There are a lot of things competing for our attention right now, but don't forget the children of Gaza. I've donated a critique package to #Kidlit4Ceasefire again this year and if you have the bandwidth, they're still looking for a few more prizes: bit.ly/KidLit4Cease...

In May of 2025 the National League of Women Voters declared our country was in a constitutional crisis. It has only gotten worse since then. Join democracy advocates everywhere and speak out. @lwvus.bsky.social #Unite&Rise

Nisi Shawl is a visionary brilliant author, editor, critic and teacher, who is working on a book of otherworldly philosophy that sounds incredible. Not surprisingly, this project has grown and flowered, and Nisi needs a bit more support. Please help if you can! www.gofundme.com/f/help-nisi-...

Democrats who want to abolish ice should start introducing legislation to roll back the creation of DHS. It was a specific post 9/11 law that combined previously extant functions into a single new department. Let’s start getting that model legislation out there. (Is it already?)

Check out this post by @julieartz.bsky.social over on the Writers Helping Writers blog. It shares tons of tips and suggestions for writing retreats...including a FREE virtual writing retreat led by Julie and New York Times best-selling author Emily Colin. writershelpingwriters.net/2026/01/writ...

I’m over at Writers Helping Writers talking about one of my favorite topics: writing retreats! Looking for low-cost/no-cost retreat options? Check it out: writershelpingwriters.net/2026/01/writ...

It was so hard to focus on writing in the dumpster fire that was 2025. So my pal @emilycolinbooks.bsky.social and I are doing a little something to help everyone get off on the right foot in 2026: Your Writing Year Begins Here, a virtual cozy retreat Jan 23-25. www.julieartz.com/virtual-retr...

Soooo not ready to get back at it this morning. *crawls back into warm bed*

Looking for a good way to kick-start your New Year? Take action to #FundLibraries: Tell your members of Congress to support library funding in this year's federal budget! There's no better way to get the year started than by showing up #ForOurLibraries: app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag...

Yeah, it has long been the case that adult-oriented businesses have to be careful or risk the wrath of everyone from prosecutors to payment-processing companies, but "prominent social media company owned by world's richest person swiftly became world's largest CSAM producer" produces no reaction.

A list of current advertisers on X, the CSAM creation and distribution website. stopfundinghate.info/whos-still-a...

I had a tiny (gremlin) helper for my writing session today 🤣

It was so hard to focus on writing in the dumpster fire that was 2025. So my pal @emilycolinbooks.bsky.social and I are doing a little something to help everyone get off on the right foot in 2026: Your Writing Year Begins Here, a virtual cozy retreat Jan 23-25. www.julieartz.com/virtual-retr...

"Between the administration and the opposition are actual opposites of principle: among those committed to inclusion and those to exclusion; truth and lies; kindness and cruelty; the protection and destruction of systems that in turn protect the climate or public health."

KidLitWriMo begins again on January 1 #amwriting #kidlit 30 minutes a day #picturebook #beginningreader #chapterbook #middlegrade #YAlit asuen.com/kidlitwrimo-...

Fave Five: MG Starring Trans Girls The Ink Witch by Steph Cherrywell Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker Magical Princess Harriet by Leiah Moser Glitch Girl! by Rainie Oet Joy, to the World by Lisa Bunker and Kai Shappley Bonus: These are all prose novels, but for graphic novels, check out The Deep & Dark…

Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.

Behold, if you will, the...astonishing...contract from Shadow Light Press. A rolling 10-year term...payment on profit (but only after costs are recouped)...appropriation of the author's universe if they can't continue the series...and more www.reddit.com/r/Progressio...

You've heard of Elf on the Shelf but how about

If you need some inspiration, Octavia Butler wrote herself a letter that declared her writing intentions from being a bestseller to funding the purchase of a house. And she achieved everything on the list. What a badass. “So be it. See to it.” More on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/julieart...

Are you in Mesa County, Colorado? Your public library board is about to be overtaken with extremists. Get to the board meeting TOMORROW to speak up and out about what's going to come if these two get appointed. annelandmanblog.com/2025/12/maga...

I was that kid who counted down to the end of the semester each spring. So I decided to do the same thing this month to get to The End of my WIP. The 30-day countdown is just getting started, but I’ve written every day for about a week and can already feel the momentum (re)building!

Post a picture of when your pet was little.

In just a few hours, I’m picking up my writerly pals at the airport for a DIY writing retreat at my house. I can’t wait! I try to do something like this once a quarter to really carve out time for my personal writing. Day job calendar blocked, food prep done, now bring on the words!

Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people, report finds

Cis allies! Please support transgender people and comment today. The reddit below contains links to the official comment pages for the new passport rules that we need to fight against. bsky.app/profile/erin...

I don't enjoy banging this drum about the need for adding alt-text to images, but it's one of those cultural things I think it is really important to emphasize to all Bluesky users to distinguish it from other social media platforms; just like how quote-dunking and rage-baiting isn't tolerated.

post a gif from the last show you watched ✨

It feels weird to talk about happy things given everything that’s going on. But…I’m hosting a retreat at Highlights in June with my pal @emilycolinbooks.bsky.social and it’s a major bucket list item for me. Talking revision. With my pal. At Highlights!

I hit the point in the mushy middle on this novel where I didn’t know what came next. How it ends, sure. But I needed a plan to get the characters there with everything that changed as I wrote the first half. Spent the week on my synopsis and now I have a plan! It’s such a great tool for plantsters.

It’s extra important for your GOP senator to hear from you right now if you’re in one of these states. Call your senators and tell them to vote NO on Kash Patel’s nomination for FBI director: indivisible.org/resource/cal... Or send an email to your senators: act.indivisible.org/sign/demand-...

This is all a good reminder that, “no help, no votes until the criminal conduct stops” is neither a big ask nor a politically perilous one.

Hey, friends. Just checking back in. The weight of wickedness heaped upon our country and world feels almost too great to bear. I hope you're holding onto your own beauty. Breathe in and kindle your light. Breathe out and share your light. I love you so much. There is so much good in the world.

Hope you're staying warm out there. Today seemed like a good (chilly) day to share what tortellini soup taught me about writing... julieartz.substack.com/p/what-torte...

Hello Friends! Welcome to #MSWL Day 2025! 🎉 This is our first #MSWL Day on Bluesky, and we have new features to share! Rather listen than read? Here’s a how-to! vimeo.com/1055984106 Here’s our Bluesky search guide: youtu.be/LnZt1MCjKZE?...

Am I in Whamageddon purgatory if I heard “Last Christmas,” but it was a cover?

Here are the anti-library & pro-censorship bills already prefiled for the 2025 legislative session across the US. It's your job to keep tabs on these, write your representatives, & speak up about the dismantling of public institutions of access + democracy. wellsourced.substack.com/p/the-pro-ce...

Efforts to block gender affirming care will harm our most vulnerable children.

My youngest kiddo is on the ground safe and sound in Denver! Home for five weeks. SQUEE!!!

Loading a client book I’m particularly excited about onto the ereader. Who needs sleep?

StoryGraph folx: Share your link and what you like to read and let’s follow each other on StoryGraph! I love a good spicy romance, poetry/NIV/memoir, all things character driven in the speculative space, and the odd upmarket: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/juli... #amreading #booksky

I’m proud to participate in today’s #LGBTQnotgoingback day of action. I hope you’ll join me in reaching out to your reps to protect our LGBTQ+ siblings ♥️🧡💛💚💙💜 open.substack.com/pub/julieart...

I love StoryGraph. It would be great to see more folks over there!

“Our children are not going to stop being transgender just because you strip them of their care. Stripping them of their care is cruel, but they will continue to be who they are and parents like myself will continue to do what we need to do to protect them and keep them safe and alive.”

Stuck in the airport and found this story a really moving distraction while I wait…

Here is my #LGBTQNotGoingBack post, which includes a MASTER LIST of everyone else's posts! plus instructions for how to be added to this lists & how to call your representatives today! on Substack: juliaserano.substack.com/p/lgbtq-peop... or Medium: juliaserano.medium.com/lgbtq-people... #LGBTQ

We are not going back! Will you join me in a simple, everyday action to change the world? #LGBTQNotGoingBack

I’m proud to participate in today’s #LGBTQnotgoingback day of action. I hope you’ll join me in reaching out to your reps to protect our LGBTQ+ siblings ♥️🧡💛💚💙💜 open.substack.com/pub/julieart...