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Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

130 followers 93 following 140 posts

Aspiring fantasy author currently working on a Whalepunk heist novel inspired by some ungodly mix of Lies of Locke Lamora, Dishonored, and Six of Crows.
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Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

This email from my editor is in my "for a rainy day"-folder. Been feeling a bit disheartened about my chances of becoming traditionally published and writing full-time, but it's really special to have someone who knows the industry truly believe in you.

Going to keep editing my inciting incident.

Screenshot of editor's email to me:

I strongly disagree that Al is the only really well-written character, especially as you've moved through rounds of revisions. I think there was a time when it was mostly the Al show, but you've moved past that. The good news is, this feeling is normal. You're tinkering with teeny, tiny details and you're focusing on those details rather than the book as a holistic whole. This work is necessary and important and will pay off in the end, but remember that the *whole book* is what really matters. You're doing the work of making sure emotional throughlines show up in each scene, that every character has a real motivation and arc, and that those motivations and arcs are demonstrated (at least a little) on the page. That's good and I'm impressed by the progress you've made.

BUT. Just because you've made progress doesn't mean the previous version was bad. A professional athlete continues to train to improve their performance, but they were already a professional athlete. Same goes for musicians. They can keep practicing and refining, but you would never say that they were bad just because they were a violinist with the second best orchestra in the world. You're a good writer. You have a good story. You have the ability to make a career of this. Of course you will continue to improve your craft and refine the product as you go. But that does not mean the previous drafts were poorly done.

September 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM

Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

This remains the funniest feedback editor has given me on Wavewaker (we were talking about romance plotlines).

AL has cartoon Robin Hood appeal.

Editor's feedback on Wavewaker: "I think you can rely on the appeal of the tortured bad boy trope. He has the same appeal as Robin Hood--and girls are attracted to him even when he's a literal cartoon fox."

June 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM

Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

Why is there AI in my Word😐😑

Scrivener for life, I guess.

Picture of Copilot in a blank Word document.

May 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM

Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

SIX OF CROWS x DISHONORED

Industry, magical whale-oil, and exploitative capitalists -- and one disillusioned thief decides to raid the most secure oil vault there is.

But he can't do it alone.

🐳 Victorian whalepunk
🐳 Fantasy heist
🐳 Class rage
🐳 Found family

#LuckyPit #PopUpPit #PopUpPitA #F #A

Moodboard of a grimy, whalepunk fantasy heist novel called Wavewaker.

Wavewaker Tropes & Themes:
- Underdog MC
- Socioeconomic disillusionment
- Morally grey characters
- Found family
- Star-crossed lovers
- Grounded magic system
- Undercover heist

Excerpt: A row of crimson whale-oil lanterns shepherded guests through the gated courtyard and towards the main entrance of Nocturne Hall, like buoys guiding ships through the dark. The ethereally pale structure stood silent, its roof curved and packed with servants’ windows, more patriotic red spilling out through crimson stained-glass windows and drenching white balconies wide enough to be boulevards.

This red-eyed monolith belonged to Sovereign Ylva Torn, chairwoman of the Echelon, and was the subject of the yearly masquerade. A perfect place for the rich to carve up the world a little finer between themselves, with spiked iron fences to keep out undesirables.

Aside from those they invited in, of course.

March 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM

Azoh

@jlingaas.bsky.social

SIX OF CROWS x DISHONORED

Al dreams of becoming a scholar, despite being born to a family of whalers. And in a city where you can get anywhere if you're good enough, what could possibly hold him back?

🐳 Victorian whalepunk
🐳 Fantasy heist
🐳 Class rage
🐳 Found family

#BluePit #YA #F #W 📖