Allison Pottern
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apottern.bsky.social
Allison Pottern
@apottern.bsky.social
Writer, reader, marketing coach, tea drinker | Grub Street & Metrowest Writers Guild instructor | VP '23 | Digging: fennel tea, dragons, salted caramel, revision | she/her #specfic #sff

linktr.ee/newyearnewyoustories
pottern.com | pottern.substack.com
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Just booked a writing retreat, so, er, I'd love to fit in a couple more clients/workshops for fall to help offset the cost!

I'm a writer, editor, & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Change is... good? Huh... who knew????

But yeah, we got some like, changes coming!

magazine.trollbreath.com/change-to-ou...
Change to Our Submission Periods - Trollbreath Magazine
Longer Submission Period Coming in 2026!
magazine.trollbreath.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
I'm beyond thrilled that my story, The Dark House, is available for your listening pleasure on the latest episode of It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton! There's a bunch of cool behind the scenes stuff on @wilwheaton.net's patreon as well. Happy Spooky Season!

www.patreon.com/posts/142200...
"The Dark House" by A.C. Wise (Ad-Free) | It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton
Get more from It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Submissions for the 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards are now OPEN! (Link in bio, read guidelines)

We are thrilled to announce the jury for the 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards!

Jamal Hodge
Molly Tanzer
Craig Laurance Gidney
Terri Leigh Relf
Mike Arnzen
Sadie Hartmann
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A Boston-based initiative, encouraging those who can afford it, to have a box of pantry items available for trick-or-treating families who might need the extra support!

www.facebook.com/share/g/1Yzg...
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Platform Decay, the eighth entry in the Murderbot Diaries series by @marthawells.com , will arrive on May 5, 2026. 🔥

And if you haven't seen it, the first season of the TV adaptation, available since this summer on AppleTV, is very fresh.
October 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Leaving a review for a banned book does more than share your opinion; it helps protect the freedom to read.

Every thoughtful review helps ensure that silenced voices are still heard. So if you loved (or even just read) a banned book, leave a review today.

#FreedomToRead #BannedBooks
October 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Here’s this month’s blog post of open submission calls for #SFF, #horror and #mystery writers! This one features fabulism, tarot, terrifying humans and cheerful apocalypses.

timjmajor.com/2025/10/24/o...

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity
Please share!
Open submission calls for writers: October 2025
Here’s this month’s list of the most interesting open submissions calls for writers I’ve found!Sign up for my email newsletter if you want advance notice of open calls like these. Strange PilgrimsT…
timjmajor.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Fall Cover Reveal! magazine.trollbreath.com/membership-a...
Support our work bringing short fiction, essays, and poetry! Join now at $5 an issue, $20 a year
August 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Like, maybe a 2? I'm pretty friendly, folx.
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October 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
When you are a new creator, whether in prose, comics, or other media, it can be very tempting to agree to every convention or other event that you're asked to do. Exposure is great, right? And it's wonderful to be wanted.
October 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Considering crowdfunding your podcast? Not sure where to start? Let me help! I'm running an online workshop all about crowdfunding podcasts (which I have done MANY times)!

If you're Trans, BIPOC, or low income, you can DM me for a 50% off code, no questions asked.

ko-fi.com/s/539f5ea152
October 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
What's it like inside your head?
October 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Imma be writing retreating next week (this novel isn't going to write itself, unfortunately) but would love to connect to help you market your writing once I'm back! Sometimes its just about finding your voice to talk about creative work. Other times it requires spreadsheets. Let's get you on track!
Just booked a writing retreat, so, er, I'd love to fit in a couple more clients/workshops for fall to help offset the cost!

I'm a writer, editor, & marketing coach. My sweet spot is helping authors w forthcoming titles navigate the book marketing engine + plan for launch. (pottern.com) 🧵
October 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Oh, hello
October 12, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Novel #1: The first half would smell of daffodils, wind, and ocean; the second half would smell of poppies, petrichor and graveyards.

WIP so far: Brine, sun-baked stone, hot plastic, and, distantly, the fishy smell of a long dead sea.
What would *your* book smell like if you engaged in a mega weirdo scented pages promotional campaign?
October 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
Do you work at a small U.S. liberal arts college or at a university with 5,000 or fewer undergrads? If so, check out Rare Book School’s 𝗠. 𝗖. 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀!

Application deadline: 𝟳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

rarebookschool.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
<totters out onto porch>

<settles into rocker>

<thumps cane a few times>

Let's talk about what the process of submitting short fiction used to look like, shall we? And about what it looks like now.
October 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I have had the distinct honor of reading this book in various draft forms and it. is. so. good. Nettle has gotten herself into a hot mess, but this book is a thrill ride. @ash-howell.com is a writer to watch (or, you know, rep! get on it agents!)
A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC x HOUSE M.D.

Days before graduation, blood-magic medical student Nettle accidentally girlbosses herself into the middle of a murderous conspiracy. Her best friend has been hiding his radical political activism. And worst of all, she’s *really* broke.

#DVpit #F #A #LGBTQ
October 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
@alecjmarsh.bsky.social you had me at glittering heist (the best kind). Attention editors and agents scrolling #dvpit don’t miss this!
Scotland, 1925: A gentleman thief, a lonely demon hunter and a married sorceress embark on a glittering heist to destroy the English occult.

Forbidden passions and their own ambition threatens to destroy them before the English get the chance.

Bi rep, ace rep, mf, mmf, mm

#dvpit #a #f #queer
October 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
🪲 “As the Earth Dreams offers a distinctly Canadian vision of Black life that is as lush and expansive as it is tender and rooted.” —The Walrus

🌀 AS THE EARTH DREAMS, edited by Terese Mason Pierre (@teresempierre.bsky.social), is out October 14th, learn more here: houseofanansi.com/products/as-...
October 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Struggling not to get sick rn? ME TOO. A friend made this for me post-surgery & now with half my household down with illness, it was the nourishment I craved.

The key is the chicken & broth. Make your own rice + a quick ginger scallion oil. SO GOOD.

www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/1292...
Khao Man Gai (Thai-Style Chicken and Rice) | America's Test Kitchen
This simple cooking method gets a boost from a remarkable sauce.
www.americastestkitchen.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM
AI at its peak.
October 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Help me support the brilliant @teabowart.bsky.social and his new graphic novel that has science, magic, friendship, and incredible art!

I just backed LUNA LILY and the LUNAR PARK - Issue One on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/bob...
LUNA LILY and the LUNAR PARK - Issue One
A Sci-Fi Fantasy middle-grade Graphic Novel About Family, Friendship, and Finding Your Power!
www.kickstarter.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
We've reached our goal—BIG THANK YOU! There is still time if you want to contribute and get cool rewards.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/for...
October 3, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Allison Pottern
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired off a stream of laser-encoded data across 218 million miles. And Earth caught it. The test, part of the Deep Space Optical Communications project, used California telescopes to aim and decode the faint beams.
NASA successfully sends and receives data encoded with lasers from 218 million miles away
NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) recently sent and received laser-encoded data from a location 218 million miles away from Earth. This technology demonstration project has opened up a…
buff.ly
October 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM