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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Working on not looking at my querytracker dashboard or email inbox 😅 But also doing all the grueling prepwork for my epic fantasy!

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I'm dreadful at the whole social media thing, but... I have queried my (hopefully debut) novel, The Wake of Morkvall! vm.tiktok.com/ZNRKnffaF/ #amwriting #amquerying #booksky

vm.tiktok.com

TikTok - Make Your Day

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I will be querying Wake of Morkvall in a few days! 2.5 years, five drafts, dev edit, beta, trimming, and the book is finally ready 🐳❤️ Whalepunk fantasy heist, inspired by Lies of Locke Lamora, Six of Crows, and Dishonored. Fingers crossed!! #amwriting #querying

Moodboard for Wavewaker: a Whalepunk fantasy heist. Grimy, 1890s Victorian.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I'll be querying my whalepunk fantasy heist novel in a few weeks. I know not to expect much, querying is basically impossible and I'm trying to debut at 139k words. Epic fantasy doesn't really debut. But I really, truly believe in this book. Fingers crossed 🐳 #amwriting

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Next two reads to get myself read for the coming fifth draft of Wake of Morkvall (querying soon-ish?!)

Two books:
1. Leviathan (Scott Westerfeld)
2. Perdido Street Station (China Miéville)

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Congratulations to the author! Always fun with good news, love the pitch 😁❤️

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Reposted by Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer

Scott Lynch @scottlynch78.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

I'm seeking an artist to do a digital cover illustration for the standalone ebook edition of my story "Kaiju Agonistes." I'm looking for something in the $300 range (plus, I profit share): stylized, not elaborately realistic. You can see my existing e-book trade dress at: www.scottlynchstore.com

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

*waits patiently for you to get to *that* scene in Wavewaker*

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Still baffles me she's so popular, but I'm glad she ended up working out. Working hard in edits to polish her parts 🐳😊

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Seems like it! I am worried I'll have to shelf this project and try to write something shorter to get my foot in the door, but I guess I'll know after querying 😁

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

The Name of the Wind is hauntingly beautiful. As someone heavily inspired by Kingkiller, I do hope there's still space in publishing for epic fantasy. Querying even 135k words seems difficult, though (based on querytracker).

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Cleaning out old notebooks and... My "Write A Book In 30 Days"-plan when I was 15 is unintentionally absolutely hilarious.

A notebook with a teenager's handwriting:

Day one
Three reasons why I want to write a book.

1. To be able to show my perspective and opinions with the world
2. The longing to feel pride because of something I did.
3. To feel closure by finishing something in my life

Day two

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I might be a writer one day(and also my partner). A long shot but if I don't get up and work I'll lose.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I think emotional depth for characters. Alean's struggle with the guilt, shame, and self-loathing that comes with poverty mirrored by Priscilla's struggle with the intersection of privilege and disability is really strong. That, and I've heard my dialogue is good 😊 I'm no Scott Lynch, but 🤣

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Lies of Locke Lamora is *so* fun. I am very inspired by Scott Lynch with Wavewaker, and yes, fantasy heists are delightful. Drama, schemes, trickery, adventure. And a lot of trauma hehe

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The setting is such a cool part of the book 🐳😊❤️

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

SIX OF CROWS x DISHONORED x LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA Magical whale oil, exploitative capitalists -- and one legendary thief who decides to rob the safest oil vault in the city. But he can't do it alone. 🐳 Victorian whalepunk 🐳 Fantasy heist 🐳 Star-crossed lovers 🐳 Found family #Bluepit 📖 #A #F #Q

Moodboard of a grimy, whalepunk fantasy heist novel called Wavewaker.

Wavewaker Tropes & Themes:
- Underdog MC
- Socioeconomic disillusionment
- Morally grey characters
- Found family
- Star-crossed lovers
- Grounded magic system
- Undercover heist

Excerpt from Wavewaker, from the character Alean:
Al remembered scampering to his first shift, lost in the sea of day-dresses and overcoats. He’d been nine, his parents bedridden with rattling coughs and burning fevers. Stage one of the Rot, common in their line of work. They had been whalers—still were, presumably—and time ashore without work was brutal. Time sick was even worse. They had cut the heating to keep food on the table. To protect him. They had thought Al hadn’t understood what was happening, but he had.
The factory foreman had made him crawl under the roaring boiler to stick his hand between the cogs and clear up jamming. He’d had to exhale fully to fit under the tightest spots, bumping his head when he turned. It had only been for a month, but he’d had nightmares of being buried alive ever since. That was part of why he’d eventually gone to the public church schools, studying for the University’s Apprentice exam, learning reading, reasoning, rhetoric.
He had been nothing back then. Just another idiot with a dream, barely seventeen and flush with pride. He had told his parents he wouldn’t go on that last whaling tour, had shown them his acceptance letter. The proudest day of his life. The most shameful day of theirs.
“Don’t think you’re better than us,” mother had said. “We fed you, clothed you, and put a roof over your head, and you piss your life away on pride?”
Al picked up his pace.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

So excited to participate in this again! I finally have the manuscript I want to try to publish and sharing with fellow writers is fantastic 😊

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

If I ever get traditionally published i will come back to this comment and link it 🤣❤️

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

My (hopefully) debut novel is getting incredible feedback from beta readers 😊 Draft four edits will be tricky but super manageable. In a few months I'll be querying this Victorian Whalepunk fantasy heist novel, inspired by Six of Crows and Lies or Locke Lamora 🐳❤️

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

What does it mean when your editor says she loves the book and beta readers are staying up late to read, then gushing? Is it an ill omen?

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Good editors are a blessing. It's magical to see someone read your story and with surgical precision elevate it to something far better.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

This email from my editor is in my "for a rainy day"-folder. Been feeling a bit disheartened about my chances of becoming traditionally published and writing full-time, but it's really special to have someone who knows the industry truly believe in you. Going to keep editing my inciting incident.

Screenshot of editor's email to me:

I strongly disagree that Al is the only really well-written character, especially as you've moved through rounds of revisions. I think there was a time when it was mostly the Al show, but you've moved past that. The good news is, this feeling is normal. You're tinkering with teeny, tiny details and you're focusing on those details rather than the book as a holistic whole. This work is necessary and important and will pay off in the end, but remember that the *whole book* is what really matters. You're doing the work of making sure emotional throughlines show up in each scene, that every character has a real motivation and arc, and that those motivations and arcs are demonstrated (at least a little) on the page. That's good and I'm impressed by the progress you've made.

BUT. Just because you've made progress doesn't mean the previous version was bad. A professional athlete continues to train to improve their performance, but they were already a professional athlete. Same goes for musicians. They can keep practicing and refining, but you would never say that they were bad just because they were a violinist with the second best orchestra in the world. You're a good writer. You have a good story. You have the ability to make a career of this. Of course you will continue to improve your craft and refine the product as you go. But that does not mean the previous drafts were poorly done.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Absolutely gorgeous cover and sprayed edge 👀

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Reposted by Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer

Writer's Block @writersblockds.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Fight For Your Write returns! We previously hosted #FFYW in June and we'll be hosting on again this September! Details in the poster below. This event is perfect for anyone hoping to fill the hole left behind by #campnano & #nanowrimo! #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky See you soon!

Fight For Your Write is a month-long customizable writing challenge which takes place during September. The goal? Whatever you'd like! 25K words of your novel, thirty pages of script, five short stories, or just to write everyday—however you prefer to track your progress!

All you have to do is write! You can keep us updated on your progress using the #FFYW tag, follow @writersblockds for tips, questions, check-ins, and fun events, or join our Discord server at: discord.gg/writingcommunity.

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Reposted by Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer

Writer's Block @writersblockds.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Six days left until our August Competition ends--the theme is "Resistance." The challenge is to write a short story in 1000 words or under. It's friendly--the winner gets bragging rights and chooses the next theme! If you're up for it, come join us below! #writingcommunity #amwriting #writesky

discord.gg

Join the Writer's Block Discord Server!

Writer's Block is an on-topic writing server that focuses on fiction, including fanfiction, short stories, novels, scripts, and screenplays. | 849 members

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Also, the market has shifted and does shift. Some masterpieces from decades ago might've struggled to query in 2025. And really, some books just aren't for debuting. (*Hides three 150k+ epic fantasy novels*)

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Wavewaker's query letter is finally done. Stupidly difficult to pull off, but one step closer to querying. Now... All the act 2 edits 😭😭😭

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

You know, I've don't believe in manifesting, but I imagine there's a chance I'll become an author one day and think back on this slog not fondly, but proudly. Besides, the world needs a Whalepunk fantasy heist novel with a star-crossed lovers romance. I think. 🐳 #amwriting #booksky

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Fun! I'll read the sample after work 👀 Yessss, love Lies of Locke Lamora. Scott Lynch is a genius at dialogue, setting, character, and his schemes are diabolical. But the heart of Wavewaker is unlearning meritocracy, interestingly enough. That's the main romance/arc. Also schemes 😊

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Fingers crossed! A Goodreads search said it's also Arthurian, eh? 👀 I'll have a peek! Wavewaker is a Whalepunk fantasy heist 🐳

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

It must be mind-blowing to see the book you put all the work in on the shelf 😊 I have a scifi bookstore in my city I hope I'll see Wavewaker in one day. Now I'm curious to read what Eltaris is about 👀

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Thank you!! In the final stages of editing draft 3, the editor I hired is really optimistic about my querying chances but going to keep working until it's as good as I can make it 😤

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

I'm writing an amazing book. It'll take a long time to get it ready, but man... I've never felt like so many threads coming together. It's hard. It's *brutally* hard. But the Victorian Whalepunk fantasy heist is coming together. This might end up being my debut. #booksky #amwriting

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Main character's best friend is flirting with the evil sword lady villain. Things are going well. #amwriting #booksky

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

It's an amazing book! I've read it more than once to try to improve my dialogue and prose, and the third act is *nuts*.

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Jakob Lingaas 📚 Querying Writer @jlingaas.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Homesick ;__; For all the fantasy writing about traveling, I would be a terrible protagonist because I just want to build a nest. Can't quite settle down and feel safe when traveling (hostels, etc).

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