Writerly Ways

I spent too much of this day backing up the old computer (my god the useless files on there) and grading so this post will mostly be a question to you all so I can get back to writing. I haven't even broken 1K yet.

So I was thinking about shows like Buffy and Supernatural where it is growing increasingly impossible to hide the monsters and the things they do. While my story is set in the 80s without all the cell phone video cameras around, there are still people around especially on a college campus. One of the beta readers in my writing groups asked why the police weren't more curious about group and know to call them. And I'm like fair point.

So my question to you all is this, what would you think if the group of monster hunters used a little magic to erase memories of the attacks and/or convinces the police they're trusted allies? Is this coercion one step too far? Is it believable? I mean there is only so many times you can claim a gas leak (how many times did they try that on Buffy? At least once) Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks.

Also I wanted to share this bit of wisdom from Lou Diamond Phillips

Open Calls

Amazing Stories: Sol System Yes THAT Amazing Stories

The Little Book of Cursed Dolls

Die by the Sword! Volume 1

The First Line – Spring 2023

Short Story Substack December 2022 Window (Early Listing)

JournalStone Is Open To Novels, Novellas, and Fiction Collections

Untitled Monster Anthology

Links from around the web

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Avoid Holiday Supply-chain Logjams: Sell Your Books On BookBaby Bookshop

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From betty

Worldbuilding: the enemy of good writing?

How to Write When You Don’t Want To: An Uncommon Approach

33 Ways to Write Stronger Characters

Why Prologues Get a Bad Rap

8 Tips for Dealing With Negative Reviews of Your Book

Writing Scenes Like Swiss Cheese

Liberating Over-Burdened Stories

Tweaking Your World’s Geology

How to Uncover Your Character’s Inner Conflict

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Losing Control

Historical Fiction: The Story Comes First

Snippet - “If it helps, they’re not usually like this,” Dan said.

“Probably dressing to impress the wanker. Both of them are hot enough he’ll probably trip over his own tongue.”

“Aw, thank you, Howell,” Grace said from the top of the stairs. She posed for a second in her red Benetton suit that she wore a gold shirt underneath. Her favorite red fedora rested on her dark curls, no doubt worn in hopes of solidarity with Robert and his fedora. “How do I look?”

“Ti’n uffernol o ddel!”

“Does that mean good?” Dan asked.

“It means she looks pretty as hell.” Howell grinned.

Grace checked her plaid Swatch watch. “We’re really running late, Al!”

“Coming.”

Al appeared in tight, ripped jeans and a half shirt that barely came past her breasts, baring her toned belly. Her hair had been teased up and sprayed with electric blue coloring mirrored in both her eye shadow and lipstick. Dan had seen the look before. He liked it. “So am I helluva pretty too?”

“Secsi iawn.” Howell replied.

“Okay that sounded like sexy something. I’ll take it,” she said thundering down the steps.

“Iawn is very and it’s hard to hide the sexy.” Howell’s grin broadened. “This Robert bloke won’t be the only one tripping over his own tongue.”

“Tongue if we’re lucky.” Al arched her eyebrows and Dan groaned.

32869 / 50000 words. 66% done!