Tessera

Clara Weaver

@claraweaverwrites.bsky.social

sixteen different species of bird in a sundress Currently writing PLOUGHSHARES: Legends and Lattes meets Clarksons Farm as a litrpg On Beta Read Break with MACHINATIONS: eternally reincarnating dragons make their war trauma everybodys problem

605 Posts151 Follower 307 Folgt

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 1h ago

My last audiobook ended exactly one hour before my next audiobook on hold at the library released, this is clearly some form of beneficial fate! ...the only problem is the next book is Exordia by Seth Dickinson and now i must side eye the entire concept of fate.

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 12h ago

Friends, it was Star Wars Episode 1 fanfiction on the internet. #SumLuv

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 19h ago

Do you remember the first romance novel you read? Where did you get it from? 🧡 #SumLuv 🧡

Romance Writers Summer of Love #SumLuv @EllieYellu Day 5: Romance Reads. What was your introduction to romantic fiction?

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 12h ago

Brewing potions is complicated! #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

Then came the magic. They invested the gold-glass-spice-smoke mixture with Niamh’s energy. Then Joey poured in the carrier liquid blended 50-50 with Niamh’s blood. Once the whole mess was brought to a boil Kimmy sent her power coursing into the cavitation bubbles to diffuse throughout the liquid and turn it from something that would shred your insides when you drank it to something that would, hopefully, counteract Void.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 13h ago

The #WIPSnips word for August 5th is “carrier” (Sorry y’all The scheduled post failed.) #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · yesterday

...despite being 37 years old and knowing better, Stef's early affection towards Hildy is inspired in part by her father's hatred of her. She's so sick of her dad's shit that nobody who he hates can be *that* bad. (1/2) #SumLuv #litrpg #writingcommunity

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 2d ago

Meet cutes don't have to be "cute"! They are a plot device 🧡 But! Let's talk about how they DO feel about each other early on! Is it fairytale love? Is it *lust* at first sight? Hate at first sight? All?? Snips here are welcome (always welcome if you want to answer anything with a snip) 🧡 #SumLuv

Romance Writers Summer of Love #SumLuv @EllieYellu Day 3: Love at First Sight. Do they fall in love at first sight, or does it take them a little longer?

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · yesterday

First snip from Ploughshares! Dungeon Controllers aren't always this direct but are almost always huge assholes. #WIPSNIPS #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #litrpg #ploughshares

I keep my focus on the helmet. I don’t recognize it. It’s not a part of Paula’s usual gear. It’s huge and ornate with big silvery wings arcing down from the pointy top to shield your cheeks and neck in a way that would absolutely obliterate any peripheral vision. I examine it, pushing my intent forwards until there’s a familiar springy feeling behind my eyes and the Dungeon Controller floods me with information, both in the form of a little box full of text and in direct to my brain speech.
//Oh I get it you only want to talk to me when you think I’m going to be useful, how typical.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 2d ago

The #WIPSnips word for August 4th is "box" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
August 4 - box
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2d ago

Sebastian: brutally honest, amazing writing, you will weep Niamh: doesnt know which lifetime to start from, never finishes Penny: mostly honest but gets sidetracked by describing chemistry so it's real boring Thomas: lies about everything, makes you think he was even worse #AwesomeCharacters

🌱🫜 Charlie (Chelizabeth) Delta 🦊🪻@charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 2d ago

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters Your character is writing their memoirs! How honest are they being? Are they playing up their heroism and the drama? Are they leaving anything out? Why? What tone will it have? #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2d ago

Hildy meets Stef on the first night they come to town, but the more classic meet cute happens later when Stef brings a delivery up to Breakhaven farm and does not run screaming when the talking sword on the sign tells her where to park. #SumLuv #writingcommunity #litrpg

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 3d ago

"In which somebody runs into somebody else, and then something falls, and they begin to talk, and their eyes meet and they realize they are attracted to one another" —Rodger Ebert Do you have a classic one? Or one that passes 😆 Did you avoid altogether? Snips welcome! #SumLuv

Romance Writers Summer of Love #SumLuv @EllieYellu Day 3: The Meet Cute. How do you feel about it? Do you have one?

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2d ago

Theyre just so goddamn cute. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

It was barely six in the evening and the club wasn’t open yet. Thankfully the staff all knew Seb on sight, and greeted him warmly. “Mr. Starlight is in his office,” a bartender said as she sliced limes at the bar. “He said he’s expecting you.”
A little thrill ran down Sebastian’s spine. He’d thought that sensation had died when he did, the pleasurable suspicion that someone you liked might like you back. He shook his head free of the emotional cobwebs. This was a business arrangement. He was here to discuss their business arrangement.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 3d ago

Welcome to a new week of #WIPSnips! The word for August 3rd is "thrill" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
August 2 - thrill
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Brawlcats @brawlcats.bsky.social · 4d ago

airbnb I’m staying at unintentionally created the toughest punk album cover of 2027

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 3d ago

Brunhilde and Stefanie are slightly star-crossed lovers. Hildy is a high level dungeon diver, which makes her a very dangerous person. Stef is a baseline innkeeper's daughter, whose father blames a diver for the death of her mother. Pics in thread! (1/3) #SumLuv #litrpg #writingcommunity #writesky

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 4d ago

Who are you writing about? What makes a romantic story about them interesting? Note there will not be a character art or face cast prompt, so feel free to do that here if you'd like! Don't forget alt text for images if you post them. #SumLuv

Romance Writers Summer of Love #SumLuv @EllieYellu Day 2: Character Introductions. Who are your romantic leads?

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 3d ago

Having a fight with your fiance right in front of your ex? God, Sebastian, that's just messy. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

Ellis could not fail to notice the expression on his face. He reached out and touched Sebastian’s cheek. “Not here,” he said softly. “Not in front of him, obviously. But don’t I deserve to know who I’m allowing into my sanctum? You’re not the only one at risk here.”
Sebastian let out a breath. “No. I suppose not.” He leaned into Ellis’s touch and put his hands on his fiance’s hips.
“Trouble in paradise?” Corvus’s papery rasp had a cutting edge. His fangs had extended: yellowed ivory thorns in that dark, cavernous face.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 4d ago

The #WIPSnips word for August 2nd is "thorn" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
August 2 - thorn
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Dayan Skipper-Martinez @dskippermartinez.bsky.social · 5d ago

I'm writing a queer science fiction romance that takes the culture of the Sacred Band of Thebes from around 339-338 BCE... but in space and with neurally-entangled mechas. And what happens when your "other half" dies and the state asks you to replace them, or we lose the war. #SumLuv babbyyyyyy.

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 5d ago

Welcome to 🧡 Summer of Love 🧡 a daily prompt game for everyone writing in the romance genre! What's up? What are you working on? How long have you been writing? Tell us everything! Well, tell us enough 😅 I'm excited to chat with you this month. Don't forget to tag #SumLuv

Romance Writers Summer of Love #SumLuv @EllieYellu Day 1 Introductions: Welcome! Introduce yourself!

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 4d ago

Hello! Im Clara! I'm writing a cozy farming litrpg about a beefy lesbian and her short king bff! Romance is the subplot here and its not as porny as the dragons book, but I'm still having fun with it #SumLuv #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #litrpg

📚 Ellie Rhymer! Spaceships and Scoundrels 📚@ellieyellu.bsky.social · 5d ago

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 4d ago

Making sure everybody's taken care of in the pre-battle threesome. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #nsfw #Machinations1

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 6d ago

Joey accurately describes both the Owens clan and the local werewolf pack (fuck Arturo) #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

“I’m confused,” Joey Fitz said. “Why in the world do we want to stop this shit from happening? Seems to me you got the Beverly Killbillies with their panties in a twist about the supernatural and another bunch of dudes all hopped up on their own psycho-spiritual PMS and they’ve all got a bunch of guns. Seems like oneathem self-resolving problems.”

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 6d ago

The #WIPSnips word for July 31st is "twist" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 31 - twist
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 6d ago

#SummerOfStories Niamh and I agree on this one. Also i just like this line.

Kayleigh Diaz 🫜@kayleighdiaz.com · 7d ago

30 | Share your favorite line/scene you've ever written. What do you love about it? #SummerOfStories #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompt

#SummerOfStories

30. Share your favorite line/scene that you've ever written. What do you love about it?

Don't forget ALT text for images & hashtag #SummerOfStories

A #WritingPrompt game hosted by @kayleighdiaz.com

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 6d ago

Its Gary! Hey Gary! #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

Being used to something didn’t mean you necessarily enjoyed its presence. Penny kept her breathing even and her gaze relaxed when the carcasses rolled across the floor, meat and sinew bubbling and popping as Gary made a body for itself. Her empty stomach churned. The NDA made this so much harder than necessary. Penny took a step back. If she was going to vomit she needed to not do it on her summoning circle.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 7d ago

The #WIPSnips word for July 30th is "relax" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 30 - relax.
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

This thread is more important than anything I, personally, would write for #SummerOfStories and sums up what I'm seeing in my own day-job as well. AI could be a useful tool, but its overuse is weakening the things that make us human.

Kayleigh Diaz 🫜@kayleighdiaz.com · last wk.

And now it's the prompt-runner’s turn to go on a rant, only I'm going to talk about what I'm seeing with AI in education. Buckle up. You're not gonna like it... 🧵 (1/?... many lol)

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

What holds back the rampaging tides of the supernatural? Lawyers, mostly. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

“The Entente mainly exists to make sure the veil between the mundane and magical communities stays intact. All the other stuff it does comes out of a century of figuring out the best ways to keep messy supernatural infighting to a minimum so people like me can live our lives devoting thousands of hours of research and energy into spells that solve the same problems electricity solved a longass time ago.”

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · last wk.

The #WIPSnips word for July 29th is "century" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 29 - century
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

#SummerOfStories Behold the current TBR! I just finished Operation Bounce House and I just started Rest Is Resistance. #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky

Two pages of TBR in red ink, too many titles on each side to transcribe

Kayleigh Diaz 🫜@kayleighdiaz.com · last wk.

28 | What are your most recent reading recs, what are you currently reading, and/or what's on your TBR? #SummerOfStories #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompt

#SummerOfStories

28. What are your most recent reading recs, or what's burning on your TBR?

Don't forget ALT text for images & hashtag #SummerOfStories

A #WritingPrompt game hosted by @kayleighdiaz.com

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

Penny can read between the lines. To be frank, the lines also said DR MERRITT SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF REAL VIGILS so it wasnt complex. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

Penny, senior enough to have an arcane crusader but not accustomed yet to its use, highly ranked but young, was to hang back from the scrum. She was to watch for openings, give assistance where it was needed. They said that she would be their wild card, their ace in the hole. It was an important role, they said, allowing for optimum flexibility.
She was surplus to requirements and they wanted her out of the way.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · last wk.

The #WIPSnips word for July 28th is "assist" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 28 - assist
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

#SummerOfStories oh yeah, its Heron House: A team of old revolutionaries accidentally-on-purpose kill Death and the survivors have to take his job Santa Clause style to keep the world from being overrun by necromantic mutants! It'll work eventually. I hope. #writingcommunity #writesky

Kayleigh Diaz 🫜@kayleighdiaz.com · last wk.

27 | What are some ideas for stories you've had that never quite made it onto paper? Any monumentally daunting epics you'd like to tackle one day? Be as specific or vague as you'd like, vibes/crossovers and genre(s)-only welcome! 😊 #SummerOfStories #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompt

#SummerOfStories

27. What are some ideas for stories that never made it onto paper (yet)?

Don't forget ALT text for images & hashtag #SummerOfStories

A #WritingPrompt game hosted by @kayleighdiaz.com

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · last wk.

The Owens Family version of defusing a situation. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

Ezekiel answered in the same, vaguely conversational tone. “I’m aware. Judgment, right? Not justice, that wouldn’t be the same thing at all. Wouldn’t be as easy to twist to your shitty, fascist needs.”
The shitty fascist did not attempt to deny the accusations of shitty fascism.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · last wk.

Welcome to a new week of #WIPSnips! The word for July 27th is "defuse" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 27 - defuse
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

Fiber art! I crochet, spin, and weave. I dont know how to sew yet, that will be my final form. These are my current projects: a shawl, spinning flax, and weaving some coasters/scarves #SummerOfStories #FiberArt #crochet #shawl #spin #weave

Triangular shawl of varying shades of red, blue, and green (a Maryland Blue Crab colorway) striped with white

Golden flax wound around the spindle of an Ashford Kiwi 2 spinning wheel

A pink and yellow striped scarf on white warp bejng wrapped around the end bar of an HD 4 treadle loom, with the beginnings of a fuzzy blue and green scarf on the same white warp in the lower left hand corner

Kayleigh Diaz 🫜@kayleighdiaz.com · 2w ago

25 | When you juuust can't find the inspiration or motivation to write, what other creative endeavors do you turn to? Drawing, painting, knitting, photography, music? Other hobbies? #SummerOfStories #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompt

#SummerOfStories

24. What creative endeavours do you turn to when you can't find the inspiration to write?

Don't forget ALT text for images & hashtag #SummerOfStories

A #WritingPrompt game hosted by @kayleighdiaz.com

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

Don't pay too much attention to strict verb cohesion here, Thomas is a little distracted. #WIPSNIPS #urbanfantasy #writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #amwriting #writingprompts #Machinations1

John, of course, hesitated. “You’re… certain?” He asked. Thomas rolled his eyes. Because of course he’d hesitate. Absolute bombshells probably begged to get double-penetrated by him every day.

✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 2w ago

The #WIPSnips word for July 25th is "double" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

WIPSnips a bluesky writing community tag
July 25 - double
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 dark blue with gold stars with a black background with neon blue border. An illustrated caticorn holding a pencil and writing in a book with a rose behind one ear is in the lower right corner. A different version of the same illustrated caticorn is curled up writing in the lower left corner

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission @cpsc.gov · 2w ago

Every parent knows which of their kids is most likely to set the animals free.

A girl swimming with a dolphin, a manta ray, and a sea turtle in a pool. The text reads: Your kid broke the animals out of the aquarium again. You didn't know, because you were distracted on your phone. Put your phone away and watch your kids closely at the pool.

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

Its probably fine! #SFFChat

Fiery Earth Impact

ALT: Fiery Earth Impact

static.klipy.com

SFFChat@sffchat.bsky.social · 2w ago

#SFFChat Q4: Tease a reveal or mystery from one or your stories using emojis or .gifs!

Text the same as post.

A circular labyrinth symbol is superimposed over some blue-toned tropical leaves.

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

Its Tamsyn Muir. Harrow the Ninth is a masterclass. #SFFChat

SFFChat@sffchat.bsky.social · 2w ago

#SFFChat Q3: Share a favourite mystery SFF author (an author who writes in the mystery SFF subgenre), or someone who does reveals, mysteries, legends, or twists well!

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

There are two main mysteries in Ploughshares: why do dungeons open? What broke the gods? Level 45 Speardancer and level 2 Farmer Brunhilde isnt super invested in either, but the mysteries might be invested in her. #SFFChat 1/2

SFFChat@sffchat.bsky.social · 2w ago

#SFFChat Q2: Are there any in-world legends or mysteries in your work? How do your characters feel about them?

Clara Weaver @claraweaverwrites.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is a skill im working on, how to leave enough hints that a twist feels Earned but not so many that readers feel lead by the nose. It's a delicate balance! It leads to more complex conflicts and i think helps buy-in when characters have to piece info together along with the reader. #SFFChat

SFFChat@sffchat.bsky.social · 2w ago

#SFFChat Q1: How do you approach mysteries, reveals, twists, and turns in your work? Maybe you avoid them--if so, why? What appeals to you about writing them (or not writing them)?