When your brain starts to associate a task or a place or activity with trauma, it just does what it's been designed to do and tries to *stop you from doing that.* We talk about burnout sometimes like it's a moral failure, but it's literally a deep survival mechanism.

Everyone! Funding ends Fri Aug 7 @ 6PM PDT. We are so close to reaching our $60k goal (adding a novella), but our DREAM GOAL gets us original cover art and allows us to double pay contributors. We want to show more love to our authors & you can help @ kck.st/4wtYJ6X !

This post is so smart and kind. It catches some thoughts that had been bouncing in my head half formed and offered me words to solidify them. Feed the cat you will never get to pet.

Micaiah Johnson@micaiahjohnson.bsky.social · 2d ago

I was beaten to it by the amazingly generous @mollytempleton.com but yes! The blog I was nervous about yesterday is a reality today. She’s free. She’s long. She contains multiple cat photos. www.patreon.com/MicaiahJohns...

Gen Con day 2! Having a good time. Very tired.

If you are at #gencon and would like to chat with writers in a fun and friendly atmosphere in which we are specifically there to chat, do join us at the Marriott ballroom for Networking: The Gathering. It says it's a paid event, but the hush-hush secret is that it's totally not and all are welcome!

Come say hello!

Jim Zub@jimzub.com · 6d ago

GEN CON 2026 begins! BOOTH 1349 for your D&D, Skullkickers, and Conan the Barbarian needs!

Gen Con road trip begins. Tonight's destination is Nebraska.

Interesting shift I've noted in my own social media behavior: on algo driven sites like Insta or Threads, when I hit "like" it is because I'm flagging for the algo not because I'm communicating with the poster. Not sure I like that shift, but it is definitely what I'm doing in those places.

Anyone who describes their critique style as "brutally honest" doesn't get to critique my work. If I hear how a critique group is so helpful because they rip things to shreds, I'll never bring my work to that group. Helping others grow as writers does not require violence.

Ann Leckie@annleckie.com · 3w ago

There is a huge difference between "You look like crap" and "oh, hey, I see you like eyeliner, you know what would really look cool on you? Have you tried that?" It isn't actually that hard to be honest and rigorous in critique without plunging a knife into someone's writing heart.

There is a huge difference between "You look like crap" and "oh, hey, I see you like eyeliner, you know what would really look cool on you? Have you tried that?" It isn't actually that hard to be honest and rigorous in critique without plunging a knife into someone's writing heart.

Me, scrambling to press the "watch credits" button on my streaming service: "Don't you dare auto play! I'm not done having feelings here!"

listen, y’all, we need more reading courses and fewer writing courses. aeon.co/essays/silic...

Catching a moment to breathe.

This is my desk rock. It was found for me by a friend on a very hard day. Not shown: my coat pocket pebble and my purse smooth rock. And if we start on outdoor rocks...

Mika McKinnon@mikamckinnon.bsky.social · 3w ago

It’s Rock Day: Rock Check! Do you have your rock? Do you need a rock? Can you find a rock? I found this lovely porphyritic basalt in my washing machine. I love how the different crystal sizes tell a story of an eruption rudely interrupting cozy subterranean cooling. Photos & stories welcome.

Sunrise was beautiful on one of my morning walks this week.

What if a publisher you loved accidentally bought an AI story? 😱 It happened to Bona Books and I couldn’t be more impressed with their approach… Check out their shared blog to see how’s it’s done 👌🙌

Bona Books 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🤘🏼@bonabooks.bsky.social · 4w ago

Silence is the wrong response. That’s why today we are publishing ‘The Machines Are Coming For Your Masthead”, a report on our experiences, small press publishing in the age of AI. Read the blog. Download the report. Share your thoughts - we want to hear them. (20/20 - fin)

@ethankocak.com Do you know an ethical and responsible way to get a population of native lizards in my yard? Obviously "build habitat" is first, but once that is done can I acquire lizards to seed the population? Going to wild places and kidnapping lizards feels wrong.

My answer depends on context, whether I'm trying to connect with the person or trying to exit the conversation quickly. If I'm hoping for an exit, I want bland answers. If I'm trying to connect, I want an answer with hooks on which future conversational threads can hang.

Joe Koch@horrorsong.blog · last mo.

Writers, when people ask what you do for a living, do you admit you're a writer? Because I avoid answering or lie about it. Like you can't just say that, can you? To a total stranger?

Sent out my monthly newsletter! eomail4.com/web-version?...

The Forest at Home: a Letter from Sandra Tayler

Your monthly letter from Sandra

eomail4.com

Utah friends, if you're looking for a way to commemorate Juneteenth, get yourself and your money to the Black Owned Business Expo at The Gateway tomorrow. boslc.com/dl/88e6d4

BOSLC

Find Black Owned Businesses in Utah

boslc.com

Put in some work on Year of Creativity today. Howard (as usual) had excellent graphic design insights. www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...

Get Ready for A Year of Creativity

From Sandra Tayler - Get Ready for A Year of Creativity

backerkit.com

This looks like a fantastic event!

Linda D. Addison@nytebird45.bsky.social · 2mo ago

To register (scroll to our event): springwrites.org/events/zoom-...

Brain chemistry is off today and I'm more distracted than functional. Buying more books is a viable coping strategy... right?

Headed to Gen Con this year? Event Registration is open and there are plenty of opportunities to see the hosts of Writing Excuses! See all of them at once at our Podcast Panel or at Network the Gathering and get some really cool swag.

I need help identifying a creature! Seen in a suburban back yard in Utah. This looks like a California Ground Squirrel with some sort of head growth? Hydrocephaly?

This is the sort of sky that belongs in an Impressionist painting.

Got a message from a custom fashion textile designer who thinks that there is a good branding match and opportunities for collaboration between her work and... Schlock Mercenary a science fiction webcomic. (Yes its spam.)

Love this pride flag made from NASA images.

A pause to breathe and imagine the smell of flowers

Only $28 away from unlocking this Q&A.

Howard Tayler@howardtayler.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We're quite close to $45k on the Retrospective Sketchbook Kickstarter. That threshold is where I do a Zoom Q&A with backers *after* they get the PDF, and want to ask me for the deep deets that didn't make it into print. www.kickstarter.com/projects/how...