this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

feeling freer with each passing moment

Trump Administration Announces That We Don’t Know Where The Sun Goes At Night

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

bad news for fans of children www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...

As we enter the New Year remember fear of making bad art is holding you back. Fear of people not liking your work is holding you back. Rejection is holding you back You'll make bad art, you'll have people not like your work, and you'll be rejected. Moving past it is half the job of being a creative

The Constitution does say that war powers belong to Congress. But there are important exceptions, like if the president really, really wants to go to war. Or it’s the weekend. Or it’s January. Or he thought he saw a spider. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

“Never have so few done so much to so many.” www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

"When I would get interviewed and then rejected, it was annoying. When I received a form rejection, it was annoying. When I received no response, it was annoying. But nothing stalled me for one minute." —Libby James

law and order: sandwich crimes unit www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Mike Johnson: It’s True. I Am Tuning Out The News Cycle To Focus On Self-Care

In the querying trenches and it's brutal. To the agent who just gave me a compliment in the rejection email instead of another form rejection: you will never know how much that meant! Thank you! #AmQuerying

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat. For the crime of … complaining about government policy. Core 1A speech. With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Some advertising you just can't buy

the world is a piñata that he is smashing, blindfolded

The government is in full shutdown and the Republicans are refusing to call the House back into session. Want to know why? Because we have secured the final vote on releasing the Epstein Files and they don’t want it out. Call GOP and tell them to swear in @adelitaforcongress.bsky.social.

The government shut down last night and House Republicans were on vacation.

Justice Kavanaugh: “If the person is a U. S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.”

Your book might not sell right now. Not because it’s bad. But because timing, trend, and list-building matter more than most authors realize. Don’t bury your belief in your story just because the market isn’t ready yet.

Authoritarianism is like measles: Ignore it and it will go away. I have this guidance straight from Secretary Kennedy. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

please help us spread the word about this mentorship opportunity for writers of color & share it with anyone you think might be interested!

This is such a great ongoing opportunity for funny writers to be published in a legendary institution!!!

I love this.

I’m reopening to queries today! I’m still looking for adult fiction, queer romance and romcoms, commercial and upmarket SFF and horror, and anything genre-blend-y set on a spaceship. Link to my query form below! #MSWL querytracker.net/query/ClaraC...

Heads up! I will be open for queries my usual first week of the month in October and then I will be closed the rest of the year (November and December). I will reopen January 1st! I will still be participating in pitch events, but those will get special links to use for while I am closed.

Just because something didn’t sell doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Publishing is a weird mix of timing, trend, and vibe. Put that manuscript in the drawer if you need to. But don’t bury your belief in it there too. #WritingCommunity

“I was r*ped sometimes 3 times a day on that island… and I was not the only girl on that island… Ghislaine must die in prison, because I’ve been in hell and back for the last 17 years.” Listen to the survivors.

I just threw up in my mouth while reading the email to NEA fellowship applicants informing us of its cancellation and wish I could deposit my vomit directly onto the White House lawn

We can fight fascism and have creative lives at the same time.

I just finished fixing the tours at all the national parks and now they’re redoing the smithsonian history too? www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/... m

Hi Everyone. I'm Becky's agent and can verify that this is NOT Becky. Please do not fall for scams like this.

Donald Trump Declares Victory Over Statistics

I tell my clients this all the time: Rejection doesn’t mean your book is bad. It means that it wasn’t right for that moment, that list, or that person. But someone else is still looking for your story. Don’t stop.

"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice." —Octavia E. Butler

Please and thank you. #writinglife #booksky #writingcommunity @sylviahubbard1.bsky.social and @lisasell.bsky.social thanks for the reminder.

glad he got to the bottom of this for us

"Republicans in Texas tend to get roughly 55% of the vote but end up with roughly two-thirds of the state’s U.S. House delegation." This is why the state is forked. They are NOT the majority, but they get to rule like they are.

CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons. Watch and share his message.

irony has been dead a while but I’m still appalled that the DHS had the temerity to suggest that it’s fine they caged more than 250 people with no criminal records because those people were probably secretly “human rights abusers” www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The Deputy Director’s chair at the FBI is probably the worst place or the second-worst place to find out what’s really going on. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Cunning prankster + resourceful lord = a marriage of chaos. Threaten them and force them to unite against their common enemies, and all hell breaks loose in this fantasy romcom version of A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS X HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. #BluePit 📖 #R #F #POC #OV #W (soon #Q)

For the literary agents following us, we have a new feed for Querying writers for #BluePit tomorrow! Feeds don't require a BlueSky account to view, so if others at your agency are not on BlueSky they can check out the pitches too! bsky.app/profile/did:... #LitAgents #LiteraryAgent #AmAgenting

🚨NEW: When ICE raided a Californian farm yesterday, they snatched & disappeared a disabled US veteran who was in his car. They smashed his window, peppered sprayed him & dragged him to the floor. Listen to his wife & sister here, distraught. No-one will tell them where he is. (🎥 ABC 7 News)

Pro Tip: If you're struggling to revise your rom-com WIP, and it's all sounding like garbage, DON'T take a break to reread your favorite Emily Henry book. It will not make you feel better. #emilyhenry #booklovers #amwriting

Can it get old? Yes. Am I consistently surprised by new variations that I eat right up? Also yes.

Any advice on social media pitches for those of us with zero graphic design/art skills? #BluePit #BluePitHype