01.05.2026
How long have you been working on your WIP?

StarRyde
Over 10+ years before I started writing the main story, worldbuilding, character studies/creation not very seriously, etc.

Slowly on the main story since 2024 after I joined Mastodon in 2023.

I am slow and every word is a fight but I want to make it, working out the story as it unfolds for me in surprisingly ways.

#Wordweavers 01.05.2026 #StarRyde #SciFi #WIP

02.05.2026
How much longer do you think it’ll take you to finish your WIP?

With my speed and resilience atm?
I probably finish the WIP one year ahead of its date of beginning.

~ DD.MM.2325

If I don't loose my own personality Backup drive...
😭🤪😅

#WordWeavers 02.05.2026

03.05.2026
Tell us one thing you love about your story.

It takes it's name seriously as it sends me onto a wild ride discovering what am I telling as a story.

#WordWeavers 03.05.2026 #StarRyde #SciFi #WIP

04.05.2026 What's your MC's critical flaw?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 04.05.2026

05.05.2026
Is your MC aware of their flaw?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 05.05.2026

06.05.2026
What writing-related challenges have you encountered recently?

Myself, in in a state atm where a lot of stuff seems like a fight to me or at least a struggle.
Even falling asleep.
Turns out I need to exhaust my body or my brain.
For this I now try to write something as soon as I am in bed instead of thinking about stuff.
The repetitive looking text on screen and no real visible change make me tired extremely quickly even if I get some words out but for fox sake (which is a tasty, spicy, slightly fruity red sake... Badumms) I don't know how many times I have to remember myself to make another copy of the document before I statt writing.

Yesterday I fall asleep with the finger on the delete button ... Luckily I only deleted half a sentence and than slipped over onto the m so if you ever find a complete section in my work consistent of hundreds of M's it's not a chocolate sponsorship it's sloppy correction and editing.😅

And word struggles to tell me the exact number of words I wrote... Nothing new but unusually since it only happened as you loaded the document for the first time. Now it's a constant back and forth every time I try to look it up.

#WordWeavers 06.05.2026

07.05.2026
Does your antagonist/s has/have any redeeming qualities?

My antagonists, Ayanami, Ariæne & Matriac are not the Big Bad Evil Guys (BBEG).
That role is reserved for the Eltaryn and I am not sure they should have any redeeming qualities.

#WordWeavers 07.05.2026 #StarRyde #AntagonistInfernale #Ayanami #AntagonistJunior #AriæneJohnson #Matriarc #SciFi #WIP

08.05.2026
MC POV: Describe your neighborhood.

Kira: Which one? The inherited house, onboard or on Terra?
The house it's a quite area with a lot of space, imagine more like a village of old, beautiful colonial world, according to the data like Terra before Humans did their swex.
Next neighbor is half an hour away.
We have a little local market that sells food from the region also half an hour away, closest 'neighbors' are trees, the sea and the animals running around. Terra, a small house in the outskirts of London. 5 rooms including the living room/kitchen, the toilet and the bath. Mum lives there as long as she is still working for the ministry. Space? The Ghoz'Tarc's crew. Most of them in Hyberpods. Do you count the reactor as neighborhood too? The ship is very small after all.

Arkham: "I own a flat in London city, in a corner house, on a star shaped street, which makes it a bit triangular, only 3 other parties live in the house, above me. Next neighbors on the other side of the street.
Technically I own the failed restaurant under my flat. I just leave the outdoor seating area open for people so it has become a bit of a gathering point making it hard for me to avoid people at times. So I often use the backdoor.
A beautiful cherry tree stands in front of my window covering the view down the street, the other side, the 'tip' on my flat, is towards an open place for things like concerts, meetings, celebrations etc.
From my balcony I can talk to my neighbors, not that I do that very often.
It's a bliss that London is such a small city not like Vegas, Nork, Syberia, luckily they don't build up anymore. Hundreds of meters high cities are just stupid.
On board Hyberpod left, Hyberpod right, locker in front of me on the other side the same mirrored. And whoever has Podshift. I made it clear that I don't share my pod."

Ash: "The crew are my neighbors and I am the neighborhood."

#WordWeavers 08.05.2026 #StarRyde #WorldBuilding #KiraKnox #Arkham #Ashlei #SciFi #WIP

09.05.2026
Are there any unusual societal norms in your world?

Many especially in Terra, but also in the broader Union as a whole.
- Your dignity is inviolable.
- Speak out if you are in need.
- Ask if you don't understand something. Their is no shame if you don't know something.
- Help must be offered but not accepted (this doesn't apply if you are guilty of acting against the society with inferior motives).
- Consent is key.
- Don't be a Human (do to Terras past acting human is seen as an insult and something bad).
- 'Disabilities' get only treated if the person wants it or would otherwise suffer (see my Penned Possibilities answer 1009 of today for more details).
- Acting against the society is a real crime.
- You have 3 chances, if you act against society, to better your self, you will receive help in this, this help must be accepted.
- All life is seen as equal and it's upon every citizen to do their best to preserve life.
- Act always with compassion never in spite or with the intend to harm.
- Protect others.
- Act according to the Terran Manifest (mainly for Terrans but it has bled through into many Union laws).
- Follow the Guidelines of Gaia Unika (see the point above).
-> Respect others and their beliefs.
- Do not accumulate unnecessary wealth.
- Discuss, do not fight over view points.
- Act to provide something for the society you live in.
- Do not waste resources.
- Personal income has an lowest and an highest limit.
- Money is a tool not a resource.
- Even if they call themselves Humans respect them as at least equals.
- Be genuine.
- Educate yourself.
- Vote.

Very specific.
- Eltaryn sightings must be reported immediately.
-> Better a false alarm than a massacre.
-> If they ever try to communicate report immediately.
-> Otherwise better save than sorry, shoot on sight.
S.H.A.D.E.S. have the right and obligation to disregard rules & laws if necessary, but they must bear the consequences.

#WordWeavers 09.05.2026 #StarRyde #WorldBuilding #SciFi #WIP

10.05.2026
What are the beauty standards like in your world, and do they impact any of your characters?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 10.05.2026

11.05.2026
Antagonist POV: Tell us about a fun time you recently had.

Ayanami's voice coming from somewhere in the room, probably a set of hidden speakers:
"I do not indulge my self, in such mindless endeavors, for any personal sophistication. And even if I would, this is hardly a part of our transactions."

Ariæne made a face of uncertainty:
"I honestly can't remember. Shocking I know," they smiled a weirdly sympathetic smile that also looked kinda defeated.
"I have written down something here," they opened a compartment of their armor, next to their left breast and pulled out a little sticky note like piece of paper.
It was tightly rolled up into a tiny scroll. They opened it and read the partly scratched out text:
"We... I am watching a movie today with the guard that is telling me she knows me and that we are friends. I don't trust her but she knew a movie I love. According to her I call her K. regularly and she is fine with that."

They flipped the piece of paper around on which another handwritten Text was visible.
"If anyone 'K.' seems to be trustworthy. She enjoyed the movie, I had a pleasant time. Remember this!"
Ariæne rolled the piece up again and put it back into the tiny compartment.
"I guess that was the last time I had fun. Hopefully it wasn't to long ago..."

#WordWeavers 11.05.2026 #StarRyde #Ayanami #AntagonistInfernale #AriæneJohnson #AJ #AntagonistJunior #SciFi #WIP

12.05.2026
What role does romantic love play in your story?

It has some space & becomes a major part for some time between my main characters.

I try to handle it as a natural occurrence, that gets some space but not dominating the story.

It is different in the Self Insert Romantic Alternative Universe which will be also a very meta piece.

#WordWeavers 12.05.2026 #StarRyde #StarRydeSelfInsertRomanceAlternateUniverse #SciFi #WIP

13.05.2026
What role does non-romantic love play in your story?

Kira & Anika have an very deep bond, Anika almost singlehandedly pulled Kira out of the dark after her family died. For a 6 year old child this is not an easy feat. Her dad supported her, which by law is Kiras Uncle. Family in a space civilisation under constant war means something different on many levels. He was the adopted brother to Kira's cis* female, biological Father, so he didn't hesitate to adopt Kira as her family died. However since he was in the military & his wife already deep into intergalactic politics, despite his best efforts, he wasn't around as much as he wished to. Kira & Anika often had to be overseen by base personal at the military bases. It should have become easier as they settled for the Alliance Academy in London & he should become a teacher. Sadly he died on the last mission before he could start his new career. Both grew even closer from that point on.

Anika has a very supportive & protective but also a slightly creepy side, she often makes borderline jokes about Kira & her not being blood related, at the same time she calls Kira her little twin sister & supports her. Kira is in fact 6 days older as her & both have a slight similar appearance. Kira cherishes & loves her deeply, but also calls out her creepy jokes & corrects her every time she calls her 'little' sister.

As Kira fell in love with the same couple Anika already was a part of, Rose & Talisa, Anika pulled out to make space for Kira.
Kira didn't understood but there was no bad blood between her & Anika or Rose, Talisa & Anika.

Some weeks later J. arrived in their friend group & became a sort of cheerleader for everyone but especially Kira but she has no romantic side at all.

And then Tanya happened to Kira...

#WordWeavers 13.05.2026 #StarRyde #KiraKnox #AnikaJohanson #RoseDraken #TalisaDraken #JHarveyGladstone #RipleyJohanson #SciFi #WIP

14.05.2026
Which of all the characters you’ve ever written are you most proud of?

None because I do not feel pride nor do I connect positive emotions with pride. I can feel decent, I can feel sophisticated, I can feel I have done an good enough job but pride?
Not the slightest.
I'm not the really or any religious Type of person but if something like a deadly sin exist in my eyes it's Pride next to greed. The last one I simply can understand from a biological/survival standpoint, it's an overtuned gather drive without any higher brain functions working to prevent sich a behavior but pride?
I can be thankful, happy, glad, reliefed, feel respect for the deeds of someone but pride for me is a word that describes one or two visibility events in a year, nothing more. As a concept of emotions I even despise it.

#WordWeavers 14.05.2026

15.05.2026
What type of writing (novels, shorts, poetry, etc) comes more naturally for you?

Short stories, flash fiction, nano fiction.

Mostly in Form of dialogues often starting with a one liner or a scene in which a one liner could be dropped.

Imagine it as a visual.
You see a mouth in close up, the line is spoken, the camera moves away/zooms out. Revealing the speaker, it's body, it's location, surrounding, it's life, it's universe.

It's weird but yeah that happens in seconds.

#WordWeavers 15.05.2026

16.05.2026
Would your WIP still work if you changed the gender of your MC?

Yes.

I write characters not gender roles maybe it's part of a character that it defies its gender role? Yes, but their is more than one way to subvert such roles.
Take J. As an example I created for Star Ryde.
Tough looking giant muscular soldier.
Cuddle demon.
Asexual.
Loves to flirt.
Explosive specialist and heavy weapons specialist.
Guerrilla taction, show off on the battlefield and field medic.
Plays dumb often.
Carried wounded soldiers of the field.
Can be incredibly supportive almost like a cheerleader.
Has more cuddle partners than most people own underwear in their life.
Had Sex once in their life.
Eats animal meat and has killed the animals themselves, in a world where this is seen as unnecessary & brutal.
Can build a wooden barn in one day with enough people around.
Can punch through walls if angry (obviously not solid stone walls).

What's their gender identity? What's their assigned Gender?

J. stands for Jennifer second name is Harvey. Not that the nickname says anything but Gladstone.

J. sees herself as a woman and her assigned Gender at birth fits that description, this she is cis* female.

How many times you where swayed to say male or female or maybe non binary while reading her description?

Being female is the last part that matters to her or to the role she has. Same is true for most of my characters.

I prefer writing female characters because I find the variety of women still under represented in modern media. I find it hard to portrait male characters so it matters to me which gender they have in the concept phase but I hope I make enough steps to make sure they aren't stuck in their assigned gender as their definition of who they are.

#WordWeavers 16.05.2026 #StarRyde #JHarveyGladstone #SciFi #WIP

17.05.2026
How would your MC react to being handed a kitten?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 17.05.2026

18.05.2026
If your antagonist had to arrange a contest they knew they could win, what would it be?

Escape Room meets Parcour meets Triathlon.

#WordWeavers 18.05.2026

19.05.2026
What % of your typical day involves writing|writing-adjacent activities (including thinking about it, lol).

If only thinking about writing produced any shareable outcomes...
My head is spinning on construction elements and stories all the time, worldbuilding, characters, plots, alternate universes, alternate plotlines, fanfictions to media I consumed, coming up with weird ideas for all kind of stuff. I tried drawing (more like digital maisonry) again today while being inspired by an upcoming DND release. I'm working on 5 DND character concepts right now, Star Ryde tells itself to me in excruciating details despite being somehow lockrd out from writing it.

Putting pieces together and constructing possible plotlines. Heck if I would have an good speech to text program, I could probably talk over 30.000 words about it, per project, but sitting down and writing it... Ha forget it... That's a fight club story.

So actually writing maybe 5%.
Thinking about it 275% which is impossible because that would be ‰ like in alcohol... But yeah thinking about it is the most I do, in an obsessive amount but that's not what writing is about.
After all in my head I have already a solution to save this world and our societies, cure cancer, diabetes, deal with society parasites like billionaires...
Can I pull that of?
Very unlikely.
Did I safe the world?
Nope sadly not (yet?), despite thinking about all of that constantly...

#WordWeavers 19.05.2026

20.05.2026
Does your MC enjoy haircuts or hair styling?

This is often more a topic for secondary or tertiary characters in my stories.

I prefer simple maintenance hair cuts,
this is why I am wearing a short bob for 7+ years now. Less knots, less inflammation around my neck, shoulders & back (getting you skin pierced by your hair is a bad joke🤬).

My characters tend to have more options, but they are often similarly easy to maintain.

Sidecuts, undercuts, asymmetric bobs, shoulder long, 2 mm, shaved or natural bald, ponytails, in some cases braided, straight pulled back and fixed with hair spray etc. for more 'sinister' or 'greasy' looks. Rarely I incooperate bangs or decorative knots if I don't use a character creator menu in a graphical environment like Videogames.

Color wise I'm more creative than style wise but it often boils down to magic, nano tech or genetic engineering. I simply don't like writing to much about hair.

#WordWeavers 20.05.2026

21.05.2016
How do you make your MC likable or relatable to in the first chapter?

With them driving a white van with black permanent marker scribbles on the side:
"Free Pokemon Shines!"
"Free sweets."
"Free WIFI!"
"Free wombats!"
"Democratic Values!"

Maybe with some blood splatter?

It's not for me to decide if people like my characters, I describe them as they are, with the necessary traits or features to bring across their story so far. If people like them? Great. If they don't like them? Great.
If they hate them? Grate.
Like in real life they are not ment to please everyone.
Only thing that wouldn't be great if I don't bring any reaction to appear.
And maybe my characters don't want to be liked?

#WordWeavers 21.05.2026

22.05.2026
If your MC came with a warning label, what would it be?

⚠️[REDACTED]⚠️

#WordWeavers 22.05.2026 #StarRyde #[REDACTED] #[REDACTED] #[REDACTED] #SciFi #WIP

23.05.2026
If your antagonist came with a warning label, what would it be?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 23.05.2026

24.05.2026
If your characters were pets, what would they be and how would they react?

⏸️

# Word Weavers 24.05.2026

25.05.2026
What one event defines your MC?

I don't think this is how characters work.
If they only have one defining moment they appear pretty 2 Dimensional to me, may work for nano/flash fictions and short stories but everything else of a character has hopefully a bit more than one singular event or aspect that defined them.

#WordWeavers 25.05.2026

What is your antagonist's earliest memory?

Ariæne Johnsen has no constant memory to begin with, their ability to remember & relive past events is severely damaged.
They can't make new memories easily & has to write down important things, in an elaborate system, to keep track of stuff.
For unknown reasons, they can't remember things after they went to sleep, but has resurfacing memories of their greatest tragedy in life, as they lost their wife on the battlefield. And this in staggering cruel details.
They remember her name, her scent, her touch, her voice, her death, but their life with her starts to fade away, the youth they had together, the lives they built for themselves.
Kiara has become some sort of a haunting memory to Ariæne & the disability to make new memories that last or can be remembered in any sort of coherent way, makes things so much more complicated.

Ariæne doesn't even know why they is working for Ayanami. They has a note written down that translates into "Trust Ayanami as long as it benefits you."

That said Ayanami takes care about AJ, they has a apartment sized room for their own, gets equipment & food everything and if some abandoned looking corners can be believed time to pursuit hobbies.
Also there is Ariæne's personal guard or secretary. All armed members in Ayanami's facilities wearing the same black armor and helmet, but K. as Ariæne named them, according to K., and Ariæne seem to have a deep relationship. Ariæne has a note that translates to 'trust K.'
K. seems also be observed by her team mates and Ayanami for the relationship to Ariæne.

#WordWeavers 26.05.2026 #StarRyde #AriæneJohnsen #AntagonistJunior #AJ #KiaraJohnsen #Ayanami #AntagonistInfernale #SciFi #WIP