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Hi! I'm Kit, and my penname is Vanessa Todd (she/they). I'm absolutely dying for people to interact with my stuff, and then I realized -- I don't have an introduction page! Let's fix that, shall we?
I write mainly horror, fantasy, and romance. I also write fluff, though I'm not very good at it - forgive me!
MY CURRENT WIPS ARE:
HEY @theink-stainedfolk LOOK WHO I FOUND
IT'S BALDONI
also I'm still writing that creative showtime I promised you โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Encouragment for writers that I know seemsย discouraging at first but I promise itโs motivational-
โข Those emotional scenes youโve planned will never be as good on page as they are in your head. To YOU. Your audience, however, is eating it up. Just because you canโt articulate the emotion of a scene to your satisfaction doesnโt mean itโs not impacting the reader.ย
โข Sometimes a sentence, a paragraph, or even a whole scene will not be salvagable. Either it wasnโt necessary to the story to begin with, or you can put it to the side and re-write it later, but for now itโs gotta go. It doesnโt make you a bad writer to have to trim, it makes you a good writer to know to trim.
โข There are several stories just like yours. And thatโs okay, thereโs no story in existence of completely original concepts. What makes your storyย โoriginalโ is that itโs yours. No one else can write your story the way you can.
โข You have writing weaknesses. Everyone does. But donโt accept your writing weaknesses as unchanging facts about yourself. Donโt be content with being crap at description, dialogue, world building, etc. Writers that are comfortable being crap at things wonโt improve, and thatโs not you. Itโs going to burn, but work that muscle. I promise youโll like the outcome.
I teach writing at a college level. This is all good advice.
This is GREAT advice as a writer who worries about originality a lot, used to dislike writing fight scenes, and hates to kill my darlings (I mean, cut out jokes. I like killing characters).
Heads up, I'm not going to shut up about my next book being published on July 1st. It's now ready for preorder on Amazon!!! The Mark of Dai-Nฤ by I. N. Knight!!!!
The reason being is I've been working on this story my whole writing career. And now it's finally ready to publish. I can't wait for y'all to see it!
I'm actually a huge fan of enemies to lovers because I do think it's hot but to be clear "enemies to I think you're attractive and that's overcoming my hatred of you" sucks ASS the trope is about growing RESPECT and GENUINE AFFECTION the POINT is that they always found each other attractive but it doesn't MATTER until they also have a solid relationship built on trust respect and friendship!!!!! Do you understand my vision!!!!
thank you for the tag, @drchenquill and @winterandwords!
this is from chosen against my will!
Baldoniโs face goes whiter than the teeth he spent so much of my money bleaching.ย He doesnโt read the note out loud.ย He doesnโt need to.ย I know what it says โ hell, I have it memorized, slotted away in my mind as the note that broke what little trust I had left in my fatherโs crew.ย โI โ I donโt โโ โShut him up.โย My tone is steady.ย Rocky steps forward and shoves a stained cloth between Baldoniโs teeth.ย He thrashes his head, the only body part he can move, but I can see the desperation in his eyes.ย He knows itโs too late.ย He knows thereโs nothing he can say or do that will stop me from exacting my revenge. And as my right hand man, he knows exactly what lays in store for him.ย After all, he used to clean my tools afterward.
TAGGING @leahpardo-pa-potato - @theink-stainedfolk - @willtheweaver - @the-golden-comet - @flock-from-the-void - open tag!
OHHHHHH THIS IS DELICIOUS
BALDONIโS BLEACHED TEETH VS. HIS CURRENTLY DRAINING FACE IS THE VISUAL COMEDY I DIDNโT KNOW I NEEDED. SIR. YOU LOOK LIKE A WET PAPER BAG RIGHT NOW. ๐ญโ
And our protagonist?? โShut him up.โ NO FLINCH. NO FANFARE. JUST BUSINESS. The way Rocky immediately stuffs that rag in like heโs been waiting his whole life for this moment?? ICONIC. PROMOTE THAT MAN.
But the โhe used to clean my tools afterwardโ line?? FOUL. FOUL BEHAVIOR. (I mean that as the highest compliment.) The irony is chewing him alive and I am living for it. Play stupid games, win โoh god I taught her how to do thisโ prizes.
Also low-key obsessed with how much history youโre implying without spelling it outโlike, Baldoni wasnโt just some guy, he was your right hand. The betrayal must taste extra bitter. Is this gonna be a โclean killโ or are we taking a field trip to Creative Revenge Town? ๐ (No pressure, just vibrating with curiosity.)
MEME TAX: [Baldoni realizing heโs the tutorial boss] (Insert GIF of that one SpongeBob frame where heโs sweating bullets)
YOUR COMMENTS WATER MY CROPS, CLEAR MY SKIN, GIVE ME L I F E
Oh we heading STRAIGHT to creative revenge town. Show don't tell, amirite?? Plus Baldoni absolutely deserves it, because I said so.
ALSO I COULDN'T RESIST AHHH
thank you for the tag, @drchenquill and @winterandwords!
this is from chosen against my will!
Baldoniโs face goes whiter than the teeth he spent so much of my money bleaching.ย He doesnโt read the note out loud.ย He doesnโt need to.ย I know what it says โ hell, I have it memorized, slotted away in my mind as the note that broke what little trust I had left in my fatherโs crew.ย โI โ I donโt โโ โShut him up.โย My tone is steady.ย Rocky steps forward and shoves a stained cloth between Baldoniโs teeth.ย He thrashes his head, the only body part he can move, but I can see the desperation in his eyes.ย He knows itโs too late.ย He knows thereโs nothing he can say or do that will stop me from exacting my revenge. And as my right hand man, he knows exactly what lays in store for him.ย After all, he used to clean my tools afterward.
TAGGING @leahpardo-pa-potato - @theink-stainedfolk - @willtheweaver - @the-golden-comet - @flock-from-the-void - open tag!
Compilations: Plot โ Character โ Worldbuilding โ For Poets โ Tips & Advice
all posts are queued. will update this every few weeks/months. send questions or requests here โ Writing Resources PDFs
Iโm a bit early this week but I wanted to get this particular ask out before I get sucked back into my quilting hyperfixation ^.^ Your characters have a killer headache. Who is taking painkillers right away and who tries to tough it out? Do any of them try something besides painkillers for relief?
Quilting??? I love quilting! My mom is amazing at it! I'm terrible at it but it's great fun :3
Let's see... I think Astaria and Tiatha and Xรฆnte and Kira would immediately take painkillers. They absolutely see painkillers as tools and helpful ones at that.
Kia and Neia? Absolutely not. Painkillers are for the weak. They are meant for weak little babies. And Kia and Neia are not babies!
PSA: if you ever see me do a tag and I say โtagging whoever wants to do it,โ and you think โshe probably doesnโt mean me, though.โ I do. I mean you. Say I tagged you. I want to read your stuff, I promise. Tagging people just takes Energy that I donโt always have and am not always sure who wants to be tagged. But please, if you ever see me do a game, and you think โwow I want to do that!โ Even if I do tag other people, just do it. Say I tagged you. I will not mind, in fact, I will be happy to see your stuff. Ok? Good. That is all. Carry on.
I have finished Apprentice to the Villian and im so โฆ.
Like what am I supposed to do now ???? How am I supposed to go on ??? Like what ????
me presently. CANNOT physically wait five months til accomplice to the villain ๐ญ
THIS IS ME NOW TOO !!! IM LITERALLY COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS ! IM SO READY
I just finished it this morning and I'm screaming crying throwing up
WE NEED A SUPPORT GROUP
Hi! Happy Saturday! Iโve got another weird question this week: if your WIP(s) get mainstream popular in the future, what relationship(s) do you think will get misinterpreted the most by readers? It can be any type of relationship - romantic pairing, platonic friends, parent-child, etc.
Hello hello! Welcome back to my weirdness! I do hope you enjoy your stay!
Hmmmm, I think I'm most worried about Amara and Hendryk's relationship in the Tea and Tarot series. They're brother and sister, and EXTREMELY close. Like "I'd kill for you" close. But due to their playful banter, I'm worried that people will assume they're a couple, like Wincest or Pinecest.
Another WIP I'm worried about is the untitled one that takes place in the same universe, and the relationship: Draven the Inquisitor and Kira the leonin mage. They start off as enemies/reluctant allies and slowly grow closer as the book continues. I'm worried that people will ship them as well, even though their relationship becomes more of a father/daughter situation. Ordinarily I wouldn't care (I mean, I started off shipping those two!), but Draven has made it explicitly clear that he only has eyes for Tiatha and will brutally murder anyone else for even looking at him romantically.
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ'๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ.ย ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐?
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
In the sleepy town of Lochmallow, Amara has built a quiet life for herself as the owner of a tea-and-tarot shop. Half-tiefling, half-drow, and a talented illusionist, sheโs used to people whispering behind her back. But when her rival, Glendara, is found dead in the smoldering ruins of her homeโbludgeoned by her own crystal ballโAmaraโs world is turned upside down.
The sheriff is quick to point fingers at Amara, convinced that the mysterious death is somehow tied to her. With her reputation on the line and the townsfolk growing suspicious, Amara must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. But the more she digs, the more tangled the clues become, and soon, even Amaraโs own magic seems to be working against her.
In a town full of secrets, can Amara unravel the mystery before the shadows close in?
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ง is a cozy fantasy mystery with no romance that follows Amara Voren, a half-tiefling half-drow scam artist illusionist extraordinaire, as she tries to solve Lochmallow's first-ever murder. Which of her diverse cast of neighbors is responsible - and can she stop them before they decide to kill again?
Official release date: April 17, 2025
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh it's happening! my book is about to be published!! thank you so much for all of your support (and please keep sending it my way - i'm writing book two right now!)!
please be sure to boost and leave a review if you read it - i am Broke AF and my only advertising is word-of-mouth.
i love you all. thank you so so much ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ'๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ.ย ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐?
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
In the sleepy town of Lochmallow, Amara has built a quiet life for herself as the owner of a tea-and-tarot shop. Half-tiefling, half-drow, and a talented illusionist, sheโs used to people whispering behind her back. But when her rival, Glendara, is found dead in the smoldering ruins of her homeโbludgeoned by her own crystal ballโAmaraโs world is turned upside down.
The sheriff is quick to point fingers at Amara, convinced that the mysterious death is somehow tied to her. With her reputation on the line and the townsfolk growing suspicious, Amara must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. But the more she digs, the more tangled the clues become, and soon, even Amaraโs own magic seems to be working against her.
In a town full of secrets, can Amara unravel the mystery before the shadows close in?
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ง is a cozy fantasy mystery with no romance that follows Amara Voren, a half-tiefling half-drow scam artist illusionist extraordinaire, as she tries to solve Lochmallow's first-ever murder. Which of her diverse cast of neighbors is responsible - and can she stop them before they decide to kill again?
Official release date: April 17, 2025
โฉโห.โโพโโบโโง
oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh it's happening! my book is about to be published!! thank you so much for all of your support (and please keep sending it my way - i'm writing book two right now!)!
please be sure to boost and leave a review if you read it - i am Broke AF and my only advertising is word-of-mouth.
i love you all. thank you so so much ๐๐๐
Back to asking you world building questions because fun and also curious.
What was the last great conflict in your world, and how is the current state of the world in regards to wars?
Hello hello! I always welcome questions :D I love rambling about my silly little worlds :3
The last great conflict was The Great War, about two hundred years ago. In the year 2967, Aeloria launched an all-out assault against Ochlar, the capital of Ycaea. Its Inquisitors, specially trained to combat magic, easily overwhelmed Ycaean forces. Despite aid from Mirrillidan which ranged from sending soldiers to food and resources, Ycaea fell after only two and a half years.
In what can only be described as a final "fuck you" to Ycaea, Aeloria started a massive wildfire intended to burn the magical forest to the ground. Because of the forest's intense magical properties, it burned for nearly a decade before mystically extinguishing itself - parts of the forest still burn over two hundred years later, though if you can get close enough to look, you'll see that the trees, while burning, remain untouched. They still blossom, still bear fruit, still lose their leaves in autumn - which also burn, a beautiful sight which is impossible to witness due to the fire's scorching heat.
Many of the magical races have disappeared from Aeloria and what remains of Ycaea, leonin being a prime example. While leonin in other countries are common, Aeloria and Ycaea have none. Their populations are no exclusively elven, dwarven, and human. It is well-known that supernatural races are not welcome in those countries and will be arrested on-sight under suspicion of being magical.
At the moment, Aeloria is at peace with the world, but the remaining countries on Ionica regard it with suspicion. They suspect it is only a matter of time before another Great War breaks out, and they're not sure they have the resources to survive it.
