Rod Duncan
@rodduncan.bsky.social
Writer. Writing mentor. Printmaker. Photographer. Lecturer. Dyslexia. Aphantasia. ADHD. PhD. Shortlisted for the Philip K Dick Award & the John Creasey Dagger. He/him. No AI slop.
Reposted by Rod Duncan
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 554:
When choosing a title for your novel, make sure it sounds like fiction. Jame's Runcie's terrific novel, THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE, and Marina Lewyzca's A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRANIAN, were both repeatedly placed in the nonfiction section of bookshops.
When choosing a title for your novel, make sure it sounds like fiction. Jame's Runcie's terrific novel, THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE, and Marina Lewyzca's A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRANIAN, were both repeatedly placed in the nonfiction section of bookshops.
February 13, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 554:
When choosing a title for your novel, make sure it sounds like fiction. Jame's Runcie's terrific novel, THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE, and Marina Lewyzca's A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRANIAN, were both repeatedly placed in the nonfiction section of bookshops.
When choosing a title for your novel, make sure it sounds like fiction. Jame's Runcie's terrific novel, THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE, and Marina Lewyzca's A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRANIAN, were both repeatedly placed in the nonfiction section of bookshops.
Gloomy February light at breakfast this morning. My eye was caught by the red of an HB pencil. Yes I am incapable of tidiness.
February 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Gloomy February light at breakfast this morning. My eye was caught by the red of an HB pencil. Yes I am incapable of tidiness.
It's only after living with a print for a while that I come to an objective view. I wasn't sure about this one for a fairly long time. But today I looked at it in passing and at last felt as if I had enough distance to see it clearly. I'm pleased with what I've made.
#drypoint #intaglio #swan
#drypoint #intaglio #swan
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Finding abstract compositions in nature. (Open the image up for the full composition.) This is a chestnut tree in Beacon Hill Country Park.
February 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Finding abstract compositions in nature. (Open the image up for the full composition.) This is a chestnut tree in Beacon Hill Country Park.
Reposted by Rod Duncan
I've got good news and bad news. The good news is I've made a Pac-Man model out of ceramic...
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
I've got good news and bad news. The good news is I've made a Pac-Man model out of ceramic...
I'm finding SaySomethingIn SO much better than the cursed Duolingo. No toxicity. Lots of encouragement. I'm finding myself thinking 'I've got a couple of minutes. Wonderful. I could practice my Welsh.' Rather than the evil owl experience.
February 9, 2026 at 10:07 AM
I'm finding SaySomethingIn SO much better than the cursed Duolingo. No toxicity. Lots of encouragement. I'm finding myself thinking 'I've got a couple of minutes. Wonderful. I could practice my Welsh.' Rather than the evil owl experience.
February 6, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Suggestion - when a royal correspondent is interviewed about the royal family, they should start with this statement of interest: "Without the royal family, I'd be out of a job."
February 4, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Suggestion - when a royal correspondent is interviewed about the royal family, they should start with this statement of interest: "Without the royal family, I'd be out of a job."
The pleasure of making and materiality
February 2, 2026 at 5:26 PM
The pleasure of making and materiality
I have far too many tasks that need to be accomplished today and not enough time to do them. Therefore, I will generate a new (more interesting) task that doesn't really need to be done and devote all my energy to that instead.
If this seems to make sense to you, I embrace you sister/brother.
If this seems to make sense to you, I embrace you sister/brother.
February 2, 2026 at 11:48 AM
I have far too many tasks that need to be accomplished today and not enough time to do them. Therefore, I will generate a new (more interesting) task that doesn't really need to be done and devote all my energy to that instead.
If this seems to make sense to you, I embrace you sister/brother.
If this seems to make sense to you, I embrace you sister/brother.
Another fabulous episode of Pottery Throwdown - the best thing on television. Thank you Channel 4 and everyone involved.
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
February 1, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Another fabulous episode of Pottery Throwdown - the best thing on television. Thank you Channel 4 and everyone involved.
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
From charcoal to vinyl to print. I'm still pondering the background. Perhaps to remove it. Perhaps to keep it.
February 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM
From charcoal to vinyl to print. I'm still pondering the background. Perhaps to remove it. Perhaps to keep it.
I bought my first box of charcoal just before falling sick with Covid. It was one of the things that helped me through the years of recovery.
This charcoal Imade myself. Weaker and more crumbly than shop bought. It provides the many accidents through which I slowly learn.
This charcoal Imade myself. Weaker and more crumbly than shop bought. It provides the many accidents through which I slowly learn.
February 1, 2026 at 11:16 AM
I bought my first box of charcoal just before falling sick with Covid. It was one of the things that helped me through the years of recovery.
This charcoal Imade myself. Weaker and more crumbly than shop bought. It provides the many accidents through which I slowly learn.
This charcoal Imade myself. Weaker and more crumbly than shop bought. It provides the many accidents through which I slowly learn.
If anyone tells you they have a toxic relationship with an owl, you can be sure they're using Duolingo.
January 30, 2026 at 9:51 PM
If anyone tells you they have a toxic relationship with an owl, you can be sure they're using Duolingo.
Final day of the People's Exhibition at New Walk Museum. I had a quick visit to enjoy it one more time and see which items had sold. Realised I hadn't taken the obligatory selfie with mine. So here it is.
January 30, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Final day of the People's Exhibition at New Walk Museum. I had a quick visit to enjoy it one more time and see which items had sold. Realised I hadn't taken the obligatory selfie with mine. So here it is.
I'm told AI is doing wonderful things in the field of medicine. I'm all for that. But the generative AI producing text and images just seems to make the world that bit worse, more bland, less reliable.
January 29, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I'm told AI is doing wonderful things in the field of medicine. I'm all for that. But the generative AI producing text and images just seems to make the world that bit worse, more bland, less reliable.
January 28, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Excellent advice as usual...
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 65:
Sometimes a simple word has more impact than an unusual one. Unusual words are great when you want to attract attention (to a sound, a texture, etc), but they also slow things down. Do you want your readers to stop and think? Or do you want them to move on?
Sometimes a simple word has more impact than an unusual one. Unusual words are great when you want to attract attention (to a sound, a texture, etc), but they also slow things down. Do you want your readers to stop and think? Or do you want them to move on?
January 27, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Excellent advice as usual...
Another wonderful episode of Pottery Throwdown. The best thing on television. Antidote to... well, the news.
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
January 25, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Another wonderful episode of Pottery Throwdown. The best thing on television. Antidote to... well, the news.
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
#PotteryThrowdown #Channel4
January 25, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I realised this morning that I haven't shown the reverse of my minature prints. So here is one selection. (And probably the reason I don't usually show this is the wild regularity of my hand writing...)
January 24, 2026 at 11:37 AM
I realised this morning that I haven't shown the reverse of my minature prints. So here is one selection. (And probably the reason I don't usually show this is the wild regularity of my hand writing...)
Duolingo seems to have become somewhat toxic since I last had it installed. Or is that just me?
January 23, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Duolingo seems to have become somewhat toxic since I last had it installed. Or is that just me?
More analogue, material joys. A new minature printing project.
January 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM
More analogue, material joys. A new minature printing project.
Reposted by Rod Duncan
Your daily mountain
You come to the mountains to silence your desire / not dial it up / though the snow fall is powdered glitter / at minus fifteen / you are just ambulant static / and bruised lips
You come to the mountains to silence your desire / not dial it up / though the snow fall is powdered glitter / at minus fifteen / you are just ambulant static / and bruised lips
January 23, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Your daily mountain
You come to the mountains to silence your desire / not dial it up / though the snow fall is powdered glitter / at minus fifteen / you are just ambulant static / and bruised lips
You come to the mountains to silence your desire / not dial it up / though the snow fall is powdered glitter / at minus fifteen / you are just ambulant static / and bruised lips