It absolutely is.
19.02.2026 15:54
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It absolutely is.
I read a lot of horrifying fiction but Gabino is one of maybe 3 writers who has written a chapter that haunts me TO THIS DAY (if you've read his work, you probably know the one). This *is* an endorsement BTW.
I've learned I actually love it too! It's turned editing into something less dreadful but transformative.
I always feel on top of the world after running a challenging combat for my players where they ultimately succeed but have to get up to some insane(ly awesome) shenanigans to avoid decimation. We all feel so amped and triumphant.
"why do you write?"
because if I don't write, the creative energy within me will then ricochet around my insides without an outlet, and I'll explode into a cloud of stardust that floats around haunting people by whispering tales of the writing that never was. You've been warned.
Brain dump about some thoughts i had recently about BBEGs and world-building for my homebrew ttrpg games open.substack.com/pub/notthatw...
an image from the winnie the pooh cartoon. Pooh, Tigger, and Rabbit are sitting around a small wooden table, while they each wear a thick comforting blanket around their shoulders. They are each holding a warm drink in their hands to drink. In the background is a light blue dresser, and a fireplace barely out of view.
engagement this, unsustainable that. what about the pursuit of having the same weirdos show up to everything you post like this??
I've been trying a daily free write exercise that is 100% unedited (look at those typos!) and word vomit. It's been an interesting challenger in letting go of the perfectionism and just writing, so I thought I'd share this morning's 5 minute brain dump.
open.substack.com/pub/notthatw...
Working through a DIY MFA in Creative Writing and needing to get a little more comfortable with daily writing that is imperfect. So I'm posting it because that's what keeps me accountable.
open.substack.com/pub/notthatw...
A digital collage depicting a lady knight, her gargoyle companion standing in front of a moth-ruled gothic cathedral.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
The bookish collage and the book that inspired it.
I'm bored of star reviews, so we're making art to commemorate books I've read. Here's to the tragic beauty that was The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig.
This is me, following my own advice.
open.substack.com/pub/notthatw...
I did see an article about someone who used Fate with some tweaks to be GMless! Interesting idea for sure.
I don't know how I forgot about Wanderhome! I've played that one before. Good note on Ironsworn!
I've been itching to run another TTRPG game but also know that I don't have the capacity to fully prep. So I've been reading up on a few GMless systems and games. Stewpot, Protocol and the Solo D&D toolkit. Other favorite GMless games to recommend? Preference for fantasy/magic settings.
You better believe it'll fuck you right in the ass at the worst possible moment. Don't ever forget that. You can't count on anyone but yourself." - Dungeon Crawler Carl
This feels so applicable. Please everyone, pay attention.
"This is a for profit venture in the [entertainment] industry. And if you staying alive means more profits, than you'll find your loot to be a lot more convenient. But if the AI senses screwing you over with make the show more interesting? 1/2
"Goddamnit Donut."
IFYKYK
I love digital art for this reasons exactly! I don't know that blending is exactly important. I have a lot of different tastes and interests and my partner's taste adds to it. It's more about being able to look at a piece and have a story immediately spring to mind for me!
I'm finally getting around to making my living room more cozy and I'm in need of art recommendations! Feel free to drop your prints or recommend your favorite artists below! Or, if you know of any good art festivals/shops in the PNW, drop those too.
My vibe is pretty eclectic so gimme it all.
Silhouette of Batman from Batman: The Animated Series
Were 90s kids clamoring for a Batman cartoon with 1930s Art Deco aesthetics? Is that what the market demanded? Or did some really smart creative people have a vision and make a genre-defining hit that sustained 20 years of TV shows? If you want success look for vision, not just metrics.
Just some quick thoughts after a long few days. I don't often set New Year's resolutions but this one is much needed. Here's to a year of healthier habits!
open.substack.com/pub/notthatw...
Vizzini walking around with girl dinner in his backpack
Definitely a "I'll fix this in editing" kind of thing. It's an UGLY first draft, but it's getting all of the pieces in place and that's the important thing for my creative process.
Thank you for the well wishes!
I've passed the 60k mark in my Novel November WIP. Still a little behind but I'm thinking I can still hit the 75% (aka ~75k) mark by the end of the day on Sunday.
Then I'm never doing this again because the burn out is real. Was I motivated? Yes. Do I have any joy in anything right now? Nope.
Does anyone else have days where you think "I'm so grumpy. This bad mood is the worst." Then you drink a glass of water and it's like "nah, you were just dehydrated."
This is 100% accurate 🤣
But tell me why I get a new bookmark every time I go to the book store but I still always reach for whatever random piece of paper/sticky note/receipt is closest instead?? 🤨🤨🤨
Hell ya! Nice job!
The response so far has been tremendous, and I’m so glad that all the work my team and I put into this book is hitting folks exactly as I dreamed it might. I’m incredibly proud of this book and the growth in it from book one. 🥹
When your party is on the brink of a TPK so you make a private deal with the devil (your DM) to save them and know there will be costs but that's a future us problem.