JS Cutler is Drafting
@js-cutler-writes.bsky.social
Fictional person writing a real book. Currently on draft one.
I'm absolutely gutted to hear of Catherine O'Hara's passing but I'm also so glad that she went out on such a career high and receiving the recognition she was due the whole time.
I know that's not what matters but doing what you love right up to the end is how to go.
I know that's not what matters but doing what you love right up to the end is how to go.
January 31, 2026 at 5:11 PM
I'm absolutely gutted to hear of Catherine O'Hara's passing but I'm also so glad that she went out on such a career high and receiving the recognition she was due the whole time.
I know that's not what matters but doing what you love right up to the end is how to go.
I know that's not what matters but doing what you love right up to the end is how to go.
Revising is going... Ok. I've now completely restructured the first three chapters.
More seeds are planted early, characters are more distinct.
We lost sone of the gonzo "what if we did this?" and more satirical elements but there's room to put back the good ones.
More seeds are planted early, characters are more distinct.
We lost sone of the gonzo "what if we did this?" and more satirical elements but there's room to put back the good ones.
January 28, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Revising is going... Ok. I've now completely restructured the first three chapters.
More seeds are planted early, characters are more distinct.
We lost sone of the gonzo "what if we did this?" and more satirical elements but there's room to put back the good ones.
More seeds are planted early, characters are more distinct.
We lost sone of the gonzo "what if we did this?" and more satirical elements but there's room to put back the good ones.
It's weird that I know exactly how the furniture in my protagonist's dorm room is laid out but don't know what's in my very real fridge, right?
January 23, 2026 at 6:41 PM
It's weird that I know exactly how the furniture in my protagonist's dorm room is laid out but don't know what's in my very real fridge, right?
The biggest victim of the AI era will be laconic humor.
January 20, 2026 at 9:49 PM
The biggest victim of the AI era will be laconic humor.
Just finished rewriting the first chapter of Draft Two. It's more layered, the stakes are clearer, the characters have specific voices.
Should make me feel good but just makes me feel me from 8 months ago was a talentless hack.
And I have like 45 more to go?!???
Should make me feel good but just makes me feel me from 8 months ago was a talentless hack.
And I have like 45 more to go?!???
January 20, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Just finished rewriting the first chapter of Draft Two. It's more layered, the stakes are clearer, the characters have specific voices.
Should make me feel good but just makes me feel me from 8 months ago was a talentless hack.
And I have like 45 more to go?!???
Should make me feel good but just makes me feel me from 8 months ago was a talentless hack.
And I have like 45 more to go?!???
First day back on the novel after a month off. Geez, if only writing it were as easy as writing down what I need to fix in it .
January 14, 2026 at 7:24 PM
First day back on the novel after a month off. Geez, if only writing it were as easy as writing down what I need to fix in it .
I have to confess that I'm not a big Heated Rivalry stan. Nothing wrong with it, I'm just not a romance guy.
But I was in a bar that had a viewing party for the finale and I LOVE how much other people love it.
But I was in a bar that had a viewing party for the finale and I LOVE how much other people love it.
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I have to confess that I'm not a big Heated Rivalry stan. Nothing wrong with it, I'm just not a romance guy.
But I was in a bar that had a viewing party for the finale and I LOVE how much other people love it.
But I was in a bar that had a viewing party for the finale and I LOVE how much other people love it.
I might be getting better as a writer. Today I ended a short story "early" because I realized the real story was emotionally and thematically over and everything else was just epilogue.
Epilogue that had some cool stuff, but epilogue nonetheless.
Epilogue that had some cool stuff, but epilogue nonetheless.
January 8, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I might be getting better as a writer. Today I ended a short story "early" because I realized the real story was emotionally and thematically over and everything else was just epilogue.
Epilogue that had some cool stuff, but epilogue nonetheless.
Epilogue that had some cool stuff, but epilogue nonetheless.
Still on break from The Novel until at least the new year. Trying to stay sharp by chipping away at the short story collection.
The current one is refusing to stay short.
The current one is refusing to stay short.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Still on break from The Novel until at least the new year. Trying to stay sharp by chipping away at the short story collection.
The current one is refusing to stay short.
The current one is refusing to stay short.
And just like that... I have officially written a novel.
Draft one of "The Lantern Trials" is complete.
Is it good? ... Sometimes, sometimes it genuinely is.
Will it be a lot better next draft? Hell yeah, it will!
But first, distance.
Draft one of "The Lantern Trials" is complete.
Is it good? ... Sometimes, sometimes it genuinely is.
Will it be a lot better next draft? Hell yeah, it will!
But first, distance.
December 8, 2025 at 9:25 PM
And just like that... I have officially written a novel.
Draft one of "The Lantern Trials" is complete.
Is it good? ... Sometimes, sometimes it genuinely is.
Will it be a lot better next draft? Hell yeah, it will!
But first, distance.
Draft one of "The Lantern Trials" is complete.
Is it good? ... Sometimes, sometimes it genuinely is.
Will it be a lot better next draft? Hell yeah, it will!
But first, distance.
Three chapters to go. In Chapter 47, the protagonist and antagonist finally lay out all their cards and realise they actually have a lot in common. Which sure does make all those upcoming murder plans a bit embarrassing.
December 3, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Three chapters to go. In Chapter 47, the protagonist and antagonist finally lay out all their cards and realise they actually have a lot in common. Which sure does make all those upcoming murder plans a bit embarrassing.
I was down to the last five chapters. But then I added two, so seven to go! In Chapter 43 the foil debates whether my protag is worth sticking his neck out for or whether he should switch sides after all. He also talks about how much he hates chinos.
November 29, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I was down to the last five chapters. But then I added two, so seven to go! In Chapter 43 the foil debates whether my protag is worth sticking his neck out for or whether he should switch sides after all. He also talks about how much he hates chinos.
After a rocky start, Chapter 41 rolled out much easier than Chapter 40. My protag became a god until the foil's attempts to save him ruined everything.
They'll never be #enemiestolovers if the foil keeps this up!
They'll never be #enemiestolovers if the foil keeps this up!
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
After a rocky start, Chapter 41 rolled out much easier than Chapter 40. My protag became a god until the foil's attempts to save him ruined everything.
They'll never be #enemiestolovers if the foil keeps this up!
They'll never be #enemiestolovers if the foil keeps this up!
Is "theater kid" an insult? A compliment?
What are the telltale signs someone was/is a theater kid?
What are the telltale signs someone was/is a theater kid?
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Is "theater kid" an insult? A compliment?
What are the telltale signs someone was/is a theater kid?
What are the telltale signs someone was/is a theater kid?
"Are you wearing 7 layers... And still freezing your MAN nipples?"
Can I use the algorithm for forcing that sentence on me?
Can I use the algorithm for forcing that sentence on me?
November 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"Are you wearing 7 layers... And still freezing your MAN nipples?"
Can I use the algorithm for forcing that sentence on me?
Can I use the algorithm for forcing that sentence on me?
Annnnnnnd we now have only 10 chapters to go. In chapter 38, the foil took a knife to a secret cabal fight and failed to be the action hero he was hoping to be. Thank God, he was able to get the information he needed in another way.
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Annnnnnnd we now have only 10 chapters to go. In chapter 38, the foil took a knife to a secret cabal fight and failed to be the action hero he was hoping to be. Thank God, he was able to get the information he needed in another way.
First time I've written dialogue for Hassan and it turns out he's delightfully pompous.
He'd be irritating as a main character but to show up in one chapter to help the foil, he's a palate cleanser.
Perhaps my favorite aspect is him referring to the antagonist as Big Bird.
He'd be irritating as a main character but to show up in one chapter to help the foil, he's a palate cleanser.
Perhaps my favorite aspect is him referring to the antagonist as Big Bird.
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
First time I've written dialogue for Hassan and it turns out he's delightfully pompous.
He'd be irritating as a main character but to show up in one chapter to help the foil, he's a palate cleanser.
Perhaps my favorite aspect is him referring to the antagonist as Big Bird.
He'd be irritating as a main character but to show up in one chapter to help the foil, he's a palate cleanser.
Perhaps my favorite aspect is him referring to the antagonist as Big Bird.
Write new chapter? Or rewrite the last chapter because you had a dream about it?
November 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Write new chapter? Or rewrite the last chapter because you had a dream about it?
Finished Chapter 35 today. My protagonist went into the lion's den and things did not go as expected. 13 chapters left to go!
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Finished Chapter 35 today. My protagonist went into the lion's den and things did not go as expected. 13 chapters left to go!
This is a dumb thing to be bummed about but my writing software failed to sync sessions and now my 108 writing streak reads as a 2 day one.
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is a dumb thing to be bummed about but my writing software failed to sync sessions and now my 108 writing streak reads as a 2 day one.
The worst part of having friends over for a movie night is now they know what ads the algorithm is serving me.
November 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The worst part of having friends over for a movie night is now they know what ads the algorithm is serving me.
Trying to keep this chapter tight but there are *so* many relevant things to say.
Meh. I'll worry about it when I'm in editing mode.
Meh. I'll worry about it when I'm in editing mode.
November 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Trying to keep this chapter tight but there are *so* many relevant things to say.
Meh. I'll worry about it when I'm in editing mode.
Meh. I'll worry about it when I'm in editing mode.
Ok, back from novel-sabbatical and "ready" to tackle Part 3 (the final part). During the break I got through seven shorts for my procrastination project and beat-sheeted a further three.
So progress but it's time to get back to it. Hold me to it.
So progress but it's time to get back to it. Hold me to it.
November 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Ok, back from novel-sabbatical and "ready" to tackle Part 3 (the final part). During the break I got through seven shorts for my procrastination project and beat-sheeted a further three.
So progress but it's time to get back to it. Hold me to it.
So progress but it's time to get back to it. Hold me to it.
The plus side of being "the weird one" at work is no one wonders why you're asking "Did Verruca Salt walk so Taylor Swift could fly?"
They just get on with answering the question.
"...maybe?" Seems to be the consensus.
They just get on with answering the question.
"...maybe?" Seems to be the consensus.
October 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The plus side of being "the weird one" at work is no one wonders why you're asking "Did Verruca Salt walk so Taylor Swift could fly?"
They just get on with answering the question.
"...maybe?" Seems to be the consensus.
They just get on with answering the question.
"...maybe?" Seems to be the consensus.
Premise for a crime thriller: FBI agent knows who the kidnapper is by gut; days to find the victim. Then a govt shutdown hits. Forensic analysts are furloughed. Overtime budget is frozen. Can't arrest without evidence they can't access. Clock's ticking. What do they do?
October 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Premise for a crime thriller: FBI agent knows who the kidnapper is by gut; days to find the victim. Then a govt shutdown hits. Forensic analysts are furloughed. Overtime budget is frozen. Can't arrest without evidence they can't access. Clock's ticking. What do they do?