White text on a black background. The word need is highlighted five times in green. "I need you," I whisper when I finally stop kissing him. Need feels deeper than love. Stronger. I can feel Red's laughter more than I hear it. "You don't need me," he says. Smiling. Like it's a joke. "Don't say that. I do. I need you." "Okay, okay," he says, no longer smiling. "I'm sorry. I... You know I need you, too. I quite literally wouldn't be here without you." I flush. "I... I just don't want to lose you." Red smiles. "You won't. I'm not going anywhere." I sigh and lie down with my head in his lap. The buttons of his jeans dig into my head. I don't mind. "Promise?" I mumble. "I promise." The exhaustion I've been pushing aside all day is finally threatening to overwhelm me. I let it. Red will be here when I wake up. He has to be.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #need. This word shows up a LOT in my draft. You can probably see why just by this scene… lol.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #fiction #ya #horror #notaromance #writesky #mentalillness

CeeCee flicked her tongue against Rett’s lower lip then gently bit down. Rett couldn’t help the growl that bubbled from her throat or the rush of heat that radiated from the pit of her stomach to points south.
A solid pounding rattled the bedroom door.
#KissusInterruptus
#AmWriting #NotARomance

Wuthering Heights “De Valentijns Film Van 2026”. I don’t think so.
#NotARomance

On the left is the cover of THE GOD SPEAR, book 4 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. On right is a text excerpt: "Oh, thank the Mother! I was afraid I'd killed you!" The relief in her voice and face were real and flooded Dorilian's nerves. "You almost did!"

#WritingInJanuary 18: Did my MC's love interest or platonic friend ever hurt them?

In THE SECOND STONE, Dorilian punches Hans in the face
In THE GOD SPEAR, Aubrey bonks Dorilian on the head and knocks him out. Gave him a brain bleed.

Fun stuff.
#epicfantasy #notaromance

White text on a black background. "So... why were you in our room at four am?" I ask. I don't want to get too comfortable. Just because he has a nice laugh doesn't mean he's a nice person. He did follow me around the school for a week. At least. He shrugs. "I didn't fully register the time. I just wanted to, uh, introduce myself before people started waking up. I figured the more people around, the harder it'd be to, uh, talk." "Yeah, sure. Hence why I followed you into a creepy abandoned building." "It really did sound better in my head," Red says. "I dunno what I thought was gonna happen. I'm not exactly an expert on social interaction, given that I've been invisible to everyone for the past two weeks and may or may not exist. Kinda puts a damper on one's social life." I snort despite myself.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #week. This is from Cainen’s official introduction to Red.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #notaromance

White text on a black background. "You good?" I ask. His face looks eerie, lit by only the scarlet glow of the clock. The light ripples across him in waves as he shrugs. "Nothing I can't handle. Just..." Even in the dark, I can see him flush. "I just don't want to be alone right now," he finishes. "Not in, like, a weird way, or anything, I'm just— I'm making this worse, aren't I?" "Maybe a little." I say. I laugh a little louder than I meant to. but a quick glance at Andee's bed reveals that he is still sleeping. Typical. "I have nightmares," Red says. "No worries, man. I get it." Red sighs. "Yeah. I guess. I just... He doesn't finish the thought. "Your nightmares," I ask, already anticipating that I'll regret the answer, "Are they about... your, uh, past? Like, before you... got here, I mean." Red nods. "Yeah. I haven't exactly had a stellar childhood. Which makes it so much more fucked up that I'm... like this. Who'd purposely design someone to be this screwed up? It's like building a machine you already know isn't gonna work." I shrug. "Don't ask me, man. I just live here." He smiles slightly. I look at the clock. It's not even four yet. Red catches me looking. "Sorry, I'm not great at making conversation." I flush. "Me neither, clearly."

Today’s #WIPsnips word (for real this time) is #build. I went with #building. Red is being angsty. He does this often lol.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #nightmares #notaromance

White text on a black background. I pick at my leftover burger and stare at the door. Maybe if he shows up now, I won't have to eat. I'll make up some excuse and follow him out the door and we'll wander aimlessly around the neighborhood together and talk about some empty fantasy until the sun starts setting. We could wander down to that park down the road and make out on the swing set like some fucking romance novel. But the doorbell doesn't ring, and eventually I give up on waiting and eat my burger.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #burger. Cainen is waiting on someone…

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #waiting #notaromance

White text on a black background. Andee rubs his fingertips into his eyes. "You're gonna end up on a true crime documentary," he says. "There's gonna be YouTube video essays on your murder." I snort. "Hey, at least that's a cool way to die. 'Local teen murdered by invisible man.' It'd become a Reddit story or something." Andee rolls his eyes. "Your priorities are seriously messed up," he says. "I mean, have you seen where we are?" He sighs, an admission of my victory. "Okay, fine," he says. "This is crazy, but fine. He's sleeping on your side of the room, though. And you gotta swear that I won't be implicated in your suspicious demise. The last thing I need is another murder charge." I laugh. "Deal."

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #local. This scene is from the introduction to Red, who they (rightfully) think is a creep.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #hallucination #notaromance

White text on a black background. She told me I was the only person she could be herself around. I told her she was the only person I didn't want to drop kick off a cliff, which was partially true. She was the only girl I ever confessed to. Mostly because she's the only girl I've ever liked who wasn't straight. I know, my taste in women is terrible. But hey, at least I don't have to worry about my taste in men. I told my parents I was lesbian after me and Yena started dating. They were fine with it. They always were cool like that. My parents used to tell me about how my ancestors were Quakers, all that shit about tolerance and love and how we're all God's children, blah, blah, blah. I don't really think my ancestors would actually have loved me, but they don't matter now. They're dead. My parents loved me. But they're dead, too.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #ancestor. Had to do some digging to find this one. Cainen reminisces on their (brief) love life (this scene will be ironic very soon lol).

#WIP #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #WriteSky #notaromance

That wakes Andee up. Mystery Boy doesn't seem to care. Not that I'd expect him to. He is a hallucination, after all. The lights go on. I expect Mystery Boy to vanish as soon as the light touches him, but no, he's still there. I can smell the acrid smoke as his match burns down. It's a pretty vivid hallucination. Great work, Brain. You really pulled out all the stops on this one. Now that Andee is awake, and the lights are on, most of my fear has faded. It's not real. It can't be real. It's just another aimless scheme my trauma-fried brain cooked up to scare me. The latest snuff film in my imagination's endless reels of false horrors. First Mystery Voice, now Mystery Boy. So many mysteries, I'm practically the schizo version of Scooby Doo. Next thing I know, Mr. Queen will be dressing up in ghost costumes to scare away anyone who threatens to expose his unethical business practices.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #costume. This is from the introduction to Red (aka “Mystery Boy”), which I’ve posted parts of before.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #hallucination #mentalillness #notaromance

White text on a black background. I can see it now, if only for a second. He doesn't look like an adult. He looks just like me— sixteen. Just a socially awkward, screwed up teenager trying to find his place in the world. But then his face falls back into that emotionless mask, and he's back to looking like he's old enough to drink.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #second. This is from Cainen’s first introduction to Red, who claims to be the same age as him (sixteen).

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #writesky #notaromance

White text on a black background. "You're insane. What if someone saw you?" "Saw me? Unlikely." "Fine. What if someone sees me? Talking to you? In a public bathroom? I'm trying to convince them I'm not crazy, not feed into Marsheen's victim narrative." "And how's that going for you?" "Super great." The room is spinning. I can't deal with Red right now, on top of everything else. I just want to be left alone. I'm still crying. For all his efforts, I still don't trust him nearly enough to let him see me this vulnerable. God, he has the worst timing. "Sorry you came all this way, Red, but I'm not exactly in the mood for socializing. Leave me alone." "You don't have to talk. I just wanted to... make sure you were okay. You know, like... moral support." "I'm clearly not okay. That's your cue to leave me alone." "I'd say it's the opposite." "Oh, piss off. You think you're some kind of savior? You gonna fix me like Marsheen, huh?" "No. That's not what I-" "Good. Then leave." "Please, just... let me in. Let me help." "No. Try again in three to five business days." "I-" "Piss off, Red," I say, half whispering, half screaming, hoping I can't be heard from the other side of the bathroom door. Marsheen would have a field day with this. Just another psychotic delusion, right?

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #field. Cainen has a surprise conversation with Red after confronting his unethical therapist. A bit of a long one today, but hopefully you enjoy!

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction #therapy #writesky #notaromance

White text on a black background. "It's not permanent." What the Hell does that mean? "Exactly what it sounds like. Nicole is right. They're not built to last. It could be a few weeks, could be months. Sometimes longer." I'm sorry, WHAT? "He's here for you to adjust. Once the adjustment period is over, there you go. Your free trial of true love has expired." Are you aware of how completely and utterly fucked up you sound? "Trust me, I'm acutely aware. But think about it. He isn't real. What would you do, marry him? Settle down and have 2.5 invisible kids, or something?"

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #trial. Cainen learns an unsettling truth about Red.

#wip #writing #trans #queer #ya #fiction #horror #soulmate #notaromance #mentalillness

White text on a black background. "Get some rest," Red whispers. "T'll be here." "Don't let me..." I can't finish. I'm not sure how to finish. The message is clear. I hope. He kisses the back of my head. I can feel the energy draining out of me like the color being bleached out of a building by the sun. I'm a crumbling ruin, a victim of centuries of exposure to the elements all occurring in the blink of an eye. Everything falling down all at once. "I won't. It's okay. You're safe." And I, like the idiot I am, believe him.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #safe. A lot of options for it, but I went with this snippet from the end of part two.

#wip #writing #horror #ya #notaromance #queer #trans #writesky #supernatural #novel

White text on a black background. The word swift is highlighted in green. "Where's Red?" Andee looks around and shrugs. "Hell if I know. Maybe he went out looking for you." My breathing is swift and shallow. I'm dizzy. The room is spinning. Come on, Panic Attack, piss off. Not now. Later. There'll be time to panic after I find Red. I push back out the door. "Cain, wait, you shouldn't — he'll be back. They can't see him. You shouldn't go out after... "I have to find him, Andee." "What if he comes back while you're gone? What if you get caught? It's too—" I open the door. Red is standing there.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #swift. Only one usage of it. I did use “quick” a lot, though. Cainen is looking for Red.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #horror #notaromance #writesky #fiction

Title of a slideshow labeled Seeing Red by A.C. Wolfe. There are notes in the margins. One has an arrow pointing at the word Red that says this is the hallucination boyfriend's name. get it, seeing red. be he's a - yeah nevermind. just trust me, it is a work of literary genius. It was my hairdresser's idea. Below that it says (btw it’s a YA psychological horror). Another arrow pointing to my name is captioned “that’s me. The author!!!”

The “real” summary is crossed out by the words BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. WHO CARES??? In a spray paint font. The unhinged summary is: mentally unstable traumatized trans man falls in love with his abusive hallucination boyfriend that may of may not also be eal who exists because of a voice in their head that may or may not be an immortal parasite who gives them superpowers. Then he gets more traumatized, breaks up with boyfriend, starts dating their roommate, and then breaks up with roommate to get back together his with imaginary boyfriend after Forgiving him For literal psychological warfare. Aftet that, all hell breaks loose (metaphorically). Plot twists abound, suffeting is plentiful. And of course, there's an open ending because the author (me) is a coward who hates making decisions and couldn't decide between a happy ending and a tragedy.

Comparables (but they get increasingly unhinged). Dead house - Dawn Kurtagich (the original inspiration) Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi (gay/trans/mentally ill protagonist Venom: let there be carnage - Andy Serkis (✨sarcastic immortal parasites✨) The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger (main character is a pathetic sad teenager in a boarding school) Sundays at Tiffany’s - James Patterson and We Were Liars - E. Lockhart (PRO TIP: DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND) Supernatural (television series) (me when there’s an antagonist with yellow eyes)

Characters (and their red flags) Cainen 1. Repeatedly makes bad decisions, despite constant warnings. 2. Fear of abandonment. And also commitment. 3. Takes life advice from the voice in his head. Red 1. He is a hallucination. 2. His name is Red. 3. Anger issues 4. violent, controlling, manipulative 5. stalker 6. Consistently deadnames Cainen 7. The list just keeps going Andee 1. He is perfect in every way possible. Zeto red Flags. Just a silly Funny guy. Nothing weird here at all. 2. Well, he did try to kill his dad. But that guy deserved it, so it's okay, Still a nice guy!!

Spent way too long putting this together, but hopefully it’s not too late to submit this for #UnhingedPit. I’ve never done a pitch before, but being unhinged about my novel is my specialty… enjoy!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)

#ya #queer #trans #h #wip #notaromance

White text on a black background. "I love you," I whisper. I found the words. It's the bandaid that cures all wounds. I can feel him smile, feel the curve of his lips as he presses them into my neck. "I love you too," he says. We make our way back to my bed in silence. I'm not sure how Andee managed to sleep through this, or how time seems to be crawling by so slowly, but I don't question it. It doesn't matter. I'll count my blessings. I don't want to fall back asleep. I don't want to wake up without him again. Certainly not this soon to Lights On. But my body seems to disagree. My mind settles on thinking about Red. What was it he said earlier? I'm not going to hurt you. Yeah, that was it. Funny. I think he already has.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #disagree. I was surprised that it only showed up once.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #ya #notaromance #horror #writesky

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #red. Here’s another snippet from earlier in the same scene. Red really knows how to make an entrance.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #horror #notaromance #hallucination #mentalillness

White text on a black background. Red in my room feels wrong. It's like two opposite sides of my life crashing into each other. Oil and water. Not supposed to mix. My room is a reminder of things that Forest Step let me forget. It's funny how that works. The one good thing Forest Step did was make me a man. Or at least make other people believe I was one— not counting Eva, of course. People see what they want to see. They don't see a girl in men's clothing. They just see the men's uniform. I might be a feminine man, I might look and sound like a twelve year old who hasn't hit puberty yet, I might be scrawny and small and weird, but I'm still a boy. There are too many reminders here. The photos on the walls. The comforter on my bed that was never an issue before. The old sketchbook on my nightstand with my old name in big letters on the front. The clothing I left in the closet. It was supposed to be the past. A different time in my life, something I'd grown away from, for better or for worse. Instead it's here and now and on display for Red.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #other. I may have posted this clip before, but it works, and I like it a lot, so here we are. Cainen is back home after a semester of boarding school.

#wip #writing #queer #trans #notaromance #fiction #ya #horror #writesky

White text on a black background. Whoever, whatever, is at the foot of my bed is not my roommate. The silhouette shows no signs of movement. Just stands there. Waiting for something. I control my breathing. Think, Cainen. What do I do? Before I can think of a response, the shadow moves, shifting its head to look at me. Shit. Did he hear me? Can he see me? I'm not sure how long the silence lasts. I'm pretty sure we're making eye contact in the dark, each studying the other. With slow and methodical movements, I move my hand down towards the mirror hidden in my pants pocket. Never far away. I'm used to keeping it within arm's reach, used to the sleight of hand necessary to grab it before anyone sees it. Here, it serves as an advantage. Just as I'm about to move, the shadow beats me to it. There's a hiss and a flare of light— and then a match glows in the darkness, illuminating a familiar face. "Don't freak out." It's Mystery Boy. In my room. In my bed. To my credit, I do not, in fact, freak out. I do, however, say a little too loudly: "What the fuck?" That wakes Andee up. Mystery Boy doesn't seem to care. Not that I'd expect him to. He is a hallucination, after all.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #pocket. Had a few examples but a lot of them were a bit dark so I went with this one. I think I’ve posted part of it before. This is Cainen’s introduction to Red (aka “Mystery Boy”) lol.

#wip #writing #ya #notaromance #horror #queer #trans #writesky #fiction

White text on a black background. I look away. I swallow the lump of fear in my throat. The disgust. The shame. He shifts his hand to my chin. For a moment I think he's going to kiss me again, and this time the idea sickens me. He doesn't. "You're beautiful." Somehow that's almost worse. "Uh... what?" "You're beautiful." He says it again like he's trying to make it hurt more. "I've been crying for the last hour. I'm wearing the same dirty clothes I've worn all day. I'm tired and disgusting and miserable. It's probably the worst day of my life, and that's including my parents' death. How exactly is that beautiful?" Red shrugs. "I dunno. But you are." "Um. Thanks."

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #worst. I enjoy this scene a lot, because as a writer I am required to be a little bit evil.

(This will not be the worst day of his life by the end of the novel. Probably the second worst, though.)

#wip #writing #queer #trans #notaromance #ya #fiction #horror

White text on a black background. Red sits down in the dust a few feet away. Like he's scared to get too close. "Wright is gone, by the way," I say. It's only half a lie. I can still feel him in the edges of my vision, waiting to step in and give me an easy exit. "I know," he says. His voice is quiet. Uncertain. I want to give him a hug. But I can't. I need to keep the distance between us. For now, at least. I'm scared I'll crumble at his touch like an ancient skeleton in an Indiana Jones movie after being exposed to sunlight. We're silent. I trace circles in the dust at my feet. It feels like every time I push back a layer of dust, there's more dust underneath it. Maybe the whole building is made of dust. One push and it'11 crumble.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #half. This is after Cainen gets into a (verbal) fight with Andee. It’s been a long day. Things have been revealed. Cainen still isn’t sure how to process it.

#wip #writing #ya #queer #trans #notaromance #writesky #horror

White text on a black background. Because that's what I am. I've known it my whole life. I am ugly. I'm ugly, and I always have been. It's like a terminal illness. It's just something you live with— until you don't. My parents never really understood that. No one really does. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they'd say. You look just fine to me. You'll find someone. The last one always pissed me off. Like, sure, yeah, I'll find someone. Someone who loves me enough to look past the outside. My face is just another one of my walls. Another defense. Maybe that's why it hurt so much when Red called me beautiful. Just another wall he's kicked down. Like it's a challenge. How many of my defenses is he going to break down before there's nothing left? But I'm being stupid. I can never just take a compliment. There's always gotta be some hidden meaning, some ulterior motive. Everything is an attack. It's exhausting.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #outside. Cainen doesn’t know how to take a compliment. I’m not sure if I’ve posted part of this before, but I know I posted a snippet right before it. He’s ruminating while in the shower (he does that a lot).

#wip #writing #mentalillness #ugly #notaromance #ya

White text on a black background. "Holy shit, Cain. What'd you do?" I hug my arms closer to my chest. "None of your business." "Give it to me." He sounds too much like Red. "What?" "Whatever you used. Give it to me." He holds out his hand. I take a step back, my spine bumping into the door of the bathroom. Nowhere to go. "Absolutely fucking not." I stand up, moving towards my bed— and the door— before he gets the chance to corner me. "Cain, you can't—" "And why not, Andee? You have your bad habits, I have mine. Why should you care?" "Just because Red doesn't care about you doesn't mean I'm gonna sit back and let you kill yourself. There's a difference between puking up your dinner and carving words on your arm, Cain. Come on. Surely you can see that." "No. No, I don't see it. And Red does care." "Sure he does. Has he even tried to stop you?" "Clem, what're you— Andee? What's going on?" Red asks. I wince, hoping that I can slip between the cracks of the floor and vanish beneath their feet. Great timing, Red. I wish I could tell him to shut up and leave. His intervention is only gonna make things worse.

The #WIPsnips word for today is #nowhere. Finally found one that wasn’t too spoilery. Content warning for mention of self harm and disordered eating (bulimia). Cainen and Andee (and Red) get into an argument.

#wip #writing #ya #horror #notaromance #queer #trans #mentalillness #writesky

White text on a black background. I want him so badly that it hurts. Deep in my chest there's a pit, a great gaping hole that I want him to fill. No, that I need him to fill. It still won't make him real. Shut up. I look down at the floor. At the marks we've left in the dust. The faint but unmistakable imprint of his tennis shoes. "I love you." The words come out like a croak. They had to fight their way through my body to come out of my mouth.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #dust. Had a few good options but went with this one.

#wip #writing #notaromance #queer #trans #ya #horror #fiction

Short one today (to avoid spoilers) but here’s a mention of #silver.

#writingprompt #wip #writing #queer #trans #notaromance #mirror #colors #writesky #ya #horror

Finally getting to this— yesterday was busier than I expected. This is the best example of #pink I have lol. This is their first kiss. Far from their last. And also the first of a long list of red flags.

#writingprompt #wip #kiss #notaromance #queer #trans #horror #writing #fiction

Blue is a less significant color, but still important. I’m currently debating making it more important lol. Anyway, Red’s eyes are #blue. Also should mention: content warning for implied csa/assault.

#wip #writing #writingprompt #queer #trans #ya #notaromance #sa #horror

White text on a black background. The word hope is highlighted twice in green. "I didn't know you could see me. It was just a guess. I had to- I had to be sure." "Congrats. You guessed right," I say. It comes out harsher than I meant it to. He flinches. I'm surprised when I feel a little flicker of guilt. "Well, maybe less of a guess and more of a— a hope." "A hope?" I raise my eyebrows. He keeps sending my brain scrambling back and forth between trust and suspicion. The minute I decide he might be telling the truth, he says something that makes me want to run in the opposite direction. "Just... ah, hell, I don't know." For a moment I'm worried that he's going to keep going, and dig his grave even deeper. He doesn't. He just falls into an uneasy silence.

Today’s #WIPsnips word is #faith, but surprisingly I didn’t have any, so I went with #hope instead. Featuring Red being his usual creepy self.

#wip #writing #ya #queer #fiction #notaromance #horror #WriteSky

Orange is also a prominent color in my novel. There’s a lot of color symbolism in general, lol. For context, my main character’s name is Cainen, but his deadname is Clementine.

#orange #writing #writingprompt #color #wip #notaromance #ya #fiction #queer #trans