Apollonian Gasket Forge
@apollonianforge.bsky.social
Writing and worldbuilding.
Plotting chauvinist. Strong opinions about sentence form. Sci-fi/fantasy. Crank worldbuilding opinions. Craft practice.
Regrettably, we cannot forge Apollonian Gaskets at this time.
Plotting chauvinist. Strong opinions about sentence form. Sci-fi/fantasy. Crank worldbuilding opinions. Craft practice.
Regrettably, we cannot forge Apollonian Gaskets at this time.
Pinned
Thread of threads for #Prosetober so it's all in one place. This should be my pinned post into November, for those looking to reference it during that time
Bigger than this, I think people should be more skeptical of online leftism that says, "Actually, under capitalism I don't owe other people anything." Oh, your communal philosophy says you can be interpersonally vicious and steal from other people? How convenient!
Always worth taking a moment to remind you if you’re pirating authors’ book you’re a shitty person. You can rail that our profession isn’t a profession all you want. You can paint yourself as an online revolutionary liberating ideas. It’s all bullshit.
You’re just a shitty person who hates writers.
You’re just a shitty person who hates writers.
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Bigger than this, I think people should be more skeptical of online leftism that says, "Actually, under capitalism I don't owe other people anything." Oh, your communal philosophy says you can be interpersonally vicious and steal from other people? How convenient!
Probably not in Minerva's case. She is trying to have him executed! Not in a fun "lovers to enemies" way, but in a "this is a horrifying authoritarian government" sort of way
Today's random #Lovember #WritingPrompt for the #WriteSky #WritingCommunity:
Would your character(s) still fall for their first love(s)?
If it doesn't make sense to answer for romantic love, you can talk about some other sort of "first love".
Would your character(s) still fall for their first love(s)?
If it doesn't make sense to answer for romantic love, you can talk about some other sort of "first love".
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Probably not in Minerva's case. She is trying to have him executed! Not in a fun "lovers to enemies" way, but in a "this is a horrifying authoritarian government" sort of way
Time travel being time travel, the events of the uprising in the 11th Century are *tecknickly* the future for most of the characters, but they all know it's there on the timeline and it looms over everything
#NovemberWorldbuilders Let's talk about how the world's history directly impacts your main character (or some other important character in the world you're developing). Do they have an important ancestor? Was there a specific event, say a war or diaspora, that impacted their current life?
November 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Time travel being time travel, the events of the uprising in the 11th Century are *tecknickly* the future for most of the characters, but they all know it's there on the timeline and it looms over everything
I am, I'm sure to the chagrin of some of you, a "the dog can die" author
*wise voice with an indeterminate /foreign/ accent* You can tell a lot about an author by whether or not you believe the dog can die
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I am, I'm sure to the chagrin of some of you, a "the dog can die" author
*wise voice with an indeterminate /foreign/ accent* You can tell a lot about an author by whether or not you believe the dog can die
November 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
*wise voice with an indeterminate /foreign/ accent* You can tell a lot about an author by whether or not you believe the dog can die
Who is your most online character---either as a literal fact of having the internet or equivalent to be online about or as a matter of personality
November 24, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Who is your most online character---either as a literal fact of having the internet or equivalent to be online about or as a matter of personality
My roommate has been doing a TNG rewatch and I've been joining on and off and we just got here
November 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
My roommate has been doing a TNG rewatch and I've been joining on and off and we just got here
Character who is not sure the Old Magic works, but is the first to burn sage the moment anything seems even slightly ominous
November 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Character who is not sure the Old Magic works, but is the first to burn sage the moment anything seems even slightly ominous
Continuing my habit of /not/ answering Kira's literal question in this series, a cool thing about the Time Empire is that it has exactly 1 Emperor over its ~11 century reign because, like, he can time travel. Why would he need a successor? So there isn't a long lineage of dead kings to look at
We're talking about our fictional world's history this week, #NovemberWorldbuilders. Tell me about a ruler or leader who made an impact in your world. How are they remembered by those living in the future?
November 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Continuing my habit of /not/ answering Kira's literal question in this series, a cool thing about the Time Empire is that it has exactly 1 Emperor over its ~11 century reign because, like, he can time travel. Why would he need a successor? So there isn't a long lineage of dead kings to look at
Stretching "ancient" here, there is the era before time travel and the era after it
In true time travel fashion, the date of invention is in the *middle* of the time travel era, but due to resources and technology, they can only go so far back
In true time travel fashion, the date of invention is in the *middle* of the time travel era, but due to resources and technology, they can only go so far back
It's our next week, #NovemberWorldbuilders! The theme this week is HISTORY in your fictional worlds. To start off with: does your world have any ancient (perhaps long-lost) civilizations? Did they leave ruins behind? Does anyone know what happened to them?
November 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Stretching "ancient" here, there is the era before time travel and the era after it
In true time travel fashion, the date of invention is in the *middle* of the time travel era, but due to resources and technology, they can only go so far back
In true time travel fashion, the date of invention is in the *middle* of the time travel era, but due to resources and technology, they can only go so far back
When Stalin had his stroke, his personal physician was otherwise occupied. With what? The torture following his arrest.
Why was he arrested? Well, for suggesting that Stalin might need some rest lest his health fail
Why was he arrested? Well, for suggesting that Stalin might need some rest lest his health fail
November 22, 2025 at 12:05 AM
When Stalin had his stroke, his personal physician was otherwise occupied. With what? The torture following his arrest.
Why was he arrested? Well, for suggesting that Stalin might need some rest lest his health fail
Why was he arrested? Well, for suggesting that Stalin might need some rest lest his health fail
Christian Lit is...look, I'm a gay atheist with Pagan tendencies with several vices that would arouse an Evangelical pastor to anger, or perhaps something else, so I'm really not the audience there
Welcome to #Bookvember Day 21!
Follow the directions on the prompt card and explore the many genres readers love.
#BookSky #WriteSky #Books #Authors #WritingCommunity
Follow the directions on the prompt card and explore the many genres readers love.
#BookSky #WriteSky #Books #Authors #WritingCommunity
November 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Christian Lit is...look, I'm a gay atheist with Pagan tendencies with several vices that would arouse an Evangelical pastor to anger, or perhaps something else, so I'm really not the audience there
Given how repressed the entire Empire is, I think it's safe to assume all the characters are weird about touch, especially where others can see them. But I think Pericles and Persephone would be more okay given the chance
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters
How does your character feel about physical touch?
Are they fans of a handshake, hug, pat on the back, etc?
Do they prefer to keep their distance?
Does it matter how close they are to the other person?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
How does your character feel about physical touch?
Are they fans of a handshake, hug, pat on the back, etc?
Do they prefer to keep their distance?
Does it matter how close they are to the other person?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
November 21, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Given how repressed the entire Empire is, I think it's safe to assume all the characters are weird about touch, especially where others can see them. But I think Pericles and Persephone would be more okay given the chance
I'm *very* familiar with the limits of this so I'm going to pedal back from the really strong form of it, but there is something to, "You don't have writer's block, you need to sit down and write"
But if the foregoing post about depression didn't clue you in, no, sometimes you really don't
But if the foregoing post about depression didn't clue you in, no, sometimes you really don't
November 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I'm *very* familiar with the limits of this so I'm going to pedal back from the really strong form of it, but there is something to, "You don't have writer's block, you need to sit down and write"
But if the foregoing post about depression didn't clue you in, no, sometimes you really don't
But if the foregoing post about depression didn't clue you in, no, sometimes you really don't
Treating my depression
Q3: What helped you get out of writer’s block? Is this a strategy you’ve used consistently, or do you need to take a different approach every time? #WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Treating my depression
Pericles: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Ajax: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Persephone: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Minerva: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer. Has the caller disappeared to a black site.
Ajax: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Persephone: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Minerva: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer. Has the caller disappeared to a black site.
I should be working, not posting #WritingQ!
Who dat callin!?
Assume your character access to modern phone tech.
An unknown number calls.
Do they pick up?
Do they prefer text? If text, do they answer right away?
Is it ringtone or vibrate?
What's their phone habits?
#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt
Who dat callin!?
Assume your character access to modern phone tech.
An unknown number calls.
Do they pick up?
Do they prefer text? If text, do they answer right away?
Is it ringtone or vibrate?
What's their phone habits?
#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt
a woman is sitting in front of a computer and holding a brush
Alt: a woman is sitting in front of a computer and holding a lollipop. She puts a banana to her ear and says "Hello?"
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Pericles: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Ajax: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Persephone: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Minerva: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer. Has the caller disappeared to a black site.
Ajax: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Persephone: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer.
Minerva: Eyes the phone with suspicion, does not answer. Has the caller disappeared to a black site.
I don't think it's deniable that racism, sexism, and homophobia underwrote the Disco backlash, but also every time this comes up I can't help but note that a big piece was the market was oversaturated with some of the worst music ever made, and flooded with mainstream artists selling out
November 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I don't think it's deniable that racism, sexism, and homophobia underwrote the Disco backlash, but also every time this comes up I can't help but note that a big piece was the market was oversaturated with some of the worst music ever made, and flooded with mainstream artists selling out
The best writing community I was part of did regular meetups and write-ins. (It was NaNo adjacent, but year round.)
I don't know that that spirit has to look the same for everyone, but encouraging each other to make time and be social in their writing creates a lot of momentum
I don't know that that spirit has to look the same for everyone, but encouraging each other to make time and be social in their writing creates a lot of momentum
#pretendpanel, as this big writing month nears its end, I'm wondering...
November 21st: In your opinion, how can writers best help one another?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 21st: In your opinion, how can writers best help one another?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
November 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The best writing community I was part of did regular meetups and write-ins. (It was NaNo adjacent, but year round.)
I don't know that that spirit has to look the same for everyone, but encouraging each other to make time and be social in their writing creates a lot of momentum
I don't know that that spirit has to look the same for everyone, but encouraging each other to make time and be social in their writing creates a lot of momentum
Apropos of something elsewhere, it was a mistake to tell the internet about the informal fallacies
I think of this because there is nothing inherently fallacious about a personal attack, and more people should hear what conclusions people are drawing about their conduct
I think of this because there is nothing inherently fallacious about a personal attack, and more people should hear what conclusions people are drawing about their conduct
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Apropos of something elsewhere, it was a mistake to tell the internet about the informal fallacies
I think of this because there is nothing inherently fallacious about a personal attack, and more people should hear what conclusions people are drawing about their conduct
I think of this because there is nothing inherently fallacious about a personal attack, and more people should hear what conclusions people are drawing about their conduct
"It's always been me. Who else could it have been?"
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"It's always been me. Who else could it have been?"
"Users hate the new interface on day 1" tells you users hate learning new things, and while I do wish tech companies would take that more seriously, we probably should not have frozen the web in 2010 either
But, in fact, sometimes it really is worse!
But, in fact, sometimes it really is worse!
Were "AI" like other things, I would put my seasoned end-user hat on point out that adjustments take time and users hate changes even when they are better
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
November 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"Users hate the new interface on day 1" tells you users hate learning new things, and while I do wish tech companies would take that more seriously, we probably should not have frozen the web in 2010 either
But, in fact, sometimes it really is worse!
But, in fact, sometimes it really is worse!
Were "AI" like other things, I would put my seasoned end-user hat on point out that adjustments take time and users hate changes even when they are better
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Were "AI" like other things, I would put my seasoned end-user hat on point out that adjustments take time and users hate changes even when they are better
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
Yet, every time I get a spelling and grammar update to my browser or phone, it makes and suggests *more* errors, not fewer, which seems bad
Beau from The Mighty Nein is Trans Sokka (laudatory)
November 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Beau from The Mighty Nein is Trans Sokka (laudatory)
*pounding on my desk*
JUSTICE FOR MAURA LABINGI!
JUSTICE FOR MAURA LABINGI!
I could pull a Tolkien here and write the whole thing as if they are human and then drop in the appendix that they were secretly 8 foot tall land-venturing squid people with a totally different set of names the whole time
November 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
*pounding on my desk*
JUSTICE FOR MAURA LABINGI!
JUSTICE FOR MAURA LABINGI!
If I think about this too hard I'm going to do an unnecessary round of conworlding 😂
They aren't from Earth and it's not a colonized world so...maybe, maybe not.
They aren't from Earth and it's not a colonized world so...maybe, maybe not.
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters
Are your characters human?
If not, tell me a little about what they are!
If so, are there any non-human species they interact with regularly? Tell me a bit about them and the type of relationship they have!
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Are your characters human?
If not, tell me a little about what they are!
If so, are there any non-human species they interact with regularly? Tell me a bit about them and the type of relationship they have!
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
November 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
If I think about this too hard I'm going to do an unnecessary round of conworlding 😂
They aren't from Earth and it's not a colonized world so...maybe, maybe not.
They aren't from Earth and it's not a colonized world so...maybe, maybe not.