derek
@derekwritesalot.bsky.social
progression fantasy [progfan] author, active SFWA member, query trench commiserator (working on a rewrite).
take one —> ; <— and pass it along
take one —> ; <— and pass it along
as a california boy i will never get used to going outside and feeling like i’m underwater. Floridians are just built different.
someone please tell me: is there a way to walk around during the day in such a way that i won’t start doing my best impression of these windows here?
someone please tell me: is there a way to walk around during the day in such a way that i won’t start doing my best impression of these windows here?
October 5, 2026 at 8:07 PM
as a california boy i will never get used to going outside and feeling like i’m underwater. Floridians are just built different.
someone please tell me: is there a way to walk around during the day in such a way that i won’t start doing my best impression of these windows here?
someone please tell me: is there a way to walk around during the day in such a way that i won’t start doing my best impression of these windows here?
off to go suffer at the gym, but FIRST— gotta check all the nearby bodies of water for a water puppy to wrestle. no such puppy was found, but there’s still time! we’ve got ~8 days to find our bestest boy or a storm to chase.
October 3, 2026 at 9:48 PM
off to go suffer at the gym, but FIRST— gotta check all the nearby bodies of water for a water puppy to wrestle. no such puppy was found, but there’s still time! we’ve got ~8 days to find our bestest boy or a storm to chase.
*okay* ~cracks metaphorical knuckles bc i don't have the cartilage to spare in my old age~ *let's do this*
September 29, 2026 at 4:46 PM
*okay* ~cracks metaphorical knuckles bc i don't have the cartilage to spare in my old age~ *let's do this*
Reposted by derek
Preorder The First War, the final book in the first arc of the A Thousand Li series!
September 29, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Preorder The First War, the final book in the first arc of the A Thousand Li series!
I've been here before,
and I’ll be here again.
I’ve done this before,
and I’ll do it again
and I’ll be here again.
I’ve done this before,
and I’ll do it again
September 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
I've been here before,
and I’ll be here again.
I’ve done this before,
and I’ll do it again
and I’ll be here again.
I’ve done this before,
and I’ll do it again
so... uh, i know it's not spooky season quite yet, but i think i trapped a LITERAL GHOST in what was meant to be a nice little ocean sounds recording??
please tell me you can hear this thing say "hi"
*headphones on*
please tell me you can hear this thing say "hi"
*headphones on*
September 28, 2026 at 10:39 PM
so... uh, i know it's not spooky season quite yet, but i think i trapped a LITERAL GHOST in what was meant to be a nice little ocean sounds recording??
please tell me you can hear this thing say "hi"
*headphones on*
please tell me you can hear this thing say "hi"
*headphones on*
Reposted by derek
Had some new headshots taken on my way to war...
These are by the incredible @kaitrinacuna.bsky.social of KaitrinAcuna.com.
These are by the incredible @kaitrinacuna.bsky.social of KaitrinAcuna.com.
September 28, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Had some new headshots taken on my way to war...
These are by the incredible @kaitrinacuna.bsky.social of KaitrinAcuna.com.
These are by the incredible @kaitrinacuna.bsky.social of KaitrinAcuna.com.
Reposted by derek
Men would rather talk to an AI agent than their wives.
September 28, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Men would rather talk to an AI agent than their wives.
writers when they tell you they’re almost done with that book they’ve been working on
elizabeth holmes stare
ALT: elizabeth holmes stare
static.klipy.com
September 23, 2026 at 6:11 PM
writers when they tell you they’re almost done with that book they’ve been working on
working on some truly shocking content ⚡. trying to commit to low-no planning & retakes, and minimal editing... so far so good, but i'll update you all as i go along
September 22, 2026 at 10:42 PM
working on some truly shocking content ⚡. trying to commit to low-no planning & retakes, and minimal editing... so far so good, but i'll update you all as i go along
Reposted by derek
The latest exciting news
September 22, 2026 at 12:28 AM
The latest exciting news
Reposted by derek
Ancillary Review is looking for more editors! Message me if you're interested in copy-editing, dev editing, or graphics creation for a Hugo finalist magazine of spec fic criticism! It's volunteer-based and fits with your schedule <3
September 22, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Ancillary Review is looking for more editors! Message me if you're interested in copy-editing, dev editing, or graphics creation for a Hugo finalist magazine of spec fic criticism! It's volunteer-based and fits with your schedule <3
why yes, i did eat mustard and drink soy sauce straight for my before-bed snack. why, you ask, would i commit such an atrocity? well… 🪡🧵
September 22, 2026 at 5:06 AM
why yes, i did eat mustard and drink soy sauce straight for my before-bed snack. why, you ask, would i commit such an atrocity? well… 🪡🧵
IT’S OKAY TO BE MESSY :).
~ allow yourself to create without the crippling expectation of perfection hanging overhead.
~ allow yourself to create without the crippling expectation of perfection hanging overhead.
September 21, 2026 at 8:55 PM
IT’S OKAY TO BE MESSY :).
~ allow yourself to create without the crippling expectation of perfection hanging overhead.
~ allow yourself to create without the crippling expectation of perfection hanging overhead.
happpyyyy Monday everybody! today is going to be an amazing day! let's *make* today an amazing day.
September 21, 2026 at 4:55 PM
happpyyyy Monday everybody! today is going to be an amazing day! let's *make* today an amazing day.
Reposted by derek
Hey, everyone! Come by, come by! Times listed are in Pacific time, so I should be there with no complications, and I hope good folks like you will be, too.
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific
Location: Online
mountainview.libcal.com/event/17274404
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific
Location: Online
mountainview.libcal.com/event/17274404
Author Talk with Ryka Aoki
Registration is required. Sign up below to receive the Zoom information on the morning of the event.
Join award-winning author Ryka Aoki for a virtual conversation about her...
mountainview.libcal.com
September 19, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Hey, everyone! Come by, come by! Times listed are in Pacific time, so I should be there with no complications, and I hope good folks like you will be, too.
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific
Location: Online
mountainview.libcal.com/event/17274404
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific
Location: Online
mountainview.libcal.com/event/17274404
the old guy in the gym on TRT told me I had the physique of a 10-year-old boy . now i really gotta build breasticles so he’ll respect me
September 18, 2026 at 9:14 PM
the old guy in the gym on TRT told me I had the physique of a 10-year-old boy . now i really gotta build breasticles so he’ll respect me
guys! guys! a local bookshop just called— they want to stock my books in their Physical Bookstore Establishments!! and, and— they have Licensed Literary Agents that are going to present my book to publishing houses!!!
September 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM
guys! guys! a local bookshop just called— they want to stock my books in their Physical Bookstore Establishments!! and, and— they have Licensed Literary Agents that are going to present my book to publishing houses!!!
“You are not the author of what readers feel, just the provocateur of those feelings.”
~ *The Emotional Craft of Fiction* by Donald Maass
~ *The Emotional Craft of Fiction* by Donald Maass
October 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
“You are not the author of what readers feel, just the provocateur of those feelings.”
~ *The Emotional Craft of Fiction* by Donald Maass
~ *The Emotional Craft of Fiction* by Donald Maass
broke 60k and closed out chapter 16 of my WIP today. closing in on the climax
where’s everyone else at ?
where’s everyone else at ?
September 27, 2025 at 11:19 PM
broke 60k and closed out chapter 16 of my WIP today. closing in on the climax
where’s everyone else at ?
where’s everyone else at ?
readers don’t read. they just crouch like gremlins and say they’re aura farming
September 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
readers don’t read. they just crouch like gremlins and say they’re aura farming
objective reality exists for me to dunk on solo leveling
(i read the webnovels: twice, because I forgot I read it the first time [brain damage simulator was very effective])
i got tired of the MC glazing tbh.
(i read the webnovels: twice, because I forgot I read it the first time [brain damage simulator was very effective])
i got tired of the MC glazing tbh.
September 25, 2025 at 9:32 PM
objective reality exists for me to dunk on solo leveling
(i read the webnovels: twice, because I forgot I read it the first time [brain damage simulator was very effective])
i got tired of the MC glazing tbh.
(i read the webnovels: twice, because I forgot I read it the first time [brain damage simulator was very effective])
i got tired of the MC glazing tbh.
having trouble choosing a character name?
pro tip:
steal them from people you meet
pro tip:
steal them from people you meet
September 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
having trouble choosing a character name?
pro tip:
steal them from people you meet
pro tip:
steal them from people you meet
did someone say cat girls
September 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
did someone say cat girls