Grant Alba
@grantalba.bsky.social
President Biden speaks of the nation we thought we were, the nation we wanted to be.
Minnesota says we've been lying to ourselves.
This has always been the America experienced by many. It is now America for most.
Minnesota says we've been lying to ourselves.
This has always been the America experienced by many. It is now America for most.
January 28, 2026 at 3:26 PM
President Biden speaks of the nation we thought we were, the nation we wanted to be.
Minnesota says we've been lying to ourselves.
This has always been the America experienced by many. It is now America for most.
Minnesota says we've been lying to ourselves.
This has always been the America experienced by many. It is now America for most.
#amwriting
And I managed to outline a subversive fantasy starring my Orcs with aspirations.
You'll want to hug an orc and just give them a cuddle after you read it. I shocked myself.
But that's for the weekend!
And I managed to outline a subversive fantasy starring my Orcs with aspirations.
You'll want to hug an orc and just give them a cuddle after you read it. I shocked myself.
But that's for the weekend!
January 28, 2026 at 5:34 AM
#amwriting
And I managed to outline a subversive fantasy starring my Orcs with aspirations.
You'll want to hug an orc and just give them a cuddle after you read it. I shocked myself.
But that's for the weekend!
And I managed to outline a subversive fantasy starring my Orcs with aspirations.
You'll want to hug an orc and just give them a cuddle after you read it. I shocked myself.
But that's for the weekend!
#amwriting
Had a busy day today with "real" work but I'm very happy with the scene I wrote.
1500 words of pure character agency shining through and subverting everyone else by "lovely" verbal judo.
It was a pleasure to write. Inspired for tomorrow (more work! plus the partner scene to today's)
Had a busy day today with "real" work but I'm very happy with the scene I wrote.
1500 words of pure character agency shining through and subverting everyone else by "lovely" verbal judo.
It was a pleasure to write. Inspired for tomorrow (more work! plus the partner scene to today's)
January 28, 2026 at 5:31 AM
#amwriting
Had a busy day today with "real" work but I'm very happy with the scene I wrote.
1500 words of pure character agency shining through and subverting everyone else by "lovely" verbal judo.
It was a pleasure to write. Inspired for tomorrow (more work! plus the partner scene to today's)
Had a busy day today with "real" work but I'm very happy with the scene I wrote.
1500 words of pure character agency shining through and subverting everyone else by "lovely" verbal judo.
It was a pleasure to write. Inspired for tomorrow (more work! plus the partner scene to today's)
#amwriting
Finished my screenplay tonight (adaptation of one of my contemporary lit fic shorts)
Then the muse said YAY... Try this
Orcs just wanna be poets.
And they're off....
Finished my screenplay tonight (adaptation of one of my contemporary lit fic shorts)
Then the muse said YAY... Try this
Orcs just wanna be poets.
And they're off....
January 27, 2026 at 6:24 AM
#amwriting
Finished my screenplay tonight (adaptation of one of my contemporary lit fic shorts)
Then the muse said YAY... Try this
Orcs just wanna be poets.
And they're off....
Finished my screenplay tonight (adaptation of one of my contemporary lit fic shorts)
Then the muse said YAY... Try this
Orcs just wanna be poets.
And they're off....
Reposted by Grant Alba
Hey. I get it if you're trying to de-Amazon. I stopped shopping there a few years ago. They're big evil.
But you know who's not big evil? Your favorite writers who're struggling cos people aren't buying their books anymore.
It's OK to use Kindle to support your faves. I'm giving you permission.
But you know who's not big evil? Your favorite writers who're struggling cos people aren't buying their books anymore.
It's OK to use Kindle to support your faves. I'm giving you permission.
January 23, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Hey. I get it if you're trying to de-Amazon. I stopped shopping there a few years ago. They're big evil.
But you know who's not big evil? Your favorite writers who're struggling cos people aren't buying their books anymore.
It's OK to use Kindle to support your faves. I'm giving you permission.
But you know who's not big evil? Your favorite writers who're struggling cos people aren't buying their books anymore.
It's OK to use Kindle to support your faves. I'm giving you permission.
Back seat? Feels like we're strapped to the front fender!
January 23, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Back seat? Feels like we're strapped to the front fender!
#Amwriting #booksky
I write dialog forward, so I need to ADD texture. My process? For every conversation instead of *said* I think about what the character DOES, WHERE/HOW they do it, and WITH WHAT.
Not every line! But every line needs to be considered.
Slow dialog? More "texture tag" !
I write dialog forward, so I need to ADD texture. My process? For every conversation instead of *said* I think about what the character DOES, WHERE/HOW they do it, and WITH WHAT.
Not every line! But every line needs to be considered.
Slow dialog? More "texture tag" !
January 23, 2026 at 3:43 PM
#Amwriting #booksky
I write dialog forward, so I need to ADD texture. My process? For every conversation instead of *said* I think about what the character DOES, WHERE/HOW they do it, and WITH WHAT.
Not every line! But every line needs to be considered.
Slow dialog? More "texture tag" !
I write dialog forward, so I need to ADD texture. My process? For every conversation instead of *said* I think about what the character DOES, WHERE/HOW they do it, and WITH WHAT.
Not every line! But every line needs to be considered.
Slow dialog? More "texture tag" !
Board of Peace is such a loser name. Appropriate for the losers he wants to participate.
Dumbass still thinks that if he says it long and loud enough the other messages will die from starvation.
That time passed long ago, for most of the world, boyo. It only arrived recently in the US, but DONE
Dumbass still thinks that if he says it long and loud enough the other messages will die from starvation.
That time passed long ago, for most of the world, boyo. It only arrived recently in the US, but DONE
"I'm not letting you go to my 12-year-old birthday party, the one you said you weren't going to because your mean mom said to avoid me. SO THERE!!! Jokes on you, loser!!! Uninvited!!!!"
January 23, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Board of Peace is such a loser name. Appropriate for the losers he wants to participate.
Dumbass still thinks that if he says it long and loud enough the other messages will die from starvation.
That time passed long ago, for most of the world, boyo. It only arrived recently in the US, but DONE
Dumbass still thinks that if he says it long and loud enough the other messages will die from starvation.
That time passed long ago, for most of the world, boyo. It only arrived recently in the US, but DONE
#amwriting finished the first pass of an adaptation to screen for an axis of location story I wrote. Solid dialog pass. Now to convert VO into action beats and clarify scene breaks, slugs, & scene timing.
Should have 50+ minutes of screenplay "real soon"
Fun to learn a different writing mode!
Should have 50+ minutes of screenplay "real soon"
Fun to learn a different writing mode!
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
#amwriting finished the first pass of an adaptation to screen for an axis of location story I wrote. Solid dialog pass. Now to convert VO into action beats and clarify scene breaks, slugs, & scene timing.
Should have 50+ minutes of screenplay "real soon"
Fun to learn a different writing mode!
Should have 50+ minutes of screenplay "real soon"
Fun to learn a different writing mode!
#amwriting
Muse seems to be in Turbo right now.
3.5k words that actually work! Now 30k in and it's taking shape... Everything looks cool and everyone seems competent and the trajectory seems set.
Hah!
Sorry future readers 🙏
Muse seems to be in Turbo right now.
3.5k words that actually work! Now 30k in and it's taking shape... Everything looks cool and everyone seems competent and the trajectory seems set.
Hah!
Sorry future readers 🙏
January 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM
#amwriting
Muse seems to be in Turbo right now.
3.5k words that actually work! Now 30k in and it's taking shape... Everything looks cool and everyone seems competent and the trajectory seems set.
Hah!
Sorry future readers 🙏
Muse seems to be in Turbo right now.
3.5k words that actually work! Now 30k in and it's taking shape... Everything looks cool and everyone seems competent and the trajectory seems set.
Hah!
Sorry future readers 🙏
#amwriting
Wrote a short 1500 piece and sent it into magazine-land!
Again the muse mugged me as I washed the dishes after dinner! (Such a sexy life!)
That's nine shorts in the wild since new years.
Still moving forward on the novel, too. Wrote a 2k scene this morning. Will polish tomorrow.
Wrote a short 1500 piece and sent it into magazine-land!
Again the muse mugged me as I washed the dishes after dinner! (Such a sexy life!)
That's nine shorts in the wild since new years.
Still moving forward on the novel, too. Wrote a 2k scene this morning. Will polish tomorrow.
January 20, 2026 at 4:09 AM
#amwriting
Wrote a short 1500 piece and sent it into magazine-land!
Again the muse mugged me as I washed the dishes after dinner! (Such a sexy life!)
That's nine shorts in the wild since new years.
Still moving forward on the novel, too. Wrote a 2k scene this morning. Will polish tomorrow.
Wrote a short 1500 piece and sent it into magazine-land!
Again the muse mugged me as I washed the dishes after dinner! (Such a sexy life!)
That's nine shorts in the wild since new years.
Still moving forward on the novel, too. Wrote a 2k scene this morning. Will polish tomorrow.
#amwriting
Had an idea this morning for a short story that subverts the "it was all a dream" trope.
I sat down after dinner and 2500 words plopped into the page. First draft seems solid. Surely not!
Edits tomorrow so we'll see, but there's a lot of dialog and I'm reasonably good at that 😁
Had an idea this morning for a short story that subverts the "it was all a dream" trope.
I sat down after dinner and 2500 words plopped into the page. First draft seems solid. Surely not!
Edits tomorrow so we'll see, but there's a lot of dialog and I'm reasonably good at that 😁
January 19, 2026 at 5:10 AM
#amwriting
Had an idea this morning for a short story that subverts the "it was all a dream" trope.
I sat down after dinner and 2500 words plopped into the page. First draft seems solid. Surely not!
Edits tomorrow so we'll see, but there's a lot of dialog and I'm reasonably good at that 😁
Had an idea this morning for a short story that subverts the "it was all a dream" trope.
I sat down after dinner and 2500 words plopped into the page. First draft seems solid. Surely not!
Edits tomorrow so we'll see, but there's a lot of dialog and I'm reasonably good at that 😁
I suppose it depends on which nation he's defending.
A president cannot defend a nation if he is not held accountable to its laws.
January 19, 2026 at 12:25 AM
I suppose it depends on which nation he's defending.
#amwalking
Is a five mile walk with lots of hills a reasonable thing to do on day 3 of moving from coastal Florida to a high altitude? (6000 ft)
Asking for a friend.
I feel great, but my wife is a bit... huffy.
Is a five mile walk with lots of hills a reasonable thing to do on day 3 of moving from coastal Florida to a high altitude? (6000 ft)
Asking for a friend.
I feel great, but my wife is a bit... huffy.
January 18, 2026 at 10:32 PM
#amwalking
Is a five mile walk with lots of hills a reasonable thing to do on day 3 of moving from coastal Florida to a high altitude? (6000 ft)
Asking for a friend.
I feel great, but my wife is a bit... huffy.
Is a five mile walk with lots of hills a reasonable thing to do on day 3 of moving from coastal Florida to a high altitude? (6000 ft)
Asking for a friend.
I feel great, but my wife is a bit... huffy.
A friend is holding my 50 year old Aria dreadnaught acoustic for me.
#vintage
#vintage
Spending the morning restringing my guitars and the 8yo asks if I have any vintage guitars.
I do not. But then I thought about my 1996 Strat and realized that it is 30yo and that if in 1996 I had a 30yo Strat, a 1966, that would be considered vintage.
Anyway, time is, as always, a mindfuck.
I do not. But then I thought about my 1996 Strat and realized that it is 30yo and that if in 1996 I had a 30yo Strat, a 1966, that would be considered vintage.
Anyway, time is, as always, a mindfuck.
January 18, 2026 at 5:12 PM
A friend is holding my 50 year old Aria dreadnaught acoustic for me.
#vintage
#vintage
Sloperation Centers
Run by Sloperators
Run by Sloperators
Stop callinge them "data centers" and starte callinge them "slop peripherals"
January 18, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Sloperation Centers
Run by Sloperators
Run by Sloperators
To be fair, the president is unable to articulate reason at any time.
We now have a full-blown European-American crisis, and for no reason that the president is able to articulate
January 18, 2026 at 5:07 PM
To be fair, the president is unable to articulate reason at any time.
#amwritimg
Wrote 1500 words (exactly!) for a key scene while flying to Dallas.
Thought it would take a couple of hours at least. Wrote and polished in 50 minutes.
#themusewasin
Wrote 1500 words (exactly!) for a key scene while flying to Dallas.
Thought it would take a couple of hours at least. Wrote and polished in 50 minutes.
#themusewasin
January 16, 2026 at 2:53 AM
#amwritimg
Wrote 1500 words (exactly!) for a key scene while flying to Dallas.
Thought it would take a couple of hours at least. Wrote and polished in 50 minutes.
#themusewasin
Wrote 1500 words (exactly!) for a key scene while flying to Dallas.
Thought it would take a couple of hours at least. Wrote and polished in 50 minutes.
#themusewasin
facts
The Nobel prizes are not transitive.
It doesn't matter how you got one. If you weren't awarded it by the Nobel committee then you "possess" a prize. You are not a "Nobel" winner.
The Nobel prizes are not transitive.
It doesn't matter how you got one. If you weren't awarded it by the Nobel committee then you "possess" a prize. You are not a "Nobel" winner.
still.jot
January 16, 2026 at 1:47 AM
facts
The Nobel prizes are not transitive.
It doesn't matter how you got one. If you weren't awarded it by the Nobel committee then you "possess" a prize. You are not a "Nobel" winner.
The Nobel prizes are not transitive.
It doesn't matter how you got one. If you weren't awarded it by the Nobel committee then you "possess" a prize. You are not a "Nobel" winner.
As an author if I wrote a character like Trump... I would erase and start again. No one can be THAT useless yet also influentially awful.
Stupid, vapid, the adjectives fail to reach the required depths. Card games will need a new word because trumped will only mean *overtaken by abject stupidity*
Stupid, vapid, the adjectives fail to reach the required depths. Card games will need a new word because trumped will only mean *overtaken by abject stupidity*
January 13, 2026 at 1:54 AM
As an author if I wrote a character like Trump... I would erase and start again. No one can be THAT useless yet also influentially awful.
Stupid, vapid, the adjectives fail to reach the required depths. Card games will need a new word because trumped will only mean *overtaken by abject stupidity*
Stupid, vapid, the adjectives fail to reach the required depths. Card games will need a new word because trumped will only mean *overtaken by abject stupidity*
Complaining about vocabulary when people are being murdered in the streets is peak "fascist follower"
Tell you what, MAGA. I’ll stop saying “fuck” when you dismantle ICE.
January 13, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Complaining about vocabulary when people are being murdered in the streets is peak "fascist follower"
#amwriting
Wrote about 4k words of real work today. I think I might be getting the hang of foreshadowing and showing through action and dialog.
Or I may be delusional. Everything is possible.
Writing a political thriller is an entirely different thing! I think I like it better than action!
Wrote about 4k words of real work today. I think I might be getting the hang of foreshadowing and showing through action and dialog.
Or I may be delusional. Everything is possible.
Writing a political thriller is an entirely different thing! I think I like it better than action!
January 12, 2026 at 11:33 PM
#amwriting
Wrote about 4k words of real work today. I think I might be getting the hang of foreshadowing and showing through action and dialog.
Or I may be delusional. Everything is possible.
Writing a political thriller is an entirely different thing! I think I like it better than action!
Wrote about 4k words of real work today. I think I might be getting the hang of foreshadowing and showing through action and dialog.
Or I may be delusional. Everything is possible.
Writing a political thriller is an entirely different thing! I think I like it better than action!
I get it now.
This is not a desire for Greenland. This is Putin orchestrating the breakdown of NATO.
If NATO does not respond... Then the treaty is meaningless and Russia can act with more impunity. WIN!
If real, the US/EU relationships are irrevocably damaged. WIN!
Putin, not the puppet.
This is not a desire for Greenland. This is Putin orchestrating the breakdown of NATO.
If NATO does not respond... Then the treaty is meaningless and Russia can act with more impunity. WIN!
If real, the US/EU relationships are irrevocably damaged. WIN!
Putin, not the puppet.
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
January 11, 2026 at 3:29 PM
I get it now.
This is not a desire for Greenland. This is Putin orchestrating the breakdown of NATO.
If NATO does not respond... Then the treaty is meaningless and Russia can act with more impunity. WIN!
If real, the US/EU relationships are irrevocably damaged. WIN!
Putin, not the puppet.
This is not a desire for Greenland. This is Putin orchestrating the breakdown of NATO.
If NATO does not respond... Then the treaty is meaningless and Russia can act with more impunity. WIN!
If real, the US/EU relationships are irrevocably damaged. WIN!
Putin, not the puppet.
Muse! Leave me alone for a minute!
I had another three really good ideas for stories (i keep a notebook LM notebook for ideas) while my wife and daughter were shopping for jeans.
At least I'm still on track for my novel writing. But really. It's getting a bit crazy (about 15k in 4 days. Woof)
I had another three really good ideas for stories (i keep a notebook LM notebook for ideas) while my wife and daughter were shopping for jeans.
At least I'm still on track for my novel writing. But really. It's getting a bit crazy (about 15k in 4 days. Woof)
January 10, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Muse! Leave me alone for a minute!
I had another three really good ideas for stories (i keep a notebook LM notebook for ideas) while my wife and daughter were shopping for jeans.
At least I'm still on track for my novel writing. But really. It's getting a bit crazy (about 15k in 4 days. Woof)
I had another three really good ideas for stories (i keep a notebook LM notebook for ideas) while my wife and daughter were shopping for jeans.
At least I'm still on track for my novel writing. But really. It's getting a bit crazy (about 15k in 4 days. Woof)
#amwriting
I designed a magic system tonight for a very constrained short story... I think it's elegant and I honestly think it's fairly unique. And it's delivered a lovely world that I can write in about 6k words.
Delightful
About 4k to write tomorrow or Sunday (family time, tha knows)
I designed a magic system tonight for a very constrained short story... I think it's elegant and I honestly think it's fairly unique. And it's delivered a lovely world that I can write in about 6k words.
Delightful
About 4k to write tomorrow or Sunday (family time, tha knows)
January 10, 2026 at 7:14 AM
#amwriting
I designed a magic system tonight for a very constrained short story... I think it's elegant and I honestly think it's fairly unique. And it's delivered a lovely world that I can write in about 6k words.
Delightful
About 4k to write tomorrow or Sunday (family time, tha knows)
I designed a magic system tonight for a very constrained short story... I think it's elegant and I honestly think it's fairly unique. And it's delivered a lovely world that I can write in about 6k words.
Delightful
About 4k to write tomorrow or Sunday (family time, tha knows)