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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 28/09/2026

I cut over SIXTEEN THOUSAND WORDS while editing my fantasy arctic Western, The Law of Armelith. Actually more than 16k cut because I cut and rewrote the ending, but I only tracked full pass milestones 1st draft: 100k 1st cut: 91k Revamp ending: 103k 2nd cut: 95k #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 27/09/2026

Hummingbirds! The only species we have in Ontario, the ruby-throated hummingbird - but only males have the ruby throat and they're all on migration already. Only females left. They were SUPER AGGRESSIVE at ramming each other midair for food. Phone photos! #bird #birds #birding #wildlifephotography

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 26/09/2026

The Law of Armelith second beta draft is posted! It's a fantasy arctic Western where Winstead searches for the meaning of the Law and Ambrose tries to weasel out of it. All feedback helps, message me for access! #books #fantasy #fantasybooks #betareads

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 26/09/2026

My top goal on the trip to Long Point was to get a good look at some sandhill cranes. For two days we saw them in an inaccessible marsh by a road where we couldn't stop. On the third day we drove real slow and leaned out the windows 😅 #bird #birds #birding #wildlifephotography

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 25/09/2026

Went camping at Long Point for fall migration birdwatching with friends! @jasonslivingroom.bsky.social The bird photos are coming, but first, look at how well the campfire steaks turned out. Would have been happy to pay for this at a restaurant! #food #foodie #foodporn #camping

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 24/09/2026

New chapter of Ravenshore's Antimagic! Sorry I'm late; was out birding & camping with friends. Early access for paid subs; free in a couple months. Patreon: www.patreon.com/u94793856/po... Substack: thesquidsink.substack.com/p/ravenshore... #fantasy #books #fantasybooks

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 22/09/2026

Hi I'm supposed to post a novel chapter today but I am birdwatching at Long Point, thanks

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 20/09/2026

You should read my books because I don't use or support AI and I do not appear in the Epstein files #books #booksky #fantasy

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 20/09/2026

Figured it out. Will break it up with a bonus chapter in the middle since two other characters need another bit of bridging anyway, and in the middle of a slow part is a good place. #writing #writers #authors #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 19/09/2026

I know all words are made up and what they mean is arbitrary and changes over time. When some kid tells me a "9 to 5" is any job with eight hour shifts five days a week and therefore I'm a 9 to 5er, no the fuck I'm not, that's not what those words mean, I wish I had those hours!

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 19/09/2026

Slow editing today because I found the specific two weakest boringest chapters. I'm trying to decide how to make them drag less but still communicate two weeks of mostly uneventful but monotonous, freezing, starving travel. #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 19/09/2026

Me: feels like fall Coworker: it's not that bad Me: I never said it was bad

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 18/09/2026

According to my frame-by-frame analysis of the 60FPS video, this green heron achieved maximum zoop in under 1/20th of a second. #bird #birds #birding #wildlifephotography #naturephotography

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 17/09/2026

Normally when leaving work I let Diefenbaker off leash and tell him to go to the boat, but I shouldn't have done it ten seconds after he saw a squirrel. Turned around and he was 300m away barking up a tree 😅 #dog #dogs #jackrussell

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 16/09/2026

The Law of Armelith has gone from 101k words to 91k to 105k and now I'm back down under 100k again! Good cuts are good progress! #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 16/09/2026

Got an email from an "AI" trying to sell me AI editing service. All the issues with that aside - who even gets the money??? 1000% hard no but at least this one told me what it was... #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 16/09/2026

The Law of Armelith (fantasy arctic Western) is 7 chapters longer than the first draft but only 1000 words longer due to all the cuts! Almost halfway through my current edit pass. #authors #writing #writers #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 15/09/2026

The Law of Armelith, my fantasy arctic Western, is in second round of beta reading! Three all-new chapters and a completely re-worked ending, plus tweaks and cuts. Always looking for feedback - willing to trade notes! Patch notes: www.patreon.com/posts/169624... #writing #authors #editing #writers

patreon.com

The Law of Armelith BETA Round Two & Patch Notes! | The Squid's Ink

Hi beta readers and potential beta readers! I've been working on the second draft of my fantasy arctic western The Law of Armelith even befo

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 13/09/2026

When four readers say the mystery of my character motivations hooks them and one says it's too vague to connect with, it's easy to decide the four are right and the one isn't my target audience. But actually I need to think about how I can grab that fifth person. #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 12/09/2026

Goal: Post the next draft of The Law of Armelith, my fantasy arctic Western, on September 15th. Complication: I need to do another edit pass through the entire novel start to finish and I'm working today, Sunday, and Tuesday. 🤞🏻 #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 11/09/2026

Drafting my short story for this month. Wanted to do something that ties into the novel I'm editing to maintain my momentum. It turned into more of a bonus chapter that would fit pretty well in the 1st act. But I wrote the book without that chapter so can I really just drop it in? #authors #writing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 11/09/2026

Up close and personal with a black-crowned night heron on my dock, too young to know it should be hiding. #bird #birds #birding #naturephotography

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 09/09/2026

How did I write a novel about a woman getting rid of the spirit in her revolver and then write a completely separate novel where a woman gets a spirit into her revolver

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 08/09/2026

New chapter of Ravenshore's Antimagic! Kat hunts down a dueling champion she met a couple years ago, now not doing so good. Early access for members, free October 22 Patreon: www.patreon.com/u94793856/po... Substack: thesquidsink.substack.com/p/ravenshore... #fantasy #fantasybooks #writing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 05/09/2026

Green heron hunting dragonflies on my dock! I turned around and it was right there, not at all shy or even worried about my dog. #bird #birds #birding

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 05/09/2026

I need to get a job that doesn't make me dread and hate Saturdays and holiday weekends

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 05/09/2026

Diefenbaker attempting to board a boat he knows has snacks for him #dog #dogs #jackrussell

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 01/09/2026

New short story! Jr detective Roland takes the case no one else will. Early access for members, free Oct 1 Patreon: www.patreon.com/u94793856/po... Substack: thesquidsink.substack.com/p/lifetime-s...

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 01/09/2026

Who needs CNE food when you can go to The Wren? Bacon donut maple cheeseburger! #food #foodporn #foodie #burgers

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 31/08/2026

I keep forgetting Orson Scott Card is still alive. I may be subconsciously confusing him with Orson Welles? #books

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 29/08/2026

Think I'm done adding chapters to The Law of Armelith draft. Gotta do another full pass for consistency, squeeze some more notes in, and cuts. #writing #writers #authors #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 29/08/2026

Not sure if I can legally say this in the actual novel, but in my upcoming fantasy arctic western The Law of Armelith, magic bullets called "Miss" can never miss their shot - because they're enchanted with the spell Magic Missile. #authors #writers #writing #worldbuilding #fantasy #fantasybooks

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 29/08/2026

Still working on fantasy arctic Western draft update. Whole new ending complete! Late middle needs a new chapter or two and an extension after the storm. When that's done I'll do another pass through the whole thing. #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 28/08/2026

We won't make it to the CNE this year but luckily The Wren brought the CNE to us on Monday #food #foodie #foodporn #burger

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 24/08/2026

Paid "$0" for The Old King's Crown with Magic card trade ins! Art is gorgeous, components feel great, heard only good things about the unique blend of mechanics. Super excited to try it out after I get through the 50 page rule book and convince a few people that it's manageable. #boardgames

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 22/08/2026

Doing more editing on this novel than I have on any fiction I've written before and it's FUN. I know it needs improvement and figuring it out is a big puzzle. Haven't started the ending revamp but I added a whole extra chapter today and a ton of extra theme/backstory/lore. #authors #editing #writing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 22/08/2026

New chapter of Ravenshore's Memory! Kat's investigation is not going great and she may have made enemies out of friends, but there is a link. Early access for members, free Nov Patreon: www.patreon.com/u94793856/po... Substack: thesquidsink.substack.com/p/ravenshore... #fantasy #books #fantasybooks

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 21/08/2026

Gonna completely trash the finale of my WIP fantasy arctic Western novel The Law of Armelith. Got a couple thousand words of notes on a dramatically reworked and expanded ending with more stakes and personal interest and choices for the protagonists. #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 21/08/2026

I love when people tell me my dog looks like the one from Tintin and I get to say "actually" and pull out this photo from Halloween 2018 #tintin #dog #dogs #dogsky

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 21/08/2026

Looking through the notes I left myself for future editing Cool note 1: nice, a little expansion on backstory and motivation, I know the perfect two spots Cool note 2: wow really great idea on weaving a whole new theme throughout, which, um, uhhhh #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 20/08/2026

Starting my first serious edit of The Law of Armelith! After cutting redundant words/sentences I'm now incorporating my 2 years of random notes, a few new thoughts, and some beta feedback. I'm compiling patch notes 🤣 #authors #writers #writing #writingcommunity #edit #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 20/08/2026

Me: I should send my novel's early draft out for some feedback to help fix the issues I know are there Me immediately after sending: What have I done it's not good enough for people to look at #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 19/08/2026

Finished 1st pass of fantasy arctic Western! Cut from 100,826 to 91,821. IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!! After re-familiarizing and cutting excess, time to look at structure, plot, characters and decide what works & what needs work. Beta readers would help, hint hint. #authors #writers #writing #editing

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The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte @thesquidsink.com · 15/08/2026

"Is he really a Jack Russell? He's not jumping around." Diefenbaker, jump "Oh okay yeah" #dog #dogs #dogsky #jackrussell

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