Desmond Payne
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desmondpayne.bsky.social
Desmond Payne
@desmondpayne.bsky.social
Author of the upcoming novel, Tethered. Inkfort Open participant by luck and grace. I'm going to post updates on writing progress here, so stay tuned. Also happy to chat.
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Just to clarify a bit here, I'm an Inkfort Open contestant, so I'm writing under on pseudonym for the competition under this name, per the rules. I'm going to reveal my main account at the end, so no worries.

But in two months, I'll have a novel for you.

Thanks for following and wish me luck.
I'll be posting some chapters soon so everyone can see what I've been working on, sporadically as of late. Excited to start sharing, despite the delays.
August 9, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Currently reading a few books on population demographics to inform the setting, while juggling personal obligations. I think research will make the worldbuilding feel real. Still making progress.

#writingcommunity
July 31, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I'll also tag one of my favorite writing servers, Writer's Block, to announce Wake, Leviathan, my sci-fi novel set on the colony world Jotenheimr where giant cyborgs struggle to carve out home on an unforgiving alien world only to find more than they imagined.

Coming at you this fall. #amwriting
July 22, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Just to keep y'all updated, I've made the most of this and miraculously finished half of Tethered. I'm taking my time with it due to some life circumstances and a desire to deliver a plausible near future New York City in the age of the ominous acronyms of AI, AR, VR, and IoT. (The arrogance!)
July 22, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Tonight I mostly worked on a few worldbuilding elements and scenes, and even worked on a side project for an hour, which is growing into another novel.

So you may get two novels in September, lol.

Anyway, have a decent day or night, wherever you are.
July 2, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Just realized that I could be way more creative when writing about a virtual space where so much is possible.
June 18, 2025 at 3:34 AM
I managed to squeeze in 312 words last evening, but I'm going to do some continuous writing once I've settled in at home.

#FFYW
June 17, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Just found out I have until September 22nd to produce my novel, which is significantly more time, but I'm going to finish the draft I envisioned first, then possibly augment it with a bit more research and revisions.

Hope everyone's doing alright.

#FFYW
June 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I've finished 3,885 words over the last two days since I've got some things to tend to over the weekend, though I might squeeze in some mobile typing in my free moments.

If you're going to protests this weekend, stay safe and smart. Look out for each other.

#FFYW
June 14, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Planning on making tonight a writing night.
June 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Just as a informal poll to help me decide, which sounds better as a protagonist's name, Max Chu or Moses Chu?

Reply in the comments. #FFYW
June 4, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I took some reference pictures after work of some locations I'm going to use in my book, sketched out the bare-bones mechanics for those scenes in a couple chapter outlines. I put 318 words for the actual text, which isn't a lot, but I'm working from home today, so catch up for lunch.

#FFYW
June 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Last night, I revamped the opening chapters of my novel, structured it a bit more cleanly while showcasing some of the key technologies in the setting, augmented reality, generative AI, and the Internet of Things all thoroughly creeping into our lives, which is clearly sci-fi. 🤣

But onwards. #FFYW
June 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Anyway, I've finished my outline and research, so I'm into the writing phase now. The weekend was doing its level best to keep from putting fingers to keyboard, but I entered my first 356 words, which above my minimum daily word count, but I've got to do better to meet the Open deadline.

#FFYW
June 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The hardest thing about writing a hard sci-fi novel on a two month deadline isn't the actual writing, it turns out. Outlining takes a bit of time, but what you really need to move on is the necessary research, to make setting and tech believable. And you can rush reading meaningfully but so much.
June 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Taking advantage of the time I have to myself for the long weekend to finalize an outline and do some research to give the story that real feel.
May 26, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Just to clarify a bit here, I'm an Inkfort Open contestant, so I'm writing under on pseudonym for the competition under this name, per the rules. I'm going to reveal my main account at the end, so no worries.

But in two months, I'll have a novel for you.

Thanks for following and wish me luck.
May 26, 2025 at 2:59 AM