Nalin Ratnayake
@naratnayake.bsky.social
I write SFF as N.A. Ratnayake. I'm also an engineer, runner, and technical program manager. This account is for my creative/literary side. Find me on the web at https://naratnayake.com.
Let it be known that on Father's Day weekend, before he attained even two years of age, my son kicked a soccer ball into the neighbor's hedge and shouted "GOAL!!!".
My work on this Earth is finished.
My work on this Earth is finished.
June 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Let it be known that on Father's Day weekend, before he attained even two years of age, my son kicked a soccer ball into the neighbor's hedge and shouted "GOAL!!!".
My work on this Earth is finished.
My work on this Earth is finished.
Oh hey so, I'm moving to Minnesota. That'll be a change. Happy to have landed on my feet though after a long period of uncertainty. Looking forward to leaning into all four seasons! And definitely finding a house with a fireplace.
May 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Oh hey so, I'm moving to Minnesota. That'll be a change. Happy to have landed on my feet though after a long period of uncertainty. Looking forward to leaning into all four seasons! And definitely finding a house with a fireplace.
Here’s my attempt to follow @cricklewoodnature.bsky.social’s Wonder-Filled Wednesday #4, teaching about shadow using a pinecone! I used to consider myself a pretty terrible artist, but it’s amazing. What a few videos and a little practice can do. #nature #naturejournal #drawing
May 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Here’s my attempt to follow @cricklewoodnature.bsky.social’s Wonder-Filled Wednesday #4, teaching about shadow using a pinecone! I used to consider myself a pretty terrible artist, but it’s amazing. What a few videos and a little practice can do. #nature #naturejournal #drawing
Damn, something in this draft seems off too! The characters keep swerving toward emotional confrontation and deeper human truths. That would involve a lot of difficult self-work to sort out. It can't be right. Surely, this calls for another round of worldbuilding avoidance behaviors! #amwriting
April 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Damn, something in this draft seems off too! The characters keep swerving toward emotional confrontation and deeper human truths. That would involve a lot of difficult self-work to sort out. It can't be right. Surely, this calls for another round of worldbuilding avoidance behaviors! #amwriting
So, this caught my eye, not least because fish farming on Mars appears as a concept in the first chapter of my novel Red Soil Through Our Fingers (2016). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Sea bass in space: why fish farms on the moon may be closer than you think
The Lunar Hatch project aims to blast eggs into space, hoping that aquaculture will provide protein for astronauts on missions
www.theguardian.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
So, this caught my eye, not least because fish farming on Mars appears as a concept in the first chapter of my novel Red Soil Through Our Fingers (2016). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
arstechnica.com/culture/2025...
"I say this as an ardent science fiction fan. I am not saying that science fiction is the problem. I'm saying that taking science fiction seriously as a vision of the future is the problem."
"I say this as an ardent science fiction fan. I am not saying that science fiction is the problem. I'm saying that taking science fiction seriously as a vision of the future is the problem."
Silicon Valley billionaires literally want the impossible
Ars chats with physicist and science journalist Adam Becker about his new book, More Everything Forever.
arstechnica.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
arstechnica.com/culture/2025...
"I say this as an ardent science fiction fan. I am not saying that science fiction is the problem. I'm saying that taking science fiction seriously as a vision of the future is the problem."
"I say this as an ardent science fiction fan. I am not saying that science fiction is the problem. I'm saying that taking science fiction seriously as a vision of the future is the problem."
This interview with Steve Almond on London Writers Salon led me to his book “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow”. Honestly, it has been exactly what I’ve needed to hear for the past year of being stuck with this novel project. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
#139: Steve Almond – The Truth About Creative Failure, Overcoming Ego, and Writing Stories That Actually Matter
Podcast Episode · London Writers' Salon · 04/05/2025 · 1h 1m
podcasts.apple.com
April 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This interview with Steve Almond on London Writers Salon led me to his book “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow”. Honestly, it has been exactly what I’ve needed to hear for the past year of being stuck with this novel project. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
Actual conversation:
"So, are we being consistent about this?"
"I mean, sometimes."
"So, are we being consistent about this?"
"I mean, sometimes."
April 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Actual conversation:
"So, are we being consistent about this?"
"I mean, sometimes."
"So, are we being consistent about this?"
"I mean, sometimes."
Reposted by Nalin Ratnayake
Earthsea > Harry Potter
💙📚
💙📚
April 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Earthsea > Harry Potter
💙📚
💙📚
[Spends almost two months fuming about where such and such clothes could have gone, annoyed that favorite dress shirt is not available.]
[Opens go-to business travel suitcase to discover he never unpacked it after last trip.]
🤦♂️
[Opens go-to business travel suitcase to discover he never unpacked it after last trip.]
🤦♂️
April 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
[Spends almost two months fuming about where such and such clothes could have gone, annoyed that favorite dress shirt is not available.]
[Opens go-to business travel suitcase to discover he never unpacked it after last trip.]
🤦♂️
[Opens go-to business travel suitcase to discover he never unpacked it after last trip.]
🤦♂️
I’ve been messing around with ink sketching in my regular journal. I think I’m ready to level up a little bit and try my hand at some #nature #journaling and sketching using charcoal as well, and warranting its own sketchbook.
April 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I’ve been messing around with ink sketching in my regular journal. I think I’m ready to level up a little bit and try my hand at some #nature #journaling and sketching using charcoal as well, and warranting its own sketchbook.
First in-person interview since 2013 tomorrow. I'm not wearing a tie because I don't remember how they work.
April 8, 2025 at 2:12 AM
First in-person interview since 2013 tomorrow. I'm not wearing a tie because I don't remember how they work.
Alas, another D&D Campaign cut down in its prime.
April 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Alas, another D&D Campaign cut down in its prime.
I will be immediately proposing to my writer group that we incorporate this comic into our process somehow.
April 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I will be immediately proposing to my writer group that we incorporate this comic into our process somehow.
Oh man, RIP Val Kilmer
a man says " you can be my wingman anytime " while wearing a helmet
ALT: a man says " you can be my wingman anytime " while wearing a helmet
media.tenor.com
April 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Oh man, RIP Val Kilmer
Reposted by Nalin Ratnayake
“Inspiration does exist but it must find you working.”
—Pablo Picasso
—Pablo Picasso
a colorful painting of a woman sitting in a chair with a hand on her chin
ALT: a colorful painting of a woman sitting in a chair with a hand on her chin
media.tenor.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM
“Inspiration does exist but it must find you working.”
—Pablo Picasso
—Pablo Picasso
@rosesandwf.bsky.social I noticed that your submission form *requires* a Google account to use and does not permit the submitter to specify a different (non-GMail) email address on the form. Any chance you could at least add a field for us to type in an alternate, preferred email?
March 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
@rosesandwf.bsky.social I noticed that your submission form *requires* a Google account to use and does not permit the submitter to specify a different (non-GMail) email address on the form. Any chance you could at least add a field for us to type in an alternate, preferred email?
Today is the first day of 2025 that I am able to set aside time to write new prose. Officially calling the novel project back on track. #amwriting #fantasy
March 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Today is the first day of 2025 that I am able to set aside time to write new prose. Officially calling the novel project back on track. #amwriting #fantasy
My new year's resolutions of rekindling my literary life and exploring spiritual growth were mysteriously derailed starting on January 21st. However, now that work has at least stabilized to a manageable dumpster fire and not 100% of my discretionary time is job searching, I may be back in action.
March 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
My new year's resolutions of rekindling my literary life and exploring spiritual growth were mysteriously derailed starting on January 21st. However, now that work has at least stabilized to a manageable dumpster fire and not 100% of my discretionary time is job searching, I may be back in action.
TIL that dandelion comes from the French "dent de lion", or "tooth of the lion" for its jagged leaf shape. I think of lions as majestic and fearsome and dandelions as happy and fluffy! The crash of connotations carries an interesting dissonance with me, but now I can't un-know the etymology...
a bunch of yellow dandelions with white dandelions in the background
ALT: a bunch of yellow dandelions with white dandelions in the background
media.tenor.com
March 3, 2025 at 3:27 AM
TIL that dandelion comes from the French "dent de lion", or "tooth of the lion" for its jagged leaf shape. I think of lions as majestic and fearsome and dandelions as happy and fluffy! The crash of connotations carries an interesting dissonance with me, but now I can't un-know the etymology...
Oh, this is so cool! So that’s why everyone so hyped up about March madness. I wish someone would’ve told me it’s actually about cheese, all this time I thought it was about some kind of sport ball thing.
March 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Oh, this is so cool! So that’s why everyone so hyped up about March madness. I wish someone would’ve told me it’s actually about cheese, all this time I thought it was about some kind of sport ball thing.
The Sacramento River is very high right now. So much rain lately.
February 17, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The Sacramento River is very high right now. So much rain lately.
Reposted by Nalin Ratnayake
Working at NASA is a dream for many around the country and even the world. Positions don't just get created. They are extremely rare and highly competitive. The folks that get them are _the_ best at what they do. What do they do? 1/6
February 16, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Working at NASA is a dream for many around the country and even the world. Positions don't just get created. They are extremely rare and highly competitive. The folks that get them are _the_ best at what they do. What do they do? 1/6