Jay Heltzer
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jayheltzer.bsky.social
Jay Heltzer
@jayheltzer.bsky.social
Writer of fiction, microfiction and #5amWritersClub devotee, w/ some bass trombone on the side.

I love humor, good humans, and creativity. I ask of at least one from everyone, but all three is fine too.

Low Notes: https://jayheltzer.substack.com
Pinned
Just read this passage from “Mrs Death Misses Death” by
Salena Godden and I may have a new mantra for creating art.
#5amwritersclub
First VDP of 2026 is tomorrow, building MOMENTUM for the rest of the year.

Plus... first details about the annual Journey to Jupiter in-person writing retreat.

You KNOW you want to be there... so be there.

#5amWritersClub
Virtual Donut Parties are back for '26, starting this Friday 1/9 at 5am ET via Zoom.

How to build MOMENTUM for a successful year

-Repetition
-Asking little & big questions of your work
-Measuring Success
-Celebrating without Slowing Down

#5amWritersClub

DM me for the new Zoom link
January 8, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Virtual Donut Parties are back for '26, starting this Friday 1/9 at 5am ET via Zoom.

How to build MOMENTUM for a successful year

-Repetition
-Asking little & big questions of your work
-Measuring Success
-Celebrating without Slowing Down

#5amWritersClub

DM me for the new Zoom link
January 5, 2026 at 9:58 AM
🧠More.
♥️Less.
✋🏻Some?
🧠It needs more.
♥️But not with unnecessary fluff. Move on.
✋🏻Gimme something, please.
🧠We haven't fully told the story. We've barely filled the scene.
♥️The reader understands. We shouldn't be working this hard!
✋🏻Kinda like this post?

#5amWritersClub
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🧠I'm so tired. Not just sleepy tired, but so... ugh.
♥️I get it. You wanna write?
🧠Yeah, but... its easier to not bother.
♥️That's no fun. Writing is fun.
🧠Yeah, but–
♥️Hey... don't ever forget: Writing is fun. Doesn't have to be anything else.
🧠 😀
✋🏻Game on!

#5amWritersClub
December 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM
♥️The holiday concerts are over.
🧠Halleluyah!
♥️Time to finish with the gifts.
🧠Crap!
♥️But we get to write first.
🧠Halleluyah!
♥️Time to finish that synopsis.
🧠AW CRAP!

#5amWritersClub
December 22, 2025 at 10:13 AM
🧠It's synopsis time.
♥️I believe in you.
✋🏻Good luck.
🧠The heroine... no. The night was...
♥️Take your time.
✋🏻You know the story, right?
🧠On a dark desert highway...
♥️That's not–
✋🏻Oh lord.🤦🏻
🧠Who's the MC again?
♥️This may take a while.
✋🏻I'll make more tea.

#5amWritersClub
December 21, 2025 at 11:37 AM
🧠Its go-time.
♥️Hold on... a few more journal thoughts...
✋🏻We'll be with you in a sec.
🧠... Now?
♥️...
🧠Now??
♥️...
🧠Now???
♥️If you don't mind, I need to SCREAM INTO THE VOID AND CAN'T START THE CREATIVE PART TILL I'M DONE, OK?
🧠Damn.
✋🏻Told you.

#5amWritersClub
December 20, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I predict there's going to be a ton of frustrated Wordle players today.

Anyhoo, anyone seen my focus? It was here yesterday.

#5amWritersClub
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December 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
♥️You really need to finish holliday shopping.
🧠What would my MC want for Christmas?
♥️Most of the good stuff is gone.
🧠Are there any gifts in Chapter 6 of my WIP?
♥️You're running out of time.
🧠Time is a plot problem.
♥️Oy, you're your own plot problem.

🤦🏻🎄

#5amWritersClub
December 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
👀Hey! This best-selling book is like the one we're writing.
🧠Wut?
👀Sweet! It's got scenes just like the ones we wrote.
🧠Come again?
👀Wow. That cool idea we loved... they wrote it much better.
🧠
♥️It'll be ok.
✋🏻

#5amWritersClub
December 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🧠'26 will have big plans, big changes, BIG GOALS!
♥️What about today?
🧠Let's survive today, ok?
♥️Will we be a different person on 1/1?
🧠Same, but new, cool direction.
♥️So, why wait?
🧠Shut up. '26 is our year.
♥️What about today?
✋🏻Today we edit or die!!!

#5amWritersClub
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 AM
♥️Please don't look at the news. Let's just write, okay?
🧠It's incomprehensible.
👀We can handle it.
♥️No... yesterday was awful. Please don't.
🧠C'mon, just a few hours of creative work first.
✋🏻
👀... Holy shit...
💔

#5amWritersClub
December 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
🧠What's all this noise?
👂🏻Her name is Mariah Carey.
🧠Is she in our book about the Mississippi Blues?
👂🏻No, she sang this Christmas song called–
🧠I KNOW THE SONG! What's it doing here?
👂🏻Living rent free.
🧠Get her out!
🪗Can I help?
🧠It would be a 🎄 miracle!

#5amWritersClub
December 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
👃🏻
🧠Wha? Who woke me?
👃🏻Did you say something?
🧠Dammit. It's too early.
👃🏻My bad... but don't you get up early to write?
🧠Yeah, but...
👃🏻Well, there you go.
🧠You're not helping.
👃🏻All I'm saying is...
🧠Shut up. ☝🏻👃🏻
✋🏻Uh, we can't type like this.

#5amWritersClub
December 12, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🧠How nice, yesterday's unresolved plot problem is still there.
♥️You know what the MC is trying to accomplish. Follow your gut.
🧠So many mediocre choices in front of the MC. I'm stuck and uninspired.
✋🏻Hey, what does this DEL button do?
🧠OK, OK, I'LL MAKE A CHOICE.

#5amWritersClub
December 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
👀Ooh, click that.
✋🏻No.
👀That news item will incense us. Clicky!
✋🏻No dice. We have work to–
🧠What's going on here?
👀...
🧠 We must wake and prep for the day and you want to read this crap?
✋🏻I tried to–
🧠Back to the WIP, now!

#5amWritersClub
December 10, 2025 at 10:03 AM
🧠One more Reel...
♥️No.
✋🏻
🧠That last one was great. They were cooking–
♥️No.
✋🏻We're waiting...
♥️Are the Reels for your WIP?
🧠Maybe...?
✋🏻Can we get a little help, please?
👀We're staying closed until you agree to work.
🧠You're no fun. Fine, let's art.

#5amWritersClub
December 9, 2025 at 9:28 AM
✋🏻Are we on the same chapter today?
🧠Yeah.
♥️Be kind.
✋🏻The MC and the ally are having their first fight, AGAIN?
🧠Yeah.
♥️Be kind.
✋🏻Wow! How long is this going to... hey, why are we going numb?
♥️I SAID TO BE KIND!
✋🏻Damn, that was cold.
🧠Yeah.
♥️Be kind.

#5amWritersClub
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
♥️How's it going?
🧠It's still not done.
✋🏻We'll never be "done."
♥️That's a funny attitude. When's the deadline?
✋🏻There's a deadline?
🧠There's always a deadline.
♥️So, it'll be done soon.
🧠✋🏻Bite me!

#5amWritersClub
December 7, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Who forgot they signed up for the @nycmidnight.bsky.social 250-word micro-fiction contest this weekend? (👈🏻 this guy)

Who got Suspense/Thriller as a genre and has never written in that genre? (👈🏻 this guy)

Who keeps looking at the ticking clock with worry and... 💡(👈🏻 this guy)

#5amWritersClub
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December 6, 2025 at 9:01 AM
GM 🌅
Friday 🍩
words 🖋️
Words 📖
WORDS! 📚

#5amWritersClub
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December 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Ok, settle down folks. Can we settle down? You two back there, take your seats please.

Today, we're gonna do the same thing as all the other days. Wake up at dawn's crack, drink the magic, and then create more amazing art in the #5amWritersClub.

Any questions? No? Ok, begin...
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December 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Hey, it's 5am.
Hey, are you caffeinated?
Hey, are you medicated?
Hey, are you regulated?
Hey, are you at the desk?
Hey, what are your words awake?
Hey, are you ready?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, you are likely a member of the #5amWritersClub... or you want to be.
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December 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Throwing caution into the wind is an exciting adventure provided it is not covered in some gross liquid that splashes back into your face.

I don't know. First thoughts of the day, so... editing will be fun, right? Write!

#5amWritersClub
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December 2, 2025 at 9:51 AM
My body is awake but my clever is still slumbering.

Yeah, I got nothing for you, but I'm here and that's enough.

#5amWritersClub, where showing up is the minimum, but the minimum is still okay.
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December 1, 2025 at 10:14 AM