I've been recently diagnosed with POTS (after lifelong symptoms, so yay) and started wondering if this is why I could never ever do a cartwheel or dive into water. Googled it and Gemini butted in with the most unhinged hallucination.
Rebecca Makkai
@rebeccamakkai.bsky.social
Pulitzer finalist for THE GREAT BELIEVERS; new novel, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, out now. Artistic Director at StoryStudio Chicago. Trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. You should, too. rebeccamakkai.substack.com https://rebeccamakkai.com
We’re delighted that @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social—Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, bestselling author, and Chicago superstar—will be our #AWP27 keynote speaker. Heartfelt thanks to #AWP27 premier sponsor, @therumpus.net & Roxane Gay Books! conference.awpwriter.org/keynote2027....
Keynote
Rebecca Makkai is the author of the New York Times-bestselling I Have Some Questions For You as well as four other works of fiction. Her novel The Great Believers was one of the New York Times’ Best…
conference.awpwriter.org
If you live in Chicago and write or read, you need to come to Writers on Writing! The next one is TOMORROW (10/22) at 6pm, and I’ll be in conversation with Justin Torres 🧵
Clicked on the “cottagecore Halloween” tab on Etsy out of sheer curiosity and it turns out it’s brooms. Just 100% brooms.
Don’t forget to register for our Book Club Celebration! This year’s celebration will feature mocktails, trivia, crafts, a volunteer fair and an author panel with Toya Wolfe, @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social, David Ellis and Keir Graff. Learn more and register here: chi.gov/BCC26
Can writing be taught? Of course. But this is not my essay on the topic, it’s just an excuse to tell you three cool things I think you should know about 🧵 rebeccamakkai.substack.com/p/can-classi...
If you’re working on a memoir and feeling stuck, you should definitely sign up for @paullisicky.bsky.social's @storystudiochicago.bsky.social class which is all about memoir at the level of the sentence and the scene, and starts TOMORROW (10/14), on Zoom! www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas...
We need your help! The NYC DOE is planning to test AI on up to 50,000 students without asking for consent as part of their "pilot programs." Help us tell them no product testing on kids! Cancel the pilots! Sign the petition and share widely! @comixaction.com @gregpak.net @climatefamsnyc.bsky.social
Cancel the High School Pilots
Our high school kids are not guinea pigs for big tech. They shouldn't be required to beta test AI to line the pockets of billionaires or fuel construction of polluting data centers that threaten their...
actionnetwork.org
Standing ovation to whoever on the Etsy marketing team decided this would be a great day to feature their non-billionaire creators named Jeff 😂
Youngish Chicago artists (Writers! Musicians! Visual artists!) you need to apply to Luminarts Cultural Foundation. If you are 18-30 years old, and live within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop, you are eligible to win a $10,000 fellowship to support your work 🧵 luminarts.submittable.com/submit
So I genuinely thought, for several days, that I was seeing headlines about Meryl Streep playing someone Asian. Liberals defending it, the Xian right getting upset, which did seem a little weird. I need new reading glasses.
Once in a while I have some @storystudiochicago.bsky.social classes that I reallllllllly recommend but they're not from regular instructors so I need to <SHAKE YOU BY THE SHOULDERS> and make sure you're listening 🧵
North Shore (of Chicago) folks! On Sunday (9/27), I’ll be in conversation with @patrickryannyc.bsky.social to discuss his latest book BUCKEYE, at the Lake Forest Library at 2pm. BUCKEYE is a family epic of the highest and most enjoyable order… www.lakeforestlibrary.org/node/66158
Lake Forest Reads 2026 | Lake Forest Library
Lake Forest Library: inspiring lifelong learning, promoting the free and respectful exchange of ideas, and building community.
lakeforestlibrary.org
For years, everyone else in Chicago has known Sara Levine & I just never managed to cross paths with her, to the point that I was convinced she was everyone’s imaginary friend. I am thrilled to say I am now not only going to meet her but am going to interview her about her incredible book THE HITCH!
Once in a while I have some @storystudiochicago.bsky.social classes that I reallllllllly recommend but they're not from regular instructors so I need to <SHAKE YOU BY THE SHOULDERS> and make sure you're listening 🧵
TONIGHT at 7pm CT is @storystudiochicago.bsky.social's Virtual Open House! You’ll learn about our upcoming classes, programs and community events (some online, some in person in Chicago). It’s free, but register at the link below, & I hope to see you on Zoom tonight! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This might be the funniest one of these I've received. Joe Rogan apparently VERY moved by The Great Believers! 😂 I imagine it was my endorsement of the carnivore diet that sealed the deal.
I am so excited to be in conversation with Ankur Thakkar, whose debut novel BLOW YOURSELF UP is already long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel prize… 🧵 citylitbooks.com/events/58244...
I have outlined my last three novels in my Google calendar. I highly recommend it. Subst*ck below! rebeccamakkai.substack.com/p/write-your...
Today, America’s two largest school districts sent a message to the rest of the country that AI in schools is far from inevitable. When we organize and fight back, we win.
One of the five (!) interesting robots who reached out to me today to offer to expose my work to book clubs is ROBERT, ORGERNIZER. He can balance a plastic cup on one suspender! Classy!
Dolly Parton’s birthday was 1/19. What if we decide that Dolly Day every year involves gifting books to people? Like St George’s Day in Catalonia. Is anyone already on top of this?
Join us on Sept. 17 at 7 pm CT for our Back to School Night -- a FREE Zoom "open house." @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social will discuss upcoming workshops, events, and programs, and answer your questions. RSVP here: buff.ly/Ciul86y #writingcommunity
Come one, come all! @storystudiochicago.bsky.social is having a virtual open house on September 17th, and you’re invited whether you actually live in Chicago or if you live in the mountains of Virginia or in LA or even in Berlin… Now I’m just naming places🧵 www.storystudiochicago.org/free-events-...
Was trying to search my photos for my dog and it turns out my phone is exceptionally bad at dogs.
If you missed last night's event The Veiled Prophet: @devintoshea.bsky.social in Conversation with @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social, the recording is now live on our Youtube page! Stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ67...
The Veiled Prophet: Devin Thomas O'Shea in Conversation with Rebecca Makkai
YouTube video by Haymarket Books
youtube.com
When @devintoshea.bsky.social was my MFA student at Northwestern, he was writing a juicy novel about real secret society in St. Louis. That novel evolved into a deep dive nonfiction book that spills ALL the secrets 🧵 events.haymarketbooks.org/events/hayma...
I’m headed to TUSCANY in 2027 with Kevin Anderson & Association to teach writing and you can (and should!) join me 🧵 www.ka-writing.com/kaa-writers-...
Two online August writing classes you should sign up for TODAY! 1) Single-session class with the brilliant Daniel Levine on writing cinematic scenes (on the page)🧵 www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas...
