John Wilker 👨🏽‍💻
@jwilker@wandering.shop  ·  activity timestamp 5 days ago

2 days to go!

An asteroid brought them. We built giant robots to keep them from terraforming the Earth!

Pre-order on whatever platform you prefer (or buy direct and read now!).

https://johnwilker.com/book/invasive-species/

#scifi #sciencefiction @scifi #bookstodon @bookstodon @sciencefiction
RS, Author, Novelist
@sfwrtr@eldritch.cafe  ·  activity timestamp 7 days ago

#PennedPossibilities 765 — Are there any words that you’re actively trying to use less often (or replace) in your writing?

Yes.

And for reasons that are far different than most will say that they do.

The story takes place in a time far different from our world, separated from us by a singularity event, posing interesting mysteries, some of which as an author I don't know the answer to, and why should I limit myself?

I avoid using measurements we are familiar with because there is no way those terms would have survived to the current age. No seconds, minutes, hours, though day and year exist. Default quantities are twelves, dozens not tens. I'm rethinking using decade and centuries, or just twelving their quantities. Lengths are all keyed to one specific human body as measured five centuries prior to the current WiP, but in use these are fairly transparent. Consider what a standard height might be, or a hands width. For some reason I decided to keep league, but it corresponds the distance a standard fit adult person could walk in a standard interval, roughly 5½ km or a slightly less the 3½ miles.

Words like "inching along" become problematic.

Sounds complicated on first blush? Since I avoid measurements unless needed, in practice, the terms come off as self explanatory in the narrative.

Something thumped on the top of the [private railroad] car. Heartbeats later, Emeraline [a day angel] dropped through the hatchway. Red blood still wet her wings, but much of it was brown now, crusting. Some flaked off, sifting to the walkway…

Did you notice the substitution for "seconds"? How about here?

…Gelding Knife [the name the devil-girl uses as a prizefighter] is a standard welterweight by mixed gender rules [," the coach finished explaining to the reporters.]

"I'll fight him," came out of my mouth, even as I wiped away spittle from my rabid dog imitation.

Shocked silence greeted me. For a heartbeat.

A [male sports reporter] shouted, "Do you even know what kind of monster [Hardboy] Berm is?"

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#mystery #thriller #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory#RSReluctanceStory
RS, Author, Novelist
@sfwrtr@eldritch.cafe  ·  activity timestamp 7 days ago

#PennedPossibilities 765 — Are there any words that you’re actively trying to use less often (or replace) in your writing?

Yes.

And for reasons that are far different than most will say that they do.

The story takes place in a time far different from our world, separated from us by a singularity event, posing interesting mysteries, some of which as an author I don't know the answer to, and why should I limit myself?

I avoid using measurements we are familiar with because there is no way those terms would have survived to the current age. No seconds, minutes, hours, though day and year exist. Default quantities are twelves, dozens not tens. I'm rethinking using decade and centuries, or just twelving their quantities. Lengths are all keyed to one specific human body as measured five centuries prior to the current WiP, but in use these are fairly transparent. Consider what a standard height might be, or a hands width. For some reason I decided to keep league, but it corresponds the distance a standard fit adult person could walk in a standard interval, roughly 5½ km or a slightly less the 3½ miles.

Words like "inching along" become problematic.

Sounds complicated on first blush? Since I avoid measurements unless needed, in practice, the terms come off as self explanatory in the narrative.

Something thumped on the top of the [private railroad] car. Heartbeats later, Emeraline [a day angel] dropped through the hatchway. Red blood still wet her wings, but much of it was brown now, crusting. Some flaked off, sifting to the walkway…

Did you notice the substitution for "seconds"? How about here?

…Gelding Knife [the name the devil-girl uses as a prizefighter] is a standard welterweight by mixed gender rules [," the coach finished explaining to the reporters.]

"I'll fight him," came out of my mouth, even as I wiped away spittle from my rabid dog imitation.

Shocked silence greeted me. For a heartbeat.

A [male sports reporter] shouted, "Do you even know what kind of monster [Hardboy] Berm is?"

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing

#gender #fiction #writer #author
#mystery #thriller #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory#RSReluctanceStory