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Erik Mercer

@erikmercer.bsky.social
2.3K followers 2.8K following 370 posts

SciFi/fantasy author, translator, language nerd, psychology. Author of "Vagabonds & Bureaucrats". Out there to support fellow writers!

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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Tbh I love writing and talking about writing comedy. Comedy is the green-skinned alien, asked where they are from due to a weird dialect, answering with "Barcelona." The trick is to write the moment of awkward silence that follows. Some can't stand letting it sit on the page.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I recently read a story that illustrated incredibly well why being a good writer in one genre doesn't make you a good writer in all of them. Let me explain. #writingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I've had a lifelong issue with the word "integration". Every chap advocating for the integration of others always believes it means those others had to integrate with _their_ views. Trying to define how "they" have to think while screaming about defending "freedom".
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
There is a cold cake recipe for situations where you get surprise visitors. It takes 15 minutes and has only two ingredients: Left over cookies and chocolate. Take a cake tin, put a layer of cookies, pour molten chocolate, and repeat the process until full. Freeze for 15 minutes.
Cold dog cake
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The verb "to blarney", meaning "to sweet-talk", goes back to Queen Elizabeth I, who famously exclaimed, "All I hear is blarney," as a reaction to Lord Cormac MacCarthy of Blarney Castle constantly refusing her demands of surrender through flattery. #WritingCommunity
Blarney Castle
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I was informed, I owed people an update on my writing buddies. So here we go (left to right): Gobhi, Gajar, Umbu, and Maru. They are sending greetings! Happy #Caturday to everybody in the #WritingCommunity!
Four cats sitting on a window sill.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Media manipulation and propaganda is everywhere, intentional and unintentional. It doesn't have to be a lie; selecting which stories to report or not report, which aspects to emphasize or play down, whether or not to post a correction to a previous mistake. Results are the same.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Now, I'll admit I've learned the "decoy trick" from software engineering, my day job. When I had to motivate a team, I brought an empty DVD box, had them come up with a fake product name + blurb + cover, and we put the printed box where all could see. Worked every time.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
One of the motivation tricks while writing is to make an decoy of your finished book. So, meet the cast of "Dragon Riders Of Amber": "Scarface" AKA Lt. Jekora, MC Airmate Jana Dagar, Airmate Matis, Airmate Asara, Airship Captain Jepa Jefa, and First Mate Jamee. #amWriting
Book cover. The text reads "Dragon Riders Of Amber."A set of six feline characters wearing crimson uniforms.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
For world building, it makes sense to keep in mind that everything is intertwined. For instance, if you invest heavily in military, those funds will be missing somewhere else. Your political posture will be more aggressive and you may want a return on investment for your efforts.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Writing is akin to painting with words. And sometimes, what we leave out is what lends the unexpected and unusual more impact. #amWriting
A blue watering can hanging on a string in the air like a rain cloud, while the rest of the colors is subdued to black and white.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Another strategy to explore in world building is economic embrace. This strategy for peace is to deliberately intertwine your own economy with that of your enemy to a point where your enemy cannot attack you without collapsing their own commercial or financial system. #amWriting
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
If you need inspiration on how to complicate your warring MC's life in your fantasy or historic fiction piece, keep one mantra in mind: Soldiers and weapons may fight battles, but logistics is what wins wars. #amWriting
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Interested in legal limits of AI? Follow the court case of GEMA vs Suno. Three ingredients: Extraterritorial application of law, no "fair use" exceptions for AI, and a special liability law that can make you liable if you enable the actions of others. #WritingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We should appreciate the impact of supply chains in worldbuilding. For instance: Oil is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds. A refinery is built to deal with only one such mixture, cracking longer to shorter chains, resulting in a set of petrochemical products. #writingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
One key focus of world building is demonstrated to us at the moment: The importance of logistics and resources cannot be overstated. Take oil. Oil is not a homogeneous substance but a mixture of hydrocarbon and impurities. a refinery is custom built to handle a specific mix.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Status update: Word count at 120048, aiming at 130k before starting full edits.
A black book cover. The title reads "Dragon Riders of Amber"Word count: 120048
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
#AmEditing today. There is a character I'm introducing towards the last third of the book and that one does need some hinting ahead of time since she is having some impact. If anybody needs me, I'm in chapter 32. Wish me luck #WritingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I know that I'm reading a #SciFi Utopia when somebody is asking for work to be done and they actually show up. In the real world, I've had greedy hotels ditching order forms and phone numbers for AI assistants, who hallucinated my reservation. This timeline is weird.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Our dog is mischief. Today, I was in the garden, as he pushed the door shut behind me, locking me out. Then scratched at it for good measure. Luckily a bedroom window was still ajar. So, I coax it open, climb on the fence, and lift myself on the window sill, before wiggling in.
photo of a black dog
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The more you know: Apparently, in case of a power outage, electric shutters are wired to open automatically and need power restored to close again, so people won't get trapped inside. Meaning that Zombie movies have been lying to us for years! #WritingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I guess the most existential crisis a fictional hero can face is to realize that despite having the capacity, their world neither seeks nor appreciates being saved. Strangely enough, most heroes in literature never face rejection. #WritingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Your artistic voice changes the feel of your work. In painting it's obvious: Choice of colors, how much detail is provided, do you sketch your characters with as a rough shape or do you go full detail? The same translates to writing, but through other means. #WritingCommunity
Photo of two people standing on an empty street, facing each other. The picture has a monochrome blue color, making it feel cold.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
While anybody can write, writing in a way that engages readers comes as an instinct for some. The challenge is to convert what some people instinctively grasp into an actionable list of bullet points that anybody can work with. Doing this, however, requires some basic psychology.
Photograph of the Dublin library at Trinity College.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Fun fact: The word "Easter" is related to the Germanic term for "dawn", which itself is linked to the Greek and Latin words "Eos" and "Aurora" referring to the same thing. The word also has an Indo-Germanic source which can be used as a verb and means: "to birth the flame".
Photo of the morning sky
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Have a wonderful #Easter weekend, everybody!
Decorated Easter table
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
People sometimes think writing #SciFi or #Fantasy is easy: You just make it up. How hard can it be? Very, as it turns out. Because rather than being able to look up how it works, you need to built a whole consistent, complete, non-contradictory society that is still fun to read.
black and white picture of a medieval village
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
When writing #SciFi or #Fantasy taverns, one thing rarely explored are dietary restrictions. Not even the species on our own planet share uniform dietary needs, and much of what one finds a delicacy is lethal to another. Why would, aliens or fantasy creatures be any different?
Picture of a bowl of unknown fruits, and two open jars of mysterious contents.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
As a #SciFi writer, I'm shocked how politicians are convinced that of all jobs on the planet, a biased fictional persona hallucinating statistics, economic success, and international victories is the one thing that could never be replaced by financially incorruptible, asexual AI.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
I found a copy of my 1st attempt at a #LitRPG story. "How to sharpen a cooking pot--tail weapons for dummies" is still in heavy rewrites, adding a ton of new material, alongside the character information typical for the genre. But, a couple of scenes I might just keep.
Sample scene. Left side is cover featuring a stylized cooking pot attached to a tail. The title reads "How to sharpen a cooking pot. Tail weapons for dummies."
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Editing and got a question. My protagonist isn't aware her best friend is an ex-alcoholic. Oblivious, she begs a favor that causes him to drink again. Caught up in her own issues she doesn't notice his distress. Would this push readers to actively dislike her? #writingCommunity
Book cover for "Erik Mercer" - "Dragon Riders of Amber"Chapter sample
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Happy #CaturDay from the Maru and Gajar, the #WritersCats!
picture of two cats sleeping under a blanket
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
On February 17, we entered the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse. Happy New Year to all our friends! What's interesting for #worldbuilding: Draco Malfoy (from Harry Potter) popped up as its a mascot, as the name roughly translates to "lucky horse". #writingCommunity
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
While writing books in Italian might still be some way off, I will give edits on my German language training book a final push. I have the results of my target group research, so with some final touches, I may proceed to typesetting. #amwriting #writingcommunity
Book cover featuring the title in German and information on the level being for students who are transitioning from A2 to B1 level.A text sample.An example of a training section featuring the names of parts of a human face.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
I've learned Italian for two years on #Duolingo. Do I speak Italian? No. That might just be me, but memorization isn't my style of learning, and the app focuses on it exclusively. What it does it does well, but knowing the "what" without the "why" isn't for me.
Photo of the Colosseum in Rome.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
#ValentinesDay is named after Bishop Valentine of Terni, killed February 14th 269 for illegally marrying young couples. He is believed to have paid the occasional dowry out of his own pocket, and to present newly weds with flowers. St. Valentine's Day was 1st celebrated in 496.
Two people holding hands.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
I finally took some time to prepare covers for book 1 to 3. Yes, writing and editing is the priority. However, adding a cover makes it feel more real. Like promise that "yes, we are doing this, and we are doing it now". #amWriting #WritingCommunity
Book cover featuring a stylized bomb with a forbidden sign covering it and the title "package rejected, return to sender".Book cover showing a stylized spiral galaxy looking a bit like a rotating liquid surrounded by the title "vegetarian chicken soup"Book cover featuring a stylized face of an alien woman with thick red lips and her streaks of hair spelling out the title "muh meetha karo!"
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
In light of recent events, I decided to update the design of my book #cover. #amWriting #WritingCommunity
Book cover featuring an abstract Irish hard with stars instead of strings, mimicking the flag of a star system on a black ground. The publisher title reads "Rock - Paper - Dagger". The author is "Erik Mercer". The book is titled "Ruling the stars. A beginner's guide on how to build your own galactic empire; and live to tell about it."
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Happy #RepublicDay to our friends in India. Enjoy a wonderful and sunny day.
Photo showing the flag of India flying over the Red Fort in Delhi
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Happy lazy #Caturday #WritersCats
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I thought I had seen my fair share of weird stuff. Then, tonight, I scraped a dead mouse from the inside of a car's cabin air filter. Not sure I want to turn that particular experience into a "fresh" story.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
One famous regional legend goes like this: Once upon a time, a woman had a house dragon do her bidding. To get ever richer without being caught, she summoned the dragon and demanded to steal a drop of milk from every cow, a grain of wheat from every stack, and so on. #amWriting
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Legends are rich with creatures, and tales. Folklore attributes to the dwarfs alone named kings and kingdoms, who even went to war with each other. Forests and mountains are filled with moss and forest people, spirits, ghosts, and countless stories we may utilize in our writing.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
The #kidlit story I'm writing at the moment sees a young witch travel on foot to the Blocksberg for a dance, after she had an accident that left her unable to fly. The actual path taken exists, is 40km long, and can be walked in 10 hours plus breaks. Maybe a bit longer with kids.
Cover of "traveling for witches" featuring the title, and a drawing of a young witch and an orange cat, looking at each other.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
The legendary house dragon took the shape of a lindworm. It could fly, and looked like a white streak moving across the sky. When it was returning home laden with gifts, that streak took a thick barrel shape. Wizards would beguile a dragon by leaving an offering at a crossroads.
Drawing of a dragon's head.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I adore the stories of moss people living in the Harz forests. These sometimes helpful, sometimes vengeful spirits resemble folks, about half as tall as a man, and covered in moss and greens. They help around the house as long as the family lives a life of virtue. #amWriting
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
There are countless legends that fly under the radar. One such is the European "house dragon". I was introduced to this creature at a young age, when my grandmother told me that this particular dragon guarded families and brought great fortune when treated right. #amWriting
Drawing of a lindworm, shattering a picture frame it was trapped in.

Yes, that is my own drawing. And yes, it's not very good.

Cut me some slack. I was twelve.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Finally had the time to sketch one of the illustrations for my #kidlit #book. Meet the giant "Bodo". Folklore has it, he is grumpy, because his bride-to-be got cold feet, stole his magic steed, and made a run for it. He lost his second favorite horse and his crown in the pursuit.
A grumpy giant called Bodo sitting on top of a rock, overlooking the Bode valley.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy New Year 2026 everybody!
Photo of fireworks display.
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Erik Mercer @erikmercer.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
In case you wonder why the new year starts on January 1st in Europe, the answer is Cesar. Cesar swapped the old Roman lunar calendar of 355 days for a 356 days lunisolar calendar, with leap years. The new year is celebrated on the day of the first new moon of winter in 45BC.
Picture of the moon
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