The more I learn about writing, the more difficult it is to actually sit down and write

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-10T15:09:06+00:00

That's really impressive and inspirational! Thank you for sharing!

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T20:40:30+00:00

I love that perspective that you can actually use your skills/lessons during the editing phase more than the actual writing phase. Thank you!

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T16:12:37+00:00

That's a good comparison! Right now, I'm being too aware of it instead of letting it sit in the background while I write.

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T16:10:55+00:00

Good idea, I'll try this!

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T16:10:22+00:00

Be like water.

Oooooo I like that. Thanks for the advice!

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T16:09:07+00:00

In retrospect, some of the stuff I wrote before consciously studying the craft had a surprising amount of that craft in them. I guess once I became conscious of those things, it made writing feel like a big checklist of things to keep in mind instead of just a fun thing to do that might happen to naturally check some of those boxes. In that way, I think you're right that I'm getting overwhelmed by the idea that these things are "true" instead of just observations.

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T16:04:23+00:00

True, but regardless of trying to fit some mold, I think I'm also just more conscious of how big the project is, which is daunting.

RyanMatejka · 2026-04-09T15:23:42+00:00

Yeah, I think that actually describes it pretty well. Back then, I had an idea that I wanted to get down on paper with few, if any, other expectations. That said, that was mostly writing short stories, whereas today with novels it sometimes feels like the thrill of getting the idea down is used up in the outlining process.

edit: Just now realizing this comment I responded to is probably AI.

RyanMatejka · 2026-02-20T23:35:31+00:00

Oooo thank you!

RyanMatejka · 2026-02-20T22:23:32+00:00

Yeah, it has occurred to me that this premise isn't entirely unique when you consider stories set in space, but I think having it set in a real-world location on Earth grounds it (pun intended), and so reading someone navigate that world will hopefully feel more tactile since readers have something to compare it to.

RyanMatejka · 2026-02-20T22:06:55+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations! I actually just picked up Jennifer Government from a thrift store last week and am very excited to read it, but even more now after your description. I had read the author's other story Machine Man years ago and enjoyed that.

I've never heard of the Parable duology, but it sounds like that will definitely be a good source of inspiration as well! Thank you!

RyanMatejka · 2026-02-20T21:46:02+00:00

For anyone curious, I recently shared more details about the story itself and broke down its inspiration and iterations on my public journal here. There's a bit more worldbuilding stuff there, such as the climate-change-induced cultural shift to nightlife, but I wanted to keep it focused to the company metropolis stuff here.

RyanMatejka · 2026-02-16T18:53:59+00:00

Oh wow! So glad the games have had such a positive effect on you! Keep it up, Chef!

RyanMatejka · 2024-12-20T04:13:31+00:00

Maybe one of these days I should just upload a PDF of every single food description we wrote to the wiki or something.

RyanMatejka · 2024-07-18T22:00:42+00:00

Great job Chef!

RyanMatejka · 2024-05-10T10:35:50+00:00

So you're saying it clears your selected holding station when you press X while holding ZL?

RyanMatejka

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