I had the gothiest of weekends. Atlanta is apparently known for having a pretty darned decent goth scene. (Who knew?) Danced to music I appreciate on Friday and then volunteered at the Days of the Dead con today. I peopled far too much for my own good. I will retreat to my coffin.

If I am not careful, I spend half the time I should be #writing feeling the full thrust of my anxiety on social media. I swear, doing unproductive things is an integral part of the process.

Still waiting for answers from two grad school applications and one conference paper abstract submission. It can be so frustrating, because so much of this hits harder, as the intellectual life is an essential part of my identity, and I've struggled so hard for so long to even get where I am.

I have one opinion regarding writing which may not be in consensus with most: Most writing courses are completely unnecessary. They are a way for people to make money for themselves or their organization, but they are not necessary for the act of writing.

It's amazing that, almost 20 years after my undergrad philosophy degree, I can still read philosophy that takes my breath away. The same passion that made me pursue the "useless" degree of philosophy remains in my current research and work. I am intensely grateful for this.

It's genuinely good to have an employer who is willing to understand your ethics and work with them. I think if more people would listen to writers who do not want to use or be involved with AI, we'd have a better world out there.

I am ordained in the State of Georgia to do weddings. I totally forgot this fact. It is super easy to get ordained. I would love to officiate some LGBTQ+ weddings, especially if there is a costume theme. If the costume theme is good enough, I might not even charge!

A new blog post is up from The Philosopher's Shirt. In this article, I discuss ennui and Kierkegaard, taking from some of my own research. I hope you enjoy it. #philsky the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...

I should note here that I appreciate Bluesky as one of the few places where you can engage with people in a thoughtful way. It can be hard to remember this in the wake of other social media places where angry debate is expected. I think I just woke up grumpy, but I still value Bluesky.

I block two things when I see them: AI content accounts and unlabeled adult accounts. I did not wake up from my undead slumber to get an eyeful of genitalia and some slop. The adult content that slips through my filter is not as bad as it used to be, but I didn't come here for gothsploitation.

Brilliant idea and I can't wait to see the Morticia and Gomez!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the gothiest places. Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta was having free tours, so I got to tag along. I enjoyed myself too much for photos, so here is one after.

You know what says love on Valentine's Day? The complicated and sometimes self-loathing love in Baudelaire's Fleurs du mal. If you're looking for a French copy, I've got you covered. Check out The Raven's Quill for this and more livres en francais! #poetry #french pangobooks.com/books/111b53...

I sticker bombed my laptop. It was cathartic and relevant to my interests. This is the laptop I take to coffee shops for work, so it is a political statement and a sign for certain people to keep away. #goth #lgbtq+ #writer

Application for Georgia State University's philosophy MA program complete. I can now sink into my coffin and rest.

I'd like to invite you to read my latest on Substack (always free), where I discuss January's book on writing in my 12 Writing Books challenge. The Elements of Style was an appropriate place to start. Thoughts on Strunk & White? #writer #writing #booksky open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...

One of my icons. While Frankenstein is not my favorite book, the author is my exact vibe. Happy birthday, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the original goth girl.

I sell books on the Pango app. I've an absurd array for (nearly) every taste. I spent 20+ years collecting books, so most of these are my own. I need to pay for my new insurance premiums and the grad school application fees. Starving writer life is not lucrative. pangobooks.com/bookstore/go...

I'd like to invite you to read my latest article on Substack, reworked a little from an older article, on Green Day's American Idiot at 20. I like to write about music and its socio-cultural impact, as well as its impact on my life. #writing #greenday #music open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...

Here is an #academic question. I've published in a journal (that I now read for). Independent scholars in academic journals: are they a no-no in #philosophy? I'd like to get back into academic writing, but am not yet equipped with the PhD. (Long story.) I am also out of date.

My latest is up on Substack. I swear, I never know what I am going to write about. #writer #bodypositivity open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...

To engage in Bluesky or to delete the comment. That is the question.

I have two more grad school applications to finish, but I also am incredibly anxious about the applications, and wonder if it is worth it to try again. I know my worth as a writer/researcher of philosophy, and I know my dream. But the fear of rejection (again) twists my stomach in knots.

In honor of a hero, a legacy, and a philosopher, I'd like to share one of my earliest articles for The Philosopher's Shirt, in which I discuss #MLK as a philosopher, as well as the art of civil disobedience. Read on and celebrate the man. the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...

A solid and practical tip. Even if you aren't diabetic, wonky blood sugar levels can cause fatigue and confusion. Says a diabetic who still needs to eat today. Self care is important!

Lowell & Benson, the publisher of two of my short stories, is opening submissions for their next anthology, The Dichotomy of Love. Submissions are open until February 1st. No fees. Newer #writers encouraged to submit. Please see link for more info. payhip.com/lowellandben...

I find neither #writing nor #philosophy pursuits to start if you want money. I've written before how philosophy, historically speaking, has been a pursuit that involves leisure. Part of Marx's critique, too. Writing is similar, especially in this oversaturated market. It's frustrating I chose both.

Little known fact: I sell used philosophy (and other weird) books. Last year, I started using Pango to sell most of my collection, curated over 20+ years. It's been a delight to get these books into new homes. While I am still jobsearching, selling books has offered an income supplement. #booksky

Yes please! I cannot say enough that Martin Luther King Jr. was a philosopher just as much as he was a social activist, public speaker, and minister. Please give this a look. #mlk #philosophy

I am actively seeking a good #writers group in the Atlanta, GA area. I'm a professional writer/editor, and I just want to be around human beings again. If anyone has any recs, I would be grateful. I write mostly nonfiction, but am starting out in horror, after too many years of publication anxiety.

How do you mentally survive as the world is set ablaze around you? Ten minutes on social media emphasizes the absolute worst in the world. I feel everything intently but need to maintain some semblance of sanity.

In addition, I'd like to invite everyone to take a few minutes today to visit this gorgeous site about logical fallacies. I've used it as a reference for years, and it's just so beautifully done. #philosophy yourlogicalfallacyis.com

Apparently it's World Logic Day. I have a special relation with logic. It was the one class in undergrad that almost killed my philosophy 4.0. Logic can be instrumental in curating and creating healthy and good argumentation. Fallacies exist for a reason, to help guide better dialogue.

Everyone should learn more about civil disobedience. Everyone. I read Martin Luther King Jr.'s thoughts on the matter (BTW, everyone should read King's powerful writings), and the movement was more than just sit ins. It was very, very strategic and planned in advance. Know your history.

Spooky books must be shared, and you can never go wrong with creepy dolls. Ever.

Considering David Bowie's birthday yesterday, and the upcoming 10 year anniversary of his death. I remember watching the "Lazarus" video, not thinking he'd not be gone so soon. Bowie's end ended normalcy I felt in my life. It feels, sometimes, like he was the glue holding together the universe.

What I've seen in American #academia sounds troubling, especially with the censoring of a #philosophy professor's Plato text in the classroom. Do people not understand the idea that you can study something without liking it? That you can (and should) study something without agreeing with it?

How cool would that be? To be a professor at an honored Dutch university?! Awesome!

Update on my three books for this month: Strunk & White is going great, albeit I've not read from it in a few days. Hate reading Seance in Apartment 10 at this point. Keep telling myself it's short and will be over. Forbidden Knowledge is falling flat. Thought I'd be more interested. #booksky

The other day, I discovered why it's so difficult for me to read and enjoy novels. After doing grad school work in editing and publishing, and proofing others' manuscripts, I no longer read like a reader. I read like an editor. I miss the me that loved fiction. #writing #booksky

I submitted my application to Emory's #philosophy PhD program. This is a dream 20 years in the making, for which I've fought so very hard. I've had so many setbacks from life circumstances and naysayers who tried to convince me you cannot make a life's work out of academic philosophy. It's time.

I like how advice about #writing is now more accessible than ever. I also do not like how advice about writing is now more accessible than ever. Too many of us spend more time with the advice than the practice, and too many pedants paint themselves experts. Read the advice, yes. But write, write!

I usually end up dropping f-bombs in the middle of the night while playing REPO with my friend. I am the annoying gaming ghost.

I would like to invite you to read my newest on Substack, a long time coming, in which I discuss "The Morrissey Paradox." Please take a read when you have the time. I would like to know others' thoughts on the problematic Smiths singer. open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...

The application for Emory is complete. I spent far too long working on the Statement of Purpose. If I were writing one for someone else, I would have found it a simpler task, emphasizing strengths in a logical way. Writing about myself continues to be a difficult task. Add persuasion and yikes.

I got tired of not reading, so I set up a system this year: a book on writing, a novel, and an extra nonfiction book. I have too many unread books and have been struggling with reading fiction since grad school. Here are January's selections. #booksky

This new year, I am making it my project to read a book on #writing each month. It seems sensible to begin with the classic Strunk & White, The Elements of Style. I've read snippets of this tiny tome before, but never the entirety. I happened to have the 4th edition. I will review on Substack.

I think most academic writing could stand to learn from this.

This one looks interesting and spooky books must be shared!

If I passed at midnight (assuming I hadn't procrastinated this), I would bend over the burdens of the regrets and anxieties of my life, the regret of not having lived. It would weigh upon me like an over-old child clasping its hands around my neck. #HorrorWritersChat