I feel like there's a short story to be written here.
03.02.2026 20:34
👍 1
🔁 0
💬 1
📌 0
I feel like there's a short story to be written here.
Dear Greg,
We wouldn't recommend you either.
Sincerely,
Shoelaces
The wonderful @gregvaneekhout.bsky.social, who was one of my Clarion instructors, gracefully signed and sent a copy of Weird Kid, which was described by one of my sixth graders as, 'The first book he's ever actually liked'. I love my job(s).
Faces cropped out for obvious reasons.
Apparently a couple of people have received emails from @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social soliciting money in exchange for marketing/editorial help. For the record, that is not a service we currently offer, and those emails are scams. Ignore them. Emails from me always come from sam@thecosmicbackground.com
Breaking my social media embargo to say that the ending of Stranger Things is the worst thing I've ever seen, and I literally sat and watched my grandfather die. Gonna teach a new writing class on how not to do any of that audience-winking cynical happy-ending bullshit.
This review in Tangent (which I've never heard of) by David Wesley Hill (who I've never heard of) is a prime example of a talentless hack attacking a story he doesn't understand because it makes him feel stupid. Spoiler: He is stupid. @diabolicalplots.com.
tangentonline.com/e-market-mon...
Little known fact: @samasherwriter.bsky.social was so distraught by the closure of Daily Science Fiction that he wouldn't stop whingeing about it. So @crsutton.bsky.social told him to start a magazine or shut the fuck up. And that's how they started magazine. That and Asher selling his shoe
Do you have a floor? Because I'd just lie on the floor. Bonus if there's a pillow.
i still haven't seen anything on this front and it's feeling kinda dismal. it's really unlikely i'm gonna get out of this situation without hiring legal help, and i'm setting aside what money i can but it's really a drop in the bucket. shares and donations are deeply appreciated no matter how small.
Please go give these lovely people some money so they can keep putting out excellent work.
My daughter and I have grown a lot this year. Not even close to your scale in our little suburban yard, but still. It's satisfying.
In case you missed it, we're now using Ko-fi and we're pushing OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to June 2026. This is an open-ended funding situation which worked great for us for our first anthology, OF SHADOWS, STARS, AND SABERS, and also leads to faster author payouts! Let's get this book made.
'Pumpkin spice season' has always felt ridiculous, but this year in particular the whole idea of this being news makes me want to vomit. We're all broke, and terrified, and sliding into oblivion while the world burns. But oh look, cinnamon.
Let's focus on supporting each other this year. Indie authors, publishers, magazines & editors need to stay connected! Keep yourself integrated into the SFFH world by reading Locus! Support our nonprofit and help us create the network we all deserve... https://locusmag.com/
A screenshot of the cosmic background's statistics.
A screenshot of magazine info
Not to toot @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's horn too hard, but we respond faster, and are more reliable than the vast majority of magazines. We have statistics to prove it. We also pay writers $0.10 a word, and pay our artists $100 per piece.
Earn/beg/steal do whatever you've gotta do. I used to feel embarrassed about crowdfunding the magazine but I've come to accept poverty as a part of life.
Space Unicorn!
PLEASE SHARE! Writers! Uncanny Magazine is OPEN to Short Story Submissions from August 25 to September 8! We can't wait to read your stories!!! buff.ly/xB0IZOX
*parents were mostly so blase. Sleeves was a really weird autocorrect move.
I enjoyed it, but those sleeves were mostly so blase about finding their children it kind of took me out of the movie. That one mom who wouldn't share her camera feed with the dad? Like your Ring privacy is more important than your kid? And nobody noticed them all run in one direction?
Even when I do make a little scratch from writing, I don't quit my terrible day jobs. The terrible day jobs don't rely on inspiration, or talent, or the muse or whatever.
Can confirm, I have several other jobs. The nice thing about being a writer, though, is that when people ask me what I do, I don't have to say 'soul-crushing minimum wage trudgery which tarnishes my soul' and can just point them at my first book.
I had one of those. Did yours also have birds on it?
I don't think I can be a writer anymore. Sorry everyone.
We need less than $800 to get us to our basic goal of existing for another year. That is so close. And yet, as they say, really fucking far away.
I'd like to remind all of our writers that @charliejane.bsky.social just called you bold and startling.
Thank you so much!
Over halfway there! This is a fabulous magazine doing excellent work -- support or share, if you can!
Ai is the current guest editor @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and look how awesome they are. If you want us to keep having awesome guest editors, maybe check out our year 3 fundraiser.
gofund.me/e5c7b7a3
As part of @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's fundraising efforts, we're delighted to offer our whole-ass guide on writing successful flash fiction, released in parts at every $400 interval. Here's part 1.
www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start
The winter is definitely a little grim, I can't argue that. Could be worse though. Could be Scotland. (Which is basically the tagline for Ireland).