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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish

@skeffington.bsky.social

390 followers 380 following 2.7K posts

Pulp Writer. Poet. Bohemian. Reprobate. Demiromantic Asexual. Seeking an escape from hard work. Views my own, except when they're someone else's. (He/Him, fine with They) No DMs, please. https://sites.google.com/view/ajrobertspulpwriter/home

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · Jun 5

Here's a megathread of the Kestrel and Scar stories, which will be updated as and when.

Follow the wandering rogues as they roam the Indies in search of adventure and fortune.

#Pirates #Writing #Fiction

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 9h

If I have to go back to working in accountancy...can it be here?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecFB...

The Crimson Permanent Assurance (part 1)

YouTube video by bluenarcbird

www.youtube.com

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 12h

I got fired.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 17h

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall

Kestrel was the son of a physician in St Ives, pressured to follow in his father's footsteps but more interested in hedonism than study.

Scar was born to slaves in Antigua and sold off from them at an early age. He was raised in servitude and looking for an out.

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 17h

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall #WritingCommunity Where did your MC grow up? Who raised them?

These questions are from our First Draft Fall worksheets! For the full worksheets, join our membership program at ko-fi.com/weeknightw...

Fall forest scene overlaid with the words “#FirstDraftFall - October - Planning
Where did your MC grow up? Who raised them?

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 17h

That industry can burn for all I care.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 20h

#PlotTober Well, it's hard for Kestrel and Scar to pursue their goals when they're in survival mode. Doubly so when they're outlaws.

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 1d

#PlotTober Day 8: Conflicts for the MC

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

8. What are some potential reasons the main character(s) haven't, couldn't, and/or can't pursue these goals yet? Consider other characters, backstory events, circumstances, environmental factors, etc.

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 20h

It was shitty enough with exam board mark schemes doing that.

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 20h

Still, I enjoyed the story.

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 20h

Aye. I never really played it myself, but my brother played it a lot.

(Despite being big on TTRPGs, I'm not a fan of RPGs as a video game genre)

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 20h

#WritingLifeMonthly Kestrel and Scar would probably use Gilder's theme from Skies of Arcadia

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj7V...

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Prime Day! All of my published Kestrel and Scar stories...are available on Itch.

Check the pinned megathread for more details.

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

I've published three novelletes as e-books, and compiled them into a single collection for a paperback release.

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall
There's two:

First is Kestrel, a libertine and romantic at heart who was first mate on board the Albatross, shipwrecked on Crab Island.

Second is Scar, a cynical runaway slave and part of a maroon community, looking to escape the island too.

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 1d

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall Who's the main character of your #FirstDraftFall story?

These questions are from our First Draft Fall worksheets! For the full worksheets, join our membership program at ko-fi.com/weeknightw...

Fall forest scene overlaid with the words “#FirstDraftFall - October - Planning
Who is the main character of your #FirstDraftFall story?

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

#WritingLifeMonthly Being able to make the time to write.

Tracey Lee @traceyleewrites.bsky.social · 1d

📚 #WritingLifeMonthly October Day 07 📚

Okay, so yesterday we did our fav part of the process, now tell us what you wish you didn't have to do...

#writingcommunity #BookSky #BookSky💙📚 #authorchat

October #writinglifemonthly Day 07 What's your fav part of the writing process?
Build Community - Share. Like.Comment in Group. @traceyleewrites

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

Pornographic material is an easy target because people are reluctant to defend it. But that brings the risk of Puritan types getting any kind of LGBT+ content (whether it's explicit material or not) classed as "pornographic", meaning it's on the chopping block if such material does get banned.

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Ban payment processors stopping services based on objections to legal content”.

Government responded:

Payment processors are able to choose who they process payments for, subject to any relevant requirements. The Government has no plans to intervene in those commercial decisions.

The Government recognises the important role payments plays in supporting a resilient, diverse and growing economy. The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s payment system works for all, allowing businesses and customers to transact with confidence.

The Government recognises that it is important for businesses to have greater choice in the forms of payment that they can accept. The National Payments Vision, published in November 2024, set out the Government’s ambition for a world-leading payments ecosystem, where consumers and businesses have a choice of payment methods to meet their needs. A key part of this ambition is the continued development of Open Banking, which enables consumers to make purchases using a wider range of payment methods, including account-to-account payments, thereby increasing competition in the payments sector. HM Treasury is working closely with the financial services regulators to deliver these outcomes.

Decisions regarding which businesses payment processors contract with are a commercial matter, taking into account the relevant requirements on the firm. These decisions will be influenced by a variety of factors, and the Government has no plans to intervene in those commercial decisions.

HM Treasury

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

I do like Dr Pepper every once in a while, but I don't really go for fizzy drinks these days. Most of the time it's coffee, tea, water, or booze.

My favourite colour's red

Dianna Gunn Does (Fictional) Murders 🇨🇦 @diannalgunn.bsky.social · 2d

Just saw someone say "Dr Pepper fans are the soda equivalent of people whose favourite colour is purple"

So now I have to ask:

Are you a Dr Pepper fan?

And if so, is your favourite colour purple?

(For the record, my answers are YES and YES)

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 1d

#PlotTober Well, I guess Kestrel is by and large a wanderer who wants to make a name for himself.

I think I answered for Scar's motivations yesterday that he wants to find his original family (although Kestrel essentially becomes his family).

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 2d

#PlotTober Day 7: Main character motivations

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

7. Now that you've come up with some goals for your main character, ask yourself: why do they care? What are some potential motivations for pursuing these goals, even against their better judgment or self-interest?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 2d

Aye.

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 2d

😡 The Government wants to ban repeated protests & jail those who defy them. Rule 1312, as I call it.

Stand up for our democratic right to protest - sign the petition now! you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/do...

Don’t crush our right to protest!

The right to protest is the heartbeat of democracy. It lets us speak out, challenge injustice, and hold those in power accountable. The Government’s plan would give police sweeping powers to ban repea...

you.38degrees.org.uk

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 2d

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall

I need to figure out a decent number of characters for this one:
- The Albatross crew members who get shipwrecked
- Those situated on the Drax plantation
- The slaves who escaped from the plantation

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 2d

#WeeknightWriters #FirstDraftFall
What do you need to understand about your WIP before you can feel comfortable starting your first draft?

These questions are from our First Draft Fall worksheets! For the full worksheets, join our membership program at ko-fi.com/weeknightw...

Fall forest scene overlaid with the words “#FirstDraftFall - October - Planning
What do you need to understand about your world, characters, or story before you can feel comfortable starting your first draft?

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A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 2d

#PlotTober For the most part, Kestrel and Scar's goals are to survive, get by, and get the chance to enjoy life.

Kestrel especially dreams of becoming captain of his own ship, while Scar seeks out his parents (whom he was sold away from at an early age)

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 3d

#PlotTober Day 6: Main character goals

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

6. Main characters are driven by actionable goals, but not every goal is created equal. For your MC, they should be specific, tangible, personal, achievable, and urgent. Can you think of some goals for your MC that meet this criteria?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 2d

I've only put No DMs simply because I can't access them due to that OSA bullshit.

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 3d

"Wait, you're behind all those things that go bump in the night? That's a relief, thought it was something expensive to fix. Keep it down, yeah?"

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 3d

Currently planning "Escape from Crab Island" for #FirstDraftFall

Elise (they/them)🇦🇺 @eliseswritings.bsky.social · 3d

October #WriterCheckIn

What are we working on/ hoping to achieve this month writers/ #authors?

#Writing #WritingCommunity

Background image: two sprigs of leaves frame left, ink well dip pens frame bottom, sheet of paper centred with text;

#WriterCheckIn (October)

Which wip is your focus?
Research/ draft/ edit/ publish/ promo goals?

Any writerly/ authorly learnings to share?

Participating in any writer/ author; events,
cons, competitions or pitch parties?

Hosted by:@eliseswritings.bsky.social

Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 3d

#PlotTober This WIP has two MCs: A wisecracking libertine called Kestrel and a terse runaway slave called Scar.

Someone once described them as Junkrat and Roadhog from Overwatch if they were pirates.

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 4d

#PlotTober Day 5: Main character ideas

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

5. How many main characters would suit your WIP? What are your initial ideas for them? What are some inspirations for them that you can draw on from existing media you enjoy?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

A. J. Roberts/Skellington Liquorish @skeffington.bsky.social · 3d

When police get new powers, they're going to abuse those powers.

What I like to call "Rule 1312"

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: Home Office announces planned new anti-protest powers, mainly aimed at pro-Gaza protests like those for Palestine Action. Police will be able to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated protests and potentially order that they be relocated.