Lester D. Crawford
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lesterdcrawford.com
Lester D. Crawford
@lesterdcrawford.com
63 followers 91 following 210 posts
Writer of stories involving dragons, mostly, that use themes of love, loyalty, friendship, kindness, acceptance, family of origin, and family of choice.

www.LesterDCrawford.com

Related Bluesky accounts:
@thedragonuniverse.com
@dracotation.com
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Lester D. Crawford @lesterdcrawford.com · Nov 20
"The Dragon Universe Utopia Origins" is available on bookseller websites. I recommend purchasing it through your local independent bookstore, or use Bookshop.org to credit your local independent bookstore.
Book cover for The Dragon Universe Utopia Origins showing a child having a picnic with a dragon in a forest
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 19 - third
The baby dragon saw something move.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky #Dragons
Text that says: The baby dragon lurched around swiveling his head to look at everything, although there wasn't much to look at — the lair was empty, except for the sleeping pallet. He stopped and spun around, swinging his head left and right. A sense of having lost something filled their connection. He resumed lurching, but again stopped and spun round. This time Hope knew something moving had attracted his attention and he was trying to see it, but each time, it was was gone. After the third time, she understood. He kept getting a glimpse of his tail, but when he spun around to look, it was gone. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
"They're coming. Hide."

I ducked behind a pile of boulders. The dragon stayed in the middle of the trail.

"I said hide."

"I am hiding."

"No you're not."

"I am too."

"Covering your head with your wings isn't hiding."

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 17 - spend
The most delightful place in the world.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: At the top of the wall, Hope paused to admire her teachers' garden. The gardens of the neighboring shanties did not compare. Multiple varieties of fruit-bearing trees, vines, and shrubs, and plots of vegetables, filled the garden. Clusters of colorful flowers occupied any extra space. Sometimes when she arrived, they weren't there. On those days, she would spend time enjoying the garden. It was the most beautiful, most peaceful, most delightful place in the world. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 17, 2025 at 6:25 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 16 - run
Danger, run or hide.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: Hope's parents disappeared when she was very young. They had taught her that if they said danger she was to reply run or hide and then do what they said. One day, they said danger. To her run or hide they responded hide, which she was good at doing -- no one found her. She hadn't understood what was happening nor did she remember much about the event. When she came out from her hiding place, she was alone and never saw her parents again. Her only link to them was the stuffed toy she had with her when she hid. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 15 - progress
Monsoon is coming, you better be prepared.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: Monsoon was coming. Hope paused to admire the artistic flair of the writhing and spiraling grey clouds displacing the orange-haze overhead. She should draw that someday, maybe with a panicking person, their hands on their face, screaming. This monsoon was on time, if you considered the average arrival day to be on time. This will be Baby's and her first monsoon in the cave lair. The experience will be a change and maybe a challenge, but she had a plan. The typical everyone running around in a panic preparing for monsoon slowed her progress as she maneuvered through the chaos to get out of the city. In the farm fields, workers scurried between the sluice gates setting them to handle the monsoon runoff. When she came to the forest, she saw something new: the animals were also doing everyone run around in a panic making their own preparations for monsoon. The indigenous animals being attuned to monsoon cycles had never occurred to her. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Lester D. Crawford
danacorn.bsky.social
This sneaked up on me! I’ll be doing the Poulsbo Kids’ Book Festival in Poulsbo, WA, on Saturday.
Poulsbo kids book festival Sat, nov. 15 North Kitsap High School Commons 11 am-3 pm Poulsbokidsbookfest.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
lesterdcrawford.com
The dragon scarfed down his meal before I even got the first forkful of mine into my mouth.

I said, "You eat as if you fear your food is going to run away."

"Sometimes, my food does run away."

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Lester D. Crawford
danasimpson.com
This free book festival was a lot of fun last time, and turnout was so big, they moved to a larger venue for this year! I'm really looking forward to doing it again. I'll be signing books (which will be available for purchase at the event.)
www.poulsbokidsbookfest.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 13 - build
The baby dragon wants to play in the monsoon, but Hope is hesitant.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky #Dragons
Text that says: Baby began entertaining himself by chasing his tail. Round and round he went more enthusiastic with each spin. He caught it, bit it, squealed, ran to Hope, and tried to climb into her lap. "Aw, did Baby bite his tail?" She got as much of the him into her lap as she could, which was mostly his head, as he wrapped the rest of him around her, which showed how long his neck and tail had grown -- they now touched. "Let me check your tail. See, it's okay. Next time you catch your tail, don't bite it." Ears drooping, he whimpered, and said, "Don't bite tail." Hope gave the baby dragon a loving hug. She had spent so much of her existence merely surviving, she hadn't actually lived. Now, she knew what living meant, what life meant. It was more than simply existing, simply surviving. For the first time, she felt she was alive. When Baby went to his corner and began building an elaborated structure using all his toys at once, Hope began the task of convincing herself to do what she needed to do. Sometimes, things she didn't want to do were things she had to do. Baby needed to experience monsoon. He craved experiencing monsoon. That experience wasn't about existing or surviving. It was about living life. He'd been patient. It was time. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 12 - shirt
Manipulating gender expression using clothing.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: Mister Emery said, "Gender is a complex continuum, but as actors, we're only interested in one aspect: gender expression -- how someone outwardly presents themselves using society's gender stereotypes. Our lessons will concentrate on using those stereotypes to manipulate people into assuming your gender to be the gender you want them to assume." He went on to discuss clothing and how privileged people dressed flamboyantly with obvious differences, such as men wearing pants and shirts while women wore frocks. In contrast, to blend into the crowd, riffraff men and women dressed alike wearing farm-dirt brown pants, shirts, and hats. However, because of the range in body shapes and sizes, the cut of people's clothing often provided gender expression cues, meaning that by using cut and padding, clothing can be made to present as masculine or feminine. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
The dragon said, "You on my back would be humiliating. I will not be subordinate to you."

"We will be Dragon and Rider. See how dragon comes first."

"We will be Dragon Rider and his jackass."

"I think you mean 'mount.'"

"Whatever."

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 10 - local
The local artesian well provides safe drinking water.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: Hope put away her daggers, washed in her makeshift washroom, ate a couple of carrots and an apple from school, a piece of dried meat from her food cache, and drank her fill of water. Later in the evening, when the only people on the street would be a few riffraff on their way to a work-shift, she would visit the local artesian well and refill her drinking water containers. For now, though, she would read the history book. According to The History of Tossal, the world used to be different. It had been friendly, safe, smart, and with social equality and rights for everyone. She jumped to the end to see how the world came to be broken, but the book ended before explaining it. Yet, this history did explain Mister Emery's play I Will Be a Symbol, which was about bringing back that different world. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 9 - picture
A talented artist, actor, musician, and dancer teaches Hope those skills. He also teaches her fighting and weapons. She wonders why he knows those things. His backstory is a mystery, even to the author.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky #Dragons
Text that says: When finished with sparing practice, the rest of their scheduled time was spent practicing drawing. When Hope finished her picture, Mister Emery said, "Excellent. What is the creature?" "He's a dragon ... like, what's in story books." "It looks like a real creature. I like how the wings are spread in a horaltic pose." "Baby doesn't always do that. Normally, he keeps them closed, folded tight to his body, but that doesn't look dramatic." He gave her a sideways glance. "Indeed." — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 8 - little
I use little a lot! I need to do a little editing.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky #Dragons
Text that says: "It's time for sleep. Go walk circles." The baby dragon tilted his head and said, "Why walk circles?" "You always walk circles, and do little marching steps, before you lie down for the night." "I do not." He snorted, went to the sleeping place, walked half a circle, stopped, stared at Hope, and plopped himself down. He wiggled. He squirmed. He fidgeted. Then he stood, walked two circles, made little marching steps, lay down facing away from Hope, and snorted again. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 7 - movement
Does a dragon look funny doing that?
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky #Dragons
Text that says: While making her way back to the cave lair, Hope ducked into a secure hiding place to concentrate on her connection with the baby dragon. He had stopped exploring the forest to do something different that she couldn't figure out without concentrating. She probed the strands that connected to his body and movements. He lay on his back with his wings spread wide and his feet sticking up. Hope whispered, "What are you doing, Baby?" "Light feel good." — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
Having a dragon is cool, except for the high-maintenance. I did not know a creature so magnificent and powerful could be so needy.

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
My dragon wanted to go flying. The problem was that I was trying to keep him hidden from the neighbors. I didn't think they were ready to know about dragons.

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 5 - trail
An editorial choice made for this story was to call trails in the forest "animal traces."
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: The trees, ferns, and bushes were abundant enough to make travel difficult had it not been for animal traces that provided paths to follow. She rarely saw the animals — they ran or hid as she approached — but she assumed there were many of them. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
As I flew with my dragon, I was having a problem.

"How do you keep bugs out of your mouth?"

The dragon said, "I keep my mouth shut." He then started spitting.

"You got bugs in your mouth, didn't you?"

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
"People are not food."

The dragon responded, "Blah, blah, blah."

"Where'd you learn blah, blah, blah?"

"Ander told me that was the best way to describe how you constantly complain."

"I wouldn't complain so much if you'd stop wanting to eat people."

#AmWriting #Dragons
November 3, 2025 at 11:17 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips November 3 - nice
A nice treat. I used to occasionally enjoy nice treats, until the price rose to a substantial percentage of an hours pay.
#AmWriting #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingScifi #WriteSky
Text that says: The aromas coming from the bakery were as wonderful as ever. When she was certain no one was coming and no one watched, she placed two polished gemstones — a blue one and a yellow one — on the stoop then returned to her hiding place. As always, Mister Aviar took the gemstones and placed a paper wrapped package on the stoop. With excitement, Hope opened the package. It contained a loaf of bread, which it always did, and something new: several individually wrapped doughnuts that were missing the hole in the middle. She took a bite of the strange doughnut. Where the hole should have been, it was filled with custard. She had had custard a few times when Mister Stirling snuck containers into her food order. Custard was a nice treat, but Hope did not considered it food — food was things like meat, vegetables, fruits, beans, and things made with grain. However, custard inside a doughnut…. — The Dragon Universe Hope (working title, work-in-progress)
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
When I finished preening the dragon, I said, "What else may I do for you?"

"You may oil me."

"Oil you? Do you squeak? I agree. Few things are more annoying than a squeaky dragon."

#AmWriting #Dragons
October 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
The dragon and I were on guard duty. Or, more precisely, with his greater powers of hearing, sight, and smell, the dragon was doing the guarding. My role was dragon attendant. But, when the sound of rustling in the bushes came, even I heard it.
#AmWriting #Dragons
October 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
#WIPSnips October 30 - spell
I was sure my manuscript did not contain the word "spell". However, in one scene, Hope teaches the baby dragon about writing letters and words. Maybe I used spell there, although that usage of the word would not relate to spells cast during spooky week.
wipsnips.bsky.social ✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · 20d
🎶 I put a spell on yooouuuu... 🎶

The #WIPSnips word for October 30th is "spell"

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
#WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag October 30 - spell 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 an orange rectangle highlighted by a purple line. An illustrated back cat is in the bottom left corner, with a few silhouettes of bats in the right corner and a spider dangling down from the top.
October 30, 2025 at 5:26 PM
lesterdcrawford.com
Riding a dragon is like riding a motorcycle. I learned to wear motorcycle-riding gear. Bugs were an incentive. The clincher, though, was the bird strike.

#AmWriting #Dragons
October 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM