If you spend a lot of time on social media, you’ve surely seen writers romanticizing the act of writing and if there’s anything I’m good for in this world, it’s un-romanticizing things. #writing #writingcommunity #WritersOfBlueSky

I wrote this back in 2020, right at the beginning of covid, when a lot of us were mulling over what it meant to be alone in our tiny apartments. Back then, I didn’t realize how topical “AI therapists” would end up being.

This was...a choice. (A really bad one if that was in any way unclear).

🇨🇦 FUCK YEAH CANADA 🇨🇦

This story probably flew under your radar last year, read it! Read it! Read it!

The whole thing is damning, but this part is particularly sickening. These are the text messages of middle school boys playing Call of Duty.

I've been wanting to talk about burnout for a while so here it is, appropriately two months after I initially had the idea.

🇺🇦

I mean, what the fuck. The fact that this statement could be referencing a hundred different things speaks for itself.

Your art will outlive them so keep fucking making it.

New post for the new year and all its woes: "Why does the saying 'live in the moment' persist so relentlessly? Have you seen the moment? Have you doom-scrolled The Guardian politics live blog recently? If that’s 'the moment,' I don’t want to live in it."

RE: this DEI firefighter bs, I think it’s good to remember that big media is not REFLECTING the narrative of the people, but rather CREATING a narrative to tell you what and how to think so that your views fall in line with the corporations and special interests that own the media.

I went dark on here for almost 2 weeks. When that happens, safe to assume my battery ran dead and I forgot to plug myself back in.

My review of 2024:

I hurt my neck the other day (quite badly) and I resent that the heat pack I bought is called a “sport” pack, implying I pulled a muscle doing something resembling sports rather than looking sideways for too long at a bar.

I wrote 1000 words today so I only need to do that *does math* 79 more times. Then I will have something resembling a book, at least in length.

This one is short because it was my birthday this weekend and I was hungover and also because when I did get around to writing this, it was midnight. Excuses aside, here are some thoughts (but no solutions) for feeling lost.

Everything I’ve eaten today has been cheese.

The darkest of dark satire is not actually satire.

Oh God, it's like Christmas next week, it feels like the apocalypse every goddamn day, and the nightmares will only continue to unfurl in the new year. Also you still have to write your book.

I can’t remember the last book I finished but I have started about a dozen recently, all of which are on the floor beside my bed because my cat got embarrassed for me, knocked them off the nightstand, and pulled the bookmarks out of them. Thanks, Nadja.

In which I reflect on querying this year and all the advice I wish I had followed:

In my flailing around not knowing what to do with myself, I started a substack. It's mostly for myself but maybe it's for you too?

I envy those who can channel their anxiety and outrage into meaningful creative work. All I've done for weeks is play Elden Ring and stress nap.

Everything you have ever written, everything you will ever write, is political. That isn’t to say “be careful” with your words. Recognize their power and wield them accordingly.

We're getting to the time of year when I start wincing at "Best Of" lists that are entirely big 5 titles. Come on, we don't really believe that, coincidentally, ALL the year's 'best' books were published by the biggest companies and zero small presses, do we?

I would pay someone an ungodly amount of money to organize my notes app.

I'm sorry but jokes about Matt Gaetz never get old.

Our 2024 Award Eligibility List. If you're reading for/nominating for awards I am happy to send you digital files or eBooks of our 2024 work. Thank you!

This week, because of the election and other personal setbacks, I am feeling a distinct lack of control. I'm sure that feeling is mutual. So this morning, I am taking control of the one thing I still have and I'm going to respec my character in Elden Ring.

Who needs horror movies when you can just turn on the news?

It’s November and it’s too hot to rake leaves in northern New England today. Do with that what you will.

Now that I’ve recovered from the Bloodborne injury of 2024…I’m going to start yelling about voting. Have you voted yet (if you can)? If not, do you have a plan? If not, give it some thought. Democracy is on the line. No big deal or anything.

I wish this was a joke but I hurt one of my fingers playing Bloodborne last night.

I reopened a twitter acct in May cause I’m querying and for some reason, many agents still use it for mswls, open dates, etc. I knew I was going to delete it again soon but I’m deleting it now. I won’t be complicit in this agenda, even in this small way. If this hurts my chances w/ agents, so be it.

I know I post mostly about my cat here but I also have a dog—it’s just that he gets more attention in all other aspects of life so I let the cat shine here. But he looks pretty silly in my hoodie so, here you go.

I bought a dumb thing that I do not need (playstation portal) so I can sit on the couch and play games while my partner also sits on the couch and plays games so we can spend time together while also completely ignoring each other. I think we've reached peak relationship.

Cat went exploring, probably regrets it.

What's this? I hear you like short story collections? undertowpublications.com

Today in functional adult things: I’m on day 3 of wearing disposable 1-day contacts.

Support indie horror! @undertow.bsky.social (Weird Horror Magazine) needs our help to continue publishing in 2025 and we need Weird Horror to continue doing their thing: providing us the freshest, weirdest, darkest, and most delectable stories.

Weird Horror and @undertow.bsky.social in general publishes wonderful stuff. They've carved out a delightful, dark, moody niche, and I can't wait to see what they publish next. Help them keep doing what they do best! crowdfundr.com/campaigns/42...

Some mornings, this is what I wake up to

It's difficult to get in the mood to write this arctic horror when it's over 90 degrees and humid...which has made me think about the fact that arctic horror, as a genre, could someday be only historical or fantasy. That's the real horror.

I accidentally changed my car's speedometer from mph to kph and nearly shit myself on the highway today when I looked at the dash and it told me I was going over 100. Thrill of my week, really.

Keeper of the tome.

Another review has just been posted online: Paula Guran's Locus review of Weird Horror #8 (and other mags). Shoutouts to @aimeeogden.bsky.social David Ebenbach, and @jesskoch.bsky.social locusmag.com/2024/06/paul...

A batch of recent reads. The universe should keep the weird coming, I’m in the mood.

Day 2 of not changing out of my PJs. I kind of wish to do this someday when I’m NOT sick. There’s something therapeutic here.

I've ruined my last stainless steel pan. I can't look at their sad, charred remnants anymore. I am a non-stick person and I can finally admit the truth. This is now a core trait of my being.