David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Fine, will put it on the mountain of games I need to play. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 02/10/2026That, and nothing wrong with taking a small break. Took every Friday off with the first draft of my third manuscript, and it made the process much more relaxed. And didn't feel like a candle that burned on all ends when I wrote the end. 020
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Playing it on a base ps5 and there are dips. Especially when the game autosaves, couple of time thought it would crash. Overall, runs fairy well but do hope for a patch. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The laziness. Jokes aside, started final revisions on the first manuscript I ever finished. Don't think it will ever be publishing ready, but want to get it to a polish I will be proud off. 120
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 29/09/2026To clarify, the competition is long over but want to improve and expand the short regardless. 111
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 26/09/2026That's a good question. Finished a first draft two weeks back of my third manuscript. Finished revisions steps on a short story two days back. Now the question is, expand on a short story from a competition or continue with revisions of my second manuscript. Or you know, be lazy. 330
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 16/09/2026That indeed. Pride quickly turns to shame when going back to old work. It is growth of course, and good that we are able to see the flaws in our old work. Does still sting though. 110
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 14/09/2026A change to win a beautiful version of a great book. Idory, a man who can hear a dead persons final thoughts and is sociable as his clientele. Framed for a murder, Idory must find the real killer in a city straining under secrets, inequality and bureaucracy. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Don't have a lot of people that read my stories, but when I do I want to be sure it's the best version of the story I can make it. As I can only get a first impression once. Doesn't mean there won't be feedback how to improve the story, no matter how polished it is. 100
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Finished a first draft and taking a break before jumping revisions for a short story I want to send out. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Agree. I have enjoyed several great books with a simple plot, or barely any. Characters and a interesting world are what give books their flair. 100
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 12/09/2026A couple, well a lot, of revisions down at least. I think the best metric is when revising doesn't lead to meaningful changes, and you feel confident in the story. 110
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Good, looking forward to it and will keep my eyes open. By which I mean just check your updates 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Good to remember, the goal of feedback is to improve the story. Not too bath in praise. And I agree with the one writing rule that should never be broken. Never let anyone else read your first draft. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 01/09/2026The story inside my head is a couple of vague lines. Bluesky policy prevents me from describing what my first draft looks like. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 30/08/2026In one of my manuscripts the MC Grit needs to kill the demi gods on his religion in order to escape a cursed city. Plot essential I would say. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Exploring taking up new responsibilities and dealing with past mistakes with my characters in my third manuscript, sequel to my fitst manuscript. 2700 words added today 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Dialogue during quiet moments, giving a good chance to explore the characters. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Finishing the great king of Assassins by R.J. Barker and of course the bastard manages to make me cry at the end. 062
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 21/08/2026It's settled then. This weekend, we write!static.klipy.comAt Dawn We Ride: Toy Soldiers on Green CreatureALT: At Dawn We Ride: Toy Soldiers on Green Creature 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 20/08/2026Most aspiring writers talk about the challenge of getting published, but I think the real challenge is getting enough sales to get a second book deal. And keep it going when turning professional. Suddenly the steady pay from a 9 to 5 doesn't sound so bad. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 20/08/2026Leave the judging to the judges, and enjoy that you have written. 150
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 16/08/2026Gave the dungeon book a try and it was a trying experience. Nostalgic game system and fast pace couldn't save the clumsy writing and boring characters. Whenever the stories tries to get deep, it hurries to the next bad joke and monster that last about a few pages. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Barker always delivers on dark weird stories, filled with humanity. That said, I'm mainly looking forward to cats in mechs. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Yes indeed, good point. It's all about the character. Well, mostly. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 27/07/2026For me that's always been the challenge with short stories, and I think it is due to not making the stakes clear right at the start. Not everything needs to clear after the first paragraph but I think who do we follow and why should we care are two pivotal pieces of information. 150
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 18/07/2026A writing workshop for short stories. After several years of mocking about I found it high time to actually learn how to write. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 10/07/2026Addendum to number 3, never let people read your first draft. It's a popular saying that great books are honed, and it's true. Revise your story until it's shiny before letting anyone than you see it, because you can only get a first impression once. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Reverse outlining is a great tip, but I always struggle to do it right. I just go through my manuscript, summarize the scene and place comments on what I think needs to be improved. But I do feel I miss a lot. Maybe a detailed example based on a viewers work could be a video idea? 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Don't know, it actually is pretty good. Think RJ Dark might become on of my favorite authors. Means I need to make space though, and can't have two writers called RJ in that list. Downright confusing. 110
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 13/06/2026A friend of mine recently started it and also wasn't thrilled. His opinion and yours makes me want to try it, but more in a interest in a car wreck curiosity. 000
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 11/06/2026It does make the book extra special when it ends with "In remembrance of RJ Barker, father, husband, writer and for some reason, wrestler of jackals." 020
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 09/06/2026It isn't so much the opinion that baffles me, but the audacity to bother you with it. I would suggest female bodybuilder in your next book, but you already wrote Whisper. 220
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Once an entire character, who only spouted exposition. Caught it while making a reverse outline, finding he didn't add anything. He didn't survive the revisions, putting the information into the story another way. Farewell grandpa exposition, you didn't add anything. 110
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 05/06/2026If the internet is good for anything, it's revealing people who ignore reality. Although of the two, I'm not sure who is the most delusional. 010
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Weird as it my sound, I have come across comments of people who use AI to write that do feel that them feeding prompts into a word blender is them writing, that it's their story. Not sure if they ever stuck with actually trying to write scenes instead of prompts. 100
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Indeed, your rules. When sending in a story, it will be subjugated to the magazines rules and expectations. That's part of writing. Feeling entitlement for AI slop that didn't require blood, sweat and tears is baffling though. At least I worked on my stories that got rejected. 120
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 04/06/2026It has been quite a day. Besides, nothing wrong with some rest now and then. Advantage of being an amateur writer: no deadlines. 020
David @davidwritten.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Finishing up the great Mortedant's Peril, which I got last Friday after a fun book presentation from the man himself. Then see what to delve in from my TBR. Either more Barker with his assassins series or finishing up the inheritance series by N.K. Jemisin. 041
