#PennedPossibilities 627 — How does your MC have their home decorated?

Before the cult trashed it and drove them out of their house.

<Snip>
Shiomi was unaware or ignoring our banter. Glassy-eyed, she hardly even looked around. The room wasn’t much to look at: neat and orderly with old furniture; bookshelves of movie CDs, manga and light novels; posters for yuri and josei romances on the walls; and some ashtrays that Tomo emptied behind me. It wasn’t much, but you would have expected at least a little curiosity, but there was none.
<end snip>
#KonbiniIdol #NMPP

#WordWeavers 28. What gives your characters a sense of self-worth or meaning in their life?

Ume has her writing.
Shiomi had being an idol, singer, and dancer. She has lost that and, as a result, is having trouble finding herself. Currently, in the published storyline, She has found it in loving Ume, but Ume is worried that is neither healthy nor enough. Beyond that is spoiler of what will come. #KonbiniIdol #NMWW

#WordWeavers 27. What small precious memento does a character keep on their person? What makes it precious?

Now that she has it back, Shiomi has a heart-shaped silver brooch set with amethyst that Maiyoi-chan given to her. It dates to the Tempo Famine. And is an important plot device in volume three.

No one else, to my knowledge, carries anything that fits that description.

#PennedPossibilities 625 — How physically fit are your characters? Does it factor into your WIP in any way?

Both Ume and Tomo do manual labor are in good shape. Shishi and Kan-chan are not as fit. Injuries play more of a role in endurance than original staminia. But Ume's and Tomo's jobs play a role in the story, so physical fitness indirectly plays a part. Also Shishi and Tomo have comments on Ume's tone. A toned butch is seen as more attractive then a untoned one.

(On the other hand, their chronic smoking at times takes it toll.) #KonbiniIdol #NMPP

For Love of a Konbini Idol, I Searched for the Kudan
Chapter 53 Released
Wild Ginger in Parting (餞別のフタバアオイ)

By Nara Moore
Art Mai-sensei

Shishi bares her soul, and the trees embrace them.

Join Ume & her family as their relationships develop. In a creepy world where “love” never dies
---------
At: https://www.pixiv.net/novel/series/11417104
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52770025

Artist: https://bsky.app/profile/maisart.bsky.social

Tags: #KonbiniIdol #LGBTQ #LightNovel #ParanormalRomance #QueerFiction #Romance #Sapphic #SapphicRomance #Yuri #Queer #kitsune

#PennedPossibilities 623 — In theory, what would be your SC’s weapon of choice?

Shiomi: An enchanted sword that could hit supernatural creatures.

Tomo: Get realistic.

Shiomi: Look where we are, Kakuryo, land of the dead. Now tell me magic swords couldn't exist.

Tomo: Point taken.

Shiomi: My luck it would be cursed or a demon blade.

#yesterday Mainly worked on rough draft of a story set in Sung Dyasty China. It includes some Chinese based puns ( #scribesandmakers 3/23). And a Tang dynasty poem adapted to be a Bamboo branch song. Just learned that term yesterday. Esoteric be us.

Final Web novel draft of "Wild Ginger in Parting" finished.

Figured out how to cheat the paywall of another grammer checker. No hacking in involved.

#today Integrate beta feedback into "Tree Dreams."

Polish "Jinja Shadow" for new beta reader.

Post to AO3

Resume edit sweep.

#ScribesAndMakers 2503.23 — How do you feel about puns?

Wordplay I understand. So puns along with other forms of wordplay are A okay in my book. My characters agree, at least Tomo and Ume do. I don’t know about the rest. Shiomi and Kan-chan are pretty snarky so they might go with puns.

In my writing, most of my puns are in Japanese, based on the multiple means of sounds. It’s easier than in English. In English, I stick to snark and wordplay. I recently did one based on classic Chinese, but I won’t bore you with it. You can find in my feed for the day if really want.

#PennedPossibilities 622 — Does your MC read? If so, what sort of things? Do they have a preferred genre of choice?

Ume: “Of course I read, don’t all authors? I especially like yuri and josei romances. Poetry is nice too. I’m not very good at writing poetry, that’s Tomo’s department. But I love reading it. I was just reading some by Liu Yuxi (刘禹锡) today.”

Here is one I really liked:

Green, O green is the willow, placid, peaceful the flow;
Hark and I hear on the river, songs from my love, my beau.
To the east, the sun is up, to the west, drizzles persist;
Though they say the sun is naught, to me, the sun is aglow.

(Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)
https://www.cn-poetry.com/liuyuxi-poetry/bamboo-twigs-song-1.html

I remember there was a prompt about do current events over shape what you write. And today, I realized the emotions behind this passage in my #WIP was inspired by it.

<Snip> #RoughDraft
Even in the face of impending disaster, one keeps living life as usual. You close your eyes and hope you will escape it. Only I didn’t think I would elude fate. Alternately, one scurries about looking for an out. But in the face of dragons and emperors, there is no exit. That doesn’t stop one from trying, and a few days later, one of the sacrificial doves visited me, Yuè Dié, a popular young courtesan. Moon Butterfly, a name she deserved: small, delicate, a graceful dancer, with a soft melodic voice.
<EndSnip)

#WritersCoffeeClub 21. Happy World Poetry Day! Share your most poetic line. Part 2

I also sometimes wax lyrical like these lines:

The sky sang of azure depths and glittering stars, the trees intoned mantras to the sun and the Buddha, and the earth crooned a lullaby, saying, “It’s winter, time to sleep.”

#WordWeavers 22. How impulsive or not is your MC? Does this affect the plot?

Tomo: "Ume is impulsive. For example one night he found a drunk woman needing help and brought her home. No concern that she was cursed or how it would affect our lives. Then a few days later takes off in the middle of the night to drive her to her aunt's. But doesn't make it and returns here with her."

Shiomi: "Sorry."

Tomo: "Not your fault."

LesFicFri "Hungry"
For Love of a Konbini Idol
By Nara Moore

D&S foreshadowed?

https://www.pixiv.net/novel/series/11417104
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52770025

Artist: https://bsky.app/profile/maisart.bsky.social

#PennedPossibilities 620 — What have you enjoyed about writing your antagonist / villain?

I like having an excuse of scream "shini, shini, shini, die, die, die."

I can be very childish.

#WordWeavers 21. A tornado is on the horizon. Does your MC find a basement or storm chase?

Basement. She is good at running away. No basement though, it would be the best hiding place she can find quickly. Once there she would chant protective mantras, which might very well help.

#FantasyIndiesMarch 20. How would your characters do in the last tv show/movie you watched?

Think the last thing I watched was "Medium." They would do just fine. In fact they would be so relieved that the supernatural intrusions were so mild. The "Jack the Ripper" spirt would be right up their ally.

Language would be the major problem only Ume speaks English.

#Dream #Today

I dreamed a woman in a 12 layer yellow and green kimono threw something me. It chirped, turned into a small green tree frog. When it landed at my feet, it looked up at me for a second, and then became a jade frog figurine.

I know just were this is going in my novel!