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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

Y’all, I just had reason to go back and read some of my high school fanfic, and it’s good??? I was a good writer then???

Why the hell am I doubting myself now???

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

It was a ton of fun. I made Adric die to Vogon poetry once, while Discworld’s Death sighed because he had to, once again, collect poor Adric.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

Were you ever on the alt.drwho.creative newsgroup? We literally had an ongoing setting everyone could write in where all universes met, called This Time Round, the pub outside continuity. Adric died every night 😂

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

ADHD stress dreams are the worst. I could be having a cool Star Trek adventure dream, but instead I’m dreaming that the road to work keeps crumbling in front of me and I cannot get there on time? No thanks.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

Harper in the Sharpe series is definitely charming despite his size, but in a way that makes me think Cornwell thinks all Irish people are charming.

But he also uses a six-barreled rifle that Sharpe gives him, which historically broke most users’ shoulders due to kickback, so… big man.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 1h

I think people forget that most books aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. I use a lot of old books in my art, and I promise you fucking NO ONE is holding my copy of “The Deserted Wife” sacred, and it was by one of the most widely read female writers of its time!

Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 4h

And where does this reverence end? Must we faithfully preserve all crumbling copies of old travel guides? Phone books? The Highway Code? Of course archives should hold a few copies, but all of them?

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 2h

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

Open the edit letter.

☠TheDeadDon'tDie☠ 🐢🎨🧜‍♀️🎪🎠 @railroadofsin.bsky.social · 1d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

Where's the door key?

Big Miss Steak 𓅚 🐊 thru the heart of a vampire @hawaiijeno.bsky.social · 1d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

“Those embers are out.”

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 2h

My dad would have used the crap out of this when he was mayor of Gambier, so I support this.

Reposted by Diane Ackland

Sophie Stern | L.C. Mortimer @sophiestern.bsky.social · 10h

If you’re thinking about becoming a writer, you should do it.

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 2h

Dear sir:

Dunning-Kruger is an Effect, not a Syndrome. Further, people who accuse well researched women of being examples of said Effect are generally suffering from that Effect themselves.

Happy for you or sorry that happened,
Diane

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 2h

Holy crap, what?

I devoured Cornwell’s books as a kid, and somehow missed this entire series. Ugh, and I was seriously considering starting a reread of the Sharpe series…

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 2h

It’s been a while since I read Cornwell, but I vaguely recall the Welsh generally portrayed poorly in the Sharpe series too.

Then again, his main Irish character in that series is a huge brute who is very stereotypically Irish, so maybe not the most nuanced portrayal there either 😬

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 10h

Well, if you insist… 😂

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 10h

I am occasionally annoyed that my brain insists on things like “plot” and “worldbuilding”, preventing me from just writing “they’re a foursome on a sailing ship and three of them wear sexy Napoleonic War uniforms and they bang a lot” like I want to.

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 13h

Yes! Shakespeare didn't click for me until my senior year English teacher explained all the jokes and double-entendres. Then I basically mainlined Shakespeare classes in college.

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 13h

If it helps, I'm currently working on an essay about why there is no such thing as an "unnecessary" or "gratuitous" sex scene, though it's less about craft and more about societal expectations of bodies and art.

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 13h

I love it! Figuring out how to structure and subvert the "why choose?" trope is going to be fun!

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 13h

Sigh.

*straps on an entire suit of armor and sits down at the computer*

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 13h

How you know the pot has kicked in:

You're sitting in front of your computer in a dark room because you haven't noticed the sun going down while plotting a flintlock fantasy romance about a Powderwitch (Flintwitch?) and the three naval officers who love her.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 14h

Totally agree re: the escapism, but I'm suddenly encouraged to introduce more relationship anarchy into my books lol.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 14h

Whomst do I have to fight??? 😂

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Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 14h

Whenever people talk about centering white men in the literary canon, he's primarily who I think about. I respect what he was trying to do to highlight the plight of the rural class, but my god his prose sucks.

Diane Ackland @author.dianeackland.com · 14h

We also assume that everyone wants to stay together as lovers for the rest of their lives, which is whatever but...

It might be overthinking, but I dig it. I just didn't realize the lack of agency in the HEA.