Jae Koyanagi
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jaekoyanagi.com
Jae Koyanagi
@jaekoyanagi.com
1.3K followers 250 following 3.1K posts
Author, Otherwise Award Honor List, Repped by Russ Galen. Writing non-human fantasy featuring a monster romance. 🐙

Autistic, queer, D&D player, dog mom. Pfp: @starace.bsky.social. Banner: @sovka.bsky.social

🚫genAI🚫

https://jaekoyanagi.carrd.co
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Jae Koyanagi @jaekoyanagi.com · Jul 16
Intro post! I'm Jae (formerly Jacqueline) Koyanagi, author of the sci-fantasy novel Ascension, among other things: jaekoyanagi.com

Currently, I'm deep into writing the first book of a character-driven romantic fantasy trilogy set in a lush, unusual world where divine magic abounds.
The book cover for Ascension: A Tangled Axon Novel by Jae Koyanagi (credited as Jacqueline on the cover). The illustration features main character Alana Quick, a Black woman with her hand on her hip, looking at the viewer. Behind her is the interior of a spaceship painted in cool colors with a view of a nebula and stars beyond. The cover for the audio series Ninth Step Station from Realm, featuring a textured background in cool, dark colors. The text reads: In the future, two mismatched cops must work together to solve crimes in a divided Tokyo: Ninth Step Station by award-winning authors Malka Older, author of Infomocracy; Fran Wilde, author of Updraft; Jacqueline Koyanagi, author of Ascension; and Curtis C. Chen, author of Waypoint Kangaroo. The cover for the audio series Ctrl-Alt-Destroy from Realm. The image features the old title for the series, Alternis, and the former name of the publisher, which was Serial Box. The illustration features main character Tandy Kahananui slicing through a video game foe with a sword, scattering them into digital fragments. The cover for the anthology Phantasm Japan, from Haikasoru. The illustration features the head of a Japanese woman who is looking up toward the title. Behind her is the Tokyo skyline, while flames emerge from her right eye and winged insects flutter around her.
jaekoyanagi.com
I don't use a single method, but my approach is probably closest to the snowflake method. I've synthesized what I've learned about structure over the years and use that to chisel out a narrative that supports my vision for the project, but without cleaving tightly to any one structure.
amtuomala.bsky.social A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 4h
#FebOutlining What's your outlining process? Do you use a classic beat sheet (e.g. seven-point structure, romance structure, hero's journey)? Do you use the snowflake method (establish key events, then build the complexity and logic)? Do you use spreadsheets, or index cards, or maps with red string?
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #2 - Outlining Process." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
February 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
As with any creative work, it remains to be seen whether others will connect with this novel, but I sure am having a hell of a good time writing it. It's very gratifying to make what excites you.
February 2, 2026 at 3:52 AM
jaekoyanagi.com
I love her so much
A Golden Retriever sitting and smiling at the camera. No thoughts, only happy.
February 1, 2026 at 7:34 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
I'd lose my mind if someone managed to pull off a well-done Deleyora cosplay, between his non-human physiology and his tendency to make and wear elaborately embroidered ensembles.

If they somehow managed to make his white violin, my soul would likely evanesce
cometkins.bsky.social Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @cometkins.bsky.social · 1d
What’s something you’d love to see cosplayed from your book/wip? #WritingPrompt
February 1, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
8thcreation.bsky.social
First Amarantha of the year!!! Wearing a Yohji Yamamoto 1987 design. 🌌
A blue-skinned anthropomorphic lizard wearing a dark blue jacket with wide shoulders, a black skirt and a pair of black gloves. She is creating a black star with a blue outline.
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
I *really* ought to knuckles down and write the preliminary back cover copy for VFTDC. Somehow I keep kicking that can down the road...
February 1, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
thatdana.bsky.social
I can't stress enough how important it is to experience art with people who will allow you to feel emotions without mockery.
January 1, 2026 at 3:55 AM
jaekoyanagi.com
I've not shared my StoryGraph monthly graphics before, but now seems like a great time to start, after the first month of a new year.
StoryGraph reading wrap-up for January 2026. Books: 12 Pages: 3,776 First book: Spread Me by Sarah Gailey Middle book: Machines of Consent by Sophia Turner Last book: Priest by Sierra Simone Average book length: 314 pages Average time to finish: 4 days Plus a neat set of graphs showing breakdowns of genre, pages read, and digital vs. print. A StoryGraph January 2026 calendar showing the books and the days across which I read them, plus a visual of the covers for all of my January reads.
February 1, 2026 at 3:24 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
For this prompt game, I'll be speaking retrospectively re: my current WIP, VFTDC, which I'm maybe 60% of the way into drafting. So, past the outlining stage, but I'm excited to talk about process with other writers.

VFTDC is the first book of a trilogy, so I do still need to outline Book 2-3.
amtuomala.bsky.social A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 1d
Happy February! What project or projects are you planning to work on for #FebOutlining? What state are they currently in? What are you hoping to accomplish by the end of the month? (If you're past the outlining/prewriting stage, what work were you outlining or prewriting most recently?)
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining Day #1 - Project Overview." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
February 1, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
gunsmile.bsky.social
My debut novel, THE DEVOURING, comes out on April 9, and I'd be both thrilled and humbled if people read it. If you like classic Lovecraftian horror, John Wick-style assassin thrillers, and married villain protagonists, you might enjoy it.

Preorder here: books2read.com/u/mvDRWX
A READER'S GUIDE TO THE DEVOURING villain protagonists incomprehensible eldritch god occult conspiracy unreliable narrators criminal underworld married main characters PLOT SUMMARY Throughout their marriage, Jason and Ayana's lives always ran parallel but never entwined. It's the perfect arrangement. He's free to pursue his dangerous yet lucrative career as an elite assassin, and she can focus on conducting autopsies for the city's forensic center. But after Jason spares a witness to his latest murder, he becomes the prime suspect in his own brother's homicide. While he hunts for the real killer, Ayana discovers an impossible illness in one of her cadavers. The couple quickly identify an unsettling connection between the two events—one steeped in religious fanaticism and occult conspiracy. Jason and Ayana must learn to work together, using their wits, lies, and criminal connections to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult and exact revenge. But human enemies are the least of their concern. Beyond the boundary of their world exists a cosmic threat of apocalyptic proportions, and it is trying to break through.
February 1, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
kathaja.com
Expression challenge with Zhaikes 🤍
This is the first of two patches. I'm so glad that this is finally done. I definitely learned a lot.

I'll link the challenge and a line version in the replies.

[ #art #Zhaikes #ZhorKhat #CharacterDesign #ArtChallenge ]
Expression challenge with my OC Zhaikes (species: Zhor Khat) showing his head eight times, each with a different expressions. They are: irritated, sad, an awkward and lopsided smile, repulsed, shocked, a happy laugh, startled spitting, and a furious scream. The four antennae on his head underline each expression, by being held in respective positions. The heads are colored gray and shaded with a soft light. Text on page: What...? (Speech bubble) Scarred half of his face is numb and does not move properly. Almost never laughs as freely as this. Startled expressions are rare, as he is not easily surprised. Art by Kathaja Krim.
February 1, 2026 at 12:03 AM
jaekoyanagi.com
Grisira, 52
Oil painter
Dread vessel of the Phenomenon

Deleyora, ????
Violinist
Not an octopus

Khetris, 8000+
Confused
charliedeltawrites.bsky.social ❄️Charlie (Chelizabeth) Delta ☃️ @charliedeltawrites.bsky.social · 1d
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

What does your character's lower third say?

If your character was interviewed on the news/a documentary, or was on reality TV, what would the blurb under their name be?

Funny or serious, whichever you prefer!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Lower third: "Alex, Former Child, Oceanside, CA, 25" From The Bachelor
February 1, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
sarenstone.com
a lil kabedon perhaps... as a treat
An illustration of Criticality (he/him) and Adra (they/them) in a red, low-lit environment that abstractly implies a crowd. Criticality has one hand up on the wall behind Adra, while they tug roughly at his tie, giving him a fussy look. His glitching text box reads: "Something you want to tell me, nightingale?"
January 31, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
amtuomala.bsky.social
#FebOutlining starts tomorrow! Here's the prompt list:

1. Project Overview
2. Outlining Process
3. Seeds
4. Names
5. Playlists
6. Works in Conversation
7. Check-In
8. Character Profiles
9. Fancasts
10. Art
11. Maps
12. Research
13. Moodboards
14. Check-In

(1/2)
amtuomala.bsky.social A.M. Tuomala @amtuomala.bsky.social · 4d
We are MAKING THIS HAPPEN! #FebOutlining is a chance to talk about your prewriting/outlining process, with daily discussion prompts--and for those of us who are at the prewriting/outlining stage of our projects, there will be weekly check-ins to talk about progress and vent. Looking forward to it!
Image of a black typewriter seen at an angle; the text above it reads, "#FebOutlining: Get Ready." Original photo by Connor Scott McManus on Pexels.
January 31, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
dovexii.bsky.social
Oh Lord, return me to dust ✦

[ #art #ocs #angeloc ]
A muted-blue halfbody illustration of a male character, Eden, long white hair wild around him and centered by two columns, surrounded by chrysanthemums. He looks blankly upward, half of his face completely white and dripping down to pool into loosely cupped hands, then falling further as "dust". He wears loose, draping fabrics and shining gold jewelry accents. A red string cuts through the lower half, circling around his wrist.
January 31, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
butisitart.bsky.social
Fuck ironic detachment the time has come for earnest enthusiasm
January 31, 2026 at 5:59 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
Sometimes I'll talk with someone about what I'm trying to accomplish with the narrative + worldbuilding in my book and it makes me want to go much easier on myself about my relatively slow writing pace. The cognitive load of what I'm juggling in any given scene is... a lot.
January 31, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
oleandercraw.bsky.social
I've got a new science fantasy book coming out for early release through a Kickstarter campaign in June 2026!

A transmasc fortune weaver and an ambitious cave priestess make dubious bargains with a fortune beast.

Follow the prelaunch page so you don't miss it!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ole...
Coming soon: Devouring Fortune: A Queer Science Fantasy Novel
A dual-POV story about a cave priestess and a fortune weaver. For fans of Tanith Lee & A.K. Larkwood. Special early release hardcover.
www.kickstarter.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:27 AM
jaekoyanagi.com
I use Obsidian for worldbuilding notes, backed up on Proton Drive + external hard drive. I also send myself copious messy notes on a chat app when I'm away from my desktop.

Actual novel drafting happens in Scrivener, which is also riddled with notes and annotations.

I'm drowning in notes, help 🫠
kiraofthewind.com Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 2d
#JanuaryWorldbuilders What apps, programs, tools have you used to help with your worldbuilding? Do you use anything for storing notes, making maps, randomly generating names, keeping a timeline or a calendar? Tell us about it! Please no GenAI🚫
MonthlyWorldbuilders prompts daily feed card #JanuaryWorldbuilders Hosted by Kira of the Wind Extra Days 31. What apps, programs, and tools have you used to help with worldbuilding? The background image shows a blurred magic tree with a waterfall coming down between two halves of its trunk. It’s nighttime and the night sky is magical with lots of blues and pinks and purples
January 31, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
gunsmile.bsky.social
New post on my author blog! amshilling.com/2026/01/31/c...
January 2026: A challenging start to the new year
January was a rocky month for writing thanks to all the other things going on in my life at the time. Fortunately, I’ve made progress on both the writing and publishing fronts.
amshilling.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:43 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
There is no reason I should be this sleepy at 5pm. Body, please
January 31, 2026 at 12:53 AM
jaekoyanagi.com
I saw a picture of his cosplay on a forum and reached out to flirt with him. 😂 We've been together for twenty years now.
helloleauxla.bsky.social Hello, Leauxla @helloleauxla.bsky.social · 2d
how’d you meet the love of your life?
January 30, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
abigaillarson.com
💔
illustration of Catherine O'Hara as Delia Deetz for the Beetlejuice Tarot card, "Queen of Swords"
January 30, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Jae Koyanagi
arnaerr.bsky.social
"These boots have seen everything."

#baldursgate3 #bg3 #art
January 30, 2026 at 3:41 PM
jaekoyanagi.com
Gentle reminder that Bluesky's culture is unlike other platforms. For most people, it's not enough to post regularly. If you want interaction, you must interact. Not just with comments to your own posts, but on others' posts as well--not in a transactional sense, but in a relational sense.
January 30, 2026 at 5:32 PM