Glenn Birmingham
@birminghamglenn.bsky.social
Writer, fountain pen enthusiast, ethical software engineer. Recovering from stroke & brain damage.
Unemployed, Patreon support appreciated!
Trans/NB
He/Him
https://patreon.com/BirminghamGlenn
https://stetpublishing.com
Unemployed, Patreon support appreciated!
Trans/NB
He/Him
https://patreon.com/BirminghamGlenn
https://stetpublishing.com
It's a bent nib that's designed to write like a calligraphy brush.
My site is down so I'm borrowing this image from JetPens.com
My site is down so I'm borrowing this image from JetPens.com
May 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It's a bent nib that's designed to write like a calligraphy brush.
My site is down so I'm borrowing this image from JetPens.com
My site is down so I'm borrowing this image from JetPens.com
On most pens, you can rotate the pen 180° (so the nib is upside down) to get a finer line for detail work.
I really enjoyed sketching with the Parker 180, which has a dual sided nib, or a pen with a fude nib. Fude nibs are very fun but can take some getting used to.
I really enjoyed sketching with the Parker 180, which has a dual sided nib, or a pen with a fude nib. Fude nibs are very fun but can take some getting used to.
May 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
On most pens, you can rotate the pen 180° (so the nib is upside down) to get a finer line for detail work.
I really enjoyed sketching with the Parker 180, which has a dual sided nib, or a pen with a fude nib. Fude nibs are very fun but can take some getting used to.
I really enjoyed sketching with the Parker 180, which has a dual sided nib, or a pen with a fude nib. Fude nibs are very fun but can take some getting used to.
Reposted by Glenn Birmingham
It's literally all they do! They make answer-shaped answers!
Incidentally that's one of the reasons they work reasonably well as coding assistance - getting the code into the right shape is like 80% of the job.
Incidentally that's one of the reasons they work reasonably well as coding assistance - getting the code into the right shape is like 80% of the job.
May 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It's literally all they do! They make answer-shaped answers!
Incidentally that's one of the reasons they work reasonably well as coding assistance - getting the code into the right shape is like 80% of the job.
Incidentally that's one of the reasons they work reasonably well as coding assistance - getting the code into the right shape is like 80% of the job.
Hatzel is expertly modeling the gryphon butt for us in the third image there.
May 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Hatzel is expertly modeling the gryphon butt for us in the third image there.
Unfortunately, I broke them both during my stroke times. The Waterman I pressed too hard (nerve damage in my hand, wasn't getting the feedback) and sprung the nib. The LAMY I dropped while cleaning and crumpled the feed. Both fixable, once I get the funds. :)
I've had the Waterman for 25 years!
I've had the Waterman for 25 years!
May 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Unfortunately, I broke them both during my stroke times. The Waterman I pressed too hard (nerve damage in my hand, wasn't getting the feedback) and sprung the nib. The LAMY I dropped while cleaning and crumpled the feed. Both fixable, once I get the funds. :)
I've had the Waterman for 25 years!
I've had the Waterman for 25 years!
My two workhorse pens are a LAMY Accent and a Waterman Expert. They're in the $100 range, but writing performance and reliability in all environments outpace everything else I've used. They can both write on planes, even during acent/descent, don't leak, don't dry out quickly, and always start.
May 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
My two workhorse pens are a LAMY Accent and a Waterman Expert. They're in the $100 range, but writing performance and reliability in all environments outpace everything else I've used. They can both write on planes, even during acent/descent, don't leak, don't dry out quickly, and always start.
For training pens, I really like the LAMY Safari/Al-Star. The nibs are short and rigid, can take a beating, and are very easy/cheap to replace. Also, the LAMY feed is amazing. I can leave uncapped for 5 minutes and still write. They're also really easy to ungunk when you inevitably let them dry out.
May 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
For training pens, I really like the LAMY Safari/Al-Star. The nibs are short and rigid, can take a beating, and are very easy/cheap to replace. Also, the LAMY feed is amazing. I can leave uncapped for 5 minutes and still write. They're also really easy to ungunk when you inevitably let them dry out.
Some inks are weirdly dry. I have had good luck with the Pilot Iroshizuku ink series - they've been consistent in color and performance across pens in my experience so far.
Also - sorry to hear about your nib. I have seen tester pens with crazy damage from people pressing!
Also - sorry to hear about your nib. I have seen tester pens with crazy damage from people pressing!
May 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Some inks are weirdly dry. I have had good luck with the Pilot Iroshizuku ink series - they've been consistent in color and performance across pens in my experience so far.
Also - sorry to hear about your nib. I have seen tester pens with crazy damage from people pressing!
Also - sorry to hear about your nib. I have seen tester pens with crazy damage from people pressing!
Objectively the best song ever made.
May 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Objectively the best song ever made.
Also, I'm still alive! Spending most of my time trying to dump stress so I can stay that way and the rest trying to magic money into existence for the same reason.
/END
/END
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Also, I'm still alive! Spending most of my time trying to dump stress so I can stay that way and the rest trying to magic money into existence for the same reason.
/END
/END
It's important to understand why people are skipping content and whether that's a problem in the writing or a personal preference on the reader's side, i.e. is it something in your sphere of responsibility or theirs?
If it's preference, don't shame them for enjoying your book!
/7
If it's preference, don't shame them for enjoying your book!
/7
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
It's important to understand why people are skipping content and whether that's a problem in the writing or a personal preference on the reader's side, i.e. is it something in your sphere of responsibility or theirs?
If it's preference, don't shame them for enjoying your book!
/7
If it's preference, don't shame them for enjoying your book!
/7
join the team and read that book as their intro to the series. This gives me a fresh perspective on what may need clarification or cutting (if the reference is unnecessary).
You can't and shouldn't try to please everyone. But you can take steps to make your story more accessible.
/6
You can't and shouldn't try to please everyone. But you can take steps to make your story more accessible.
/6
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
join the team and read that book as their intro to the series. This gives me a fresh perspective on what may need clarification or cutting (if the reference is unnecessary).
You can't and shouldn't try to please everyone. But you can take steps to make your story more accessible.
/6
You can't and shouldn't try to please everyone. But you can take steps to make your story more accessible.
/6
Look at any book 2 or 3 or 12 in a series from before 2009. There's the expectation that you can pick it up and start reading from any point in the series and understand what's going on from context clues.
You'll naturally do this while writing, but I like to have a new beta reader for each book
/5
You'll naturally do this while writing, but I like to have a new beta reader for each book
/5
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Look at any book 2 or 3 or 12 in a series from before 2009. There's the expectation that you can pick it up and start reading from any point in the series and understand what's going on from context clues.
You'll naturally do this while writing, but I like to have a new beta reader for each book
/5
You'll naturally do this while writing, but I like to have a new beta reader for each book
/5
Edit for memory jogging. Your readers may read a chapter a day/week. It's okay to spend a few words to remind them about an event/person they met at the beginning of the book. People who have a great memory will gloss over this, people who don't will appreciate it. Example: (next)
/4
/4
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Edit for memory jogging. Your readers may read a chapter a day/week. It's okay to spend a few words to remind them about an event/person they met at the beginning of the book. People who have a great memory will gloss over this, people who don't will appreciate it. Example: (next)
/4
/4
Edit for reader engagement. If your beta readers are bored, there's usually a small change you can make to re-engage them. Alternatively, you'll find out what readers won't enjoy in your book, which helps you understand your market.
Example: we have a large cast series and warn people
/3
Example: we have a large cast series and warn people
/3
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Edit for reader engagement. If your beta readers are bored, there's usually a small change you can make to re-engage them. Alternatively, you'll find out what readers won't enjoy in your book, which helps you understand your market.
Example: we have a large cast series and warn people
/3
Example: we have a large cast series and warn people
/3
Edit for clarity and ease of use, as always. Example: in my editing passes, I always check to make sure the important thing happens at the beginning of the paragraph. This helps people skimming (to find their place, reread a favorite scene, or skip!). It also helps ME in the future.
/2
/2
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Edit for clarity and ease of use, as always. Example: in my editing passes, I always check to make sure the important thing happens at the beginning of the paragraph. This helps people skimming (to find their place, reread a favorite scene, or skip!). It also helps ME in the future.
/2
/2
It's tough to live in the world when I can't work AND be stressed at the same time. I'm struggling to figure out how to exist with these very finite mental limits. And trying not to worry that my cognitive function may never come back - because that's just more mental static that eats my capacity.
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It's tough to live in the world when I can't work AND be stressed at the same time. I'm struggling to figure out how to exist with these very finite mental limits. And trying not to worry that my cognitive function may never come back - because that's just more mental static that eats my capacity.
It's also tough to get a job when I'm smarter once I have it. How do I pass through the gatekeepers and convince someone to hire me when I don't have brainpower? It's all being used up with financial stress, which I can't turn off until I get employed.
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It's also tough to get a job when I'm smarter once I have it. How do I pass through the gatekeepers and convince someone to hire me when I don't have brainpower? It's all being used up with financial stress, which I can't turn off until I get employed.
It also doesn't make sense that my brain functions better when I'm working than I'm unemployed. I know that money stress consumes my brain to the point that it makes me stupid, because that's my lived experience right now. But it's a hard thing for people to believe.
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It also doesn't make sense that my brain functions better when I'm working than I'm unemployed. I know that money stress consumes my brain to the point that it makes me stupid, because that's my lived experience right now. But it's a hard thing for people to believe.
like making a doctor appointment or fixing my website (which I built). How can I mentally perform in one situation but not the other?
The answer is that the cognitive cost of working is less than that of other seemingly simple tasks. Which doesn't seem real or legitimate to other people.
The answer is that the cognitive cost of working is less than that of other seemingly simple tasks. Which doesn't seem real or legitimate to other people.
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
like making a doctor appointment or fixing my website (which I built). How can I mentally perform in one situation but not the other?
The answer is that the cognitive cost of working is less than that of other seemingly simple tasks. Which doesn't seem real or legitimate to other people.
The answer is that the cognitive cost of working is less than that of other seemingly simple tasks. Which doesn't seem real or legitimate to other people.
Your life pares down to the barest functions. Anything outside of that just doesn't exist. It can't exist because thinking about it or acknowledging it uses up too much of your limited cognitive function.
It doesn't make rational sense that I can work for someone else but I can't do basic things
It doesn't make rational sense that I can work for someone else but I can't do basic things
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Your life pares down to the barest functions. Anything outside of that just doesn't exist. It can't exist because thinking about it or acknowledging it uses up too much of your limited cognitive function.
It doesn't make rational sense that I can work for someone else but I can't do basic things
It doesn't make rational sense that I can work for someone else but I can't do basic things
Living is so difficult with brain damage. You're in an impossible situation where you need help because you're cognitively impaired but you don't know how to find help, because you're cognitively impaired. People assume you're lying about the impairment, especially as you learn to talk coherently.
March 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Living is so difficult with brain damage. You're in an impossible situation where you need help because you're cognitively impaired but you don't know how to find help, because you're cognitively impaired. People assume you're lying about the impairment, especially as you learn to talk coherently.