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Grant Alba

@grantalba

he/him Read me on Medium: https://medium.com/@grant_alba Patreon: https://patreon.com/GrantAlba One question: who gets to choose? It infuses everything I write. No DMs please. This is public for a reason.

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26.07.2025
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Latest posts by Grant Alba @grantalba

#amwriting #tools

I've loved scrivener and have written about 500k words with it across 4 novels and 29 short stories.

But I'm moving to Linux - so investigating new tools.

Novelwriter seems to be working well for me.
MD to Pandoc to LaTeX to PDF or epub is great!

I'll share my progress!

12.03.2026 13:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
β€œMabel! Want me to fetch anything from the store?” George was pulling on his coat and gloves, and looking for the car keys.
β€œWe need milk,” Mabel called from the living room. β€œSince Jennie started cheer it just seems to evaporate.”
β€œGotcha. Gallon of milk!”
β€œAnd be careful. Annie Smith said feebs were running more random checks on the highway, so use gas if you have to. We’ll make it up later.”
β€œI’ll be extra careful, hon. You know me.”

Ten minutes later, George was approaching the downtown, cruising easily if slowly on battery power alone, when he saw the flashing lights.  He quickly switched over to gas power as he eased over onto the shoulder.
β€œGood morning, citizen. License and IDs, please. ”
George reached up to his β€œFull View” ID holder attached to the sunshade., making sure to keep his movements slow and visible.
β€œHere you are, officer.”
β€œMr… Carlton. Do you know why I pulled you over this morning?”
β€œSorry, officer. I don’t.”
β€œI observed your vehicle progress along the highway for at least a mile, according to my dash-partner. In that time I observed zero emissions.”
β€œWhy, officer. I can’t imagine why that would be. Though my neighbor, Bob, did help me tune it last week? Maybe it’s just running clean right now?”
β€œThat’s as maybe. I’m citing you for lack of observable emissions, per our records. You can pay now, and receive a good citizen discount, or wait β€˜til the end of the month. Up to you.”
George gulped. They really couldn’t afford another major expense this month.
β€œHow much, sir? Without the discount? We’re a little strapped for cash right this minute.”
β€œIt’s just a minor violation. Only two thousand dollars. The citation and payment instructions are in your good citizen account.”
The officer handed George his papers.
β€œYou have a nice day, now, and drive safe.”
β€œCan we even afford another 2k this month, George?” Mabel was sitting at their home terminal, trying to find slack in their budget.
β€œI could ask Mr. Petersen if I could cash a vacation day.”
...

β€œMabel! Want me to fetch anything from the store?” George was pulling on his coat and gloves, and looking for the car keys. β€œWe need milk,” Mabel called from the living room. β€œSince Jennie started cheer it just seems to evaporate.” β€œGotcha. Gallon of milk!” β€œAnd be careful. Annie Smith said feebs were running more random checks on the highway, so use gas if you have to. We’ll make it up later.” β€œI’ll be extra careful, hon. You know me.” Ten minutes later, George was approaching the downtown, cruising easily if slowly on battery power alone, when he saw the flashing lights. He quickly switched over to gas power as he eased over onto the shoulder. β€œGood morning, citizen. License and IDs, please. ” George reached up to his β€œFull View” ID holder attached to the sunshade., making sure to keep his movements slow and visible. β€œHere you are, officer.” β€œMr… Carlton. Do you know why I pulled you over this morning?” β€œSorry, officer. I don’t.” β€œI observed your vehicle progress along the highway for at least a mile, according to my dash-partner. In that time I observed zero emissions.” β€œWhy, officer. I can’t imagine why that would be. Though my neighbor, Bob, did help me tune it last week? Maybe it’s just running clean right now?” β€œThat’s as maybe. I’m citing you for lack of observable emissions, per our records. You can pay now, and receive a good citizen discount, or wait β€˜til the end of the month. Up to you.” George gulped. They really couldn’t afford another major expense this month. β€œHow much, sir? Without the discount? We’re a little strapped for cash right this minute.” β€œIt’s just a minor violation. Only two thousand dollars. The citation and payment instructions are in your good citizen account.” The officer handed George his papers. β€œYou have a nice day, now, and drive safe.” β€œCan we even afford another 2k this month, George?” Mabel was sitting at their home terminal, trying to find slack in their budget. β€œI could ask Mr. Petersen if I could cash a vacation day.” ...

#AmWriting #ShortStory #FREE #Patreon

My short story "Free to Run" is Free to Read on my patreon www.patreon.com/posts/free-t...

There's an excerpt in the ALT text...

12.03.2026 01:43 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

He's a v 0.1 LLM. Sad really

10.03.2026 14:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#Patreon #FREE
This story was originally behind the paywall for subscribers only, but the events of the past week have made me rethink that decision.

Feel free to share the post. Please preserve the link. I'd like to know if the story is getting read.

www.patreon.com/posts/free-t...

06.03.2026 20:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#patreon

I'll be releasing a patreon exclusive story to the public!

Sorry for bringing the doom, but it's a bit too prescient. I hope the next 20 years do NOT work like this, but...

I'll post the link to Free to Run later today.

06.03.2026 17:26 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

They really think like this because they are incapable of context.

If the ideology says "x" then it's for always and ever
.
Until, of course, it becomes "not x" when that is now their absolute position with no qualms or even concern that they've done a complete reversal.

Assholes. Every. One.

06.03.2026 16:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

You. Used. The. Word!

😱😱😱😱

06.03.2026 13:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

13 to 15 is a CHILD not a woman. While she made the statements as an adult the crime was against the CHILD.

Don't hide that fact behind the numbers.

06.03.2026 13:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

See this is the thing
Pizza is about the bread, not the toppings. The toppings are there to enhance the bread (or in the case of American pizza, to hide the "bread")

Yes. I said it. I don't care because I am on the side of the angels!

06.03.2026 13:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

And the unfortunate thing is that all of the clips are short enough they will probably claim fair use... Even though this was neither educational nor academic.

06.03.2026 13:19 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

#amwriting #booksky
Just finished my short story "road weary".
It ended up at just over 4k. Which was as long as it wanted to be. More "texture" would have been gilding the lily.

Submitted it to "Beneath Ceaseless Skies". Wish me luck.

06.03.2026 05:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

You're an award winning author AND ESSAYIST! Don't leave out the best part!

05.03.2026 18:47 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

AWB would like a word.

05.03.2026 18:43 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

How does that... I ...

Folks really don't know what transitive is, do they? (And what it's NOT).

I call people out for being anti-lotsastuff. Doesn't mean I'm rabidly pro-lotsastuff! (I call out anti-feminists. I'm not a Feminist bigot though. Just... Don't be a total dick is all)

05.03.2026 18:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Imma use that!

I won two awards in school for writing!

(One was for "good penmanship" but let's not quibble!)

Multi-award-winning author Grant Alba!

The two adjectives are not necessarily conjoined except in the object!

05.03.2026 18:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Build a person with Agency.

05.03.2026 16:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Except that Iran. Isn't going to comply with his fantasies.

The ME is aflame and they're in it for the long term damage that's going to do to the US economic interests and allies (not just Israel, but the entire Petro-state engine)

05.03.2026 16:28 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

One caveat - voter suppression is real and there are many who TRIED to vote but we're disenfranchised.

The above is not speaking of them.

05.03.2026 16:25 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Non voters have elected to "comply". Whether they realize it or not, they abrogated their ability to argue about whatever is done.
Voters are, conversely, COMPLICIT in whatever actions their vote enables.

If they disagree....they can CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND VOTE DIFFERENTLY.

It's. On. Them. (us)

05.03.2026 16:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm more concerned with the assholes who DO vote - against their own and everyone else's interest!

05.03.2026 16:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Writing to a prompt - communicating without words. | Grant Alba is Writing Get more from Grant Alba is Writing on Patreon

#amwriting #patreon

Posted my latest "writing to a prompt" to Patreon: write a scene involving communication without words.
Unfortunately it is a bit gruesomely violent, so the actual story is behind the paywall.
Ask me nicely via DM & I'll share 4free
www.patreon.com/posts/150275...

05.03.2026 16:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The novel I'm writing (#3 of a trilogy) is already well under way and is a lot more optimistic (250k of backstory and 200k of prose have a lot of interia!)

I have one YA series that is quite optimistic, but I'm loathe to write another in that realm for now just in case! (I have an outline, but...)

05.03.2026 02:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I thought it was deliciously pulp! In all of the right ways!

05.03.2026 00:46 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

#amwriting #booksky
wrote just over 2k words for a new short story today (set in my 'makers' universe).
On track for 5.5-6k, so well positioned for submission (or as a valuable exclusive for Patreon?)

One thing I'm noticing - this is another bleak story. Why is that, I wonder?

05.03.2026 00:45 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

We are very proud of the effort she's put in to getting here. It is a very big deal that we thought might never happen!

05.03.2026 00:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I can only imagine what Winnie would do to the posturing pustule... More than wish for it to be popped, I'm sure!

04.03.2026 18:47 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Well done you!
My daughter just got signed off her direct supervision requirement by her primary psychologist! Feels the same. Still ways to go but we can now see the end.

04.03.2026 18:44 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I've always wanted a nemesis...

Best I could manage in almost 45 years of client work was the occasional annoyingly obstructionist client. πŸ₯±

But wait! What if I'M THE NEMESIS! ELEVENTY!

04.03.2026 18:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

LOVE THE COVER! Very evocative.

02.03.2026 01:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

um. everything you listed WAS bullshit. definitively so.

Blocked, muted, and if I could do so retroactively I would. I think I lost some brain cells in the exchange.

02.03.2026 01:49 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0