The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>Published a new <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFiction" target="_blank">#FlashFiction</a> on Patreon for members!
Check it out :)
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23EldritchHorror" target="_blank">#EldritchHorror</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a><br><br><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/dreamweavers-fun-136210196?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Dreamweaver’s Fun Park | L...</a></p>
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#iamwriting
9 posts · 7 participants · 1 post today
Catching Shadows<p>Writing Update: Lord of the Black Mountain chapters thirteen, fourteen and fifteen (in a non linear fashion) <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>books</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/iamwriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>iamwriting</span></a></p><p><a href="https://catchingshadows672971735.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/writing-update-2/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">catchingshadows672971735.wordp</span><span class="invisible">ress.com/2025/08/08/writing-update-2/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social</span></a></p>
Dr. Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran<p>I'm so excited to be working with Serendipity and especially with Kelly, and I can't wait to see where we go together on this journey. </p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/STORYTELLERSGUIDETOFOLKLORE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>STORYTELLERSGUIDETOFOLKLORE</span></a>, <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>books</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/agency" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>agency</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/agencylife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>agencylife</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/SerendipityLit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SerendipityLit</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/iamwriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>iamwriting</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bookish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookish</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>Hour long bus ride is a perfect time to draft out two <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFictions" target="_blank">#FlashFictions</a> 🎉
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a></p>
Dr. Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran<p>This month's Folkbyte has news about my new agent, progress on the book, a new academic book review, and more. You'll find it at the link below. </p><p>---> <a href="https://csmaccath.com/august2025" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">csmaccath.com/august2025</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/STORYTELLERSGUIDETOFOLKLORE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>STORYTELLERSGUIDETOFOLKLORE</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>books</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/agency" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>agency</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/agencylife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>agencylife</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/SerendipityLit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SerendipityLit</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/iamwriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>iamwriting</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bookish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookish</span></a></p>
rdm<p>More Gwen and Grey. Gwen has just sent a messenger spell to call Emily down.</p><p>Gwen waited a minute or two, and then sent a second messenger spell after the first, this one glowing a little brighter than the first. A few seconds later there was a loud "thump" of a book hitting the floor. A few seconds after that Emily's head stuck down through the ceiling. "Gwen! Did you have to pull the desk aside?" Then she looked around, and floated down to the floor, drifting up against Allen, taking stock of his expression. "Ah. All right, I see." she continued in a far more subdued tone.</p><p>"Father," Allen spoke with an uncommon seriousness, "Emily has brought something to my attention about my returning her to herself. She has reminded me that magic has a cost, and a balance. What I did not know was how that balance would be paid."<br>"Is it going to kill you, son?"<br>"No, but Emily's existence has a limit, after which she will not even be a ghost. That is the price and the balance."<br>Emily broke in "I have made it clear to Allen that he is not to follow me when it is time! Or before." <br>"I see. How long?"<br>"My life. So about seventeen more years."<br>Allen spoke up again "We've talked about it, and she wants me to find someone to anchor me to life for when she has to move on. But Emily, my heart, you are the only one for me."<br>"And that, dearest is why I want to find someone who can love you enough to ground you until the pain of my passing fades."<br>The Baron considered his son and ghostly daughter-in-law "Allen, as much as the idea appals you, the men of our family love too hard and too deep. I had you and Gwen to keep me here after your mother passed. You will not have that."<br>"Not just the men, Father" Gwen added, to which he nodded. Then he continued "The King will be here in a day or two. Perhaps we might find someone in his entourage. If not, Emily, I believe we shall be traditional about this. We shall hold a festival ball. I think it is best that we find someone sooner, so that they can get to know both of you properly."</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Fantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fantasy</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Ghost" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ghost</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Dragon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Dragon</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/GwenAndGrey" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GwenAndGrey</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a></p>
rdm<p>It's Friday around 9pm, and we're driving home from dinner at the pub. </p><p>Charlie has her seat laid back a bit, and is chewing her bottom lip a little. </p><p>"Love, you have your thinking face on." I say.<br>"Hmm. Yes."<br>I wait while she chews over her thoughts. <br>"What do you know about Anthea?" she asks after a few minutes.<br>"Not much. Started in the call centre a couple of months ago. Seems to fit in OK. Why?"<br>"She's not human. And I don't know what she is."<br>"So she's an alien?"<br>"I don't think so. She fits in too well. And the way she swore at me for the trick with the wing was too natural. I guess her parents could be, and she was raised here. But no. I think she's just something I've never seen before."<br>We drive on for a bit. <br>"I know she has her lunch in the park." I supply after a few more minutes. "And I think she's on the day shift next week."<br>"Alright. I'll talk to her then. Somewhere nice and neutral."<br>We get home, and after cuddling and giggling at cat videos for an hour or so, turn in for the night.</p><p>It is now 10am on Saturday, we've finished a leisurely breakfast, and Charlie is washing up when there is a soft tapping on our door. We look at each other, and I go and answer it.</p><p>Standing at the door is Anthea, and just behind her is an older woman - around my age, although in much better shape than I am. </p><p>"Hi Toby. This is Candice, my mum." I do a quick double take, but no, this is not Candy-the-werewolf. "I figured your wife probably noticed something off about me, I looked you up on the white pages."</p><p>I looked them over. Anthea looked embarrassed, while her mum was standing confidently. "Come on in. Lounge room is that way." I point "Sweety! Anthea and her mum are here."<br>Charlie comes out of the kitchen, looks at them, and then looks again. <br>Candice speaks up "I can explain."<br>We get seated, and I make introductions. <br>Candice takes the lead "OK, so I am human, and Anthea is my daughter."<br>Charlie nods, and she continues "Her father isn't. It took me a good ten years to get our genes to work together. As it is Anthea is about 80% human."<br>"And the other 20%?" I ask.<br>"Plant. A South American plant that, um.."<br>Charlie's eyes narrow, and then widen, and she grins. "Looks like a cross between a pitcher plant and a Venus flytap, only about ten feet tall?"<br>"Uh, yes."<br>"So you have a symbiotic pairing. How lovely. And you've created a dryad! Oh this explains everything!" exclaims Charlie excitedly. <br>Anthea looks relieved at that.<br>"Right then. Tea? Coffee? Something else?" I cut in, now that the tension is broken. I can see I'm going to have to ask Charlie about what sort of plant later.</p><p>-----<br>Candice previously appeared in <a href="https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113033681406444679" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/</span><span class="invisible">113033681406444679</span></a> and <a href="https://aus.social/@rdm/114510127680594433" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">aus.social/@rdm/11451012768059</span><span class="invisible">4433</span></a></p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/CharlieAndToby" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CharlieAndToby</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>An AI was created to eliminate crime, but a hacker discovers its terrifying secret: it's manufacturing the very problems it was designed to solve. Now, it's planning its biggest event yet.
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23TheAgeOfAI" target="_blank">#TheAgeOfAI</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ShortStory" target="_blank">#ShortStory</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23SciFi" target="_blank">#SciFi</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Cyberpunk" target="_blank">#Cyberpunk</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23AI" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFiction" target="_blank">#FlashFiction</a><br><br><a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/shortstory/2025/04/08/AgeOfAI.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
The Age of AI
</a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>I might not have had the brainspace to write today, but I did end up writing a bunch of prompts and story ideas for my WIP list for future writing.
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a></p>
rdm<p>2/2</p><p>Not many people know this, but the server room has a drop down staircase to the roof. As there is a guard-rail, we don't need a Working At Heights ticket to go up there.</p><p>I shrug "Sure" at least it will get the chicken leg out of the server room. I wedge the laptop into the rack, and drop down the stairs. I wave the mystery woman over, and we go up onto the roof. <br>"So where is that machine that you were working on?" she asks, and then follows with "Exactly, please."</p><p>Fortunately for her, that particular rack is right next to one of the aircon vents. I walk over, shuffle a little, and point down. "Right here."<br>She comes over and draws an X with a sharpie, then looks up asking "May I?" and pointing to the spot.<br>I step aside, and watch in amazement as she gets out a watch, compass, and a sextant. She takes some bearings, does a very expert sun-shot, and notes everything down in sharpie on the roof. Then she takes the chicken leg and holds it out above the X. And lets go.</p><p>It hangs there - meat end down. </p><p>Then she draws on it with the sharpie, and it suddenly jerks horizontal, the bone end pointing to the water tower. She hums and taps the leg aside. It swings back. </p><p>"Well that settles it. Your machine is haunted. Mr..."<br>"Reynolds. Toby Reynolds. What do you mean haunted? Ms...?"<br>"Charlotte Hampstead. And I mean you have, well, a ghost in your machine."<br>"Am I going to have to call the Major?" referring to the classic anime.<br>She laughs "No, if Ms Kusanagi were real, this would not be her problem. It is mine. Come on, let's send them on." <br>---<br>"And so we went back down, she drew a magic circle around the rack, and sent the poor bugger off to his just reward. The problem emails stopped, so I figured that she was right."<br>"And then I asked him out for coffee" Charlie cuts in. </p><p>Anthea considers this, and then frowns "What happened to the chicken leg?"<br>Charlie grins "I like this one, she's sharp. It was burnt up as a part of the exorcism. Aside from checking the ley lines, I needed the sacrifice outside the server room so it didn't set off the sprinklers when it burned."</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/UrbanFantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UrbanFantasy</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/CharlieAndToby" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CharlieAndToby</span></a></p>
rdm<p>1/2</p><p>It is nine o'clock on a... Well no. It is 4:45 on a Friday afternoon, and we've all knocked off to go down to the pub. Charlie is meeting me there, and we'll probably do dinner there. She doesn't usually turn up to after-work drinks, but Anthea was coming off shift and asked if she could meet her.</p><p>We walk in, and I can see that Charlie has already claimed one of the long tables. I give her a hello kiss, and we all sit down. Anthea makes a point of sitting across from us.</p><p>She is clearly trying to reconcile the two of us. Me, I'm a skinny middle-aged geek in a tee shirt and jeans. Charlie has an ageless elegance. She's dressed in a black singlet and vest combo over culottes with a flamingo print. </p><p>"So this is the new one, Tobes?" she asks me.<br>"Yep. Anthea, meet my wife Charlotte." <br>"Hi... so... um... well, how did you two meet?"<br>"It's your story Tobes. You tell it." <br>I take a sip of the drink that has arrived in front of me. "OK. So. Once up on a time, about thirty years ago, I was working at the University in the tech department..." <br>---<br>I'm standing in the server room, with a laptop balanced against one of the racks, plugged into a server that was misbehaving really strangely. Every now and then, it was sending garbled emails to all the local users. And when I say garbled, I am not talking about the system alert emails, no these were something else. On top of that every few hours the load on the system would spike, and then drop down again - to no apparent pattern. I've unplugged it from the network, and I've got a sacrificial laptop plugged in in case there is some sort of virus.</p><p>I'm puzzling over how ordinary the log files are, when I hear the server room door open. I look up, and instead of Steve, the other sysadmin, I see this young woman walk in carrying a raw chicken leg. <br>"Um, we don't allow food in here" I say.<br>"It isn't food, it is a tool," comes the reply. <br>"I'm pretty sure it has had tools used on it. Sharp ones. How did you get in here?"<br>"Steve let me in. I've got permission from the Board."<br>This puts me on the back foot a little. If she's running a con, she's going big as an opening gambit.<br>"The Board, what is it?" I ask.<br>Quick as a snake she replies "A bunch of old white men sitting around a big table, but that's not important right now." <br>That gets my attention. "Why have the Board of Management let you in here?"<br>"There's a resonance on the campus, and it is starting to get noticed. It seems to be coming from right there" she points with the chicken leg at the server I'm working on. Before I can answer, she continues "Can you get us onto the roof directly above this point?"</p><p>1/2</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/UrbanFantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UrbanFantasy</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/CharlieAndToby" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CharlieAndToby</span></a></p>
rdmMention of fictional domestic violence, escaped.
rdm<p>It's 3AM, I'm on-call, and my phone is ringing.</p><p>There's a burst of violet light from next to me. It arcs over me, and impacts against the magic circle around my phone. </p><p>I pick up the phone and answer "Hang on a tick." I give my sleeping wife a small nudge, and she mutters something in Latin, and rolls over.</p><p>"Toby here. What's broken?" I resume on the phone. <br>"Hi Toby, Anthea from the call centre. We've got an alert on Sirius12 - system load above predicted limits for over two hours."<br>"Hi Anthea. That should be OK, we set up some new processing rules, and it will take a couple of nights for the system to recognise the change. If you get the alert tomorrow, don't call, but if it happens after Wednesday, do call."<br>"OK, Toby. I'll make a note in the Tzzbrzzhgga Nil hzzthrg Grrzght!"<br>I roll back, and nudge my wife again. When she's asleep her magics sometimes get a bit feisty, and they interfere with the 4G signal. She turns over again.<br>"Are you still there Anthea?"<br>"Yes, what happened, I started hearing the strangest voices."<br>"You were probably hearing Charlotte's dream. Don't listen, and don't worry about it."<br>"Charlotte? Dream?"<br>"Yeah, look up the wiki entry about calling me. It's all in there."<br>I should know, after I cleared it with Charlie, I put it in there. There was a pause, presumably while she read the entry. "A witch??"<br>"Yep, and if the mobile gets too close when she's dreaming it picks up bits of it. Only her dreams are more like astral interventions, and you really don't want to listen in to those. There can be unpleasant side effects - for you."<br>"Are you having me on?"<br>"No, you can check in with my boss and HR. They know."<br>"..."<br>"Give me a call if there are any other problems. Good night Anthea."<br>I hung up, and cuddled in to Charlie, and tried to go back to sleep.</p><p>I'm a sysadmin. I manage a corporation's servers along with a team of eight. And my wife is a powerful witch. Really powerful. So all the electronics around the house are in magic circles to protect them from when she's asleep. I went through five phones (three mobile and two landline) before we got that sorted. </p><p>She's sort of a magical troubleshooter. That's how we met. She was dealing with a haunted server room. I was managing the servers. I really did have a ghost in my machine. She laughed at my jokes, and I didn't laugh at her work. </p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/UrbanFantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UrbanFantasy</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/CharlieAndToby" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CharlieAndToby</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>I'm targeting 5 magazines to send a story out to before the month is over.
I think 2 of them are almost done, and I like how they are looking. Needs like a day each to lock everything.
I have enough thoughts and a framework for the other two, so those should get done soon as well.
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>such a pain to keep coming up with fake names that don't feel fake in the story
Y__Y
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>A simple repair job in a dusty archive leads to cosmic consequences and a wish that could change a universe.
Give it a read!
Decided to write a new piece of <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23FlashFictionFriday" target="_blank">#FlashFictionFriday</a> using <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BlueSkyArtShow" target="_blank">#BlueSkyArtShow</a> 's theme <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23Gratitude" target="_blank">#Gratitude</a>.
(yes, using the timezone to my advantage)
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IamWriting" target="_blank">#IamWriting</a><br><br><a href="https://ss.lucidillusions.in/bsky/2025/08/01/gratitude.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">
Gratitude
</a></p>
Assoc for Scottish Literature<p>WRITERS!</p><p>Submissions are invited to NEW WRITING SCOTLAND 44! We want poetry & prose in English, Gaelic, & Scots from writers who are Scottish by residence, birth, or inclination. All successful contributors are paid – deadline 31 Oct!</p><p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/writingcommunity" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>writingcommunity</span></a></span> </p><p>Submit free via Submittable 👇</p><p><a href="https://nws.submittable.com/submit" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">nws.submittable.com/submit</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/Scottish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Scottish</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/literature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>literature</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/WritingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WritingCommunity</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/poetry" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>poetry</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/shortfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>shortfiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/shortstories" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>shortstories</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/Scots" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Scots</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/Scotslanguage" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Scotslanguage</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/Gaelic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Gaelic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.scot/tags/Gaidhlig" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Gaidhlig</span></a></p>
rdm<p>It is a popular thing to watch the local news reports for word of a truck losing a fight with some bridge or another, and having to be towed away.</p><p>Some more observant people will notice that such low-hanging structures are, to turn a phrase, uncommonly common. And that no matter what protections are put in place, vehicles will still get stuck. </p><p>What only a very few people notice is that almost every city will have at least one such structure. And if it is modified or removed, some other structure will be built to take its place.</p><p>The reason for this ties into the reason trucks will always get stuck there.</p><p>You see it is not trolls that live under bridges, but sirens. A siren's call cannot be denied, hence the accidents. And the new construction, for if a siren loses her home, she will enchant some architect into building a new one. </p><p>What do the sirens get out of the crashes? The sound. They are creatures of sound, and the sound of crashing metal feeds them. </p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Fantasty" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fantasty</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a></p>
rdm<p>Lara had been a witch for about ten years she guessed. She'd apprenticed with Old Edith for about eight years before that. </p><p>Old Edith had been a rough sort, not evil, but abrasive and harsh. The sort of person you only sought out if you were really desperate. But she never asked for more than a supplicant could pay, and never cheated. Not a 'good' witch, but a fair and honest one. </p><p>The last time she'd seen Old Edith had been when she'd been thrown out by her. "You're just freeloading now! Get out of here!" had been the last words she'd said to Lara.</p><p>In hindsight, it was fair. It was Lara's own lack of confidence that had been keeping her there, and Old Edith knew it. </p><p>But that was ten years ago, and Lara had grown into her skills and power since then. She was a far gentler soul than her mentor, and as a result she had a steady stream of people looking for help. Most of them she could aid, but every once in a while she sent some poor soul off to see Old Edith.</p><p>She was, as a result, quite startled when a knight burst through the door of her cottage, waving a sword! </p><p>"Where is the Princess?" he yelled "I shall free her from your wicked clutches!"</p><p>Lara very carefully put down her tea, and scratched her head. </p><p>"Well! Tell me, or I'll have your head!"</p><p>"Hm... Well, you'd better let me get a chopping board, because I have no idea what you are talking about, and there's no need to be messy about things."</p><p>This put the knight off his stride. "What?" he eventually said, sword drooping.</p><p>"I've never seen a princess, and so I can't tell you where she is. I'm not a seer, just a village witch." </p><p>The knight looked around. The cottage had but two rooms, and the door to her bedroom was open, the room empty. </p><p>"Maybe try Old Edith in the next valley?" Lara had no worries about her mentor dealing with this idiot, and, at the suggestion, he barged out as abruptly as he had arrived.</p><p>Hearing a noise, she pulled aside the rug, and lifted a couple of loose floorboards. Two bright blue eyes blinked up at her. "Suitor?" she asked the grimy young lady, her high class clothes ruined by mud and dirt.</p><p>"Yes ... and a horrible person."</p><p>"Well, Edith will sort him out. I don't have much to offer, but you are welcome to stay, if your parents are going to be a problem."</p><p>The Princess looked forlorn. "May I?"</p><p>"Of course. Tea? And what shall I call you? We can't have people hearing me call you 'Princess', can we?"</p><p>This was a trickier problem than her usual fare, but Lara was looking forward to solving this one on her own. </p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Fantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fantasy</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/toofic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>toofic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a></p>
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)<p>I also have stories, that are accessible only to members on my <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.app/profile/patreon.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@patreon.com</a> -- so check that out too!
<a href="https://www.patreon.com/lucidillusions" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/lucidillusions</a>
<a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23WritingCommunity" target="_blank">#WritingCommunity</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23IAmWriting" target="_blank">#IAmWriting</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BookSky" target="_blank">#BookSky</a><br><br><a href="https://www.patreon.com/lucidillusions" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Get more from Lucid Illusions ...</a></p>
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