A.J. O'Toole
@scribblerotoole.bsky.social
Writer - working on short fiction and my novel "Half A Lie".
Good listener, quiet talker, part-time drinker.
Good listener, quiet talker, part-time drinker.
"TV. It’s a nepotistic industry. Here’s as close as I get to a nepo story, although it skipped a generation - my Grandad built his own television from a mail-order kit and spare parts he borrowed from work."
First lines of my novel.
A hundred years of nepotism.
#amwriting #indielit
First lines of my novel.
A hundred years of nepotism.
#amwriting #indielit
February 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM
"TV. It’s a nepotistic industry. Here’s as close as I get to a nepo story, although it skipped a generation - my Grandad built his own television from a mail-order kit and spare parts he borrowed from work."
First lines of my novel.
A hundred years of nepotism.
#amwriting #indielit
First lines of my novel.
A hundred years of nepotism.
#amwriting #indielit
wee Wee Yellow Cranes
February 6, 2026 at 7:34 PM
wee Wee Yellow Cranes
Springbank single malt, and the fact it's become hard to find, plays a part in the short I'm currently writing. So when I saw it in a pub earlier I had to buy a shot. Coincidences, eh.
January 28, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Springbank single malt, and the fact it's become hard to find, plays a part in the short I'm currently writing. So when I saw it in a pub earlier I had to buy a shot. Coincidences, eh.
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
st story of 2026 by @sagetyrtle.bsky.social !
"You are a billionaire’s new, about-to-turn-19 wife. You are the youngest person at the Mint Green Party, which is being held in Central Park."
fracturedlit.com/the-billiona...
"You are a billionaire’s new, about-to-turn-19 wife. You are the youngest person at the Mint Green Party, which is being held in Central Park."
fracturedlit.com/the-billiona...
The Billionaires Are Having a Party | Fractured
fracturedlit.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:50 PM
st story of 2026 by @sagetyrtle.bsky.social !
"You are a billionaire’s new, about-to-turn-19 wife. You are the youngest person at the Mint Green Party, which is being held in Central Park."
fracturedlit.com/the-billiona...
"You are a billionaire’s new, about-to-turn-19 wife. You are the youngest person at the Mint Green Party, which is being held in Central Park."
fracturedlit.com/the-billiona...
Used to think about one of these jobs a lot...
Wonder what the Xmas party is like.
Wonder what the Xmas party is like.
You'll work in some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth, build lifelong friendships, and contribute to vital science about our changing world.
🗓️ Contracts run from six to 18 months
💸 Salaries start at £30,244 per annum
✅ You need to have the right to work in the UK (sorry)
🗓️ Contracts run from six to 18 months
💸 Salaries start at £30,244 per annum
✅ You need to have the right to work in the UK (sorry)
January 21, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Used to think about one of these jobs a lot...
Wonder what the Xmas party is like.
Wonder what the Xmas party is like.
"Guys like Morton were front men for the wiseguys, who couldn't have their names on the liquor license."
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"It pulls at my clothing and sometimes I feel I've got to pick it up, cuddle and kiss it."
"It pulls at my clothing and sometimes I feel I've got to pick it up, cuddle and kiss it."
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
'In the evening we had a dance'.
'In the evening we had a dance'.
January 21, 2026 at 12:31 PM
"Guys like Morton were front men for the wiseguys, who couldn't have their names on the liquor license."
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
At CDG airport in Paris. Two irate customers at Pret A Manager demanding to speak to the (obviously non existent) manager. Why not ask to speak to Charles de Gaulle himself?
January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
At CDG airport in Paris. Two irate customers at Pret A Manager demanding to speak to the (obviously non existent) manager. Why not ask to speak to Charles de Gaulle himself?
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
In the old days, good writers got famous for selling books.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
I can’t stop thinking about a rejection letter a friend had from a publisher for his manuscript which said, “I think I’d have really liked this, if you were more famous.”
An actual person, who is paid to read books, said that.
An actual person, who is paid to read books, said that.
January 12, 2026 at 3:05 PM
In the old days, good writers got famous for selling books.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
Look, all I’m saying is that why are there so many black, Asian, and indigenous characters and homoeroticism forced into a story set in pre-Civil War America that drills it into us that the villain is white?
finally reading moby dick. why didn't anyone tell me that it's good
January 7, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Look, all I’m saying is that why are there so many black, Asian, and indigenous characters and homoeroticism forced into a story set in pre-Civil War America that drills it into us that the villain is white?
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
"While other children were learning that A is for apple and B is for banana, little Philbert soaked up words like circulation and dermatitis and elephantiasis."
Eloquent, elegant fiction from @EmmetHirschMD | www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/emme...
Art @anchalastudio.bsky.social
Eloquent, elegant fiction from @EmmetHirschMD | www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/emme...
Art @anchalastudio.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
"While other children were learning that A is for apple and B is for banana, little Philbert soaked up words like circulation and dermatitis and elephantiasis."
Eloquent, elegant fiction from @EmmetHirschMD | www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/emme...
Art @anchalastudio.bsky.social
Eloquent, elegant fiction from @EmmetHirschMD | www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/emme...
Art @anchalastudio.bsky.social
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
I agree. Full of gems like this:
"A complicated childhood full of privation and catastrophe isn’t an inheritance that sets up a writer for life."
"A complicated childhood full of privation and catastrophe isn’t an inheritance that sets up a writer for life."
I clicked with some trepidation, expecting the usual bromides. But this excellent piece by none other than Elizabeth McCracken is full of wisdom and practical thoughts. @elizmccrack.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
Dreaming of writing your novel this year? Rip up all the rules!
After 35 years of teaching fiction writing, the prize-winning author shares her wisdom. First tip? Don’t write what you know…
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:07 PM
I agree. Full of gems like this:
"A complicated childhood full of privation and catastrophe isn’t an inheritance that sets up a writer for life."
"A complicated childhood full of privation and catastrophe isn’t an inheritance that sets up a writer for life."
All around the Wrekin
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Shropshire landmark that could have ended up 20 miles away
How a TV transmitter ended up on one of Shropshire's most famous hills 50 years ago.
www.bbc.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:51 PM
All around the Wrekin
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
In what's now become an annual tradition, I've written another piece for The Gist about how and why I hate A.I.
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Guest Gist: 2026, Our Already Rotting Future
Seamus O'Reilly warns of AI maximum bubbledrive this year.
www.thegist.ie
January 2, 2026 at 10:25 AM
In what's now become an annual tradition, I've written another piece for The Gist about how and why I hate A.I.
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
I've a lot of procrastinating to do today, but I'll put the kettle on again first.
January 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
I've a lot of procrastinating to do today, but I'll put the kettle on again first.
Reposted by A.J. O'Toole
First story of 2026 posted. If you’d like to give it a read, that’d be cracking. Hope you enjoy it! Happy New Year all - have a chilled one. kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/o...
On new short fiction: Numb Beyond Her Last of Sense
A new piece of short fiction titled ‘Numb Beyond Her Last of Sense’.
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:51 PM
First story of 2026 posted. If you’d like to give it a read, that’d be cracking. Hope you enjoy it! Happy New Year all - have a chilled one. kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/o...
Fix the things you can fix, swear profusely at the things you can't.
December 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Fix the things you can fix, swear profusely at the things you can't.
It's the sixth day of Christmas and you are a horrible goose
December 30, 2025 at 8:49 AM
It's the sixth day of Christmas and you are a horrible goose
This is a lovely long listen about the making of Fairytale of New York. The mechanics, long gestation, happy accidents and the legacy of great art. open.spotify.com/episode/1KGb...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:44 AM
This is a lovely long listen about the making of Fairytale of New York. The mechanics, long gestation, happy accidents and the legacy of great art. open.spotify.com/episode/1KGb...
I'm Eeyore half the time, and Tigger the other. Which is exhausting for my wife.
December 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I'm Eeyore half the time, and Tigger the other. Which is exhausting for my wife.
I endorse this message... WB's kind words and helpful critiques of various drafts really helped me this year. Let's create a community of artists and look out for each other.
Just scheduled my first newsletter, which will include the section below. Sign up here to read the rest and stay in touch with my work: w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter
I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
December 20, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I endorse this message... WB's kind words and helpful critiques of various drafts really helped me this year. Let's create a community of artists and look out for each other.
You may wish to note the below
If the industry rumours are true about Walliams using ghost writers, a sane publisher would sign the (clearly very successful and competent) back room hack(s) up, come clean, throw the same publicity machine behind them, and have a fantastic line of popular kids’ books ready for next year.
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
You may wish to note the below
"Please do not expect further communication or feedback" could be the new "You may wish to note the above"
December 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"Please do not expect further communication or feedback" could be the new "You may wish to note the above"
It's #BlackEyeFriday, here's my short story about a holiday party at the very end of the earth.
ajotoole.substack.com/p/black-eye-...
ajotoole.substack.com/p/black-eye-...
Black Eye Friday - short fiction
A holiday party at the end of the earth
ajotoole.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
It's #BlackEyeFriday, here's my short story about a holiday party at the very end of the earth.
ajotoole.substack.com/p/black-eye-...
ajotoole.substack.com/p/black-eye-...