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Jeff Lilly

@druidjournal.bsky.social

Linguist who talks to computers + creates languages. Druid wanderer writing fiction, snapping pics, and sketching dreams. He/him.

118 Followers  |  153 Following  |  539 Posts  |  Joined: 19.10.2024
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Posts by Jeff Lilly (@druidjournal.bsky.social)

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Why nonviolent resistance beats violent force in effecting social, political change Harvard Professor Erica Chenoweth discovers nonviolent civil resistance is far more successful in effecting change than violent campaigns.

Find the truth.
Resist anything that is not truth.
Be willing to suffer courageously and compassionately until your enemy recognizes that truth.
This is nonviolence, and it is now, and has always been, the most effective peacemaker.
news.harvard.edu/gaz...
druidjournal.net/202...

03.03.2026 16:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Update on writing projects (free post) on my Patreon.
TL;DR: Finally finished all revisions for my near-future scifi about telepathic computing, Axon, Inc. And making good progress on the cozy mystery book.

www.patreon.com/post...

27.02.2026 20:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Worldbuilding Through Universal Fantasy: Creating a Cozy Mystery Setting in Arthurianย Oxford What happens when you drop King Arthur's court into medieval Oxford for a summer? And how do you, as an author, find out? Using Universal Fantasy in worldbuilding.

The things that evoke a cozy setting can also make it deadly. How I used Universal Fantasy to build my Arthurian mystery, and ended up with enough motives for a dozen books.

17.02.2026 17:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A screenshot of the program in action

A screenshot of the program in action

Made a little program which translates the latin alphabet into my fictional cipher, used for my conlang.

#godotengine #conlang #degenaissance

27.01.2026 08:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Our ruffed black cat, Ash.
Donโ€™t let his haughty demeanor fool you; he is a complete goober who likes tummy rubs and drools when he purrs.

25.01.2026 03:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Heartbreaking!

24.01.2026 17:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

More markedness musing. I was explaining markedness to a colleague, and she said, well, doesn't that mean that some language out there is *least marked*? Perhaps so. Maybe the creole languages as a group; or maybe Hawaiian (with its small phoneme inventory and limited syllable shapes). Thoughts?

23.01.2026 19:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Been thinking a bit about markedness the last few weeks. Eg English 3rdSg -s: why mark the most "neutral" person? Maybe because itโ€™s not just marking person, but habitual?
I.e. -s shows "multiplicity" of action (pluractionality), mirroring the noun plural. -s always means "more than one!"

22.01.2026 23:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Perhaps, like "scarecrow", it is one who woke the scolds? (Is there a Sanskrit term for that one?)

22.01.2026 21:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Bearded man in sweatshirt smiling with a black cat snuggled on his chest

Bearded man in sweatshirt smiling with a black cat snuggled on his chest

It's been such a busy few days, I've had no time at all for creative projects. I only have time to post this because I'm waiting for code to run. But I have an amazing family, a roof overhead, and tea. And I'm under a cat.

21.01.2026 03:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Had a lot of fun creating this Celt-inspired dragon for my planning journal.

#dragon #journaling #sketching

17.01.2026 01:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks!! I literally don't remember where we got it! :D :D :D

15.01.2026 23:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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My cat has conquered my to-be-read pile.

14.01.2026 22:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Axon | Collection from Jeff Lilly | 9 posts | Patreon Get more from Jeff Lilly on Patreon

Now that Crown of Crows is finished and published, I'm getting back to Axon, Inc.: near-future telepathic computing scifi. 51% revised, 49% to go. First 9 parts available here: www.patreon.com/coll... and I'll be posting more every week until the book is done! #fiction #scifi

13.01.2026 03:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

3. My ~400 New English Words from last year collected into a book
4. A cozy mystery, why not?
5. If there's time, a sequel to Crown of Crows (tentative title: The Green Witch)
6. Maybe a book on the Tarot? (Expanding on blog content)
2/2

07.01.2026 18:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Planning my potential writing projects for the year. In rough order:
1. Finishing Axon, Inc., the novel about telepathic computing I've been working on since Amazon traumatized me in 2013
2. Five of my best short stories expanded into novellas
1/2

07.01.2026 18:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Omyatloko update Omyatloko Logosyllabary There are now 1163 logograms, and a new method of numeral annotation. This will likely be the last update to this script for a great long while. Although, I do intend to useโ€ฆ

A beautiful and inspiring work of true craft by @tlacamazatl.bsky.social :

Omyatloko update footballbatsandmore.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/o...

04.01.2026 21:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 31
#conlang
brauthar
/bษนษ”ษ™รฐษ™ษน/
Middle English bruathar, Old English bruรฆรพer.
From Proto-Germanic /vษนuazฮธeษน/, from PIE root bhruH-Hโ‚‚ster-.
Beam + Star.
Sirius, which reaches its northernmost point at the turn of the year.
Ex. The Brauthar is the brightest star in the sky.

01.01.2026 03:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 30
#conlang
thayeck
/ฮธษ”jษ™k/
Middle English thuayeuck, Old English รพuรฆgewc.
From Proto-Germanic /ฮธuajewk/, from PIE root tu-yewg-.
You + Yoke.
A promise to oneself; a resolution to change behavior.
Ex. My New Year's thayeck is to stop doing this word thing every single day.

30.12.2025 23:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 29
#conlang
ulfavute
/ulfษ™vjut/
Middle English ulfaveut, Old English wlafรฆfewt.
From Proto-Germanic /wlafavewt/, from PIE root wl(o)p-bhewd-.
Fox + Strike.
A sneaky, clever attack.
Ex. She executed a flawless ulfavute, checkmated him, and cinched the victory.

29.12.2025 22:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 28
#conlang
gemaren
/ษกemษ™ษนษ™n/
Mid Eng gemarun, OE gemarun.
PGmc /ษฃemazun/, from PIE root ฤสฐyem-,suHnรบ-.
Winter + Son.
A child born in winter; also, serious, driven individuals.
Ex. She was a gemaren who worked long hours and expected a lot from everyone she worked with.

28.12.2025 22:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 27
#conlang
lithargh
/liรฐษ™ษน/
Mid Eng licathargh, Old English ligcaรพรฆrh.
From Proto-Germanic /lijkaฮธaษนษฃ/, from PIE root leyg-tark-.
Jump + Twist.
To spin or twist in the air while jumping.
Ex. The dolphin rose out of the water with a lithargh and caught the fish in the air.

27.12.2025 22:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 26
#conlang
felvet
/felvษ™t/
Mid Eng felavate, OE felafรฆt.
From Proto-Germanic /felavat/, from PIE root pel-bhad-.
Skin + Good.
Burdock salve, or any other balm used to soothe or smooth the skin.
Ex. The gift was a collection of sweet smelling felvet boxed in sandalwood.

26.12.2025 22:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Hogfather Quotes by Terry Pratchett 379 quotes from Hogfather: โ€˜All right, said Susan. I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable.REALLY? AS IF IT WAS...

โ€œYou can't give her that!' she screamed. 'It's not safe!'
IT'S A SWORD, said the Savather. THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE SAFE.
'She's a child!'
IT'S EDUCATIONAL.
'What if she cuts herself?'
THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT LESSON.โ€
โ€• T. Pratchett, [Hogfather](www.goodreads.com/wo...)
2/2

25.12.2025 18:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 25
#conlang
Savather
/sรฆvษ™ฮธษ™r/
Middle English sรฆvathar, Old English susรฆfaรพer.
From Proto-Germanic /susรฆvฮธe:r/, from PIE root suHs-pHโ‚‚atรฉr.
Pig + Father.
A mythical being who grants children's wishes on Hogswatchnight and brings them presents.
1/2

25.12.2025 18:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 24
#conlang
myanth
/miษ™nรฐ/
Middle English myanauth, Old English migianรฆwรพ.
From Proto-Germanic /miษฃianaษฃwฮธz/, from PIE root Hโ‚meฤสฐinokสทts.
Me + Night.
A night of solitary meditation, relaxation, and self-care.
Ex. I can't come to the party -- I desperately need a myanth.

24.12.2025 19:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0


/#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 23
/#conlang
kernaur
/kษนnรฆษ™ษน/
Mid Eng kernaur, OE cernaรฆwer.
PGmc /kษนnaaweษน/, PIE ฤrฬฅHโ‚‚-no-werh3-.
Grain + Speak.
A prayer, esp. one for bountiful harvests or abundance.
Ex. It's unfortunately false that your kernaurs will be granted if you just believe hard enough.

24.12.2025 02:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 22
#conlang
appaun
/รฆpaun/
Middle English hapauen, Old English hapawen.
From Proto-Germanic /xapawen/, from PIE root kob-แธฑwen-.
Succeed + Holy.
A success brought about by gods or spirits; a deus ex machina.
Ex. Usually an appaun is an unsatisfying way to end a story.

23.12.2025 02:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Oh, I definitely like the first one

22.12.2025 17:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#NewWordsDaily2025 Dec 21
#conlang
buckagem
/bjukษ™ษกem/
Middle English buckagem, Old English bewcagem.
From Proto-Germanic /vewkaษฃem/, from PIE root bhewgh-ฤสฐyem-.
Bend + Winter.
Midwinter.
Ex. Buckagem is celebrated with evergreens in and around the household.

21.12.2025 23:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0