Daily Reminder: You’re allowed to be happy for no reason. Start now.

Margaret Mead, the renowned anthropologist, proposed that the first sign of civilization is not a grand societal structure, but rather the care for a vulnerable individual, specifically evidenced by a healed femur bone. Civilization was founded on empathy and compassion, well before modern religion

Behold the language choices from the online patient registration form I just filled out for a new doctor. I *so* wanted to choose Middle English, then rock up to the reception desk on appointment day with, "Waes hail, I am heir for to se the doctour."

be the joy and whimsy you wish to see in the world

Canadian literary journals accepting poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and more. #Writing #SubmissionCall #LitMag #Poetry #ShortStory #Nonfiction authorspublish.com/fifteen-wond...

I’ve done this before, but I write crime fiction, so it’s probably a lot less fun.

The most effective horror doesn't show the monster - it makes you imagine something worse than anything we could describe 🤔 What type of tale do you like to listen to?  #WritingTheory #MorbidForest  #Monsters

Info from the Author's Guild on the Anthropic settlement. This settlement provides a good example of why you should register your copyright. Your works are copyrighted without registration, but registration entitles you to sue for infringement. #WritingCommunity authorsguild.org/news/what-au...

The shit ai makes is NOT art. It’s NOISE.

I'm going to do my first ever in-person public reading! I'll be at LitHop Fresno on Oct. 18 as part of a 4-person team from Central Valley Fiction Writers. I'll be reading from my award-winning suspense short story, "Walk Me Home." #WritingCommunity #Suspense janetalcorn.com/2025/09/22/i...

I don't read a lot of YA, but I may read this one just because of the title. The Boy with the Heart of Sea Glass is one of the loveliest titles I've ever seen.

So excited for some of these! I really need to be independently wealthy so I can have more time to read. #mysterybooks #amreading www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2986

I'm glad Anthropic has to pay the authors it stole from, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to what the company is now worth. I'd like to see every author whose work was stolen get a stake in the company's profits going forward. #WritingCommunity www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...

#AmQuerying, struggling to stay positive, when I get a response from an agent ASKING TO READ MORE. Only about 30 minutes after I sent my query. I know this'll likely end in another rejection, but I'm going to celebrate this moment by *LOSING MY EFFING MIND* #WritingCommunity

Interesting article from American Libraries (trade mag for librarians) about the challenges libraries face in trying to avoid buying AI-generated books. /1 #WritingCommunity americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/b...

Editors of shortform publications, listen up: • Don't have a published AI policy? Get one NOW • Use AI detectors? Beware: they're not the accurate timesavers you imagine www.aiforeducation.io/blog/ai-dete... • Accuse writers of using AI in rejections? Better provide evidence or risk charges of libel

Here’s hoping everyone who reads this still has all their appendages.

My monthly #IWSG post is up! I answer the monthly question (What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?) and interview @karenbmccoy.bsky.social, whose debut middle-grade novel (a Victorian mystery! with a talking vole!) comes out this month. janetalcorn.com/2025/06/03/i...

Great horror flash piece!

I am not your ordinary crastinator. I'm a pro. #Booksky

Sharing a submission opportunity--and one that pays.

I am acquiring! Would love to read some horror written by women (especially BIPOC!) #h #questpit #writingcommunity

The #WIPSnips word for May 11 is "pant" or "pants." This is a quote from the opening scene of Vanishing, Inc., a time travel romance/small town romantic suspense manuscript I'm currently querying. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #AmQuerying

But it should be!

The latest from my blog: my greatest fear as a writer and an important announcement about a debut release from @karenbmccoy.bsky.social. Check it out! janetalcorn.com/2025/05/06/m...

The hardest part about time travel romance is you can never be certain when your first date will have yet to be.

Here’s an adorable story that should have been written by a romance author in the 1970s, when we all thought quicksand was a much bigger problem than it turned out to be. #RealLifeRomance www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/u...

I read this quote from James Clear this morning, and it really resonated with me. Every day we get to choose where to focus our time and energy--and those choices can have a huge impact on how we experience our lives and how other people experience us.

😄😄

Sunset at Pismo Beach, CA

Now up on my blog, a little more about "Proof Text," my short story reprinted in Kings River Life this month--including a pic of the setting. #WritingCommunity janetalcorn.com/2025/03/11/s...

This is a brilliant plot idea.

Exciting news! The first short story I ever wrote (other than in high school) has been published! A big thanks to Kings River Life for helping me share "Proof Text" with the world. Check it out and let me know what you think. #WritingCommunity #suspense kingsriverlife.com/03/08/myster...

In honor of Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history, let’s challenge benevolent sexism — a behavior that’s seemingly positive yet suggests women are weak and need men’s protection.

March is Women in Horror Month, which coincides with Women's History Month. One reason I started Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein a few years ago was to help focus my reading and discover new authors, ones I might not otherwise read. Here are some of the women I've discovered through the blog.

Repost if you think it's groan-worthy... #dadjokes #dadjoke #humor #joke #xandlandpress

The last couple of weeks have been super hectic--so much so that I forgot to share my monthly #IWSG post on socials. So, here 'tis. It includes some tips for getting out of a writing slump. So far, they're working for me. janetalcorn.com/2025/02/05/3...

"If you keep showing up, you'll almost certainly break through — but probably not in the way you expected or intended. You need enough persistence to keep working and enough flexibility to enjoy success when it comes in a different form than you imagined." - @jamesclear.bsky.social

Write First, Edit Later Don’t let perfectionism slow you down. Focus on getting your ideas onto the page first. Once your draft is complete, you can shift into editing mode to refine and polish your work. #WritingTips #DraftingTips #EditingTips #AmWriting

After a yearlong break, I summoned my courage and queried 2 agents. Let the soul-crushing rejections begin. #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity

Love this! I just followed them all.

I’m rebuilding my daily writing habit after an unproductive year. That 11 next to the flame in Online Writing Log represents my 11-day writing streak. When I really wanted to skip, I wrote anyway to keep my streak alive. #WritingCommunity, What motivates you to write when you don’t want to?

This quote from James Clear's excellent weekly email newsletter seems especially appropriate for the coming years: "Caring about everything is a disaster. Caring about nothing is also a disaster. Nurture the small pocket of things that truly matter to you." @jamesclear.bsky.social

I just want to give Parker a big hug.

Better late than never, my look back at 2024 is up on my blog. Check out my attempt to make my entirely ordinary life look and sound exciting. janetalcorn.com/2025/01/06/m...

Stop making excuses for why your life isn't where you want it to be! Use some of the excuses you already have! Don't be wasteful.

"That though the heart is breaking, happiness can exist in a moment, also. And because the moment in which we live is all the time there really is, we can keep going...." ~ Zora Neale Hurston ~ #photography #quotes #poetry #nature #flowers #garden🌱

When the Social Media Manager for a Dictionary account loses to Uncle Rick in the family holiday Scrabble game.