Bryan Chaffin
@geektells.bsky.social
2026 Reader's Favorite Silver Medalist & SPSFC 4 Finalist.
SciFi author. SFWA member. Cohost: Working Writers & The Context Machine. he/him
SciFi author. SFWA member. Cohost: Working Writers & The Context Machine. he/him
Pinned
Bryan Chaffin
@geektells.bsky.social
· Sep 3
Accidental Intelligence Wins Silver Medal in Reader's Favorite 2026
Bryan Chaffin announces his cyberpunk thriller Accidental Intelligence won the Silver Medal for Science Fiction in the Reader's Favorite 2026.
geektells.com
Boom! Accidental Intelligence won the Silver Medal in the Reader's Favorite 2026 competition!
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
Reposted by Bryan Chaffin
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore whether writing competitions are worth entering, from the benefits of awards to the realities of judging and rejection. They also discuss what writers can learn by being judges—and why a strong opening matters when your book is competing.
workingwriters.io/20...
workingwriters.io/20...
October 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore whether writing competitions are worth entering, from the benefits of awards to the realities of judging and rejection. They also discuss what writers can learn by being judges—and why a strong opening matters when your book is competing.
workingwriters.io/20...
workingwriters.io/20...
1,200 words down today. Mostly good words. Yay me!
The next three days will be nonstop podcasting days. Looking forward to getting back to this story on Thursday.
The next three days will be nonstop podcasting days. Looking forward to getting back to this story on Thursday.
October 4, 2026 at 11:44 PM
1,200 words down today. Mostly good words. Yay me!
The next three days will be nonstop podcasting days. Looking forward to getting back to this story on Thursday.
The next three days will be nonstop podcasting days. Looking forward to getting back to this story on Thursday.
Plot builds momentum and gives the reader a reason to turn the page, while human behavior drives the reader’s emotional investment. A look at character motivation in fiction.
geektells.com/blog/2026/10...
geektells.com/blog/2026/10...
Why Did They Do That? Character Motivation in Fiction
Character motivation in fiction is about more than what happens next. Understanding why characters act gives a story its emotional weight.
geektells.com
October 4, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Plot builds momentum and gives the reader a reason to turn the page, while human behavior drives the reader’s emotional investment. A look at character motivation in fiction.
geektells.com/blog/2026/10...
geektells.com/blog/2026/10...
Another 1,000 words today. That makes roughly 10K words since I focused (again) on Inside the Mirror. Yay me!
October 4, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Another 1,000 words today. That makes roughly 10K words since I focused (again) on Inside the Mirror. Yay me!
From today's reread of some earlier chapters:
"I told you to fuck off, clown."
My work here is done. ::dusts hands::
"I told you to fuck off, clown."
My work here is done. ::dusts hands::
October 3, 2026 at 10:53 PM
From today's reread of some earlier chapters:
"I told you to fuck off, clown."
My work here is done. ::dusts hands::
"I told you to fuck off, clown."
My work here is done. ::dusts hands::
Hey everyone, @peterjaldin.bsky.social needs some followers for this Backerkit campaign so he can get it off the ground. Can you give it a follow?
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/p...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/p...
Father Son Blades & Blood
Get notified when Father Son Blades & Blood launches on BackerKit!
www.backerkit.com
October 3, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Hey everyone, @peterjaldin.bsky.social needs some followers for this Backerkit campaign so he can get it off the ground. Can you give it a follow?
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/p...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/p...
White Bird by It's a Beautiful Day. Have you listened to this 6s masterpiece recently? Ever? It's so worth your time. Let me know your thoughts!
music.apple.com/us/album/whi...
music.apple.com/us/album/whi...
White Bird by It's A Beautiful Day on Apple Music
Song · 1969 · Duration 6:11
music.apple.com
October 3, 2026 at 4:09 AM
White Bird by It's a Beautiful Day. Have you listened to this 6s masterpiece recently? Ever? It's so worth your time. Let me know your thoughts!
music.apple.com/us/album/whi...
music.apple.com/us/album/whi...
1,400 words all told today. Now to get home and feed Ichabod WHO IS OBVIOUSLY STARVING TO DEATH! #doglife
Jupiter's Eye has been good for my writing. Today's 1,000 (+!) words saw Mason caught between two Nazi patrols facing off against nutso AI-controlled clowns. Things got messy.
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:17 AM
1,400 words all told today. Now to get home and feed Ichabod WHO IS OBVIOUSLY STARVING TO DEATH! #doglife
Jupiter's Eye has been good for my writing. Today's 1,000 (+!) words saw Mason caught between two Nazi patrols facing off against nutso AI-controlled clowns. Things got messy.
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
October 1, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Jupiter's Eye has been good for my writing. Today's 1,000 (+!) words saw Mason caught between two Nazi patrols facing off against nutso AI-controlled clowns. Things got messy.
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
All a virtual day in the life of a 21st century private dick. Mason Truman, PI, FTW.
www.jupiterseyebookcafe.com
Cake's cover of "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) is just so good. First of all, the slowed down tempo lets you really wallow in the lyrics. And John McCrea sings so far behind the beat, it further emphasizes the anger and "fuck you" triumph of this beautiful story.
music.apple.com/us/album/i-w...
music.apple.com/us/album/i-w...
I Will Survive by CAKE on Apple Music
Song · 1996 · Duration 5:09
music.apple.com
October 1, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Cake's cover of "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) is just so good. First of all, the slowed down tempo lets you really wallow in the lyrics. And John McCrea sings so far behind the beat, it further emphasizes the anger and "fuck you" triumph of this beautiful story.
music.apple.com/us/album/i-w...
music.apple.com/us/album/i-w...
Reposted by Bryan Chaffin
My fave episode yet! What are stories about if not characters. Includes exercises authors can do at home. (Find out who I based one of my villains on).
Audio only this ep as we nail down some tech issues.
#writers #writing #amwriting #writelife #authors #books #mc #characters #sffbooks #litfic
Audio only this ep as we nail down some tech issues.
#writers #writing #amwriting #writelife #authors #books #mc #characters #sffbooks #litfic
New episode dropped: Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin discuss making your characters more interesting, from finding unexpected flaws and contradictions to challenging your assumptions about who they are, and more.
workingwriters.io/20...
workingwriters.io/20...
October 1, 2026 at 8:06 AM
My fave episode yet! What are stories about if not characters. Includes exercises authors can do at home. (Find out who I based one of my villains on).
Audio only this ep as we nail down some tech issues.
#writers #writing #amwriting #writelife #authors #books #mc #characters #sffbooks #litfic
Audio only this ep as we nail down some tech issues.
#writers #writing #amwriting #writelife #authors #books #mc #characters #sffbooks #litfic
Wrap your eyeballs and earholes around this on!
New episode dropped: Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin discuss making your characters more interesting, from finding unexpected flaws and contradictions to challenging your assumptions about who they are, and more.
workingwriters.io/20...
workingwriters.io/20...
September 29, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Wrap your eyeballs and earholes around this on!
Terrific advice.
For writers: leveling up by diversifying the feedback you receive. Echo chambers = blah. Diversity = gold.
#forwriters #writinglife #writelife #authors #newauthor #writingbooks #books #sffbooks 📚🪐 💙
#forwriters #writinglife #writelife #authors #newauthor #writingbooks #books #sffbooks 📚🪐 💙
Don't Rely on an Echo Chamber for Your Book Feedback #writing #writer #critique #critiquepartner
YouTube video by Working Writers
youtube.com
September 29, 2026 at 4:48 AM
Terrific advice.
Just two more days for this sale. Just think, you'd be able to say you bought before I was famous!
#solucky
#solucky
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99 until 9/29.
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
September 28, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Just two more days for this sale. Just think, you'd be able to say you bought before I was famous!
#solucky
#solucky
Reposted by Bryan Chaffin
We talked about #introverts and the world of people, about not rushing into things, about needing #humans in an A.I.-influenced world. And, as always, about #writing.
#betaread #amwriting #amawriter #authors #booksky #drafts
#betaread #amwriting #amawriter #authors #booksky #drafts
New Episode dropped: Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin discuss why every writer needs good critique partners—and how to find them.
workingwriters.io/20...
workingwriters.io/20...
September 27, 2026 at 11:45 PM
We talked about #introverts and the world of people, about not rushing into things, about needing #humans in an A.I.-influenced world. And, as always, about #writing.
#betaread #amwriting #amawriter #authors #booksky #drafts
#betaread #amwriting #amawriter #authors #booksky #drafts
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99 until 9/29.
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
September 27, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99 until 9/29.
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the SPSFC 4.
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
A line from my WIP, Inside the Mirror:
"Huh," he sent. "Looks like we can add 'What do AIs consider art?' to my list of questions I never knew I cared nothing about."
"Huh," he sent. "Looks like we can add 'What do AIs consider art?' to my list of questions I never knew I cared nothing about."
September 25, 2026 at 11:09 PM
A line from my WIP, Inside the Mirror:
"Huh," he sent. "Looks like we can add 'What do AIs consider art?' to my list of questions I never knew I cared nothing about."
"Huh," he sent. "Looks like we can add 'What do AIs consider art?' to my list of questions I never knew I cared nothing about."
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99—for the first time ever. The sale lasts until September 29th, available everywhere ebooks are sold.
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
Accidental Intelligence on Sale for $0.99
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99—for the first time ever. The sale lasts until September 29th everywhere ebooks are sold.
geektells.com
September 25, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Accidental Intelligence is on sale for $0.99—for the first time ever. The sale lasts until September 29th, available everywhere ebooks are sold.
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
geektells.com/blog/2026/09...
A terrific newsletter!
Tinkering with my October newsletter where I'll be sharing a snippet from my current WIP.
Have you signed up to my newsletter yet? Why not?
tktoppin.com
Have you signed up to my newsletter yet? Why not?
tktoppin.com
September 25, 2026 at 4:54 PM
A terrific newsletter!
Reposted by Bryan Chaffin
Oh, look who has a sale! Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin ( @geektells.bsky.social ) is currently .99c - grab it now before the sale ends.
Cyberpunk, sci-fi, mystery - what's not to love about it. Oh, and a Readers' Favorite Silver Medal receipent. Well deserved!
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Cyberpunk, sci-fi, mystery - what's not to love about it. Oh, and a Readers' Favorite Silver Medal receipent. Well deserved!
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Available now at your favorite digital store!
Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin
books2read.com
September 24, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Oh, look who has a sale! Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin ( @geektells.bsky.social ) is currently .99c - grab it now before the sale ends.
Cyberpunk, sci-fi, mystery - what's not to love about it. Oh, and a Readers' Favorite Silver Medal receipent. Well deserved!
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
Cyberpunk, sci-fi, mystery - what's not to love about it. Oh, and a Readers' Favorite Silver Medal receipent. Well deserved!
books2read.com/u/bxKe0q
This cover is so luscious! And those edges! A little birdy named Pete told me that once these signed special editions are gone, no more foil cover, no more foil edges! (Link in 🧵)
Looks at this pretty! I have several numbered limited editions remaining after a successful Kickstarter. Want one? Message me here or via my other socials.
Reviews in comments along with Kickstarter page.
#limitededition #books #fantasy #fantasybooks #newbook #sffbook #sff #specialedition #booksky
Reviews in comments along with Kickstarter page.
#limitededition #books #fantasy #fantasybooks #newbook #sffbook #sff #specialedition #booksky
September 21, 2026 at 3:04 AM
This cover is so luscious! And those edges! A little birdy named Pete told me that once these signed special editions are gone, no more foil cover, no more foil edges! (Link in 🧵)
Hoist this puppy on my TBR! At 99 cents, that's an easy one. Bought on Apple Books.
4400 copies sold. Will you get #4401? 😀
Discounted for this weekend, and a complete story by itself, Third Contact kicks off an epic journey across the stars to meet a species who are like us...in all the wrong ways.
0.99 Kobo/Apple/B&N/booktopia/Amazon (including the Aussies).
#indiescifi #sff #sf
Discounted for this weekend, and a complete story by itself, Third Contact kicks off an epic journey across the stars to meet a species who are like us...in all the wrong ways.
0.99 Kobo/Apple/B&N/booktopia/Amazon (including the Aussies).
#indiescifi #sff #sf
September 18, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Hoist this puppy on my TBR! At 99 cents, that's an easy one. Bought on Apple Books.
Up on the TBR this goes!
4400 copies sold. Will you get #4401? 😀
Discounted for this weekend, and a complete story by itself, Third Contact kicks off an epic journey across the stars to meet a species who are like us...in all the wrong ways.
0.99 Kobo/Apple/B&N/booktopia/Amazon (including the Aussies).
#indiescifi #sff #sf
Discounted for this weekend, and a complete story by itself, Third Contact kicks off an epic journey across the stars to meet a species who are like us...in all the wrong ways.
0.99 Kobo/Apple/B&N/booktopia/Amazon (including the Aussies).
#indiescifi #sff #sf
September 18, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Up on the TBR this goes!
🤌
Squirrels on suicide missions have knocked out power to Castle Rock, Colorado twice this week. Our investigation has revealed a century of squirrel attacks covered up by the pro-squirrel media.
September 18, 2026 at 4:26 AM
🤌
Crossed 50K words on my WIP. Mason is learning some uncomfortable possible-truths. Those damned AIs... 😬
September 18, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Crossed 50K words on my WIP. Mason is learning some uncomfortable possible-truths. Those damned AIs... 😬