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Oh, and I'm making a new film, a dark comedy in the #solarpunk genre, about a man in an African techno-utopia who is banished from his village for a crime he did not commit. It's the last short I'm doing as target practice before I embark on a feature film next year, and if you have a few coins to spare, please help me figure out how to imagine this future.
#PennedPossibilities 838 — MC POV: You’re on your death bed. Who do you want by your side?
[Bolt:] There's no way I can imagine a peaceful death at this point, more of someone having stabbed me in the stomach and gloating as I lie in a gutter. I want nobody there. Alone would mean the mob didn't discover my name, didn't find where my family lives, or didn't notice those people who insist on being my friend who I try to push away because I'm poison to associate with. What a horrible thing to ask!
[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]
#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
**REMINDER: Solarpunk Bookclub this Thursday 8pm ET!**
(online)
We're reading *Solarpunk Creatures!*
Jitsi link: meet.jit.si/SolarpunkBookclubO…
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Edited by @sarenaulibarri Stories by @ana @BrightFlame @teffeau and more..
Whew. It is so many months overdue, but finally I have a release date for my new short film, #TheNightDancer and since Halloween is just around the corner I thought why not show it to you on that day? It is supposed to be a horror, after all 😊
But here is a trailer (sort of) will give you a hint of what to expect (I hope) though I have mixed feeling about how the film came out, but more on that in a proper BTS blog!
tv.dilstories.com/w/tYirSmFQZQ…
#film #halloween #horror #sff #movies
Teaser for The Night Dancer
A trailer of The Night Dancer, a horror film with zombies and dances with magical power.
#PennedPossibilities 794 — Describe a “happy life” according to your antagonist?
It would be one where Dr. Death would be able to do his work and experiments in peace. Everyone's always bothering him, including his sponsors. No, *especially* them.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 792 — Share art pieces or mood boards for your WIP, if you have any.
I can show you guys Alexios, just from the neck down. That's all that I have on hand at the moment. Just imagine a bearded silver fox by the name of #PeterCapaldi. That's who I've always had in mind for him.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 791 — Tell us about something that will always make your SC laugh.
There are actually a few things that will always make Dante laugh, and that's a guarantee. They are as follows: Cosmia's jokes, Noona's dry, sarcastic commentary, Junk's silliness (because, yes, that man is ridiculous), or how grumpy Alexios can be at times.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 789 — Is there a food that reminds your MC of home?
Oh, there's quite a few things. Anything like: mince and tatties, Haggis, something closely resembling Lorne sausage, oatcakes, porridge, tattie scones, etc.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 788 — Out of all of your characters, who would make a “plan,” who follows along, and who knows if the plan is going to fail?
I figured I'd choose a fun prompt for tonight. We need some laughs.
Alexios makes the plan, Junk follows along without issue or comment, and Cosmia AND Dante both know if the plan will fail (and it probably will). I won't even lie about that. Very easy to answer. 😂
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 787 — How does your MC view the gentler, daintier things in life: as things worth preserving and caring for, or things only bound to wither and disappear?
For Alexios, it's actually a combination of the two. Everything beautiful and joy-inducing is WORTH preserving, but he knows only too well that things can end in the blink of an eye. It won't stop him from trying his best, for caring as much as he possibly can, but the fact that remains. He's suffered great loss in the past. His people are now more, and his planet's gone.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 784 — Is there a mistake your antagonist keeps repeatedly making in their life? Explain.
Dr. Death keeps ASSUMING that Alexios is dead. There's another answer, but I can't give away any major spoilers. Not yet.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 783 — Who should the readers be “rooting for” in your WIP?
The gang, Destiny's Maelström in its entirety. They are the "good guys," so to speak, in a world that's so dark and verging on total cyberpunk desolation (if it isn't already there). No one's perfect in the Digital Dystopia Series, but Destiny's Maelström is the protagonist group. I won't name a single character. Instead, I'll just name the group as our protagonists. The members of the gang are the leading characters.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 782 — SC POV: When was the last time you felt needed?
Dante: When Noona called me, crying her eyes out. She needed a friend. I love her, and I would do or be /anything/ for her, so I went to her home and comforted her. One of her gang members had just passed away. Rather brutally, I might add.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 781 — Antagonist POV: If you had a “do-over” button, what one event in your life would you like to have a second chance at?
Dr. Death: I would have killed Alexios Jace. I wouldn't have experimented on him, wouldn't have let him escape, and wouldn't have made such a monumental mistake. It was his time to die, but I chose instead to turn him into a soldier, a slave. The mistake was mine and mine alone. I have to live with that now.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 779 — MC POV: Do you think you have any idiosyncrasies?
Alexios: Pfft, I'm sure I have many. My chooms never shut up about it, to be honest. I have a lot of odd habits. My enthusiastic love of ramen seems to be a constant topic of discussion, or the fact that I talk fast and have a Scottish accent that some don't understand. I'm quirky. Everyone in Ethera is. For my idiosyncrasies, you'd have to ask my chooms. They would know better than I would. You don't see these things, others do, so you can't fake or learn these habits or quirks. You're stuck with what you have because of who you are, but I suppose that's how it should be. Embrace what makes you you and stop worrying about trying to fit in. I stopped a long time ago.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 778 — Does your antagonist enjoy reading? Tell us about the material they would choose to read.
Dr. Death isn't exactly the sort of man to choose romance novels, that's for sure. Medical textbooks and study (more like experiment) research is more his style. Just anything and everything of medical use that can help further him in the field.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 777 — SC POV: Describe a recent dream.
Dante: We were running from the ECPD, trying to lose the officers in alleyways and behind buildings. Trick was shot. I never want to relive that dream again. Alexios was... reckless and inconsolable.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 775 — MC or SC POV: What do you do for a living? Are you self-employed, or do you work for someone else?
Dante: I'm a doctor. I work for myself. I own Dante's Inferno, a medical shop and office. The entire gang is treated by me, and that goes for all physical wounds as well as the brain implants and chips we use. I'm the one who takes care of their installation, updates, and removal. I do all of it.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 773 — SC POV: Describe your first kiss.
Dante: It was with /her/, Noona, and it was perfect. I was awkward and she was confident. We were young sweethearts. Funny how the times may change but our hearts don't. She'll probably never know it, but I've always been in love with her. I'm certainly not about to tell her.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 772 — Write about a recent decision that your SC has made.
Dante instantly liked Trick. Of course, liking someone who's around the gang doesn't necessarily equate to them being a member or actually considering them one, even if it goes unsaid, but that's exactly how Dante has felt since the beginning. He's recently decided to start voicing those opinions. Aloud. In front of the gang, and even in front of Alexios as well. Taking it a step further, he's also decided to start making comments about the obvious tension between Alexios and Trick. They're clearly into each other, and he'll be damned if he just stands by and watches them suffer. Why not push them along a bit, eh? It's the kind thing to do.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 771 — Can you share a snippet of your antagonist’s backstory with us?
I've often talked about Dr. Death's life pre-series. I don't want to bore anyone here, but I'm so looking forward to reading everyone's responses. 💜
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 770 — What is your MC’s greatest weakness, and do other characters know what it is?
An interesting read: dabblewriter.com/articles/char…
Character flaws and weaknesses are two vastly different things, so I won't even get into the former, only the latter. In regard to my answer, though, I'll have to say that Alexios' greatest weakness is a propensity for self-destruction, and everyone in Ethera pretty much knows it these days.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
A Whole Bunch of Juicy Character Weaknesses
Perfect characters are boring. Readers want characters who struggle through, endure, and overcome the obstacles you throw at them. To do that, we need to give them weaknesses.Doug Landsborough (Dabble)
#PennedPossibilities 769 — What inspired the story of your (latest) WIP?
A deep and profound love for cyberpunk tales inspired this current series of mine. I decided to combine that love for cyberpunk things with a SFF universe, and voila!
I'm a game master for so many #TTRPG campaigns. My group plays a lot of #Cybperunk2020 and #CyberpunkRED. This series of mine is very close related to the homebrew universe that I have in my own cyberpunk campaigns. It's original, and it's my own. It was a series that just needed to be written. I don't make the rules anymore. The stories lead me, not the other way around.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 767 — Tell us about your antagonist’s fashion. How do they dress?
Black, black, and more black. Paint it black. Dr. Death occasionally wears a splash of color, but he prefers to keep things stylish and toned down when he's out of his medical scrubs. From the clothing he chooses, you can tell that he has /money/, but he never wears anything obnoxiously colorful. Nice three-piece suits, polished shoes, rings, necklaces, etc. He also has an ear pieced.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 766 — Has your MC ever had a guilty conscience?
Let's break it down, just because I love dissecting things a bit.
Conscience: This refers to the internal moral compass that guides your sense of right and wrong.
Guilty: This adjective describes the feeling of being responsible for a wrongdoing.
Guilty Conscience: When combined, it signifies a state where your internal moral compass is telling you that your actions were wrong, leading to feelings of guilt, sadness, or unease.
Alexios has been known to feel a heavy amount of guilt over the things he's done (or will do in the future, which he knows are wrong). Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and being a gang leader isn't for the faint of heart.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 764 — Do you have any SCs who later become MCs in your WIP?
Oh, of course. I'll give a few examples. It's Trick, hands down. This happens over the course of the first novel. In the second one, Dante is actually the MC while Trick and Alexios take the backseat.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 763 — What is your antagonist’s greatest fear? Explain.
Losing his "work," AKA the testing and experimenting he's done. I think that would have to be Dr. Death's greatest (and worst) fear. Saying anything else, though, would be entering spoiler territory.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 762 — How much does your MC value communication in their relationships and / or friendships? Are they prone to being misunderstood?
Alexios is constantly being misunderstood, but it's only by those who don't actually know him. It's by clients, other gangs, etc. His friends do know him, and they've got the body language and lingo down well enough by now. They know his moods, how he feels about things, how much he needs space at times or the reverse. He values communication, and his close friends know that he's actually a sweetheart deep down. He cares, he loves all of the gang members because they're truly a family, and he does his best to keep everyone safe. So yes, he /does/ value communication.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 761 — Tell us about your funniest character.
It's Junk, by far. He's so silly and ridiculous, and we absolutely love him for it. He's a favorite of mine (and the readers) by far, and he totally deserves it. 😋
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 760 — MC POV: Describe who you are in your group of friends. Tell us if you’re the motherly / fatherly type, the funny friend, the serious one, etc.
Alexios: Oh, I'm the f*ckin' daddy, and I don't mean that in the way I /know/ you're thinking. (Although with Trick, who knows.) I take care of everyone. I'm also a serious guy, though. So, it's a bit of both most days. I'm our gang's leader. Gotta take care of the chooms, keep them safe and healthy. You know, the usual biz.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 758 — Is there any sort of “lie” at the core of your MC’s worldview or how they see things? (However you might interpret the prompt, explain your answer.)
Spoilers, maybe... But the answer is just this: That perhaps not everyone who's a member of the Syndicate is evil or wants universal dominance. Alexios' experiences have shaped the way he sees this group. His entire planet was taken, the people enslaved or used for failed experiments, and the planet was drained of its resources and destroyed. It's a fair assessment, but he doesn't have the entire story.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 757 — MC POV: Would you rather have a night in, or one spent in the company of friends?
Alexios: Depends on my mood, really. Most nights, I like to lie around at night, relax, and sleep. Others, I like to be surrounded by friends. Or even just Junk. I think, in the grand scheme of things, I'd have to choose either a night out or in, doesn't matter, with Junk. He's my best choom.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 756 — Describe your WIP in one sentence.
I can sum it up like this, "High tech, low life."
That four word comment describes the entire cyberpunk genre, and this series is no different. (Scary how we're not actually headed that way anymore but living it NOW.) Just sprinkle in a dark romance, and voila, my series!
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 755 — Does your antagonist have any unusual or advanced skills?
Aside from being terrifyingly well skilled with a scalpel, Dr. Death is well-versed in the art of manipulation. He employs that tactic often with "experiments," AKA victims.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 754 — SC POV: Do you have children? If not, do you want to have children someday?
Dante: I don't have any. And no, dear god... No, I don't want any, either. Not in this economy, and not on this planet. I wouldn't do that to a poor, innocent child, bringing them up in this godforsaken world. Maybe if I ever left, otherwise no.
(Sounds a bit like Earth at the moment too, eh? Citune and Earth aren't so different, after all.)
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 753 — Where do your SCs feel the happiest?
I'll mention a few of them here in a list...
Trick (who later becomes one of the MCs): With the gang (and Alexios).
Vonic: At the Apex Nightclub, relaxing after a long day.
Dante: At his clinic, or with Noona.
Junk: With his friends, but it doesn't matter where.
Cosmia: At her bar, chatting with the "regulars" she has.
Rain: In front of a computer, working on problem solving.
Jack: With his brother, drinking or having a meal at home.
Noona: With Dante, of course. The location doesn't matter.
Catalina Faraday: At the club, after f*cking sh*t up and ruining lives.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 752 — Tell us about something that will always make your antagonist laugh.
Belittling others. There's nothing quite like it for him. He's a complete bastard.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
#PennedPossibilities 750 — Is your SC aware of what the MC wants out of life, and are they willing to help them acquire it?
Yes, he is. And Dante wants the exact same thing, of course. He always has, and that's why he stitches up the wounds of each and every member of their gang. That's how he shows the care and devotion. Same as Alexios, he wants everyone to be alright. He'll do anything he can to help Alexios reach that goal. If you were to ask any of the gang members (who happen to be SCs in this story), they would all have the same answer as well. They care. They'll do anything to help Alexios keep them safe. Dante wants everyone to be healthy and whole. That's what matters.
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #TheCityOfOpulence #DigitalDystopiaSeries #Cyberpunk #SFF #ScienceFiction #Romance #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
TONIGHT (Thursday)
*September* #Solarpunk #Bookclub!
We're reading *Lost Cause* by Cory Doctorow @pluralistic
9.25, 8pm ET
Jitsi Meet
meet.jit.si/SolarpunkBookclubS…
Solarpunk Future! Discord discord.gg/Xpsknjmh
Get bookclub reminders, links, and recaps
subscribepage.com/solarpunk_bo…
#bookstodon #SFF #books #hopepunk
*September* #Solarpunk #Bookclub Thursday!
We're reading *Lost Cause* by Cory Doctorow @pluralistic
9.25, 8pm ET
Jitsi Meet
meet.jit.si/SolarpunkBookclubS…
Solarpunk Future! Discord discord.gg/Xpsknjmh
Get bookclub reminders, links, and recaps
subscribepage.com/solarpunk_bo…
#bookstodon #SFF #books #hopepunk
Since THE WORKING was recently selected by @sarenaulibarri as one of the five "best" (worth reading) #solarpunk books, thought I'd remind everyone that the novel contains tools for #resilience & agency, and I donate all royalties to #climate #justice organizations.
fivebooks.com/best-books/the-b…
#books #reading #SFF #SpecLit #hope #Witch #bookstodon
The Best Solarpunk Books - Five Books Expert Recommendations
Solarpunk fiction is a form of climate fiction, but by focusing on the changes we could make, it can move us past climate anxiety, says author and editor Sarena Ulibarri.Five Books
I have this sitting in my TBR pile! New from @tashanmehta.bsky.social who I had on the pod last year!
One of my fav ways to discover new reads is to see what authors I already love have NEW. See what the other Bright Green Futures guests have out: brightgreenfutures.substack.co…
#bookstodon #books #authors #solarpunk #hopepunk #SFF
NEW BOOKS from Bright Green Futures Guests
And Sue Teaches Solarpunk Writing... Sign Up!Susan Kaye Quinn (Bright Green Futures)