sten.tarkusest

🇪🇪🇺🇸Writer of fantasy that explores politics, science, & how fear shapes society. Perhaps related to day job in renewable energy. Ecology PhD, JD,Pen name

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@the_ethanm An unclear prophecy spreads fear like roots through the foundation of a four thousand year old civilization governed by an empathic conclave of its people. A foreign ambassador discovers the fear is no accident, but is a war of stories going back to the dawn of humanity.

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@APoetForThePyre I tend to use actions or descriptions a fair bit to indicate who is speaking.

I will say that not using tags at all too quickly becomes a trainwreck. When I see it my reaction is usually that this person isn’t as good a writer as they think they are

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@Siennafrst My wife and I had talked about it for a while, and we had just stopped by a spot and talked about whether it would be a good wedding location minutes before, and she was still surprised when I actually proposed.

I guess I played it cool pretty well

I gues

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@annlittler Shouldn't that poll option be "Fuck, yeah!"?

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@BiancaM_author @jeanmare_gag For me the test is how many questions the read has at the end of that first sentence. Who is dead? Who is Esbé? What should we be terrified?

The second doesn't feel to me like it raises the same wide range of questions. My reaction is "yeah, ok. that's probably true."

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@BiancaM_author @jeanmare_gag There are strong arguments for both, but I like the structure of the first. "There is something terrifying" is quite the start. Then two words make this more personal than a free floating philosophical observation. Then we learn more detail about the emptiness left by the dead

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@ParkNet504 Fried, with dill

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@Wolfofsteele Boy, one thing I have learned from talking to folks is that the writer can’t judge how something will land.

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@AGrimBastard Fingers crossed!

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@DaryaSilman Ooh. Reading a novel in Estonian would be a challenge for sure, so thanks for the recommendation !

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@TeresaTraver1 Medicine is magic. All of it.

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@am_anatiala @jeffvandermeer My thoughts too. “Well, ok, I guess…”

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@Anim8rgirl You’re not alone at least. I wish I could make it all better

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

Have a sunset photo!

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@LeslieEsc People who don’t have company have to eat too. I agree about bringing a book. To me seeing someone dining alone with a book hints of mystery and magic about the person. Probably just me though

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@mirna0722 Mine comes decades before the book opens. As a street kid betrayed ter best friend (another street kid) to their death. MC ended up alive, alone, and deeply guilt ridden at age 9.

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@nemuhar @mirna0722 That would do it

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

We all have our favorite world building telling details. We love them deeply

One of my writing group fellows mentioned the grime between the steel band and the Formica of a booth table in a diner and suddenly I could picture the whole place.

What’s your fave example?

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@realeverywriter I have given up on writing many times. It can be quite refreshing. I’m sure I will give up on writing forever many times in the future as well

[sten.tarkusest @tarkusest]

@Travis_in_Flint @StephenKing Jesus. Does that mean we are supposed to call it “Musk” now?

I supposed that’s even smuttier than “X” so that’s an upside