Ian McCombs
@ianmccombs.bsky.social
Writer. Gym rat. Thinker. Outdoor enthusiast.
Crappy website with crappy short stories:
https://www.ianmccombs.com/
Crappy website with crappy short stories:
https://www.ianmccombs.com/
Since some of y'all are shocked by Reagan and tariffs, here's Reagan and GHW Bush on immigration.
youtu.be/YsmgPp_nlok?...
youtu.be/YsmgPp_nlok?...
George H. W. Bush And Ronald Reagan Debate On Immigration In 1980 | TIME
YouTube video by TIME
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Since some of y'all are shocked by Reagan and tariffs, here's Reagan and GHW Bush on immigration.
youtu.be/YsmgPp_nlok?...
youtu.be/YsmgPp_nlok?...
Reposted by Ian McCombs
It's my birthday!!! I've reached 34yo!
As per tradition you're most welcome to share this post and make my work famous for the day! 🥰
Love you all! Have a great day too!
As per tradition you're most welcome to share this post and make my work famous for the day! 🥰
Love you all! Have a great day too!
October 19, 2025 at 7:24 AM
It's my birthday!!! I've reached 34yo!
As per tradition you're most welcome to share this post and make my work famous for the day! 🥰
Love you all! Have a great day too!
As per tradition you're most welcome to share this post and make my work famous for the day! 🥰
Love you all! Have a great day too!
I bet the Cubs could have won one game... sniff sniff... kicks a pinecone... stares at the sky.
Le sigh.
There's always next year.
Le sigh.
There's always next year.
October 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I bet the Cubs could have won one game... sniff sniff... kicks a pinecone... stares at the sky.
Le sigh.
There's always next year.
Le sigh.
There's always next year.
@skylight.social
Anyone randomly know why I can't use "Log in with Blue Sky account"? Made sure my account name for BlueSky and email and password. Have changed password. No idea. Just always "account or password wrong." Le sigh. Thanks for any help from anyone.
#skylightsocial
Anyone randomly know why I can't use "Log in with Blue Sky account"? Made sure my account name for BlueSky and email and password. Have changed password. No idea. Just always "account or password wrong." Le sigh. Thanks for any help from anyone.
#skylightsocial
October 15, 2025 at 1:22 AM
@skylight.social
Anyone randomly know why I can't use "Log in with Blue Sky account"? Made sure my account name for BlueSky and email and password. Have changed password. No idea. Just always "account or password wrong." Le sigh. Thanks for any help from anyone.
#skylightsocial
Anyone randomly know why I can't use "Log in with Blue Sky account"? Made sure my account name for BlueSky and email and password. Have changed password. No idea. Just always "account or password wrong." Le sigh. Thanks for any help from anyone.
#skylightsocial
Me on portfolio day
Poet Jodie Foster GIF
Alt: Poet Jodie Foster: Jodie Foster in Contact saying, "It's so beautiful. They should've sent a poet."
media.tenor.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Me on portfolio day
Reposted by Ian McCombs
According to the Worst "President" Ever,
Portland is “burning to the ground.”
The reality feels a lot different.
But how can you be sure?
A new website, isportlandburning.com
answers the question.
How?
Live cameras of the city,
fact-checked claims &
a live map of fire incidents in the city.
Portland is “burning to the ground.”
The reality feels a lot different.
But how can you be sure?
A new website, isportlandburning.com
answers the question.
How?
Live cameras of the city,
fact-checked claims &
a live map of fire incidents in the city.
Is Portland Burning?
No. See real-time Portland cameras, PulsePoint incidents, and sourced fact checks.
isportlandburning.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:30 AM
According to the Worst "President" Ever,
Portland is “burning to the ground.”
The reality feels a lot different.
But how can you be sure?
A new website, isportlandburning.com
answers the question.
How?
Live cameras of the city,
fact-checked claims &
a live map of fire incidents in the city.
Portland is “burning to the ground.”
The reality feels a lot different.
But how can you be sure?
A new website, isportlandburning.com
answers the question.
How?
Live cameras of the city,
fact-checked claims &
a live map of fire incidents in the city.
Gasp gasp... wheeze wheeze... Go Cubs! Raise the W! (collapse)
October 9, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Gasp gasp... wheeze wheeze... Go Cubs! Raise the W! (collapse)
Reposted by Ian McCombs
Please join us for a free, virtual National town hall on childhood health and vaccines on Sept 30 6p EDT
Sponsored by the @aft.org and with the great @drdemetre.bsky.social joining us
Please share questions here or register and bring them live! We have your back
sharemylesson.com/webinars/vac...
Sponsored by the @aft.org and with the great @drdemetre.bsky.social joining us
Please share questions here or register and bring them live! We have your back
sharemylesson.com/webinars/vac...
Cutting through the Noise: Vaccines, Childhood Health and Navigating the School Year
Separating Facts from Misinformation with Experts from the CDC and Beyond As the 2025–26 school year unfolds, families and educators are once again caught in the crossfire of misinformation about chil...
sharemylesson.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Please join us for a free, virtual National town hall on childhood health and vaccines on Sept 30 6p EDT
Sponsored by the @aft.org and with the great @drdemetre.bsky.social joining us
Please share questions here or register and bring them live! We have your back
sharemylesson.com/webinars/vac...
Sponsored by the @aft.org and with the great @drdemetre.bsky.social joining us
Please share questions here or register and bring them live! We have your back
sharemylesson.com/webinars/vac...
Reposted by Ian McCombs
Friends! We now have a Bookshop.org affiliate store. All proceeds go toward financing #SmallPitch (website hosting fees & online pitching platform tools, i.e. SpreadSimple and Make) + we promote small press books!
If you're looking for your next read and want to support us, use the link below ⬇️
If you're looking for your next read and want to support us, use the link below ⬇️
#SmallPitch Bookshop
#SmallPitch is an online pitch event aiming at connecting authors with small/indie publishers. All proceeds from your purchases here will go toward supporting the event's fees (website hosting & o...
bookshop.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Friends! We now have a Bookshop.org affiliate store. All proceeds go toward financing #SmallPitch (website hosting fees & online pitching platform tools, i.e. SpreadSimple and Make) + we promote small press books!
If you're looking for your next read and want to support us, use the link below ⬇️
If you're looking for your next read and want to support us, use the link below ⬇️
Well everyone, have a great night! I'll see y'all tomo
September 23, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Well everyone, have a great night! I'll see y'all tomo
Reposted by Ian McCombs
In honor of Juneteenth, it's our pleasure to announce pitch dates!
#Pitblk will take place Sept 21st- Sept 24th on our pitchsite.
Agents and Editors will review pitches Sept 29th-Oct 2nd.
For more info about the event, visit www.pitchpitblk.com
#writersky #booksy #writingcommunity #amquerying
#Pitblk will take place Sept 21st- Sept 24th on our pitchsite.
Agents and Editors will review pitches Sept 29th-Oct 2nd.
For more info about the event, visit www.pitchpitblk.com
#writersky #booksy #writingcommunity #amquerying
June 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
In honor of Juneteenth, it's our pleasure to announce pitch dates!
#Pitblk will take place Sept 21st- Sept 24th on our pitchsite.
Agents and Editors will review pitches Sept 29th-Oct 2nd.
For more info about the event, visit www.pitchpitblk.com
#writersky #booksy #writingcommunity #amquerying
#Pitblk will take place Sept 21st- Sept 24th on our pitchsite.
Agents and Editors will review pitches Sept 29th-Oct 2nd.
For more info about the event, visit www.pitchpitblk.com
#writersky #booksy #writingcommunity #amquerying
Curses 1 say late with my Ezra joke. Ummm...
Thumping Pumpins
Recycle (is that too obscure)
Ah
Utah Good Dudes
Unwise Ska
Good night! Thanks for the fun!
Thumping Pumpins
Recycle (is that too obscure)
Ah
Utah Good Dudes
Unwise Ska
Good night! Thanks for the fun!
Slightly diminish a band: About as Good as Ezra
August 14, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Curses 1 say late with my Ezra joke. Ummm...
Thumping Pumpins
Recycle (is that too obscure)
Ah
Utah Good Dudes
Unwise Ska
Good night! Thanks for the fun!
Thumping Pumpins
Recycle (is that too obscure)
Ah
Utah Good Dudes
Unwise Ska
Good night! Thanks for the fun!
Ezra
(With apologies to Norm McDonald.)
(With apologies to Norm McDonald.)
Slightly diminish a band:
Avenged Once
Avenged Once
Slightly diminish a band:
Joy Subtraction
Joy Subtraction
August 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Ezra
(With apologies to Norm McDonald.)
(With apologies to Norm McDonald.)
There is whimsy everywhere! Find joy, wonder, and peace where you can. We must survive the horrors of the now to send them to nothing. Then, we will rebuild a world full of love.
Be safe. Endure. Survive.
Be safe. Endure. Survive.
August 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
There is whimsy everywhere! Find joy, wonder, and peace where you can. We must survive the horrors of the now to send them to nothing. Then, we will rebuild a world full of love.
Be safe. Endure. Survive.
Be safe. Endure. Survive.
"I'm not looking to grow flowers in the desert."
But they do bloom. Every year. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with the universe.
Build community. Build relationships. Build hope.
I hear revolutions are built on hope.
But they do bloom. Every year. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with the universe.
Build community. Build relationships. Build hope.
I hear revolutions are built on hope.
August 12, 2025 at 12:38 AM
"I'm not looking to grow flowers in the desert."
But they do bloom. Every year. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with the universe.
Build community. Build relationships. Build hope.
I hear revolutions are built on hope.
But they do bloom. Every year. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with the universe.
Build community. Build relationships. Build hope.
I hear revolutions are built on hope.
Somedays just suck. And that sucks. But change comes. Change goes. Be at peace when the storms come so you may build the world anew.
August 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Somedays just suck. And that sucks. But change comes. Change goes. Be at peace when the storms come so you may build the world anew.
Good thread on self publishing.
Unsolicited Writing Advice, no: 167: SELF PUBLISHING.
As trad publishing becomes increasingly unsatisfactory for many, with advances plummeting and authors being asked to do more and more of what was once the publisher's job, more and more people are looking at self-publishing.
As trad publishing becomes increasingly unsatisfactory for many, with advances plummeting and authors being asked to do more and more of what was once the publisher's job, more and more people are looking at self-publishing.
August 3, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Good thread on self publishing.
In a hundred years, all of this will be over. Everything awful will pass. Survive mentally, physically, and emotionally to bring a beautiful dawn to humanity. You are worthy of a moment of peace.
Love you. ❤️
Love you. ❤️
July 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
In a hundred years, all of this will be over. Everything awful will pass. Survive mentally, physically, and emotionally to bring a beautiful dawn to humanity. You are worthy of a moment of peace.
Love you. ❤️
Love you. ❤️
When you use up something you buy in bulk, but you missed the bulk you already bought.
So yeah, I have enough toothpaste until the heat death of the universe now.
So yeah, I have enough toothpaste until the heat death of the universe now.
July 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
When you use up something you buy in bulk, but you missed the bulk you already bought.
So yeah, I have enough toothpaste until the heat death of the universe now.
So yeah, I have enough toothpaste until the heat death of the universe now.
And now for your Monday. A brief moment of zen thanks to Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite. Take care. ❤️
July 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
And now for your Monday. A brief moment of zen thanks to Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite. Take care. ❤️
If you can brave your fear, you can find wonder. Be brave. Go explore. Find beauty!
July 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
If you can brave your fear, you can find wonder. Be brave. Go explore. Find beauty!
A favorite storytelling video of mine explains how a flat arc character works. He uses Paddington Bear 2 as an example. One of the last lines is, "And that's how you should write a Superman movie." James Gunn loves that movie. The audacity of being kind is pretty punk.
youtu.be/ot02hMJ6Hkk?...
youtu.be/ot02hMJ6Hkk?...
Writing Characters Without Character Arcs
YouTube video by Just Write
youtu.be
July 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
A favorite storytelling video of mine explains how a flat arc character works. He uses Paddington Bear 2 as an example. One of the last lines is, "And that's how you should write a Superman movie." James Gunn loves that movie. The audacity of being kind is pretty punk.
youtu.be/ot02hMJ6Hkk?...
youtu.be/ot02hMJ6Hkk?...
"How great must the intellectual degeneration of a people be that in this foolish poltroon they see a leader, and therefore a personality to be emulated?"
Article in the German newspaper "Die Weltbühne," Carl von Ossietzky, 1931
Just learned thanks to the short video below.
Article in the German newspaper "Die Weltbühne," Carl von Ossietzky, 1931
Just learned thanks to the short video below.
Came across Carl von Ossietzky in some research last week and kinda felt like more people ought to know about him.
youtube.com/shorts/8zIMR...
youtube.com/shorts/8zIMR...
July 15, 2025 at 10:57 PM
"How great must the intellectual degeneration of a people be that in this foolish poltroon they see a leader, and therefore a personality to be emulated?"
Article in the German newspaper "Die Weltbühne," Carl von Ossietzky, 1931
Just learned thanks to the short video below.
Article in the German newspaper "Die Weltbühne," Carl von Ossietzky, 1931
Just learned thanks to the short video below.
Reposted by Ian McCombs
There's still time to join in if you haven't yet! #BluePit is open to any stage of a project and runs until MIDNIGHT EST!
Discuss your WIPs! Sell you stuff! Support stories and storytellers you love!
We're also open to #GameDev / #IndieDev, #TTRPG, and #Comics as well as the #WritingCommunity!
Discuss your WIPs! Sell you stuff! Support stories and storytellers you love!
We're also open to #GameDev / #IndieDev, #TTRPG, and #Comics as well as the #WritingCommunity!
a bald man in a blue suit is pointing at the words come join us .
Alt: Dr. Evil is gesturing with his hands towards himself with text that says "Come Join Us!"
media.tenor.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:33 PM