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paranoiapen.bsky.social
Naomi Heartbreak
@paranoiapen.bsky.social
460 followers 450 following 440 posts
Indie writer of confused-genre books. Keen on getting to know indie writers and reading their stuff. Also teacher and parent.
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paranoiapen.bsky.social
#SummerOfStory

I write songs as well as stories. Songs are about communicating ideas that might be very abstract or ephemeral, you need to let things flow from the subconscious and that generally comes out as figurative language, multi-layered. I like to do this when writing stories too.
cfranciswrites.bsky.social Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 21
Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 21: Surprising Similes and Metaphors

Disclaimer: This is a prompt game to discuss common writing tips & techniques, not an attempt to tell people how to write.

Over to you: Do you think figurative language should be scarce and surprising?

#WritingPrompt
1. Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text "August 21st" at the top and the writing prompt "(Surprising) Similes & Metaphors" in big script letters. There's a typewriter in the corner with a note saying "TOOLS not RULES". On the right, there's a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm leaf background. Transcription: August 21st (Surprising) Similes & Metaphors What’s your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before—or do you avoid it? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you’d use it in a scene. 2: What and Why This slide is a piece of lined paper with "What?" and "Why?" highlighted at the top and middle. It explains what makes similes and metaphors effective, and why they work in writing. There is a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What? Use Similes and Metaphors sparingly, and only when they’re fresh and surprising. Skip clichés and easy comparisons; instead, choose images that make readers pause and see something familiar in a new light. Why? Because the brain constantly predicts what words will come next. A surprising comparison breaks that pattern, creating a spark of novelty. That jolt engages attention and, when tied to something concrete, lights up the reader’s sensory brain, making the image vivid, embodied, and far more likely to lodge in memory. 3: In Practice This slide looks like graph paper and is headed "Patrick Rothfuss: Painting with Words". It shows a long excerpt from the prologue of Name of the Wind, describing three kinds of silence. On the right-hand side, a brown speech bubble says: "Note: Rothfuss leans into imagery here, but it's a great example of how vivid comparisons can shape a scene." There is also a cream text box with a reader's reflection on how Rothfuss uses similes and metaphors to surprising effect. Transcription: Patrick Rothfuss: Painting with Words Note: Rothfuss leans into imagery here, but it's a great example of how vivid comparisons can shape a scene. The first time I read 'Name of the Wind', Patrick Rothfuss blew me away with his control over imagery. He constantly surprised me with his similes and metaphors. This is the prologue to the book, which shows how even something as ordinary as 'silence' can be transformed into layered, surprising images that set mood, tone, and character all at once. Extract from 'Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss 4: What do you think? This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using surprising similes and metaphors. There is a speech bubble repeating "TOOLS not RULES", a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What do you think? What’s your take on Surprising Similes & Metaphors? Do you use figurative language freely, or do you try to limit similes and metaphors to heighten their impact? Can you share a snippet where a simile or metaphor surprised you—either in your own work or in something you read? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome—just please don’t set anyone on fire!
August 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I feel like the most important thing to focus on when writing is the idea to be communicated. Is that idea coming across in the writing? This is the effect of language choices. If you just go by rules about which words you can and can't use you're focusing on the wrong thing.
cfranciswrites.bsky.social Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 19
Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 19: Filtering Words

Disclaimer: This is a prompt game to discuss common writing tips & techniques, not an attempt to tell people how to write.

Over to you: What's your take on filtering words? Do they get a bad rap, or do they weaken writing?

#WritingPrompt
1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text 'August 19th' at the top and the writing prompt 'Filtering Words' in big script letters. There is a typewriter in the corner with a note saying 'TOOLS not RULES'. On the right, there is a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm leaf background. Transcription: August 19th Filtering Words What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before — or do you avoid it? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene. 2: What & Why This slide looks like a piece of lined notebook paper with teal palm leaves in the background. Headings 'What?' and 'Why?' are taped to the page. It explains what filtering words are and why writers might avoid or use them. A blue butterfly decorates the corner. Transcription: What? Filtering Words report perception instead of letting the reader experience it: she saw, he heard, I felt, she noticed, he thought. In a close POV they insert a step between character and moment, turning "Glass shattered" into "She heard glass shatter." Used sparingly and on purpose, they can mark a realisation or limit what the character knows; used by default, they blunt immediacy and voice. Why? Removing the filter drops the reader straight into the scene. Keep a filter only when the act of noticing is the beat, when uncertainty matters ("It seemed..."), or when you need to signal a deliberate shift in distance. 3: In Practice This slide looks like a piece of graph paper with teal palm leaves in the background. On the left, a list of common filtering words appears in red. On the right, a taped paper section explains a writing challenge, with a blue butterfly decoration. Transcription: Filtering Words: Friend or Foe? Assumed Believed Could Decided Felt Heard Looked Noted Noticed Realised Saw Seemed Sounded Thought Watched Wondered I'm sure we all know how filtering words can impact our prose, so I set a challenge instead: pick one from the list, run a search through your draft, and see if you can cut or rewrite it. Did the scene gain clarity, immediacy, or tension — or lose something important? Are all filtering words equally guilty? Or do some earn their place and deserve to stay in our drafts? 4: What do you think? This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using filtering words. There's a speech bubble repeating 'TOOLS not RULES', a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What do you think? What's your take on Filtering Words? Do you keep phrases like "I saw/I felt/they noticed", or bin them? When do you choose to keep one, and when does it get in the way? Where do they tend to creep into your drafts? Does your approach change by genre or POV? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome — just please don't set anyone on fire!
August 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Haven't done any writing today. It was too hot and I got sidetracked by breaking the fridge. Now I'm watching couples therapy. You know, research...
August 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
#SummerOfStory

Text based social media is a great way to develop the skill of clear communication in as few words as possible. For fiction, it depends. The key is to communicate the idea you want to communicate using whatever works for that. I don't tend to go in for description much.
cfranciswrites.bsky.social Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 15
Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 15: Less is More

Disclaimer: This is a prompt game to discuss common writing tips & techniques, not an attempt to tell people how to write.

Over to you: Do you agree you can achieve more with fewer words? Any snippets to share where More beats Less?

#WritingPrompt
1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text "August 15th" at the top and the writing prompt "Less is More" in big script letters. There's a typewriter in the corner with a note saying "TOOLS not RULES". On the right, there's a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and it has a palm leaf background. Transcription: August 15th Less is More What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before—or do you avoid it? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene. 2: What and Why This slide is a piece of lined paper with "What?" and "Why?" highlighted at the top and middle. It explains what "Less is More" means as a writing principle and why it’s useful. There's a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What? Less is More is the principle that you can achieve greater impact with fewer—but better chosen—words. It’s an umbrella concept that covers economy of language, restraint in description, ditching unnecessary modifiers, and trusting the reader to fill in the gaps. Why? Cutting the clutter sharpens focus, increases clarity, and makes every word earn its place—giving your writing more punch and momentum. 3: In Practice This slide is a torn piece of graph paper titled "Goldilocks and the three extracts" with a subheading "Same scene, three passes: from cluttered to starved to focused." It shows three versions of the same short scene, labelled TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, and JUST RIGHT? The background is teal with palm leaves and there’s a Bluesky butterfly. Transcription: TOO MUCH "Well," she said, draping her embroidered sleeve across her face to shield her sore eyes, "that’s rather excessive." Down in the barren city, colour was a rare commodity. Prickly pears ripened on the cactus pads, turned a tender pink, and vanished into hungry hands before you could properly appreciate it. Up here, in the lap of excess, colour felt like an act of war. A multitude of flowers exploded in vibrant, regimented rows, furious reds and glorious golds on one side facing off against moody blues and triumphant purples on the other, trapping Ess in a merciless floral battle she wanted no part of. TOO LITTLE "Excessive," she said, shielding her eyes. In the city, colour was rare; prickly pears ripened, and the next moment, they were gone. Up here, colour meant war: rows of flowers, reds and golds facing off against blues and purples, boxing Ess in. JUST RIGHT? "Well," she said, throwing up her arm to shield her eyes, "that’s excessive." Down in the city, colour was a rarity. Prickly pears ripened, turned pink, and vanished into hungry hands before you could appreciate it. Up here, colour was an act of war. Flowers exploded in regimented rows, reds and golds on one side facing off against blues and purples on the other, trapping Ess in a floral battle she wanted no part of. 4: What do you think? This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using the "Less is More" principle. There’s a speech bubble repeating “TOOLS not RULES,” a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What do you think? What's your take on Less is More? Do purposeful, well-chosen words make a scene clearer and stronger, or does a bit of extra texture earn its place? How do you tell the difference between vivid detail and clutter—especially with modifiers and asides? Is 'less is more' something you write toward from the start, or a lens you apply in revision? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome—just please don’t set anyone on fire!
August 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Naomi Heartbreak
jeremycshipp.bsky.social
Hey Bluesky, could you help me spread the word about my Big Cartel shop? A sale or two would be a colossal help.

All of my creations are designed, sewn, and hand-embroidered by me. Each takes many hours to make.

jeremycreature.bigcartel.com
Here's a lovely photo of a plethora of my fabric art creatures. There's a green fur floor and a galaxy print fabric background in the pic. Here are some of the creatures: a watermelon ghost with a green body and pink face and twinkly black eyes and a little frown. There's a black crablike creature with wide set blue eyes and purple eyeshadow. She has red lips, four tentacle-like arms and an embroidered rainbow flower on her forehead. There's a black ghost bag covered with red embroidered flowers. There's a watermelon ghost bag. There are two yellow creatures. Each has three eyes, two tentacles, and mouths full of sharp teeth. There's a cosmic moth sitting on a little chair. The moth is black with a gray face, twinkly red eyes, and a wide grin full of sharp teeth. The moth is covered with hand-embroidered stars and planets of various sizes and colors.
August 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Passive voice is just a legit grammatical construction that affects the percieved power of the subject of the sentence. Like if you say, 'I was immediately pounced upon by three angry kittens.' You're keeping 'I' as the subject, but showing that those kittens had all the power. This can be useful.
cfranciswrites.bsky.social Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 14
Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 14: Active VS Passive Voice

Disclaimer: This is a prompt game to discuss common writing tips & techniques, not an attempt to tell people how to write.

Over to you: Do you favour active voice? Or is passive voice preferred in certain circumstances?

#WritingPrompt
1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text ‘August 14th’ at the top and the writing prompt ‘Passive vs Active Voice’ in big script letters. There’s a typewriter in the corner with a note saying ‘TOOLS not RULES’. On the right, there’s a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm leaf background. Transcription: August 14th Passive vs Active Voice What’s your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before – or do you avoid it? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you’d use it in a scene. 2: What and Why This slide is a piece of lined paper with ‘What?’ and ‘Why?’ highlighted at the top and middle. It explains the difference between active and passive voice and when each might be used. There’s a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What? Active Voice makes the subject perform the action (The cat knocked over the vase), while Passive Voice flips it so the subject receives the action (The vase was knocked over by the cat). Style guides and grammar apps tend to favour active voice. Why? Passive voice can make writing feel indirect or less dynamic, while active voice is usually clearer and more immediate. Still, passive voice has its place when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasise the action or recipient instead. 3: What do you think? This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using active vs passive voice. There’s a speech bubble repeating ‘TOOLS not RULES,’ a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What do you think? What’s your take on Active VS Passive Voice? Do you try to limit passive voice in your drafts? Have you ever run a search for ‘was’ and ‘had’? Or are there times when passive voice feels right for the tone, mood, or narrative voice? Is this one of those things we overthink or does it make a real impact? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome – just please don’t set anyone on fire!
August 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I think I've decided that I don't want to write the kind of children's books that get published. Now what? I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and write adult literary fiction that will never get published instead...
February 2, 2024 at 10:45 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Just spent half the day accidentally reading Samuel Pepys' diaries online. Oops. It's kind of soap-opera-ish.
January 20, 2024 at 3:48 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Relearning the power of hot water bottles in these post-central-heating times!
January 20, 2024 at 3:45 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I think I've decided to buy a new fridge-freezer. It's a big step though.
January 14, 2024 at 9:22 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I got a distinction for my most recent assignment, but I have now finally realised (after 4 modules and 8 assignments) that these grades are just random. I have given up trying to figure out why *this assignment got *that grade. It's meaningless. I haven't failed any of em - that's all that matters.
January 12, 2024 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Naomi Heartbreak
weeknightwriters.bsky.social
Good morning. If you're planning to read an indie book this weekend, we would love to hear about it! Be sure to tag the author if they're here too - it means SO much for an indie to know someone's reading
January 5, 2024 at 1:13 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
My college course started up again today, and I am unusually underprepared, and it's the dissertation module so I thought they would be like, well, go on then, write a dissertation. Turns out, nope, they are going to tell us what to do the entire time. Phew. And also, awesome.
January 8, 2024 at 10:27 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
The question is, since my daughter has decided to extend her stay at home for the holidays (from uni) to six weeks because she 'doesn't have to spend money on food', do I or do I not give her the usual monthly bit of top up money for living expenses?
#NewToThis
January 8, 2024 at 10:19 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
To what extend is our kneejerk response to 'bad' grammar and punctuation a manifestation of our privilege?
Grammar and punctuation, after all, are entirely cultural and their use changes over time. Maybe we should just get over it.
January 7, 2024 at 10:04 AM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I think it's entirely reasonable on Bluesky to get your wombats and your wombles confused...
January 6, 2024 at 2:46 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
I happened upon the book 'My Naughty Little Sister' by Dorothy Edwards (from, you know, yore) in a charity shop and bought it thinking I might read it, or the kids in my class might like it. Started reading it during boring conversation at dinner and OMG, it's awesome!! 'Wasn't she naughty?'
January 6, 2024 at 2:43 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Truth is, I'm supposed to be doing work right now...
January 5, 2024 at 12:07 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
10 Writers I've read more than 5 books by.

Joan Aiken
Diana Wynne Jones
Kate Atkinson
KM Peyton
Anne Tyler
Armistead Maupin
Carl Hiaasen
Louis Sachar
Robert B Parker
Dorothy L Sayers
wombat37.bsky.social The 37th Wombat 📚🐝 @wombat37.bsky.social · Jan 4
10 Writers I've read more than 5 books by.

Sam Pepys
Karen Maitland
Jules Verne
Miranda Kate
HG Wells
Neil Gaiman
Kate Atkinson
Philip K Dick
Anne McCaffrey
Arthur Conan Doyle

Science fiction and old stuff.
purplequeenpub.bsky.social Purple Queen Publishing 📚💜 @purplequeenpub.bsky.social · Jan 4
10 Writers I've read more than 5 books by.

Stephen King
James Herbert
Clive Barker
Raymond E Fiest
Terry Pratchett
Michael Wombat (Indie)
Mark Cassell (Indie)
Agatha Christie
Dean Koontz
Arthur C Clarke

Bit of a range there. I've also read all of Miranda Kate's books. She's excellent. 😁😁😁
January 4, 2024 at 11:49 AM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Cryptographic Tarot Flowers...
tarotflowers.com?fbclid=IwAR1...
January 4, 2024 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Naomi Heartbreak
chrisinparis.bsky.social
Nice to start the day with a feel good story.

Value of X has fallen 71% since purchase by Musk and name change from Twitter. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Value of X has fallen 71% since purchase by Musk and name change from Twitter
Mutual fund Fidelity, which owns stake in social media platform, marks down value of its shares in disclosure obtained by Axios
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2024 at 6:01 AM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Ofsted halts inspections!!
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
January 2, 2024 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Naomi Heartbreak
wombat37.bsky.social
Every so often I pop back to X because I miss what Twitter used to be, but I can never stay longer than a minute due to endless ads and people RTing awful news.
The pace might be slower here, but it's a much more pleasurable experience, like a rural village rather than an overcrowded Oxford Street.
January 1, 2024 at 10:20 AM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Any other teachers out there managed to survive till Christmas (yay!) but totally failed to think about planning things to do after that, so now, um, kind of bored?
December 29, 2023 at 7:30 PM
paranoiapen.bsky.social
Is it really naive to think that there is a purpose in pursuing a masters degree beyond getting a better paid job? Actually, I don't really care if it's naive. Fuck it.
December 27, 2023 at 4:56 PM