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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The paperback of The Map and the Territory is discounted on Bookshop.org for anti-Prime day! Get yourself an extremely handsome physical copy today~ bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

A photograph of the paperback book The Map and the Territory, held in a white person's hand, in front of a shelf of houseplants. The cover of The Map and the Territory depicts two people standing back to back. One of them is a tall Black man in elaborate wizardly robes, and the other is a short woman with brown skin who wears practical clothes for adventuring.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Here's a meme for you to repost, if you're a writer who would love for someone to say nice things about your work.

An image with rainbow glitter that reads, "Writers! Post this meme and let people say nice things about your writing." Background image from a photo by Alexander Grey on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day from Horatio and Juni~

A photograph of two black cats sitting on the edge of a filing cabinet in front of a display of painted Warhammer figurines. They are sitting upon a somewhat frayed quilt. The black cat in the foreground, Juni, is hunched and angular and has enormous round eyes; the black cat in the background, Horatio, is watching Juni with a guarded expression.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

In the spirit of today's cheese discourse, today's dinner is a vegetarian zucchini-plank lasagna with homemade sauce~

Photograph of lasagna in a tray on a granite countertop; the mozzarella on top has been broiled to a delectable brownness.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Shredded kohlrabi salad with sprouts, blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts~

A photograph of a salad of shredded kohlrabi, radish sprouts, blue cheese, walnuts, and dried cranberries; it is plated somewhat haphazardly on a plate with floral designs. Because you read the alt text, you also get to learn about the dried apple bits and spring onions in the salad!

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Periodic reminder that The Map and the Territory exists, and you can read it! It's a post-apocalyptic picaresque about an ace cartographer and a gay wizard trying to get home in a shattered world haunted by a death goddess. Includes: Airships! Crocodiles! Magic mirrors! Microscopes! Wizard duels!

The cover of the book The Map and the Territory, which depicts two people standing back to back. One of them is a tall Black man in elaborate wizardly robes, and the other is a short woman with brown skin who wears practical clothes for adventuring.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Went hiking today at Akron Falls~

Photo of a many-trunked oak tree on a wooded slope; the four trunks cluster around a hollow formed by their thick, raised roots.

Photo of a tree arcing over a stream that races down a slope covered in saplings and verdant undergrowth.

Photo of a maple tree beside a swollen stream; its mossy roots are exposed and reach out like enfolding arms.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Dinner tonight is ginger-soy baked tofu on a bed of home-grown sprouts~

A photograph of a floral plate of tofu with brown sauce; the tofu rests on a bed of long green sprouts and is garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

For World Book Day, check out The Map and The Territory, my post-apocalyptic picaresque about a cartographer and a wizard trying to get home in a shattered world haunted by a death goddess. Amazon: www.amazon.com/Map-Territor... Publisher: www.candlemarkandgleam.com/shop/the-map...

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

These two have been my officemates all day~

A photograph of two cats cuddling on a pillow. One is an extremely tiny black and white cat who is curled up into a tight little bun; the other is an enormous black cat who is sprawling almost off the pillow with his head resting on the other cat's rump.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Final #FebOutlining check-in! How did this month go for you? Did you do everything you wanted to this month? What are your next steps for your project? Any final thoughts on outlining and prewriting?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #28 - Final Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

#FebOutlining Who's someone whose posts you've really enjoyed during this event? What do you admire about their perspective?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #27 - Community." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you have anyone with whom you share your work while you're in the outlining or prewriting stage? Or do you prefer not to let anyone see until you have some prose on the page?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #26 - Early Readers." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

#FebOutlining Write a skeet-length summary of your project. You can craft it like a pitch if you like (there are pitch events on Bluesky!), or just summarize it however feels comfortable for you.

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #25 - Summary." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do a voice test for one of your main characters! Write a skeet-length snippet of prose on one of the following prompts: * Shoe * Wound * Flash * Found * Trash * Radiant

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #24 - Voice Test." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

#FebOutlining How do you solve problems when they arise during outlining/prewriting? Do you talk to a rubber duck, or get feedback from a trusted friend? Do you undo your work to a point before the problem and try again, or do you push through and hope the problem solves itself when you draft?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #23 - Problem-Solving." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

#FebOutlining How does your current project represent a continuation of what you've already created? In what ways does it represent a new direction? How do you hope you'll grow as a writer while you're working on this WIP?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #22 - Personal Growth." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

It's our third #FebOutlining check-in! Respond with a GIF that shows where you're at right now (and remember to use alt text!)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #21 - Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

#FebOutlining How do you feel about tropes in your stories? Do you try to avoid them as cliches, or have a list of tropes you know you want to hit as you outline, or accept that they might arise naturally as part of your writing process?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #20 - Tropes." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

#FebOutlining Show us a sample of your outline in progress! What are you especially proud of? What do you think is noteworthy about how you've put it together?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #19 - Sample." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

#FebOutlining How do you manage timelines--not just for your story, but for the things that happened before it (and possibly the things that will happen after it)?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #18 - Timelines." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

#FebOutlining What does the main setting--or settings--of your project look like? Share some inspirational pictures, if you have them! (Please remember to use alt text.)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #17 - Scenery Inspiration." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

#FebOutlining How much do you worldbuild before you start drafting, and how much do you discover along the way? How do you keep track of worldbuilding information? What's a piece of worldbuilding for your current project that you're particularly proud of?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #16 - Worldbuilding Notes." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

#FebOutlining Is there something in the real world that's inspiring your work? A relationship you watched fall apart, or a hobby you love, or a political system that fills you with righteous fury? A place you left, or one you visited? A weird but true animal fact that won't leave you alone?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #15 - The Real World." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

It's our second #FebOutlining check-in! How are we all feeling? Have you tried anything new during your outlining or prewriting process this month? What's working really well for you?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #14 - Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you make moodboards for your WIPs? Do you have a few inspiring pictures for your current project? Share them here! (Please remember to use alt text.)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #13 - Moodboards." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

#FebOutlining What are you researching as you work on your current WIP(s)? What are some good resources you've found so far on these topics? How do you keep track of information you've found?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #12 - Research." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you make maps to help you plan politics, journeys, or landscapes? If you have a draft map, share it here! (Please remember to use alt text.)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #11 - Maps." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

#FebOutlining I do make art occasionally, although I haven't made very much yet for the projects I'm working on currently. Here's Senovar Zataja, one of the characters from Prism House.

An illustrative portrait of a man with long, dark hair that's braided back at the sides, wearing red and black robes. He's smiling slightly, crookedly. The background is an abstract spattering of red and black that frames his face like a bloody halo.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you make or commission art of your characters? Use dollmakers to build their looks? Share the art here! (Please remember to use alt text, and Do Not share AI-generated art; we don't do slop in these parts.)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #10 - Art." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you make fancasts for your characters? Who are some of the people you'd cast in your current project(s)?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #9 - Fancasts." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you build character profiles as part of your prewriting? How do you do it--character development worksheets, character sheets from a tabletop roleplaying game, spreadsheets to make sure you remember what color everyone's eyes are?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #8 - Character Profiles." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

It's our first #FebOutlining check-in! How is your outlining or pre-writing coming along? Have you discovered anything surprising about your WIP? What's getting you excited to write it? What new problems or puzzles does the project present? What are you planning to tackle next?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #7 - Check-In." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

#FebOutlining What are some works that you feel like you're writing in conversation with? These could be comp titles, but they could also be works that you're pushing against--works that are doing something really different from what you're doing. What about these works makes you want to write?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #6 - Works in Conversation." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

#FebOutlining Do you make playlists for your works in progress? What are some important songs for your current WIP?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #5 - Playlists." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

#FebOutlining How do you come up with names for people, places, and things? Do you build a conlang to use as a basis, or set yourself some linguistic rules, or borrow from existing Earth names? Do you make a list of possible names ahead of time, or make up each name as you need it?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #4 - Names." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Exciting news! I've been working with @candlemarkandgleam.bsky.social to get their catalogue of ebooks available on Overdrive/Libby--and I just got confirmation that it's gone through! If your library uses Overdrive/Libby, you can now request that they acquire The Map and the Territory as an ebook!

A screenshot of the Overdrive search interface, showing a search on the key word "tuomala" and the book The Map and the Territory by A.M. Tuomala available to request as a library hold.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

#FebOutlining What idea, character, scene, or theme was the seed of your story? What made you want to keep developing out from that point? How has that seed idea changed since you first had it?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #3 - Seeds." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

#FebOutlining What's your outlining process? Do you use a classic beat sheet (e.g. seven-point structure, romance structure, hero's journey)? Do you use the snowflake method (establish key events, then build the complexity and logic)? Do you use spreadsheets, or index cards, or maps with red string?

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #2 - Outlining Process." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Happy February! What project or projects are you planning to work on for #FebOutlining? What state are they currently in? What are you hoping to accomplish by the end of the month? (If you're past the outlining/prewriting stage, what work were you outlining or prewriting most recently?)

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #1 - Project Overview." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

We are MAKING THIS HAPPEN! #FebOutlining is a chance to talk about your prewriting/outlining process, with daily discussion prompts--and for those of us who are at the prewriting/outlining stage of our projects, there will be weekly check-ins to talk about progress and vent. Looking forward to it!

Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining: Get Ready." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Something I've been wondering for a while--which of these four looks most like your first drafts? A - Bare scene outline B - More detailed scene outline with placeholders C - Sketchy prose, some placeholders D - Relatively polished prose

A - [SCENE of CLIMBING TO THE BAD GUY’S LAIR ON TOP OF AN OBSIDIAN MOUNTAIN]

B - Katri & co are climbign the mountain to the bad guy’s lair but realize they have to turn back because it’s too dangreous to keep gonig. Katri is BIG MAD.

[MMC NAME] is an asshole and she tells him to kick rocks.

C - Katri reached up again, groping along the side of the mountain, but she couldn’t find a hadnhold. The Dark Lord’s fortress couldn’t be reached by climbing. “There’s no way up!” she shouted down. “Not unless you’re a bird!”

“I told you we should never have come here,” Rodith growled. “Are you even sure we can get down?”

“[TK ACTUALLY GOOD RESPONSE],” said Katri, determined and heavy-hearted.

D - Katri’s handhold shattered, and she muffled a cry as volcanic glass bit through the palm of her glove. As she clung to the sheer obsidian cliff, all of her weight held poised between her off-hand and a slick toehold, she groped fruitlessly for any ledge or protrusion that might bear her. Blood trickled down her wrist, hot against the altitude’s chill. She fought not to look down.

Instead, Katri craned her neck, gazing up at the expanse of featureless glass above her. Behind the Dark Lord’s fortress, the clouds roiled with the promise of storms.

Her heart sank. Fury and despair filled her—they’d come so close, only to fail no more than a stone’s throw from their goal.

They had to turn back before the storm began, or they’d have no hope of surviving. “Turn back,” she called down. “We’ll find another way.”

“This was a fool’s errand from the start,” growled Rodith.

Blood snaked down to Katri’s elbow as she lowered herself to the last handhold. “Then you shouldn’t have followed the fool.”

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

If you are unfamiliar with The Map and the Territory, it's my post-apocalyptic picaresque novel about a cartographer and a wizard trying to get home in a shattered world haunted by gods and opportunists. Amazon: www.amazon.com/Map-Territor... Other Purchase links: bsky.app/profile/amtu...

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Anyway, if you were wondering how the fountain pen journey is going ...

Photo of a notebook, on which is written: Anyway, the Pilot Preppy with Diamine Aurora Borealis ink seems to work well for me. =)

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

The first snows of winter are upon us, and in anticipation of many cozy soups, I have assembled ... the Bean Hoard.

A photograph of a pantry cabinet that is full of glass jars of various beans. (There is also a canister of cocoa powder, as well as some containers of nuts, seeds, and tea.)

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

It is extremely hard to write today

A photograph of a black cat with wide eyes and alert ears, lying on a desk and resting his chin on a white person's wrist.

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A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Went to a local art gallery with my wife, and not only did they have an incredible exhibit including two of Yayoi Kusama's infinity rooms, they also had an entire room of Akseli Gallen-Kallela's landscape paintings! Seeing his work in person has been a longtime dream of mine.

A photograph of Yayoi Kusama's art piece Infinity Mirrored Room--My Heart is Dancing into the Universe. In a dark room with mirrored walls, ceiling, and floors, there hangs an array of black spherical paper lanterns with polka-dot cutouts. The lanterns shift in hue, showing an eerie vista of vivid pinks, blues, purples, oranges, and spring greens, infinitely mirrored.

A photograph of Akseli Gallen-Kallela's painting Mäntykoski Waterfall. A whitewater cascade emerges from a crevice in the craggy rock, pouring into the dark water below. Five thin golden lines bisect the painting, and it includes a wooden frame in what appears to be a folk art style with simple floral motifs.

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