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Entry I: Unsatis-factory Work

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Where Ink Replaces Iron

Written by

Ryan Olejnik

in

The Wordlock Order

Recently, I embarked on a magical quest to transform from factory worker to copywriting wizard. Sadly, this tale has no mana crystals, no Sorcerer’s Stone. There’s no enchanted elixir—unless you count a scalding cup of coffee brewed by a disgruntled witch.

It all began when I left behind the dark forge of rewardless labor. Armed with nothing but a freelance, I ventured through dungeons of unrealistic demands, dodging Giant Rats, fending off Assembly Line Zombies, and outwitting Quality Control Specters. Exhausted and depleted, I tried to remember what I treasured most, because the reward at my job was a Mimic—a monster disguised as a treasure chest, drooling gossip and mimicry.

Nearing escape, I limped toward the exit—only to lock eyes with the final boss: the coal-black stare of the Dungeon Manager. My stamina was gone. No twenty-sided die could save me now. One more blow and it’d be game over.


The ink began to swirl across the parchment. A whisper in the wind spoke of forgotten lore. But just before the final rune appeared…

🧙‍♂️ Side Quest: Acquire the Infinite Spellbook

Every good mage needs a grimoire—somewhere to stash half-finished incantations, character scrolls, and a cursed recipe or two.

We use Scrivener, the spellbook of choice for longform storytellers. It organizes chaos, binds scattered parchments, and keeps plot dragons at bay.

If your stories are bursting out of boring old notebooks, maybe it’s time to level up.

✨ Unlock Scrivener →


Then, I felt it. A spark. A spell forming. The magic words: “I quit.” In truth, I never gave them the satisfaction. I vanished—in true wizard fashion.

Fantasy or not, the details don’t matter as much as the decision. I had a dream, and it was time to make it real. The contract with my company wasn’t exactly spellbinding. Their words and rules no longer held power over me—I held power over words.

The Wordlocksmith was born.

Join me each week in this new adventure as I chronicle the magic, missteps, and metaphors of becoming a freelance Wordlock.

Each entry in this series is another page in a writer’s grimoire—one scribbled in coffee stains and overdue invoices. But really, it’s just me trying to make sense of this wild scroll I’ve unrolled.

If any part of this sounds familiar, maybe you’re one of us. Maybe you’ve already joined the Wordlock Order—without even realizing it.

creative journey entry freelance writing starting over Wordlock Order
Ryan Olejnik Avatar
Ryan Olejnik is an author, computer scientist, music journalist, musician, record producer and photographer. He is currently writing a novella, an anthology of short stories and a volume of poetry. He is a music journalist for Tapevine Magazine and a record producer for Farm Out Music. He has a sci-fidelic rock project known as Starjelly and releases instrumental electronic music as Torchard.
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←What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?
Entry II: The Write of Passage→

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  • Entry V: Scroll for Resources

    Entry V: Scroll for Resources

    May 9, 2025
  • Entry IV: The Elmployment Tree

    Entry IV: The Elmployment Tree

    May 7, 2025
  • Entry III: Dry Spell

    Entry III: Dry Spell

    May 6, 2025
  • Entry II: The Write of Passage

    Entry II: The Write of Passage

    May 5, 2025

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