iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Hamnet sat on my bookshelf for months, but for some reason I couldn't get into it. I exchanged it at a second-hand bookstore, and instantly everyone started talking about it. Not saying one thing is connected to the other, but it isn't the first time this has happened! #booksky #reading #books

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Beginning a new round of querying. I like to think of every rejection as, what we call, an 'answer paper leak'. It tells me clearly, what is not working with the current query. Cry hope, and let loose the new queries! #amquerying #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

The issue is: The speed at which I read books is slower than the speed at which I discover new books. #booksky #reading #books

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

My writing resolution for the year: Get out of my own way and let the writing happen. Also: From the heart, not the head. #writing #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Craft bridges the distance between how you see it in your head and how it turns out on paper. #writesky #Writingcommunity #writerswisdom

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Going over the first draft. I know I will get a very well-written, good story, I'm wondering what will pique an agent's interest. Am getting into my head as usual; it's an old problem. Apparently good and nice is not enough. Agents want unforgettable! I'm so stuck. Sigh #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

I usually fix character names before the first draft. But this time, the OG name didn't 'feel right'. So I had to change the name of the protagonist. Now everything feels different; he is a different person, and he wants to do and say things differently! Happened to you? #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Some days I cannot read another line from a book on writing, I cannot watch another video about plotting, structure, or writing great sentences; and although I have learnt so much from others, some days I simply cannot bear another person's voice in my head. Some days... #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Was talking to a friend about what I'm currently writing: a deep, emotional story, exploring many moral greys. And, yet, I'm not making it weepy, sad, heavy, but rather, hopeful. He said, that's going to be tough, how will you manage it? Of all the stories, why this? #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Working on draft 2 of the manuscript. The file is called "real working" even though I know the title. I can't put the title as the doc name until the very very end, when I know it's all revised, checked, and done. And ready to go to the first readers. What about you? #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Back here after a while, and with a nice update. I've finished the first draft of my novella. Finally! This is a huge deal for me for various reasons. I managed to write 3 manuscripts of 50k, 110k, and 80k words over a period of 7 years. But from 2019, I absolutely struggled.

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Barely made a dent in the word count of my WIP. But managed to overhaul my submission package for my previous MS. Researched a bunch of agents and sent a new set of queries. I like it when my MS is out there, working for me, trying to impress agents. #writesky #writingcommunity #amquerying

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Started sending a new batch of query letters. There is always a lot of hope and optimism, when I start this process. I have reworked the query letter, the synopsis, even changed the title of the novel. And I think this set of queries is much stronger and sharper. Send me luck! #Iamquerying #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

The initial energy to post regularly waned and I reverted to my old self of not talking about my writing. Just WIPsnips posts felt adequate. Ha ha... damn this is tough. Also, progress on the novel has been sporadic. Am somewhat at the halfway mark of the 50k novella. #writesky #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Another rejection. After so many, it should be easier to handle. But no. Sometimes I feel I want an underdog agent to represent an underdog writer (me), who is trying to come up from the slush pile. So we both want this to work. I think there's a possible story here. #amquerying #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Just wrapped up an emotional chapter. One that ends: At the inevitable moment, both of them would remember this night; it would be the last time they held hands and called each other by their old nicknames. #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #writer

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Does anyone use a typewriter for the first draft? I find it hard to get serious writing done on them. I'm spoiled by the backspace key. Something changes when typing. My writing and thinking are different. I am more conscious, scared even, of errors #writesky #writingcommunity #typewriter #writer

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Quiet day. Wrote about 700 words. Did some tweaking, correcting, and changing earlier pages. Not much, not nothing either. Chipping away. Keep reminding myself writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. #writer #writesky #amwriting

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Happened again. Picked up a highly rated book, critically acclaimed, bestseller max pro; labelled funny, disturbing, essential, and lot more. But it simply didn't work for me. Struggled till 50% and gave up. With no judgements, the book is Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh. Happened to you? #booksky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Today's WIPsnips word is "clown". I've written three manuscripts, 45k words, 110K, 85k. And I haven't used the word clown a single time! Maybe I should give my characters a break and let them have some fun once in a while. #writing #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Got about 1800 words. My target was a little more, but I will take this. i'm just greedy! It is amazing how many 'small' tasks around the house quietly take away so much time. It is equally amazing how easily you can push these tasks for later-if you really wanted to #amwriting #writesky #writer

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Curious to know about writers' rituals. I simply sit at my desk, open the files, maybe read a bit of what I last wrote... and start. Some have told me they: 1. Read what they've written 2. Read their fav author or book 3. Pray, meditate, some deep breathing Do you have a ritual? #writer #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

When does a writer become a writer? I've always had trouble calling myself a writer when I am not published. Many writing books say, "you write, therefore you are a writer." It is hard for me to accept that, and so I am stuck with an imposter syndrome. Sigh. #writingcommunity #writer #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

I didn't get to 3k words; I managed 2553. I'll take that. This is one of the most productive days I've had in the last 6 years, since I've been struggling to get some decent writing done. A part of me feels it's because I made a commitment here to write 3k words. #writer #amwriting #writingcommunity

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Working on an up-lit romance featuring middle-aged protagonists. I had written some chapters earlier in a first person POV, but now feel a third person POV is better. So today I plan to change it to third person. Hopefully, clock in about 3000 words. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writesky

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Arun Shankar @dispatch48.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

So, I am a writer. And I want to post once a day, about the process of writing and how my novel is coming along. I don't expect anyone to read this, or even find this. If you are a writer, reader, agent, publisher and you find this, wow, hi. I don't even know what hashtags to use #writesky #writer

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