and don't miss @donnacwrites.com on Mavi, @thobbsjourno.bsky.social on @mike-eagle.bsky.social, @ocksportello.bsky.social on Armand Hammer, @jackriedy.com on Mello Buckzz, @gardenerjams.bsky.social on Pink Siifu, @slgonsports.bsky.social on Ralfy, & @svetz.bsky.social on $ilkmoney, among many others

In the background of this photo of my kitten trying to crawl as close to me as possible is the laptop I intended to write my book on today.

I'm promising myself I'll make a big writing and editing push tomorrow. The only way to draft a manuscript is to draft it, sadly.

Tis the Halloween season for Dreadful Meadows. I lost to my wife by nearly 30 points. She had a wonderful engine humming along.

Cat helping me read this morning.

First game of Dicemancy: I won on the final turn. This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it. #boardgames

View from my writing desk this morning.

Added 333 words to my book about board games this morning. I'm working tirelessly on an essay about the "spheres of play" that all collide to give games a lasting impact well beyond being packed away. Play is a full ecosystem and I'm trying to capture that as best I can.

Me: I must write every day to count as an author, a human, a valuable member of society. Also me: I should have a little glass of juice in the yard and pretend my manuscript doesn’t exist.

View from my writing desk.

On a 90-day reading streak and absolutely delighted by the benefits of making daily reading a morning and evening ritual again.

Tis the season for Witchcraft! Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas. I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors. #boardgames

Added 374 words to my board games book project this morning. This essay about relearning how to play in three parts is trying to eat me alive, but I'll figure it out. Overall, writing about board games and their impact on my mental health has been an awesome exercise.

Played The Four Doors with my wife tonight. Narrowly won on standard difficulty! I so appreciate how big this game feels for a deck of cards and some pawns. There's a good 40 minutes of crunch and collaboration here. #boardgames

I added 381 words to my book project about playing board games and mental health. I've done some big structural changes to the manuscript over the weekend. Namely, I'm focusing the text on my 1,000 plays of Spirit Island and how they've shaped my life.

Fantastic Factories: dice placement, resource management, and satisfying combos. This game is very smooth and intuitive to learn. The solo is one of the simplest bots I've ever played against. Great game, even though I lost by a measly 2 points. #boardgames

First solo play of Gardlings! This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome. #boardgames

You really should read Shouldn't We Dance? to experience male friendship, grief and love in a way you never have before. It's elegant, masterful and deserves a spot in your library and life. Tip of the cap to author @donnacwrites.com for this tender novellette www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

I've had a handful of people send me really sweet messages about my fiction debut, SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? The prevailing comment has been, "what a beautiful way to write about grief." Grab a copy from @stanchion.bsky.social and see for yourself. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

I only added 12 words in an hour of writing this morning. I did, however, think very deeply about the structure and scope of this manuscript about board games and mental health. I realized I need to impose more limitations on my MS if I have any chance of drafting something enjoyable to read.

My fiction DEBUT has been out for one week. When I started this novelette on my typewriter in 2023, I never thought I'd be holding SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? in my hands. You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

I added 192 words and did a bunch of structural changes to my book project about living better by playing board games. I'm currently working on an essay about gaming as a safe space for learning how to take risks. It's awesome.

Quick game of Planted at 2p. I love this simple game of drafting and resource management. A total joy in terms of components as well. I won by 2! #boardgames

Afternoon game of Décorum. This co-op game thrives in the meta narrative that comes up with each scenario and the funny ways you can and can't communicate. Very immersing! #boardgames

Yesterday evening I explained my two current book projects to a few friends in the mental health space and they both said they were "enthralled." As someone who writes to help others feel seen, that was the best compliment.

Well, now that the Phillies season is sadly over I have more time to work on my latest book project about board games. It's a series of essays about better living through play.

My book is very pretty. It's also well-written! It also comes out tomorrow! SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? from @stanchion.bsky.social is about male friendship, grief, storytelling, and tripping into your bar cart in the wee hours of the morning. Get a copy here: www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

Today's the day. My fiction debut is officially out in the world. I spent the last 10 years publishing creative nonfiction. I didn't think I had fiction left in my bones, but SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? proved me wrong. I love this story. I hope you'll love it as well. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

Book club members are each receiving a pair of buttons with their copy of Shouldn't We Dance? by @donnacwrites.com.

Here's A Place For All My Books, which is tied with Saltfjord and Vantage as my favorite solo of 2025. This game is so tactile, puzzly, and wonderfully smooth to run solo. The theme is aces and it basically puts itself away during scoring. Simply wonderful. #boardgames

Now that my kid lit manuscript is with my agent, I can return my attention to my next book project: a series of creative nonfiction essays about how board games make life better.

Today's the day. My fiction debut is officially out in the world. I spent the last 10 years publishing creative nonfiction. I didn't think I had fiction left in my bones, but SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? proved me wrong. I love this story. I hope you'll love it as well. www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

My book is very pretty. It's also well-written! It also comes out tomorrow! SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? from @stanchion.bsky.social is about male friendship, grief, storytelling, and tripping into your bar cart in the wee hours of the morning. Get a copy here: www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

Holding your book in your hands never gets old. Infinite gratitude to @stanchion.bsky.social for believing in this story. SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? comes out next week.

Last game of the day: River Valley Glassworks with my wife. I won with my best score ever at 89. She put up at valiant effort at 81. I love this welcoming game anyone can learn, and get a lot of mileage out of introducing it to newer gamers. #boardgames

Dreadful Meadows solo: an utter delight. This game is everything I love from the quick time to table and the easy to run and understand bot. Resource management, contract fulfillment, and a great theme here. I also love this game at 2p. #boardgames

Wroth solo: beautiful game and challenging puzzle. I'm not good at area control games but the package and CTG production called to me. It is as hard as folks say solo, but I really don't mind. I would be keen to keep exploring factions and see if I can actually develop strategy. #boardgames

Presenting: my worst play of Hispania. I didn't play with tempo well and only focused on preventing loss instead of advancing my win condition. Lost anyway. Great amount of brain burn in a tiny box! #boardgames

Let's welcome ACCOMPLISHMENT SUNDAY with some book news ❤️ Contributor @writesloud.bsky.social was interviewed about her new collection FIRST KICKING, THEN NOT from @stanchion.bsky.social in @wirobooks.bsky.social 👏 buff.ly/PzLiHUC

The debut of a Stanchion x Street Cats appearance! Come say hi at Booth 166 of the Collingswood Book Fest on Saturday!

Get it yourself here: www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...

Ahhh people getting my books! Ahhhh

a shipping notification for @donnacwrites.com’s latest work is a great way to start the day

My fiction debut comes out in 5 days. My fiction debut comes out in 5 days! SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? is the book of my heart. There's still time to pre-order a discounted copy and support my small press @stanchion.bsky.social. It is a beautiful thing to be able to share writing.

Played The Four Doors at 2p tonight. This crunchier iteration of the Forbidden series is quickly rising as one of my favorites of 2025. It is also cat approved. #boardgames

55 hours of daily revisions. 21,540 words cut. 1,100 new words daily on average. 42,890 words total. I finally typed THE END on the second draft of my kid lit manuscript. What a marathon.

Here's all 12 games I played this month. Tea Witches was my most-anticipated play of the month. Spirit Island is my all-time favorite game at 2p with my wife. Vantage is a masterpiece and The Four Doors has replaced the Forbidden series for me. A good month overall! #boardgames

I added 1,467 words to my kid lit manuscript this morning. I'm approximately two scenes away from finishing the second draft. This revision has taught me so much about plot, urgency, and storytelling. I cannot wait to type THE END.

A quick game of A Gentle Rain. I find this game soothing and also very frustrating because I constantly back myself into corners. Skill issue. Still a sweet game. #boardgames

My first solo play of The Four Doors. The puzzle is dynamic as you try to tinker with swapping powers and maximizing your 3 actions. The escalation is very much so Matt Leacock. This game is bigger than its box! I consider that the greatest win for a weeknight play. This one is a gem. #boardgames