Marissa Dechant
@marissadujour.bsky.social
Writing the quiet parts out loud. Work forthcoming: Flash Frog, Stanchion, Does It Have Pockets, and Flash Fiction Magazine. Published: BULL Lit Mag, Beloit Fiction Journal, Coal Hill Review, and elsewhere. Substack: Robin’s Nest
Sharing my spooky season TBR this week—Wilkie Collins, Patrick Süskind, Ray Bradbury, and more! marissadechant.substack.com/p/2026-fall-...
The spooky stack: a TBR line up that I hope will haunt my dreams.
Wilkie Collins, Ray Bradbury, Patrick Süskind, and more.
marissadechant.substack.com
Love Devon Halliday's piece this week on how to give feedback - crucial, practical tips for critique groups, workshops, etc. Worth the read! devonhalliday.substack.com/p/how-to-giv...
How to Give Feedback
Best practices for giving editorial feedback on a book-length manuscript
devonhalliday.substack.com
After a rough week, grateful for the little things, like the fact that I don't hate the submission process. Spent the morning in Chill Subs and got my submission count for the year up to 72.
This week, I'm sharing my top picks for cozy, thoughtful literary fiction for your autumn TBR. I'm working on my horror/spooky picks next—fall makes for the best book reading! marissadechant.substack.com/p/cozy-lit-f...
Looking for cozy, thought-provoking lit fic? Here are three books for your autumn TBR.
Ann Patchett, Maggie O'Farrell, and Douglas Stuart—need I say more?
marissadechant.substack.com
A new short from yours truly, inspired by all the times my grandpa told me to smile and that other time a boy took me on a date to a sub shop in college and I watched him wax poetic with mayo on his mouth. Thanks, BULL Lit Mag!
MrBullBull@mrbullbull.bsky.social · 4w ago"Mama never forgot the smear of mayonnaise on his upper lip, how it hung there even while he drove her home, and her smiling but thinking, Can’t you feel that, don’t you know something’s off? That man became my daddy." - Marissa Dechant mrbullbull.com/newbull/flas...
I decided to write an hour per day in the week leading up to my vacation and documented it in this week’s article! (Also please ignore the .04 percent in the tagline. I famously cannot do math, and it’s since been fixed in the article itself lol.) open.substack.com/pub/marissad...
Seven good hours: follow along as I write my way toward vacation.
Because one hour is only .04 percent of my day, and I can commit to that, right?
open.substack.com
Sharing three recent podcasts this week whose storytelling capabilities speak to me as a writer. If you’ve listened to any of my recommendations, I’d love to hear your thoughts! marissadechant.substack.com/p/podcasts-f...
What makes a compelling story? These three podcasts show us the right ingredients.
New listening for the long commute, load of dishes, or road trip ahead.
marissadechant.substack.com
In-person workshops handled with care and full of live discussion are really really special.
Max Zell@maxzell.bsky.social · 2mo agoA whole buncha rad people came to workshop an awesome short story by @marissadujour.bsky.social at @writersinpgh.bsky.social's workshop tonight at Grist House despite the insane heat. What a blast, man. I love talking about stories so much.
One thing you can’t say about me is that I didn’t keep my pets well-read.
This week, I’m sharing how I planned for a week off of writing and how I also planned my return. Why so much planning involved in getting to relax? It might be a “me” problem, but hopefully this helps other high-strung writers enjoy their leisure time. marissadechant.substack.com/p/week-off-f...
I took a week off from writing. Here's what I learned.
My first intentional break from creating was just what I needed.
marissadechant.substack.com
Me: why is editing this story for workshop taking so much from me? Oh, there’s a literal chunk of MY HEART in this story and it’s emotionally draining!!
This week, how I'm preparing for a week off from writing. (Hint: It involves more writing.) Because rest is important even when the thing you're doing is sitting and staring at words you strung together. marissadechant.substack.com/p/when-to-rest
When to rest: a necessary interlude to restore your creative spirit this summer.
How to take an actual break from writing, thinking about writing, and feeling guilty for not writing.
marissadechant.substack.com
Anne Lamott said something about how we don’t need to try harder to write, we just need to resist less. Girl I’ve been resisting since I got the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck, this shit is hard.
I’ve distilled my five years in four different writing workshops into this post. Will it help you? Maybe. Should you read it regardless? Yes! marissadechant.substack.com/p/writing-wo...
Writing workshops: the good, the bad, and the funky.
The pros and cons of in-person vs. online, synchronous vs. asynchronous from someone who's done it all.
marissadechant.substack.com
Just actually write down the things you are thinking. That's how you do it
At the beginning of the year, I made it a goal to get three short stories accepted into literary magazines. Halfway through the year, where do I stand? marissadechant.substack.com/p/2026-summe...
We're halfway through 2026. Let's look at my submission stats.
Where am I in meeting my acceptance goal for the year?
marissadechant.substack.com
I am making matcha cookies! Come eat my matcha cookies!!!
Max Zell@maxzell.bsky.social · 3mo agoThis weekend! Come through! We're gonna have a blast
My husband and I went to West Virginia last weekend and enjoyed a slower paced getaway. My thoughts below! marissadechant.substack.com/p/you-need-a...
Chronic over-thinker? You need a 'boring' vacation.
Removing the choice, pressure, and performance of the 'perfect' getaway.
marissadechant.substack.com
"My dad is the last of our family to see Chris in February 1985. My dad is 23, Chris, 27." This week, I share my thoughts on Harrison Hill's "The Oracle's Daughter," a book detailing the cult that my uncle took part in for 30 years. marissadechant.substack.com/p/the-oracle...
The Oracle's Daughter: my experience reading about the cult that took my uncle.
On family heartbreak and the weirdness of memory.
marissadechant.substack.com
My reminder to you (fellow creatives) to eat a vegetable, plus my recipe for chocolate blended oats, which are basically pudding. Read below! marissadechant.substack.com/p/taking-car...
Taking care as writers: are you all right over there?
Finding a sustainable routine while nurturing your passion for making up stuff.
marissadechant.substack.com
Currently reading The Oracle’s Daughter, a book detailing the cult that my uncle joined and whom I never got to meet. My dad and aunt are referenced in the notes, having been interviewed by the author.
Stephen King@stephenking.bsky.social · 4mo agoTHE ORACLE'S DAUGHTER, by Harrison Hill: This story about the rise and fall of an evangelical cult is terrifying and all true. I couldn't put it down. It would make a hell of a movie.
I’ve been dealing with a bit of creative burnout lately. Here’s out I’m slowly crawling out of it! marissadechant.substack.com/p/cure-for-w...
Writer's block, burnout, beyond inspiration: how to bite back.
Diving back into your creative routine.
marissadechant.substack.com
Hey, Pittsburgh writers! Check out writersinpittsburgh.org! If you're looking for a consistently meeting writing workshop, a book club, local write-ins and writing related events, or just wanna make more writer friends, WiP has all that and more! All writers. All genres. Come through!
Writers in Pittsburgh – A friendly group of local writers
writersinpittsburgh.org
If you’re experiencing writer’s block, take a look at what you’re reading. Instead of exciting you, is it slowing you down, confounding you, frustrating you? If you’re not completely taken by a book you’re reading right now, that may be your answer.
How do you change up your daily routine to prepare for summer? marissadechant.substack.com/p/summer-rou...
Planting seeds for a quiet summer routine.
Walking, writing, and quality time as a grounding practice.
marissadechant.substack.com
Eating delicious things at restaurants and remaking them at home for cheaper. 🤠
