I’ve got a flash piece in this!

A story by ME!? Crazy!

New (double!) Issue: BCS #450 Science-Fantasy Month 8! Stories Natalia Theodoridou @nassos.bsky.social and Ewen Ma @ewenmaer.bsky.social today, @rhiannonheld.bsky.social and @eskaftun.bsky.social next week (but in ebook now), podcast of Theodoridou. www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/issues/issue...

Postcard #128: The underground music scene (postcard story in alt text) Would you like to get these in your inbox? What about in your MAILbox? Buy-in starts at just $3/mo. at patreon.com/skaftun

Happy pride month ❤️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Upcoming postcard weirdness for May and beyond. Subscribe at patreon.com/skaftun for miniature stories of lies, regrets, aliens, and things that hatch from strange eggs.

Just said "okay guys," to my own brain, so that's how I (we?) am doing today. How are you?

"This Is Just To Say" retellings might be my favorite thing about the internet.

US hegemony ending=good US just totally collapsing=oh no, all my stuff is here

I'm apparently going for the daily record for times I've microwaved the same cup of coffee and forgotten to drink it. I'm up to FOUR. (Yes I'm a heathen who nukes coffee; sue me.)

Postcard 98: Who can stay mad at a face like that? (postcard story in alt text) Want more? patreon.com/skaftun

Hey world, guess what? I'm open to freelance gigs right now. Writing, editing (developmental, line edits, proofreading), graphic design, layout, blah blah blah... Message me.

Is it Mark again already?

I made this the other night while procrastinating, mainly because I thought all the posts about the blackout were boring. It feels like there is momentum bringing people together!

Postcards on deck for March and beyond include space cats, an emotaur, global domination, ancient evil, and more. Patreon.com/skaftun

Today's feeling of accomplishment: I have a new patreon member and I DO NOT KNOW WHO IT IS! Where did you come from, new member? How did you find me? Is it a mistake? :)

Dear Muskrat: Last week I: • Wrote 1,667 words of extremely queer fiction. • Finished reading a powerful book about monsters, human and otherwise; what needless war does to people; and the fears and perceptions about others that lead inevitably to tragedy. 1/3

I don't get personal on main very often, but I spent a few hours writing this, and I want you to read it. It's about my dad and my stepmom, and me, and Stranger Things, and what's happening to the VA right now. www.cheriepriest.com/blog/the-dep...

I write postcard microfiction and send it to your inbox or even your MAILbox. Patreon.com/skaftun #selfpromosaturday

Annalise was a perfectly average student at St. Clare’s School for the Invisible, until she started making friends. Now she’s got a dark secret that may unlock the mystery of the school’s disappearing students—or bring the whole place crashing down. #2025pit #YA #F

When the last of prep school reptilian Leon’s powerful family is murdered (probably by stupid humans), his only hope to avenge their deaths is Lizzie, his science lizard cousin. Getting to the truth puts Lizzie’s small town—and its working-class cryptids—in world-class peril. #2025Pit #A #SPF

Annalise was a perfectly average student at St. Clare’s School for the Invisible, until she started making friends. Now she’s got a dark secret that may unlock the mystery of the school’s disappearing students—or bring the whole place crashing down. #2025pit #YA #F

When the last of prep school reptilian Leon’s powerful family is murdered (probably by stupid humans), his only hope to avenge their deaths is Lizzie, his science lizard cousin. Getting to the truth puts Lizzie’s small town—and its working-class cryptids—in world-class peril. #2025Pit #A #SPF

The only explanation is that they WANT us to hear.

Double trouble

I live in Seattle and I really want to see international writer friends in my city this summer—but I’ll 1000% understand if/when people choose to avoid traveling to this increasingly unwelcoming, unsafe country. If I wasn’t already here I’d think twice about it.

help i was scrolling and now there’s so much doom

The book it recommended to me is one I bought YESTERDAY. Spooky.

I’m on lion’s mane, which I’m going to pretend is about actual lions because I find mushrooms a bit horrifying.

It’s 1/12 (in the USA; don’t judge me), and I’ve just written postcard story #112. I don’t love this one, I’ll admit, but at least I finally used up this utter dog’s breakfast of a postcard.

Always repost.

Reposting this to save it to look at later.

Without downloading any new pics, what’s your energy going into 2025?

Nobody at Turbo Button could figure out how to make an AI-generated greeting card. But we heard studios like us are expected to use AI for everything now, so we commissioned some of our favorite artists to hand draw what they think those cards might have looked like. Here's what they came up with.

Like and re-skeet if you hate Ronald Reagan Yes, down to his bones

Apropos of absolutely nothing: My UHC premium is going up by 31% in January. Next year, I will be paying THIRTY-ONE PERCENT MORE (more than $1,000 over the course of the year) for the privilege of them covering 0% of the cost of visits to in-network specialists my GP refers me to.

This is what I'll be doing this Saturday. Join me? It should be zany fun.

That writerly feeling when you think you have a silly little couple-thousand-word idea and by the time you're done it's over 10K and you're crying to nail the tragic ending.

Sharing this mostly for the alt text on the photos. Check that out.

I truly don't understand how someone in one of those mega-tall pickup truck with the bazillion-lumen headlights can roll up behind a Miata at a red light and feel anything but overwhelming shame and remorse.

These are the postcards on deck for my patreon this month. To read their stories, subscribe at patreon.com/skaftun.

Wonder which way that train is going.

Writing Tip: Mine your experiences for stories, but change small details to protect people's identities. For instance, if you are writing about how your dad embezzled money from his catering business, make him a goblin and say he embezzled magic from the Fairy King.

Deer to hunter: No, I'll kill YOU and wear your clothes. Your head's gonna look so good on my wall.

A friend recently asked me what the C in my name stood for and I blurted out "Cryptid," so BRB, legally changing my middle name.

Here’s a visualization of all the curse words in real time, which is oddly satisfying: swearsky.bagpuss.org

Five writers of whom I’ve read 10+ books: Christopher Pike David Brin Tim Powers Jeanette Winterson Seanan McGuire

Hi, new followers! I write stories sometimes, but lately I'm mostly obsessed with postcard fiction.

Don’t self-reject.

OMG you guys, Ratika Deshpande at @reactorsff.bsky.social noticed my story!! reactormag.com/five-sff-sto...