new trigger: when I see "research suggests that..." or "these findings suggest that" in a student's paper, it SCREAMS AI. please stop doing this.

oh student, flattery will get you.... everywhere well done A+

is this a thing? "....I want to write something about how happy I am that women’s erotica is no longer a sitcom punchline, how I’ve been craving spaces like this since I was 17, and how finally, there’s a community of like-minded people I vibe with...." substack.com/home/post/p-...

In a writing slump? Here's a fun little contest online -- write a 10 word short story. Winner gets a free creative writing class at @gothamwriters.bsky.social Closes June 1st. v2.writingclasses.com/contests/a-v... Here's my entry: "he's her first sip of liquor. She's his hangover."

When a story idea sparked earlier this week, I basically dropped everything so I could crank it out. And I’m so glad I did — here’s why. substack.com/home/post/p-...

that's my MFA alma mater. hell yeah to those students and a big fuck you to the admin who cares more about research dollars

Did I spend my afternoon grading assignments and editing like I was supposed to, or did I write a spicy 2500 M/M shower scene? I was a good girl and did the one you think I did. :)

I love this book so much, I wrote an entire Substack about it: open.substack.com/pub/rachelko...

Though I couldn’t be at AWP in person this year, I still got some value out of the AWP virtual experience — particularly the panels with agents. #AWP #literaryagents rachelkolman.substack.com/p/i-attended...

I had such a fantastic time teaching a workshop on Saturday for folks who want to infuse more creativity into their CNF! We covered how to apply common fiction techniques to essay writing and then looked at creative forms like braids, collages, and hermit crabs. Here’s a sample slide for a peek 👀

Calling all CNF Writers! I'm teaching a one-day master class on how to infuse more creativity into your nonfiction! Spend an afternoon on Zoom with me and leave with tons of new ideas for your personal stories. Saturday, March 14, 2026 10 AM - 3 PM EST Register here! rosemont.edu/college/acad...

What gorgeous artwork -- thanks @brettpribble.bsky.social for giving this one a home!!

Hello Friends! Welcome to #MSWL Day 2026! 🎉 This is our second ever #MSWL Day on Bluesky. We’re happy you’re here! You can, as of TODAY, search Bluesky and ManuscriptWishList.com posts at once: manuscriptwishlist.com/smart-search. All posts are verified by a human who works in publishing. ☕

In 2016, I self published a M/M romance novella. I was too shy to let others know I had a soft spot for it. And now…it’s no secret how well M/M romance is doing. So I republished that old Kindle ebook for a world more accepting of two boys finding love. rachelkolman.substack.com/p/re-releasi...

Calling all CNF Writers! I'm teaching a one-day master class on how to infuse more creativity into your nonfiction! Spend an afternoon on Zoom with me and leave with tons of new ideas for your personal stories. Saturday, March 14, 2026 10 AM - 3 PM EST Register here! rosemont.edu/college/acad...

Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our Second Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 26, 2026. 🎉🎉🎉 Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying. Learn more: manuscriptwishlist.com/2025/01/the-...

IT ME

SEVEN DAYS IN PARADISO: a second-chance fake-dating contemporary romance that sits between THE EX VOWS and THE PARADISE PROBLEM. Because wouldn't you also escape this bitter winter cold by running off to a lush Mexican resort for a week -- even if it includes your ex-fiancé? #QuestPit #Q #R #A

All of a sudden, I have three speaking/teaching gigs booked this winter! These all sort of came together and I'm so happy: Jan 28 - Talk on how to get started in publishing Feb 5th - workshop on writing better instructions for students March 14 - class on infusing more creativity in CNF

I have a Substack! Writer friends, let's follow each other! substack.com/@rachelkolma...

thank you for considering my ranking of books I read this year, I will not be taking questions at this time

so fucking tired of people saying AI "democratizes" creative skills, it's fucking privatizing it you dumb fuck, they're stealing your creativity from you and selling it back to you at a premium the ability to draw and write and sing and fucking whatever else came free with your fucking humanity

This is an extremely cool time to be a teacher. When students aren't using ChatGPT to do their homework for them, they're asserting they have a First Amendment right to get an A and your administration fires you if you don't give them an A. I'm so tired.

that feeling when you think 'wow I nailed that interview' and then the job offer comes in and basically says 'yeah, you nailed it congrats' what a wild new feeling this is

got my #RevPit feedback and yep, I had a hunch that prologue had to go. Cutting ASAP. Thank you @madelynknecht.bsky.social and your time on my pitch!

"sorry hope its not bade" .....

reading back some old fanfic from like 15 years ago, it's funny how I see shades of my voice now as a romance writer tucked in there.

The good news: my beta readers and I all agree on what edits need to be done to raise the stakes of my novel. The bad news: now I actually have to, you know, *write* it.

I just entered #RevPit #10Queries! Enter today for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages of your book. :) reviseresub.com/mini-events/...

Charlie Kirk died doing what he loved: encouraging people to do more gun violence.

What in the fresh blue prince parlor hell is this bathroom

I cannot understand how my upstairs neighbor has had a fire alarm battery beeping for the last two days without doing anything about it. I've heard her walking around up there, too... perhaps she has a penchant for punishment?

life could be sitting in various breweries during the summer, laptop open and tweaking at my manuscripts, and that would be ok.

this is peak summer.

finally on final proofs for the novel I cranked out last summer... makes it all feel real 🥹 agent queries, here I come!

Another one.

Self-care is just paying the five dollars for the massage chair at the airport

Some mornings you run out of time so you gotta do your hair + makeup on the bus and it… turns out ok actually

neverhaveIever turned in final grades while sitting in the back row of an #AWP25 panel... but that's that hustle life for you

Five more minutes, mom!

In my 20s, my post teaching come down would be a whiskey shot and a beer. Now in my late 30s it’s going to the gym to sit in the hot tub and sauna.

I've been on Upwork as a freelancer for a decade now, and it was quite surprising to see that ten years of odd jobs for clients has steadily added a few thousand dollars each year to my income. Upwork is certainly problematic, but it's still the best place to collect tangible experience.

look at this lil guy perched on my vanity.

I’m like 5k words away from finishing this draft of my third novel in two years… y’all writing romance is a fun distraction

Now you can see how many people just play Balatro on their commute.

A student just wrote in a discussion post: "You could be a writer, not as a career, but as a hobby. Doesn’t really get you anywhere." Insightful! 🙄

seven thousand miles from home. Flying across the globe is weird. It happens quicker than you realize, and conceptualizing the distance you've travelled is a losing task. You just need to accept that you're far, far away from home, now on a distant island floating in the Pacific Ocean that weirdly…

anyone care what I read last year? Ah, well, here it is anyway. Just your average blend of memoir and smut.

Successful new jersey wedding weekend

Hi bluesky. Here's a photo of my husband and one of our cats.