I participated in the The 100-word Microfiction Challenge 2026 and submitted my short story on March 21, 2026.

I'm not allowed to share it publicly yet because the competition is currently underway, but I will publish it here once the embargo is lifted. Right now, I can say that it's really fun, and the 100-word limit really grinds your gears.

The Flash Fiction challenge next? Who knows...

I'm writing a book.

This is what I'm doing in the evenings in my free time instead of vibe-coding another groundbreaking SaaS. This is my side project. A side hustle, if you prefer.

It's a silly little detective story set in Saint Petersburg, 1881. In my head, it’s a perfect mix of Boris Akunin and Florian Illies, with a pinch of alternative history on top. It's in Russian, and I’m pretty sure it won’t be finished anytime soon.

I have a story in my mind, and I want to find out if I’m able to put it down on “paper.” Current status: just under 10,000 words. I’m sharing it publicly to keep myself accountable and will post status updates every week on this blog. Stay tuned.

Will it be good? Probably not.

Do I understand that writing a book in 2025 is considered stupid “because AI will replace everyone, especially writers”? Yes, it might be. And I love that.

Will it be published? I have no idea. I just decided to start it just to make my life more exciting.

If you want to support me on this journey, you can always buy me a coffee. ☕ And if it ever gets published, I’ll make sure to send you a signed copy.