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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Now that the FOTIA flash fiction contest for July is over, I'm linking my entry here. "Cloven Hooves in the Watering Hole" can be read on my wattpad. If you're a fan of folklore, malevolent spirits, and old-timey ghost stories this'll be a great read! www.wattpad.com/story/398822...

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Cloven Hooves in the Watering Hole - S. C. Bartholomew - Wattpad

Two millers cut down a mighty oak during a summer night, beckoning a foul spirit from the forest. The two men watch in horror as an ancient evil pays this slee...

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Here is the cover to my first novel, Dead Man's Gambit: The Sunken City! Will you be ready to transcend the mundane below the waves of the plagued seaside town of Carthage Ridge? Thank you to my friend Synaethra for making the cover. #WritingCommunity #amwriting #booksky #DeadMansGambit #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Its not completely finished, but here is a progress update on one of the two sketches I promised on my other socials for reaching 100 followers! Been a challenge drawing the facial motifs on the armor. #artwork #traditionalart #WIP #fantasyart #knight #DeadMansGambit #booksky

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Since the flash fiction contest is over, I posted my entry on my wattpad. It's a ghoul hunt focused on my series MC, Thomas G. O'Donnell! I tied for third with the wonderful Author Chris Ritchey who I highly recommend everyone check out! wattpad.com/story/39201078… #booksky #flashfiction #fantasy

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Finished Knight-King Galleus' character sheet today, and named his predecessor. Knight King Galleus was the successor to Knight King Leon, and he was trained by Sir Landon of Vienna. 🧵(1/2) #amwriting #worldbuilding #booksky #prompt

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

You know I've had a few story-elememt ideas as of late. One being the Outer Dark. The Outer Dark is basically what's beyond physical reality, the stuff even the gods struggle to peer into. Entering the Outer Dark would be akin to being washed away in- #amwriting #worldbuilding #booksky #prompt

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Got an idea for my "one ruler" conundrum I've been mulling over for a while. I think Humanity's overseeing Monarch will be defined thusly. The Ruler of Humanity is indoctrinated as a child, like many young emperors are. A 🧵 (1/?) #writingprompt #amwriting #writingcommunity #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Here is a prompt for all of you dark fiction lovers. What if Hell-Hounds weren't hounds, but they were people mutated into dog-like figures based on the significant actions and evil they did in life? #writingprompt #prompt #amwriting #writingcommunity #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Today is the day I finally get back to working on DMG: The Sunken City. Took a large break for world-building and now it's time to get back in the swing of it. Just gotta figure out how to resolve that hostage situation! #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Here are the sketches I promised from this morning. Rough concept art as it stands but I think I can do better. I love how the swords came out though! Will include a collection of photos below with the individual objects. #art #conceptart #booksky #authorsofbluesky #traditionalart

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

I think I'm going to try to do some base sketches of the Estoc of the Hunter’s Order, and the Iron Behemoth + the alchemist's prosthetic today. Hopefully I'll have them done before dinner, and don't go too OCD over them. #art #conceptart #booksky #traditionalart #sketch

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Got some good world-building done today. The Hunter's Main issued weapon, the Estoc of the Order. A blade shaped like a cross with a half-crescent ring atop the crossguard and connecting to the blade. The blade has the initials of the hunter upon the pommel. #amwriting #worldbuilding #booksky #book

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I think I know what gear and weapons the MC will be using in the first arc. A silver coated, steel core estoc engraved with symbols of the Hunter's Guild. Two colt revolvers, a lever action gun with silver inlays, and the Iron Behemoth Coffin mentioned below. #writingcommunity #amwriting #booksky

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

A friend of mine decided to do a few sketches of my character, the Commandant. The first picture is honestly giving Herr Major vibes. Thank you to HitsuuKoneko for these works of art of my character! Link to her profile below. x.com/HitsuuKoneko #art #oc #traditionalart #booksky #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

70 followers. An odd milestone, but I greatly appreciate all of you who've chosen to humor my creative pursuit! #booksky #author #positivity

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

A good friend of mine Azellias is streaming the revision of his book and other points of his writing process. He's an amazing novelist and creative. If y'all could, I'd give it a watch! twitch.tv/azellias_vt #writingcommunity #booksky #stream #indieauthor #novel

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Azellias_VT - Twitch

🌄 [ TITANHEART ] 🌄 Redacting Sand Sheperd

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

This is a rather unsettling character I've been working on, his title, the Commandant, the Alchemist King. He will be one of the series antagonists. A man who embodies dispassionate evil, & unchecked tyrannical power. #oc #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Here is an entry from my book series' bestiary. A 🧵 (1/?) Ghouls, Arch Ghouls and Regal Ghouls. In the world of Dead Man's Gambit, ghouls are significantly more dangerous and frightening than most iterations you see throughout myth. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Concerning this from yesterday, a friend of mine suggested that maybe the inside is akin to an Iron Maiden. Which is a great idea. So now I'm going to make the inside with spikes and barbs. Just so the thing can be smashed down with an open lid to capture the vamps as well! #booksky #weapon #book

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

So I had an idea. A vampire weapon that is just an iron coffin inlayed with holy wood and silver. And the hunter in question uses some modified alchemical/mechanical lifting device or exoskeleton to crush the vampire into paste. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Made decent progress with world-building today. Tomorrow I'm probably going to expand upon the various realms that lie within the Otherworld! #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Today is another world-building day. I've managed to come up with a more whimsical wizard archetype to add contrast to the more gruff cast members, and a powerful weapon which will be a big plot point. Topic for today: The Otherworld #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I think having some whimsical characters in the book series will definitely help inspire wonder in a world of evil. I'm also having a blast designing this character and his background compared to the other members of the series' cast. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Came up with a character idea, who will help string together parts of my magic system and the lore surrounding the Hunter's Guild. A Spanish alchemist from the 1300s, the father of alchemy and machinery. Maker of the Ark of Storms. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Today is a world building day, gonna take my creative juices and put it towards scheming for the books that make up the main series. Need a bit more time to mull over what I want to do in the Sunken City. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

The way sailors tales, the epics of old, and how biblical scholars chose to proceed with their prose fascinates me. Its so personal. Sucking you into the story akin to a tale, told in oral tradition, over ten grueling millennia. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

I think the worst part of writing a stealth scene is that I spent so much time choosing the guns blazing options in other forms of media, so now it's hard to comprehend what to do without wanting my MCs to just clear the room. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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Clay Sheldon @claysheldon.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Writing Tip: This is a regular reminder to back up your work. I can never post this enough. It can be easy to become complacent and think it'll never happen to you. But if you back up your work in another location/medium, it won't! Save it, save yourself a headache! #writing #writingtips #writesky

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Completed chapter 8, and I got about 1300 words into chapter 9. I'm almost at the 25K word threshold for the novel, and I am so excited to see it becoming more than just daydreams dancing around in my head. Good things are happening! #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

I managed to crush 1600 words for the Sunken City today. Wrote the first official fight scene. I think I did well. But of course there will be revisions and polishing later down the line. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

I think writing the use of piano wire will be a challenge. You can't exactly crack it like a whip, swing it like a sword, or point it like a gun. Its woven like fabric, gently floating in the air. Angled around objects and the users fingers. #amwriting #booksky #fantasy #prompt #fantasyweapons

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Managed to finish chapter 7 of the Sunken City today, and cross the 19K word threshold. My goal for today is to meet a 1500 word minimum, and get back into the swing of things! #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel #novelist #fantasy #western #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Doing my best to draw one of the series antagonists. He's this weird mix of inspirations from the aesthetics of Dr Eggman, to the sheer evil of the Major from Hellsing Ultimate. Still working it. "Herr Kommandant." #art #sketch #ArtInspiration #oc #booksky #book #DeadMansGambit #character #villain

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

I managed to rework several plot points on my storyboard and write about 400 words today. Not as productive as I wanted to be, but maybe its as productive as I needed to be. As many wise men have once said, you cannot rush art. #amwriting #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Managed to break my writers block today and edited the majority of chapter 2. I only have two small adjustments left. Tomorrow I plan on doing those and the revision of chapter 3-4. #amwriting #amediting #indieauthor #booksky #book

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

I had a dream yesterday. About a single outlaw, eyes like burning coals, sitting against a dead tree, gazing at a dying fire. A rolling thunderhead straight ahead, lightning jumping from cloud to cloud, the it was all submerged in a curtain of baleful golden ichor which drives men to madness.

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Today is an editing day, gotta revisit chapter 2 of the Sunken City. 5K words and a bunch of clarification and cuts have to be made. Maybe a few new elements as well. Hopefully it will flow better than the 1st draft. #author #indieauthor #book #booksky #novel #DeadMansGambit #editing #amwriting

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Today was great for progress, chapter 6 is finished, and I have officially crossed the 16K word threshold. I think the plan now is to take some time to reread the Shadow over Innsmouth, and continue reading Blood Meridian. #amwriting #writerscommunity #writing #author #indieauthor #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Hit double my word count today and did some editing. Today was definitely productive. Tomorrow I want to focus on expanding upon the otherworld as a concept yet again, in addition to my daily writing goal. #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor #author #booksky #fantasy #western #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

I managed to hit my minimum word count of 500 yesterday, and lay out an entire character sheet of a similar length, for one Knight-King Galleus of the Order of the Knight's Penitent. Hope to make similar progress today. #amwriting #indieauthor #writing #booksky #DeadMansGambit #oc

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Thankfully through dedication and practice I'm now able to reach a minimum of 500 words that I am confident in for my writing. Practice really does make perfect. #amwriting #indieauthor #writing #book #booksky #author #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

So the runes mentioned in my initial post this morning are the following. I'm still coming up with the rest of the set. But here you have the infernal runes of the lesser kind, greater kind, and the Wickerman's personal sigil. #artist #sketch #fantasy #drawing #amwriting #DeadMansGambit #booksky

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

I had a strange dream last night, about the various runes and ideographs associated with the Otherworld and their gods. I'll be spending my morning sketching them out so I can post them later for y'all to enjoy. #author #writing #amwriting #writerscommunity #booksky #DeadMansGambit #indieauthor

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

You know, after finally forcing my stubborn self to make up the story board for my novel, suddenly my vision for it is a lot clearer. Who would have thunk, right? 🤣 #amwriting #novel #book #booksky #indieauthor #author #DeadMansGambit

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Before I close down social media and such for the night. Since about 50 of you decided my anecdotes and ruminations are interesting enough to follow me for, I wanted to say thank you. Additionally, I will likely be ramping up my day to day posts with prompts, ideas, and so on as well!

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Kate Elliott @kateelliottsff.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

If I had to recommend 3 things to writers (at all levels), I would start with these 3 (with options for adding more): 1. Be persistent. 2. Be curious about the world, people, history, everything. Expand your horizons. Curiosity is your soil, your ocean, your rock, your air. 3. Never stop learning.

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Finally spent a day organizing lore, character sheets, the magic system and other topics into their own respective folders. I think the rest of today will be spent practicing writing from a different perspective, in third person. #booksky #DeadMansGambit #indieauthor #writing #story #organizing

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

The theme of fantasy metals is fascinating, really. But I wonder what really makes a unique, memorable ore? Tolkien's Mithril seems to have started this trend among fantasy writers. I myself have an idea form mine, but it's still perculating. #amwriting #indieauthor #booksky #book #novel #writing

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S. C. Bartholomew @deadmansgambit.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

As of the new year (in two or so hours) I have 3 completed chapters of my first book, Dead Man's Gambit: The Sunken City. Here is to a new year of progress and excellent story-writing. I wish you all a happy new years! #booksky #book #indieauthor #amwriting #DeadMansGambit #HappyNewYears

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