Jesse Hamm had the take to end all takes on children's media. "People who disdain writing ‘just for children’ fail to realize that those children will remember what they read, maybe for the rest of their lives. You’re not writing for permanent children; you’re getting an early start on adults.”

If anyone is wondering why there were no on-camera handshakes at the end of Friday's Jeopardy game, look at this picture and realize that Youssef is a *full head taller* than I am. The crew would not let us move until I was back on terra firma. 😆 Plenty of hugs and handshakes as we left the stage

Hey, who's that on Jeopardy! tomorrow?

WRITING TIP, something simple but it catches many of us out: if you have a great/fun idea for your story, *use it now*. Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more. Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.

This is true. It is the best email I got this year.

Yes, I put things I've already done on my to do list for the satisfaction of crossing them off Furthermore, I don't even give such items serious task names like "get groceries." No, I just checked off "buy cheap flour and fruit snacks" and have zero regrets about my life choices

If you have ever thought that my journalism or my first book were net positives for the world, understand that they probably would not exist if I did not have a spouse who paid the mortgage. If I'd been a solo earner/parent, I likely would have left criticism, journalism or book writing long ago.

Okay, I need a French speaker to confirm this for me: Is the French word for "road-runner" actually "Bip Bip" or is Google translate having me on?

Go get 'em @omgkatiep.bsky.social! gofund.me/fdade21fe

They also have an online shop: shop.bookswithpictures.com I just ordered some holiday presents.

@spyscribe.bsky.social’s “Observations of a Small Object in Decaying Orbit” in @apexmag.bsky.social spotlights the impact of toxic dogmatism on the families of political elites. Humane and unadorned - a space-faring Hemingway, a child-sized Orwell. #sff #scifi #shortstories #fiction

Everyone should get to experience an arena full of people chanting your name... even if they're not talking about you 🤷🏻‍♀️

There's not a time in my life that I've regretted my humanities degrees. I use them every day, not just professionally (though they've helped me there, too), but to envision and work toward a better future.

Reposting with Alt-text:

Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.

Okay, I want to say it again for anyone who needs to hear it right now: Yes, calling is better for getting in touch with your reps. But right now? DO IT HOWEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE. I'm really concerned that the emphasis on calling right now is stopping people from getting in touch.

I uhhhh… i love Fiona Apple. Like a lot.

Cis men truly need to understand the power of saying “that’s fucked up bro why would you say that” to another cis man

It's very surreal to be a victim of the Eaton Fire, and we are still too much in survival mode to fully process it, but it's certainly not my favorite experience. We'd greatly appreciate any help you can offer, including sharing this link. Thank you 🙏 gofund.me/cab84a3e

I went to post about the National Japanese American Memorial in D.C., which is beautiful but usually missed by tourists. It is a deeply staggering admission of guilt and a warning to future Americans. I went to link to the inscriptions and- Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...

I had somebody QP this and ask "what does this accomplish" and Jesus, people, there are two parts to politics. Doing shit, and *being seen to be doing shit*. Not understanding that second bit is why Biden's sitting at home wondering why nobody noticed he dumped all that money into Red States.

I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help.

Your regular reminder that the first known clinic to offer gender-affirming surgeries was … destroyed by Nazis. In 1933. (Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.) They always come for trans people first.

I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service. “Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.

Got confimed for 2 major surgeries this week. I will need funds & soon, but I was fired when I was diagnosed with cancer & my only income now is writing. I hate to ask because I know we're all struggling, but I'd appreciate any donation. Thank you & please share. www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...

Thread unrolled here www.kameronhurley.com/adrift-on-th...

Just saw an ad for Liquid I.V., and two things hit me: 1: Aren’t all IVs liquid? 2: Liquid IV is a powder That’s going to bug me forever now

Ok. I keep saying this is the time to find your community abd build. And I keep getting DMs and texts of people who want to find community but say they don't know how. So here's a couple tips that I personally have found to be useful.

I send out a substack with 16 new writing prompts (8 fiction prompts and 8 journaling prompts) inspired by pop culture (movies, music) every Tues & Friday. Join me for writing inspiration: yourdailywritingprompt.substack.com It’s $5/month for access to everything or free for access to most things.

Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚 Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏

Dearest writers, Updated submissions info! We plan to open Jan 22-29 22-25 to works by BIPOC authors 26-29 open to all Short fic! Flash fic! Poetry! Please check guidelines; apologies for any confusion. We are eager to see your words! psychopomp.com/fantasy-maga... - A

IATSE Local 80 in Burbank is open every day this week from 8AM to 5PM and is loaded with emergency supplies. Pass it on.

This bill and the intent behind it are bad enough, but if Dems show the GOP they can be pushed around on fundamental civil rights for trans people, everyone’s will be up for negotiation. Thread below has scripts for D and R reps

The list of animation workers who lost homes in the fire sadly continues to grow. We are continually updating and there are currently 30 fundraisers that you can contribute to. Please consider helping out one or more of these people: www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/ho...

🚨 From the NWS Los Angeles: "Heads up! Strong, locally damaging, NE/E winds will affect West LA Co. & much of Ventura Co thru Wednesday. Critical fire weather is expected, so PLEASE have multiple ways of getting notifications in case of new fires & prepare ahead of time." Stay alert, LA!

🤷🏻‍♀️

Hosting my zoom writing sprints for the first time since the fires started. A writer asked how I'm doing. I could only say "I'm okay, but so many friends have lost their homes" then the tears came. All the loss is overwhelming. Help if you can. I'm gonna reply to this with friends' gofundmes.

Okay Spelling Bee, I’ll accept a lot. <break for spelling bee spoilers?> But how is “NIACIN” an acceptable word but “CANTRIP” isn’t?!

Folks who follow me but aren’t astronomers—you might not realize how MANY astronomers live in Pasadena—home to JPL, CalTech, & Carnegie Observatories, among others. Of 3 close friends, at least 2 have lost their houses. Many non-astronomers (including support staff like janitors) have also. 1/

Ashley was also head writer on Tales of Arcadia: Wizards and such a supportive and inventive creative leader on the project. She lost her home in the LA fires, and she’s also raising a daughter on her own. Please help if you can.

Many members of the animation community have suffered unimaginable losses due to the LA wildfires – here is how to help displaced individuals in the animation industry. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY SO WE CAN HELP EVERYONE OUT!

THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD y'all this series was and is a staple part of my urban fantasy vampires detectives and shenanigans library.

Wow, this wind is not messing around!

Thank you so much! (story link here, for the curious: www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/all-bellkn...)

Interesting 🧵 from military historian/cat guy.

Didn't live up to the hype? It's because countless engineers and IT professionals worked around the clock for several years to update code, get patches in place, and test, test, and test and repeat for literal YEARS My dad worked insane hours December '99 to ensure everything was patched and ready

It's that time again! If you'd like your work included in this year's awards eligibility roundup, reply to or quote this post before Dec 19th with: - your name - your category of eligibility - a link to your work or your eligibility page

All I want for the holidays is for people to stop asking me if I’m available for meetings on days on which I have already established I’m not available for meetings

I’m a NegComm member who was in the room for TAG Negotiations. I’m voting YES on this contract and here’s why: looking at it holistically we got BIG GAINS. We got those based off our negotiating strength and the hard won gains of other Union contracts. 7% retro wage increases! (Cont’d)