C.R. Neal-Author
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crneal.bsky.social
C.R. Neal-Author
@crneal.bsky.social
82 followers 41 following 100 posts
A writer and "retired" "artist". I am working on getting my most recent manuscript, a near-future, character-centric sci-fi drama called The Guardian Project, ready for querying.
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Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author
1stlinepit.bsky.social
Next #1stLinePit: 2025-04-05 (April fifth)

Time: TBA, but the US West Coast will have a VERY bright and early start, while East Coasters get a slightly lazier morning. Europeans start around noon, and Australians begin late in the evening.

The event will run for 24 hours.

#WritingCommunity
March 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
To set the "scene", Orion is a defector from the early days of the Federation. He has feelings about it.

#writingcommunity #writesky #writingprompts
Orion flipped a switch beneath the console to reboot the interface and then sat back and watched as the screens around him flickered back to life and cycled through a startup and download. “It’s working.” “Great, should take about twenty minutes and then we’ll test.” “Great,” He echoed under his breath and crossed his arms, settling in. Another twenty minutes to be stuck in his own thoughts. To be stuck in Boyev. It wasn’t as if the nightmares were particularly violent. They were all one scene, really. There was a river that horseshoed around the borders of Boyev. Wide and frozen over a large chunk of the year, its thawing season was part of what made cordoning off the city so easy. Tumultuous and harsh, the chunks of ice coasting down the waters and crashing into each other made it impossible to cross, as had detonating all of the bridges. With heavy anti-air capabilities, any other avenue of attack aside from the heavily guarded narrow land passage was futile. In his dream, he sat near the water at a familiar lookout point, fixed in place, unmoving. It was quiet, save for the whisper of wind through barren trees, the gurgling of the river, and creaking of chunks of ice as they drifted past. The rest was silent, not even birds made a noise. But what he knew of this place and this moment reverberated through every corner of his mind. Behind him, out of sight, was the beseiged town of Boyev, half destroyed with its population imprisoned by the very occupation he served. By his people, by his hands. Events he would give anything to reverse. For hours, all he could do was sit and watch the icy waters flow past, the biting cold his constant companion.
April 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
To be fair, I wouldn't be able to make direct eye contact with a shirtless Orion either. Though it's a view many might "appreciate", it sets a pretty awkward tone for conversation.

#writingcommunity #writesky #amprocrastinating
“No problem,” She said quickly, still looking away, “But, um, I wanted to thank you again… for coming to the rescue earlier. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t show up.” “I’m sure you wouldn’t have let Williams drown. It was nothing.” “No, it was not nothing,” she countered. “I was struggling, and you came through for me― us, really. I feel like I owe you.” “If anyone owes me, it’s Williams,” he thoughtlessly spat and then cleared his throat. “Really, it’s fine. Just watching out for the team.” “I see that,” she smiled softly, eyes still averted, “And I appreciate you for it.” He blinked at her as a pocket of tension seemed to ease in his chest at her words. She appreciated him. His mind went blank as he pried it for a response. An awkward silence stretched between them. “Anyway,” she finally said, her voice elevated. “Team meeting in a couple hours.” “I figured.” “Right,” She clapped her hands together and rotated towards the stairs. “I’ll see you there.”
March 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
This was too juicy a word not to give you two for the price of one. N another note, I'm a bit "touch" and go right now and posting late from my phone as I'm travelling.

#writingcommunity #writesky #amediting #inmybrain
He grinned and leaned toward her, his forearm now resting on the wall above her and face inches closer. “That’s not why I did it.” “Why, then?” His eyes moved down to her lips, and he reached out and tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear, his fingertips stroking the sensitive skin there. “Because I wanted to.” Her mouth opened to respond, but she couldn’t manage to make a sound. “And I was pretty sure you did also. Was I wrong?” She shook her head quickly without any other thought. His smile broadened and he slid his hand down her arm as he inched closer to her. “Am I wrong now?” Her head shook again. He sunk down, his breath hot on her left ear as he whispered, “You have to show me.” Eyes drifting closed on their own, every inch of her skin tingled with awareness of his proximity. “Sh–show you?” His hand squeezed over her wrist, and she realized she was making a fist. She released it and his fingers wove through hers. “Touch me,” he said, “So I know it’s okay.” She tilted her head towards him as she breathed in his warm scent. “And how will I know it’s okay?” He closed his hand over hers. “I’ll have touched you already.”
March 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
Oh, the plight of a "smart" girl... Kira opens up about her insecurities to the man she finds wildly attractive. What could go wrong?

#writesky #writingcommunity #amediting
She swallowed the lump in her throat and made her way beside him, staring down at the churning waters beneath as she propped her elbows on the rail. She inhaled deeply, the sea air refreshing and cool as the sun beat down on her neck. “They used to call me a prodigy, you know,” She spoke over the racket of propulsion beneath them. “I could see that.” “It sure went to my head a lot,” she shook her head, “All I ever had to be was smart. It was enough until it wasn’t.” “Ah,” he nodded, “The ‘promising young woman’ grew up to be an actual person.” “I guess you could say that. I’d also say maybe my identity was entirely dependent on the approval of authority figures around me,” She scoffed, “turns out that’s not sustainable.” “I get it,” He was staring down at the water with a reserved look, his arms folded in front of him. “You do?” “What if I told you I was an absolute disappointment to my parents?”
March 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
You get "lungs". A natural fighter, Kira is not. She can take a beating, though.

#writesky #writingcommunity #amwriting #amediting
They struggled with it, him trying to wrestle it out of her death grip, his own rifle swung to his side, hanging from his shoulder. He pushed her suddenly, knocking the wind out of her as her back struck the armored frame of the car. Her grip loosened and he yanked the weapon from her. Iron fingers clasped her around the neck, squeezing the sensitive flesh and pinning her. The man screamed in his language, spittle flying in her face. Each syllable was punctuated by the bashing of her head against the side of the truck. The world spun as his grip tightened, crushing her throat. She clawed and kicked, trying to push him away, managing to bloody his arms and strike his legs and groin. He didn’t stop. He just kept yelling and squeezing and bashing. A shot rang out and the vile man screamed again, this time in pain. Finally, he released her. She gasped, holding her throat and fighting for a gulp of breath that stung her lungs. The man turned towards the tarp and her breath seized once more. Jack had thrown the tarp from himself and fired at the man with his handgun, hitting him in the shoulder. The ire that had just been beating her into the side of the car was now trained solely on her injured companion.
March 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
Mystery airplane stays mysterious, more at 10. In other news, I accidentally took a honk-shoo pill with my afternoon round, so I guess I'm in for the rest of the night.

#writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting #doingmybest
“How exactly did you guys manage to do that?” Kira crossed her legs and rested her head on her hand. “As the test pilot, pretty sure you’ll be finding my answer less than satisfactory…” He chuckled. “But the idea was a tri-system engine, could go from open air to closed cycle. Jet to Rocket to Ionic thrust.” “Rocket. Was it a breakaway?” She leaned back. “She was all one big unit.” “That doesn’t make any sense. Even today you aren’t getting into space without riding a half ton of the most advanced propellant out of the atmosphere and then ditching it for recovery.” “All I know, it was light. Saw a low power test of it is all. Thing was hot, but sure pretty, all them colors.” Kira tented her hand in front of her mouth and looked down. “I don’t get it. Testable, reusable rockets, jet engines, ionic propulsion. Fuels efficiency. There’s something I’m missing here.” Beau simply shrugged. Kira breathed out a slow sigh. He was right. She never should have expected to learn too many details from someone not directly involved in the craft’s design.
March 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
I'm back! My "reputation" for ghosting be damned...

#writingcommunity #writesky #amediting #amwriting
She let out an exasperated sigh which morphed into another yawn before she spoke. “I mean, I never asked to be in charge of people. Least of all fucking fighter pilots―pardon my language―and definitely not someone like Lieutenant Hardass there.” “I do understand that, seeing as the Lieutenant is a somewhat special case, he has a bit of a reputation.” Ben shifted in the seat, rotating his body to face her more fully. “However, you did take the job as the head of a project for Hyperion.” “They didn’t exactly lay out many details for their top-secret project.” She grumbled. “Even so, you took a leadership position for a mercenary entity,” he said, that same edge of amusement to his voice that her tired brain didn’t appreciate. “You can’t be surprised when you are expected to lead mercenaries.” She rotated to face him and get a better look at his pleasant face and the annoying smirk as he confronted her with the truth. He looked a bit tired himself, his blond waves disheveled and falling onto his forehead above kind
March 6, 2025 at 11:25 PM
crneal.bsky.social
“Lucky you, it’s warm as hell here.”

#writingprompt #writingommunity #writesky
cometkins.bsky.social Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @MFF C8 @cometkins.bsky.social · Feb 21
Find the middle point of your book, find the middle paragraph on the page, and find the sentence that's in the middle of that. Now share that sentence! #WritingPrompt
February 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
Been blah lately. Ain't much for it, might as well write. Have some words:

#writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting
Leading the recovery “mission” with a man she was actively at odds with was an obvious factor. The heaviest weight on her mind wasn’t the impending conflict of such an arrangement, however, but what Hana had said to her when she asked why it had to be Lorenz. Her answer was simple: “He’s the person I trust most to make the right decision, no matter what.” It was a very high endorsement, no matter how she looked at it. It begged the question of what else he was right about. They had been working together for months now and, albeit for brief glimmers of cohesion, he regarded her much the same as on the first day. He believed she was inept, dangerous, maybe even an enemy. She couldn’t think of anything to convince him otherwise, and she was finished trying. But what if he was right? She would catch him looking at her randomly each day, but he never engaged her. She could practically see the admonishment or curse behind those tight lips, just waiting on the tip of his tongue. What if what she dreaded was the truth?
February 16, 2025 at 10:51 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Haunted by a violent past, ex-Federation pilot Orion Lorenz seeks redemption with Hyperion. Tasked with rebuilding a top-secret craft, he clashes with unorthodox engineer Kira Collier. With war raging, Orion must confront his inner demons or risk losing everything again.
#Questpit #A #Q #SF
THE GUARDIAN PROJECT A collage of 15 images: An assortment of papers, tools, a pen and calculator; a woman's bust, she has a messy braid over one shoulder, is wearing coveralls and has a resolute look on her face; a black jet flying through a dark cloudy sky; a long black fighter jet; an aircraft carrier in front of a large setting sun, a text image reading "we own you"; a sheet of blue plasma with sparks flying from it; the interior of an aircraft carrier hallway with pipes running along the ceiling; a dark-haired soldier sitting in the snow next to an icy river, his head is down looking sad; a text reading "I remember all of them"; a cobblestone path between stone buildings in Cyprus; a man with his face in his hand, one eye glaring intensely between his thumb and forefinger; a view from the inside of a jet cockpit flying towards a cloudy sunrise with a single-engine fighter jet flying in front of it; a large gray flying fighter jet front view; the torso of a soldier with a blue shirt and olive colored plated vest with many pouches, he has fingerless gloves on and is holding a rifle in one hand
February 13, 2025 at 1:01 AM
crneal.bsky.social
Exiled engineer Kira Collier and battle-worn pilot Orion Lorenz join a diverse team to rebuild a stealth spacecraft. As tensions and trials rise, they must navigate trust, loss, and the morality of innovation, forging bonds that could mean survival—or destruction.

#Questpit #A #Q #SF
A collage of 9 images. left to right and top to bottom: A large fighter jet, grey, flying head on with a gradient blue background. A sheet of blue plasma with sparks emitting from it, blue and orange. A sketch of a man with his face in his hand, one intense eyes glaring between his thumb and forefinger. A narrow, lit hallway inside an aircraft carrier, pipes line the ceiling. A blue and green fractal pattern with superimposed text that reads: "The Guardian Project. A near-future science fiction novel. C.R. Neal". A building lined walkway in the Mediterranean, the buildings are brick with terracotta roofs and green vines stretch between them. The sketch of a woman with a pleasant face and thick braid over one shoulder, she is wearing a coverall uniform. Notepaper with engineering figures and equations, a yellow sticky notepad with a pen and some tools on a desktop. A second type of fighter jet from the side flying view, long, thin and black, with a speckled blue background.
February 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Not saying the DOD DOESN'T need to be audited. But it sure as shit shouldn't be by a rich entitled nepo twat with vested interests and ties to foreign adversaries.

Join me in reporting this threat, especially once DOGE sets foot in the Pentagon.

#fuckdoge #insiderthreat #beaproblem
ditmac.experience.crmforce.mil
February 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author
darlingaxe.com
If you've done much research into the "art" of the query letter, you may have noticed many (often conflicting) recommendations. However, if you look at some successful query samples, you’ll find many of them break a “rule” or two.

A thread 🧵🪓

#writingcommunity #amquerying
a purple cartoon character is giving a peace sign and has the word querying written above it
Alt: a purple cartoon character is giving a peace sign and has the word querying written above it
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Ovechkin was paranoid, but he was right. And he'll never let the protagonist forget it. He just needs to find the traitor first. Now adept at the abilities forced on him, he's torn between bringing the man back to the side of the Federation or making him pay for the consequences of his disbelief.
February 5, 2025 at 10:43 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
This one stings a bit personally, but it's one of the reasons I love Orion as a character.

#writingcommunity #writesky #amwriting
The questions would always be there. Would more have lived if he had worked harder? Would more have died if he’d done less? No matter how much or how little he did, it didn’t change the fact that the people would continue to die despite any of his hidden efforts. Because the ones responsible decided they should and the ones with the power to stop it decided they could. Yet, when it all boiled down to his responsibility, however small at the start, he had always had to pull a trigger. It only came to a head when he decided which direction the barrel was pointing. The order, the rules, the power put in place to intercept morality and ensure these terrible things could happen were beholden to a particular chain of complicity. He broke that complicity when he made his choice, when he turned. And for two and a half chaotic hours, power and order were beholden to the bullet, the blade, the flesh. That made all the difference.
February 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
crneal.bsky.social
My boy left me alone all morning to deal with kids and work emails, but has to be held once he hears my happy clacker keyboard I use for writing. Certified "plotblocker" Rocky. How do I work in these conditions?

#cats #amwriting #tryinganyway
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
No lie, I'm posting this in my "kitchen". You ever had a bone reset? It tickles a bit...

#writingcommunity #Writesky #writers #amediting #again
“Right, but now you’ll be able to use it in the future,” He held her hand and wrist carefully, “Rethinking those pain meds now?” “Yes!” She tugged on his shirt in a short shake, “Give me anything, jesus…” “Okay,” He was stifling a smile. He held her hand still while he led her into the building. It was oddly spacious for such a small location. A big square room with windows wrapped around. There were a couple of desks, some couches, a television, and a kitchen and dining area. It was obvious the procedure had taken place on the dining table. It had been cleaned up, but there was still a staging of bandages and blood smeared atop the surface. Sam laid across one of the couches already, a throw pillow over his face and one leg over the back. Jack was tucked into another, deep asleep from a cocktail of trauma and drugs. Ben led her to the counter, where his medical kit sat, and placed her hand and wrist atop it carefully, “Don’t move that.”
February 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author
darlingaxe.com
F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Character is plot, plot is character.” And he was right.

We come to understand characters the same way we do people in real life: by watching them act, struggle, and make choices.

A thread🧵🪓

#writingcommunity
cookie monster is sitting at a table with a tray of food and the words choices written on it
Alt: cookie monster is sitting at a table with a tray of food and the words choices written on it
media.tenor.com
January 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
crneal.bsky.social
#WIPSnips
I'm back at it again. Orion's such a "card", thinking he can trust a commanding officer to prioritize his team's safety. Silly man.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky #writers
“The way it had to be…” He echoed her prior statement in a near growl. “Why?” “Listen, I don’t have the time to justify my decision making to you right now―” He hung up on her and handed the phone back. It started ringing again. And Joanne gave him a worried look as she held the phone away from her, as if it were hot to the touch. Orion held a hand up and nodded in reassurance but said nothing. His mind buzzing, his very soul seething with the disturbed anger respondent to what felt like betrayal. He had heard enough. Hana pulled the command card on him. She blew off his concerns, even when it had to do with the well-being of the team. Williams rejoined the group with his pack. Jang was walking back with the gas can and Orion met her halfway, taking it from her hand. He marched back towards the entrance, glancing back at Williams, and finally spoke, “We’re leaving.”
January 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Haunted by a violent past, ex-Federation pilot Orion Lorenz seeks redemption with Hyperion. Tasked with rebuilding a top-secret craft, he clashes with unorthodox engineer Kira Collier. With war raging, Orion must confront his inner demons or risk losing everything again.

#YouDeservePit #A #Q #SF
THE GUARDIAN PROJECT A collage of 15 images: An assortment of papers, tools, a pen and calculator; a woman's bust, she has a messy braid over one shoulder, is wearing coveralls and has a resolute look on her face; a black jet flying through a dark cloudy sky; a long black fighter jet; an aircraft carrier in front of a large setting sun, a text image reading "we own you"; a sheet of blue plasma with sparks flying from it; the interior of an aircraft carrier hallway with pipes running along the ceiling; a dark-haired soldier sitting in the snow next to an icy river, his head is down looking sad; a text reading "I remember all of them"; a cobblestone path between stone buildings in Cyprus; a man with his face in his hand, one eye glaring intensely between his thumb and forefinger; a view from the inside of a jet cockpit flying towards a cloudy sunrise with a single-engine fighter jet flying in front of it; a large gray flying fighter jet front view; the torso of a soldier with a blue shirt and olive colored plated vest with many pouches, he has fingerless gloves on and is holding a rifle in one hand
January 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
crneal.bsky.social
Disgraced aerospace engineer Kira Collier joins mercenary group Hyperion to rebuild a top-secret stealth craft amid war. As tensions rise with haunted pilot Orion Lorenz, Kira must lead, confront her past, and decide if saving their mission is worth the cost of her humanity.
#YouDeservepIt #A #Q #SF
A collage of 15 images: An assortment of papers, tools, a pen and calculator; a woman's bust, she has a messy braid over one shoulder, is wearing coveralls and has a resolute look on her face; a black jet flying through a dark cloudy sky; a long black fighter jet; an aircraft carrier in front of a large setting sun, a text image reading "we own you"; a sheet of blue plasma with sparks flying from it; the interior of an aircraft carrier hallway with pipes running along the ceiling; a dark-haired soldier sitting in the snow next to an icy river, his head is down looking sad; a text reading "I remember all of them"; a cobblestone path between stone buildings in Cyprus; a man with his face in his hand, one eye glaring intensely between his thumb and forefinger; a view from the inside of a jet cockpit flying towards a cloudy sunrise with a single-engine fighter jet flying in front of it; a large grey flying fighter jet front view; the torso of a soldier with a blue shirt and olive colored plated vest with many pouches, he has fingerless gloves on and is holding a rifle in one hand
January 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by C.R. Neal-Author
jpackersamms.bsky.social
A magical cat is swept into a hidden world of secret agents, underground cities, and strange allies, only to realize she must reclaim her power or watch her ruthless mentor destroy everything she loves.

#YouDeservepIt #Q #MG #F
A suburban alley, a cat with silver eyes, a scraggly dog, a magical parrot, an angry owl, and a small mouse holding a letter. The text says, THE CAT WITH THE SILVER EYES; what if the rose bush in The Secret of NIMH led to a magical animal society hidden in plain sight?
January 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Exiled engineer Kira Collier and battle-worn pilot Orion Lorenz join with a diverse team to rebuild a stealth spacecraft. As tensions and trials rise, they must navigate trust, loss, and the morality of innovation, forging bonds that could mean survival—or destruction.

#YouDeservepIt #A #Q #SF
January 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
crneal.bsky.social
Taking some solace in the fact that, thanks to the absolute dipshit ignorance of bigots and by executive decree, everyone in the US is now female. We're also a couple hundred million lesbians richer than two days ago. Win.
January 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM