The wait is over. They arrived last night from @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social in the frozen North despite the post office's best efforts.

When I was a kid/teen I saw live theatre as a thing for snobby rich people. It wasn't until I went and studied it in college that I realized how wrong I was. I'm not even sure how I came to the initial belief in the first place.

The solving of "those thorny problems" is the job. That's the writing. The more you outsource it to the plagiarism engine the more you lose your hard-won ability.

Freelance illustration gigs drying up. Ad agencies using Midjourney instead of hiring human artists. Costume design turned over to AI wholesale. Good work vanishing. These are the stories of working visual artists, who describe losing jobs, wages, and hope as their clients and bosses embrace AI.

I've been consistent on this beyond video games but all expression and art has the right to be hard to engage with. To be difficult and unpleasant. Books that make you uncomfortable on purpose, movies that make you want to look away, games that make you want to quit.

And if you only want to dip your toe in briefly, here's the perfect kiddie pool: swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/loves-red-bl...

Glad I'm going down a rabbit hole here after Conan and Elric. Got a digital copy of Jirel of Joiry to check out soon and I just discovered @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social. I had no idea there was a modern magazine like this, it fucks? Downloaded the sample issue and am already showing it to my partner.

ANY GIVEN CASTING DIRECTOR: So the character’s a creepy little freak, who do we got Miles away, Walton Goggins tilts his head like a dog hearing a frequency no one else can hear. He sniffs the air. A slow, genuine, but terrifying, smile fills his face.

COVER REVEAL AND OPEN CALL! Here's some news I've been dying to share with y'all. I've teamed up with @slimyswampghost.bsky.social to bring you ENCOUNTERS with Cryptids: An anthology of cryptid horror stories! Check out this fantastic cover artwork by @alandistro.bsky.social 🤩 Subs are open now!

The crowdfund for NESS 2025 is still live if you want more Jirel and other fantastic S&S tales, art, and articles! We just unlocked reduced shipping and are surging onward to a raise for writers: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

WELCOME ANDREY GARIN! Andrey will have new illustrations in this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

WELCOME CHRISTOPHER ROWE @christopherrowe.bsky.social will have a brand new article in one of this year's issues. See more contributors, cool art, exclusives and more: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

WELCOME ALEXEY GORBOOT! Alexey will have new illustrations in this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/42lhAp3

That feeling when you fall in love with a new-to-you artist; make contact; discover a Human w/similar artistic urges & ethics; create a mutual admiration society; &—vital to an indie press!—the $ they request to do what they do is right in your wheelhouse... ...what was I saying? Oh yeah, FUCK A.I.

WELCOME JUSTIN MCELROY! @thoughtographic.bsky.social will have new illustrations in this year's issues. See more contributors, cool art, exclusives and more: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

THE CROWDFUND FOR NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY 2025 IS LIVE Three issues - a Sword & Planet special - a New Jirel of Joiry story... The more re-posts this gets, the more bonus stories will be added to this year's issues! Go here to learn more and back the magazine: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

WELCOME BACK ARTYOM TRAKHANOV! @vor-bokor.bsky.social will have new illustrations in this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/42lhAp3

WELCOME HELENA JANECIC Helena will have original illustrations in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/42lhAp3

WELCOME JAMES ENGE It's true! We subtly spoiled this reveal yesterday, but yes you will find a new story by James Enge in our S&P issue! Sign up for the crowdfund launch alert here: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

We launch in less than one week! Sign up to be alerted the moment we do....you might win some original, physical art. www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

BCS Authors Elsewhere:

WELCOME BACK DANIEL VEGA! @thecodexnoirmatic.bsky.social will have original illustrations in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/4jyKEQa

Write new worlds. Write beautiful places. Write angry people. Write imaginary beasts, futile quests, broken hearts, lifelong injustices, mysteries, love affairs, lost children, newfound purpose. Write anything that allows you to escape or heal or vent or rage or explore or reconcile. Write 🖤

My gladiator story The Soul Of A Construct is up, for free. An obsessive fighter has to take on a partner and research an opponent. www.patreon.com/posts/soul-o...

WELCOME BACK DARIEL R.A. QUIOGUE! Dariel will have a brand new story in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: buff.ly/4gL2xJA

Check out this list of NESS 2025 crowdfund exclusives, then sign up at this link to be alerted when it launches! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

WELCOME DAMIKI LALOO! @gryme.bsky.social will have original illustrations in one of our 2025 issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: buff.ly/4jyKEQa

BEHOLD THE COVER OF ISSUE #6 BY GORAN GLIGOVIĆ! @gorangligovic.bsky.social is one of twenty-seven talented artists contributing to our 2025 issues. Sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/4jyKEQa

WELCOME STEVE HUGH WESTENRA! Steve will have a story in one of our 2025 issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: buff.ly/4jyKEQa

WELCOME LUR NOISE! @lurnoise.bsky.social will have a new art in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/42lhAp3

WELCOME BACK JUNE ORCHID PARKER! June will have a story in one of our 2025 issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/40LAGUd

Latest newsletter on the intersection of music and TTRPGs: Sword & Sorcery & Heavy Metal and New Dolmenwood Soundtrack @nat20.bsky.social @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social @checanty.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/critical...

WELCOME MATT HARRIS! Matt Harris will have new art in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: https://buff.ly/4jyKEQa

WELCOME BACK URSA DOOM! @ursadoomart.bsky.social will have new art in one of this year's issues. See cool previews and sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

I ordered two issues for my spouse for Christmas, and they are beautiful, amazing, and worth subscribing to. Highest recommendation for #NewEdgeSword&SorceryMagazine #Booksky #Fantasy #SpeculativeFiction #Illustration #Art #Magazine #Booktok

I've loved all the artwork for the issues so far. Been sharing some of them with friends as I finish the stories.

UM, I had NO idea facebook was tracking everything I did on the internet. EVERYTHING. I have diligently blocked and followed all ways to try to stop this messed up social media from taking from me, but this is the final straw… THESE JERKS! AGH! [screenshots on how to do it in the comments]

Hello new #booksky, once #booktok, people. We are NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY MAGAZINE! Below is a pic of almost all our issues. We publish S&S fic, non-fic, and acres of gorgeous art with love for the classics and inclusivity in mind. Download issue #0 for free at newedgeswordandsorcery.com

Anybody got any recommendations for some good weird westerns? So far I've read: Make Me No Grave by Haley Stone Shadow on the Sun by Richard Matheson The Hangman Feeds the Jackal by Coy Hall The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny from Outland Entertainment Reach for the sky from Rogue Blades

there’s always been destitute poverty and a certain “privilege” to professional art making. the “starving artist” has always existed. but I don’t like viewing radical praxis and soulful storytelling in direct opposition to being compensated for your work. artists and writers and musicians deserve $

Tomorrow, the second issue of THE SKULL & LAUREL is out! Put your creepy little eyeballs on THE BEST NEW WEIRD FICTION BEING WRITTEN TODAY. Submit to the will of the Skull and the Laurel. Hail the Minotaur: store.tenebrouspress.com

The very first backer will receive a piece of original art from one of last year's issues, so you know you want to sign up to be alerted the moment the crowdfund launches!

Other writers are not your competition. A word of positivity and encouragement to all creators helps keep us going.

It’s really bad for the environment, can’t produce anything NEW, can’t innovate, just produces synthetic art that looks exactly like what it is: a pile of crap

Space Unicorns! There are many ways to support Uncanny Magazine! Patreon! Subscriptions from Weightless Books! Late Pledges to Kickstarter! SPREADING THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!!! https://buff.ly/3BIbIeL

Where are the sword and sorcery authors? If you've written a #swordandsorcery or have a good suggestion, share it below! Let's build an awesome TBR! 🚫 AI #Booksky 💙📚 #Fantasy #FantasyBooksky #Bookblogger #Authors #IndieAuthors

@newedgeswordmag.bsky.social Looks like Christmas came a little early this year!