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@wildhyacinthmag.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 2:26 PM

More Issue 3 〰 vibes 〰

Submissions open now until October 9th! Keep ’em coming!

#LitMag #WriterCommunity #CallForSubmissions #canadianwriters #literarymagazine

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:16 PM

What was the prototype for my comic *The Gray Show* like?
#writercommunity #writer #webcomic #comic #hell #world-building #dark #darkfanatasy #digital #indie #beta #zombies #zombie #horror #parody

This was the beta version of *Vlad, Megan, Max, and Fran*, a project I started when I was 17. The initial concept for Vlad and the work—which didn't yet have a title—was something akin to *Rick and Morty* or *Drawn Together*, but steeped in horror genre clichés; it was intended to be a "slice-of-life" series with occasional plot-driven episodes. I always made it clear that this was a simple project—with no pretensions of being a serious or ambitious story—since I was merely looking for a distraction and a way to keep moving forward. The premise was that Vlad was evil; he was the story's villain, inspired in part by Rick and conceived as a parody or homage to the demonic, malevolent villains of the horror genre. He had caused trouble in Hell due to his selfishness and was banished, leaving him stranded on Earth.

There, he crossed paths with Megan—a psychopath or narcissist who killed for fun—while Max and Fran were nowhere near as evil; in fact, they were the kindest members of the group. Vlad granted them the ability to transform into special zombies: creatures with lethal abilities far superior to those of ordinary zombies. They embodied various references to the zombie genre and apocalyptic viruses, possessing both strengths and weaknesses. Megan was the fastest and most dangerous zombie, endowed with great strength, excellent reflexes, and a powerful bite; however, she had a dangerous drawback. Max and Fran—especially Max—had to keep her under control. What bothered her most, given her psychopathic and narcissistic nature, was that while her zombie form was more lethal, her brain was rotting; She could neither remember nor enjoy the act of killing while in that form—something she considered a curse. Megan drew on the "fast zombie" trope, the infected from the *Crossed* series, and the deranged, murderous characters typical of horror fiction. Fran, on the other hand, was calm—and manipulated by Vlad—representing a "middle-ground" zombie (neither too fast nor too slow) inspired by the infection style of *The Last of Us*. He crafted weapons for himself, Megan, and Max, though his weak points were a lack of speed and poor reflexes.

Max embodied the intelligent leader and the classic zombie archetype; he was the strongest and smartest of the group. Both he and Fran retained their consciousness despite being zombies, whereas Megan’s brain was rotting away. Max’s only weakness was a fragile jaw—so weak, in fact, that he had to wear a trap-like device over his mouth, as his jaw was even more delicate than a human’s. The series aimed to present *Happy Tree Friends*-style violence and serve as both a tribute to and a parody of the horror genre; furthermore, Megan, Max, and Fran were references to the "Slayer" archetype. The episodes were intended to show slices of everyday life—a mix of gore and horror tropes—interspersed with chapters focused on the main plot. My goal was simply to create something entertaining and personal for horror fans, but the project was poorly received due to a lack of context and excessive graphic violence. I was seventeen and going through a difficult time in my personal life; that initial attempt was a disaster that forced me to rewrite much of the material. *The Gray Show* is the project that ultimately emerged from that process, although production is currently on hold and the story has changed significantly: Max and Fran are now key characters, but they only appear in the first season.

Now that I am a better writer and understand the format, I realize that the problem with the original version was precisely its excessive simplicity. However, it could have worked well as a video game with solid mechanics—a title where you choose a character to eliminate enemies or beat levels, focusing on gameplay, while character scenes serve as promotional shorts or comic strips. That approach might have been more successful. Nowadays, I create comics with a different mindset, and I believe that path would have worked better.

Looking back at that beta with my current creator mindset, I feel it could have worked much like *Dead by Daylight*. I really like those ideas now; since my writing has improved, I could revisit that beta in the future and develop it properly—though I couldn't use Vlad, as he belongs to *The Gray Show*. I could create a design similar to Vlad's but with the personality I originally envisioned for him—only this time, the writing would be truly good. I don't know why, but I feel I could do a great job with it now. However, I can't do it at the moment because I'm busy with other projects.

@modernminddig.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 11:16 AM

Sometimes Life Becomes Too Heavy

A real story about a family that kept losing things, but kept trying to move forward.

#psychology
#writer
#writercommunity
#self-improvement

medium.com/the-story-we...

@tempestaudrina.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 11:02 AM

Check out Chapter 34: Warnings That Don’t Sound Like Accidents from Unsettled Accounts: The Thing He Called Love on Tapas: tapas.io/episode/3787...

#BL #LGBTQ #ComplexRelationships #SlowBurn #Gay #Webnovel #WriterCommunity #MLMRomance #DarkRomance #QueerRomance #NotARomanticizedAbuse #writer

@balthazarhowle.com Oct 5, 2026, 6:39 AM

"And there's, like, an elf and an orc and they... like each other a lot." 🎃 #amwriting #writerthoughts #writercommunity #writersky #halloween #october #queerfantasy

A caption on top titled "This year, let's carve pumpkins that are actually scary". The image shows a drawn picture of a porch with a pumpkin on it that has the text "Telling people IRL about your book" carved out.

@arongreywood.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 4:34 AM

I wish to all of you writers who got liked by agents in #Dvpit - all the very best to you for you life and future endeavours. And for those like me who failed, well - we are writers - made of dreams , imagination and lust and we bleed stardust man...
So Cheers and see ya next year!
#writercommunity

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:35 AM

The strength and demonic evolution in my work *The Grey Show*
#writercommunity #writer #webcomic #comic #hell #world-building #dark #darkfanatasy #digital #indie

Although the demons of Gluttony may have heavier bodies, they retain defined musculature because they must survive in an environment teeming with beasts, earthquakes, lava, fire, and so on. It is similar to real-world animals that evolved to look more intimidating in order to survive—think of kangaroos or fearsome-looking prehistoric creatures. That is the type of build my male demons have. As for musculature: in real life, men tend to have more muscle mass, so my female demons have lighter bodies that allow them to attack more quickly or land precise, accurate blows. They *can* be muscular, though not to the same extent as the male demons; nevertheless, female demons can possess the same strength and abilities as their male counterparts. Regarding why the Princes of Hell are male: it is because I want to respect the source material—where they are traditionally depicted as men—and because I wish to showcase different types of masculinity. That said, I have well-developed female characters, and future comics outside of *The Gray Show*—such as my work *Hero Universe*—will feature more female protagonists.

As for my demons' abilities, there is one I haven't mentioned yet: they all possess a second, enormous, and powerful demonic form. I don't yet know what to call this form, but the reason they rarely use it is that doing so could destroy Hell itself. They consider it a last resort for situations of extreme danger. Even the Princes of Hell possess this form; Vlad, Amon, and Pigi have it as well. I also want to clarify that my version of Hell is a functional society; the demons do not kill or attack one another at random. Combat is treated as a sport and takes place during training sessions, tournaments, and at fighting clubs. The reason male demons are so muscular—or, in the case of Gluttony, large-bodied yet defined—is based on real-life male physiques; there tends to be less variation in muscular male body types compared to the wide range of athletic or toned physiques found among women.

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:22 AM

Why are the designs of the demons in my work *The Gray Show* the way they are?
#writercommunity #writer #webcomic #comic #hell #world-building #dark #darkfanatasy #digital #indie #goth #metal #rock #punk

Many people loved the demon designs in my comic; they say they are highly original—far from being mere copies of existing ones—yet people still recognize them as demons and appreciate the design without it feeling jarring. I achieved this by combining pop culture elements—things people already associate with demons and hell—with fresh ideas. I blended them carefully, and to me, the result is incredible. The reason my demons sport gothic, metal, alternative, rock, or punk styles is that these aesthetics have become normalized in the depiction of demons over the years. I also incorporated references to the Bible and demonology, as well as the dark fantasy genre. Although there are nods to other mythologies—such as Greek, Norse, and Hindu—these are secondary elements; the main focus remains on the aspects I mentioned earlier. I don't copy demonic or biblical tradition to the letter, as that would strip my world of its identity, but I don't betray the source material either. Another point: when an author reimagines a demon or hell in a way that is too jarring, it sometimes works, but other times it’s a disaster.

They often fall back on the easy excuse that "demons seduce" and ignore everything else, resulting in mediocre designs. In my opinion, a radical reimagining only works if there is a solid, understandable, and justifiable context, like in *Helltaker* or *Exploding Kittens*. I don't think adding modern elements is bad, but some authors lack the writing or design skills to pull it off successfully; they simply throw things together at random, using the "demons seduce" concept as a crutch. Good design is essential, even for attractive characters. For instance, in my version of the Circle of Lust in Hell, I based the design on the idea that lust demons have numerous offspring; that is the key reference point. I draw inspiration from Greek mythology—which fits perfectly—while also incorporating mythologies outside the biblical tradition. The reason is that biblical mythology and the concept of Hell were actually inspired by those earlier mythologies; I crafted my designs with this in mind. Furthermore, my work and designs reference the horror genre and horror cinema in general; demons have always been a fundamental element of the genre—one need only think of *The Exorcist* or, even more so, *The Omen*. That is why Vlad is based on Freddy Krueger, why the Gluttony demons feature human-skin elements inspired by Leatherface’s mask, and why the Labyrinth of Lust draws from *Hellraiser*.

As for why *The Gray Show* references mythologies like the Greek and Norse, it is because biblical and demonic traditions drew upon those sources for certain designs—such as demon horns, which originate from creatures in those mythologies (like the god Pan, who inspired the classic image of the Devil). My design for Lucifer evokes Hades because, as you well know, those mythologies influenced the creation of Lucifer and other biblical elements. I also want to avoid those deplorable designs that use concepts like lust and seduction as an excuse for a poor, boring, or generic aesthetic. While I do not deny that demons can take human form, it is not just their human appearances that are generic; even their demonic forms are poorly designed. Finally, there are the designs that hide behind the label of "reinterpretation" while ignoring the basic rules of character design.

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 12:40 AM

Why didn't I include the sins of envy, pride, and sloth in *The Gray Show*?
#writercommunity #writer #webcomic #comic #hell #world-building #demons #demon #comics #art #digitalart

Another reason I chose Diyu and the Arabian Hell is that I envisioned my version of Hell as a society of workers. Consequently, I ruled out the deadly sins of envy, pride, and sloth; given that my infernal society is more functional and decent than the human one, envy and pride wouldn't really fit into this world-building. Furthermore, the role of egocentric demons is already covered by the demons of lust and greed, so including demons of pride would have been redundant. This actually makes Lucifer—and Vlad—more unique: Lucifer embodies pride, whereas Vlad has lost it. Envy, for its part, would contradict the nature of my society and cause problems; besides, the character representing envy is already Semyaza. As for sloth... well, remember that my demons are industrious; what would demons of sloth even do? Likewise, the "drug addict" archetype is covered by the demons of gluttony. Those sins simply didn't fit my vision. That is why I chose Diyu and the Arabian Hell, establishing the circles of my realm as Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Diyu, the Arabian Hell, and Lust. I wanted it to feel original—distinct from the usual tropes—and to showcase Chinese and Arabian cultures, which I love and would like to see more of on Webtoon.

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 12:26 AM

More details on the circles of hell in *The Gray Show*. Comic on hiatus.

#writercommunity #writer #webcomic #comic #hell #comics #demon #demons #art #digitalart #dark #darkfantasy #indie #word #world-building

Regarding another aspect of my world: the "colored fire" is connected to all the hells, except for Diyu, which has its own unique pyrotechnics. Although certain colors are associated with specific sins—such as magenta fire for Wrath, or blue for Gluttony and Greed—the fire actually flows beneath the surface and reaches other circles; however, it does not extend to Diyu, so those specific fires remain confined there.

I should clarify that child and adolescent demons, as well as families, do exist in the other circles and realms of sin. However, demons mature much faster than humans; they reach adulthood and become independent in less time. Even so, parental bonds endure: for instance, Pigi ran a restaurant with his parents before a giant infernal beast killed them. Amon also has a brother who is a pure Wrath demon—not a hybrid—and who was born as an infant; these demon babies resemble elderly people, a visual reference to the Devil's child in *The Passion of the Christ*.

One more thing: the bars in Hell are shaped like that white creature from *The Garden of Earthly Delights*. In fact, the Hell of Gluttony is filled with bars of this type, though I should clarify that I won't copy the creature exactly, but rather draw inspiration from it. These bars are the most common in Hell, and it is quite usual for a Gluttony demon to own a bar in another circle, given that demons require bars within their own domains.

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 8:24 PM

What the demons of lust and their circle are like in *The Gray Show* (comic on hiatus).
#webcomic #writercommunity #hell #writer #comic #demons #demon #webcomic #comics #art #draw #indie

The Hell of Lust is inspired by *Hellraiser*, and my lust demons are modeled after the Cenobites. The realm features a central tornado—evoking Dante’s vision—surrounded by a labyrinth; sinners are trapped in the tornado before being cast into the maze, where demons torture and humiliate them. The demons hunt their prey through a labyrinth filled with chains, spikes, magenta fire, and eyes. The color palette consists of magenta, dark blue, red, black, and deep wine tones. My demons are strikingly attractive and sport an "emo" aesthetic—specifically incorporating razor blades, a nod to the pain-inducing elements associated with the Cenobites—alongside Gothic influences like latex and Romantic Goth style; however, their look is primarily emo fused with various Gothic subgenres. Most possess serpent tails—a trait linked to seduction in demonology—and bear "XXX" markings symbolizing black hearts, sometimes shaped like skulls.

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 7:00 PM

What the Arab hell and its demons are like in *The Gray Show*. Comic on hiatus.
#webcomic #comic #hell #indie #indiecomic #demons #demon #art #arte #digital #writer #writercommunity

The Arabian Hell is ruled by Iblis; its sands are composed of the blood of sinful humans. My version of this Hell also incorporates references to *One Thousand and One Nights*. The entrance is shaped like a tiger's head—inspired by the Cave of Wonders—but is far more terrifying and demonic. My Arabian demons take on humanoid forms or resemble regional animals with human features; a distinctive trait setting them apart from demons in other circles is the presence of scorpion-like characteristics or body parts, reflecting the abundance of these creatures in Arabian lands (though hybrids with other types of demons may also possess these traits). They wield Arabian-style weapons and wear stylized Arabian attire with Gothic touches; the males wear demonic, stylized versions of traditional Arabian headgear, while the females sport outfits inspired by the character Jasmine from *Aladdin*. Their most common pets are small demonic monkey-scorpion hybrids—a nod to the monkey from *Aladdin*. The landscape features mountains reminiscent of *The Nightmare Before Christmas* but shaped like scorpions, and the demons' skin displays dotted patterns inspired by traditional depictions of Arabian demons. They also possess certain abilities typical of genies—reflecting the common belief that Arabian demons and genies are one and the same—such as super-speed and the ability to appear and disappear within a cloud of dust characteristic of these beings. Golden genie lamps are found throughout the circles of Hell, serving as portals that allow Arabian demons to teleport between realms. They possess their own version of the pentagram symbol, and their attire is inspired by that of Arabian desert bandits, featuring a stylized design that fuses Gothic and alternative styles.

@modernminddig.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 6:57 PM

The Strange Feeling of Outgrowing Someone You Still Love

Sometimes, the hardest part of grow-ing is Realizing that someone you still care about may no longer fit into the life you are becoming.

medium.com/illumination...

#psychology
#Relationship
#writer
#writercommunity

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 6:09 PM

What the demons of greed and their circle are like in *The Gray Show* (comic on hiatus).

#webcomic #comic #hell #indie #indiecomic #demons #demon #art #arte #digital #writer #writercommunity

The Circle of Greed is reminiscent of Las Vegas but also incorporates elements of a swamp. In my version of Hell, toads and frogs represent greed—given that they are essentially the same creature—so most demons in this circle possess humanoid toad or frog hands alongside demonic features. They take on humanoid animal forms, such as foxes and raccoons, due to their fictional association with money. Goats are also present—appearing in every circle of my Hell for their demonic connotations—and can assume humanoid forms, just like other demons across the various circles. These demons wear elegant, expensive suits, though their hats are shaped like swamp leaves—or parts of their attire mimic leaf shapes—and often incorporate a "toad-flower" motif (an infernal version of the real plant). Their clothing is predominantly green, black, red, or gold, reflecting the colors of toads and frogs. Their appearance may also combine animal traits, such as a fox with frog hands. The Circle of Greed evokes 1920s America through its gambling culture and references the movie *The Princess and the Frog* (thanks to the toads and the swampy setting).

Their outfits are often adorned with diamonds, gold, and glitter, or feature casino-themed elements; dollar signs, poker symbols, toad skulls, and dice are common in their designs. Their teeth range from typical sharp fangs to gold teeth or standard fangs studded with diamonds. Their shoes are elegant but often feature toes shaped like toad or frog feet. The water in the Circle of Greed is molten gold—representing what belongs to its inhabitants—though, like the other circles, it also contains rivers of lava and blood. Furthermore, the demons of Greed are the species with the fewest winged members; possessing toad-like traits, most are capable of making massive leaps, allowing them to cover great distances. Another detail: the frontal bone of their skull is made of gold, enabling them to easily crush a sinner with a headbutt—sometimes combined with a jump. That said, all demons in Hell possess resilient bodies and bones; in reality, any of them can deliver a powerful headbutt. However, the Greed demon's skull features that golden section, making it even more dangerous. I decided not to give the Greed demons wings, as their designs were already highly detailed—adding wings would have been excessive—and I thought: why not give them the ability to make huge leaps instead, given their toad-like characteristics?

@blondie666-01.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 5:24 PM

What the demons of gluttony and their circle are like in *The Gray Show* (comic on hiatus).
#webcomic #comic #hell #indie #indiecomic #demons #demon #art #arte #digital #writer #writercommunity

Gluttony demons take on humanoid forms reminiscent of animals associated with eating—such as pigs, goats, or cows—though many resemble bees or flies, reflecting the influence of Beelzebub. They may also adopt the forms of other animals, like wolves, given that most animals are gluttonous by nature, or simply wear accessories featuring fly or bee motifs. Their symbol is a skull and crossbones, closely resembling that of Beelzebub in demonology. While they often wear human skin, they also favor gothic or alternative clothing styles. They wield kitchen utensils as weapons, and most are obese or possess large, protruding bellies. They constantly eat and drink alcohol, and they manage Hell's culinary landscape; street food stalls are a common sight in the Circle of Gluttony. They season human flesh to enhance its flavor, often making it very spicy. Beelzebub is the most obese demon and the only one resembling a clown; although a powerful jaw is a common trait of their specific type, other demon species may also possess it or have super-strength. Pigs and boars are the most common animal forms, representing gluttony and referencing the boar hunted by the children in *Lord of the Flies*; indeed, child demons of Gluttony often wield spears, just as the children in that story did. The Circle of Gluttony teems with flies and small bees, and the demons often use giant flies—reminiscent of the Beelzebub of demonology—as mounts. They frequently wear accessories featuring fly motifs, such as jewelry or brooches, though bee motifs are also common. They can control honey, using it to drown humans or to trap them and prevent them from defending themselves. Something I didn't mention is that they are expert knife-wielders and skilled butchers; they know exactly where to cut the flesh to leave their opponent vulnerable, and they can also create honey maces.

@suzydobie.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 4:58 PM

#AcrosticOctober 4 October
#SERENE
#poetry #poetrycommunity
#writing #writercommunity
#prompt

Thanks for the fun
@daveashleypoet.bsky.social

@james-prosser.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 2:31 PM

Have you ever turned a dream into a story idea or character? Let me know in the comments!
Check out my latest novel Resolute Command (Nazca Press) and more updates at www.jamesprosser-author.com!
#WritingLife #AuthorLife #SciFiBooks #CharacterDevelopment #WriterCommunity

@negrimshaw.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 1:46 PM

10042026-1
#PoetrySky #WriterCommunity #LovePoetry
#MicroPoetry #PoetsOfBluesky #WriterSky

@fauxfiruta.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 12:37 PM

The word hysteria comes from hystera, Greek for uterus. For centuries, the uterus was treated as a haunted house. A woman’s body was a place where madness lived.

#Halloween #Costume #Womensky #Femalesky #Writerscommunity #Readsky #Booksky #Writesky #Writercommunity #Hysteria #Feminism

@mothmanknows.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 1:04 AM

The Angry Writer creeping out the deer.

#indieauthors #writercommunity #theangrywriter