Helen Rye
@helenrye.bsky.social
Writer, editor. UEA Prose MA and fledgling PhD researcher. Won some writing things. Published some writing things. @smokelong.bsky.social senior ed. She/her.
Reposted by Helen Rye
Every once in a while the internet becomes that truly silly delightful thing it once was. Like this.
February 9, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Every once in a while the internet becomes that truly silly delightful thing it once was. Like this.
Reposted by Helen Rye
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
Reposted by Helen Rye
I was just denied entry to the Dilley detention facility while my constituent, seven-year-old Diana, remains inside.
What kind of sick, horrific conditions are children being forced to endure in there?
I will be back tomorrow. Accountability can’t wait.
What kind of sick, horrific conditions are children being forced to endure in there?
I will be back tomorrow. Accountability can’t wait.
February 6, 2026 at 2:35 AM
I was just denied entry to the Dilley detention facility while my constituent, seven-year-old Diana, remains inside.
What kind of sick, horrific conditions are children being forced to endure in there?
I will be back tomorrow. Accountability can’t wait.
What kind of sick, horrific conditions are children being forced to endure in there?
I will be back tomorrow. Accountability can’t wait.
Any other UK writers keep getting a microsecond jolt of confusion at the angry posts directed at American lit mag McSweeney’s? if bad-actor politicos could avoid sharing names with well-loved institutions that would be great, thx (cf. football rage directed at Daniel Levy, David Rose would never)
February 6, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Any other UK writers keep getting a microsecond jolt of confusion at the angry posts directed at American lit mag McSweeney’s? if bad-actor politicos could avoid sharing names with well-loved institutions that would be great, thx (cf. football rage directed at Daniel Levy, David Rose would never)
Reposted by Helen Rye
Kate Horsley's @vestalreview.bsky.social story, “The Altar of Saint Cindy”, won first prize in our annual free-entry contest for published work begun in an SLQ workshop. You can read it here (it made the judges cry, so please do): www.vestalreview.net/the-altar-of... @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Kate Horsley's @vestalreview.bsky.social story, “The Altar of Saint Cindy”, won first prize in our annual free-entry contest for published work begun in an SLQ workshop. You can read it here (it made the judges cry, so please do): www.vestalreview.net/the-altar-of... @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Rye
Here is Travis Flatt's @travisflatt.bsky.social story from @dishsoapquart.bsky.social, “Cadillacs on the Moon”, which won second place in this year's SmokeLong Workshop Prize for published stories begun in an SLQ workshop: dishsoap-quarterly.com/11-4-25
February 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Here is Travis Flatt's @travisflatt.bsky.social story from @dishsoapquart.bsky.social, “Cadillacs on the Moon”, which won second place in this year's SmokeLong Workshop Prize for published stories begun in an SLQ workshop: dishsoap-quarterly.com/11-4-25
Reposted by Helen Rye
Read Allison Field Bell's Craft Literary story, "The Word Disorder”, which took third place in this year's hotly contested SmokeLong Workshop Prize: www.craftliterary.com/2024/11/06/w...
February 5, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Read Allison Field Bell's Craft Literary story, "The Word Disorder”, which took third place in this year's hotly contested SmokeLong Workshop Prize: www.craftliterary.com/2024/11/06/w...
It's exceptionally hard to judge a contest where all the entries are amazing.
The results of this year's SmokeLong Workshop Prize are finally here! We have 11 wonderful finalists. And (drumroll):
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Workshop Prize — Finalists and Winners! - SmokeLong Quarterly
We’re behind. We know! The problem with The SmokeLong Workshop Prize competition is that the stories are all good. Choosing winners is like choosing a favorite child. This is famously bad parenting. B...
www.smokelong.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:18 PM
It's exceptionally hard to judge a contest where all the entries are amazing.
Reposted by Helen Rye
1 And lo, there came upon the land a time of great Noticing, and many things were Noticed which had gone unseen 2 And the Hacks spake, saying, Whom could’ve known the taking bribes and wrecking his party with bullshit terror adviser guy was a Mandelson plant 3 And, it is a show, that is made of shit
February 4, 2026 at 10:36 AM
1 And lo, there came upon the land a time of great Noticing, and many things were Noticed which had gone unseen 2 And the Hacks spake, saying, Whom could’ve known the taking bribes and wrecking his party with bullshit terror adviser guy was a Mandelson plant 3 And, it is a show, that is made of shit
My best bud, but also I impartially love this. I so miss the community of Twitter, when we got to see and celebrate each other's publications (also miss having any time or mental energy to write or send anything anywhere but I can't blame Musk for that)
It's been a minute since I published something of my own! SmokeLong and SmokeLong Fitness are like having two full-time jobs (which I LOVE), so I'm thrilled to have found time to write something. Sending a huge hug to this kid. ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
Chrysalis — Ghost Parachute
Mama can’t see me, but I’m watching over her. From the kitchen. She’s on the couch in the den, recumbent, because she’s depressed, which she never says, but I know. I can read her mind. She lays my ni...
ghostparachute.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:42 AM
My best bud, but also I impartially love this. I so miss the community of Twitter, when we got to see and celebrate each other's publications (also miss having any time or mental energy to write or send anything anywhere but I can't blame Musk for that)
RARE at the moment, there is a NEW CHRISTOPHER ALLEN STORY out today 📣 gorgeous artwork too at Ghost Parachute @christopherallen.bsky.social
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
Chrysalis — Ghost Parachute
Mama can’t see me, but I’m watching over her. From the kitchen. She’s on the couch in the den, recumbent, because she’s depressed, which she never says, but I know. I can read her mind. She lays my ni...
ghostparachute.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:02 PM
RARE at the moment, there is a NEW CHRISTOPHER ALLEN STORY out today 📣 gorgeous artwork too at Ghost Parachute @christopherallen.bsky.social
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
ghostparachute.com/issue/februa...
Reposted by Helen Rye
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Reposted by Helen Rye
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
Reposted by Helen Rye
Veteran UK surrealists Wevie Stonder deliver a bizarro rock spectacle for the ages on their first full-length in over a decade. It's our Album of the Day.
Wevie Stonder, “Sure Beats Living”
Long-running UK surrealists unleash more bizarro inner visions.
daily.bandcamp.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Veteran UK surrealists Wevie Stonder deliver a bizarro rock spectacle for the ages on their first full-length in over a decade. It's our Album of the Day.
Reposted by Helen Rye
.. and here’s a little promo vid for the track:
January 30, 2026 at 2:02 PM
.. and here’s a little promo vid for the track:
My brother’s band’s new album getting love from 6 music 💛
Big thanks to the guvnor @gidcoe.bsky.social for the Carpet Squares love on his 6 music show last night ❤️
January 31, 2026 at 1:53 AM
My brother’s band’s new album getting love from 6 music 💛
Thank you, Catherine O’Hara, for Moira Rose 💙 what a joy and comfort she is.
a woman wearing a wig and a suit says " whatever you do "
ALT: a woman wearing a wig and a suit says " whatever you do "
media.tenor.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Thank you, Catherine O’Hara, for Moira Rose 💙 what a joy and comfort she is.
PETTY GRIPE TIME, but if you're going to set an entire tv series "in the Norfolk Broads" but not bother to actually film it there, at least have the decency to cut out the shots with (checks notes) *actual mountains* in the background.
January 30, 2026 at 8:58 PM
PETTY GRIPE TIME, but if you're going to set an entire tv series "in the Norfolk Broads" but not bother to actually film it there, at least have the decency to cut out the shots with (checks notes) *actual mountains* in the background.
Reposted by Helen Rye
Lines that go straight up in charts that track disease = VERY BAD.
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Lines that go straight up in charts that track disease = VERY BAD.
Reposted by Helen Rye
Wherever you are this March, you could be drafting micros with the SmokeLong workshop community. 24 days, 24 tasks, peer-review in small groups, competitions, and more. Sign up now. www.smokelong.com/smokelongs-m...
SmokeLong's March Micro Marathon 2026 - SmokeLong Quarterly
In its third year, The March Micro Marathon will be, as usual, a prompt-a-day whirlwind for 24 days. You’ll exchange drafts of micro fiction, non-fiction, and prose poetry in small groups and gather f...
www.smokelong.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Wherever you are this March, you could be drafting micros with the SmokeLong workshop community. 24 days, 24 tasks, peer-review in small groups, competitions, and more. Sign up now. www.smokelong.com/smokelongs-m...
Reposted by Helen Rye
Hard decisions. The SmokeLong Workshop Prize entries are all so good. Help us celebrate our shortlist! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Workshop Prize – The Shortlist! - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Workshop Prize is such a competitive competition. All of the entries have been published, so the standard is already high. In 2025 our workshop participants, previous and current, report...
www.smokelong.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Hard decisions. The SmokeLong Workshop Prize entries are all so good. Help us celebrate our shortlist! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
Reposted by Helen Rye
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Bovino: "When politicians, community leaders, & some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement calling law enforcement 'Gestapo' or using the term 'kidnapping,' that is a choice & there are actions & consequences."
January 26, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Reposted by Helen Rye
All to please a wannabe king who is demented and thrives on violence.
January 25, 2026 at 3:55 AM
All to please a wannabe king who is demented and thrives on violence.
Reposted by Helen Rye
Van Hollen: "They really think the American people are stupid. I mean, we can all see the video. We saw the video with Renee Good. We saw the video with Alex Pretti. The real domestic terrorists are in the White House right now."
January 25, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Van Hollen: "They really think the American people are stupid. I mean, we can all see the video. We saw the video with Renee Good. We saw the video with Alex Pretti. The real domestic terrorists are in the White House right now."
Reposted by Helen Rye
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today