Xan van Rooyen's avatar

Xan van Rooyen

@xanwriter.bsky.social

183 followers 161 following 299 posts

Tattooed story-teller, climber, and peanut-butter connoisseur. Non-binary & autistic. They/them. SILVER HELIX is out now!!

linktr.ee/xanvanrooyen

Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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It was awesome - thank you so much! Can't wait to do it again!

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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#finncon2024 was an absolute blast! Really loved the thought-provoking discussions - feeling so inspired!

Special thanks to everyone who bought My Name is Magic. I still have 3 paperbacks available here: ko-fi.com/s/2a78206feb (or reach out on socials to arrange a purchase)

#books #AmWritingSFF

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Nerine Dorman 's avatar Nerine Dorman @nerinedorman.bsky.social
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I've got a coaching special running. Join me for the six-week Kickstart Your Novel programme via Now Novel and get 20% discount if you use the promo code "NERINE" when you sign up.

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Just read your Unwinnable article about Kurt as a trans woman and it warmed my little nonbinary heart. Now I finally understand why Kurt and his music meant so much to me in my turbulent teens. Thank you for that article!!

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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😆 okay, fair enough. Still Rs suck!

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Poured all my anger and disappointment about a certain famous writer into my own writing today and just hit 40k on the novel WIP. Considering my goal is 75k, I guess I'm officially more than halfway. Can I write another 35k words before the end of the month?

#amwriting

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Nerine Dorman 's avatar Nerine Dorman @nerinedorman.bsky.social
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Attention readers and lovers of speculative fiction, there are some amazing FREE panels at the #Otherworld event where I will be one of the panellists. Come meet the authors and learn more about their craft. RSVP events@exclusivebooks.co.za

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Autistic burnout is brutal. It's something I'm still recovering from. Perhaps if I'd read a book about a character with autistic burnout I might've recognised it in myself sooner, so you know what? I'm going to write about it in this novel WIP.

#amwriting #ActuallyAutistic

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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*I* will finish this short-story today. I *will* finish this short-story today. I will *finish* this short-story today. I will finish *this* short story today. I will finish this *short-story* today. I will finish this short-story *today* !

#WritingCommunity #amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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😍😍😍 thank you so much!!

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Was aiming for 35k and hit 36k instead on the novel WIP 💪

Why is it so much fun writing mean characters, esp. when said mean characters are acting out due to repressed sadness and their own emotional trauma?

Which do you prefer writing?

#amwriting #WritingCommunity

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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It was the Writing from Experience event hosted at Oodi last night as part of Pride week. They did stream it so perhaps there's a recording you can watch ?

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Went to a lovely panel discussion by trans/nonbinary/intersex authors about writing from experience and something Mira Eskelinen said really struck me, she said: "The book you're writing doesn't have to be *everything*. It just has to be *this* book." 🤯

#amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Are you still accepting submissions for new episodes?

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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When you finally receive an acceptance for a story that had received several lovely rejections and you knew it was only a matter of time before it found a home 🥹

Will share details asap!

#amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Today's goal: start writing the short story due August 1st. It's set in my Frayverse, same as my novella Waypoint Seven, which comes out a week from today!!! 😮😮

#amwriting

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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There are a several very cool things I can't talk about yet and it's kinda killing me, but then I sorta forget about them, until I remember I actually do have writerly things happening, and then I get all angsty wanting to shout about happy things all over again!!

#soon

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Thank you and yeah, really crossing fingers for this one.

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Went from discovering an open antho call to plotting, writing, revising, submitting a story in less than a week to make the submission deadline. First time I've ever done that. I did it, but preferably won't be doing that again 😆

#amwriting #WritingCommunity

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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This always happens! I starting writing the novel thinking one character will be the main protagonist and be the stars of the show, only to inevitably to find the intended secondary character steal the limelight. I guess this is what dual POV is for!

#amwriting #WritingCommunity

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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The novel WIP has now teetered over the 20k mark and I am falling so in love with these characters!

Stay tuned for some big news about this story...

#amwriting #WritingCommunity

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Having just been away for a few days, I'm easing back into writing with a short story for an upcoming -punk charity anthology. What's your fav subgenre of -punk?

#WritingCommunity #amwriting

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Reposted by Xan van Rooyen

Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Urgh, can't really share this either just yet!! Suffice it to say it's an is an ultra-queer cyberpunk meets dark academia retelling... of something secret... for now !!

#lgbtqwriteathon #writingcommunity

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Oh damn, now I need to know all about this 😆

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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I've been following and rooting for this campaign from the day it started so just wanted to send a massive personal thank you to the very generous donor who has now brought this small press so much closer to reaching their goal!

Every $ matters. Thank you everyone for supporting

gofund.me/1c29768e

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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First blurb for Waypoint Seven is in and I'm just astounded and so very grateful for such kind words about this little book:

#queerbooks #newreleases

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Xan van Rooyen's avatar Xan van Rooyen @xanwriter.bsky.social
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Looking forward to reading it one day!

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