Scottish novelist. 🏴🇪🇺 CHANGER, TOLL, JINX, MIDDLESHADE ROAD, ONCE UPON A TIME.
Also on Mastodon: @mattgemmell@mastodon.scot
Sep 24, 2021 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
Every year or two I remember what’s probably the most scarily/stunningly impressive linguistic feat I’ve ever seen. Every time, I think I must be mistaken, then I read the thing, and I just shake my head in disbelief. It’s been twenty years. Let me tell you about it.
Two of the things I like most are writing and video games. I especially like reading things people have written about games, which includes game guides. The most amazing thing I’ve ever read is a guide to the SNES game Super Metroid. Stay with me here, ok?
Sep 23, 2021 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
I infrequently talk about wristwatches. This is such an occasion. If that topic doesn’t interest you, look away now, and tune back in for my broad-appeal tweets about… mechanical keyboards… or grammar, I guess, or… well, this has been a voyage of stark self-discovery. ANYWAY:
Happy new watch day to me. Check this out. It’s a Seiko, as almost-always for me, and another automatic 4R36 calibre (hackable, can be wound, day-date, 41hrs reserve). This time, though, a field watch instead of a diver! Behold the SRPG35K1.
Mar 9, 2021 • 18 tweets • 4 min read
A brief thread about the grim reality of writing fiction, and how you can make your iPad help you with focus (and avoiding procrastination). 👇
First, good news: creativity is a skill that can be practised and cultivated. You don’t need to rely on mysterious inspiration striking. You can pretty much train your brain to produce on a schedule. That’s great!
The bad news is that you, yourself, will stand in your own way.
Mar 8, 2021 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
In better IKEA news, though, I did find pretty much the perfect sofa bed to keep in the office. It meets all my preferences:
✅ Minimalist style, in neutral colours
✅ Not click-clack (don’t like the rear protrusion)
✅ Has storage
✅ Sofa small as possible
✅ Bed ideally UK double, or near as possible
✅ Not a pull-out-to-front bed
✅ Sofa width becomes bed length
✅ Not a floor-level/low bed
✅ Can be against wall as sofa, and not need moved to change into bed
✅ Very quick change to bed
✅ Firm sleeping surface
✅ Not like £1k
Dec 11, 2019 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
The way I see app subscriptions right now is pretty simple. Here’s a brief thread on that.
First, Apple doesn’t allow upgrade pricing. Everyone would use it if they could. They can’t. That option is off the table.
Second, making entirely new apps on the store for what’s really just a new version brings a host of annoyances for both users and developers. It’s possible, but it’s extremely sub-optimal. Option 3 is free upgrades forever, which Apple wants but which kill indie dev companies.
May 23, 2019 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Quick vid of @GoodNotesApp’s killer features for note-taking. In order of demo, and continuing to further tweets below:
1. Strokes are all vectors, so scaleable/zoomable, and remain so in PDF output.
2. Eraser can erase conventionally, or entire strokes at once (so handy).
3. Highlighter always paints BEHIND text, rather than the stupid Notes way which just washes-out the text you’re trying to emphasise. 🙄
4. Highlighter can be set to auto-straightening mode, for neatness.
5. Eraser can be set to erase highlighter only. Ultra useful!
Nov 1, 2018 • 15 tweets • 3 min read
I've never written 50k words in 30 days, for #NaNoWriMo or otherwise, but I've written two 95k+ novels. Does that qualify me to offer some opinions?
JUST KIDDING; I'm a man on the internet, so _of course_ I'm going to share my opinions, whether you want to hear them or not…
One common way to categorise writers is those who plan/outline first (planners), and those who just wing it (pantsers). I'm a planner, so really I'd say: hey, plan a lot before you start. But it's already 1st November, so I'm a bit late with that advice.
