Monissa
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islandhopping.bsky.social
Monissa
@islandhopping.bsky.social
43 followers 43 following 290 posts
Takes lots of photos
Writes lots of fantasy
Tries to write other stuff. Not very successfully
Grows killer plants
Autistic
Cranky.

www.monissa.com
Note: Some posts auto-post from Mastodon & the formatting/threading is odd. I'm learning to do it better.
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islandhopping.bsky.social
Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · Feb 14
A thread of islands.

#Tasmania is actually a group of islands. The name refers to both the whole group and the big island in the middle. (To differentiate, you can say "mainland Tasmania" or "the big island in the middle".).

Photo: near Launceston airport, September 2017
#LotsOfIslands #FromAPlane
Looking from a plane (you can see the end of the wing in the top right corner) at the land near the airport. The near land is green-tinged brown but towards the back it's a bright green. There are rows of trees towards the back and on the left, marking the edges of paddocks. A rover meanders through the centre. Given the proximity to the airport, I think it's the South Esk. On the other side of the river are a group of buildings that looks like a farm. There are more buildings over the back, that might be a town but too far away to make out which one. Across the horizon are a line of bluish-flat mountains.
islandhopping.bsky.social
"Experienced? That's a double-edged compliment." I tossed my half-eaten carrot onto the road. "So what's the pay?"
"Bed and board, and a share of power in the new government."
I laughed. "I'm done with working for promises. Come back to me when you have cold hard coin to offer."

#WIPsnips "percent"
December 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
My cacti are flowering very enthusiastically, so I'll share some photos this week.

My oldest plant. I have no idea what it is*. It doesn't flower very often and the flower only lasts a day but it's spectacular enough visitors were taken to see it.

#Cacti #Bloomscrolling
A very large flower, with three rings of thick white petals and yellow pistils/stamens in the centre, emerging from a bundle of cacti balls.
December 1, 2025 at 7:43 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
I shake the cup and throw out the dice. A six falls out. A second six. And then a third.
Mohindra snorts. "We might as well all go home now."
"Rek doesn't just flirt with luck," Vachir says. "This day he takes it to a dark corner and makes it his lover."

#WIPsnips "third"
November 19, 2025 at 10:42 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Done, at 50,000 words (yes, exactly).

1.02 new WIPs created
50 stickers added to laptop lid
2.25 blocks of dark chocolate eaten
Lots of tea drunk

#Nanowrimo #Novelember
A red box marked 0 to 50000, with a black line from 0 to 50000
November 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Plod. Plod. Plod. To 42,506 words.

The end is just ahead, at the top of the light tower sticking out of the fog on the island on the other side of the rock channel.

#Nanowrimo #Novelember
A red box marked 0 to 50000, with a black line just past the 40000 mark.
November 15, 2025 at 12:41 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
She looks over us again. "You'll have to carry your own bags up the stairs."
"Stairs," Varek says, almost a sigh.
He is able to climb unaided, but his progress is slow. He stops every few steps to rest.

#WIPsnips "progress"
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
The pantry gives up a box of carrots. I select the smallest one, wash it and offer it to Meri. He throws it to the floor.
"Want Mama."
Alin picks up the offending vegetable. "I think you need to cut it into strips, and have something to dip it in."

#WIPsnips "burger"
Not much food. A lot of tea 😃
wipsnips.bsky.social ✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · 21d
The #WIPSnips word for November 11th is "burger"

Don't have a burger? Just show us another culinary delight from your WIP!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 11 - burger Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
November 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Just over 2000 words, good
OK 2500 words a day is a nice amount.
Let's be realistic "Better than yesterday's average" it is.
Ah, this is creeping up to--
NOT 3000 WORDS A DAY. Seriously.

Maybe I'm the only person who's ever done #Nanowrimo & worried about wrting too many words a day

#Novelember
A colourful bar chart with a blue and green background, and blue bars. The title is "Daily Word Count". Up the side the number run from 0 to 3500 in increments of 500. The first nine bares are about the 2500 mark. The last two are just above the 3000 mark.
November 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Ral is busy drawing. He shows me his pictures and points out the important bits. The house, the yard and the dead man asleep in the yard. He was a little disappointed when we went out last night to find the dead man gone. I was not.

#WIPsnips "little'
November 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
We had an open garden today. My mother's garden, to raise money for my sister's dog training club. Busy, busy all day, but I managed my minimum, giving me 21434 words for the month.

(Photo: my puppy-nieice Jess who showed off her scent work skills today.)

#Novelember #NaNoWriMo
A cream-coloured, very cute labrador sitting on a wooden bridge looking hopefully at someone off screen. Behind is a garden bed with bushy shrubs, one covered in tiny white flowers, and a small garden statue and watermill.
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
In the lane behind the house, the young Enforcer is sitting at the table. Head resting on his hand. He looks bored. I glance at his gameboard. Move one piece so it takes another off the board. He frowns at me. I smile. He frowns more.

#WIPSnips "movement"
November 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Day 6 brings me to 16019. I seem to have gained a thousand there.

How about a #WritingTip?
First thing in the morning, before anything else, write a sentence or two. It gets you thinking about what you're going to write, and when you do sit down, you'll have already started
#Novelember #NaNoWriMo
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
"It fell," he said, and points up at the shelf above him. A flour-covered stool tells the rest of the story.
"That is naughty," says Ral. He grabs his offending brother and pulls him over to the sink, leaving a trail of floury footprints behind them.

#WIPsnips "trail"
Some first draft-ness :)
November 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
10510 today.
And a #writingtip from the past.

😀
#Novelember #NotNaNoWriMo
Snip of a post to FB via Twitter, 24 November 2011 "If writing about real events and you're not sure exactly how/when something happened, have it take place before your characters arrive"
November 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Ral comes to sit beside me. He was kneeling on a stool, looking out the window. "They have black horses," he says.
I ruffle his hair. "That's good."

#WIPsnips "nice"
Shiny new first draft doesn't have a lot of words to choose from yet.
wipsnips.bsky.social ✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · 29d
Welcome to a new week of #WIPSnips

The word for November 3rd is "nice"

Regular reminder to put Alt Text on your graphics!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 3 - nice Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner #WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag November 3 - nice Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
November 3, 2025 at 11:58 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Eight years ago, I finished #Nanowrimo on this day, 3 November (20K, 18K & 12K words, if you're wondering). I don't recommend trying this without a lot of practice.

Today, I'm at 7783, a nice place to be. Although sometimes I miss the days when writing was easy.

#Novelember #NotNaNoWriMo
November 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Day 2 brings me to 5169. I think 2500 words a day is a nice amount. (I've had problems in the past writing want to write too much each day. (Seriously.))

Even better, MC has found a voice and a temporary motivation.

#imwritinganovelinnovember #Novelember #NotNaNoWriMo
A red box marked 0 to 50000, with a black line about 1/10 of the way along
November 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
So the first day of #November has come and gone, and I wrote 2406 works.
I'm not doing 50K this year. I've had over twenty years of doing that. Now I just want to write a first draf ms at however long it is. It's a sequel to a novella so I'm hoping it's not too long.

#NeedAHashTag #Nanowrimo
A red box marked 0 to 50000, with a black line about 1/20 of the way along
November 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Photo "memories" on that other place. Now I want to go to visit Cornwall, Meh.

Chysauster Village, on a foggy day. Best way to visit. Cut off from the rest of the world. Just me and the houses.)
Looking through a gap/door space between two stone walls (formed from blocks of white stones piled up, with plants growing on top). Beyond in a length of wall curving around to a doorway opening into an enclused space.Stones amongst the groass lead up and thorugh the doorway. Fog reaches to this rear wall and obscures the view beyond.
October 22, 2025 at 3:57 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Tom's on the fast track in London's civil service. But the great dome city is to be closed. Its population can be relocated. His boss disagrees. So to save their home, they're off to the moon to find a zombie king & his sleeping knights.
This wasn't in Tom's job description.

#DVpit #A #F #SF #MH
October 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
When Tyche sees Prince Nikolas, it's love at first sight but he's very rich & she's very poor, so it's not happening. Until she finds a basement of treasure. guarded by a centuries-dead magician. Now the wedding is on. But does she really need a prince to-- Wait, Nikolas has disappeared
#DVPit #A #F
October 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
islandhopping.bsky.social
The man who crossed the room stops in front of me. "Not so tough now, are we?"
Tough? He sent three men to subdue me, and now I'm injured and bound, he feels it's safe to gloat at me. Which of us is tough?

#WIPsnips "safe"
wipsnips.bsky.social ✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · Oct 7
The #WIPSnips word for October 7th is "safe"

Sorry to those who expect an earlier post, there was a scheduling issue.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WriteSky
#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag October 7 - safe Share a line from your WIP with the daily word for inspiration Use #WIPSnips. Don't forget Alt Text for graphics Synonyms, variation and vibes are fine. Support others on the #WIPSnips tag! Hosted by rosie-j-potter.bsky.social The image behind the text is a border that is black with stars with a light blue rectangle highlighted by a fuchsia line. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner
October 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Now I can't prove that this one has been altered but what do you think?

The Brussels International Exposition, 1910 where a large fire ripped thorugh last parts of the site. (There's a longer account of it here: history-in-your-hands.com/432postcards...)

#ModfiedPostcards #PrePhotoshop #Belgium
A printed photo lookinga broad street with large, fancy buildings along its length. The right side is mostly roofs. The near one has statues around its top. The left is mostly obscured by large smudges and blobs with inked red lines insdie, rising from the buildings and extending out over the street. In the street, people are strolling along or standing in small groups talking. (They mostly appear as black people-shaped blobs interspersed with some white people shaped blobs). Many of them are standing under the smoke-fire-blobs. Text at bottom says "Bruxelles-Exposition, L'Incendie des 14-15 Août 1910. L'Avenue des Nations"
October 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
Two postcards from Clovelly, in Devon, showing a trio of donkeys going up the steep high street. Same donkeys and men show in each picture, but look closely at the buildings, especially the ones on the left and the New Inn.

(Publisher Valentine, coloured image 1900s, B&W 1920s)
Hand-coloured photo looking from behind at a string of donkeys walkng up a stone road of steps. The bottom donkey has baskets on its back and a man standing to one side with a hand on the basked. Just in front is the middle donkey, with a man standing beside it. A short distance in front is the third donkey, turned back as if looking at the other two. On the right of the street is a row of stone-walled gardens. About halfway along is a wooden sign hanhing from a window, which says "New Inn". On the left of the streets are a row of different height buildings. The nearest has a roof over the door. A lot of ivy makes it hard to tell where it stops and it's single-storey neighbour begins.. A small sign on the second building says "Jewell's Tea & Coffee Rooms". Then a taller, wide building of multiple storeys and attic windows. The lower windows are open, the panes are catching the lights. As is a window in the side of the wall near the top. At the top is written "Hight Street, Clovelly". Black & white/sepia photo looking from behind at a string of donkeys walkng up a stone road of steps. The bottom donkey has baskets on its back and a man standing to one side with a hand on the basked. Just in front is the middle donkey, with a man standing beside it. A short distance in front is the third donkey, turned back as if looking at the other two. On the right of the street is a row of stone-walled gardens. On the left of the streets are a row of three storey buildings.The near one has a roof over the door. It's neighbour is a sparse building with an the upper storey sticking out sligihtly. Next along appears to have a wooden structure (porch or verandah) on its front. Beside this is a wooden sign hanging from a window, which says "New Inn". At the bottom is written "Hight Street, Clovelly."
October 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
islandhopping.bsky.social
The Merry Maidens, of Cornwall.
They were turned into stone for dancing on Sunday. Their pipers are in a paddock on other side of the road.

#StandingStoneSunday #LandscapePhotography
A ring of ~19 small stones standing on end in the middle of a paddock of grass. Each stone is about waist high, greyish-white and rectangular to some degree. Theere's one in the neariside that's an almost perfect rectangle, for a stone. Whereas one over the black is a blob. The others are somwhere in between. It's early in the morning so the sun is low and the stones throw long shadows into the ring. A high green hedge surrunds the paddocks (exceot for a wooden fence from the road behind me). The sky is very broad, and a pale blue.
September 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM