H.K MacLean
@hkmaclean.bsky.social
She/Her. Fiction writer with my debut dark fantasy novel currently in editing. That's a wolf friend in my profile photo. Also, I stole the name Seven from George Costanza and I'm not sorry. Insta HKMacLeanwrites
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H.K MacLean
@hkmaclean.bsky.social
· Oct 17
📌Posted: friendly, but kinda weird.
Hello, Blue Sky wanderers. I'm working on my first novel, Nightmares in Hale Harbor. It's a dark fantasy with Lovecraftian spookiness, but we can have a little coziness and found family, and perhaps some loving sarcastic sparring between friends, as a treat.
Hello, Blue Sky wanderers. I'm working on my first novel, Nightmares in Hale Harbor. It's a dark fantasy with Lovecraftian spookiness, but we can have a little coziness and found family, and perhaps some loving sarcastic sparring between friends, as a treat.
If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you’re using without explanation.
December 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you’re using without explanation.
“Knighton believed that God smote a third or more of Europe because medieval England’s most glamorous young women were becoming tournament groupies…a troupe of ladies would turn up dressed in a variety of male clothing…and mounted on chargers.”
September 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
“Knighton believed that God smote a third or more of Europe because medieval England’s most glamorous young women were becoming tournament groupies…a troupe of ladies would turn up dressed in a variety of male clothing…and mounted on chargers.”
Where I live, we measure people with feet, horses with hands, and cars with horses. This is world building stranger than fiction.
August 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Where I live, we measure people with feet, horses with hands, and cars with horses. This is world building stranger than fiction.
I just realized that the chapter I wrote today is inspired by this Goosebumps favorite of mine. Monster that can't die? Check. Squishy skin? Check. Always finds its way back to you? Check. Creepy teeth? Check. Won't do your dishes? Uh, check, technically.
July 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I just realized that the chapter I wrote today is inspired by this Goosebumps favorite of mine. Monster that can't die? Check. Squishy skin? Check. Always finds its way back to you? Check. Creepy teeth? Check. Won't do your dishes? Uh, check, technically.
Reposted by H.K MacLean
Happy 15th anniversary of the peak achievement of literary criticism, to all who celebrate
July 30, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Happy 15th anniversary of the peak achievement of literary criticism, to all who celebrate
On today's episode of Writer Googling Things, it turns out that center dangly thing on a wind chime that makes the sound do is called a "center string" with a "wind catcher," "feather," or "wind sail," depending on which diagram you read. Follow me for more nearly-useless facts!
July 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
On today's episode of Writer Googling Things, it turns out that center dangly thing on a wind chime that makes the sound do is called a "center string" with a "wind catcher," "feather," or "wind sail," depending on which diagram you read. Follow me for more nearly-useless facts!
It's not my darling and I didn't kill it, but I decided a scene from my first book fits better in the second, so I gave it a new home. Writers, we can give ourselves a little grace on this. It doesn't always have to come down to love and murder ;)
June 26, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It's not my darling and I didn't kill it, but I decided a scene from my first book fits better in the second, so I gave it a new home. Writers, we can give ourselves a little grace on this. It doesn't always have to come down to love and murder ;)
Anyone else in my writing community watching The Gilded Age mostly to cheer for Peggy?
June 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Anyone else in my writing community watching The Gilded Age mostly to cheer for Peggy?
My partner and I have returned a dog named Whiskey to his home at least four times now. The last time I called the “lost dog” service number on his tag and the lady (not the owner! Not local!) says, “Oh yes. We know Whiskey. Has a record the length of my arm.”
At least he’s living his best life? 😂
At least he’s living his best life? 😂
June 13, 2025 at 3:39 AM
My partner and I have returned a dog named Whiskey to his home at least four times now. The last time I called the “lost dog” service number on his tag and the lady (not the owner! Not local!) says, “Oh yes. We know Whiskey. Has a record the length of my arm.”
At least he’s living his best life? 😂
At least he’s living his best life? 😂
"Don't tell yourself stories that make it harder."
This is advice I received during a weight lifting session, but I think this is a good one for writers, too (not to confuse the use of "stories" here lol). This is tough enough without us internalizing and rehearsing narratives of failure.
This is advice I received during a weight lifting session, but I think this is a good one for writers, too (not to confuse the use of "stories" here lol). This is tough enough without us internalizing and rehearsing narratives of failure.
May 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"Don't tell yourself stories that make it harder."
This is advice I received during a weight lifting session, but I think this is a good one for writers, too (not to confuse the use of "stories" here lol). This is tough enough without us internalizing and rehearsing narratives of failure.
This is advice I received during a weight lifting session, but I think this is a good one for writers, too (not to confuse the use of "stories" here lol). This is tough enough without us internalizing and rehearsing narratives of failure.
I understand some people are constantly present and intensely aware of their every movement, while my brain is like a night shift hotel front desk worker, grudgingly putting down her book after someone rings the bell up front three times 🫠
May 27, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I understand some people are constantly present and intensely aware of their every movement, while my brain is like a night shift hotel front desk worker, grudgingly putting down her book after someone rings the bell up front three times 🫠
May 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM
On your next date, craft a narrative using the popcorn method together! Out loud! In public! Follow me for more relationship advice.
"Who buys an entire rotisserie chicken at a food hall?"
"When you have a business meeting upstairs and you really need to make a statement."
🧵
"Who buys an entire rotisserie chicken at a food hall?"
"When you have a business meeting upstairs and you really need to make a statement."
🧵
April 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
On your next date, craft a narrative using the popcorn method together! Out loud! In public! Follow me for more relationship advice.
"Who buys an entire rotisserie chicken at a food hall?"
"When you have a business meeting upstairs and you really need to make a statement."
🧵
"Who buys an entire rotisserie chicken at a food hall?"
"When you have a business meeting upstairs and you really need to make a statement."
🧵
@paulogia.bsky.social A new mascot for Ham & AiG News? 😱
April 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
@paulogia.bsky.social A new mascot for Ham & AiG News? 😱
I don't use a thesaurus to find words, I use it to force my brain to remember the word I'm thinking of, because my brain is like the worst Pictionary player you've ever encountered, latching onto the first synonym or homonym that floats by and never, ever letting it go.
March 17, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I don't use a thesaurus to find words, I use it to force my brain to remember the word I'm thinking of, because my brain is like the worst Pictionary player you've ever encountered, latching onto the first synonym or homonym that floats by and never, ever letting it go.
“A heap o’ lemons don’t mean cake”
“A blind horse’ll turn left or right but a stubborn ass won’t budge”
“A June bug in a tin bucket will make a racket for free”
“A blind horse’ll turn left or right but a stubborn ass won’t budge”
“A June bug in a tin bucket will make a racket for free”
March 12, 2025 at 3:15 AM
“A heap o’ lemons don’t mean cake”
“A blind horse’ll turn left or right but a stubborn ass won’t budge”
“A June bug in a tin bucket will make a racket for free”
“A blind horse’ll turn left or right but a stubborn ass won’t budge”
“A June bug in a tin bucket will make a racket for free”
If you're ever feeling lonely, use this one weird trick! Click "I'm interested in this property" on any of several realty websites and get ready to bask in an absolute deluge of attention. I've been promised loyalty, passion, fulfillment, and the world within mere days.
March 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
If you're ever feeling lonely, use this one weird trick! Click "I'm interested in this property" on any of several realty websites and get ready to bask in an absolute deluge of attention. I've been promised loyalty, passion, fulfillment, and the world within mere days.
Today on Etymology Things, the earliest printed use of the phrase "Hells Bells" is from an 1840 story called The Era, though it didn't reach common use until the 1930s. Since my project is speculative and I love procrastinating, I can invent a new, older origin for it! A hell-related fable? 🤔
February 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Today on Etymology Things, the earliest printed use of the phrase "Hells Bells" is from an 1840 story called The Era, though it didn't reach common use until the 1930s. Since my project is speculative and I love procrastinating, I can invent a new, older origin for it! A hell-related fable? 🤔
Heyyyy who convinced her partner to visit our local library for a book he wanted today? It’s meeee! Our library is a precious treasure ✨ ❤️✨ and I will stand for no less! Also book checkout tech has gotten WILD. Put the book on the magic box - look! The screen knows the book! Scan thine card! Depart!
January 31, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Heyyyy who convinced her partner to visit our local library for a book he wanted today? It’s meeee! Our library is a precious treasure ✨ ❤️✨ and I will stand for no less! Also book checkout tech has gotten WILD. Put the book on the magic box - look! The screen knows the book! Scan thine card! Depart!
I find myself looking up etymology often, writing a (fictional) era generally representative of 1900/1910s advancement. "Propelling" works (latin origin). "Hijack" doesn't (1920s). Apparently "Flunkie" is a pretty old word, who knew?
January 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I find myself looking up etymology often, writing a (fictional) era generally representative of 1900/1910s advancement. "Propelling" works (latin origin). "Hijack" doesn't (1920s). Apparently "Flunkie" is a pretty old word, who knew?
I've been playing a lot of Baldur's Gate recently, and I'm loving the Worf vibes I'm getting from second & third act Lae'zel, like she's very supportive of our party members now but voices that support with the exact same Dramatic Angry Warrior Snarl.
January 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I've been playing a lot of Baldur's Gate recently, and I'm loving the Worf vibes I'm getting from second & third act Lae'zel, like she's very supportive of our party members now but voices that support with the exact same Dramatic Angry Warrior Snarl.
I hope those eggs are decadent. Savor them. And while the world burns down around you, admire your squeaky clean hands, unsullied by the indignity of compromise. All will be well. You're the main character, after all!
January 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I hope those eggs are decadent. Savor them. And while the world burns down around you, admire your squeaky clean hands, unsullied by the indignity of compromise. All will be well. You're the main character, after all!
Age yourself with a movie you saw in the theater as a kid!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ccI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ccI...
December 13, 2024 at 4:21 AM
Age yourself with a movie you saw in the theater as a kid!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ccI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ccI...
Berserk: Come for the Found Family, stay for the, uh, epic apocalyptic tragedy?
December 7, 2024 at 4:39 AM
Berserk: Come for the Found Family, stay for the, uh, epic apocalyptic tragedy?
Just saw a marked van from my public library drive by and yelled THE LIBRARY! in the same way you would react to the ice cream truck and now I'm kinda bummed that there isn't a jingle-playing Library Truck that comes by on irregular afternoons to tempt me with books.
November 15, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Just saw a marked van from my public library drive by and yelled THE LIBRARY! in the same way you would react to the ice cream truck and now I'm kinda bummed that there isn't a jingle-playing Library Truck that comes by on irregular afternoons to tempt me with books.