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dawnteller.bsky.social
Dawnteller
@dawnteller.bsky.social
27 followers 19 following 69 posts
Writer. GM. Physicist.

Follow for short fiction. Sci-fi/fantasy.

For microfiction see #TraceofLight

For short stories see https://lighttracersarchive.com
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dawnteller.bsky.social
Amid epic tales, the layman hurts. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Laybel took another step forward, breathing deeply through a bone-dry nose. Her lips were fused together with a combination of dry mucus and tears. Her throat was hoarse with thirst and her stomach was beyond aching. But the air was clean and sweet. It was the only nourishment available to her. She wasn’t alone. other refugees surrounded here, but knew what they would do to stay alive. Who knew what she would do? https://lighttracersarchive.com
June 6, 2025 at 11:14 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
The burden of a king's rule. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Kel'Aman looked down in judgement. His hall stretched before him, ancient wood columns held aloft a ceiling with the likeness of deific personages carved in its dark recesses. Some looked down with approval. Others scorned him. Silence blanketed the gathered crowed as his subjects awaited his final word. At the bottom of the steps leading to Kel'Aman's throne, a woman knelt. Once regal raiment hung from her in tatters and filth marred her visage. The disdain with which she met his gaze marred it further. "A long tradition has been tainted by your remorseless actions," Kel'Aman said. "The punishment is not sever enough. By the end of the third day hence, you will sit in judgment before the gods." His herald struck the stone with a steel-capped staff, sealing Kel'Aman's judgement. It echoed in Kel'Aman's mind as the hall cleared. Not until he was alone did Kel'Aman allow tears to flow. The strength of a king wasted, leaving only an aged man with nothing and no one. https://lighttracersarchive.com
May 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Darkness lurks in every corner of the world. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Another chunk of rotted flesh dropped from his arm as he stumbled over a rocky outcropping. Loose gravel slid underfoot and he fell to his side, too desperate to protect his charge. He looked down at the softly glowing stone he held to his chest, its presence was his life-force. "Forgive me, Master. I'll find you a new home soon. There are ruins in these hills with a noble history." He grunted back to his feet and set forth once more, word whistling through exposed teeth on the side of his gruesome face. "A new lair befitting your greatness." https://lighttracersarchive.com
May 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Not all heroes seek glory. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: A few drops of amber liquid swirled in the bottom of the glass as he set it down. He tightened his grip on it with calloused hands, not yet ready to let go. A chorus of cries echoed in the street outside. The patter of feet carried them away just as distant, familiar clangs drew nearer. Not my fight, he told himself. Each time the assertion was weaker than the last. This time, no one came to refill his glass. The tavern’s last occupants having joined the others, fleeing to the keep. “Not my fight!” he said aloud, lifting the glass to empty the last drop onto his tongue. It couldn’t slake his thirst. He tossed the glass across the room and shoved his chair back, the scrape of wood on stone and the tinkle of broken glass momentarily drowning out all sounds from the outside world. “Cardinals be damned,” he said. https://lighttracersarchive.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:57 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Monsters fear the dark. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starring background reads: Branches rushing by, whipping at skin and cloth. Wood under foot. Here firm and unyeilding, there springing. Springing through the air, wind tangling with flowing hair. Wild heart free, yet running. Fearing. Searching for refuge. Shelter from the world. There. Darkness covers. Darkness shields. Monsters fear the dark. https://lighttracersarchive.com
April 17, 2025 at 1:18 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
#TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Wading into the deeper pools, leaning against the rushing current, Naman spoke aloud the familiar chant. “Western waters wash my sin. Carry away the secrets within. Ever trust and never fear to eastern hearts our troubles bear.” Ducking under, he allowed the current to carry him for a moment before rising again and taking the hand that pulled him from the water. He watched on, then, as others took their turn to lay aside sin and be clean. https://lighttracersarchive.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Fight for honour. Die for honour. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Tears and blood mingled as they ran down the knight’s face, making tracks on his dust-caked skin. His helmet was lost hours ago when he was thrown from his horse, also lost. Panting in his moment of respite, the knight cast about himself for a friendly face. Others wore familiar colours, but he knew none of them. Either way, they clashed with enemies, unable to help him no matter his need. Blood and bile gushed between his fingers as he clutched his side. Taking a deep breath, he trudged toward the nearest fight. If this were to be his last battle, let it be glorious. https://lighttracersarchive.com
April 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Sometimes, the closing of one chapter marks a new beginning. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: The splash of seawater stung her lips once more, bringing her out of the torpor. Floating listlessly on the sea, forgotten, she almost forgot herself. As awareness returned, she made another attempt to save herself, but heavy limbs refused to respond. The initial splash was only a precursor. Waves tumbled her. Her eternity floating, baking under the sun, was brightened only by calm waters, but here she tumbled. Over and over until she fell from consciousness again. A splash of seawater stung her lips once more, opening her eyes to blessed sand, her ears to a gull’s cry. Somehow, she had made it. https://lighttracersarchive.com
March 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Every story has a beginning. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Grinning from ear to ear, Jamie gripped the chimney and balanced precariously atop the red-tiled roof of an inn. Wind whipped his hair, whistling past him as if it laughed too. The sight below him was that of a colourful caravan filled with dancing flags and bright heraldry. The knights of Gliss rode from the city with their coterie. Crowds sung and clapped, waving kerchiefs and reaching out to touch a knights garment as they road by. Although he shared the crowd’s excitement, Jamie grinned for a different reason. They didn’t know it yet, but today he would ride from the city with those knights. No longer some forgotten street urchin, when he returned to the city he’d be hailed a hero. https://lighttracersarchive.com
March 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Not all legendary weapons are worth the cost. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: An aged warrior raised a storied weapon and thrust it into the earth, As his hands left the hilt, the voices finally stopped. Ceaseless urging to kill, cries for blood promises of power-all quietened. The warrior collapsed as the sword extracted from him the toll of bearing such a weapon. Its ancient resting place became his own. Breathing his last breath, the warrior looked over the field, overgrown through generations. Countless hilts winked at him in the sunlight. Blades untouched by time and promising great, yet terrible power. He counted himself lucky to have been their caretaker. https://lighttracersarchive.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
#TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Tessa pulled, drawing the bowstring taut. Her fingertips brushed her cheek as she exhaled, one last distraction as she isolated her mind. Controlled, calm. Her target was her world. In the moment, her frame immovable. That moment before release. Tessa’s arrow flew true, thunking into the target. A cheer assaulted her senses, riotous against the quiet of her isolation. Amid the din, she inspected her arrow, slightly off target. Still a high score, but… Tsk. Yet again the crowds celebrated her mediocrity. https://www.lighttracersarchive.com
March 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
A regretful ruler. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Whence sounds the song of a weary warrior? To whom befalls the widow’s recompense? Upon my shoulders be the burden of a broken kingdom, the consequences of prideful folly, and the echoes of a tarnished legacy. https://www.lighttracersarchive.com
March 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Sometimes great power is found in the darkest depths. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙📚🪐 🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Footfalls outside herald the end. The lock clicks and the door swings inward of its own accord. “Cousin,” his assailant whispers. “You mustn’t run. You mustn’t fear.” A condemned man cowers in a dark corner, one last attempt to hide himself. He turns his face away from the arcane creature’s hunting, haunting eyes. Close enough for him to feel the madman’s hot breath. “With the end of our bloodline, I restore powers lost. I renew that which was fractured. Thank you.” https://www.lighttracersarchive.com
March 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
#TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙 📚 🪐 🩷 🧙‍♂️ ⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: The end East brings darkness West, war consumes us all North, mountains doom those that dwell there South, heresy The end comes. https://www.lighttracersarchive.com
February 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
A life on the run from deadly expectations? Cowardice that could condemn the world to an angry god's retribution? What is this man's tale? #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙 📚 🪐 🩷 🧙‍♂️ ⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Test on a starry background reads: As one, blades raised high and chanting in unison, the watchers pierced their own hearts. A sacrifice to an angry god to spare all those below, believer and unbeliever alike. As lifeblood flowed across stone, mingling with fallen ash, the mountains seemed to calm. The watchers were silent. All save one. One dagger clattered to the stone from shaking hands, unsullied by mortal blood. The last watcher turned and ran. Ran from that fiery god’s wrath. Ran from his fellows’ condemnation. Ran from fate. The last watcher ran to all corners of the world, but even in death the watchers watched. He never escaped their condemnation. https://www.lighttracersarchive.com
February 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Not everyone sets stock in prophecy. #TraceOfLight #LightTracersArchive

💙 📚 🪐 🩷 🧙‍♂️ ⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Let not the paradoxy of prophetic interpretation be our concern. Instead concern yourselves with upholding our coalition of hearts and minds. The east is in chaos, the west blow horns of war, and news from the north is dire. The very foundations of the world shake and yet, we stand. Exercise of mind, intellect unrivalled the world over, will carry us through and beyond. Whatever follows, let our candle light the beacon of tomorrow. We watch. We preserver. We learn. For tomorrow we build. https://lighttracersarchive.com
February 12, 2025 at 4:18 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
How do you decide where to define chapters? I’m reviewing my book and it sometimes feels like the chapter could be split, but I don’t want them too short.
February 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
Each #TraceOfLight is a brief glimpse into an untold story. Watch as #LightTracersArchive uncovers the tale within.

💙 📚 🪐 🩷 🧙‍♂️ ⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky
Text on a starry background reads: Yannis stood in the centre of a lead-lined room wrapped in chains attached to the floor at her feet. As if that weren't enough, chains bound her cardinally to the foundations of the world. Beyond those visible precautions there were, no doubt, other enchantments from her jailer, praying for her to err. High in the wall before Yannis, a window granted her a trickle of fresh air and sunlight. Her single, weekly contact with the outside world. A lone mercy granted lest Glimfuld should compromise its precious human rights. Yannis thanked them for their foolishness. In moments like this, her mind sailed the winds. https://lighttracersarchive.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Dawnteller
duskteller.bsky.social
💙 📚 🪐 🩷 🧙‍♂️ ⚔️ #Writing #Microfiction #writesky

My debut post is another #TraceOfLight from #LightTracersArchive!
Those warring Accaran families noticed it first, but of course they were too busy to warn the rest of us. By the time news of that celestial event crossed the seas, it was far, far too late. I've often wondered--aloud and in prayer--why such a wonder was shown to them? Why cast such signs before the ignorant and barbaric? Had it appeared in any of our skies, we would have known! We would never have marched, never have consigned our homes to this wretched fate. But, alas, so it was, and thus shall it ever have been.
January 30, 2025 at 5:44 AM
dawnteller.bsky.social
As I finish one draft and let it breath, I’m entering the planning phase for my next project.

This got me wondering. What are everyone’s techniques for plotting (or not plotting) a novel?

My own thoughts in thread
January 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Dawnteller
trentlcannon.bsky.social
A Thief Scorned is a fantasy heist novel about a thief trying to steal a fortune from the dangerous criminal in the city - and maybe stop a bloody coup while he is at it.

#2025PIT #A #F
January 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Dawnteller
elainecristinax.bsky.social
#2025Pit #A #D #F #H #GF #S

A witch + a dystopian society + a family curse + ambition = THE TIME OF THE WICKED

Ancient Ones + Whisperers + Man Eaters + Uniques = A Hidden World

THE TIME OF THE WICKED is the 1st book of THE WITCH OF THE SANKUL WOODS series.
January 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
The land is overrun by undead, ruled by the Necromancer King. People are broken, hope is lost.

Bolan is bent on revenge, willing to do whatever it takes to kill the Necromancer.

Some call him Deathsbane, a hero in the dark. But he knows the truth.

Can evil destroy evil?

#2025pit
January 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
dawnteller.bsky.social
I just finally finished v3 of my necromancer revenge story. Feels great and it’s such a relief to be over that hurdle. I’m looking forward to reading with a reader’s perspective now and, as long as there are no glaring issues, sharing it!

🩷🧙‍♂️⚔️ #Writesky
January 26, 2025 at 2:39 AM