Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
@glenatron.bsky.social
GM and producer and music composer for Crudely Drawn Swords, lead guitarist for The Patient Wild, Game Designer for The Hallowed Walk and Trilogy, Programmer, Horse Trainer, dork-ass-loser and now apparently novelist?
Pinned
I've picked up some followers lately so I'll do a new intro post - for many years I ran a very funny epic fantasy podcast called Crudely Drawn Swords, which you can listen to right now. I'm also a musician, programmer, game designer, horse trainer and apparently now novelist? I'm learning to draw.
Saturday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Saturday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
This is exactly it. I rediscovered drawing a few years ago and I've got so much better just by doing it. No talent involved, the trick is to enjoy things while you're bad at them. The only difference between the two pictures in this skeet is time and practice: bsky.app/profile/glen...
I've found that often "talent" is just "something to which this person was exposed early in life, so it comes a little easier when they start actually working on it." Because the body remembers. But you can still develop a skill at which you're not "talented" if you put in the work.
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
February 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
This is exactly it. I rediscovered drawing a few years ago and I've got so much better just by doing it. No talent involved, the trick is to enjoy things while you're bad at them. The only difference between the two pictures in this skeet is time and practice: bsky.app/profile/glen...
#PretendPanel The Redstone Rescue is an explicitly political book: part of my goal in creating the setting was to show that one could have a country in a low-technology fantasy setting that was more equable and more just than the one I live in. I have read too many dystopias,I need hope.
I'm breaking the rule of not bringing up politics, #pretendpanel! Still, I think it's important to think about it in our writing.
February 7th: How much has real world politics had an impact on your writing, or do you avoid that like the plague?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
February 7th: How much has real world politics had an impact on your writing, or do you avoid that like the plague?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
February 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM
#PretendPanel The Redstone Rescue is an explicitly political book: part of my goal in creating the setting was to show that one could have a country in a low-technology fantasy setting that was more equable and more just than the one I live in. I have read too many dystopias,I need hope.
Working on my figure drawing, just repeatedly sketching the same reference and testing my accuracy until I'm mostly correct, and thinking about my horsemanship teacher saying "don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."
February 7, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Working on my figure drawing, just repeatedly sketching the same reference and testing my accuracy until I'm mostly correct, and thinking about my horsemanship teacher saying "don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."
Realising that my Bandcamp Friday purchases yesterday Mark me out as the old man that I clearly am - only one from this year and one is from 2024! I can't pretend to be up to date if I only buy music from the old days.
February 7, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Realising that my Bandcamp Friday purchases yesterday Mark me out as the old man that I clearly am - only one from this year and one is from 2024! I can't pretend to be up to date if I only buy music from the old days.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
In these dark days of February, a little something to look forward to.
February 7, 2026 at 6:42 AM
In these dark days of February, a little something to look forward to.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
SEDATE ME!, by Mollusca
9 track album
molluscaband.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
SEDATE ME!, by Mollusca
9 track album
molluscaband.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
It's #BandcampFriday which means if you download any of my music for free I will get all the money you don't spend!
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
To Reshape The World: Crudely Drawn Swords Season 4 OST, by Ben Moxon
33 track album
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:17 PM
It's #BandcampFriday which means if you download any of my music for free I will get all the money you don't spend!
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
ADHD update: No, whales do not yawn.
February 6, 2026 at 11:25 AM
ADHD update: No, whales do not yawn.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
From this week’s Beano.
August 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
From this week’s Beano.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.
I think the basic standard we need is someone who can tie their own shoelaces without tying their own feet together, falling down the stairs, rolling out of the front door and into the path of traffic and getting run over by an extremely slow moving clown car.
It's been fifteen years at least.
It's been fifteen years at least.
February 5, 2026 at 11:17 AM
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.
Speaking of deranged I am also losing my mind over Fire Emblem at the moment. Pour one out for poor @annalandin.bsky.social who -having mastered all three houses long ago- is on the receiving end of much of my yelling about it.
I just finished the first school year at Garreg Mach and Three Houses has got its hooks in deep. I don't think I've ever been more engaged with a game on so many levels. The story, the strategy, the characters, even the mini-games are all so much fun. Brilliant stuff.
February 5, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Speaking of deranged I am also losing my mind over Fire Emblem at the moment. Pour one out for poor @annalandin.bsky.social who -having mastered all three houses long ago- is on the receiving end of much of my yelling about it.
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.
I think the basic standard we need is someone who can tie their own shoelaces without tying their own feet together, falling down the stairs, rolling out of the front door and into the path of traffic and getting run over by an extremely slow moving clown car.
It's been fifteen years at least.
It's been fifteen years at least.
February 5, 2026 at 11:17 AM
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.
I just finished the first school year at Garreg Mach and Three Houses has got its hooks in deep. I don't think I've ever been more engaged with a game on so many levels. The story, the strategy, the characters, even the mini-games are all so much fun. Brilliant stuff.
February 5, 2026 at 12:39 AM
I just finished the first school year at Garreg Mach and Three Houses has got its hooks in deep. I don't think I've ever been more engaged with a game on so many levels. The story, the strategy, the characters, even the mini-games are all so much fun. Brilliant stuff.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Honestly, would love some work.
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
January 28, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Honestly, would love some work.
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
The kind of evening when birds sing and it feels like spring may come after all.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The kind of evening when birds sing and it feels like spring may come after all.
If you want a new band with some of the vibes of classic Lush, you should give Softcult a listen. Their debut album just came out and they're pretty great:
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
When A Flower Doesn't Grow, by Softcult
11 track album
softcult.bandcamp.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
If you want a new band with some of the vibes of classic Lush, you should give Softcult a listen. Their debut album just came out and they're pretty great:
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
An unforced error here from Starmer, indicating truly awful judgement.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
NEW: Keir Starmer has admitted that he knew Peter Mandelson had carried on a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after his paedophilia conviction when he made him US ambassador
The admission came as Starmer confirmed a criminal investigation is taking place at Prime Minister's Questions
The admission came as Starmer confirmed a criminal investigation is taking place at Prime Minister's Questions
February 4, 2026 at 12:43 PM
An unforced error here from Starmer, indicating truly awful judgement.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
As a song title that tells a story this one's hard to beat: youtu.be/LAom5Y0VIKU?...
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
February 4, 2026 at 10:09 AM
As a song title that tells a story this one's hard to beat: youtu.be/LAom5Y0VIKU?...
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
Wednesday greensward! There was even a sleuth called Ben today.
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Wednesday greensward! There was even a sleuth called Ben today.
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
New book day, and I already got a lovely review from the Womble!
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
New Review - happy publication day to All That Is In The Earth by @aknighton.bsky.social a trip to a deadly planet also asks questions about why we do what we do! Strongly recommended thanks to @lunapress.bsky.social www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/2/...
All That Is In The Earth By Andrew Knighton — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank Luna Press Publishing for an advance copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher – Luna Press Publishing Published – Out Now Price – £10.66 p...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
February 3, 2026 at 8:08 AM
New book day, and I already got a lovely review from the Womble!
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
It's all go at the moment. My standalone Arthurian novel, The Cleaving, is a frankly incredible price this week from Amazon. This explores the familiar story from the perspective of the women involved. You have until Friday to grab it!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
February 2, 2026 at 5:38 PM
It's all go at the moment. My standalone Arthurian novel, The Cleaving, is a frankly incredible price this week from Amazon. This explores the familiar story from the perspective of the women involved. You have until Friday to grab it!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
a country that wishes to continue as a going concern should always assume that anyone so wealthy that the state is the only entity large enough to even attempt to constrain him will naturally begin seeking to destroy the country
February 3, 2026 at 8:18 AM
a country that wishes to continue as a going concern should always assume that anyone so wealthy that the state is the only entity large enough to even attempt to constrain him will naturally begin seeking to destroy the country