Ilana Masad
@ilanaslightly.bsky.social
Writer and critic for hire. Author of the novel "All My Mother's Lovers" and "Beings," forthcoming from Bloomsbury, 9/23/25.
Pre-order links (and hopefully other stuff soon): https://linktr.ee/ilanaslightly
Pre-order links (and hopefully other stuff soon): https://linktr.ee/ilanaslightly
Inside you are two wolves: one wants to do the thing, the other wants to sleep.
(I need to make an end-of-year-thread/post here and on IG and I both want to and also am so deeply bone-tired exhausted and find it deeply stressful.)
(I need to make an end-of-year-thread/post here and on IG and I both want to and also am so deeply bone-tired exhausted and find it deeply stressful.)
December 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Inside you are two wolves: one wants to do the thing, the other wants to sleep.
(I need to make an end-of-year-thread/post here and on IG and I both want to and also am so deeply bone-tired exhausted and find it deeply stressful.)
(I need to make an end-of-year-thread/post here and on IG and I both want to and also am so deeply bone-tired exhausted and find it deeply stressful.)
Not sure whether other writers and readers I know are using Shepherd, but I really like its features so far (and having spoken to the founder, he seems to be both really sweet and also quite against the AI/over-algorithmification of book rec engines). Check it out!
shepherd.com?referrer_id=...
shepherd.com?referrer_id=...
Shepherd - Explore the books that readers love.
Join the rebellion and meet the indie book platform readers deserve! Meet the books that you will love, not just like.
shepherd.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Not sure whether other writers and readers I know are using Shepherd, but I really like its features so far (and having spoken to the founder, he seems to be both really sweet and also quite against the AI/over-algorithmification of book rec engines). Check it out!
shepherd.com?referrer_id=...
shepherd.com?referrer_id=...
Reposted by Ilana Masad
December 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Con: kid was sick for several days, barely slept
Pro: missed a bunch of discourse apparently
Pro: missed a bunch of discourse apparently
December 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Con: kid was sick for several days, barely slept
Pro: missed a bunch of discourse apparently
Pro: missed a bunch of discourse apparently
There are so many things about how advertising works that feel like they should be absolutely illegal. Especially the part where they're allowed to lie.
December 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
There are so many things about how advertising works that feel like they should be absolutely illegal. Especially the part where they're allowed to lie.
Reposted by Ilana Masad
We had congressional hearings when parents just suspected heavy metal was leading some kids to suicide.
i don’t see how any of the benefits of chatgpt and other consumer-facing LLMs can possibly outweigh their incredible ability to induce suicides
Adam Raine’s life hurtled toward tragedy soon after he began talking with ChatGPT about homework. Analysis of his ChatGPT account shows how the chatbot became a confidant as he planned to end his life.
December 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We had congressional hearings when parents just suspected heavy metal was leading some kids to suicide.
Reposted by Ilana Masad
This is the worst F/M/K ever
With Bardot's passing, the only named individuals in Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire that are still alive are Bob Dylan, Chubby Checker, and Bernie Goetz. The last one standing will claim The Prize.
Brigitte Bardot, French screen legend, dies aged 91
December 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This is the worst F/M/K ever
Please someone teach me how to be confident enough to think in arguments, I beg you
December 27, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Please someone teach me how to be confident enough to think in arguments, I beg you
Toddler's been sick for days; had to reschedule flight so as not to spend a day with a feverish kid who is too young to mask in airports and airplanes (parents of toddlers who refuse hats/scarves/sunglasses, please tell me how on earth you get them to mask once they're 2?!); just want to go home
December 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Toddler's been sick for days; had to reschedule flight so as not to spend a day with a feverish kid who is too young to mask in airports and airplanes (parents of toddlers who refuse hats/scarves/sunglasses, please tell me how on earth you get them to mask once they're 2?!); just want to go home
Reposted by Ilana Masad
I think we're done with 6 7 because 7 ATE
Nein?
Nein?
December 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I think we're done with 6 7 because 7 ATE
Nein?
Nein?
Reposted by Ilana Masad
bf’s sister got me @emotrophywife.bsky.social’s book!
December 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM
bf’s sister got me @emotrophywife.bsky.social’s book!
I was today years old when I learned that there was a sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that seems to take place in what is basically a TARDIS?
December 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I was today years old when I learned that there was a sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that seems to take place in what is basically a TARDIS?
Increasingly feeling like the kind of critical writing I do has no future because I'm so bad at thinking in definitive (and forced) arguments SAT-style, and I genuinely don't know what to do or how to maintain a career like this
December 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Increasingly feeling like the kind of critical writing I do has no future because I'm so bad at thinking in definitive (and forced) arguments SAT-style, and I genuinely don't know what to do or how to maintain a career like this
Reposted by Ilana Masad
“The media isn’t covering this” is a statement about your own media diet. Yes, I am painfully aware that legacy outlets have the biggest audiences. It is good to criticize their coverage. But I would love to see even a fraction of that energy directed to helping smaller outlets gain bigger audiences
December 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
“The media isn’t covering this” is a statement about your own media diet. Yes, I am painfully aware that legacy outlets have the biggest audiences. It is good to criticize their coverage. But I would love to see even a fraction of that energy directed to helping smaller outlets gain bigger audiences
If anyone else is incapable of chilling out over the holiday season because they're at their in-laws and/or chronically exhausted and/or unable to stop worrying about how they're going to make a living while also being an artist in an increasingly grim-seeming future... well, I see you and I'm sorry
December 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
If anyone else is incapable of chilling out over the holiday season because they're at their in-laws and/or chronically exhausted and/or unable to stop worrying about how they're going to make a living while also being an artist in an increasingly grim-seeming future... well, I see you and I'm sorry
Reposted by Ilana Masad
New Patreon post in which I share the worksheet I fill out when I'm developing a new character! Enjoy: www.patreon.com/posts/146369...
my character development worksheet | Micah Nemerever
Get more from Micah Nemerever on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
New Patreon post in which I share the worksheet I fill out when I'm developing a new character! Enjoy: www.patreon.com/posts/146369...
Reposted by Ilana Masad
As we wrap up this year, we’d like to take a moment to appreciate all the fantastic work that was published by the Study Hall community. Welcome to Study Hall Wrapped!
studyhall.xyz/study-hall-w...
studyhall.xyz/study-hall-w...
Study Hall Wrapped
As we wrap up this year, we’d like to take a moment to appreciate all the fantastic work that was published by the Study Hall community. Welcome to Study Hall Wrapped!Ilana Masad, “Rediscovering
studyhall.xyz
December 23, 2025 at 5:46 PM
As we wrap up this year, we’d like to take a moment to appreciate all the fantastic work that was published by the Study Hall community. Welcome to Study Hall Wrapped!
studyhall.xyz/study-hall-w...
studyhall.xyz/study-hall-w...
Been a minute since I saw such an obviously masturbatory novel description
December 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Been a minute since I saw such an obviously masturbatory novel description
I don't know what's going on but I've seen like three times the number of masked people at the airport(s) today
December 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I don't know what's going on but I've seen like three times the number of masked people at the airport(s) today
On the one hand, it's so important to think and talk about art making and living well as divorced from capitalism.
On the other hand, I absolutely don't know how to make it possible to live well and make art without constantly thinking about where my next paycheck comes from, and that's a shame.
On the other hand, I absolutely don't know how to make it possible to live well and make art without constantly thinking about where my next paycheck comes from, and that's a shame.
December 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
On the one hand, it's so important to think and talk about art making and living well as divorced from capitalism.
On the other hand, I absolutely don't know how to make it possible to live well and make art without constantly thinking about where my next paycheck comes from, and that's a shame.
On the other hand, I absolutely don't know how to make it possible to live well and make art without constantly thinking about where my next paycheck comes from, and that's a shame.
Reposted by Ilana Masad
One of the more egregious sins of LLMs is taking away choice.
It's one thing for silicon valley to do this. It's quite another for organisations to bend the fucking knee and duplicate this lack of choice.
I'm not against innovation.
I'm against anybody or thing who takes away my power to choose.
It's one thing for silicon valley to do this. It's quite another for organisations to bend the fucking knee and duplicate this lack of choice.
I'm not against innovation.
I'm against anybody or thing who takes away my power to choose.
December 20, 2025 at 12:27 AM
One of the more egregious sins of LLMs is taking away choice.
It's one thing for silicon valley to do this. It's quite another for organisations to bend the fucking knee and duplicate this lack of choice.
I'm not against innovation.
I'm against anybody or thing who takes away my power to choose.
It's one thing for silicon valley to do this. It's quite another for organisations to bend the fucking knee and duplicate this lack of choice.
I'm not against innovation.
I'm against anybody or thing who takes away my power to choose.
Speaking of being on the radio... apparently something I wrote (probably my LA Times piece about The West Wing?) was quoted in this (thank you @josephlezza.com for letting me know) and I am so honored because I love Amy Adams a lot and also because I love The West Wing and this episode in particular
Today we’re talking about the 2002 The West Wing episode “20 Hours in America” with special guests @claykeller.bsky.social (@screendrafts.bsky.social) and @adambvary.bsky.social.
Plus: liberal cringe and all the ways this episode made us cry.
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/t...
Plus: liberal cringe and all the ways this episode made us cry.
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/t...
December 19, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Speaking of being on the radio... apparently something I wrote (probably my LA Times piece about The West Wing?) was quoted in this (thank you @josephlezza.com for letting me know) and I am so honored because I love Amy Adams a lot and also because I love The West Wing and this episode in particular
My newly regular radio spot (*nerdy radio lover's shriek*) In which, this time, I recommend:
Dinner on Monster Island by @taniaderozario.bsky.social
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by @nicolegoux.bsky.social and
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Dinner on Monster Island by @taniaderozario.bsky.social
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by @nicolegoux.bsky.social and
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
It's the 3rd Friday of the month! @ilanaslightly.bsky.social joined us to give us 3 books to get us through the holidays. Watch the full video here:
youtu.be/csXcjGWOKBQ?...
youtube.com/shorts/VwPBq...
youtu.be/csXcjGWOKBQ?...
youtube.com/shorts/VwPBq...
Queer books to get you through the holidays
YouTube video by The Gaily Show
youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
My newly regular radio spot (*nerdy radio lover's shriek*) In which, this time, I recommend:
Dinner on Monster Island by @taniaderozario.bsky.social
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by @nicolegoux.bsky.social and
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Dinner on Monster Island by @taniaderozario.bsky.social
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by @nicolegoux.bsky.social and
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
It's that time of year where in order to meet my silly reading trackers' goals I add in all the books I've read my toddler recently
December 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
It's that time of year where in order to meet my silly reading trackers' goals I add in all the books I've read my toddler recently