iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

There is one cafe near me that does it just right: no syrup bottles, real pumpkin purée, 👌🏻

Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

If your pumpkin spice latte isn’t made with real pumpkin (or squash) I don’t want it. Get that fake too-sickeningly-sweet nonsense out of my seasonally-appropriate subtly-sweet treat 😤

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

There is one cafe near me that does it just right!! No syrup bottles, real pumpkin purée, 👌🏻

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It is already bending! As expected 😂 but I’m glad for that! The actual writing is illuminating exactly what needs to be tweaked. And yes - writing happens in-between naps, during whatever childcare help I can snag, and for an hour or so after she goes down for the night. Yay new parenthood! ❤️😆

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Wow it’s happening!? I’m writing my novella!? I have a solid outline and now I’m drafting!? Even while taking care of a four month old!? Damn, that’s awesome. I’m excited and proud! #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Proxy artwork I designed for the Baneslayer Angel from Magic: the Gathering. Flying, first strike, lifelink, protection from Demons and from Dragons 🔥 #procreate #mtg #art

Fierce female angelic warrior with a sword flying through a stormy sky, illuminated by a single beam of bright light breaking through the dark clouds.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

If you see this, recommend a short book. I must second the SPREAD ME (by Sarah Gailey) recommendation!!! Also, while not a book, the short story SAGITTARIUS by Greg Hrbek is fantastic.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I haven’t published yet but I think the real secret here is to remember that ALL art is subjective. There will be people who like your second book way better than your first and vice versa. People who love them all. And people who will never like any. That’s what I try and keep in mind as I go!

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I write because it’s fun! I wish I had a more profound answer than that, but for me, having fun is kind of the whole point of creativity 😊 #pretendpanel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I wish there was more tangible, irl support for new mothers (and not simply one million digital posts to wade through alone). I wish it were easier to find community in this exhausting, lonely, difficult time.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You have always been fantastic at writing realistic couples who are devoted to each other; I’m always so invested in the romances you include in your stories!

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Writing style? Tolkien and Murakami Haruki. Subject matter/genre/characterization? Brandon Sanderson.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I would give anything for 8 hours of consecutive sleep.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Actually, who are we kidding, being super into MtG is my actual financial downfall lmao

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Buying fancy coffees (aka my preferred sweet treat) is my financial downfall…

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I know I’m a (sleep deprived) mushroom person when I read this and immediately thought “oh but that would be so cute! Like the mushroom!” But as a curly haired girl, I understand your actual meaning too 😂

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

My character Urena, from my other WIP (currently on hold), is also bi! She worked as a sex worker before becoming the equivalent of a secret agent in her world.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Yes! Ezra, the main character of my current WIP is bi 🎉 There’s no romance/sex in this WIP (a novella), but I have intentions to include a spicy enemies-to-lovers-ish romance for him in the next installment (if I end up writing more in that setting…shh it’s not like Im already planning it 😆)

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Love this! The mix of colored parts and sketchier parts is really cool. Makes me want to try that sometime for some of my characters.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Right there with you, friend! Whenever I post character sheets, I feel like nobody really engages 😅 but then again, social media sucks in general (BlueSky is the least offensive but they’re all…unfortunately flawed). For what it’s worth, I love it!

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It’s interesting how characters have “minds of their own” as you write them. I went into my current story thinking two characters would have an established on-again-off-again hook up relationship; turns out that wasn’t right at all 🤣 they are much more like siblings! #Writing #WriteSky

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I think one of my biggest goals in life is to fully move past feelings of discomfort surrounding my “worthiness” as an artist. Art is subjective, yes, but art is also progressive. Meaning: artists are always in a constant state of improvement. That should be a freeing thought, not a negative one.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The first one I did was this mini Lapras binder for my in-progress Lapras master collection 💙 (Did you know I’m a pretty serious #Pokemon card collector?)

Hand-painted mini TCG binder featuring the water Pokemon Lapras and a dive ball.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Made some progress today on my next hand-painted card binder ☺️ #artist

Hand-painted card binder partially depicting a Valkyrie-inspired female angelic warrior. The acrylic painting is currently in progress

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I finished the outline for my kaiju novella WIP! 🎉 I’m actually pretty happy with it! Elements of the post-apoc survival, progressive fantasy, and monster hunting/taming genres. Lots of details and names to work out still, but I can technically start writing soon 👀 #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is beautiful. I have always believed that it hurts to become, to create, to manifest. Art is the ripping-off-a-piece of what makes us inherently and passionately and remarkably human and offering it to the world: a painful yet transcendent ritual, that AI will never be able to replicate.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Arguably one of the most special people in the world 😊

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Hit me with the first line of your novel, published/finished or not (this one is unfinished/in progress) “Don’t touch it!” (lmao)

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Kaiju Novella: Ezra - The mistakes of my past are unforgivable Tess - I’m not the right person to lead Dev - It doesn’t bother me that my father favors my older brother over me Briar - I don’t care about humanity’s survival, I’m only interested in my own discoveries #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Caessenia Trilogy cont.: Casimir - I can’t be the king the realm needs Octavius - I must do things the way my family has always done them Urena - my oaths are all that matter #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I like this one! Caessenia Trilogy: Lou - I’m content being nobody special Livia - I’d never find joy in marriage Andi - I don’t need help to accomplish my goals #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Spent three glorious days in crisp, perfect 60°-70° weather… but now it’s back to the hot and humid 😔 hoping we start getting Fall weather at home soon!

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Are there artists out there who have had success only promoting themselves on Bluesky? What are the non-meta digital ways visual artists are self-promoting? Is Instagram really a necessary evil? I’m a newbie at this marketing stuff so be patient with me 🥲 #artist #ArtSky

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The problem is, I want to conquer my fears around self-marketing, especially in regards to my visual art. Instagram seems to be an important piece in the self-promotion puzzle. So now I’m a bit stuck.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I get a viscerally negative reaction to posting anything personal on Instagram these days. Like physically ill. If that’s not a sign to continue divorcing myself from that app, then I don’t know what is.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Oddly, Ive made more art since my daughter’s birth than I did the entire year prior to my pregnancy. I think it’s because, when faced with so little free time, I find myself naturally gravitating towards a creative hobby to help maintain my autonomy and self-fulfillment outside of mothering.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I already have way too many Magic cards to organize 🤣

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This is cool and might work well for my chaos brain (since I jump between topics all the time). I feel like storing all the notes digitally would be easier than physical notebooks/cards, though, given the after-the-fact tagging/categorizing 🤔

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Ah, so, is the core of it to NOT create the categories first and actually just start taking notes and then the notes themselves reveal the right categories? So many other systems seem to be top down, meaning you try to organize the highest level first, but this sounds like the opposite…?

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I tried reading about this and it confused me so much. Whatever you’re showing here looks far more simple/organized than the articles made it sound. What does it look like one layer deeper? Somehow, I feel you’d do a better job explaining it than the articles I read.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

There is no question: the Lord of the Rings trilogy absolutely changed my life. They were/are my comfort books during my darkest days. My own writing style has been influenced by Tolkien’s poetic, wordy descriptions. The fellowship was the first literary chosen family I fell in love with.

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Reposted by Brooke

lex! 👻 spooky @paavonia.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

friendly art tip: just make it. please, make it

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Thank you!! This is helpful! ❤️ Trust me… I know I can’t produce everything I want to eat on my own, it’s definitely not realistic. Going to have to settle for small wins. A few tomatoes, the herbs to make pesto, that sort of stuff to start…

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I do plan to sign up for a CSA, even though it will require driving 30 minutes to pick up. And I found a local farmers market store I plan to go to a lot more.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

For context, all these dangerous food recalls are making me real anxious (and so, so angry, even if it was inevitable under this gross, evil administration 😔)

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I fear it might be time for me to really lock the fuck in and learn how to properly garden. Resources for a total beginner welcome. I grew lavender on a roof deck once.

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Brooke @tryhardmushroom.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I’ve had the coolest idea for an Ayana fanart ever since I finished beta reading that I swear I will make one day when I have more energy/can really lock in 🙂‍↕️

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