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P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I’ve got to stop it with these one word descriptions.

Light?

What does that mean when it’s at home?

Or, even when it’s blasting across the galaxy at the speed of, well… illumination.

Can a realisation travel faster than light?

#scifi
#sff
#books
#booksky
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity

January 13, 2026 at 9:12 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Fun Q. I don't often have weapons... gadgets, yes, misused Harmonics, absolutely —but not weapons. So this section is rare.

But then this is from my other WIP novella entitled, 'Worth & Distance : The Red Dress Fiasco' —which is a tad different to my main series, and somewhat sillier.

The text reads:

Distance couldn't take her eyes off the woman blocking her way.
⏎
Her sudden foe stood at the other end of the lobby, dressed dark as night, bold against the warm hotel foyer lighting. Distance instinctively reached for her shoulder bag, but felt the pang of realisation, compounded by how easily her reflexes had forgotten.
⏎
She wasn't carrying it —Worth was.
⏎
__Damn it!__ she huffed, __what contraptions have you got in these endless pockets then, Worth?__ It wasn't lost on her that despite being taller than average herself, Worth's coat still felt long. The material flopped against the back of her legs every time she moved. At least his shirt mostly fitted. __Of all the ridiculous things…__ she glitched, her brain still trying to catch up with everything, __That stupid dress!__
Her hand settled on a block of cold metal within the coat's left side pocket, it had an odd shape. __Some kind of MatterGrenade?! No... he'd never carry such things…__ It felt solid. __Perhaps I could swing it threateningly? Or, maybe it's that unwieldy BindDetector? That thing always packed a punch… well, to walls at least.__
The bafflingly severe woman —her temporary nemesis— had frozen at first. Both women had shocked each other into a standoff. But now, and Distance could only imagine it was due to her own indecision, the woman stepped forward. Her foe's startled expression gave way to a lilted grin as this criminal gained confidence.
⏎
__This isn't the time for creepy smiles!__ Distance's brain snapped at her would-be attacker. But it was clear the other woman had the advantage. She was armed to the teeth, and all Distance had was a puzzling array of someone else's tools.

The text reads:

Her foe clearly fancied her chances.
⏎
Whipping out the metal device with far more aggression than she meant, Distance jumped forward slightly —an action that baffled her sensibility. The other woman's grin broke into a wider, vacant smile. As if she were picturing some other elsewhere. She dropped her arm down, and the baton she held —whatever that thing was— suddenly fizzed blue at what Distance's mind could only describe as, 'the hitting-end'.
__Oh, great!__ she thought, __not only are you guys obviously specialists, you also have harmonic weaponry? Give me a break!__ Distance sighed, finally taking notice of what she held in her hand.
__What the hells is this thing?__
The device looked like a set square, if set squares had any relation to boomerangs, and they also came with PotentialPacks and PressureCabling. Distance looked between her hand and the approaching woman.
⏎
"Stay back! Or, I'll..." Distance commanded. There was little need to state her words sounded far braver than she felt, her hand was shaking.
"What?" the woman asked, her tone matching her smile, it wasn't altogether there.
Distance could think of about five retorts, half of them involved technical explanation, the other half probably didn't make sense to anyone but her. And then the time for retorts had passed, because the woman spoke again.
"What __are__ you doing here?" she asked, sounding genuinely curious, but only a beat later and her tone spun on a pebble. "Are you after the private storage?" she hissed, "if so, you need to back off! We need it… I need it."
⏎
This was a comment Distance could reply to, and fast, someone making assumptions about what she was doing was not on.
"No. Why would we want that?! We're not thieves!" she snapped, her eyebrows sharp.
"Thieves?? Is that what you think we are?" the woman laughed, well... It was more of a giggle, truth be told, it rather spoiled the dark demeanour she appeared to be constructing.

January 12, 2026 at 10:56 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

A long time ago...

A Senior Software Engineer has a long day.

"Jeesh, if I see another logistics problem it'll be too soon."

"Who on earth came up with Tax as an idea?! It's terrible."

"It's a miracle parcels even make it to their destination."

"Don't get me started on Customs..."

#amwriting

January 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I completely missed this, apologies if this is out of order.

It's obvious what Webb's afraid of, she tries to block it out, and she is doing better. I'd dare anyone to go through her experience & not be shaken to the core. Thankfully, her core is tougher than most

#BluePitHype #BluePit 📖 #SF #M #W

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 3d

Welcome to the 3rd day of #BluePitHype!

DAY THREE: Character Interviews - Question 2

Today, we have some questions for your characters! Last will be posted in 30 minutes!

3 days left until #BluePit on Jan 13th!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Writers #AmQuerying #GameDev #Comics #TTRPG

#BluePitHype
Q & A
January 10th

CHARACTER INTERVIEW

For today, we have some questions for your characters!

Question 2:
What is your character afraid of?

3 DAYS To #BLUEPIT ON JAN 13th!

@BLUEPIT.BSKY.SOCIAL

January 12, 2026 at 4:23 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

What does ‘heart’ actually mean?

Is it universally understood? Or, are some grossed out by the imagery?

I mean that the book has a central premise/feeling that it depends upon.

Oh, and there are some touching scenes here and there, I suppose.

#scifi
#books
#booksky
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity

January 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Another substack, you won't find it interesting.

open.substack.com/pub/pjloop/p...

I mean I wrote it and even I find all the edges wrong.

One day I'll get it right.

#teowad
#booksky
#amwriting
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity

January 12, 2026 at 9:58 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I'm very slow with turning sketches to something actually good—especially people. But I do have some stuff I'm proud of.

I usually start with a hand drawn images, scan and then digitally paint. I have literally spent months before just trying to get a face right.

#BluePitHype #BluePit 📖 #SF #M #W

This is an image of Micah Webb. She's a PoliceGuard Detective Inspector. She has white hair and blue eyes —very blue eyes, almost eerily blue eyes. Here she is in her blue/gold PoliceGuard uniform, with a green/natural backdrop. I started with a sketch on this one and built the colours up over many digital layers and then simplified with filters. I have many versions of this trying to get the right expression. Oh, and did I mention her eyes? I actually experimented a lot with the background here, going for more industrial looks, but this image was actually the thing that grounded Webb's love of nature into her character, and led to me rewriting parts of her scenes.

This is Latium Onaia. This map might seem simple but it took me a while to work it out, sketch and build up from layers. I don't naturally do well with maps —considering I once got lost in Scotland for longer than 24 hours. It maps correctly to the events in the story (as it should) and each region took a while of world building. Not quite 'world builders disease', but a while. The hardest part was trying to get the National Observatory looking right from above. Still not 100% happy with it, so I will still continue to tinker. There won't be any images in the book(s), because every format I try just doesn't look good. So I'll reserve this kind of detail for the website (which also means I can continue to tinker).

This is Distance, Worth and Webb together. They look a bit odd because they haven't been drawn together —they've been pulled together into once sketch that I'm still working on to harmonise. But then again, during Episode One they aren't harmonised, so perhaps it makes sense. Each of these sketches started in the real world, and then got scanned and migrated to digital work using my XP Pen Tablet (it used to be Wacom until that pressure input went kaput in a less than spectacular way)

January 11, 2026 at 9:41 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Did you know there is such thing as an Octade?

Well you do now.

Also, btw, four is half of eight.

Just in case you didn’t know that either.

At least that’s something you can store in your random access memory.

MESSAGE ENDS.

#scifi
#books
#booksky
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity
#mystery

January 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Webb would be proud of herself, if she could view herself through someone else's eyes, as she has had to overcome a lot. Sadly, at least in the current arc, she always feels she should have done better. She's proud of her garden though, and she will.. get.. better!

#BluePitHype #BluePit 📖 #SF #M #W

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 3d

Welcome to the 3rd day of #BluePitHype!

DAY THREE: Character Interviews - Question 1

Today, we have some questions for your characters! Next will be posted in 30 minutes!

3 days left until #BluePit on Jan 13th!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #Writers #AmQuerying #GameDev #Comics #TTRPG

Alt Text:

#BluePitHype
Q & A
January 10th

CHARACTER INTERVIEW

For today, we have some questions for your characters!

Question 1:
What is your character proud of?

3 DAYS TO #BLUEPIT ON JAN 13th!

@BLUEPIT.BSKY.SOCIAL

January 10, 2026 at 11:56 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I'll take the fifth! ... in a weirdly verbose way.

-- 8< --

Unfortunately, four of her options needed space, and would absolutely be dangerous near trees. However, the fifth was perfect.

-- 8< --

#teowad
#amwriting
#WIPSnips
#WriteSky
#WritingCommunity

The text reads:

Franticly, she grasped the trunk of whatever it was growing up the side of the building. A few more twists and she was able to right herself. With blood flowing mostly in the right direction, her thoughts cleared, even if she was still entangled with branches.
__Won't be doing anything like that again in a hurry,__ she laughed at herself, relief coming in waves.
__Thank you.__ She thought, tapping the trunk.
The window had been on the far east[ locationing] side of the mansion, so below she could see gardens surrounding the property. More importantly, these parts of the grounds were narrow and full of shrubs and trees —so there wasn't a witness in sight. She breathed out enough air to scupper a TravelBalloon. Beyond the trees stood the outer wall.
__It's not far, at least this elevation's good for something!__
__Just need a way across…__
__Or, down then up?__
Twisting more carefully, she spotted branches that stretched far enough, but none would be sturdy enough to take her weight. There was also the edge of what looked like some kind of pergola, but it was too far away.
She was going to have to get down, __And a touch more safely.__
This was a moment she liked however —when her planning came into play. She knew she'd packed at least five different ways of getting down from buildings. That had been easy to predict. Far easier than the madness of 'playing by ear' she'd been forced into doing so far. Unfortunately, four of her options needed space, and would absolutely be dangerous near trees. However, the fifth was perfect.
__I just need to get to it.__
That wasn't going to be easy, though.
Her bag was still tangled in the greenery.

January 10, 2026 at 5:42 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

What's your preferred method of communication?

Mine is ripples.

Powerful things, ripples.

That is all.

Good day to you.

#scifi
#books
#booksky
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity
#mystery

January 10, 2026 at 12:02 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Can't believe I've reached 500 posts!!

I also find it quite strange that for every post I've gained exactly half of a follower. The world works in mysterious ways, mostly in fractions or fractals, so I guess it makes sense.

Thanks for listening to such an odd guy ...

#BlueSky is good place to be.

January 9, 2026 at 11:37 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

How many does it take to make a crowd?

Is it really 3? Or was that just a numerical convenience to those coining a phrase?

I mean, you wouldn’t look at three people and say, “Watch out for the crowds!”

Tho, technically if it's multiple crowds, perhaps you’d need 6?

#indieauthor
#booksky
#mystery

January 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Hello. I'm P.J. Loop. Currently writing a spec. fiction mystery series, 'The End of Worth & Distance' (aiming to selfpub). Involves many of my fav. genres, layers & characters collided together in a style people will hopefully enjoy... I know I've loved writing it.

#BluePitHype #BluePit 📖 #SF #M #W

#BluePit - A Storytelling Hype & Pitch Event @bluepit.bsky.social · 5d

Welcome to the first day of #BluePitHype! It's only 5 days to #BluePit on January 13th! So, join us for our Q&A!

DAY ONE: Introductions

Tell us who you are! Make some new friends!

We can't wait to meet you and your stories!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #GameDev #TTRPG #Comic #AmQuerying

#BluePitHype
Q & A
JANUARY 8th

Introductions

Tell us about yourself ahead of #BluePit! What inspires you, what genres do you write in, how did you become a writer?

Pitch contests are also a great way to make/reconnect with friends. Remember to us the #BluePitHype tag!

5 DAYS TO #BLUEPIT ON JAN 13TH!

@BLUEPIT.BSKY.SOCIAL

January 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I wrote a book, well... a few of them actually. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Unless you're already ahead of yourself and you know what's coming.

If so, can you tell me how it went?

teowad.co.uk/day-one/

#books
#scifi
#heart
#mystery
#booksky
#indieauthor

January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Lyra Belacqua, Arthur Dent and DEATH.

If anyone needs the book references (you should read them!):

- His Dark Materials
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Mort

Nice prompt. Hope you have a fun-improved day!

--
"IT'S THE SCYTHE, ISN'T IT? PEOPLE ALWAYS NOTICE THE SCYTHE."

Zed Prospero @zprospero.bsky.social · 5d

I think this will be fun, and bloody hell, do I need that today.

Name 3 characters from any book, that YOU identify with the most.

#WritingQ #WritingPrompt

January 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Finally got my author site up, at least to varying degrees! 🥳

Better late than part of a totally different timing analogy.

I will, of course, continue to tinker (forever).

pjloop.co.uk

Bet you cannot guess which was the hardest part?

#teowad
#booksky
#amwriting
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity

This image shows a partial shot of a beautiful book, sitting on a partially beautiful rock, set against part of a beautiful vanilla sky, with the words "DAY ONE" fully taking centre stage.

This is a screenshot from my author website that I have built lovingly from scratch, and there's nothing partial about it. Except for the fact that it isn't yet 100% finished. But I'll get there, eventually.

It should be fully functional on most devices, even Harmonically imbued toasters. It wasn't designed using mobile-first principles, though, because I like lots of negative space (and no, that doesn't make me a pessimist).

It should work on screens that are larger than your average smart watch, however. If not, I'd blame your favourite manufacturer for not taking into account the possible existence of such an amazing site.

MESSAGE ENDS.

January 7, 2026 at 9:57 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Worth likes collecting shortcuts, truly, he does. But he also simultaneously doesn't like clocks or subscriptions —those don't count as a hobby, but his attempts to avoid them might.

Distance has too many experiments/gadgets to keep track of already, but that doesn't stop her inventing new things.

Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @FurCon @cometkins.bsky.social · 7d

What sort of hobbies does your MC have? Do they get to do this in your book/wip, or is there just never time? #WritingPrompt

January 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Ok, I officially give up.

I've been trying (for months) to reduce #teowad Episode One down below 117,000 words—as advised by my official editor. & whilst that 'reduction' has undoubtably improved some of my weaker scenes, they aren't any shorter 😅

#booksky
#amwriting
#indieauthor
#writingcommunity

December 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Awesome!

I prefer to think of reality as some oddball's proof of concept they've left running, sitting in a cupboard during an extended lunch, one which they didn't return from.

But that doesn't negate all this lovely layering.

The Cupboard Theory also supports the 'flash of light' at the start.

Jan Karlsson @jangoeswriting.bsky.social · 13d

From ‘The Best Bang Since The Big One’. Prompt - ‘End’.

#WiPSnips

December 31, 2025 at 9:46 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

In a story about an end there are too many.
Let's go for the most minimal.

-- 8< --
If you are someone who likes detail, then this is the footnote for you. If not, then please be aware there will be a test at the end —so probably best to keep reading.
-- 8< --

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

The text reads:

Taking up two different discs, offset from those he'd just tested, he dropped the rest into his pocket —confident that these would be the ones. The tones known as 'The Bind' and 'The Divide'. He combined them together as a stack, and flicked them into a spin. Strangely enough, this pairing gave off no visible light, only a wavering chime. It appeared as a cold, dark sphere tumbling between his hands.
__Let's hope you're strong enough without amplification.__
__Energy dampening.__ He shook his head.
__Always a tricky blighter…__
He knew this polymonic[1] well, but he had no idea how strong it would be using raw TonalDiscs. He 'crossed his internal monologue' that it would be enough. The black gel started to glow, radiating an energy like a soft solarlight on a cold Tempeki morning.
⏎
It was the kind of light that gave you hope for existence.
⏎
He snatched the spinning disc out of the air, causing a sudden quiet.
"Of course!" he complained, "the one combination I don't actually have anything remotely encoded with." He flicked a resigned hand up at the predictable state of reality.
__Distance, I really need you and your bag of tricks.__
With another shake of his head, he gingerly touched the black substance.

Footnotes:

- [1] Context Note: If you are someone who likes detail, then this is the footnote for you. If not, then please be aware there will be a test at the end —so probably best to keep reading. A polymonic is the technical term for multiple Resonance tones that have been combined together into a practical application. Most Harmonic devices have at least one of these in use. Some have more. The test we speak of doesn't involve any Harmonic trickery, and is multiple choice, so you can quit fretting.

Apologies, I am unable to fit the randomly captured second footnote into this space, but I can summarise. It talks of Rattans which are a kind of bear in Onaia that have pink spots and dark red fur and the ability to freeze their surroundings.

December 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

I stopped disparaging myself (truly) —in terms of writing, at least— & found the missing parts of my series. Including discovering layers I'd never seen before. Some days things have almost felt lyrical.

Not to mention #teowad Episode One will be soon self published! And EP2 is near finished draft.

Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @FurCon @cometkins.bsky.social · 13d

What's something you did with your writing in 2025 that you're genuinely proud of? (If you disparage yourself on this post I will beat you with hammers) #WritingPrompt

December 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Editing is a strange world.

Just moved a scene from chapter 18 over to 8. This scene has stayed where it was for years, always seemingly happy to be later in the plot. Until one day. When it suddenly wasn't —but why??

Now it feels like it was always earlier in the story. 🤷‍♀️

#amwriting
#amediting

December 30, 2025 at 9:04 AM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Clobber? Erm... What?! 😅

I have a scene that has many impactful things going on.

Does a similar ethos work?

-- 8< --

A dangerous-looking punch-pin bashed against the building just below where Webb was leaning, driving itself into the wall.

-- 8< --

#teowad #WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

The test reads:

A baffling sound ravelled out across the evening sky, metal spooling rapidly. A dangerous-looking punch-pin bashed against the building just below where Webb was leaning, driving itself into the wall. __A MatterGrip?!__ Her thoughts hit out in astonishment. Behind the pin trailed a slack cable. The line travelled all the way down into the forest, disappeared into the blockade of trees below.
⏎
Then nothing.
⏎
Webb leaned further over and yelled.
⏎
“DISTANCE?”
⏎
The cable suddenly tightened —a taught black line across the chaos— and eerie noises began __thwanging__ and echoing along it.
⏎
Webb braced herself. Ready to help.
⏎
The pin made a sudden sheering noise.
→Slipped a little.
→→Then slipped a lot.
→→→Pulling right out of the wall.
⏎
The cable and pin fell. Disappearing into the mess below.
"DISTANCE?!" Webb yelled, reaching for the cable, but far too late.

December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM

P.J. Loop

@pjloop.bsky.social

Aha! Finding out that Switch Angel has tracks on YT Music is definitely a brilliant Christmas present.

Truly awe inspired by those who can create #music.

Especially when it's layered.

Definitely jealous of such ability.

The programatic element, for me, is just another level on top.

#amlistening

December 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM

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