Real, thorough fact-checking isn't about going down a checklist. It's second-guessing, cross-checking, falling down rabbit holes, and often talking to actual humans. AI can't do any of that. And I can say that with confidence because a fact-checker checked it: www.wired.com/story/fact-c...

Tales from the Edges of California is THIS Saturday at 2 pm at Desert General. You won't want to miss it!

When it comes to AI, writers need to be responsible for their own work. But publishers need to step up too. I dropped Monday’s Substack early so we can talk about it: substack.com/home/post/p-...

"There’s an every-day sameness—a lot of standing and waiting—but there’s also an element of surprise. Who will walk in? What will happen today?" I interviewed fellow Berkeley j-schooler Hasan Dudar about his wonderful debut story collection, CARRYOUT: lexipandell.substack.com/p/on-writing...

Have you tried a Reject-a-thon? It’s the most fun you’ll have hearing no: open.substack.com/pub/lexipand...

Bay Area writers, readers & friends! The next BAIT reading is THIS Friday, May 8 at 6 pm at @sausalitolibrary.bsky.social. Readers are Carvell Wallace, Chia-Chia Lin, Sarah Stone, and Dāshaun Washington. 😍 Free to attend and reading followed by a Q&A. Details and RSVP at baitreading.com

What is the one thing that nobody told you when you were starting out as a writer? I'll go first: Rejection is a part of the deal, even for talented writers. Like...so much rejection! Success as a writer is all about persistence.

This week on Writer to Writer, I got to take a peek inside the mind of writer/editor @maxuf.bsky.social. Learn about the cliché he always deletes, his favorite publications right now, what makes for a great FastCo pitch, and more: lexipandell.substack.com/p/the-other-...

I’m very excited to be co-hosting two upcoming reading events through Desert Salon. If you’ll be in the Joshua Tree area on May 30 or June 6, come on through! More details (including reader lineups) coming soon.

So much of agenting can feel like a mystery for writers. What's actually selling? What makes an agent pay attention? And what are instant deal breakers? This week, I had the chance to pull back the curtain with my literary agent, @lmscovel.bsky.social: lexipandell.substack.com/p/the-other-...

How many "nos" does it take to get a "yes"? The answer might surprise you! This post will get you fired up. Thank you to @isleofanalia.bsky.social, @simonestolzoff.bsky.social, @josephbienkahn.com, @tanyazilinskas.com, and Kim Henderson for sharing: lexipandell.substack.com/p/on-rejecti...

I don’t want to read your AI-written article 🙃 But, if you’re going to do it anyway, the least you can do is edit it so that it isn’t SO obviously written by AI 🙃🙃

Come for the sassy screenshot, stay for my hot take that books are not to be trusted during research. It was a pleasure talking to my dear pal @tanyazilinskas.com about one of my favorite things: research!

Today on Substack, the art of selling a book that doesn't exist yet—a.k.a. how to write a book proposal! Plus, why I sold my memoir on proposal: lexipandell.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Resurfacing this—I'm still open to hearing from people!

On why it took me seven years from sending my first query to getting signed by an agent—and my tips about how to write a successful query letter: lexipandell.substack.com/p/inside-the...

For my forthcoming book, I’m seeking insights about religion, spirituality, belief, and alternative medicine. So I’m sending out a survey! If you have 10 minutes, I’d love if you could fill this out. Responses are anonymous and confidential 👉 forms.gle/ke2AZPEi725t...

“Sometimes you make a distortion to tell a truth.” -Karen Russell on the speculative versus the realistic, Kepler’s Books 3/17/26

As a former @wired.com staffer and someone who still freelances for the magazine, I couldn't be prouder to see the magazine shake things up, challenge authority, and reclaim its place as an essential voice in media. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/b...

Freelancers of Bluesky, this week’s Scratch newsletter features a long talk with an anonymous author/tax preparer about how our system sets us up to feel extraordinary shame, stress, and guilt around taxes. (This post will always remain unpaywalled, because we think it’s that important.)

This week on Writer to Writer, I wrote about my formula for pitching and shared my own pitches that helped me place stories with The Atlantic, Wired, and The New York Times for Kids. Check it out here—and don't forget to subscribe: lexipandell.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Summer decided to come early to San Francisco.

Excited to share my new Substack, Writer to Writer! This is your practical, behind-the-scenes guide to the writing life. I’m sharing what I’ve learned about pitching, handling rejection, building community, and making a creative career actually work.

When my mother died, I wrote a letter to the name plaintiff on her case—who was serving a life sentence for an unthinkable crime—to talk about grief. When he passed, his daughter reached out said she’d like me to tell her story too. My latest for @rollingstone.com: apple.news/A7c7VYYnrTc6...

Let’s go, Oaklaaaaand! 🥇

If anyone is trying to offload a ticket to see Lily King at Kepler's in Menlo Park next week, I would happily buy it from you 📚🎟️ Long story short: I was supposed to get a free ticket from a prize, I did not hear back from the powers that be, it's now sold out...and so I must scavenge.

New year, new BAIT at @sausalitolibrary.bsky.social! Our January 30 event features the superlatively talented readers @jonvhickey.bsky.social, @tomasmmoniz.bsky.social, @lpandell.bsky.social, and Sommer Schafer. Free to attend; more information at baitreading.com. #WritingCommunity #BayAreaWriters

Come one, come all! I'll be reading alongside @jonvhickey.bsky.social, Sommer Schafer, and Tomas Moniz at BaiT's January 30 event at the Sausalito Public Library. I hope to see you there 📚

One of my favorite traditions: a holiday book and cookie exchange with a circle of journalist friends. This year I received Norwegian pepperkaker with Chinese five spice powder (!) and TYPHOID MARY by Anthony Bourdain from my pal Andy Han. I rate this 1000/10!

Heart the Lover by Lily King has to be one of my favorite reads of the year. I gulped it down in two sittings and the ending made me weep. Nostalgic, funny, poignant—I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

One day left in Japan after a wonderful whirlwind of a trip ❤️

I'm feeling very lucky—some wonderful riding friends sent me a beautiful Lumos pen and some fun extras as a book contract signing gift.

This Friday! Join us for a free reading event @sausalitolibrary.bsky.social. Full details at baitreading.com.

My husband and I donated to our local food bank today—please do the same if you have the means. Our communities really need us right now. Everyone deserves to eat!

Get yourself a friend who will make a mug with your Publishers Marketplace announcement ☕ ❤️ Thank you, @tanyazilinskas.com!

Putting this out there: I would love to do more literary events over the next year or so! I’m based in the SF Bay Area, but can Zoom in for remote events. 🧵 for the types of events I’m open to…

I’m thrilled to announce that my debut memoir, HOLY MOTHER!, will be published in fall 2027 by @chelseagreenbooks.bsky.social. If you love books about spiritual rabbit holes or cults, this is for you. Endless thanks to my incredible agent @lmscovel.bsky.social, who made this dream a reality.

The BAIT reading series launches November 7 at 6 pm, featuring @sashavasilyuk.bsky.social, Jaime Cortez, Susanna Kwan, Lisa Teasley, and Armen Davoudian @sausalitolibrary.bsky.social. More info/RSVP here: www.baitreading.com #Authors #WritingCommunity #BookSky #reading #BayAreaWriters

This Tuesday! May the odds be ever in your favor:

The moment I got the job at Esses, Kaleb Horton was the first writer I contacted. He didn’t know a thing about F1 but I found the George Harrison idea, and then I watched him dive in. It was inspiring. He read every biography, chased down friends and experts, watched every clip. But more than that…

RIP Kaleb Horton kalebhorton.ghost.io/2025-so-far/

Stunned that Kaleb Horton died. He was such a talent. A few years ago, I had a gig helping a podcast commission narrative writers to tell larger-than-life stories. He was one of the first writers I thought of—and then I learned that my counterpart also wanted to get Kaleb on board…

Please join me at Stories on Stage Davis for a performance of my story "Overview Effect" (originally published in @yourimpossiblevoice.com) on October 12. Full event info here: storiesonstagedavis.com/authors/10-1...

With the NYT Kids section closing, I went through my old articles to request digital copies. I really had so much fun writing these stories. I got to interview Olympic and Youth Olympic athletes, a hat maker, a professional cyclist, and a director of a Pixar film (twice!)...

Grateful to my wonderful editor Jason for a lot, but in particular for his kind words about my feature on chemical intolerance in @wired.com's The Big Story newsletter. Read the piece here: www.wired.com/story/multip...

Seeing Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl last night was life changing. I would follow Cynthia Erivo into the dark.

Reading this wall at a hotel feels like a complete and utter hallucination.

Media inception: Parade quoted the interview I did with Vogue which was about a podcast I did for You Must Remember This about Cass Elliot. parade.com/news/music-i...

A fascinating feature from @lpandell.bsky.social about the science (and science world dramas) surrounding chemical sensitivity. www.wired.com/story/multip...