iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Slowly working my way through the many different cosy writing spots on offer at our writing retreat accommodation 🖋️☕️🍁 It’s a testament to how nicely the owners have set it up that 4 days in I still haven’t run out of them😅

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I’m on my first ever writing retreat this week and I tried to resist the urge to pack too many notebooks… managed to reduce it to these four 😅

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Some snaps of the solar eclipse on Wednesday - I watched it up on a hill with friends (and a whole lot of other people!) and there was thankfully not a cloud in sight 🤩☀️

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A decade after a list of fantasy subgenres became one of my most popular posts, I’m revisiting it to see how things have changed: which subgenres have risen or fallen, and how have the terms we use evolved? thoughtsonfantasy.com/2026/08/12/f... #fantasy #subgenres #books

thoughtsonfantasy.com

How fantasy subgenres have changed in the last decade

Explore the evolving landscape of fantasy sub-genres over the last decade, including the rise of romantasy and the emergence of cosy fantasy.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Perfume making machine called the “algorithmic perfumery” in the Silver Egg exhibit at the ZKM Museum ⚙️🧪✨ You buy a card, scan a QR code, chat with an AI about the scent you’d like, and the machine makes it. I went with a friend and we couldn’t resist trying it out - got 2 very different scents!

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Got a lucky snap while racing by that combines three of my favourite things - trains, mountains and castles 🚂🏔️🏰😀 #trains #traintravel #swisstrains

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

500-year-old air bubbles trapped deep in the ice of the Mer de Glace glacier. Of course the glacier is receding at an alarming rate now due to global warming 😢 But it’s still an incredible, haunting place.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I spent the morning hiking and the afternoon working on the first chapter of a new book (the first sequel I’ve ever embarked on) as a thunderstorm rolled in ⛈️ If only all my days looked like this 😅

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Stumbled across this very fairytale-esque ruin on a hike today, replete with a tempting little staircase down to the lake.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I thought I was on a normal Swiss regional train (just hopped on the next one listed on my ticket)… then we started climbing 😅 #trains #traintravel #montblancexpress #accidentallyscenic

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A very picturesque field of barley we cycled through last week. I can see why they filmed that iconic shot in the movie Gladiator - it was kind of mesmerising to watch it moving and rustling in the wind, and it definitely made me want to run my hand over it!

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The “Aachquelle” or Aach spring, where water from the Danube river sinks down through a system of caves and porous stone under the mountains, comes up again here, and heads in a totally different direction. #danube #danuberiver #donauversickerung #interestingfacts

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Hermann Hesse’s typewriter, desk and a collection of his books at the Hesse Museum in Gaienhofen. I especially enjoyed the quote on the wall above the shelves: “There are my books—two walls full, slowly accumulated over both good years and bad—a fine treasure.” ☺️🖋️📚 #writing #writinglife #books

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A question from my (German) husband that really made me laugh this morning: “What’s the name of the flying woman with the umbrella again? It’s not Money Penny, or My Fair Lady, but something like that…”

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Reposted by Nicola Alter

The Fantasy Hive @thefantasyhive.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Our serial convention-goer TO was made up to discover a brand new speculative fiction convention just down the road from him in Belfast! Find out all about the inaugural NORNCON in this first part of TO's convention report Read more here: tinyurl.com/4kadymx3 #Norncon

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Reposted by Nicola Alter

The Fantasy Hive @thefantasyhive.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Today, TO Munro reviews David Green's self-published cosy fantasy MAGIC, MAPS AND MISCHIEF: "Green’s prose is a great strength of the book" Read more:

tinyurl.com

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Felt like a true nerd yesterday when the teenager checking out cinema tickets hesitantly asked if we wanted the free pins they’re giving out and was then clearly surprised by the level of enthusiasm with which I said yes 😂 Another one for my convention badge collection… 😁🪐

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

The time has finally come 🤩🚀 I’ve been looking forward to this film for about a year now… 😅 (Project Hail Mary is one of my favourite books) And in spite of what the German title slide might suggest, I did go to an English screening!

Cinema screen showing a title slide of the film Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. German byline reads “welcome to Forum Cinemas”

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Spiderweb in the rain yesterday with some pretty pearlescent necklace vibes 🕸️

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Continuing my library crawl with a visit to the Gosford Library, which has apparently only recently been completed. They’ve done a great job of it - nice sitting spots, greenery, views. Also they had some Hindi picture books at about my reading level so I was tempted to get stuck into those 😅

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Reposted by Nicola Alter

Kris Straub (كريس)📍PAXAus @krisstraub.com · 29/01/2026

here is a foundational problem with AI art that AI cannot solve: anyone using it to make art cannot identify bad art. you learn how to recognize bad art (and improve as an artist) via MAKING art, which they have already fully rejected. the sets do not intersect.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I decided to continue doing a bit of a tour of local Aussie libraries, this time by spending an afternoon at the small but sweet Woy Woy Library. I met a friend and we both sat there writing away on our laptops for a few hours. Always nice to have company, and the extra accountability it provides!

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Reposted by Nicola Alter

Fantasy-Faction @fantasyfaction.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

The long awaited Silencing of the North, sequel to Seven Deaths of an Empire, releases tomorrow! We're running a give away to celebrate 🥳🎉 Win an ebook of books 1 or 2, or an audiobook of the Corin Hayes series! Look here, or in comments below 👇 fantasy-faction.com/2026/silenci... 💙📚🪐 #Giveaway

Graphic saying: "Give Away!" in gold on green, showing the three book covers, all by GR Matthews:

A Good Day to Die, The Silencing of the North, Corin Hayes Omnibus (audiobook)

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Some otherworldly, glibbery sea foam on the beach today. Love the way it jiggles in the wind!

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The sheer number of Aussie clichés in one sign rather overwhelmed me…

Burger Urge poster reads “bazza’s big bogan burger - get this lot intaya” and shows a giant burger with multiple meat patties, lots of cheese, egg, beetroot and salad, and an Australian flag in the background.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Love that the iconic Brisbane “City Cats” now have a Bluey-themed “City Dog” in the fleet 😄 #Bluey #Brisbane

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I spent the day yesterday editing in one of my old haunts, the State Library of Queensland. It reminded me how many friends I met at various events there over the years and how much I learned - festivals, Genrecon, the QWC/Hachette retreat, writing workshops…

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

I decided to print a manuscript I haven’t looked at in a while and do some edits by hand, hoping that might give me a fresh perspective. It did, and was also just way more satisfying physically reading & scribbling instead of always working on screen. I think I’ll edit this way more often in future!

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Not sure I’d be bold enough to do the throw-it-out-entirely method for a first draft, but I can see how it might help “distill” the story down to the most essential, memorable elements open.substack.com/pub/masoncur... (Source: I originally found this article link via austinkleon.substack.com)

open.substack.com

Rip it up and start again

A bold strategy for second drafts—plus, MITZ on Sunday

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Found a rhinoceros beetle outside on the driveway today! He didn’t seem in the best of heath but we transported him to somewhere safer.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

I just love all the colours and shapes on this beach. So many rockpools, shells, pieces of driftwood and eroded sandstone.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

We went on a morning kayak up a mangrove-filled river on the high tide. Even though there was a town nearby, it felt very much like venturing into deep untouched wilderness.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

The local gang of rainbow lorikeets stopped by ☺️🌈

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

I’m back in Australia for Christmas and the cicadas are definitely making themselves heard at the moment 😅

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Surely spotting a crooked street lamp is good luck?

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

It might seem strange to go up a tower on a cloudy day when there’s no “view” but I really enjoy the moody winter vibes and being surrounded by a constantly shifting sea of white - and this one was at times almost blindingly bright!

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Lessons I should have learned long ago but was reminded of yesterday: - Don’t walk down the stairs in socks. - Don’t carry things in both hands while walking down the stairs in socks. - Don’t chat to someone distractedly while carrying things in both hands and walking down the stairs in socks. 😬

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Some reflections and highlights from #Bristolcon2025. This was my first year participating in the convention as a panellist, which added some newness (and nerves!) to the experience 😀 thoughtsonfantasy.com/2025/11/21/r...

thoughtsonfantasy.com

Reflections on Bristolcon 2025

My highlights from the Bristolcon science fiction and fantasy convention 2025, along with reflections on what it was like to participate as a panellist for the first time.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Sleet on the upstairs window making for a moody autumnal backdrop to the afternoon’s writing session ❄️🖋️

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

My haul from Bristolcon & World Fantasy Con 😀📚 Lots of books I’m looking forward to reading, plus an unseen hoard of good memories: great chats, panels, author meetings and bookstore crawls (I can confirm I’m a sucker for spredges…) plus chances to catch up with old friends and meet new ones ☺️

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Reposted by Nicola Alter

Jennie Ivins @jennieivins.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Good news! Pinterest is giving users an option to turn off AI recommendations! 😃 😃 😃 May ALL the other sites also take the hint! www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-T...

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Stumbled into a unique exhibit at the Truro Cathedral - a spinning model of Mars created using NASA imagery. Quite moving to marvel at a “heavenly body” in a space designed to magnify that feeling of awe, and of the kind where humans have contemplated things greater than themselves for centuries.

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Our train this morning is having technical issues and they’re rebooting it to try to solve the problem. Seems the “have you tried turning it off and on again” mantra holds true even for trains 😂

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

I’ve seen many a car wash, but this is the first time I’ve ever spotted a train wash 😀 #trains #penzance #gwr

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Nicola Alter @nicolaalter.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

I thought I had all my priorities for the day in order, but it seems there’s something mind blowing 140 yards ahead that is going to make me reconsider everything…

Red traffic sign on an empty UK street that reads “changed priorities 140 yards ahead” with a 20mph speed limit below it.

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