Hayley
LightNews LightNews
haylswrites.bsky.social
Hayley
@haylswrites.bsky.social
900 followers 620 following 410 posts
✨ books, writing, & all things cozy!
🩷 @smoochpitig Mentor (and former Mentee!)
📝 Rep: Brent Taylor at @triadausliteraryagency

https://linktr.ee/haylswrites
Posts Replies Media Videos
haylswrites.bsky.social
Writers need community, and I’ve been craving a space that focuses on the craft—on helping writers (at all stages, with all goals) grow into the best writer they can be… so I made one.

Introducing booked! 🔗 in my 🔗🎄

#writesky
Welcome to booked a writing community for writers to grow into their craft Another discord server for writing? Yep! But here’s how we’re different: Booked has a focus on writers building community with an emphasis on growing in their craft We have a forum operating like classifieds to help match with feedback partners In our reading spot, you can host buddy reads Booked will offer workshops on writing, the industry, and happy hours, and writing exhibitions—and it’s all free! This community is open to all writers, whether you write for fun or want to make it a career, at any stage in their journey who want to grow and connect with other writers
October 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
When her prototype fails, Cecilia partners with her college rival to fix her protection charms, but after weeks of blazing chemistry in the lab and the bedroom, she's falling for him—if only her research would ward her traitorous heart.

#QuestPit #OS #AG #A #F #R
A blue book, surrounded by text: - plus sized rep - a sweater wearing dog you'd die for - STEM based magic - magical met gala - "it was always you" - rivals to lovers - messy, complicated family dynamics - low fantasy - hot magical engineer artwork of a dark haired woman scowling at a smirking blond man enchantments & adversaries: the playlist - feels like - gracie abrams - ceilings - lizzy mcalpine - the alchemy - taylor swift - 26 - paramore - sunlight - hozier
August 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
haylswrites.bsky.social
Adding benefits with her hot, magical engineer rival seems risk averse, but when Cecilia realizes he’s no longer the man he once was, it’s too late to use their research into protective magic to ward her heart...

#QuestPit #OS #AG #A #F #R
A purple background with a blazing pastel comet. Text reads: An Editor's Guide to Enchantments & Adversaries, A cozy romantasy complete at 95k combining the plus-sized lead and cozy setting of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon with the banter and STEM-inist bent of Love on the Brain. Rep: Brent Taylor at Triada US. A purple background with a blazing pastel comet. Text reads: the blurb: When Cecilia’s latest prototype—an amulet to protect non-magic persons—fails, her former college rival, Caspian Wolfe, offers resources from his magical engineering firm in exchange for co-credit. Despite her reservations he’s still the man who deals in hostile jabs and animosity, she relents, putting her research first. After weeks of blazing chemistry in the lab and between the sheets, Cecilia finds herself falling for a man she’s terrified to trust—if only her research into protection charms would ward her traitorous heart. Rep: Brent Taylor at Triada US. A purple background with a blazing pastel comet. A dark haired woman and blond man are center. Text reads: the vibes: - plus-sized lead finding her power - complicated, messy family dynamics - strong, female friendship - cozy, modern fantasy setting - STEM based magic - "It was always you" - book covers for 'Do Your Worst' by Rosie Danan, 'Love on the Brain' by Ali Hazelwood, 'The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' by Sangu Mandanna, 'A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon' by Sarah Hawley. Rep: Brent Taylor at Triada US. A purple background with a blazing pastel comet. Text reads: chapter one - My magic rushes through the front door and finds nothing but static from the cottage’s inhabitant. It’s a glaring reminder I don’t belong here. I hesitate on the front porch, frowning at the doormat. Home, sweet home. I hadn’t considered my parents’ house my home in over a decade, after how they’d reacted when my long dormant magic stretched to life. I still remember the looks on their faces. My mother paled with unease; my father reddened with rage. For most, magic found its way to the surface before puberty. As early as seven or eight, but not past twelve. Tense breaths and watchful eyes filled my first twelve years, coupled with near constant reminders I wouldn’t have magic. As the daughter of two magicless, it was statistically improbable I’d break the mold... Rep: Brent Taylor at Triada US.
August 6, 2025 at 4:13 AM
haylswrites.bsky.social
“This, and” for ENCHANTMENTS & ADVERSARIES, a cozy Romantasy feat.:
💜 a plus sized lead
✨ engineering + alchemy = magical engineering
🏡 complicated, messy family dynamics and real-world problems
📱 low fantasy with Rom-com vibes

#writesky #cozyromantasy #obsub
Colored orbs with the text “this (a sky full of miniature auroras) and a cozy romantasy” Multicolored test tubes with the text “this and stem-based magic” A mammoth library with the text “this and agreeing to a research partnership with your college rival, only to realize he’s a much better man than you thought he was” A snowy night & street lamp with the text “this and ambling walks where holding his hand feels like the most natural thing in the world (and chocolate marshmallow pies)”
August 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
It’s been a while since I’ve done a #WIPSnips, so here’s a peek at Museum WIP, my cozy Romantasy in which a magical artifact causes a lot of love-based calamity. 😅

#amwriting #amediting #cozyromantasy
Text: My cheeks flame. I try to look anywhere in the room that’s not at him, but he’s so transfixed on the book. There’s a dreamy sort of expression on his face as he idly traces patterns over the cover, his finger skimming the part I patched. It’s a sort of reverence most people don’t hold for books. A sort of reverence I’d like to spend all of my hours inside of. Phineas looks up, catching me staring. I need to dunk my entire face into an ice bucket just to recover.
July 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
I LOVE scent matching a candle to a WIP. My museum curator FMC is all sweetness and this brown sugar & honey candle is perfection.

(Has the freewrite fixed me? TBD as I am posting this to BSKY instead of writing)

#amwriting #writesky
Freewrite alpha device on a desk beside a flickering candle
May 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
When her prototype fails, Cecilia partners with her college rival to further her research into protection charms, but after weeks of blazing chemistry in the lab and the bedroom, she's falling for him—if only her research would ward her traitorous heart.

#PosterPit #Agented #OS #A #F #R
April 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
Trying to find the right flowers for this vase has been a struggle, and I’m not happy with this arrangement but I painted this bag end vase months ago and it was beyond time to see it on the shelf. Plus, I had the perfect spot for it. ❤️
Bookshelf, stack of lord of the rings series picture left, a vase painted with bag end with red poppies, tight.
April 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
EMILY WILDE x BOOK LOVERS

"Sometimes, I like to shed my skin and wear the pages of books instead."

#1stlinepit #WIP #CozyRomantasy #agented
April 6, 2025 at 12:04 AM
haylswrites.bsky.social
Ali Hazelwood + Magic = E&A

When your former lab partner, rival, & forever pest offers you a research partnership you can’t refuse AND worms his way into your dog’s heart, you have to find space for him, too.

#ChaosPit #agented
Dog meme “I love the blond man” Top text: Cecilia “and what it becomes twice for science?” Caspian Wolfe: Mean girls meme “the limit does not exist” Gru meme, looking at text slides: 1. Get Wolfe’s help with research in exchange for his co-credit, save lives 2. Add “benefits” to rivalry with no strings attached 3. Fall in love with Caspian Wolfe Gru, looks shocked at slide 4, same text as in 3 Friends meme. Phoebe teaches Joey how to say Cecilia, Joey says Cecily
April 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
When her mortal enemy goes MIA, she sets out to FINISH HIM, only along the way she discovers he looks GOOD shirtless. As she questions her morals and sanity, she uncovers truths about her world that leave her SHOOK. When doing what’s right isn’t good, it’s time to be bad.

#ChaosPit #WIP #agented
Mood board featuring fire and ice, a frozen waterfall, mystical forests, a burning rose, sparks off a forge. Meme, sweating man must pick between two choices; kill him or fuck him.
April 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
Cecilia’s Rivals-to-Lovers Solution:

💖an unnaturally attractive magical engineer
🧪co-researching protective amulets
🍻accidental dinners
🐾a besotted dog
👗a plum dress
✨a magical boost of confidence
👀a lab mishap
💋a rooftop kiss

#ChaosPit #cozyromantasy #agented

Art by moth.deity!
A mood board with a dark haired girl scowling at a smirking blond man. Collage includes; covers of books, potion bottles, song lyrics.
April 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
#ChaosPit Party Question 3 - like before, feel free to quote repost your answer or put it in the comments!

#writesky #writingcommunity
Chaotic elmo in the bottom corner. The text reads: #Chaospit Q&A Q3: The Zombie Outbreak has spread into your WIP - what does your main character do? Join us for the second annual #ChaosPit on 4/1/25 from 10a-8p est. Find out more: chaospit.org
March 30, 2025 at 11:47 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
#ChaosPit Party Question 2 - like before, feel free to quote repost with your answer or put it in the comments below.

#writesky #writingcommunity
Chaotic elmo in the bottom corner. The text reads: #Chaospit Q&A Q2: what is the least important thing that is very important to your main character? Join us for the second annual #ChaosPit on 4/1/25 from 10a-8p est. Find out more: chaospit.org
March 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
#ChaosPit is just around the corner - let's kick it off with a short Q&A! Feel free to quote repost with your answer or put it in the comments below.

#writesky #writingcommunity
Chaotic elmo in the bottom corner. The text reads: #Chaospit Q&A Q1: Share a GIF of how your writing journey is currently going. Join us for the second annual #ChaosPit on 4/1/25 from 10a-8p est. Find out more: chaospit.org
March 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
We’re baaaaaaack! 🔥

Find out more: www.chaospit.org

#writesky #writercommunity
#CHAOSPIT WHAT IT IS: our second annual fun, community building pitch event in which you describe your book badly WHEN IT IS: 4/1/25 from 10a-8p Give us your AITA posts, your chaos comps, your memes! Max 3 pitches per project.
March 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
The humors of your writing desk doubling as your craft table: searching in the drawers for post it notes and finding a 72ct bag of mini dinosaurs instead. 😅

I feel like I have to pick some out now to be new writing companions… 👀
A bag of small plastic dinosaurs sitting on a desk
March 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
I have spent so much money on shade dwelling plants for my front landscaping and nothing has survived… until now. My hellebores (from Home Depot, lol) I planted last winter are coming up AND we have blooms!!! This one has 6 buds & the one in the even shadier spot has 3!
Hellebore bloom
March 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
I am so incredibly excited to announce that I am now represented by Brent Taylor at Triada US! I am so impressed by his vision for not just E&A but my career and excited to have him as my creative business partner on this journey. ❤️

#cozyromantasywriter #WritingCommunity
Rainbow background with a photo of the poster and the text: I am excited to announce I am now represented by Brent Taylor at Triada US.
March 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
After a PR nightmare at a dragon sanctuary turned B&B, Hazel is hired as a consultant to oversee the safety and care of the dragons. Things are worse than they seem and Hazel relies on Rhodes to help, but as sparks alight, she’s left questioning their friendship.

#WSPit #WIP
A mood board featuring: golden light through trees, a blond woman texting, a brunette woman and blond woman having drinks, a couple sitting beside a fire, a man throwing darts
February 26, 2025 at 4:23 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
10/10 recommend making memes for your novel when you’re feeling anxious (even when it’s a good thing)! The first isn’t new, but it has to be reshared every time. 🤣😂🩷
A phoebe/joey meme: Phoebe: seh Joey: seh Phoebe: seel Joey: seel Phoebe: yuh Joey: yuh Phoebe: Cecilia Joey: Cecily The koolaid man busting through a wall with the text; Caspain Wolfe offering Cecilia a partnership: full use of his engineering firm (…and him ;) ) Shiba Inu doge meme— When is the nice blond man coming back? The blond man brings me treats The blond man called me a good girl I love the blond man Mean girls meme, Lindsey Lohan pic Text: Cecilia: and what, it becomes twice for science? Caspian Wolfe: the limit does not exists
February 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
Keeping vigil by the stove, hoping she gets more Greek yogurt 🤣

Forever obsessed with her satellite ears and the way the mark beneath her right eye (left in the pic) looks like a velociraptor popping outta the weeds. 🩷
Red Merle Australian shepherd
February 24, 2025 at 12:29 AM
haylswrites.bsky.social
An #AgentGuide for my fantasy rom-com, Enchantments & Adversaries. This novel was selected for the 2024 #SmoochPit mentorship program and was revised with my mentor--now featuring more banter, more spice, and more pining! 💗

#amquerying #agentsguide #cozyfantasyromance
Against a reddish, purple sky, a dark haired woman in a plum dress stares at a smirking blond man. Text reads: an agent's guid to Enchantments & Adversaries, adult fantasy rom-com complete at 95k words, selected for the 2024 SmoochPit Mentorship Program. Text, left: After her latest protection charm prototype fails, Cecilia Thornhill is desperate enough for additional funding she considers a partnership from Caspian Wolfe, the founder of her province’s most-successful magical engineering firm, and her former college rival. He offers full use of his firm in exchange for co-credit and she agrees, knowing it’s her best shot at making a safer world for the magicless. After weeks of blazing chemistry in the lab and the bedroom, she realizes he’s no longer the man she once knew, but getting close to him puts everything at risk—if only her research would ward her traitorous heart. Photo, right: A dark haired woman in a green dress sits in a blond man's lap. For readers who enjoy: - stem based magic system - love on the brain by ali hazelwood - refuse to use first names - a witch's guide to fake dating a demon by sarah hawley - grounded fantasy - plus-sized fmc - "it was always you" - "slut!" (taylor's version) + the alchemy - do your worst by rosie danan - magical met gala - rivals with benefits - finding your power - the very secret society of irregular witches by sangu mandanna - complicated family dynamics/found family Center; photo of a brunette woman scowling at a blond man photo, right: brunette woman kissing a blond man in a lab text, left: “Cecily,” he rasps. “We started work a few minutes ago and you’re already trying to increase the tension between us.” I stare back at him, brows furrowing. “Do you have a weird lab kink I don’t know about? Is there something sexualized about mugwort I’m horribly naive to?” “Mugwort is probably the least sexy ingredient you could use.” He leans over the table and brushes his thumb gently over my bottom lip. I swallow. “But that,” he murmurs. “We may need to switch the order of research if you keep it up.” “Go grab the ingredient, Wolfe.” He chuckles and removes his hand from my face. My skin tingles in the wake of his touch, my pulse thrumming with magic. The itch starts again, the one I don’t know how to scratch. A simple touch has no right to feel that way. That good. Wolfe returns with the Mugwort, handing it over rather than disturb my collection of vials. “Behave,” I hiss. His eyes dance with mirth. The dimple is ever present on his cheek. “No promises.”
February 20, 2025 at 2:34 AM
haylswrites.bsky.social
A #WIPsnips from my WIP!
A screenshot of text: Genevieve stared at that curl on at his temple, at the way the light caught strands that were both somehow red and gold. Warmth glowed through her, starting in her palms before working its way through her limbs, to her chest. She flinched. It wasn’t unpleasant, but the shock of sensation meant— “Hold still,” Koen ordered. He had his eyes closed, a thumb pressed into each wrist. “You shouldn’t—you didn’t—you were just healed yourself, you have no business—” “And would you rather I leave you in agony for hours?” “Well, no, but you need to save your energy.” “Hush,” he said, and she didn’t press the finality in his tone. Her hands warmed with such heat she expected to see a fire between her knees, crackling from the ground. But the scene before her remained unchanged: blood upon the snow, melting into pink and blush waste water from cleaning her palms.
February 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
haylswrites.bsky.social
We are rewatching Parks & Rec and it is striking me that Cee & Wolfe (the leads in my #amquerying fantasy rom-com) have strong Leslie & Ben vibes. Cee even works in gov!! How did I miss it?? I could’ve been capitalizing on that comp potential!! 🤣

Pictured in character cartoon maker form below!
Curly haired brunette in a pink turtleneck biting her lip next to a smirking blond man in a black button down.
February 19, 2025 at 3:04 AM