Matthew C. McLean
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mcleansix.bsky.social
Matthew C. McLean
@mcleansix.bsky.social
"I have to go on makin' a livin'...so I can die."

Writer. My fetish is a good narrative. I make them for fun and profit. if you like what you see here you can find more at https://matthewcmclean.com
Master Jaffer carefully chronicled the #pain he inflicted on his property to keep it inline. There were daily scourges, a hundred rapes, and for one chattel, Jaffer covered him in honey for the flies to have him. Jaffer’s head was filled with torments, right until it came off his shoulders. #vss365
February 3, 2026 at 8:28 PM
I set a fast pace, #confident Sophie would be shepherding the lovers behind me. The backstreets shown with a lunar glow. Over the beating of my own heart yells came from everywhere, making it impossible to judge how close the Russians were. #amquerying #WIPSnips
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
Going to post more of my traditional media work. Priss from bubblegum crisis. 11x17 comic board drawn with pencil on my trusty acme drawing board with animation paper pegs.
February 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Suffering is the one thing that all living things do. What's your #pain? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction #skywrite
Your #vss365 #prompt for Feb 3 is #pain

"After great pain, a formal feeling comes –
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs –
The stiff Heart questions 'was it He, that bore,'
And 'Yesterday, or Centuries before'?"

'After great pain, a formal feeling comes', Emily Dickenson

#3
February 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
The #shadow of the Tower extended across the land. In places where it was impossible to reach, by distance or shelter, it still laid its darkness. It defied boundaries, setting its stain on any who resisted the Tower, even as it told everyone there was no such thing as magic, power, or good. #vss365
February 1, 2026 at 3:54 PM
A shade, a double, an indication of the future. What's your #shadow? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction #skywrite
The #vss365 #prompt for Feb 1 is #shadow

"my selves go with you,only i remain;
a shadow phantom effigy or seeming
(an almost someone always who’s noone)
a noone who,till their and your returning,
spends the forever of his loneliness
dreaming their eyes have opened to your morning"

e.e. cummings
#1
February 1, 2026 at 3:17 PM
To placate, to calm, to confirm. How do you soothe? #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
Dear Friends,

We’ve reached our last prompt together. I’m honored to have hosted & look forward to continuing to support you!

Your #vss365 #prompt for Jan 31 is #soothe
Song: Where I Go – Natalie Merchant
Lyrics: “I go to the river to #soothe my mind.”

youtu.be/cN9OB_pOvWc?...
Where I Go
YouTube video by Natalie Merchant - Topic
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The floor was covered in #thrum as Julia tossed another test piece off the loom. If she could only remember exactly the weave her mother had created, it would be a gate to escape the drudgery of the castle. Long into the night she worked, her fingers bleeding, mumbling, “Almost, almost.” #vss365
January 30, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
January 30, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
January 29, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
January 30, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Music instruments do it, power does it, your body can feel it. How do you #thrum? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
Hello Lovely Writers! ✨✍🏼

Just two more prompts with me as your host, and I can’t wait to see how you’ll make this next one sing.

Your #vss365 #prompt for Jan 30 is #thrum

Song: Unsingable Name by Mike Doughty

Lyrics: “Beware the #thrum of hearts”

youtu.be/MyKWrzHzum4?...
Unsingable Name
YouTube video by Mike Doughty - Topic
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 12:34 PM
In the city of Slakterquay there's an office with the words Spectral Analysis on the pebbled glass of its door. Behind it is Aggie McPherson.

In this #audio episode, we learn about working with people you hate and how it can get you what you want. #Urbanfantasy #noir
The Case With No Client, Chapter 1 | An Aggie McPherson Mystery | Matthew C. McLean
A short story about working with people you hate and how it can get you what you want.
matthewcmclean.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:59 PM
The point of the press conference was to #obfuscate, not to elucidate. If the people knew what was actually going on, they’d never stand for it. Fortunately, there are always so many eager to believe the lies they want to hear. #vss365 #lfashfiction #skywrite
January 29, 2026 at 8:52 PM
In the city of Slakterquay there's an office with the words Spectral Analysis on the pebbled glass of its door. Behind it is Aggie McPherson.

In this #audio episode, we learn about working with people you hate and how it can get you what you want. #Urbanfantasy #noir
The Case With No Client, Chapter 1 | An Aggie McPherson Mystery | Matthew C. McLean
A short story about working with people you hate and how it can get you what you want.
matthewcmclean.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I flipped the lid of the Marlboros open and offered them, the cigarettes in a lined and orderly #formation. Moreau glanced at the weak attempt at a bribe with animosity. I waited. I hadn't met a Frenchman yet that would turn down a visit to cowboy country. #WIPSnips #skywrite #amquerying
January 29, 2026 at 4:27 PM
To cover, to obscure, to cover. What do you #obfuscate? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #skywrite
Dear Friends,

Here’s to another day of writing!

Your #vss365 #prompt for Jan 29 is #obfuscate

A. to throw into shadow—DARKEN
B. to make obscure—HIDE

Song: Second Nature - Bon Iver
Lyrics: “There is another fate away
To not be too late and #obfuscate

youtu.be/bE0H191alFc?...
Second Nature
YouTube video by Bon Iver - Topic
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Pulling an arrow from his #quiver, Digh waited in the tree for a deer. He drew back the arrow as he saw one, then held it as another appeared. Soon, a family. He withdrew the arrow. Best to wait for a loner. Killing families would only mean no deer next season. #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
January 28, 2026 at 8:45 PM
As often as I do it, I don't seem to have #procrastinate in my #WIP. #amwriting
The #WIPSnips word for January 28th is my absolute favorite thing to do... procrastinate!

I'm a huge procrastinator but my characters don't tend to be. Maybe I could learn something from them 😂

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 28, 2026 at 3:52 PM
You can shake or tremble with fear, ecstasy or cold. Or maybe you just hold arrows. How do you #quiver? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
Hello Word Weavers!

Your #vss365 #prompt for Jan 28 is #quiver.

Song: Deconstruction - Indigo Girls
Lyrics:
“And as for the truth it seems like we just pick a theory
It’s the one that justifies
Our daily lives
And backs us with #quiver and arrows”

youtu.be/5ipseJH1ADo?...
Deconstruction
YouTube video by Indigo Girls - Topic
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Jersey's strength began to #wane after weeks of starvation. He could no longer remember who had detained him or why. But that was the way of it these days. When he told the guard he had done nothing wrong, the guard responded, “I know.” #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
January 27, 2026 at 7:46 PM
January 27, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The moon does it, popularity does it, sometimes love does it. How do you #wane? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction #skywrite
Dear Wonderful Writers,

What’s the best thing about Tuesdays? Another writing prompt, of course!

Your #vss365 #prompt for Jan 27 is #wane

Song: Wax & Wane by Alana Henderson

Lyrics:

“And no one left to blame but
The moon’s wax and #wane.”

youtu.be/IjBmBSeDvds?...
Wax & Wane
YouTube video by Alana Henderson - Topic
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Reminded that he had just committed a rather public crime, Sartre's facial expression changed to someone who remembered a soon-to-be missed appointment. Perhaps, it said, it was time to leave. #WIPSnips #amquerying #skywrite.
January 27, 2026 at 2:03 AM