Praise-Abby Barebone
@arobertswrites.com
SFF writer and essayist you’ve never heard of. SocDem/progressive. Tolkien nerd. Armchair medievalist. She/her. Header by beloved.moe.
Website: arobertswrites.com
Newsletter: buttondown.email/arobertswrites
Website: arobertswrites.com
Newsletter: buttondown.email/arobertswrites
Pinned
Praise-Abby Barebone
@arobertswrites.com
· Apr 21
What Lies and Threats — Speculative Insight
Abby Roberts examines the use of national myth-making in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
www.speculativeinsight.com
For $0.00 you can read what Bret Devereaux (of ACOUP fame) called an "absolute banger of a Tolkien essay" and what my mom (of giving birth to me fame) called "very timely and relevant": "What Lies and Threats: Nationalist Myth-Making in The Lord of the Rings" on @speculativeinsight.bsky.social!
I did my monk words, time for sleep.
January 13, 2026 at 4:42 AM
I did my monk words, time for sleep.
I want a weighted blanket that squashes me flat.
January 13, 2026 at 3:14 AM
I want a weighted blanket that squashes me flat.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
Tell Libby how you feel about their betrayal of the creative community.
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Tell Libby how you feel about their betrayal of the creative community.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
This is wretchedly disappointing.
If you care about the book industry, you can't support the theft machines that are attempting to destroy it. Full stop. This is not a difficult concept.
If you care about the book industry, you can't support the theft machines that are attempting to destroy it. Full stop. This is not a difficult concept.
Our official policy provides clarity on our AI usage and the broader impact of AI on the book industry as a whole. Read OverDrive's full policy here: https://bit.ly/4be33jB
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 AM
This is wretchedly disappointing.
If you care about the book industry, you can't support the theft machines that are attempting to destroy it. Full stop. This is not a difficult concept.
If you care about the book industry, you can't support the theft machines that are attempting to destroy it. Full stop. This is not a difficult concept.
Do not tempt me.
January 13, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Do not tempt me.
Please don’t let me change my display name to Praise-God Barebone I’m trying to remain comprehensible
Naming all my characters Praise-God Barebone regardless of context.
January 13, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Please don’t let me change my display name to Praise-God Barebone I’m trying to remain comprehensible
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
Naming all my characters Praise-God Barebone regardless of context.
January 13, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Naming all my characters Praise-God Barebone regardless of context.
Because I am committed to breaking stereotypes, none of the monk WIP characters have red hair.
January 13, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Because I am committed to breaking stereotypes, none of the monk WIP characters have red hair.
TLDR read primary sources. They’re fun. You’re smart and I believe in you.
You know if you read any primary sources, you can have your pick of period and culturally appropriate names.
A pagan Irish character named Sean.
January 13, 2026 at 2:02 AM
TLDR read primary sources. They’re fun. You’re smart and I believe in you.
You know if you read any primary sources, you can have your pick of period and culturally appropriate names.
A pagan Irish character named Sean.
It does make some fantasy novels impossible to read. (Still thinking of the well-regarded author that had early mediaeval - definitely pre-Norman and IIRC pagan- Irish characters called “Sean” and “Éamonn” . Also “tinkers” whereas travelling people as a distinct population have a much later origin)
January 13, 2026 at 1:59 AM
You know if you read any primary sources, you can have your pick of period and culturally appropriate names.
A pagan Irish character named Sean.
It does make some fantasy novels impossible to read. (Still thinking of the well-regarded author that had early mediaeval - definitely pre-Norman and IIRC pagan- Irish characters called “Sean” and “Éamonn” . Also “tinkers” whereas travelling people as a distinct population have a much later origin)
January 13, 2026 at 1:57 AM
A pagan Irish character named Sean.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
pronouncing crayon the normal way
January 13, 2026 at 12:29 AM
pronouncing crayon the normal way
The Potomac.
My favorite Twitter prompt was "RT this with your home river," so reskeet this with your home river.
Mine is the Patuxent.
Mine is the Patuxent.
January 13, 2026 at 1:43 AM
The Potomac.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
16 hours left. IT'S DOWN TO JUST OVER $1,200 UNTIL FUNDED Y'ALL!
Look. I know some of you follow me because I write sapphic stories. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAPPHIC VISUAL NOVEL'S SEQUEL. Support the art that'll allow me to recharge and make art.
Look. I know some of you follow me because I write sapphic stories. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAPPHIC VISUAL NOVEL'S SEQUEL. Support the art that'll allow me to recharge and make art.
140 more fans of dark magical yuri political mysteries and victory is ours!
#Indie #Indiegame #Kickstarter #Indiegamedev #queer #visualnovel
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pro...
#Indie #Indiegame #Kickstarter #Indiegamedev #queer #visualnovel
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pro...
Women of Xal II
Original Game Free! The revolution begins. Can Xjena survive rising violence and The Great Silence— Xal's final extinction event?
www.kickstarter.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:35 AM
16 hours left. IT'S DOWN TO JUST OVER $1,200 UNTIL FUNDED Y'ALL!
Look. I know some of you follow me because I write sapphic stories. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAPPHIC VISUAL NOVEL'S SEQUEL. Support the art that'll allow me to recharge and make art.
Look. I know some of you follow me because I write sapphic stories. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAPPHIC VISUAL NOVEL'S SEQUEL. Support the art that'll allow me to recharge and make art.
Oh yeah another tricky thing about writing a murder mystery novel set in early Ireland is that killing someone wasn’t always against the law, depending on context.
When I’m finished with monk WIP I want to do a murder mystery prequel/sequel focused on a different cast, so I will use to dig into the old Irish law codes at some point.
January 13, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Oh yeah another tricky thing about writing a murder mystery novel set in early Ireland is that killing someone wasn’t always against the law, depending on context.
Well. A different but overlapping cast. I think Tadc might show up.
When I’m finished with monk WIP I want to do a murder mystery prequel/sequel focused on a different cast, so I will use to dig into the old Irish law codes at some point.
January 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Well. A different but overlapping cast. I think Tadc might show up.
Given that the antagonist of monk WIP is a tree, he’s not really close to anyone, except for the minions of the grove who do his bidding, I guess.
And maybe Brigit, who his neighbor and also in debt to him for reasons that are ultimately quite boring (property dispute).
And maybe Brigit, who his neighbor and also in debt to him for reasons that are ultimately quite boring (property dispute).
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters
Antagonist day!
What is your antagonist's most important relationship?
Are they close to anyone? How does that person feel about their choices? Does it matter to the antagonist what they think?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Antagonist day!
What is your antagonist's most important relationship?
Are they close to anyone? How does that person feel about their choices? Does it matter to the antagonist what they think?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 12, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Given that the antagonist of monk WIP is a tree, he’s not really close to anyone, except for the minions of the grove who do his bidding, I guess.
And maybe Brigit, who his neighbor and also in debt to him for reasons that are ultimately quite boring (property dispute).
And maybe Brigit, who his neighbor and also in debt to him for reasons that are ultimately quite boring (property dispute).
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
The Company have taken shelter in a ring of boulders on a hilltop. They take turns napping. Out in the darkness, many eyes reflect the light of their fire.
A large wolf approaches their firelight. It leaps towards Gandalf, but falls with an arrow of Legolas in its throat.
A large wolf approaches their firelight. It leaps towards Gandalf, but falls with an arrow of Legolas in its throat.
January 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
The Company have taken shelter in a ring of boulders on a hilltop. They take turns napping. Out in the darkness, many eyes reflect the light of their fire.
A large wolf approaches their firelight. It leaps towards Gandalf, but falls with an arrow of Legolas in its throat.
A large wolf approaches their firelight. It leaps towards Gandalf, but falls with an arrow of Legolas in its throat.
When I’m finished with monk WIP I want to do a murder mystery prequel/sequel focused on a different cast, so I will use to dig into the old Irish law codes at some point.
January 12, 2026 at 11:51 PM
When I’m finished with monk WIP I want to do a murder mystery prequel/sequel focused on a different cast, so I will use to dig into the old Irish law codes at some point.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
Christmas tree fires spike in January.
January 12, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Christmas tree fires spike in January.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
"saturnine" is such a gorgeous word... I want to use it but I feel like if I do people will be like "LMAO this nerd couldn't wait for this one"
January 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
"saturnine" is such a gorgeous word... I want to use it but I feel like if I do people will be like "LMAO this nerd couldn't wait for this one"
All Barbies can be autistic if you are also autistic.
January 12, 2026 at 9:41 PM
All Barbies can be autistic if you are also autistic.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
The thing where 2010s clothes became vintage happened too quickly.
January 12, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The thing where 2010s clothes became vintage happened too quickly.
Reposted by Praise-Abby Barebone
Asbestosman
Asbestosman
Does whatever asbestos can
Causing cancer of the lungs
Mesothelioma
LOOKOUT!
He is Asbestosman
Asbestosman
Does whatever asbestos can
Causing cancer of the lungs
Mesothelioma
LOOKOUT!
He is Asbestosman
Just emailed someone known as “asbestosman” for work.
January 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Asbestosman
Asbestosman
Does whatever asbestos can
Causing cancer of the lungs
Mesothelioma
LOOKOUT!
He is Asbestosman
Asbestosman
Does whatever asbestos can
Causing cancer of the lungs
Mesothelioma
LOOKOUT!
He is Asbestosman