pinterest / spotify !

[coldbeaker]

Lamia (Vampire) - John William Waterhouse (1905)

”For so delicious were the words she sung, it seem'd he had loved them a whole summer long”

- John Keats