Aaron Wolfson
@awolfson.bsky.social
Writing memoir, poetry, essays, performance stuff, etc., in Chicago. Plus software.
newsletter.aaronjacobwolfson.com
newsletter.aaronjacobwolfson.com
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
I wrote about Minneapolis, George Saunders, and @marchxness.bsky.social.
#98 / A Cold, Snowy Winter
Hello! I know I missed a new moon already. I was waiting to show you my book review, which published a few days after the new moon. Then I got busy writing...
newsletter.aaronjacobwolfson.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I wrote about Minneapolis, George Saunders, and @marchxness.bsky.social.
I wrote about Minneapolis, George Saunders, and @marchxness.bsky.social.
#98 / A Cold, Snowy Winter
Hello! I know I missed a new moon already. I was waiting to show you my book review, which published a few days after the new moon. Then I got busy writing...
newsletter.aaronjacobwolfson.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I wrote about Minneapolis, George Saunders, and @marchxness.bsky.social.
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Speculative Nonfiction with Carmen Maria Machado starts in just a few weeks -- Feb. 25!
Take this online class and learn about the role of invention, speculation, “perhaps”-ing, fabulism, magic, and play in creative nonfiction.
buff.ly/noSK6Mo
#writersofbluesky
Take this online class and learn about the role of invention, speculation, “perhaps”-ing, fabulism, magic, and play in creative nonfiction.
buff.ly/noSK6Mo
#writersofbluesky
February 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Speculative Nonfiction with Carmen Maria Machado starts in just a few weeks -- Feb. 25!
Take this online class and learn about the role of invention, speculation, “perhaps”-ing, fabulism, magic, and play in creative nonfiction.
buff.ly/noSK6Mo
#writersofbluesky
Take this online class and learn about the role of invention, speculation, “perhaps”-ing, fabulism, magic, and play in creative nonfiction.
buff.ly/noSK6Mo
#writersofbluesky
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Peter E. Gordon on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the indispensability of analogies
Never Again, Once Again | Peter E. Gordon
A few years ago, in the early summer of 2019, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum declared on its website that it “unequivocally rejects efforts
www.nybooks.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Peter E. Gordon on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the indispensability of analogies
"This is the equivalent of, “Well, if I can blow up a cow with dynamite in ten minutes, but you need three hours to butcher it, who’s going to win the race?”"
Read that article about the """writer""" generating 200 books a year with AI and needless to say, I had THOUGHTS
Writers Who Use AI Are Not Real Writers
Dorothy Parker famously (but probably not really) said, “I hate to write, but I love having written,” which is a sentiment I don’t largely understand or agree with in the broader …
terribleminds.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:41 PM
"This is the equivalent of, “Well, if I can blow up a cow with dynamite in ten minutes, but you need three hours to butcher it, who’s going to win the race?”"
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
March Sadness 90s Edition Bracket is Live: marchxness.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:20 PM
March Sadness 90s Edition Bracket is Live: marchxness.com
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
I don’t know if I trust people who have written more books than they’ve read
February 8, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I don’t know if I trust people who have written more books than they’ve read
Slightly diminish a band.
Improper Bunny
Improper Bunny
Slightly diminish a band.
B-51s
B-51s
Slightly diminish a band
Eight Inch Nails
Eight Inch Nails
February 8, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Slightly diminish a band.
Improper Bunny
Improper Bunny
There's a misconception that genre books are easier to write than "literary" books. If anything, they might be harder to write.
Shocking that a next-word-generator hasn't managed to perfect an art form it took hundreds of years for humans to craft.
Shocking that a next-word-generator hasn't managed to perfect an art form it took hundreds of years for humans to craft.
Aside from everything else, the numbers simply do not pencil out here. Her own numbers, which, [citation needed], show her making 200 books that sell 250 copies each. That's assuming she isn't sneaking in stuff she wrote that isn't AI slop. And the market is not yet flooded.
“If I can generate a book in a day, and you need six months to write a book, who’s going to win the race?” God this is bleak
February 8, 2026 at 7:12 PM
There's a misconception that genre books are easier to write than "literary" books. If anything, they might be harder to write.
Shocking that a next-word-generator hasn't managed to perfect an art form it took hundreds of years for humans to craft.
Shocking that a next-word-generator hasn't managed to perfect an art form it took hundreds of years for humans to craft.
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
"This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" by Belle and Sebastian
This is just a modern rock song
This is just a sorry lament
We're four boys in our corduroys
We're not terrific but we're competent
This is just a modern rock song
This is just a sorry lament
We're four boys in our corduroys
We're not terrific but we're competent
Deleted a post about “what’s your least favorite song” because the vibes are bad enough already.
Instead: what’s your favorite song that has a long title, say at least 6 words long?
Mine: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” (Pearl Jam)
Instead: what’s your favorite song that has a long title, say at least 6 words long?
Mine: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” (Pearl Jam)
February 4, 2026 at 5:25 AM
"This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" by Belle and Sebastian
This is just a modern rock song
This is just a sorry lament
We're four boys in our corduroys
We're not terrific but we're competent
This is just a modern rock song
This is just a sorry lament
We're four boys in our corduroys
We're not terrific but we're competent
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Why would you huddle together in your shelter for warmth when you could stand outside and ignore it? 😂 Our sheep come from long lines of hardy rams and ewes, so the cold is no match for them! The shelter is open and ready for them whenever they decide to turn in ❤️
February 4, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Why would you huddle together in your shelter for warmth when you could stand outside and ignore it? 😂 Our sheep come from long lines of hardy rams and ewes, so the cold is no match for them! The shelter is open and ready for them whenever they decide to turn in ❤️
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Newberry Library receives $4 million Mellon Foundation grant to "expand access to its renowned Indigenous Studies collections and strengthen collaboration with tribal nations."
www.newberry.org/news/newberr...
www.newberry.org/news/newberr...
Newberry Library Receives $4 Million Grant
Funding will expand access to Indigenous collections, enable community-led research, and strengthen tribal partnerships.
www.newberry.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Newberry Library receives $4 million Mellon Foundation grant to "expand access to its renowned Indigenous Studies collections and strengthen collaboration with tribal nations."
www.newberry.org/news/newberr...
www.newberry.org/news/newberr...
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
It's maybe the truth I hate most in the world, yet it's truth nonetheless.
Now I'm imagining a Ship-of-Theseus essay where not a single word or idea from the first draft ended up in the final text.
Now I'm imagining a Ship-of-Theseus essay where not a single word or idea from the first draft ended up in the final text.
“Write the worst version to get to the best version, I told myself.” 1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/p/when-all-e...
When All Else Fails, Burn It Down
My writing advice for myself, anyway.
1000wordsofsummer.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:02 AM
It's maybe the truth I hate most in the world, yet it's truth nonetheless.
Now I'm imagining a Ship-of-Theseus essay where not a single word or idea from the first draft ended up in the final text.
Now I'm imagining a Ship-of-Theseus essay where not a single word or idea from the first draft ended up in the final text.
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
🤖
Your periodic reminder that you are free to write, no one can stop you, you can be as unhinged as you want on the page--you can always edit yourself later.
Just remember:
You are free.
You can write.
You are free to write whatever the hell you want. No one's stopping you. Go. Do it.
❤️
Your periodic reminder that you are free to write, no one can stop you, you can be as unhinged as you want on the page--you can always edit yourself later.
Just remember:
You are free.
You can write.
You are free to write whatever the hell you want. No one's stopping you. Go. Do it.
❤️
February 2, 2026 at 7:37 PM
🤖
Your periodic reminder that you are free to write, no one can stop you, you can be as unhinged as you want on the page--you can always edit yourself later.
Just remember:
You are free.
You can write.
You are free to write whatever the hell you want. No one's stopping you. Go. Do it.
❤️
Your periodic reminder that you are free to write, no one can stop you, you can be as unhinged as you want on the page--you can always edit yourself later.
Just remember:
You are free.
You can write.
You are free to write whatever the hell you want. No one's stopping you. Go. Do it.
❤️
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
.... and the fight on the ASL telecast
February 2, 2026 at 1:52 AM
.... and the fight on the ASL telecast
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
“The leading Democrats in Washington wield raw power only if absolutely forced to by grassroots uproar.” —an interview with @josephoneill.bsky.social
The Politics of Raw Power | Joseph O’Neill, Daniel Drake
On Wednesday a group of Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis pinned a man to the ground and, while he was immobilized, blasted pepper spray into his face
www.nybooks.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:13 AM
“The leading Democrats in Washington wield raw power only if absolutely forced to by grassroots uproar.” —an interview with @josephoneill.bsky.social
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
The city released the 25 finalists in its "Name A Snowplow" contest. "Abolish ICE" made the list.
blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/01/h...
blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/01/h...
February 1, 2026 at 8:23 PM
The city released the 25 finalists in its "Name A Snowplow" contest. "Abolish ICE" made the list.
blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/01/h...
blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/01/h...
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
“If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free.” —@fotoole.bsky.social
The Crime of Witness | Fintan O’Toole
Renée Good and Alex Pretti were murdered for daring to interfere with the Trump administration’s efforts to normalize abductions and state violence.
www.nybooks.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:14 PM
“If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free.” —@fotoole.bsky.social
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
The VERY MEAN AND NASTY Jesus Christ flipped over a bunch of tables in the temple and assaulted our fine money changers with a whip! HE WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS. Jesus is a well-known leftist who has NO RESPECT for the businesses that make our houses of worship great!
January 30, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The VERY MEAN AND NASTY Jesus Christ flipped over a bunch of tables in the temple and assaulted our fine money changers with a whip! HE WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS. Jesus is a well-known leftist who has NO RESPECT for the businesses that make our houses of worship great!
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Dropping the last of the 4 regions of March Sadness 90s Edition on you all here. We'll have fillable brackets ready for you presently on the website.
January 28, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Dropping the last of the 4 regions of March Sadness 90s Edition on you all here. We'll have fillable brackets ready for you presently on the website.
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
Bari Weiss had ambitions of rivalling the New York Times with her Substack, The Free Press. She “had no idea how newsrooms worked, but she knew that she needed to call our operation a newsroom,” a person who worked with her said. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/f4W7Sj
January 20, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Bari Weiss had ambitions of rivalling the New York Times with her Substack, The Free Press. She “had no idea how newsrooms worked, but she knew that she needed to call our operation a newsroom,” a person who worked with her said. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/f4W7Sj
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
After this, she answered our questions about immigration, helped a constituent figure out how to do their immigration appointment and receive SNAP benefits, and gave a local teen an award for building a cool app. I have never been more impressed with someone as a speaker and politician
Man tackled after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall
Video: Ilhan Omar via Storyful
Video: Ilhan Omar via Storyful
January 28, 2026 at 2:40 AM
After this, she answered our questions about immigration, helped a constituent figure out how to do their immigration appointment and receive SNAP benefits, and gave a local teen an award for building a cool app. I have never been more impressed with someone as a speaker and politician
Reposted by Aaron Wolfson
REP. OMAR after being attacked with liquid: “We will continue! These fucking assholes are not gonna get away with this! Here is the reality people like this ugly man don’t understand — we are Minnesota Strong. We’ll stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
January 28, 2026 at 1:47 AM
REP. OMAR after being attacked with liquid: “We will continue! These fucking assholes are not gonna get away with this! Here is the reality people like this ugly man don’t understand — we are Minnesota Strong. We’ll stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”