@writingcooperative @justin I’m Mark McElroy. My latest non-fiction makes #Tarot divination and brainstorming practical, simple, and accessible to everyone. (_A Guide to Tarot Card Reading_ is Book One.) My next fiction title, #ParallelLines, is a gay romantic comedy with multiple-universe sci-fi overtones. Eager to see other answers!

Happy 45th anniversary to Blondie's single, “Picture This”. Released this week in 1978. #blondieofficial #blondie #deborahharry #parallellines #picturethis #fadeawayandradiate

#WritingWonders 8/12: Does your MC have any prejudices?

While it’s not the point of the story, Thomas from #ParallelLines embodies an attitude toward straight people that many straight people harbor toward the LGTBQ+ community: at best, they are uninteresting or irrelevant; at worst, they’re the enemy.

In his case, though, the perspective isn’t rooted in an ethic. It comes down to this: if he can’t seduce you or be seduced by you, you aren’t really on his radar.

#WritingWonders Aug/9: Does your MC have children? If not, do they want one?

Thomas, from #ParallelLines, asks, “Um … are you offering?”

#WritingWonders 8/4: Share art, pics (face claims) and/or mood boards of one (or more) of your side characters.

I’ll play! This is an image I created of Davina from #ParallelLines. Thomas, the MC, keeps trying to make Davina the villain of the story … but in truth, she’s been terribly betrayed … and even so, handles a terrible responsibility with grace.

If there is a sequel, I think I’d want to tell her story.

#WritingWonders 8/3 If your favorite side character had a theme song, what would it be?

Welllll … in #ParallelLines the book, I couldn’t actually refer to this (because copyright), but I’m hoping the Netflix series (hoo haa!) will make liberal use of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” for the good times MC Thomas has with his closeted rising star side character boyfriend, Les.

#amwriting #LGBT #romcom #scifi

Sooooo, I think y’all have convinced me to self-publish my queer rom-com parallel worlds novel, #ParallelLines. Thanks for all the encouragement and information. I’ve got a lot to learn, and I’m glad to have a community to depend on for help and pointers along the way.

Really happy to have been introduced to Dan Blank and David Gaughran by fellow Mastodonians. I wish these guys had a presence in the Fediverse!

#indieauthor #SelfPublishing #grateful

@apolaine I *love* Vellum, which lets me essentially create perfect, uploadable books with a click or two.

I wrote my first novel, #ParallelLines, in #Obsidian, but missed #Ulysses’ ability to let me write in short scraps and easily rearrange these by clicking and dragging them. I don’t always write a book in order, so this really comes in handy. I also like how I can organize projects in Ulysses, keeping everything together in one place. The Longform form plugin didn’t click for me, sadly.

#Blondie #DebbieHarry #DeborahHarry #ParallelLines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD2MKEiCh4A

Embracing the term #queer for myself — as in “queer author” — is allowing me to write more honest fiction. #ParallelLines, my 1st novel, is a #gay romcom with near-future #SciFi elements. And “Transplant” — the story in _If There’s Anyone Left_, speaks frankly to the complexity of a budding high school same-sex romance.

It’s taken me 30 years after coming out to be truly comfortable with (and proud of) that label. I’m better for having done so.

#amwriting #queerscifi

https://www.iftheresanyoneleft.com/stories/markmcelroy

For the first time ever, I’m creating an “encyclopedia as I go” for the novel I’m writing. Just two chapters in, the notes on where I am and who’s there have helped me avoid some contradictions while drafting. I could have really used this while writing #ParallelLines.

#amwriting #novel #WritingCommunity #OldDogsNewTricks

Today is my last coffee meeting with the amazing Heather Truett, author of Kiss and Repeat, among other works.

Heather moved to my small town a few months back, and our monthly (or so) coffee meetings have inspired me, delighted me, and taught me a lot. She pushed me to finish #ParallelLines, and, inspired by her, I've been writing and submitting with the greatest frequency of my life.

She's moving away. How I'll miss her!

Never doubt the simple power of connecting with another artist.

Background, for folks who may not know: I wrote my first novel, #ParallelLines, in Obsidian, partially in public, with folks following progress live, online, via @ObsidianPublish.

I enjoyed it, but missed certain features of #Ulysses, especially when it came time to compile and publish the book.

The #LongFormPlugin and #Pandoc seem to address those deficits, so I'm eager to write another book in an environment I enjoy.

#AmWriting

I hadn't looked at the #Longform plugin for #Obsidian in a while. I installed it and #Pandoc today, and I'm really impressed.

Being able to drag and drop scenes/chapters into any order I like is a big part of why I've been writing in #Ulysses ... but Longform makes that possible now.

After writing #ParallelLines in Obsidian, I didn't think I wanted to write a novel in the app again ... but this may change my mind...

#amwriting #novel

A wonderful #agent on my "Top Five Agents I'd Love to Work With" list just finished the first ten pages of #ParallelLines, the #novel I wrote in #Obsidian, and requested the entire manuscript, saying, "I love this, and I can't wait to dig in!"

Who knows how this opportunity will turn out? Meantime, simply getting her note has been a real source of joy -- which, as of today, I'm channelling into a second novel called #FamilyThais.

Onward!

#amwriting #WritersOfMastodon

#WritingWonders Apr 8 MC POV - "One thing you never leave home without."

Thomas, in Chapter 1: "I dunno. Condoms? The Grindr app? Turning off Find My so my husband can't track me?"

Thomas, by Chapter 30: "My family."

#ParallelLines #novel #WritersOfMastodon #AmWriting

Writing Wonders 3/31 Have you ever written alternative endings for yourself?

Given that #ParallelLines is about exploring your own life in alternative universes ... in a way, the whole book is packed with alternative endings?

One of my main worries about this book was the fact that, while I knew who I wanted my MC to be at the end, I didn't know exactly how the book itself would end.

It came to me one day in the shower -- really -- and I burst into tears. I hope it'll do the same for you!

A week or so ago, an established, award-winning writer friend asked if she could read #ParallelLines, the novel I've just finished.

Today, I stumbled on a Facebook post of hers saying, "Reading an unpublished novel at lunch, and it's so good I forgot I didn't pick it up at a local bookstore."

In the photo, the words on her Kindle are mine.

Wow. That's a great feeling.

@nicole @obsidian If you get even a fraction of the support I got while writing #ParallelLines in #Obsidian, you'll be ferried along on the shoulders of many enthusiastic readers!

Thanks for taking this project on. I can't imagine a book on Obsidian by anyone that I'd rather buy. Heck, sell advance copies. I'll scoop one up before you write it!

El que estaba a mi derecha en la primera fila, tenía la lista de canciones y le pedí por favor que me dejara tomarle una foto con mi teléfono...

#Blondie #ParallelLines #Chile