Last preps for MetropolCon in Berlin, starting tomorrow, July 2 😊

"She stares at the cake. It’s a true work of art: Several layers, luscious pink frosting, skillfully decorated with crimson triangles made of fondant and sumptuous slices of salami sausage." Creature's Comfort by aldsen.bsky.social is available in Issue 6: divinationsmagazine.co.uk/issue-6-crav...

I was just offered to be on a pilot TV show where people debate various "controversial" topics; they wanted me as an expert defending the reality of the moon landings. I turned them down flat. I will not elevate conspiracy bullshit into something debatable. Been down that road. It goes nowhere.

Want to plan your speculative adventure at #EuroCon #MetropolCon in Berlin from July 2nd ro 5th? Check out the program and enjoy: guide.metropolcon.eu

❤️ Issue 6: Craving is finally here to pull you into a world of hunger, obsession, and desire gone rotten. It's full of haunting fiction and poetry, available in web format and PDF! 🔗 divinationsmagazine.co.uk/issue-6-craving

🐷Meet creepy Salami, the pig-faced cushion! My short story “Creature’s Comfort” is published by #DivinationsMagazine, a British gem for sublime horror. 🐷 divinationsmagazine.co.uk/issue-6-craving

Opens slush pile. Reads generated story... Bans. Reads generated story... Bans. Reads generated story... Bans... Screams. Closes computer. Screams again. Runs off into the woods. Sees squirrel. Hmmm... Squirrels have never submitted a generated story. Squirrel gets treat.

At #Eurocon #Metropolcon in Berlin July 2-5 you'll be able to lunch on Mars!

I am thrilled to share some big news: My specfic short story "Shelter" has been published by clarkesworldmagazine.com! clarkesworldmagazine.com/aldsen_04_26/

I’m thrilled to be involved in a brandnew European Master's program in #CreativeWriting! Spread the word and apply if you are proficient in English and can write in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, or German or if you maintain a hybrid language practice that combines English with one of these languages.

#Polarlights over #Berlin tonight!

Internal focalisation: The #POV camera sees everything going on around and inside a character (1st person and 3rd person limited POV). Zero focalisation: An omniscient #POV knows everything inside and outside all characters and potentially all past and future events. #creativwriting #specfic

External focalisation: The #POV works like a surveillance camera. It observes all characters but can only guess what’s going on inside their heads and hearts (3rd person, sometimes used in mystery novels).

#POV is a magical camera: It can zoom into characters’ heads and possibly know their past and their future. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focalis... #creativwriting #specfic #narratology

Unsolicited writing advice: no. 1026: POV is a camera. You get to decide what to point it at; how close to zoom in; when to cut; how many cameras to use. Make sure what you show makes sense; feels satisfying to the reader.

Just stumbled across this: "Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art, the art of words." (Ursula K. Le Guin 2014)

An academic publishing company asked me if I was interested in writing a textbook on AI and writing. NO, I said, I am too busy with other projects. What I should have said: I'm actually working on a story about an AI running Mars. Are you interested in opening your program to speculative fiction?

STARRED review in Library Journal for WE WILL RISE AGAIN, the speculative activism anthology edited by @drkarenlord.bsky.social, @older.bsky.social and me! Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...

Dear Writers of Horror, today I learned about a new academic field in the humanities: Devil Studies. Be inspired! 😈 networks.h-net.org/group/blog/2...

#Eurocon is going to be in #Berlin from July 2-5 2026! It's called "MetropolCon Berlin" and the first guests of honor have been invited--and agreed to come. Looking forward to #AikiMira and #BeckyChambers ! www.metropolcon.eu/en/ #MetropolCon #siencefiction #speculativefiction #fantasy

Books are our bread! Seen at #berlinartweek, created by Armenian artist Ani Ba.