Jon Sparks
LightNews LightNews
banner
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Jon Sparks
@jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.8K following 2.4K posts
After more than 30 years, and 60 books, as an outdoor writer and photographer, I’m now fully focused on fiction with the Shattered Moon series. AI-free (and I mean free).
Posts Replies Media Videos
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 13/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There are 31 occurrences of ‘serious’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Though you’d probably disdain it any other time, somehow you couldn’t beat a soft, floury, white bap as a container for three rashers of bacon, glistening under the lights as Clerry folded them onto the bread, crisp at the edges but still succulent within. A glob of ketchup, and… "Clerry," said Fed after a couple of mouthfuls, "You are a culinary artist of the highest order." "You will have your little jest, sir." "Oh, I’m renowned for it. But on this occasion I’m perfectly serious." "Then I thank you, sir. But I must give most o’the credit to Kallim, as supplies the bacon—and the sausages. And I couldn’t show my face at home if I didn’t give due notice to my missis and her magnificent ketchup." "My compliments to your wife, then, and to Mester Kallim."
February 13, 2026 at 7:49 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#writersCoffeeClub 13/2: Do you use maps as reference materials?
Yes. In the current series they were just rough sketches and mental maps for sometime before I drew the world properly, but one way or another, maps are important.
I’ve never quite gone the…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 13, 2026 at 7:44 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 13/2: SC POV: You get an unlimited budget to buy one thing. The money can’t be used for other purposes. What will you get?
Railu: oh, this is fantasy, isn’t it? There’s no such thing as an unlimited budget, not in reality: not even for the…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 13, 2026 at 7:43 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
Free to read.
The Kanchenjunga Manifesto—Chapter Twenty-eight
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:19 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 12/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
There is precisely one occurrence of ‘defence’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
His face changed and he wrenched himself out of his seat. Kel, bemused, spun around to see Torvyn being confronted by a stranger, and Fed with a hand just taking a grip on the fellow’s arm. He got hastily to his own feet, but before he could arrive the fellow was stumbling away with a swaying irregular gait. Torvyn was smiling as they retook their seats. “—for your intervention. Though I don’t doubt I could have handled that one; he was so drunk he could hardly stand. And we do have self-defence lessons at the Fellowship.” “Ah,” said Fedwyn, grinning at her, “But do they teach you how to defend yourself when carrying a tray of beer? And without spilling any?” She chuckled, and raised her glass to him.
February 12, 2026 at 7:39 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 12/2: What would you tell a fellow writer struggling with self-doubt?
Remember the impulse that made you want to write in the first place.
& remember that the point about your writing is that it’s *yours*. Nobody else can write what you can.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 12, 2026 at 7:35 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 12/2: How unique is the setting of your current WIP?
The idea that something can be ‘slightly unique‘ is a good example of the sort of linguistic drift that robs a word of its particular meaning. Unique is unique, and we don’t have a…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 12, 2026 at 7:34 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
"The Prime Minister cited an IMG report that claimed that, if fully realised, the gains from AI could be worth up to an average of £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade."
BARONESS KIDRON quoted in societyofauthors.org/2026/01/30/b...

#JusticeForCreators
Brave New World? Justice for creators in the age of GenAI   - The Society of Authors
We have joined forces with other creator-led organisations to co-launch a ground-breaking report showing the onset of a creative jobs crisis in the UK.
societyofauthors.org
February 11, 2026 at 1:50 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 11/2: MC POV: Sit down, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. What do you see in your mind’s eye?
Jerya: yesterday I saw a demonstration of two model ‘locomotives’ and heard a vision of travel times being cut…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 11, 2026 at 7:26 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 11/2: What time of day is most productive for you? Why?
I had to be flexible about writing times during my freelance career. Often I’d be out doing things and seeing places during the day, and writing them up would happen in the…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 11, 2026 at 7:25 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 10/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
No occurrences of ‘liquid’, or of ‘fluid’. Beer, of course, is the noblest of liquids, but this morning I’m sticking to water, which occurs 26 times.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
"An obvious inference, we soon agreed, was that this was a device akin to the renowned Vertical Tramway of Drumlenn—I imagine most people are familiar with this, at least from pictures and written accounts. Of course that is not really vertical; its true angle is not even quite forty degrees, but it does carry people and goods up and down a steep slope. It is not impossible, I suggest, to envisage how we might construct a vertical equivalent. "Now, the Drumlenn Tramway operates on gravity, using the weight of water. We might also perhaps consider the use of steam engines; these certainly are used in various places for hauling heavy goods, and sometimes people, up and down inclines, and in mines.
February 10, 2026 at 7:06 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 10/2: Talk about a work which subverted your expectations, in a good way.
Let’s take the book I’m currently reading, ‘Helm’ by Sarah Hall. It’s about the Helm Wind, the only named wind in the UK. I’m not sure…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 10/2: Have you ever dedicated your work to someone?
All the books in the Shattered Moon series (which now numbers seven) have a dedication to family or friends. Book Eight will have a ‘repeat’ dedication…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
Free to read.
The Kanchenjunga Manifesto—Chapter Twenty-seven
Continuing this serialised novel of murky goings-on in the great outdoors.
open.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:34 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 9/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
No occurrences of ‘select’; four of ‘selection’, one of ‘selected’.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
"The problem is I… I don’t really know any individual titles or authors, beyond the ones I’ve already read. A selection of Vireddi’s works, Tales From The Sung Lands, some of the Countess’s monographs…" Countess Jerya’s achievements, many as they were, did not encompass extensive literary outputs; a handful of learned papers, all co-written with her husband, and a smattering of reviews and opinion pieces for the Denvirran Remarker. "Only I’m trying to get a more representative view of writing by women, not just the exceptional few." She arched precise black eyebrows. "Exceptional?" "In the sense they’ve been published by an established house, sold on the open market."
February 9, 2026 at 7:11 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 9/2: Have you ever talked to a reader of your story? How did it go?
Yes, quite a few times, including total strangers. I’ve yet to meet anyone who hated it.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 9, 2026 at 7:06 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 9/2: Do you subscribe to ‘show, don’t tell’? Why, or why not?
Not when people make a fetish of it. I see it as a sound principle to keep in mind, but not as a hard and fast rule. (Like probably every other ‘rule’ of writing.)
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 9, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Jon Sparks
jonwestaway.bsky.social
Contemporary #Tibetan #Artist Fansack solo Exbition “Psychedelic silk road.”

MSPACE 55 rue du mont cenis 75018 Paris, 6-22 June 2024.
February 8, 2026 at 1:07 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Publication day—and I’ve finally managed to wear a jumper that matches the book cover!

www.jonsparksauthor.com/shop
February 8, 2026 at 11:19 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WIPSnips 8/2:
#WIPSnips are from Book 8 of The Shattered Moon, still untitled, but well advanced.
I don’t even need to search to know there are no occurrences of ‘airport’; the world’s a long way short of that level of technology. Maybe they’ll have…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
wipsnips.bsky.social ✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag @wipsnips.bsky.social · 12d
The #WIPSnips words for February 2nd through February 8th are here!

Just a few reminders:

Synonyms, variations and ✨vibes✨ are fine
Use Alt Text on Graphics
Use Trigger/Content warnings when necessary
Don't be a jerk!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
The #WIPSnips words for February 2nd through February 8th. February 2nd - perish; February 3rd - confident; February 4th - position; February 5th - except; February 6th - sixth; February 7th - redeem; February 8th - airport.
February 8, 2026 at 7:10 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WritersCoffeeClub 8/2: How imperfect is your pacing? Do you consider imperfection a sign of your humanity?
I honestly think it’s pretty fair, and a couple of reviewers have commented favourably.
Easy to say imperfection is a sign of humanity, but how…
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
#WordWeavers 8/2: Most frustrating thing about writing?
That thing where I have a whole scene clear in my head before I get up in the morning, and when I sit down to write it’s misty and muddled.
Heigh ho, maybe the end product’s better that way.
#books #writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 AM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
By the same logic, athletes in sports where a smaller frontal area is better for aerodynamics will be looking at the marginal gains from penis reduction…
‘Penisgate’ at the Olympics: why inject acid into your penis, and what are the health risks?
The World Anti-Doping Agency is investigating whether ski jumpers were injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid in order to fly further
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:55 PM
jonsparksauthor.bsky.social
Reminder no. 1: There’s a PRIZE QUIZ in my latest post.

theshatteredmoon.substack.com/p/the-lakes-...

Reminder no. 2: The Principle of Detachment, Book 7 of The Shattered Moon, is published TOMORROW!

To mark this auspicious occasion, my updated website is up and running. www.jonsparksauthor.com
The Lakes: Land of Imagination
Including a List, for those who like such things
theshatteredmoon.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Jon Sparks
nickharkaway.com
“Inspired by the project everyone knew was bonkers which has collapsed” is a heck of a pitch.
February 7, 2026 at 1:04 PM