2025 Writing Log, Part 30

[rynling]

- I finished “The Case of the Phantom Portrait,” an original wizard detective story that’s loosely inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray. I started the story earlier this year but got stuck about 80% of the way through. I’m happy I was able to give it time to sit and breathe. I have a bad habit of rushing the endings of my stories, but this one is perfect, I think.

- Just to cover all my bases, I sent the story to a professional copy editor to make sure it’s ready for prime time before I begin submitting it.

- I posted the fifth chapter of What Dreams May Come, a Bloodborne-inspired Zelda AU, on AO3 (here). This is the turning point of the story where things get real, and I had a lot of fun writing it.

- Enchantment, a magic-themed Zelda/Link zine, is now free to download from its site on Carrd (here). This was a fun project, and the hard-working head mod was lovely and kind to everyone. It’s always a pleasure when a zine has such a chill and positive vibe. The story I contributed, “The Wind at His Back,” is about Zelda and Link from Spirit Tracks, and it’s much lighter in style and tone than the sort of dark fantasy I usually write.

- My review of Hollow Press’s newest book, Bramble, was posted on Comics Beat (here). Hollow Press is an Italian micropress that publishes strategy guides for dark fantasy adventure games that don’t exist. Their most well-known book is Vermis, but I think Bramble is probably more accessible to a wider readership. It’s very weird and creative, and the art style is a lot of fun.

- I wasn’t done drawing cute animals yet, and I made a quick sketch of Moosh, the flying blue bear from Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons + Oracle of Ages. I posted him on Tumblr (here).

Due to various unavoidable circumstances at work, July was a tough month. My anxiety and insomnia were off the charts. But I survived, and the crunch is over! I’m looking forward to taking it easy in August. I’m going to play some video games, watch some movies, visit some friends, and just generally chill out and enjoy the nice weather.

Comments

[vriddy]

Hope August lets you catch the break you deserve! <3

[rynling]

Thank you so much! I hope August brings many good things your way too 💛

[lassarina]

*sends hugs* I'm glad you made it through crunch! I hope your break is great.

Congrats on finishing the detective story and fingers crossed for it to make it out into the world from submissions!

[rynling]

Thank you so much! I had an amazing week just chilling out. As much as I enjoy writing, it's also important to just do nothing and daydream. No regrets 🍹

In terms of short story submissions, I've been having a good experience with Chill Subs. It's well maintained, and I appreciate that the website layout is normal instead of burning my eyes with the mid-2000s jank that a lot of websites with resources for writers have going on. I'm sure Chill Subs will undergo enshittification at some point, but right now it's just at the right place to be useful.

I'm still in the trial-and-error stage of finding a good copy editor, though. As much as I don't particularly consent to Google using my writing to train Gemini, the AI in Google Docs is still much more useful than a human being who I can pay. I hate saying this, but it's true. I'll keep looking, though. Just like with submissions, I'm sure I'll find a good match eventually.

Sorry to ramble, but it's wild how much of "being a writer" involves combing through databases and archives to get good information and assistance. I feel very dark academia. Someone should take a glamor photo of me in an argyle sweater.

But anyway! I hope your writing well too!!

[lassarina]

I have done very little writing lately that isn't journaling because, uh, the Everything, but hopefully I will get back to it once my brain untangles a little? I keep trying to tell myself it's not a rush, but I don't believe me.

[rynling]

Oh man. I keep telling myself that there's no rush too. Especially not right now.

I don't work in the industry, so I can't say I have an informed opinion, but I'm getting the sense that this isn't a Great Time To Be A Writer. I've been making lists of journals and agents, and so many people are throwing up their hands and quitting that my lists aren't current between one month and the next. On top of that, the journalists and editors and translators who I follow on Bluesky are either being downsized themselves, or they're sharing posts from their friends who were downsized.

I feel like the current moment is probably a good time to chill out and cultivate your talent... or at least that's what I tell myself. You and me both! This can't last forever, and it will be nice to be able to step up with full health and buffed stamina when the next Great Time To Be A Writer rolls around.

[lassarina]

I agree that the vibe is very much "Not the time to be doing this", although there's also, this is when we need art the most, and--but that way lies a mental spiral I can't dig out of, so whatever, here we are and we do what we can.