Rob Goss
@robgoss.bsky.social
Author. Writer. Haikuist.
From Devon. In Tokyo.
Owned by a shiba.
Bio, portfolio, etc at: www.robgosswriter.com
From Devon. In Tokyo.
Owned by a shiba.
Bio, portfolio, etc at: www.robgosswriter.com
Final work trip of the year.
December 16, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Final work trip of the year.
Texted my son to ask if “there’s anything I can get in?” before he gets home for the holidays, and with that realized I’m a step closer to becoming my mum.
December 13, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Texted my son to ask if “there’s anything I can get in?” before he gets home for the holidays, and with that realized I’m a step closer to becoming my mum.
Another evening walkies with the hound in Koto-ku, navigating the phlegmy minefields in our backstreets.
winter chill…
the pavement glistens
with globs of spit
#haiku #tokyolife
winter chill…
the pavement glistens
with globs of spit
#haiku #tokyolife
December 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Another evening walkies with the hound in Koto-ku, navigating the phlegmy minefields in our backstreets.
winter chill…
the pavement glistens
with globs of spit
#haiku #tokyolife
winter chill…
the pavement glistens
with globs of spit
#haiku #tokyolife
Another day, another nauseating bit of PR spam that must be AI generated. In this case, the book in question is nearly a decade old. I’d forgotten if written it. I seem to be getting variations of this (the book and sender varies too) almost daily.
December 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Another day, another nauseating bit of PR spam that must be AI generated. In this case, the book in question is nearly a decade old. I’d forgotten if written it. I seem to be getting variations of this (the book and sender varies too) almost daily.
I’m impatiently waiting for my new laptop, which has been “out for delivery” for the last six hours. So, I started looking back at some of my favourite trips this year. The first, Sado to cover Noh (among other things) as part of a book with @irwinwongphoto that’ll be out next year.
December 9, 2025 at 5:37 AM
I’m impatiently waiting for my new laptop, which has been “out for delivery” for the last six hours. So, I started looking back at some of my favourite trips this year. The first, Sado to cover Noh (among other things) as part of a book with @irwinwongphoto that’ll be out next year.
An old friend and I have decided to dust off our golfing gear and start playing again. Fun first range session. Albeit rusty. Like a pair of arthritic hounds trying to remember how to play fetch.
December 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
An old friend and I have decided to dust off our golfing gear and start playing again. Fun first range session. Albeit rusty. Like a pair of arthritic hounds trying to remember how to play fetch.
The mikan boxes have appeared in the local supermarket. It’s starting to feel like winter.
December 7, 2025 at 12:57 AM
The mikan boxes have appeared in the local supermarket. It’s starting to feel like winter.
Pausing the mentor sessions (see post below) as we wind down the year. Will start up again from late Jan. Thank you to everyone who signed up for a chat and donated to a good cause.
I'm opening my travel writing sessions again from October. Details in screenshots and link below. Briefly: one-to-one sessions in return for a donation to a good cause, whether that's related to Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, or something in your own community. www.tokyofreelance.com/first-friday....
December 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Pausing the mentor sessions (see post below) as we wind down the year. Will start up again from late Jan. Thank you to everyone who signed up for a chat and donated to a good cause.
Major deadlines are out the way for 2025. Just a couple of quick research trips to do. So, I’m basically winding down for the year and thinking about the next books, projects, goals, and what-not. Clearing all the debris from my computer folders and desk. A year-end reset and refocus.
December 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Major deadlines are out the way for 2025. Just a couple of quick research trips to do. So, I’m basically winding down for the year and thinking about the next books, projects, goals, and what-not. Clearing all the debris from my computer folders and desk. A year-end reset and refocus.
Laptop stopped working on Thursday. Backup laptop’s screen broke on Saturday. Backup backup machine is so old it takes 30 minutes to start. Writing with an iPad while waiting for a new machine to arrive…it’s actually not that bad with a keyboard attached.
December 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Laptop stopped working on Thursday. Backup laptop’s screen broke on Saturday. Backup backup machine is so old it takes 30 minutes to start. Writing with an iPad while waiting for a new machine to arrive…it’s actually not that bad with a keyboard attached.
A brief work trip to Kumejima, Okinawa. Really lovely place.
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
A brief work trip to Kumejima, Okinawa. Really lovely place.
The emotions of a newly empty nest can be wild at times. Sat in an airport lounge today, I saw a father and toddler in matching tee shirts, looking like they were off on an adventure. And suddenly, I nearly had to go to the loo to weep. Absolutely wild.
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The emotions of a newly empty nest can be wild at times. Sat in an airport lounge today, I saw a father and toddler in matching tee shirts, looking like they were off on an adventure. And suddenly, I nearly had to go to the loo to weep. Absolutely wild.
Another writer asked me about avoiding isolation as a freelancer. It’s a good question. I’m a happy introvert, content with a degree of isolation. Events, networking, “grabbing coffee” aren’t my thing, although I enjoy online chats with other writers. How do others avoid or deal with isolation?
November 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Another writer asked me about avoiding isolation as a freelancer. It’s a good question. I’m a happy introvert, content with a degree of isolation. Events, networking, “grabbing coffee” aren’t my thing, although I enjoy online chats with other writers. How do others avoid or deal with isolation?
Weighty deadline made. If anyone wants me, I'll be...
Actually, I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next few days. After several weeks of intense book hustle, that is absolutely lovely. #writerslife
Actually, I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next few days. After several weeks of intense book hustle, that is absolutely lovely. #writerslife
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Weighty deadline made. If anyone wants me, I'll be...
Actually, I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next few days. After several weeks of intense book hustle, that is absolutely lovely. #writerslife
Actually, I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next few days. After several weeks of intense book hustle, that is absolutely lovely. #writerslife
First half of my next book is due tomorrow. All it needs is a final readthrough and a few minor tweaks. A tying up of loose ends. Yet all I want to do is something else. Write #haiku. Outline another book. Clean the loo. Anything else.
deadline day
an overwhelming desire
to rearrange my desk
deadline day
an overwhelming desire
to rearrange my desk
November 6, 2025 at 5:43 AM
First half of my next book is due tomorrow. All it needs is a final readthrough and a few minor tweaks. A tying up of loose ends. Yet all I want to do is something else. Write #haiku. Outline another book. Clean the loo. Anything else.
deadline day
an overwhelming desire
to rearrange my desk
deadline day
an overwhelming desire
to rearrange my desk
A busy day in the office…
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 AM
A busy day in the office…
Hearing my own voice is offputting at the best of times, but listening back to interviews when I'm using Japanese is next level awkward. If only I had a pound for every naruhodo.
November 1, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Hearing my own voice is offputting at the best of times, but listening back to interviews when I'm using Japanese is next level awkward. If only I had a pound for every naruhodo.
Work updates are like buses. For a while, there’s nothing, then several come at once. So, I’m happy to say National Geographic’s annual Best of the World list is out today, with a bit of #Japan on it. My latest Lonely Planet is out too: a co-written book about bike rides in Japan.
October 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Work updates are like buses. For a while, there’s nothing, then several come at once. So, I’m happy to say National Geographic’s annual Best of the World list is out today, with a bit of #Japan on it. My latest Lonely Planet is out too: a co-written book about bike rides in Japan.
Message to self: remember the sodding yeast.
October 19, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Message to self: remember the sodding yeast.
Sorting through bookcases today, tidying them up, making piles of things for book swaps and recycling. And finding some bangers I’d forgotten I have. Like this:
October 19, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Sorting through bookcases today, tidying them up, making piles of things for book swaps and recycling. And finding some bangers I’d forgotten I have. Like this:
A different kind of Friday today. Went to immigration to collect my new visa. Home for a few online chats with other writers. Then city office to update my MyNumber card. Now trying to do an international bank transfer for college fees and making a pig’s ear of it. Not written a thing all day.
October 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
A different kind of Friday today. Went to immigration to collect my new visa. Home for a few online chats with other writers. Then city office to update my MyNumber card. Now trying to do an international bank transfer for college fees and making a pig’s ear of it. Not written a thing all day.
Some days it feels like my “getting ready to write process” is even less efficient than Neil in the Young Ones prepping for an exam. Clear the desk. Do some dishes. Check to-do app. Emails. Kettle on. Write grocery list. Make drink. Tidy a desk drawer. Etc. Etc. Etc.
youtu.be/7FtcW9u0GDE?...
youtu.be/7FtcW9u0GDE?...
The Young Ones - Neil's Exam
YouTube video by 053bss
youtu.be
October 4, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Some days it feels like my “getting ready to write process” is even less efficient than Neil in the Young Ones prepping for an exam. Clear the desk. Do some dishes. Check to-do app. Emails. Kettle on. Write grocery list. Make drink. Tidy a desk drawer. Etc. Etc. Etc.
youtu.be/7FtcW9u0GDE?...
youtu.be/7FtcW9u0GDE?...
If, like me, some of your copyrighted books were used without permission to train AI, the settlement website is now up. You can search to see what work was used and register a claim. anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
ANT Homepage | ANT
anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:48 AM
If, like me, some of your copyrighted books were used without permission to train AI, the settlement website is now up. You can search to see what work was used and register a claim. anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
So I can write without the need to lug a laptop around, I got a keyboard for my iPad for work trips. Hound not entirely impressed, but hopefully it’ll be an ok setup for trains, planes and hotel rooms.
October 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
So I can write without the need to lug a laptop around, I got a keyboard for my iPad for work trips. Hound not entirely impressed, but hopefully it’ll be an ok setup for trains, planes and hotel rooms.