Andrew Maust (He/Him)

friends, please share ❤️👹:

everyone who follows my bsky account between now (1:08PM EST) and when i’ve crashed into bed with my yasso bar (8PM EST) will be entered into a raffle for a free full edit of 3k words or less

i’m tired of being unpopular

lfg

Sometimes the news is just great: Emma Burnett's "25 Peppercorns" has been shortlisted for the BSFA's Best Short Fiction award!

Congratulations @slashnburnett.bsky.social from all at Mythaxis!

To everyone else, it's a beautiful story, well worth a read (and your vote):

bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...

Promo image containing 2026 publication announcements in black and pink letters against a cream background, saying "Coming soon" and "One short-story collection as Maura Yzmore" and "Two spicy STEM novellas as Fiona Embers"

Exciting publishing news for 2026!

Short-story collection (as Maura Yzmore) and two spicy STEM romance novellas (as Fiona Embers) are all expected to come out in the first half of 2026! 🥳

Looking for books that are already out? books2read.com/fionaembers

#writesky #booksky 📚💙📚🌶📚
#romancelandia

need editing?

support small business, support small human (me)

not too late to kick off that resolution! check out my site and contact me, I don't bite

#editor #editing #speculative #literature #writing #fantasy #sciencefiction #horror

A friend recently asked me how I was doing.

And I said "I'm doing well, just angry."

Been angry a long time, friends. And ready to stay angry.

Trying to get better about boosting great stuff I read, especially when it comes from one of my friends.

Trying to balance boosting other people with not dwelling on social media has always been a struggle (as you can see from my lethargic Bluesky feed).

What We Talk About When We Talk About Conflict No novels were harmed in the making of this post

Great thoughts in Ashlee Lhamon's debut Substack post:

"We’ve all read absolutely sloggy stories about alien invasions and absolutely gripping ones about gardening."

Read the rest here:

thepulppit.substack.com/p/what-we-ta...

Some great stories here from @mynachang.bsky.social , @kcmeadbrewer.com , and @angelaliu.bsky.social!

Check out the whole list. Eugenia is one of my favorite writers, and her taste is immaculate.

Also, just a reminder that any writer can do an awards consideration post. I hope you take the time to look back at what you've published and accomplished this year.

Even if you don't win the Hugo or the Nebula, or the Best Story Featuring Newt, it's good to take time to recognize your hard work.

A Kindness, A Cruelty “The arrow is easy,” Elspeth said. “If it is a kindness, it is only in comparison to a cruelty.”

"A Kindness, A Cruelty," is a fantasy flash piece that appeared in @metastellar.bsky.social back in January. When an old dragon is at the end of its life, a tense conflict explores how to deal with this rare threat to the community

This one is 970 words.

www.metastellar.com/fiction/flas...

Eye of Newt | Ember “I caught one,” Maddie said triumphantly, holding a jar up. It was filled with water, and inside was a small green newt with black spots on its belly. Her shorts and shoes were muddy and soaked from…

"Eye of Newt," published in @emberjournal.org, is a short magical read about a young witch... who needs a newt's eye for a spell. For award consideration, it comes in at 1,480 words.

read.emberjournal.org/andrew-maust...

It's time for an awards eligibility post!

This year was a pretty dry one, with most of my acceptances coming in the back end of the calendar. That said, I have two small flash pieces that I'd like you to consider (and even if you don't nominate them, give them a quick read--they're fun!)

Fifteen Years

Just sitting at my desk crying because I decided to catch up on @xkcd.com after traveling last week and got hit with Fifteen Years.

Probably my favorite string of XKCD comics.

xkcd.com/3172/

I've had some writer friends with similar experiences. Reposting for visibility and also so folks who have had issues can contact Victoria.

Eye of Newt | Ember “I caught one,” Maddie said triumphantly, holding a jar up. It was filled with water, and inside was a small green newt with black spots on its belly. Her shorts and shoes were muddy and soaked from…

It's publication day! You can find my flash piece "Eye of Newt" in @emberjournal.org!

Huge thanks to the Ember team and to @hanmarin.bsky.social for helping me out with some much-needed edits!

You can read the story here:

read.emberjournal.org/andrew-maust...

ICYMI

I know things are hard right now. But just hold on, because soon we’re going to lose an hour of sunlight every day and it’ll all seem so much worse.

Through the Machine - Lightspeed Magazine “Steve, over here! Turn to your right. Can we get a smile?” He falls back on his training easily enough, turns to the cameras, gives them his famous crooked smile, tilts his head just so as the flashe...

Now live, both the print and audio versions of my story, “Through the Machine” (As featured by Gizmodo—link threaded). Again, If you only read one of my stories this year, let it be this one. And if you like it, please share. www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/thro...

I'm back with some September updates! Plus a deep dive into an AI cautionary tale.

September newsletter just dropped! In which I discuss some contract woes and take a deep dive into an AI nightmare. (Aside from the usual updates).
open.substack.com/pub/pacornel...

This is an interesting and important read if you want to know about contracts, negotiations and the ongoing situation regarding MRM.

I’ve made an update to this situation.
open.substack.com/pub/pacornel...

Far From the Fairgrounds by Andrew Maust The Bewilderness Awaits

I have a 1-pager about playing as circus kids lost in the woods Over the Garden Wall style. It's rules light and has a lot of room for shenanigans!

As a bonus, it's pay-what-you-want so you can scope it out for free!

ajmaust.itch.io/far-from-the...

Heartlines Spec and Radon meme

It's important to have a balanced SFF reading diet.

@heartlines-spec.com and Radon, when consumed together, will give you the full breadth of emotion each day

Today feels like a day for ominous positivity.

You will have a good day, you can't stop it.

Almost every time I see CNF, my mind goes to "Consensual Non Fiction" and I'm pretty sure that's not the intent, but I'm all for alternative titles and names for literary nonfiction.

This copy of issue 8 has traveled across multiple continents and found its way home to our editors. This was organized entirely by the Issue 8 authors themselves.

The most touching thing we've had happen in years

Why Dungeons & Dragons storytelling duo signed with Critical Role Dungeons & Dragons gurus Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford left their longtime home, Wizards of the Coast, to join Critical Role's Darrington Press.

Wow, free agency is absolutely wild this offseason.

just to be clear, she asked me to do this for a good cause (the well-being of actual nuns)

Always interesting to see posts like these. It's a hard grind out there. Keep writing, keep submitting.