I just sold a story to a publication that I submitted to on January 29th. That's 7 months! I'd honestly already marked it as a CNR. Super pleased about that as I really enjoy this one and I've submitted it so many places. Yay! Finally!
Karin Robinson
@karinjr.bsky.social
Sci Fi Fantasy author. Recovering podcaster. Former @demsabroad UK Vice Chair. Edelman Senior Director of Strategy. Mum. Cat lady. Represented by @ericshowers.bsky.social Building myself a Twitter life raft...
A space has come up at the last minute at my writers retreat in France next month; details here! www.retreatfrance.co.uk/yoga-mindful...
Writing Retreat - Speculative Fiction — Le Verger
retreatfrance.co.uk
So... it's been a dramatic week for me, culminating in emergency surgery for a detached retina. As a result, I am now home pretty much on bedrest at home while I wait for the puffiness to go down and my vision to come back. How's YOUR week going?
This perfectly describes my own relationshop with the icon that is Dolly Parton. It's hard to believe she's gone.
John Scalzi@scalzi.com · last wk.I ended up having more extended thoughts on Dolly Parton over on Facebook and I thought I would share them here as well.
Delighted to say that my haunted beach house story will be published in this excellent anthology, which is coming out on September 4th. Get your preorders in now, people! a.co/d/05fJlaGU
I can't understand why anyone would care about this? It's not a meaningful record? We've had machines faster than humans for a long time now? Am I missing some reason why this is noteworthy? Is it a meaningful milestone in the development of robotics?
Phil Burton-Cartledge@philbc3.bsky.social · 2w agoWhat's the number of robotics teams competing? 666 you say?
When they send you the draft conference schedule and the only panel you've been scheduled on is happening at the same time as the reading you've been scheduled to do. Lolz.
Here's a little thing I wrote, for your enjoyment...
Reach Your Apex@reachyourapex.bsky.social · 3w agoThe community drabble for today is, "Damian's Gambit" by Karin J Robinson. The theme was "gambit." Find Karin J Robinson at faerypolitic.substack.com Care to drabble with us? Join the fun at reachyourapex.com/DRBL #writingprompt #drabble
This morning, I woke up with an idea in my head. And today I wrote that idea (it's a short play). I just wrote the whole thing - from the germ of an idea inspired by something I saw yesterday to a 10-minute piece of theatre that came out of my little brain. AI could never make me feel like this.
You guys... I am working on an unannounced personal writing project and OK, I am going to have to announce it soon because I am SO EXCITED about how it is coming together! So I guess... watch this space? I'll post about it on my Substack soon. faerypolitic.substack.com
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This is a stupid and offensive idea, but also: why only target girl's sports? If we are going to impose a huge burden on the ability to play a sport at school level, shouldn't the burden be equal? I think NO kid should get tested, but if every girl is getting tested, then every boy should be too.
Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social · last mo.An initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play
I wrote a 5K+ word story specifically intended for a particular magazine. And I'm happy with the story, but now I don't think it's a great fit for the publication I wrote it for! Do I 1) rewrite it to be a better fit b) just let that go and submit to other pubs or c) send to them anyway bc why not?
"During their third summer at the Cromer Pier Theatre, Cassandra Burns informed Gareth Fisher that she would no longer let him to cut her into pieces and put her back together again. 'It's banal. The sawing a girl in half trick? Come on.'" www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/07/a-sp...
A Sprinkling of Stardust by Karin J. Robinson
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
fictionontheweb.co.uk
In 1970, a young woman was killed after opposing the war in Cambodia. *President Nixon had publicly referred to some anti-war college protesters as “bums.” Her father asked: “Is dissent a crime?” History does not always repeat itself exactly, but it often echoes. Are we listening? #SheShed
Proud to say that my story A Sprinkling of Stardust is featured this week on Fiction on the Web. I love this story, which is about ambition and what makes a good life and features campy end-of-pier theatre and also a wizard. www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/07/a-sp...
A Sprinkling of Stardust by Karin J. Robinson
Short stories hand-picked from authors around the world. Submissions accepted. Humour, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and everyday life.
fictionontheweb.co.uk
There are no "grand"s in my story, but plenty of "great"s. Here's Roo deploying her sarcasm about their course of action...
✨#WIPSnips✨ A Daily Writing Share Tag@wipsnips.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe #WIPSnips word for July 22nd is "grand" #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Oooh, this is cool! Waterstones is running a pre-order campaign for the Helen of Troy anthology from Flame Tree that's coming out in September. I've got a story in this that I'm really proud of - from the POV of an aging Helen decades after the war. Just enter SUMMER26 as your discount code.
Me at the start of last night's final: I'll be equally happy no matter who wins because I don't have a strong preference between Spain and Argentina. Me near the end: Argentina are dicks and if Spain loses I will riot. Fortunately, we got to the right outcome.
Happy to say that I've won an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future. Last year I achieved a Semi-Finalist place for my Lesbians in Space story, so this is two years in a row or recognition from this prize. writersofthefuture.com/writers-of-t...
Writers of the Future 2nd Quarter Winners Announced for Volume 43 | Writers & Illustrators of the Future
The judging results are in! And here are the 2nd Quarter 2026 Writers of the Future Contest winners for Volume 43. Congratulations to you all!
writersofthefuture.com
"Verify your age" Sticks a pencil in the spokes of a cassette tape and turns....
John Scalzi@scalzi.com · 2mo ago"Verify your age" Produces rotary phone, flawlessly dials a phone number
Every time I even THINK about Jordan Henderson falling over an advertising hording and injuring his wrist during the match celebrations, without setting foot on the pitch, I break into fits of giggles. Does this make me a terrible person?