FJ Brodie
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fjbrodie.bsky.social
FJ Brodie
@fjbrodie.bsky.social
📝 Fantasy Fiction #Writer and World-builder.
📜 Author of the Chronicles of Qal'ath on #WorldAnvil.
🧑‍🎨 Draw many of my own illustrations.
📚 Unpublished
📝 Write in Chronic Pain but not about it

🌍 https://bit.ly/qal-ath
https://ko-fi.com/fj_brodie
After yesterday's struggle, I wrote a scene for the next "book", called "The Seventh".

Whether anyone reads it, I completed "Skirmishes and Schisms" on @worldanvil.com and I have another full novel draft on my computer called "Wrenched".

I guess that makes me a #writer.

#writing #unpublished
October 27, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Today, around family time, I've been #sketching a picture of one of my characters from much later in my world than the serial fiction.

When my #Fibromyalgia is too bad for writing, #drawing is still a way to connect to my world.

#sketch #wip #originalcharacter #fantasy
September 26, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Now I've passed my hand-drawn #sketch through #GIMP filters, I can show you my sketch of Findat. He's currently leading a small diplomatic team through Shanvér Woods to where their allies, the Aevyormii, live.

And no, at this point in history, they don't have quicker transport.

#amwriting #drawing
September 20, 2025 at 2:19 AM
As a #drawing exercise today, I roughly sketched a new impression of "The Chronicler" (aka Add'màr).

To make it scalable and okay in digital I applied some GIMP smoothing. I will have to redraw this digitally I think, as I'm not using online tools to re-draw or generate it.

#newavatar #sketch
September 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
So, after not being able to write for one thing and another, I've managed over 2000 words of *draft* text tonight.

And bullet points for what happens next.

Guess I should go get some rest now!

(Image is my own creation from a hand-drawn pencil sketch).

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writersky
September 7, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Current #drawing WIP.

I meant to do this a few years ago when I wrote the short "Fallen Down of Nectar Glen" prelude to my Chronicles.

The Aevyormii had a beatiful Crystal Tree - a gift from Nature. They treasured it. The Tree radiated colours until the day Qal'ath invaded.

#amwriting #fiction
August 15, 2025 at 12:42 AM
This is the header I made for that latest #fiction chapter. I did the original by hand, but photos of drawings come out really grainy and don't scale well.

So I digitised/filtered it in #GIMP. That's it.

No "AI" except "Active Imagination". Don't underestimate your creativity.
August 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I had planned to do #writing tonight, but an extended family incident needed my energy.

So, I'm going to work on some #drawing for my serial fiction instead.

It's like writing, but in picture form.
August 5, 2025 at 11:05 PM
My mind seems a bit on the fragmented side at the moment. I'm definitely stranded between "Things I Want To Do" and "Things I Need to Do" with a Dash of "Things I Think People Need Me to Do But Never Said So".

Either way I am progressing my #writing, even if it's just 1000 words/week or two.
May 20, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Hey all, it's been a difficult week, especially with my health. I've not managed #writing, but I have tried to draw Vazkyr from my serial fiction storyline.

This was my second attempt and will have to be deemed "close enough".

#drawing #fantasy #sketch
May 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I've also begun to try and draw the main characters of The Cleansing. This one didn't turn out close enough to what's in my head, so I'll start over.

But I've photographed the #drawing, because heavy pencil sketches tend to get smudged at some point.

#pencildrawing #sketch #sketching
May 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
After proofreading for wifey yesterday, I foolishly thought I would have the capacity to do the same for my #writing today.

My brain says "no".

So I'll decide which related sketch to do next and which current sketch to draw digitally.

I'll look forward to proofing the chapter below another day.
April 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
A bit of an overdue UI change on my #WorldAnvil site. When you're reading one of my serial fiction episodes, the chapter list is

1. Readable
2. On larger screens it overlays the content, rather than pushing it down.

e.g.
www.worldanvil.com/w/qal-ath-fj...

#AmWriting #Writer #WriterSky
April 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
In an effort to feel like I'm progressing, I'm currently pulling together the chapters of "The Cleansing" I've published on separate #WorldAnvil 'Prose' pages, and putting them into a 'Manuscript'.

The two features seem to reach different levels of readers and it's best to keep a 'book' format too.
April 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I'll have to redraw this #drawing ...probably digitally as this was in a sketchpad that has really rough paper.

But it's for an upcoming chapter of The Cleansing.

Azachet may be a scientist, but that doesn't mean she's forgotten how to fight like a Sablesand Kyadd.

#fantasy #amwriting
April 18, 2025 at 12:54 AM
My tendency to start #writing project but not complete them means I have

- One whole 70k word "novel" (unpublished)
- A #fantasy series not a quarter-through
- another novel being planned
- World Building (spaghetti mess).

For now, I'm just doing the series when life gives me the chance to write.
April 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
If you're a #WorldAnvil member as well as Patreon/Ko-Fi sub, then you can read the chapter over there, too:

www.worldanvil.com/w/qal-ath-fj...

If you're not in a subscriber group, just let me know and I'll fix it.

I may only have two paid supporters, but to have ANY at all is amazing. Thank you!
March 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I was going to ask about tiger mounts, but you can /almost/ get there with Lioness. "Fae Cat" doesn't work for this species as it's natural.

But it's near you are getting mounts in here now. I have a better chance at drawing them.
March 6, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Sorry I've not been around much recently. I'm still struggling against an aggressive virus.

To compensate, here's a #WordPlay that my brain was doing earlier. It took 1hr in #Krita.

You're welcome!

#Words #Doodle
February 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I tried to post an update to @worldanvil.com via the new Community Modal. But it refreshed the screen several times, so I lost my post a few times. I'll use the traditional one tomorrow.

In theory this is a great feature & helps formatting updates much easier. But not for me, it seems. #WorldAnvil
February 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
After a week of fighting with IT systems and my own body, I'm trying to get organised.

I needed to decide what my next 5 #WorldBuilding articles would be, then figure out where the "manuscript" version of The Cleansing is at.

In short: Miles Behind.

PS: Thank you for notebook @worldanvil.com.
February 15, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Ah, reality has returned. I don't normally win things so when I did about a year ago the prize-giver had to email *me* to remind me about winning (I didn't check, because I don't win things).

So, normal life has returned and I can continue not expecting or hoping to win. It's easier that way.
February 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Well, what do you know? Using #Lutris I was able to get @terragen.bsky.social #TerraGen working on #Linux.

I have to not get distracted from writing and drawing by it but I'm glad to have recovered this neat concept tool.
January 25, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Browsing some back-up photos unearthed this #ChroniclesOfQalath one. It looks like it was made in an old version of @terragen.bsky.social but I have indeed added a quote by one of my key characters.

I did this in 2019 when I thought my first novel was nearly ready. I miss #Terragen on Linux.
January 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I've been developing my background write-up for Azachet, the Kyadd who forms part of Findat's investigation team in "The Cleansing".

I've shared the full drawing with my Patreon supporter and hope to have a world building article about her up later this week.

#pencilsketch #pencildrawing #fantasy
January 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM