o bluesky, tell me, tell me true: what's your favorite horror trope?

High drama? High camp? Game of Thrones, Amber, Drag race? Win win _win_.

Suuuper tentatively have LavenderCon lavendercon.com on my to-do list this summer, since it looks like I *will* be back West, despite my hopes to not have to go back this year.

I've been doing some re-reading while working on some other projects and came back to @wiswell.bsky.social 's "So You Want to Kiss Your Nemesis" www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/so-y... and continue to be thrilled by how much characterization, setting, and emotion get packed into this story.

Because Kaleidotrope knows readers (and authors) are nerds for stats. ❤️

I will be offering two (!) things in FTH this year (if you want to bid on something I'm offering, DM me and I'll let you know where to find me since I'm keeping that lightly separated from this account). Looking forward to writing some words and throwing up the middle finger to hate.

This has been a hell of a month, but I am delighted to say I will have a forthcoming story with _The Orange & Bee_! It took a few tries to find it a home but the two characters in here are part of a larger series I'd like to one day write. I'm looking forward to everyone getting to meet the ladies!

what short stories did you read this month that you loved? authors & links, please! (I also don't care if it's new or an older story). what did you love about it? I have a long queue of stories to rec, but I'm always looking for more to read, and something recommended to me always jumps the queue.

This is primarily about other kind of work but it is *especially* important for authors: What about your voice and message can simply disappear when you're surrendering all the thinking to something else? www.thealgorithmicbridge.com/p/a-new-whar...

There IS

“They plagiarized OUR plagiarism machine!”

I am hoooome and settling back into the grind and already daunted by the list of things to do: * triage 6 stories from Jan/Feb event, see what's worth expanding, edit as needed * chew my nails over the DPP pitch * edits for NYGEL * wait on contract from [redacted] * write story for Neon Hemlock call

Listicle-style stories can be tricky, but @rachelgutin.bsky.social nails it with Ink Reviews smallwondersmag.com/piece/ink-re... out in @smallwondersmag.com ; the plot is deftly woven in, and as a pen nerd, I can visualize the inks and how they connect to those moments of plot. This nails it all!

Our free Patreon newsletter got the first peek, but now it's your turn! HERE IT IS: OUR ISSUE 1 COVER!!! Art by the incredible @hvmator.bsky.social. We cannot WAIT for everyone to read these amazing pieces soon 🪐🗡️ We know you're going to love this issue just as much as we do.

writers (of whatever flavor): do you outline? have you tried several methods and none work for you? or do you have a preferred method you use all the time? do your outlines change, or do you have some things you use them for and some you don't? I'm curious!

If you want to write anything good, you cannot afford to be afraid of your reader.

The voice the voice the VOICE I cannot get enough of the voice (you may have figured out that's a critical thing for me in loving a story) in Eden Royce's The Magnolia Returns (podcastle.org/2025/10/21/p... ). The characters all sound unique, the dialect is vivid, and it's excellent start to finish.

Today we are outbound from Ballarat to the Great Ocean Road and points westward! I have to say, though, that the centerpiece of Ballarat being the lake is fabulous. It's a gorgeous piece of wetlands/marsh lake and I love it.

I can't say enough good things about @cjtavares.bsky.social 's story The (Mis)Fortunes of Saint Ilia’s School for Gifted Girls, In No Particular Order; the format is amazing and the story is great and definitely worth multiple reads to take it all in.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL FANWORKS DAY! Duck Prints Press is 100% fandom folks - every single contributor, including me as owner, started as fan creators. It's a requirement to apply to us! So of course we're celebrating today with a rec list! Enjoy our favorite fanfic: duckprintspress.com/2026/02/15/h...

Sock Madness quali specs are up. Looks like I WILL need 3 of the 4 skeins I had packed (and thankfully not the beads I hadn't). And tomorrow we start the Great Ocean Road drive...except I'm the solo driver. If I get in as a cheerleader this year, it'll be a miracle.

ugh, the timing! if i wasn't literally flying out the day before... i would be flying up there first.

What's so amazing about Jim Henson as a puppeteer is that he could literally be explaining that Kermit is made out of felt and ping pong balls and yet Kermit still feels alive the whole time he's doing it

this Valentine's Day, 🔥⚔️🔥 BURN UP IN VICTORY🔥⚔️🔥 Serafina's brother has eloped, and left her with their mother, and society. Lorenzo's best friend eloped, and left his damnable sister here. they're not really enemies but they might as well be books2read.com/burnupinvict...

Timeline cleanse!

Happy #boskone weekend, #boston! Arrived safe and sound, set up unusually quick, and am now chilling til the vendors room opens. Our hours are not as long as the con runs each day, of course. We'll be here: Fri 4 to 8 Sat 10 to 6 Sun 10 to 5 Come say hi!

I cannot get over the language in Cypress Teeth by @pelagicnatasha.bsky.social - www.khoreomag.com/fiction/cypr... . Rhythmic, evocative, and it hits perfectly through the whole story. The narrator's voice is chef's kiss; the building, building, building up to that very end, that sweet challenge?

Today in your parasol reportage. Found this one at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Golden Temple) in Chaing Mai, Thailand.

we've posted the poll for our Patrons to pick what the inspiration for our next QUEER FANWORKS INSPIRED BY... anthology will be. The choices are... 🌟 Van Gogh's art 🦊 Robin Hood 🧛 Dracula 🚣‍♂️ The Odyssey & the Iliad 👑 Arthuriana Become a member to cast your vote! www.patreon.com/posts/help-d...

I will not be there, but my stuff will be! I'm not sure which anthologies (or zines) will make it, but I've got sapphic cleric/mercenary smut, Mary Bennet With Anxiety In Spaaace!, and more.

I want it on the record of history that artists realized the harm immediately and were (and continue to be) loud bitches trying to stop the idiots who are out of their minds.

we're gonna keep this short and sweet: what's your favorite trope? (bonus: what's your favorite thing about it?)

Also, really the only thing formulaic about most romance is the HEA. But that’s not new, either. Mysteries? Intrepid detective solves crime. Fantasy? Magic previously thought impossible will become possible. Lit fic? Character alienates important people in their lives.

There was one in Melbourne on Sunday and we were there as some of it was setting up. It was a good opportunity to talk with the kids about what protests are, what they look like, organizing one, rules that go with it to make it safer where possible, and what it was about. Good experience for them.

Currently reading City of Others by Jared Poon: thoroughly enjoying the prose, the very real stressed bureaucracy, the cultural complexity of life in Singapore and the various types of Others (in more than one way) that make it up. About halfway through and loving it.

While I'm off on hols, have another one from my backlist! I have the first Jórunn story, THE EXILE'S PYRE, in @cdbrown.bsky.social's Dirty Magick Magazine, #16 (Dec 2025). An outlaw völva gets a slim chance to do some good—if she can keep her head in the process.

It’s that time again: Boskone 63 will be taking place next weekend, February 13th to 15th, in Boston Massachusetts at the Westin Boston Seaport Distict!! If you're in the Boston area and you love science fiction and fantasy books, I hope I'll see you there! boskone.org

there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.

We have 12 days to go on our crowdfund for WHAT ELEGANT STARS and still need to raise about $7k. We've just added a reward "add-on" for a short story critique with editor dave ring if that would be of interest. We also still have two Benefactor Rewards at $1k that would be incredibly impactful.

@criticalrole.bsky.social spotted at ACMI!

@aliettedebodard.com Found you! (Amplify Books in Melbourne, AUS)

Ich koude wynne a gold medal at the olympics yf ther was an olympic sport called worryinge about everyethinge all the tyme

We made it safe & sound to Australia last night and are tucked away in a nice little place in the CBD for the next few days. I have plans to see a writing buddy on Tuesday & an old Pern RP friend from *forever* ago on Wednesday. Also a ridiculous amount of Pokemon Go.

⚔️Knight Share⚔️ Our fair maiden awaits a hero—gain her favor by quoting this post with your knight art or stories! We'll share everything we're quoted in until Feb 8. The interest check for our knights themed zine is open until Feb 16. 🔗 below! #ArtShare #KnightShare #KnightArt #knights

@sharangbiswas.bsky.social 's story strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fi... has haunted my brain for a while, but I couldn't remember the title and had to go beg a hand finding again. I absolutely love the structure of it and the way the story is perfectly integrated into it

Your regular reminder that publishing is a business (and that @victoriastrauss.com is a gem)

RUN. RUN FAR AWAY FROM THIS CONTEST.

2025 was another great year for African short fiction! Author @wtalabi.com recommends 10 highlights across science fiction, fantasy, and horror, from "magic-for-wealth schemes" to an unsettling religious organization (in space). And if there's some ties in there...? We're not complaining.

Unfortunately they are blocking all erotica from distribution. Very sad to see a champion for indie bookstores take such a restrictive stance on fiction.