Patrick G. Barkman
@barkmanwrites.bsky.social
Father, husband, Cherokee, hiker, reader, writer, bibliophile, dork, Coloradoan
(he/him)
(he/him)
Very stoic @ryan-holiday.bsky.social
The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.
December 1, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Very stoic @ryan-holiday.bsky.social
Creator of bespoke, artisanal, hand crafted, (and so far) small batch SFF.
Does not contain AI.
Does not contain AI.
November 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Creator of bespoke, artisanal, hand crafted, (and so far) small batch SFF.
Does not contain AI.
Does not contain AI.
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
Tl;dr: boycotting Amazon won't kill it, but we have the choice to undermine its monopoly by supporting its competitors.
You can only do that by *actually buying from competitors.* Where ebooks are concerned there are lots of other options.
It does mean putting in conscious effort.
You can only do that by *actually buying from competitors.* Where ebooks are concerned there are lots of other options.
It does mean putting in conscious effort.
I don't think we're going to have a successful Amazon boycott till we break their monopoly on indie books.
They have a clever strategy to build their monopoly, which any functional government would have banned: if you want your indie book listed in Kindle Unlimited, you have to be exclusive. 🧵
They have a clever strategy to build their monopoly, which any functional government would have banned: if you want your indie book listed in Kindle Unlimited, you have to be exclusive. 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Tl;dr: boycotting Amazon won't kill it, but we have the choice to undermine its monopoly by supporting its competitors.
You can only do that by *actually buying from competitors.* Where ebooks are concerned there are lots of other options.
It does mean putting in conscious effort.
You can only do that by *actually buying from competitors.* Where ebooks are concerned there are lots of other options.
It does mean putting in conscious effort.
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
My Brain:
"Psst, here's a great idea for your book."
Me:
"I'm busy. I'll write it down later. I'll remember it."
Morgan Freeman:
"But he did not remember it, for his brain soon moved on to wonder how cottage cheese gets made."
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #WriteSky
"Psst, here's a great idea for your book."
Me:
"I'm busy. I'll write it down later. I'll remember it."
Morgan Freeman:
"But he did not remember it, for his brain soon moved on to wonder how cottage cheese gets made."
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #WriteSky
November 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
My Brain:
"Psst, here's a great idea for your book."
Me:
"I'm busy. I'll write it down later. I'll remember it."
Morgan Freeman:
"But he did not remember it, for his brain soon moved on to wonder how cottage cheese gets made."
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #WriteSky
"Psst, here's a great idea for your book."
Me:
"I'm busy. I'll write it down later. I'll remember it."
Morgan Freeman:
"But he did not remember it, for his brain soon moved on to wonder how cottage cheese gets made."
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #WriteSky
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
From Shai-Hulud's Scribal Academy!
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
From Shai-Hulud's Scribal Academy!
Keep your friends close and your resource books and books about writing closer #amwriting
November 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Keep your friends close and your resource books and books about writing closer #amwriting
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
I'm not going to repost screenshots from Grok for the same reasons I don't use any LLMs even when they're outputting silly/ amusing synthetic text.
(This image is great for so many purposes. I first saw it posted by @redeyedjedi.bsky.social so I am hoping that's the right credit for its source!)
(This image is great for so many purposes. I first saw it posted by @redeyedjedi.bsky.social so I am hoping that's the right credit for its source!)
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I'm not going to repost screenshots from Grok for the same reasons I don't use any LLMs even when they're outputting silly/ amusing synthetic text.
(This image is great for so many purposes. I first saw it posted by @redeyedjedi.bsky.social so I am hoping that's the right credit for its source!)
(This image is great for so many purposes. I first saw it posted by @redeyedjedi.bsky.social so I am hoping that's the right credit for its source!)
Plur1bus is entertaining
November 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Plur1bus is entertaining
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
Using AI to write makes you a writer, the same way using DoorDash to get dinner makes you a chef.
November 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Using AI to write makes you a writer, the same way using DoorDash to get dinner makes you a chef.
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
Happy Partially Muscled Skeleton Day to all who celebrate. Be sure to let all your screams out and then disappear.
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Happy Partially Muscled Skeleton Day to all who celebrate. Be sure to let all your screams out and then disappear.
Fantasy readers!
How much does an original setting matter to you?
That is, if the characters and story are good, do you mind if it's a relatively generic fantasy setting?
I ask because, knowing me, I will spend forever on the setting.
How much does an original setting matter to you?
That is, if the characters and story are good, do you mind if it's a relatively generic fantasy setting?
I ask because, knowing me, I will spend forever on the setting.
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Fantasy readers!
How much does an original setting matter to you?
That is, if the characters and story are good, do you mind if it's a relatively generic fantasy setting?
I ask because, knowing me, I will spend forever on the setting.
How much does an original setting matter to you?
That is, if the characters and story are good, do you mind if it's a relatively generic fantasy setting?
I ask because, knowing me, I will spend forever on the setting.
Okay, birthday weekend over. Time to hunch over the keyboard like a demented troll again #amwriting
October 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Okay, birthday weekend over. Time to hunch over the keyboard like a demented troll again #amwriting
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
🧵Spotted While Cafe Writing and Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A sleepy man (30s?) is sitting in on a very dull business meeting.
But what is this?!
He's ordered a GIANT piece of cake?
Ah, that's more like it.
The meeting drones on but he has a cake shield.
The boredom shall not defeat him! (1)
A sleepy man (30s?) is sitting in on a very dull business meeting.
But what is this?!
He's ordered a GIANT piece of cake?
Ah, that's more like it.
The meeting drones on but he has a cake shield.
The boredom shall not defeat him! (1)
October 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
🧵Spotted While Cafe Writing and Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A sleepy man (30s?) is sitting in on a very dull business meeting.
But what is this?!
He's ordered a GIANT piece of cake?
Ah, that's more like it.
The meeting drones on but he has a cake shield.
The boredom shall not defeat him! (1)
A sleepy man (30s?) is sitting in on a very dull business meeting.
But what is this?!
He's ordered a GIANT piece of cake?
Ah, that's more like it.
The meeting drones on but he has a cake shield.
The boredom shall not defeat him! (1)
Normally, I come up with a title first. This time, however…
#amwriting
#amwriting
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Normally, I come up with a title first. This time, however…
#amwriting
#amwriting
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
Ouch. This one cuts to the bone.
October 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Ouch. This one cuts to the bone.
Give it to me!
October 16, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Give it to me!
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
🧵Spotted While Cafe Writing in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A man (60s?) carefully fixes a wobbly table before producing a newspaper and pen.
Moments later, his wife joins him.
Talking softly with heads bowed together as they do the crossword, laughing at each other's silly guesses. (1)
A man (60s?) carefully fixes a wobbly table before producing a newspaper and pen.
Moments later, his wife joins him.
Talking softly with heads bowed together as they do the crossword, laughing at each other's silly guesses. (1)
October 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
🧵Spotted While Cafe Writing in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A man (60s?) carefully fixes a wobbly table before producing a newspaper and pen.
Moments later, his wife joins him.
Talking softly with heads bowed together as they do the crossword, laughing at each other's silly guesses. (1)
A man (60s?) carefully fixes a wobbly table before producing a newspaper and pen.
Moments later, his wife joins him.
Talking softly with heads bowed together as they do the crossword, laughing at each other's silly guesses. (1)
Could we possibly have found a more generic image? War bonnets, the desert, tipis and totem poles? Do better
October 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Could we possibly have found a more generic image? War bonnets, the desert, tipis and totem poles? Do better
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
It's time again as a notable Italian-American to note Christopher Columbus was an absolute piece of shit human who didn't land anywhere near this actual country so why the fuck should he stop the mail for the whole day
Anyway, Happy Indigenous People's Day, y'all
Anyway, Happy Indigenous People's Day, y'all
October 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's time again as a notable Italian-American to note Christopher Columbus was an absolute piece of shit human who didn't land anywhere near this actual country so why the fuck should he stop the mail for the whole day
Anyway, Happy Indigenous People's Day, y'all
Anyway, Happy Indigenous People's Day, y'all
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
My cartoon for the books page in this week’s @theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My cartoon for the books page in this week’s @theguardian.com
Reposted by Patrick G. Barkman
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A small human (3?) is studiously pushing a small trolley along next to Mum.
Small Human has MANY opinions about what can go in his trolley. Chocolate? Yes. Bananas? Yes. Frozen spinach? NOOOO.
He is a grocery connoisseur and knows what he likes. (1)
A small human (3?) is studiously pushing a small trolley along next to Mum.
Small Human has MANY opinions about what can go in his trolley. Chocolate? Yes. Bananas? Yes. Frozen spinach? NOOOO.
He is a grocery connoisseur and knows what he likes. (1)
October 8, 2025 at 11:45 PM
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A small human (3?) is studiously pushing a small trolley along next to Mum.
Small Human has MANY opinions about what can go in his trolley. Chocolate? Yes. Bananas? Yes. Frozen spinach? NOOOO.
He is a grocery connoisseur and knows what he likes. (1)
A small human (3?) is studiously pushing a small trolley along next to Mum.
Small Human has MANY opinions about what can go in his trolley. Chocolate? Yes. Bananas? Yes. Frozen spinach? NOOOO.
He is a grocery connoisseur and knows what he likes. (1)