Writer in multiple genres (pen name of Kristine Page), eclectic polytheist, Bowie fan, Aikidoka, recently took up guitar, she/her,
also
@ScarletVMitchell
🦋
Ive created an
#agentguide
to my archeological mystery, “The Gerzean Blade”!
See inside for:
👯Buddy-cop vibes
🌃Noir elements
🛣Road trip!
🏳️🌈Queer characters
😤grumpy lesbian PI🕵️♀️ X ☀️sunshine himbo🐕
Omfg...
I just realized something about when agents keep shouting about "WHAT ARE THE STAAAAKES?" in query letters...
They mean PERSONAL stakes!
*🤦♀️dumb idiot me🤦♀️*
I was thinking "But what's higher stakes than the world ending?!"
I dunno. Maybe losing her found family with it?
Ugh!
So if an agent asks for the first 50 pages, is that a hard cut-off?
Would sending 52 pages be rude? If the extra 2 pages gets you to a punchy chapter ending or a big reveal?
This is happening in both my books and I don’t have 2 pages to trim at the front!
😓
@TheImprovisor
*chews on my own desk in rage until I'm coughing on spliters to prevent myself from tweeting the entire saga of an OBGYN that mistreated me*
It didn't belong there...
Dr. Breanne Lloyd squinted into the case. The museum was peaceful this early in the morning. The grand windows let in difuse light through the familiar morning mist on the plaza.
#1stLinePit
#Q
#A
#M
#CON
#CMe
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Backstories!
Ok, fess-up. Which of your characters has the most complicated backstory before the start of the story?
How much is on the page, and how much is just author-lore?
What are the juiciest bits?
The streetlights glowed with an amber hue, a color that still unnerved Ben. It had once been an omen of danger, but that had been a former life. Now, he was safe in his cab, crawling along the quiet road.
#1stLinePit
#Q
#YA
#NA
#F
#UF
#CMe
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Locations!
Where is your story set?
Is it a real location? If so, what is special about that place that called for your story?
Is it a fantastic world? If so, what about it was inspired by your own experiences and places youve been?
When I was about 8 years old, I had a meltdown in class.
The teacher dragged me in front of a mirror, pointed at my red, puffy, tearstained face and said, “Stop crying. Do you think a boy is ever going to want to kiss THAT?”
Looking back, I am mama-bear enraged for that girl.
PI Talia hates Brian's guts.😡
Too bad she needs his help to unravel how a priceless artifact snuck into the wrong museum.
Then her client is murdered and her smokin hot🥵 new client may be next!😱
Platonic Grumpy x Sunshine
Soft-Boiled Mystery
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#A
#M
#LGBT
"Would you ever dine out alone? 👀"
I am fascinated by the lifestyles of people who ask questions like that.
What is it like having other people in your face all the time? What is it like to never experience things on your own?
Do you even know who you are when you're alone?
#WritingCommmunity
reintroductions?
I am 45 and have identified as a writer since I was maybe 10. I dabble in several genres, but tend towards urban fantasy or paranormal.
I practice Aikido, enjoy a solitary lifestyle, and am your friendly neighborhood art-cheerleader.
#WriterCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
Undead!
Do ghosts or visions of the deceased appear in your story?
What is their purpose in the narrative?
How do you hope your reader responds to them?
(Not asking for spoilers!)
I'm going to mute now.
Everyone, including some agents and other publishing folks, seems to agree that an extra couple of pages is fine, if it gets you to a natural break, as long as you don't go overboard!
Thanks everyone and I hope this info is helpful to everyone
#amquerying
!
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#qotd
#writersq
Eyes!
Eye color is a detail many people find key to character building.
What colors are your characters eyes, and why did you choose that shade?
What ways beside color do you describe your characters' eyes to bring them to life?
You know I love all you writer friends on here, but it's getting to be hard to tell you apart cuz everyone's name is "John ✨️is querying ✨️" and I'm constantly going, "Oh crap... which querying John is this again?"
🤣😅
Sapphic gargoyle YA Urban Fantasy
Lonely Helena hides a dark power. Can ancient guardians, themselves rooted in stone, help her unlock it?
Haunted chapel
Goth girl MC
Shy love
Mermaid, dragon, griffin, oh my!
Darkness is not evil
Technicolor Hellscape
#QuestPit
#Q
#YA
#NA
#UF
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Confessions of love!
How easy is it for your character to admit when they love someone? To themselves? To the person?
How do they express their feelings?
#WritingCommunity
Here I go...
Where do I go to find good beta readers?
I've had bad luck with getting ghosted in the past and am also pretty new at having anyone read my stuff, so might be sensitive to critiques. I think I'm pretty grounded and confident, but...
"That belongs in a museum!"
Kronk: *places it gently in a museum*
"WRONG MUSEUUUUUUM!"
The Gerzean Blade
Adult Soft-Boiled PI mystery
Archeology-noir
#UnhingedPit
#Q
#M
#A
#LGBTQ
*checks email*
Oh, cool. Got my first rejec...
😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
Did I just gET A PARTIAL REQUEST ON MY VERY! FIRST! QUERY! FOR ROOTED IN STONE?
🤯😭😱😭🤯😭😱😭🤯
*hyperventilating, having the first panic attack I've had in 10 years.*
Omg!
#QueerPit
was amazing!
Everyone was absolutely chugging! So much support for each other!
I got three agent likes! *velociraptor screeching*
And with that…
Rooted in Stone is OFFICIALLY in the
#queryingtrenches
!
*sniff*
There by the grace of a retired angel goeth she!
Goth-girl Helena hides her heart behind high walls. She didn't plan to fall for a gargoyle.
Then, the stones start to crumble.
Now, to save her friends from a technicolor Hellscape, she must face the darkness within.
Sapphic YA Urban Fantasy
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#YA
#UF
#LGBT
Wait… I just learned about
#QueerPit
on July 1st. I was already planning to participate in
#QuestPit
on July 3rd, as Im just about ready to start querying my sapphic YA Urban Fantasy.
Can I/Should I do both? Or just pick one? Which one?
Also, lmk if you are too, so I can boost
Got the notice for publication date for my first ever published work!
Friday my flash story goes live 👍😬👍
33 years after I started calling myself a writer, going to finally having a completed work published and put in front of actual readers.
Am I an unpublished writer with no pull in the publishing industry whatsoever and several books that no one seems to want to read?
Yes.
Do I keep a "naughty list" of agents/publications/industry-people that I will never ever submit to, with notes about why?
I sure as Hell do.
“This is actually good timing—I saw some girls getting their nails painted at a stall over that way. I want to see if they have any colors I like before they close up for the fireworks. See you in a bit?”
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Elemental Associations!
If you had to assign an element to your character, what would it be?
Earth, Air, Fire, Water?
Why?
Is there a different elemental system in your world? What is it like and how do your characters relate?
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
Well after that rough weekend... let's talk:
Crying!
Do your characters cry easily?
Do they have other ways of expressing themselves? Or do they bottle it up?
My first real attempt at an ombre cake and I went with a bisexual-awareness-month cake.
The frosting was a disaster, completing the look of “bisexual-disaster”
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
You kiss your mamma with that mouth?
How much cussing is in your book?
Care to share a snippet? A favorite place where a swear word lands especially well? A spot you cleverly ‘almost’ swore? A funny alternative to a curse-word?
My innocent friend: "Im having grass fed beef tacos for lunch. Can’t wait!!! I’m crossing my fingers that it tastes better. The “regular” beef tastes so bland that I must add seasonings."
Me:
A quiet college campus
A brooding old chapel
A lightening storm
The statues blink
A hot but mean-looking goth girl rolls up
"Get in, loser. We're going to Hell."
Rooted in Stone
#UnhingedPit
#Q
#F
#U
#YA
#LGBTQ
Did I accidentally stay up late making an extra moodboard for each of my two main querying novels?
Did I accidentally forget to set my alarm and wake up late this morning?
Are the new moodboards pretty?
(Yes to all these.)
@TheImprovisor
Biopsy.
He removed a chunk of flesh from my crotch.
"Do I need painkillers?"
"Nah. You'll be fine. Take an asprin and go to work tomorrow."
Could barely walk for a week.
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Besties and frenemies!
Does your MC have a bestie (besides their LI?)
What about a frenemy (however you define that)?
How about someone with whom they share that one last braincell when they are on the page together?
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
DEATH!
How do your characters feel about their eventual deaths? Assuming they are kortal, what is their relationship with that fact?
What are some prevailing beliefs about death in your world?
#WritingCommunity
#Writersq
#Writingq
#qotd
Kids!
Do your characters have kids? How old are they and what are they like?
How important are they to the story?
What dreams do they have for their little-ones?
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
Gestures!
Besides appearance, characters can really come to life when they have their own unique body-language.
Does you character have something they tend to do? An aspect of posture or gait? A nervous habit or common expression?
Struggling private-eye, the cynical Talia, must work with her bubbly frenemy, Brian, to unravel how a priceless artifact turned up 10k miles from home.
... before money runs out...
... and the body count rises.
Buddy-cop x Soft-Boiled Mystery
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#A
#M
#LGBT
I know some of you joined
#SmallPitch
late!
That's OK! Folks will be lurking after the event and late boosts still help!
Comment if you want support!
(Feel free to check my pinned and pick a couple of my too-many pitches if you want, but not required!)
The water was black at this time of night. Blacker than the sky, which glowed with the lights of the city, not far in the distance. It lapped at the ballast of the pontoon with hallow sucking noises that sounded hungry and desperate.
#1stLinePit
#WIP
#A
#P
(Mudlarks- A series)
✨️ A thread of my
#SmallPitch
pitches!✨️
I have 3 works I'm currently pitching:
🐦⬛A sapphic gargoyle YA Urban Fantasy
🍆A trilogy of erotic novellas
🔪A breazy noir archeological mystery
Thanks for looking/boosting!
I always try to boost back!
❤️
Good luck, everyone!
🤞
@JenLRossman
I…
I would like to take a moment here to point out that ANGEL…
…
😬
Was considered the…
😬
… more mature, adult show.
Buffy was…
😬
… meant to be for a younger audience…
🫣
*gasp*!
*gulp*!
I don’t normally pay attention to this number, as a rule, but… but…
I am so pleased to be here! I won’t even ask why you nutty folks follow me, but Im sure glad you do😍🥰😱
An Egyptian artifact is found near the Mississippi. PI Talia can sort this out... if her best frenemy doesn't get underfoot.
Sapphic private-eye
Platonic Grumpy x Sunshine
Buddy-cop vibes
Unraveling colonialism
Archeology-noir
Soft-Boiled Mystery
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#A
#M
#LGBT
The dark chapel dominated campus with its carvings and gargoyles.
On the north, perched a dragon.
On the south, a startlingly beautiful split-tailed mermaid with long braids wrapped around her body.
Helena, a student-
"OK, but, hear me out..."
#UnhingedPit
#YA
#F
#U
#Q
#LGBTQ
#WritingCommunity
#writingq
#qotd
Appearances!
What do your characters look like?
Name, age, gender, eye/hair, height/build, distinguishing features, preferred wardrobe etc
Gimme them profiles!
N:
A:
G:
E/H:
H/B:
DF:
PW:
(You get an extra 1 cuz I thought I'd done this one!)
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#writersq
#qotd
Spice!
What guides you on how and when to include steamy interactions? How do you know how spicy to get on the page?
What genre/audience are you aiming at?
Are you nervous about people you know IRL reading your more explicit material?
@mikegarson
We love you, Mike. You and everyone worked so hard on this and it had to be a disappointment to postpone.
It will be beautiful tomorrow and I hope everyone is ok.
💗
Wtf?
Who asked for my "likes" to become private?
Isn't that how posts get boosted?
I want people to see my likes.
I want to mute posts I don't like and boost posts I do like. Why are we doing this?
Wtf? Why?
Who did this?
(We all know who did this.)
@megelison
Even women who can’t ever imagine their spouse abusing them in any way can benefit from this advice. People of any gender who never end up needing to escape a bad situation need this. It improves your relationship knowing you COULD leave.
Independent people make better partners.
#Writingq
#WritingCommunity
#writersq
#qotd
Shoes!
What is your character wearing on their feet on a typical day?
What is their shoe collection like?
Are there any special, magical or ceremonially important footwear in your world?
Any specialty footwear your character needs?
Welp... I guess I'm doing another pitch event literally the DAY before I leave on my trip😆
As usual, I will support and boost as many as I can, especially if you interact with my posts.
I've seen some of your first lines already, and this is going to be fun as heck!
🤣🥰
One week until September 27th!
Question of the day: Will you be participating?
If you are, help spread the word about this event. The more the merrier!
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#Qotd
Love at First Sight!
Does your character believe in love at first sight?
Do they believe in soulmates?
Have they ever fallen on first glance, or do they tend to slow-burn?
Lonely Helena must unlock her own dark powers when a demonic war spills into her school.
Flighting alongside gargoyles and angels sounds like fun, but falling in love is dangerous when the cosmos is at stake.
War is Hell.
Sapphic YA Urban Fantasy
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#YA
#UF
#LGBT
#WritingCommunity
I found an old work and realized I was switching (3rd limited) POVs with chapters.
It's necessary to the work. Most chapters are my MC, but sometimes others have their own chapter.
Should I just plop the POV name at the chapter heading?
How do you handle?
Just had a guy Im talking to (on a DATING APP) accuse me of “having an agenda” by looking for a romantic relationship (on a DATING APP) and claiming he has no such agenda, he’s just looking for friendships (on a DATING APP…)
Confession time...
I've been part of the
#WritingCommunity
for over a year here and I still don't know what "vague" actually means.
I thought I did, but I guess I don't?
Help!
#writingQ
#WritingCommunity
#writersq
#qotd
Non-sentient characters!
Weird question...
Anything that feels like a character, but isn't a sentient being? A charismatic building? An object that takes on a personality of it's own? A weather event that seems to have intentions?
@LarsHoel_writer
My theory is that they are not looking for story in those pages. They have a sense of the story from your query (and often from the synopsis, which is often part of those requests.)
I think they are looking for writing style and catchy start…
Style can be seen quickly…
I had the day off today and decided I really wanted to Have An Adventure™️!
I thought to make my little archeological-nerd heart happy, so, if you would... come with me!
🧵1/11
I am often reluctant to interact with posts that have apparent AI in their graphics. It can be hard to tell sometimes, and I avoid using it in mine (if you spot an image in mine, LMK!)
But please, don’t make me have to make that determination on my own!
Just stay away from AI!
However, I must say, please reconsider the use of AI and uncredited artwork in your moodboards. I'm an artist as well as a writer and we have to support fellow creatives by not abbetting theft. Canva has free pictures for you to put in moodboards. Please do use them!
Ok, my feed has gotten full of things that annoy me. All posted by people I don't follow.
Is there some magic way to trace who is interacting with these posts so I can unfollow them and regain the quiet, writing-centric feed I prefer?
I think I followed too many people.
✨️ A thread of my
#YouDeservepIt
pitches!✨️
I have 2 main works I'm currently pitching:
🖤A sapphic gargoyle YA Urban Fantasy
🔪A breazy noir archeological mystery
Thanks for looking/boosting!
I always try to boost back!
❤️
Good luck, and have fun everyone!
🤞
#Writingq
#WritingCommunity
#writersq
#qotd
Self-consciousness!
Is there something about your character that bothers them?
Something they don't like about their appearance or a behavior they are sensitive about?
Maybe a reputation they are touchy about?
#WritingCommunity
#Writinfq
#Writersq
#Qotd
Dating?
How does your character feel about romance?
Are they single and looking? Happily taken?
Unhappily taken? Single and cozy?
How do they feel about the dating scene and their prospects?
You ever edit and just come across lines that make you 😆
I am and just keep finding little 🤌
*
“They are pacifists.”
Helena wondered if their knives were pacifist, too.
*
*
She’d only been in Hell for a day and already things had gone to… well… here.
*
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#Writersq
#qotd
Chimerical beasts!
Do you have any strange creatures in your work? Something that's part one thing and part another? Something you'd find in a medieval bestiary?
JFC…
I am so glad this is not a dating app cuz I would be swiping right on LITERALLY EVERY writer reintroduction Ive seen so far!
How TF are you all so good-looking and interesting!? WTF?!
I cannot keep up with all the liking but I ain’t seen a stinker yet!
🥵
#PreQueerPit
I'll be participating on Monday! So excited to see everyone's pitches!
It's gonna be a big day!
I just made a new moodboard for QuestPit on Wednesday... and here's the preview!
We can't wait for
#QueerPit
on July 1 - so let's start early with a
#PreQueerPit
party! 🥳🎉
#PreQueerPit
is Friday, June 28 all day! Totally optional, but a great way to make friends before the pitch event.
**Reminder that graphics may not be used the day of QueerPit**
@RebeccaFKenney1
Ok,ok,ok...
So, I was once married to a hunky Scottish guy (like an honest to God romance novel dude, except he was more funny than not... but don't worry, he cheated and left me broken.)
Anyhow, he taught me how to do kayak-rolls to right myself if I flipped while paddling...
#WritingCommunity
#Writingq
#writersq
#qotd
Cash!
Do disputes about money between folks cause any tention in your story?
How about being short of cash?
Or do you write a moneyless world where people don't have to think much about it and focus on plot instead?
Sapphic Gargoyle YA Urban Fantasy
For years, the guardians have watched over the school. When one of them falls in love with a student, a new shadow falls and Hell rises.
It will take the powers of both dark and light to protect their only home.
#YouDeservepIt
#Q
#YA
#UF
#LGBT
Cry with my, my dears…
I think I have to kill a big darling… the very first scene. The one that inspired the whole novel in the first place 😭.
It kinda doesn’t make sense and doesn’t reeeeeeally belong there, but, but…
#WritingCommunity
#writingq
#writersq
#qotd
Cozies!
What's your favorite cozy details to include? Descriptions of food? Quiet moments where someone enjoys a hobby? Silly convos that reveal character?
Or are you plot-focused, just wanting to show us the exciting bits?
@BohoinChicago
Rule number one: Boots before corset.
Rule number two: Don't strike up conversations with the other patients waiting at the psychiatrists. Don't.
Rule number three: Keep your weight low and move from your center of gravity, your hips.
Seriously, anyone I interact with here that is in the sky (the one with the blue butterfly)
🦋
Please nudge me and I'll go find you.
I'm under scarletVmitchell
(note my middle initial which stands for "Violet"... which isn't actually my middle name, just an old joke.)
No real
#Writingq
today cuz Im feeling pretty low mood.
If you want to share something encouraging your character has said or would say, please feel free to share or post a snippet.
It’s up!
My first published story!
Sortes Magazine is a fun, free publication!
Take a look at my short, experimental flash piece, as well as the other awesome writers whose works are featured in the current edition!
(Link in the comments.)
What's higher stakes than stopping the murderer from killing more people?!😡
Uh... maybe stopping the murderer from killing people she cares about?🤷♀️
Gods I am so slow sometimes.
Maybe this post will help someone else make this same kind of epiphany...