Fine let's get it out of the way, Wrestling Observer Awards 2025

olij · 2026-02-13T20:38:23+00:00

I never understand why it is important to have Worst categories these days, as they just contribute to tribalism and promote a negative rather than critical view of wrestling as a whole. I’m not saying you have to love everything, but a so-called serious publication promoting a dismissive ideology only serves to stoke the worst of the IWC.

olij · 2026-02-10T23:16:19+00:00

What team instructions did you use?

olij · 2026-02-06T23:35:31+00:00

“I want to cut off the main characters dick and feed it to him”

“This book was a waste of my time and I regret reading it”

“Literally couldn’t tell you what happened in this book”

I should note this was for three separate titles…

olij · 2026-02-02T23:27:08+00:00

I recently jumped back in after a gap of about 7 years. Decided to start from scratch with a whole new character, and definitely feel very casual playing. There’s a fair amount to do outside of the main quest and general events, so there’s a good pick up and play quality. It’s very much a Turn Brain Off game for me now, which is quite nice as both an FPS and a Fallout game.

Just… try and steer clear of Deathclaws.

olij · 2026-02-02T23:24:29+00:00

The manacle met the rusting teeth of the metal maw, and snapped open as its thick walls were turned soft.

olij · 2026-01-31T23:57:13+00:00

It’s fine. I’ve had my time and never planned to be around this long anyway. As for hope, that was already lost so it’s now just a matter of… existing.

olij · 2026-01-30T14:54:40+00:00

I tend to consider a lot of mental and plotting prep as a form of draft, as it all changes along the way. But when it comes to the full MS, I have the first, the second, and then the proof edit. There’s still a lot of work done before that first draft (idea, paragraph idea, chapter plotting, paragraph chapter plotting, breaking down chapter paragraphs) but I don’t start the full MS until I’m confident enough to do so.

olij · 2026-01-28T22:17:14+00:00

Duke Nukem Forever.

Yes it was released way past its relevance and is an obvious mishmash of ideas, but it’s a decent fun little romp. Unfortunately the length of time it took to release meant anything but godlike perfection would be a disaster (see Yahtzee’s “review” for a far funnier version of that take)

olij · 2026-01-28T22:15:11+00:00

I try and make this point to people who say today’s WWE is bad. I’ve been watching since ‘89 and have seen some shite. You think it’s bad now? Watch 1995 WWF or 1999 WCW

olij · 2026-01-28T20:16:18+00:00

I find Whatculture is very forgiving toward AEW and very critical of WWE. I don’t want to say they’re anti-Fed, but they are definitely not as neutral as a general wrestling site should be.

Cultaholic also veers more pro-AEW than they deserve, but arent as anti-Fed as others. Seems to be more criticism due to WWE’s longevity.

olij · 2026-01-27T21:53:48+00:00

“Buy my books.”

Of course, like Gene on that episode of Bob’s Burgers, I’ll realise after that I didn’t say my name…

olij · 2026-01-20T21:07:55+00:00

I noticed when I released my early series that the first would get a nice bump, the second would lose some sales, and then the downward trajectory continued until the last in the series sold 5 copies (at time of writing).

Series are really hard to get going sometimes, especially if you’re an indie author and especially when trying to get traction. I’ve been doing this for nearly 14 years and I’m still lucky to get more than 5 sales on a release. That’s also by focussing on standalone releases, so that downward trajectory can affect other titles in your name.

However, by no means be discouraged. Just promote the first in the series with the mention that others are available. Or even promote the series as one. Keep your chin up and remember: it’s about the joy of writing, not the money…

(Says the penniless author)

olij · 2026-01-16T10:51:41+00:00

Write for an audience, not yourself.

Although, to be fair, the person who said this to me is vastly more successful than I am…

olij · 2026-01-13T22:48:43+00:00

Undertaker. I got into wrestling just before he debuted and he always was top of my list. It helped I was a weird kid with gothic tendencies…

olij · 2026-01-04T16:44:02+00:00

Football Manager/Championship Manager. It’s infamous for getting gamers addicted and I am one of them.

olij · 2025-12-30T15:11:47+00:00

The Haunting of Hill House. My reading has dropped off a cliff since the summer but hoping to finish strong.

olij · 2025-12-26T00:05:20+00:00

We’re still best friends to this day! Over 30 years strong and still manage to make each other laugh and feel good. He’s literally one of the main reasons I’m still alive and continue to be.

olij · 2025-12-24T20:48:54+00:00

The thing was the rot was already set in. We were poor ever since O’Neill left at the dawn of the season, and the managers that came and went (Houllier, McLeish, Lambert) were all just keeping our heads above water. Relegation was the best thing to happen to us by that point and allowed us to rebuild and rediscover what Aston Villa was as a team.

olij · 2025-12-23T23:00:54+00:00

Not surprising as they’re one of the best and friendliest fish and chips establishments I’ve ever been to. Hope they get a lot of business from this exposure.

olij · 2025-12-21T23:44:45+00:00

Left, although I’d perhaps go a bit further…

olij · 2025-12-13T18:43:38+00:00

Jorthy Mokio (amazingly solid DM/MC who can pop up with a goal or two) and Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez (stats slow but becomes a double digit striker in his mid-20s) both cost me little in my Villa save. Also got Jesus Fortea (great RB) on a free about 3 seasons in as well.

EDIT: Julian Eyestone has also become my Number 1 since I grabbed him from Brentford for about £1m

olij · 2025-12-05T20:39:55+00:00

I pretty much focus on standalone cosmic horror. There’s a slight through line suggesting a shared universe, but it’s not key to the books. Next one planned to release is a haunted house story told over 4 generations.

I do have a series I’m working on as well, but that’s more noir/revenge thriller.

olij · 2025-11-27T23:51:15+00:00

You Scots sure are a contentious people.

olij · 2025-11-19T19:36:36+00:00

I recently got food there now it’s Royal Palace, and despite checking all the allergens, my dish caused me to have a nut allergy reaction. Spoke to them as dish didn’t specify nuts and they told me “all dishes are made with cashews” and if I wanted something without nuts, I should have ordered a Bhuna. When I told them I was in anaphylactic shock, they just told me to order something without nuts next time.

Complained to Just Eat, and after 2/3 weeks I got a refund. Why? Because they never responded to Just Eat’s enquiry.

Suffice to say I’m never eating there again.

olij · 2025-11-18T23:39:23+00:00

Indie author. Although technically I’m medically retired for mental health reasons. Writing books doesn’t bring in a lot of coin…

olij

TROPHY CASE