✍🏼Winter Simpson
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winterandwords.social
✍🏼Winter Simpson
@winterandwords.social
710 followers 400 following 2.1K posts
🏳️‍🌈 Writing character-driven queer fiction in altered states and liminal spaces

📚 Stories, blog and community at https://patreon.com/winterandwords

💻 Links to everything at https://winterandwords.social
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winterandwords.social
📝 I LOVE that where I found today's word gave me an excuse to make an indulgently psychedelic graphic with my snippet. The place being described is a futuristic drug dealer's office in the back room of a club.

✂️ from Miles From Morning

🏷️ #WIPSnips #QueerWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Text: She’s fully committed to the vibe, with an operating table instead of a couch in her office. It’s sprayed with coloured stripes that glow under blacklight, but it’s definitely still an operating table. ID tag: Miles From Morning / @winterandwords Image: Stripes of coloured paint glowing under blacklight
February 11, 2026 at 5:42 PM
winterandwords.social
My January 2026 reading wrap-up from @thestorygraph.com 👀

I'm also reading a wonderful duology written by a friend. It isn't published yet, so I'm honoured to get my hands on it and I'm so looking forward to it finding its way out into the world.

🏷️ #StoryGraph #ReadingCommunity #BookSky
Reading wrap-up graphic for winterandwords from The StoryGraph app. Data: 8 books, 484 pages, 77.65 hours, 4.38 average rating, 392 pages average length, 7 days average time to finish, 75% audio, 25% digital. Highest rated reads: Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch, We Love You Bunny by Mona Awad, Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Cover and rating collage of winterandwords' January reads from The StoryGraph app. Countdown to Midnight by LT Vargus and Tim McBain 4.5 stars, Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid 5 stars, Couple Killer by LT Vargus and Tim McBain 4.25 stars, We Love You Bunny by Mona Awad 5 stars, Forgive and Forget by Swantje Oppermann 3.25 stars, Behind a Locked Door by Sarah A Denzil 3.5 stars, Him by JD Kirk 4.5 stars, Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch 5 stars
February 2, 2026 at 2:53 PM
winterandwords.social
✍🏼 Weekend WIP snippet on Patreon from Darwin's Cliff! It's members only, but you're very welcome to join for free and I'd love to see you there.

🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/149338...

🏷️ #QueerWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Patreon
Photo of fork lightning striking in a dark puple night sky above silhouetted trees. The WIP snippet text says, "The last stubborn leaves clung desperately to the trees against tearing November winds when Darwin Eaves arrived home for the first time in almost a decade." Additional text says, "WIP Snippet: Darwin's Cliff (Storm)" Below that is a Patreon logo with Winter Simpson next to it, and the URL patreon.com/winterandwords.
January 31, 2026 at 1:20 PM
winterandwords.social
Wake up, babe! New life-altering trauma just dropped.

Today's WIP snippet from Miles From Morning is a(nother) reason why MC Rafe is an absolute disaster. It's members-only, but there's a free membership tier that you're welcome to join.

🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/148603...

🏷️ #QueerWriters #WriteSky
Silver-coloured wires looped against a black background. The text says, "WIP Snippet: Miles From Morning (Wires)". Below is a Patreon logo with the text Winter Simpson and the URL patreon.com/winterandwords
January 24, 2026 at 12:09 PM
winterandwords.social
It snew! Only a little bit, but it's so pretty 😍❄️

🏷️ #Photography #PhotoDiary
January 5, 2026 at 12:41 PM
winterandwords.social
🥳 My first Patreon post of 2026! It's totally public, so you're welcome to dive in for WIP updates and plans, what's coming up on my Patreon, and membership info (including a totally free tier)

🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/146788...

🏷️ #QueerWriters #LGBTQWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Patreon
Photo of a grey cat looking at his reflection in a window. The text says, "Happy new year! Looking forward to 2026" and there's a Patreon logo with Winter Simpson next to it and my Patreon URL, patreon.com/winterandwords
January 4, 2026 at 1:02 PM
winterandwords.social
Happy #Caturday from Silver who thinks you deserve some extra time in bed today.

🏷️ #CatsOfBluesky
A very relaxed grey cat lying on his side with his paw curled in front of him
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
winterandwords.social
This year's words so far have both led me to sad places in Darwin's Cliff. There will be a happy snippet soon, I hope!

🏷️ #WIPSnips (resolution) #QueerWriters #LGBTQWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
A photo of a country lane with tall trees on each side. The overlaid text says "“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll be fine.” Then, after a sharp breath of resolution, he added, “I am fine.” And I knew he wasn’t just talking about his walk that evening. He was doing his best to convince himself of something he knew would never be true again." and there's a small tag saying "Darwin's Cliff / winterandwords" at the bottom.
January 2, 2026 at 5:43 PM
winterandwords.social
Happy new year, writer friends!

I tried to find a happier snippet for 'begin' but I didn't have any luck with that. Instead, here's Tobie experiencing some missing person grief in Darwin's Cliff. Sorry 🙈

🏷️ #WIPSnips #QueerWriters #LGBTQWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Photograph of a woman's face and shoulders in profile with long brown hair covering her features. The background is a field at golden hour and the overlaid text says, "Everywhere I went for months, I saw Amber’s face. She smiled from noticeboards and windows, on the front pages of newspapers in the beginning and then occasionally from the inner pages later on. Photos flashed up on TV news segments with serious-looking police officers and anxious pleas from her parents." There's a tag in the bottom right of the image that says, "Darwin's Cliff / winterandwords"
January 1, 2026 at 2:01 PM
winterandwords.social
Is it weird that I woke up this morning excited for my StoryGraph 2025 reading wrap-up? Also, because @thestorygraph.com is awesome, I can share my full wrap-up stats page!

🔗 app.thestorygraph.com/wrap-up/2025...

🏷️ #AmReading #StoryGraph #BookSky
StoryGraph 2025 reading wrap-up for winterandwords StoryGraph 2025 book cover collage for winterandwords
January 1, 2026 at 1:33 PM
winterandwords.social
You know those moments when the light hits just right and the most mundane view ever becomes kind of beautiful? That. I love that.

🏷️ #PhotoDiary #Photography
A photo of a garden with potted plants and an oil tank viewed through a window. There are reflections of the kitchen overlaid on the outdoor scene.
December 31, 2025 at 4:39 PM
winterandwords.social
TFW the bit at the bottom of the stairs accidentally looks very Liminal Space™️ with low-key cyberpunk vibes. I don't think my stairlift has ever looked so sinister and I'm totally here for it.

Also, this is why colour changing smart bulbs are a good idea. MOOD LIGHTING.

🏷️ #PhotoDiary #Photography
A front door with a folded-up stairlift seat next to it. The lighting is red, cyan and yellow.
December 31, 2025 at 11:32 AM
winterandwords.social
🌃 This is from Miles From Morning and it feels very end-of-year-ish.

🏷️ #WIPSnips (prompt: end) #QueerWriters #LGBTQWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Photo of a man in dark clothes and sunglasses standing in run-down building with dramatic pink, purple and blue cyberpunk style lighting. The text says, "And something about all of this feels like the ends of a line being turned towards each other to form a circle, knitting together like a broken bone," and there's a tag at the bottom saying, "from Miles From Morning / winterandwords."
December 31, 2025 at 10:09 AM
winterandwords.social
🎄 Decorations and big questions from Darwin's Cliff...

🏷️ #QueerWriters (line share day: decoration) #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Photo of Christmas tree branches with out of focus lights in the background. The text says "The day we took the decorations down, I asked Gran, “Do you believe in god?” “That’s a big question, sweetheart,” she said. “And I don’t think I have a big enough answer," and a small tag in the corner says "Darwin's Cliff / winterandwords".
December 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
winterandwords.social
Happy #Caturday from Silver, who is having a fascinating conversation with his reflection.

🏷️ #CatsOfBluesky
A grey cat facing his reflection in a window
December 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
winterandwords.social
Here's some sweet tea from Darwin's Cliff 🍵

🏷️ #QueerWriters (line share day: sweet) #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Photo of a girl with long hair in a golden wheat field at sunset. The text says, "The chill of February whispered through old wooden window frames. I made big mugs of sweet tea in the hope of bringing some warmth into a house that held cold in its bones despite the heat from cast iron radiators" with a tag saying "Darwin's Cliff / winterandwords"
December 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
winterandwords.social
I just posted my first audio reading on my Patreon!! It's members-only, but you can join for free if you want to listen (and get access to my blog, short fiction, and all my novel-length things)

🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/145146...

🏷️ #QueerWriters #LGBTQWriters #Patreon #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Audio wave graphic with a photo of a car under streetlights and night and the text "Audio reading: November Breaks, chapter 09. Winter Simpson. patreon.com/winterandwords"
December 14, 2025 at 1:33 PM
winterandwords.social
Happy #Caturday from Silver who is absolutely remorseless after 'accidentally' knocking one of my plants onto the floor 🙃

🏷️ #CatsOfBluesky
A grey cat sitting on a windowsill next to a scattering of soil from the plant pot he knocked into the floor.
December 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
winterandwords.social
Good morning, Bluesky! If you don't want to get out of bed this morning, please know that Shadow is on your side 😴🐶

🏷️ #DogsOfBluesky #GoodMorning
A black greyhound who has just been woken up and looks tired and confused. Her ears are pointing in different directions.
December 4, 2025 at 7:55 AM
winterandwords.social
I'm having way too much fun making little graphics for my tag game posts. Why didn't I start doing this earlier?

This snip is from 🌃Miles From Morning. Introducing Agent O'Reilly of the Authority, a force to be reckoned with and a total trip to write.

🏷️ #WIPSnips (percent) #WriteSky #QueerWriters
Text: “Good morning, people. I’m Agent Laeticia O’Reilly, Grade Four, Recruitment and Training. That’s Agent O’Reilly to you on a good day, and Sir the other ninety-nine point nine percent of the time. Got that?” On a cyberpunk-style pink, purple and blue background. Addition text tag: from Miles From Morning / winterandwords
December 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
winterandwords.social
I'm a little bit obsessed with @thestorygraph.com's monthly reading wrap-up graphics. Here are mine from November 😍

If you're a StoryGraph person too and you want to be friends there, you can find me at app.thestorygraph.com/profile/wint... 📚

🏷️ #BookSky #ReadingCommunity #StoryGraph
A graphic showing my November 2025 reading wrap-up on The StoryGraph. Stats are: 7 books, 676 pages read, 52.52 hours listened, 4.89 average rating. Average book length was 347 pages and average time to finish was 10 days. Books were 100% fiction across these genres: literary, contemporary, mystery, thriller, and science fiction. My reading was 71% audio and 29% digital. My books and their ratings for November 2025 on StoryGraph. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, 5 stars. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 5 stars. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, 5 stars. Normal People by Sally Rooney, 5 stars. Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, 5 stars. Night on Fire by L T Vargus and Tim McBain, 4.75 stars. Dark Passage by L T Vargus and Tim McBain, 4.5 stars.
December 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
winterandwords.social
I didn't have snack anywhere in either of my WIPs, so I cheated and went with food in 🌃Miles From Morning.

This is from one of the many (many) situations where Rafe is really not having a good time 🙈

🏷️ #QueerWriters (line share day) #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
A man in near-silhouette standing in a derelict-looking corridor with dramatic lighting in shades of pink, purple and blue. The text main text says, "It's an hour until someone opens the door just wide enough to put some food through, but not wide enough for me to take advantage of it. I know because I tried, twice so far, and it got me nothing but a warning the first time and broken nose the second." There's a small tag that says, "from Miles From Morning / winterandwords."
November 30, 2025 at 8:35 PM
winterandwords.social
I just published my first members-only short fiction post on Patreon. Why was that so anxiety-inducing? 😅

You're very welcome to join my Patreon for free (no paywalls!) with the option to pay if you'd like to.

🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/144316...

🏷️ #QueerWriters #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Patreon
Promo image for Vine, short fiction by Winter Simpson at winter and words on Patreon. An image of leaves in autumn colours is blurred. The preview text says, "In a brief portrait of regret, something that might once have been love spirals towards an inevitable end with the pulling up of roots."
November 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
winterandwords.social
Why did I never think to share these beautiful monthy reading wrap-up graphics from @thestorygraph.com on here before? Anyway, here's October's 💖

Ratings are based purely on my own subjective enjoyment and yes, I basically listen to audiobooks non-stop 🎧📚

🏷️ #Reading #BookSky #StoryGraph
A graphic from The StoryGraph showing winterandwords' reading wrap-up statistics from October 2025. 11 books, 874 pages read, 77.8 hours listened, 4.36 average rating. Highest rated reads were Bram Stoker's Dracula, Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. All books weere fiction. The average length was 321 pages and average time to finish was 6 days. Genres read were thriller, contemporary, classics, horror, and literary, with 73% audiobooks and 27% ebooks. A collage of book covers with ratings from winterandwords' October 2025 reading wrap-up on StoryGraph. Twisted Lies by Ana Huang, rated 3.5 stars. Turn of the Screw by Henry James, rated 4 stars. Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver, rated 5 stars. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, rated 4.5 stars. Dracula by Bram Stoker, rated 5 stars. The Dream Wedding by Renita D'Silva, rated 4 stars. Margate Murders by Tom Hofland, Pascal van Hulst, and James Dobbyn, rated 4.25 stars. Flawless by Elsie Wilver, rated 4.25 stars. Into the Abyss by LT Vargus and Tim McBain, rated 4.5 stars. The Twisted Women's Book Club by Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, B.A. Paris, Caroline Kepnes, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Sarah Pekkanen, Linwood Barclay, Naomi Hirahara, K. J. Howe, Robert Dugoni, Alison Gaylin, Heather Gudenkauf, Shari Lapena, Clare Mackintosh, and Stacy Willingham, rated 4.25 stars.
November 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
winterandwords.social
Rafe from 🌃Miles From Morning is fucked up with a capital FU. Yes, that's a gun in his pocket, and no, he's not pleased to see you. He's made of scars, anger, unfortunate circumstances, and questionable decision-making. And he doesn't trust anyone, not even himself.

🏷️ #LGBTQWriteAThon (MC intro)
A run-down looking corridor, grimy and rough, lit with rays of light coming through broken windows. A man with short dark hair stands in the middle weating baggy trousers, a hoodie, and sunglasses. The lighting is shades of pink, blue and purple for cyberpunk vibes.
October 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM