C. L. Polk
@clpolk.com
I write stuff. I knit stuff. I cook stuff. Ask me about my weird little books. https://www.clpolk.com/
Pinned
C. L. Polk
@clpolk.com
· Nov 14
Okay I need to tell y’all something
if someone doesn’t act right in my replies I must block them
People don’t know how to act here yet, and will come to argue or dunk back and drag it out and listen Bluesky doesn’t put up with that
I don’t either
Conduct yourselves
if someone doesn’t act right in my replies I must block them
People don’t know how to act here yet, and will come to argue or dunk back and drag it out and listen Bluesky doesn’t put up with that
I don’t either
Conduct yourselves
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Reminder: In light of Bad Bunny's Superbowl performance spotlighting Latino culture, here's a hefty list of Latino speculative fiction authors I curated if anyone wants to take a gander and read some phenomenal work. Much love to all!
go.bsky.app/6BAmgpi
go.bsky.app/6BAmgpi
February 9, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Reminder: In light of Bad Bunny's Superbowl performance spotlighting Latino culture, here's a hefty list of Latino speculative fiction authors I curated if anyone wants to take a gander and read some phenomenal work. Much love to all!
go.bsky.app/6BAmgpi
go.bsky.app/6BAmgpi
Age verification?
I played Pong.
I played Pong.
Age verification?
My first TV was black and white.
My first TV was black and white.
Age verification?
I own a Pikachu pedometer because my grandma didn't know what I meant when I said I wanted Pokemon Yellow Version.
I own a Pikachu pedometer because my grandma didn't know what I meant when I said I wanted Pokemon Yellow Version.
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Age verification?
I played Pong.
I played Pong.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
They're Coming for Our Daughters
The conservative plan to shrink girls’ futures
jessica.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 that is not your favorite author or a stunning book club offer
🎵 They are asking you for money=it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 that is not your favorite author or a stunning book club offer
🎵 They are asking you for money=it's a scam 👏👏
February 9, 2026 at 4:47 AM
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 that is not your favorite author or a stunning book club offer
🎵 They are asking you for money=it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 that is not your favorite author or a stunning book club offer
🎵 They are asking you for money=it's a scam 👏👏
so nobody actually has the halftime show up on youtube? all I see are <irrelevant white man> reacts to the halftime show and "what bad bunny's halftime show means, by <irrelevant white man>"
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 AM
so nobody actually has the halftime show up on youtube? all I see are <irrelevant white man> reacts to the halftime show and "what bad bunny's halftime show means, by <irrelevant white man>"
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Remember guys, FOMO is manufactured for maximum impact. Impact being maximum damage to ensure we are all hooked on a product and service.
GenAI isn't a art making device, its sole purpose is to eliminate the creative production force in all industries.
GenAI isn't a art making device, its sole purpose is to eliminate the creative production force in all industries.
generative AI has become widely available in the summer of 2022 and entered mainstream in 2023
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
February 7, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Remember guys, FOMO is manufactured for maximum impact. Impact being maximum damage to ensure we are all hooked on a product and service.
GenAI isn't a art making device, its sole purpose is to eliminate the creative production force in all industries.
GenAI isn't a art making device, its sole purpose is to eliminate the creative production force in all industries.
WAKE UP, HOSERS
NEW PETITION JUST DROPPED
Petition e-7148 calls to require all federal party leaders to obtain and maintain top-secret security clearance to ensure they are fully informed of threats to Canada’s national security and able to act decisively to protect Canadians and our democracy.
NEW PETITION JUST DROPPED
Petition e-7148 calls to require all federal party leaders to obtain and maintain top-secret security clearance to ensure they are fully informed of threats to Canada’s national security and able to act decisively to protect Canadians and our democracy.
Petition e-7148 - Petitions
www.ourcommons.ca
February 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
WAKE UP, HOSERS
NEW PETITION JUST DROPPED
Petition e-7148 calls to require all federal party leaders to obtain and maintain top-secret security clearance to ensure they are fully informed of threats to Canada’s national security and able to act decisively to protect Canadians and our democracy.
NEW PETITION JUST DROPPED
Petition e-7148 calls to require all federal party leaders to obtain and maintain top-secret security clearance to ensure they are fully informed of threats to Canada’s national security and able to act decisively to protect Canadians and our democracy.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
JUST AN APPRECIATION POST: afaik he is fine.
Reminder that Steve Buscemi, National Treasure, used to be a firefighter, and when 9-11 happened, he pulled 12 hour volunteer shifts with his old ladder. www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta...
In case you want to know the first thing I remember about him. :)
In case you want to know the first thing I remember about him. :)
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
JUST AN APPRECIATION POST: afaik he is fine.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
I have yet to see any evidence that there is a market for AI-generated books outside of people being tricked into thinking they are not AI-generated books. AKA, it is a project of scamming and deceiving people, and really should be treated as fraud
February 8, 2026 at 6:55 PM
I have yet to see any evidence that there is a market for AI-generated books outside of people being tricked into thinking they are not AI-generated books. AKA, it is a project of scamming and deceiving people, and really should be treated as fraud
Reposted by C. L. Polk
there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.
February 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM
there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.
i just saw that quote by someone high up in the USA administration saying that if the Epstein Files were prosecuted the whole system would collapse and
yeah grace is like "I have to fix this without anyone finding out because if they do, it will wreck the whole country" at the beginning of her arc
yeah grace is like "I have to fix this without anyone finding out because if they do, it will wreck the whole country" at the beginning of her arc
February 8, 2026 at 9:26 PM
i just saw that quote by someone high up in the USA administration saying that if the Epstein Files were prosecuted the whole system would collapse and
yeah grace is like "I have to fix this without anyone finding out because if they do, it will wreck the whole country" at the beginning of her arc
yeah grace is like "I have to fix this without anyone finding out because if they do, it will wreck the whole country" at the beginning of her arc
Reposted by C. L. Polk
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Also this person doesn't want her real name/other writing pseudonyms printed but let the paper publish a photo which any AI-based image generator will probably match to her real name, that seems odd
February 8, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Also this person doesn't want her real name/other writing pseudonyms printed but let the paper publish a photo which any AI-based image generator will probably match to her real name, that seems odd
Huh. I wouldn't call that creativity. It sounds more like motility to me. It make me think of tons of polyester clothing that won't rot, but no one wants
“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
The New Fabio Is Claude
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Huh. I wouldn't call that creativity. It sounds more like motility to me. It make me think of tons of polyester clothing that won't rot, but no one wants
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Children have a right to a real education. Society has a right to have well-educated children. Parents don't have the right to deprive either group.
February 7, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Children have a right to a real education. Society has a right to have well-educated children. Parents don't have the right to deprive either group.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Wunderkind syndrome, where you expect yourself to be instantly good at anything you do and if you aren’t instantly good, it is nearly impossible to wrangle yourself to do pesky things like practice a musical instrument
February 7, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Wunderkind syndrome, where you expect yourself to be instantly good at anything you do and if you aren’t instantly good, it is nearly impossible to wrangle yourself to do pesky things like practice a musical instrument
Reposted by C. L. Polk
Alright, where are my gifted kids at? You were smart and you never had to study and then you went to college and suddenly had to learn a new skillset overnight, that everybody else had years to learn, or flame out spectacularly?
That’s what talent is like.
That’s what talent is like.
In my experience, talent is a *detriment* to learning.
I didn't have to practice early on so I *didn't know how*. I didn't start to learn how to practice until my 30s! (When much of my life was taken up with parenting, so I didn't have time!)
I didn't start to improve as a musician until my 40s!
I didn't have to practice early on so I *didn't know how*. I didn't start to learn how to practice until my 30s! (When much of my life was taken up with parenting, so I didn't have time!)
I didn't start to improve as a musician until my 40s!
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
February 7, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Alright, where are my gifted kids at? You were smart and you never had to study and then you went to college and suddenly had to learn a new skillset overnight, that everybody else had years to learn, or flame out spectacularly?
That’s what talent is like.
That’s what talent is like.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
The thing is, you can sit at a piano for the first time and have fun. It's actually better without a teacher. Tickle the keys. Mess around and find whatever rhythm moves you.
Learning to enjoy expressing yourself--in music or in writing--is a great foundation for everything else.
Learning to enjoy expressing yourself--in music or in writing--is a great foundation for everything else.
I don't know what to tell you. You can't sit at a piano for the first time ever and play a sonata. You can't pick up a tennis racket for the first time and serve a 110MPH Ace.
You have to fuck up.
You have to be able to handle failing.
You have to love it enough to not get it right and keep on.
You have to fuck up.
You have to be able to handle failing.
You have to love it enough to not get it right and keep on.
February 7, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The thing is, you can sit at a piano for the first time and have fun. It's actually better without a teacher. Tickle the keys. Mess around and find whatever rhythm moves you.
Learning to enjoy expressing yourself--in music or in writing--is a great foundation for everything else.
Learning to enjoy expressing yourself--in music or in writing--is a great foundation for everything else.
Reposted by C. L. Polk
the funny part about the phrase "anti-trans" is that the Latin roots break down to "opposed to change" which is the same meaning as "conservative"
February 7, 2026 at 6:55 AM
the funny part about the phrase "anti-trans" is that the Latin roots break down to "opposed to change" which is the same meaning as "conservative"
Reposted by C. L. Polk
talking with someone about this today, and their whole expression sharpened suddenly as they asked "is that why ICE is angry people have video from multiple angles?"
AI is the enemy of documentation--which is a way of saying, it's the enemy of accountability.
AI is the enemy of documentation--which is a way of saying, it's the enemy of accountability.
a reminder that AI isn't just cringe; it's part of this administration's toolkit.
January 25, 2026 at 9:36 PM
talking with someone about this today, and their whole expression sharpened suddenly as they asked "is that why ICE is angry people have video from multiple angles?"
AI is the enemy of documentation--which is a way of saying, it's the enemy of accountability.
AI is the enemy of documentation--which is a way of saying, it's the enemy of accountability.
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
February 7, 2026 at 5:05 AM
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
Reposted by C. L. Polk
we must go back in time and prevent this Event
February 6, 2026 at 8:10 PM
we must go back in time and prevent this Event
I handed in my galleys this morning and I have a new project starting on monday and i'm drifting around my apartment feeling ... weird. like I can't relax.
usually when I hand something in I feel like I get to have a week where I don't have to even think about doing anything even if i feel guilty
usually when I hand something in I feel like I get to have a week where I don't have to even think about doing anything even if i feel guilty
February 7, 2026 at 12:01 AM
I handed in my galleys this morning and I have a new project starting on monday and i'm drifting around my apartment feeling ... weird. like I can't relax.
usually when I hand something in I feel like I get to have a week where I don't have to even think about doing anything even if i feel guilty
usually when I hand something in I feel like I get to have a week where I don't have to even think about doing anything even if i feel guilty