I tend to write a lot of stories with tech levels of the late 1800s/early 1900s, so mine are usually trigger happy. But there was a stabby prompt once back on Twitter, and I realized I didn't have anything but wanted to contribute, and that's how this story came about.

Trees, trees, trees! I've had two jobs where I got to hug trees (okay, technically I was measuring them, but the process of getting the tape around a big tree is basically a hug). I'll still stop to give a tree a hug if it catches my eye.

#CampRevPit Hey everyone! I'm Ellen, zookeeper by day, writer of secondary world fantasy by night. My main WIP started because I wanted to write something stabby ("no plot, just stabs", hence the #JustStabsWIP title), but it ended up being a story about doing the good you can... and also stabbing.

Heyo, I'm Ellen! My WIP, #JustStabsWIP, is the story of a stabby sapphic disaster who has to be kidnapped on her own quest, but it's actually oddly heartfelt. Last summer when I went camping I brought Furies of Calderon, but I think in general any good adventure is the right way to go.

I also held on to the smaller tank I bought when she was younger, so that way I can take it to someone's house, rather than needing to haul her 50 gallon somewhere. It's not ideal housing for her, but it's fine for short term. I've also left her for one-night trips without issue.

When I had roommates I'd ask them to make sure she was fed. I've also been able to ask coworkers and family to watch her. She's pretty low maintenance, so I usually don't worry if her tank gets cleaned while I'm gone, just that she gets food and has water, and that her lights are functioning.

Let's go!

A golden retriever lying calmly on a bed with his head raised.

A bearded dragon (lizard with a wide face and spiky chin) giving a slight side eye to the camera inside her tank.

I’ve got two, my wonderful dog, Gideon, and, like any respectable fantasy author, my own personal dragon, Audrey. I’ve also got a gajillion animals at work, because I’m a zookeeper, but they’re not pets. #RevPets

That's true, too. I wonder if part of it is that it's really hard to get beyond the informed attribute part of it. Like most of the time when a character is good at something creative, you just have to accept that they are, because it's really hard to show their skill.

Also, when we were younger my cousin did a spoonful of vinegar, which… worked. But also… god no.

I did it wrong and water went into my nasal cavity and my hiccups were gone but the cure was worse than the disease.

I can mess around with what I’ve written that day, but once the day is done that writing is locked and I cannot touch it until the draft is done. I am very much a momentum writer, so my most important thing is to keep moving.

I find it interesting that I enjoy listening to music and singing and I could gladly listen to a musician talk about their music, but I don't really connect with musically-inclined characters in books. Like I weirdly don't care any time the main character plays an instrument.

It seems probable. Which is fine, because Rin doesn't like heights, anyway.

Since not even Rin knows how many knives she has on her, and considering the story already features an extended disarming scene (there's more beyond the snippet), I think it's safe to assume the what and the how much trouble, especially because Rin's world doesn't have metal detectors. #JustStabsWIP

I love this!

#RevPitWaiting I like The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman.

Also, yes, it's a time waster, but tvtropes.org can help me think about what tropes I want or don't want to use, or how I want to play around with them. Plus, I once wrote a book based off five random tropes I rolled.

#RevPitWaiting I'm definitely more on the pantser side of the spectrum. I have some idea of where I need to go, but not all the parts, and the idea of outlining beforehand sounds horribly limiting. I'm also a momentum writer, so once I can't take a break, and no editing as I go.

#RevPitWaiting Best I can do is the map I made. It's nothing too fancy, but I'm still proud.

I was 13 when I first read Game of Thrones, with full parental awareness. I honestly don't even remember how I reacted to the sex scenes. Anyway, I turned out just fine. It's almost like my parents knew that I could self-regulate my media.

I got it! I hummed a few bars of the music, and then checked the alt. Also, it looks super cool.

I can’t provide the exact phrase, but I understand the reference.

#RevPitWaiting I'll talk about inspiration. I'm drawn to writing turn-of-the-century analogue societies, so when there was a prompt on Twitter to share stabby snippets, I realized I didn't have anything, and I wanted to join. Hence my stabby story, which somehow became about helping however you can.

#RevPitWaiting I shared this for another chat, but it’s worth doing again.

We shall name a book The Girl of Thorns and Crows.

I’ve been saying for years that I don’t want my books to have an “of” title.

#ChaosChat Wait, wait, I forgot about THIS pun.

That struggle of trying to remember anything you actually wrote.

#ChaosChat It's not hidden, but there's this. Also, like every book, I include the words "at least six" as part of an inside joke with some friends.

#ChaosChat Rin doesn't really have anyone to prank her at the start, and as she gets to know more of the cast, most of them would be pretty mean-spirited if they pranked her. Rin might or might not see it coming, but I don't think she'd particularly care. She already doesn't care what others think.