New post up about an unlikely (for me) source of inspiration #amwriting #writesky markperryau.substack.com/p/how-differ...

New post up: markperryau.substack.com/p/why-write-...

Post a banger that isn't in English. youtu.be/KQRaj1vcnrs?...

New venue alert: we’re coming to Balam Balam Place From early March, we’ll be hosting monthly Friday morning silent writing sessions at Brunswick’s beautiful new community space.

I'm working my way towards finishing a short story collection. Here's my new WIP: The Replacement. A female doctor, haunted by a death she couldn't prevent, takes a job at a remote Queensland town in 1978 and is unnerved by the strange devotion shown to her by the townsfolk. #amwriting #writersky

I completely redesigned my writer's website and published it today. Last night, I walked into the Moonah forest near me and took a photo of the trees. It's the cover picture on the home page. Take a look: marksperry.com #Authors #Writing #WritingCommunity #WriterLife #WriterSky ##HorrorLit

I've started posting on Substack: markperryau.substack.com?r=peq6q&utm_...

This is a great article. I looked into doing a creative writing diploma or degree and gagged at the cost. It’s a terrible situation that needs to change, urgently. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

No Time To Diet

Well it’s only taken 25 years or so, but finally, my reasonably obscure area of IT is in the news and I’m able to talk to people about it on here!

It’s crazy that I’ve never seen The Church play live before but I rectified that last night. The first date of their Singles tour was wonderful. I have such warm memories of their songs going back to The Unguarded Moment in 1981. It’s worth catching them if you can get a ticket!

It's November & it's way past time I got my writing under control. Here's my plan: 1. Finish novel #3 this weekend (7 scenes, ~3500 words) 2. Finish the first draft of novel #2 in 2025 (from 39,000 words to 80,000 words) 3. Publish either before June 2026 4. Rewrite novel #1. Publish by end of 2026

The Andrew Formerly Known as Prince An English nobleman had to give up his diamonds and pearls when Epstein’s lady cab driver said he needed underage girls to get off when he used to partyup in 1999. But will this controversy be enough to make Donald the dove cry? by Maureen Dowd

This. We’ve lost so much since the heyday of 80s comedy in this country.

For true innovacioun, we neede poetrye, philosophye, ethics, and the studye of historye and literature and language. We neede to fynde newe wayes of wearinge our heartes, new dreames of the future. Technologye alone will onlye make bettir tooles for makinge olde injustices happen faster.

Imagine if we had a coordinated government sponsored campaign advocating for books and reading - not just for children, but for adults too? Imagine if the government had stepped in to save Meanjin Quarterly, our oldest literary journal - and the birth place of some of our most esteemed authors? 6/

Did you know your MacBook has a sensor that knows the exact angle of the screen hinge? It’s not exposed as a public API, but I figured out a way to read it and make it sound like an old wooden door.

*sigh* So I didn’t get longlisted for either of the writing prizes I submitted to earlier in the year. Just gotta keep writing I guess…

I want to see a “where are they now?” episode dedicated to people who lined up outside Harvey Norman for the midnight launch of Windows 95

We should have listened when the modems screamed at us.

Fyi this is one to watch techcrunch.com/2025/06/02/m...

Had some great feedback from my beta readers on my new novel. “I love the tension and the intrigue of the story”. “How much for the book? You’ve got me hooked”. “The gradual linking of unusual events in the story, creates a curiosity that requires the ‘itch to be scratched’”.

This is hands down the worst game of football I’ve ever seen

Private Eye hits the nail on the head

Stubbornly low literacy. A steep fall in recreational reading. A rise in numbers of students unable to finish whole texts. A book industry struggling with falling margins. The decline in reading poses a risk to us all. www.smh.com.au/national/a-t...

Alison Goldfrapp’s new album is being drip fed at the moment and it’s really connecting with me. I love discovering a new track has been made available. Seriously good stuff.

Venn diagram

Sunday morning. It would be amazing if there was a cafe playing soothing jazz or classical music to create a vibe, rather than anonymous four on the floor techno. And I say this as a synth guy.

do not install any app from Facebook or Meta on any device. Ideally avoid installing ANY social media app. Login through a browser. I highly doubt Facebook is the only company pulling this shit www.zeropartydata.es/p/localhost-...

Got my #writing submission in on time. Now to get to the next word target, in case I’m long listed.

Incredible concert by Beth Gibbons tonight. I highly recommend catching the show on this tour if you can. Magical.

What a stupid time to be alive

I find the beauty of writing in the rhythm. And there's nothing better than a semi-colon—or an em dash, while we're at it—to perfectly punctuate a piece of prose.

I assume we know when the Liberal Party conclave has elected a new leader when we see white bloke emerging from the building

Writing at the State Library of Victoria today. It’s beautiful here. Pity about the people talking near me… headphones essential.

Amazing news! My short story, “Band Practice”, has been selected for an Australian literary journal. I’m so thrilled!

Oh well played, Guardian. Well played.

The reminder on my desktop — 3000 words out of 5000 written. The goal is 60,000 words by 2nd September, in case I’m shortlisted :) #amwriting

i hope Trump watches Escape from New York next and asks for Manhattan to be returned to its 1997 state: a walled maximum security prison containing only prisoners and the worlds they have made.

modems screaming at us in the 90s was a warning and we didn't take it

At MONA, north of Hobart, watching Scattered Order play an electronic set. Drones, noise and vocals over the top of skittering beats. I bought their album “Selling the Axe to Buy the Wood” in 1987. Good to see them still going, challenging the MONA audience.

Apparently, RSVPing to a wedding invitation with "Maybe next time" is rude. I know that now.

Working on a new novel, CONSUMED. In the Scottish Highlands, Miles retreats for a digital detox. His only entertainment: a Joy Division CD and a shortwave radio that picks up a mysterious numbers station. Consumed by obsession, is he losing his mind or being manipulated by others? #writing #author

While the gospels say that Judas led the Romans to Jesus, a new theory is gaining traction with some Biblical scholars. There is evidence, some say, that Judas merely shared Christ's location on an insecure group chat that accidentally included several Roman officials and journalists.

Great half by the Tiges. Weathered the storm in the second quarter and scored two quick goals at the end. Hope they can keep it going. #AFLTigersSuns

🧵 THREAD: A federal whistleblower just dropped one of the most disturbing cybersecurity disclosures I’ve ever read. He's saying DOGE came in, data went out, and Russians started attempting logins with new valid DOGE passwords Media's coverage wasn't detailed enough so I dug into his testimony:

“I used to walk into a room and wonder if people liked me. Now I look around and wonder if I like them.” - Gary Oldman

Tweet of the year!!!!! @aarondodd.bsky.social

Cracker of a day for it #gotiges