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Emma Devlin

@theactualemma.bsky.social

990 followers 520 following 1.2K posts

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 5h

I am once again watching The Terror.

Reposted by Emma Devlin

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 18h

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

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

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 15h

It should be illegal to lend someone a book that is over 600 pages long. I am fighting for my life here.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 1d

Straight to jail if you put them in italics

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 1d

A fun new challenge for short story writers: stop writing full-on flashback scenes

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 1d

Loved this. I feel like it increased my bandwith.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 12d

My God, this is *so good.*

Cover of If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 1d

Just found a tool which can alter the tone of whatever text you put in it. It's not very good, but it does have a sarcasm function.

Screenshot of Formalizer tool. The original text is "The huntsmen are up in America and they are already past their first sleep in Persia." I've selected "Make my text more sarcastic." The output is "Oh, of course, the huntsmen are just casually hanging out in America, while they've already left their snooze in Persia way behind. Because why not, right?"

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 2d

Tomorrow: the world

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 2d

Good news everyone, I have nailed a DIY iced caramel latte

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 2d

Attempting to be productive at lunch

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 3d

Shogun Assassin is the obvious answer.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 3d

Selfies at the writing desk.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 4d

(For those unaware of The Horror Zine’s positively oulipean restrictions:)

IMPORTANT:

The Horror Zine does not accept any material that contains adult or sexually explicit content; abuse or harming of children; any rape scenes; serial killers; slasher; gore for gore's sake, or splatterpunk. We do not accept any religious or political themes. We do not accept any submissions written in Olde English, Victorian, or 19th Century styles. We do not accept any submissions told in a diary or letter or journal format, written in numbered chapters, told as memories, or told entirely as dialogue (someone recounting past events). We do not accept any submissions created with the use of, or any assistance from, Artificial Intelligence (AI). We do not accept fan fiction.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 4d

The Horror Zine, infamously, doesn’t want to publish horror. What I’m absolutely fascinated by, though, is this writing advice.

“a chase scene might be desirable but not essential.”

Here are some general guidelines to writing short stories:

1) start with action
2) briefly familiarize the reader with your protagonist; make him/her likable or at least relatable
3) provide an obstacle for your protagonist
4) describe how your protagonist overcomes, or at least deals with, the obstacle
5) a chase scene might be desirable but not essential
6) give the reader hints as to the ending
7) provide a completely different ending than your hints

It is also important to balance the amount of dialogue to the amount of action. Too much dialogue and you are "telling" the story instead of "showing" the story.

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Reposted by Emma Devlin

Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social · 4d

And, as always, I'm on lookout for contributors to the project.

I'm covered up to the end of October (with some GREAT people taking part) but I need names for November and December. So hit me up if you love short stories, can whittle that love down to a dozen darlings, and can explain why...

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 5d

Where are some places that might consider a long short story?

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 5d

Has anyone ever had a paranormal experience they would consider talking to my friend about? He’s doing a piece on ghostly encounters for Halloween.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 5d

Still standing 😌

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 5d

My toxic trait is that I absolutely love this kind of weather.

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Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 6d

Watching a rip-off of Ghost Watch called Haunted Ulster Live, set in 1998. Look at this bizarre interpretation of the 90s wallpaper border.

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 6d

I can certainly see why every writer I know is addicted to coffee. Did you guys know how well this stuff works?

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 6d

Okay I was able to stop it from sending PHEW

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 6d

Lads I just sent an email with an absolute howler of a typo

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 7d

It was looking pretty hairy there, but, don’t worry, I beat M at scrabble again 😌

Emma Devlin @theactualemma.bsky.social · 7d

Put it on a pan!

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