Colin Brightwell
@cbwell.bsky.social
Fiction writer. Shenanigan enjoyer. Scooby-Doo enthusiast.
The direct correlation Stephen King mass market paperbacks had on me starting to write is immeasurable. They were cheap enough for my weekly allowance, and I could take them anywhere. This is such a bummer.
A eulogy for the mass market paperback, "one of the most brilliant technologies in the history of the world."
So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The direct correlation Stephen King mass market paperbacks had on me starting to write is immeasurable. They were cheap enough for my weekly allowance, and I could take them anywhere. This is such a bummer.
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
Of course the NRA is reeaalllly quiet.
(Because they like fascism.)
(Because they like fascism.)
January 24, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Of course the NRA is reeaalllly quiet.
(Because they like fascism.)
(Because they like fascism.)
What started as a simple little funny-ish crime story about two brothers shop-lifting at self-checkout counters is nowhere close to being done at 3300 words and I guess some things just grow legs and run.
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
What started as a simple little funny-ish crime story about two brothers shop-lifting at self-checkout counters is nowhere close to being done at 3300 words and I guess some things just grow legs and run.
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
COMING FROM RHP PRESS IN 2026: "A Woman's Guide to True Crime," a searing story collection from the amazing @marythor.bsky.social. You don't want to miss this one.
December 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
COMING FROM RHP PRESS IN 2026: "A Woman's Guide to True Crime," a searing story collection from the amazing @marythor.bsky.social. You don't want to miss this one.
Closing out 2025 with this lil short story from BULL. Happy holidays!
"On his way out Dad bent down & told me that I was man of the house now & I would be taking care of Mom. None of the other 12-year-olds on my block had a job to do like this. Maybe, I thought, this would prepare me for 6th grade." - Colin Brightwell mrbullbull.com/newbull/fict...
December 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Closing out 2025 with this lil short story from BULL. Happy holidays!
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
I want to fly a plane past these guys' houses trailing a banner saying 'IDEAS ARE THE EASY BIT'
The cliche that ‘having an idea’ is the hard part of writing is persistent and pernicious. Realising the idea is the craft of it. That FAQ of…
December 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I want to fly a plane past these guys' houses trailing a banner saying 'IDEAS ARE THE EASY BIT'
Uh oh. It’s the time of year where my seasonal depression mixes with my writer’s block!!!! :)
December 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Uh oh. It’s the time of year where my seasonal depression mixes with my writer’s block!!!! :)
Getting real into Charles Dickens for no particular reason whatsoever
December 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Getting real into Charles Dickens for no particular reason whatsoever
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
never gonna get old to see people sharing my lil book
This will either be my last read of 2025 or my first read of 2026 and either way I’m excited about it @keersteemack.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 3:43 AM
never gonna get old to see people sharing my lil book
It was a pleasure writing something for an anthology edited by @curtisippolito.bsky.social - even more so that it was picked for publication. I wrote it from a place of anger because this is something worth being angry for. I hope you get a copy TODAY and see the amazing work Curtis cultivated here!
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @cbwell.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
October 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
It was a pleasure writing something for an anthology edited by @curtisippolito.bsky.social - even more so that it was picked for publication. I wrote it from a place of anger because this is something worth being angry for. I hope you get a copy TODAY and see the amazing work Curtis cultivated here!
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
If you’re excited about On Fire and Under Water, join us tonight and help us celebrate! Come hang with @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and me as @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social hosts.
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr3be5ue
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr3be5ue
September 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
If you’re excited about On Fire and Under Water, join us tonight and help us celebrate! Come hang with @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and me as @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social hosts.
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr3be5ue
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr3be5ue
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
This Tuesday, join @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and myself for a special live celebration of the launch of On Fire and Under Water with @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social. Register and come listen to what inspired these authors’ stories as I play hype man.
Rock and a Hard Place-On Fire and Under Water
Register now for Rock and a Hard Place-On Fire and Under Water on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on September 30, 2025, 07:00 PM CDT.
na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
September 28, 2025 at 12:07 AM
This Tuesday, join @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and myself for a special live celebration of the launch of On Fire and Under Water with @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social. Register and come listen to what inspired these authors’ stories as I play hype man.
FMK: Born in the U.S.A. edition.
Annnnnd go
Annnnnd go
September 27, 2025 at 6:26 PM
FMK: Born in the U.S.A. edition.
Annnnnd go
Annnnnd go
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
@rhppress.bsky.social will be open for submissions from Saturday, November 1st, until Saturday November 22nd!
www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions
www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions
Submissions — Rock and a Hard Place Press
Submissions
www.rockandahardplacemag.com
September 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
@rhppress.bsky.social will be open for submissions from Saturday, November 1st, until Saturday November 22nd!
www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions
www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. In On Fire and Under Water, you get both. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to Jordan Harper and pre-order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
September 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. In On Fire and Under Water, you get both. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to Jordan Harper and pre-order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
“Raw, brutal, tender, tragic-these are fifteen stories of people smashed flat by the Invisible Fist, people flailing and fighting against the huge and hidden violence at the center of our world. This is crime fiction that matters, crime fiction that is ready to face what comes next.”
a.co/d/07DXe40
a.co/d/07DXe40
Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. In On Fire and Under Water, you get both. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to Jordan Harper and pre-order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
September 26, 2025 at 1:42 AM
“Raw, brutal, tender, tragic-these are fifteen stories of people smashed flat by the Invisible Fist, people flailing and fighting against the huge and hidden violence at the center of our world. This is crime fiction that matters, crime fiction that is ready to face what comes next.”
a.co/d/07DXe40
a.co/d/07DXe40
I’ve pretty much eschewed most social media these days, but I’ve chiming in to say that I’m writing a lot lately, taking it as serious as breathing, even after wrangling 7th graders all day. And it feels good to do so, in these times. 1000 word days, 300 word days, one sentence days. Progress.
September 23, 2025 at 1:44 AM
I’ve pretty much eschewed most social media these days, but I’ve chiming in to say that I’m writing a lot lately, taking it as serious as breathing, even after wrangling 7th graders all day. And it feels good to do so, in these times. 1000 word days, 300 word days, one sentence days. Progress.
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
If you missed it, I had a chance to talk with @bryanharvey.bsky.social for part of his “Airport Beers” interview series about my collection, jerseys, cowboy hats, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley war, and a whole bunch of other stuff (including recommending @cbwell.bsky.social’s awesome new collection)
August 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
If you missed it, I had a chance to talk with @bryanharvey.bsky.social for part of his “Airport Beers” interview series about my collection, jerseys, cowboy hats, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley war, and a whole bunch of other stuff (including recommending @cbwell.bsky.social’s awesome new collection)
The real story is that American Eagle jeans are absolute shit quality and you should buy almost any other kind of denim.
August 3, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The real story is that American Eagle jeans are absolute shit quality and you should buy almost any other kind of denim.
This season of It’s Always Sunny has been cooking with Frank, big time.
July 31, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This season of It’s Always Sunny has been cooking with Frank, big time.
Watching Big Trouble in Little China for the fourth time in a week.
May 29, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Watching Big Trouble in Little China for the fourth time in a week.
Reposted by Colin Brightwell
You want to cure the male loneliness epidemic? Get all these soft gamer boys onto a boat with a grizzled, veteran sharker to hunt down the Great White who’s terrorizing the island.
May 25, 2025 at 6:48 AM
You want to cure the male loneliness epidemic? Get all these soft gamer boys onto a boat with a grizzled, veteran sharker to hunt down the Great White who’s terrorizing the island.
Two months of my collection NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS IN A FLYOVER STATE from @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social and it’s nice seeing reviews like this one.
If any press or writer out there is open to an interview to discuss it, I’m trying to keep spreading the word.
If any press or writer out there is open to an interview to discuss it, I’m trying to keep spreading the word.
May 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Two months of my collection NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS IN A FLYOVER STATE from @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social and it’s nice seeing reviews like this one.
If any press or writer out there is open to an interview to discuss it, I’m trying to keep spreading the word.
If any press or writer out there is open to an interview to discuss it, I’m trying to keep spreading the word.
Big life decision that I’m open to advice for:
Received an offer to teach 6th grade English through the same district I work in for way more money than I’m making now. Like way more. But need to take EDU courses over 2 years concurrent with teaching. Worried about how it’ll affect my writing.Ideas?
Received an offer to teach 6th grade English through the same district I work in for way more money than I’m making now. Like way more. But need to take EDU courses over 2 years concurrent with teaching. Worried about how it’ll affect my writing.Ideas?
May 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Big life decision that I’m open to advice for:
Received an offer to teach 6th grade English through the same district I work in for way more money than I’m making now. Like way more. But need to take EDU courses over 2 years concurrent with teaching. Worried about how it’ll affect my writing.Ideas?
Received an offer to teach 6th grade English through the same district I work in for way more money than I’m making now. Like way more. But need to take EDU courses over 2 years concurrent with teaching. Worried about how it’ll affect my writing.Ideas?