Writing Archives - Tools of the Trade

Published November 8, 2024 by CZ Edwards

A Relevant Preview from Time’s Ashes

Rebellion was the war, the new series is the resurrection and the restoration.

At the end of Foundation (Rebellion VI), about a third of Cimenarum had burned, Rien had been crowned Razia, she was pregnant, and the government was starting to come back. But Rien could never be the new boss, same as the old one.

This scene happens a few tendays after the Coronation, in the transition. The scene is from Vaish sune Saren’s perspective — the one-eyed thought sniffing former spy who first appeared in Wisdom’s Fire (Book IV). Vaish and Rien are in her working office.

My Galantier needed a reformation, and I get to give it one. I hope their vision of a better citizen peace-keeping system may inspire others in this world to think what could be possible.

fiction Galantier Hellions Policing politics Rebellion Writing

fiction Galantier Hellions politics Writing

Published January 30, 2021 by CZ Edwards

In Defense of Constructed Language

(Originally posted on Write.as in January, 2019)

Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
Voice Over Internet Protocol
Digital Subscriber Line
Insulin
Hemoglobin
Telephone

fiction Galantier Media critique Writing

fiction Galantier

Published January 29, 2021 by CZ Edwards

A Craft Demonstration on Constructed Language

I was PLANNING to #amwriting in my cave.

But SOMEONE failed to properly charge the hardware overnight. (That would be me. Sherlock would be convinced I’m drunk, but nope, just nearsighted.) I have just plotted a NEW swerve, but it’s gonna percolate.

Instead, a craft lesson.

craft fiction Galantier Rebellion Writing

Published March 25, 2020 by CZ Edwards

Dying for the Dow

Originally a Twitter thread, posted on March 25, 2020 (minor edits for clarity)

It’s no secret that I orbit Ursula LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”. I read it first when I was 11 or 12. It started my relationship with ethics, utilitarianism, pro-social responsibility, …everything. I love it & hate it. (It’s short.)

current events Emergency Preparedness fiction Financial Crime MoneyLaundry Pandemic psych Writing

Pandemic Social contract social theory socio-economics

Published January 15, 2019 by CZ Edwards

Early Draft: Rien’s Rebellion 1st Chapter 2005-2008

What follows is an example of Rien’s Rebellion in development, specifically to illustrate the evolution of the constructed language of Galantier. This is purely because I have access to my own drafts and the decisions that drove the evolution of Rebellion from Disney Princess Plays Virginity Porn with Robin Hood into … what it is.

As a reminder: the finished version of Rien’s Rebellion is available at Smashwords and Amazon, and I’m always delighted to have new readers.

fiction Galantier Rebellion Writing

Published September 21, 2018 by CZ Edwards

The Rebellion Has Moved To Book II

The cover of Repudiation & Refuge. A black and white image of a courtyard with an arched corridor extending into the distance.

Books are live, and they are going to kill me.

But we knew that, because that’s why I’m publishing these babies. Publishing them is actually selfish on my part. It’s been hard to write other things – or even the next Galantier cycle* — without locking these down. If I wasn’t pushing them, I’d still be f***ing with them.

*Yes, there are more stories. At least 3 cycles — no idea how many books — right now, and seeds for a couple more after that. It’s a big world, with a lot that needs fixing.

fiction Galantier Rebellion Writing

Published July 18, 2018 by CZ Edwards

Rien’s Rebellion: Foundation Specs

Rien’s world exists because of a vague idea I once had. When Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, it only destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. But Mt Vesuvius has the potential to be a much worse eruption, then and now. It’s 150 miles/242km from Pompeii to Rome. Ash fell from Mount St Helens over 7 states. What if, instead of destroying two cities, Vesuvius destroyed Rome as an empire? What if Vesuvius went worst case scenario – a Mt Tambora or a Yellowstone caldera? When Yellowstone goes, there’s a good chance that Salt Lake City, Boise and Spokane will cease to exist, and Seattle, Denver and Portland may not be far behind. It’s 500 miles/800km from Denver to Yellowstone.

fiction Galantier History politics Rebellion Writing

fiction Galantier Origins Rebellion Rome Social contract Writing

Published July 18, 2018 by CZ Edwards

Rien’s Rebellion: Technical Specs

Rien’s Rebellion is one book in 6 volumes:

Rien’s Rebellion: Kingdom
Repudiation & Refuge
The Committed Ones
Wisdom’s Fire
Redemption & Revolution
Foundation

fiction Galantier Rebellion Writing

Published March 20, 2018 by CZ Edwards

UTS: A Case Study of the Insecurity and Anxiety that underlies gun ownership/collecting

This started as a twitter thread in March of 2018. It remains a case study of all of the failures underlying gun harm.

After his family died, he threatened to kill himself. So the police took his guns.

⬆️ Washington Post article that inspired this. Read it first.

Let’s start with career: a police officer. He seems like he was as pro-social as a cop can be, but two aspects of personality are drawn to law enforcement: a need for control, and authoritarian thinking. These two traits tend to lead to dysfunctional behavior.

Health Policing politics self-care trauma Writing

psych Social contract Writing

Category: <span>Writing</span>