Tessera

C.J. Subko

@cjsubko.bsky.social

Writer of SFFH. Snarkwitch. Psych PhD. Approachable goth. Artomancer. Words in Small Wonders, Penumbric, The Deadlands, Skull & Laurel Member of HWA, SFWA, Codex www.cjsubko.com https://cjsubko.beehiiv.com

28917 Posts5144 Follower 2443 Folgt

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 2h ago

I turned old words into pretty new words! #writing

There are no streetlights in Michigan, so the stars were floodlights. Soon, they would become unrooted and flash down to Earth.
Michael and I, we set up our camping chairs and each cracked a beer.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 7m ago

As long as we have momentum... I wrote another quick letter to the HWA. Feel free to steal.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 38m ago

Q3. I basically mine my history for things that WERE horrific or COULD HAVE been horrific if they'd happened to someone in worse circumstances. That's basically my current novel... #HorrorWritersChat

Mary Wyrd (she/her)@marywyrd.bsky.social · 2h ago

Making it personal. Q3: #HorrorWritersChat - In what ways has your own history (past) impacted or inspired your horror writing? Examples: giving a character your childhood trauma, reimagining an experience with a different ending.

Question Three. In what ways has your own history (past) impacted or inspired your horror writing? Examples: giving a character your childhood trauma, reimagining an experience with a different ending.

Quote post your answer and include the hashtag #HorrorWritersChat - NO links or covers! Save your self promo for the outro (after answering the questions). Please LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on other posts.

Background: The outside of a small gothic mausoleum. The photo is taken from the corner, showing the arched entrance on the right and an arched window on the left side. Duotone filter: berry and black.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 39m ago

I always give them a lot of backstory, even if it never makes it into the story. At least, for my novel characters. My shorts characters usually have at least a cursory wound and such. e.g. Sebastian of my novel was a priest who left for his (consensual) lover...and was rejected #HorrorWritersChat

Mary Wyrd (she/her)@marywyrd.bsky.social · 2h ago

Even fictional characters have a past. Q2: #HorrorWritersChat - How much history, how much of a past, do you give your horror characters? Share an example.

Question Two. How much history, how much of a past, do you give your horror characters? Share an example.

Quote post your answer and include the hashtag #HorrorWritersChat - NO links or covers! Save your self promo for the outro (after answering the questions). Please LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on other posts.

Background: The outside of a small gothic mausoleum. The photo is taken from the corner, showing the arched entrance on the right and an arched window on the left side. Duotone filter: berry and black.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 40m ago

I'm C.J.! I write all kinds of horror actually, I haven't really nailed down a niche. My current novel is contemporary/supernatural/religious Two stories I've loved, brain is blanking there are so many others: grimscribepress.com/issues/ www.thedarkmagazine.com/the-ribbon-r... #HorrorWritersChat

Issues

VASTARIEN: Volume 7, Issue 0 Print Edition (shipping and handling included, regardless of address) Kindle Edition – PAY WHAT YOU CAN ePub Edition – PAY WHAT YOU CAN Vastarien Vol. 7, Is…

grimscribepress.com

Mary Wyrd (she/her)@marywyrd.bsky.social · 3h ago

Welcome to Horror Writers Chat. It’s time to explore the past. Q1: #HorrorWritersChat - Introduce yourself, the horror you write, and share up to three historical horror fiction stories you’ve enjoyed. (Horror set in the past.)

Question One. Introduce yourself, the horror you write, and share up to three historical horror fiction stories you’ve enjoyed.
Quote post your answer and include the hashtag #HorrorWritersChat - NO links or covers! Save your self promo for the outro (after answering the questions). Please LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on other posts.

Background: The outside of a small gothic mausoleum. The photo is taken from the corner, showing the arched entrance on the right and an arched window on the left side. Duotone filter: berry and black.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 5h ago

Meet the narrator and the first character of THE GHOST OF HIGHTOWER POND, my upcoming #horror novella! 🖤 Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/25... Amazon preorder: www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6PC6JJJ Bookshop preorder: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 1h ago

Urgh had to do a surprise meeting through HorrorWritersChat but I'll catch up on the prompts after my SECOND surprise meeting

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 2h ago

I turned old words into pretty new words! #writing

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 3h ago

1 like = 1 answer help me get through this training

ELwolfsblood |Romantasy Author|@elwolfsblood.bsky.social · yesterday

I liked that reading game so much I made a writing one to share around. 1 like = 1 answer. Please feel free to share this around, I made it myself and I would be happy to see it spread.

1. what is your dominant hand?
2. How young were you when you started writing for pleasure?
3. What’s the first thing you remember writing or have evidence of writing? (Bonus if you show us)
4. How do you write? Straight back at the keyboard or gremlin mode under your blankets with your phone?
5. What’s your favorite thing to write for fun?
6. Have you ever written something out of spite? Tell us about it.
7. What’s your favorite writing snack?
8. What does your writing space look like? describe your physical environment
9. Accessories sold separately: what are your writing accessories?
10. Imagine you get famous as a content creator: describe your videos
11. Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever been bitten by the writing bug?
12. When you aren’t writing where can we find you?
13. Write in a void or write with a village?
14. Your most recently created OC has come to life, you react how?
15. When you’re deep in the flow of writing, what disturbs you?
16. If your book/story was a mixed drink what would it be?
17. Name your muse or talk about your inspirations
18. If a mind reader could currently read your mind, what would they get?
19. When writing acoustic do you prefer pen or pencil? Maybe you like to write in marker?
20. Have you ever had any health issues that caused you to have to stop writing? How did you cope?

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 4h ago

I have a story in this Ligotti-inspired anthology and it's a really good antho, you should check it out www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...

We Will Speak Again of The Red Tower

"The ruined factory stood three stories high in an othe…

goodreads.com

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 4h ago

I swear half my job is rescheduling meetings

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 5h ago

If you like my pointed letters, wait until you see my horror novella 😂 Written by a human for humans Bookshop e-book preorder: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

The Ghost of Hightower Pond

Cordelia Delacroix has only been in London for a season when plague strikes. Desperate to escape both the plague and her declining financial situation, she accepts a mysterious invitation to join a pa...

bookshop.org

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 7h ago

My letter to the HWA president. Can't keep my mouth shut I guess.

Dear HWA President Wood,

First of all, as an HWA member since 2023, I'm a little weary to open my inbox today to be openly chastised by someone who purports that using precious water and electricity for diagnosing Alzheimer's is equally important to determining if a writer's synopsis has some plot holes. I work in healthcare. At a hospital, in fact. Many areas of neuroscience have introduced pattern-recognition AI technologies that can improve diagnostic validity over and above the human eye. The research is nascent, but promising. We just discussed a lot of it today.

However, there's (at least) one thing that AI cannot do better than a human, and that's write a novel. Any component of a novel. In order for ChatGPT and other AI programs to "write" novels, they've had to steal millions of pages of copyrighted material

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 18h ago

The exact text of the email I sent about the HWA newsletter tonight.

As a member of the HWA since 2023, I'm confused as to why I opened my inbox to read a pro-AI screed written by someone advertising their generative AI usage and their forthcoming AI writing app. Not only is this tantamount to a conflict of interest for a trustee to be given what amounts to free advertising space, but it's also perplexing, as the HWA has pretty clear policy against using AI: https://horror.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FINAL-edited_HWA-AI-Policy-V5-PDF-2.pdf

It's also notable that the tone of the "essay" was antagonistic and at times outright insulting to the reader. As a dues paying member of a professional organization, I expect a certain standard of professionalism from the organization's official communications. I'm deeply disappointed in this "In the Trenches" and all its implications.

Best,
C.J. Subko
HWA Member

David, Robot Fighter 2026 A.D.@davidbusboom.bsky.social · 7h ago

Yes. More of this. I won't be renewing my membership if this goes unaddressed.

C.J. Subko@cjsubko.bsky.social · 7h ago

My letter to the HWA president. Can't keep my mouth shut I guess.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 7h ago

My letter to the HWA president. Can't keep my mouth shut I guess.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 8h ago

After seeing the author of the screed troll people on the HWA Facebook, I think I should have sent my more scathing version...

C.J. Subko@cjsubko.bsky.social · 18h ago

The exact text of the email I sent about the HWA newsletter tonight.

Holly Lyn Walrath @hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 21h ago

There is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.

The real enemy isn’t your buddy who is using AI to make a book cover; the enemy is the Powers-That-Be who thrive on dividing everyone, especially in the United States. Look at how divided everyone in the US got over politics over the past ten years, and it’s now trickled to other countries. No more, are you a fellow human? Nope, it’s who did you vote for? Well, then you must be a hateful asshole. Instant block.

But who’s the asshole?

Every week, the gatekeepers of horror writers have some new witch hunt. Sometimes it’s a good thing to suss out shitty publishers, editors, and agents. Yet, not ALL shitty ones are sussed out because, you know, there are consequences to getting all the shitty people shut down. Some people still like the opportunities to get published or represented even if it means going with the most despicable people because the gatekeepers didn’t get them shut down, or sometimes, don’t even notice. It all depends on who is buttering the toast.

The past few weeks have been so tedious with all the gatekeepers out in full force. They are whipping people up into a frenzy, and more division is happening when it comes to AI. Of course, the irony is that the gatekeepers are denouncing AI, yet they are doing it on Facebook, which uses AI. They are likely typing their pretentious screeds on their phones, which also use AI. They likely sell their books on Amazon, which also uses AI.

AI is here. It’s been coming since I was typing on a manual typewriter. You can let the robots win by becoming less human by cutting out all your friends, fans, family, and readers because they dared to try out AI, or you can be a human being and let people explore and figure things out for themselves.

Hollywood is already embracing AI.

Many companies use AI.

AI can be useful for tedious tasks such as creating listings on eBay or Poshmark. Do you shop or sell on those platforms? They totally use AI now, so you’d better boycott them too.

I went to the AI panel at Stokercon, and of course, most of the panelists were vehemently anti-AI. An audience member stood up and pointed out that they learned about the panel because they saw it on Sched, which is the app that the HWA/Stokercon uses, and THAT is AI. Doesn’t HWA have an anti-AI stance? Oh, but of course, THAT is okay; it’s all the other AI stuff that isn’t.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 17h ago

My gnome is almost done! I added the shamrock after much trial and error. Now I just need to attach his little feeties and he's all done!

big crocheted gnome in green and lime green with a shamrock on top of his hat

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 18h ago

The exact text of the email I sent about the HWA newsletter tonight.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 19h ago

Wow, writing a frustrated, disappointed counterpoint to the HWA newsletter was not where I thought I'd be on a Tuesday night, and yet

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 20h ago

Time for some crochet. A little tactile creativity can make everything feel better, and I have a gnome to finish!

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 22h ago

Let's play a game. Which of these 500 stressors is the reason I'm currently on edge?

Joe Koch @horrorsong.blog · 2d ago

In case you missed it, here's the PW announcement! We're already finalizing the ARC & cover. I am excited. I am ready to make you suffer.

PM deal: Joe Koch's "Dead Boys Don't Cry" a cosmic-erotic slasher and queer anti-murder mystery told through interlocking stories pitches as "Cruising" meets Robbe-Grillet's "The Erasers" to Clash Books for publication June 2027.

Undertow Publications 🇨🇦@undertow.bsky.social · 3d ago

The latest @locusmag.bsky.social — which you should subscribe to — has interesting book deal news, including forthcoming titles from @elliottgish.bsky.social @zinrock.bsky.social and @horrorsong.blog

Vivian Moira Valentine @itsviviactually.bsky.social · yesterday

Queerly beloved, we are ONE MONTH away from the release of the highly anticipated second installment of Shadows Over Ravenkirk! Have you preordered your copy yet?

Vivian Moira Valentine@itsviviactually.bsky.social · 3w ago

Cool people love Shadows Over Ravenkirk! books2read.com/SOR1 books2read.com/SOR2

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · 24h ago

Every time we talk about generative AI at work, my brain gets a little sadder (I'm in healthcare)

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · yesterday

#IndieAugust offerings from moi!

C.J. Subko@cjsubko.bsky.social · 2d ago

Where can you get THE GHOST OF HIGHTOWER POND? A Gothic #horror #novella out October 13? Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/25... Amazon preorder: www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6PC6JJJ Bookshop preorder: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... All reposts appreciated!

Jen Donohue @authorizedmusings.bsky.social · yesterday

check out my novellas! Run With the Hunted is an ongoing series authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/p/run-with-h... The Drowned Heir, Between the Blood and the Sun, and Amusement Park Arcana each stand alone books2read.com/DrownedHeir books2read.com/BetweentheBl... books2read.com/AmusementPar...

Novellas (with pictures of book covers): The Drowned Heir, Between the Blood and the Sun, Amusement Park Arcana, and all 8 Run With the Hunted covers together in a grid.

C.J. Subko @cjsubko.bsky.social · yesterday

If you want a murder mystery for teens that was actually written FOR TEENS, check out Susan Dennard's THE EXECUTIONER'S THREE! 💙📚 Out in paperback today: us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

The Executioners Three

An instant New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller!"An irresistible blend of small-town murder mystery and spine-tingling supernatural elements."—K...

us.macmillan.com