Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
@kellyjbaker.bsky.social
writer. mother. little gremlin. PhD. MFA student. author of Gospel According to the Klan, The Zombies Are Coming, Grace Period, Final Girl, etc. co-host of @podonlyknows.bsky.social newsletter: https://www.kellyjbaker.com/newsletter/
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
January 4, 2026 at 3:05 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
2025 ended as the worst year of my life, so I am tentatively hoping 2026 turns out better.
January 1, 2026 at 1:36 PM
2025 ended as the worst year of my life, so I am tentatively hoping 2026 turns out better.
My sixth grader is on the phone with friends telling them: "My mom writes depressing books."
And I am in the other room trying not to die laughing.
And I am in the other room trying not to die laughing.
January 1, 2026 at 12:08 AM
My sixth grader is on the phone with friends telling them: "My mom writes depressing books."
And I am in the other room trying not to die laughing.
And I am in the other room trying not to die laughing.
I didn't think the year could get any worse. Then, December happened.
Hey you know what this year fucking sucked.
December 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I didn't think the year could get any worse. Then, December happened.
Santa brought me a skeleton armadillo!
December 25, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Santa brought me a skeleton armadillo!
Actually, I completely crashed and took a nap and then read a workshop piece.
Though, I just learned my cheesecake went for $45 in the online bake sale for the band (I made it after sessions last night).
Though, I just learned my cheesecake went for $45 in the online bake sale for the band (I made it after sessions last night).
Residency Day 7: I'm gonna catch up on recordings of talks I missed that I wanted to attend, and I have shifted to flannel rather than a sweatshirt.
December 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Actually, I completely crashed and took a nap and then read a workshop piece.
Though, I just learned my cheesecake went for $45 in the online bake sale for the band (I made it after sessions last night).
Though, I just learned my cheesecake went for $45 in the online bake sale for the band (I made it after sessions last night).
Residency Day 7: I'm gonna catch up on recordings of talks I missed that I wanted to attend, and I have shifted to flannel rather than a sweatshirt.
December 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Residency Day 7: I'm gonna catch up on recordings of talks I missed that I wanted to attend, and I have shifted to flannel rather than a sweatshirt.
I decided, btw, that I am gonna print out all of my essays and literally move them around until the order fits.
That means I have to organize all of my essays *finally* into a form that makes sense.
Send all the effing good vibes my way because this is gonna be an EVENT.
Send all the effing good vibes my way because this is gonna be an EVENT.
December 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I decided, btw, that I am gonna print out all of my essays and literally move them around until the order fits.
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
Every trans person--including every trans child--deserves the chance to be fully themselves. I'm so sick of seeing trans folks harmed repeatedly and unrelentingly, against all reason and scientific precedent. To my trans friends--I'm so sorry the world keeps trying to dim your light.
December 18, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Every trans person--including every trans child--deserves the chance to be fully themselves. I'm so sick of seeing trans folks harmed repeatedly and unrelentingly, against all reason and scientific precedent. To my trans friends--I'm so sorry the world keeps trying to dim your light.
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
Had the three Dems who voted for this held the line and voted no, they could have blocked it.
December 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Had the three Dems who voted for this held the line and voted no, they could have blocked it.
I had a moment of absolute panic today about my last semester of the MFA because there's so much to do.
It passed, but damn, there are still echoes.
It passed, but damn, there are still echoes.
December 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I had a moment of absolute panic today about my last semester of the MFA because there's so much to do.
It passed, but damn, there are still echoes.
It passed, but damn, there are still echoes.
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
Rereleased from last year, @kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social welcomed @khandozo.bsky.social to discuss Dickens, Christmas, and whether or not he invented it (spoiler: No. But...)
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
RERELEASE (from 12/24): Did Dickens "Invent" Ch... by Pod Only Knows
cms.megaphone.fm
December 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Rereleased from last year, @kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social welcomed @khandozo.bsky.social to discuss Dickens, Christmas, and whether or not he invented it (spoiler: No. But...)
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
Residency Day 6: I have workshop today, and, you guessed it, I'm wearing yet another sweatshirt.
At least, I'm effing consistent.
At least, I'm effing consistent.
December 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Residency Day 6: I have workshop today, and, you guessed it, I'm wearing yet another sweatshirt.
At least, I'm effing consistent.
At least, I'm effing consistent.
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
this is supervillain shit
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
this is supervillain shit
Also, I ordered Christmas presents and rearranged an orthodontist appointment between sessions.
Residency Day 5: I am wearing another sweatshirt, and I get to meet my mentor group.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
December 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Also, I ordered Christmas presents and rearranged an orthodontist appointment between sessions.
I know better than to eat lunch at 10:00 am, but I will do it anyway: a memoir
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I know better than to eat lunch at 10:00 am, but I will do it anyway: a memoir
Residency Day 5: I am wearing another sweatshirt, and I get to meet my mentor group.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
December 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Residency Day 5: I am wearing another sweatshirt, and I get to meet my mentor group.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
They need to know what they are gonna get.
My glasses are fire though.
My tween can't say "dead ass."
So, the kid keeps saying to me: "Are you, dead grass, bro?"
So, the kid keeps saying to me: "Are you, dead grass, bro?"
December 16, 2025 at 1:21 AM
My tween can't say "dead ass."
So, the kid keeps saying to me: "Are you, dead grass, bro?"
So, the kid keeps saying to me: "Are you, dead grass, bro?"
I did, however, get a new mentor today, who is hyped about my book project and I think will push me to the next level with it.
Residency Day 4: I have managed to attend all of one session, I have read all of one workshop piece, and I am running kids around to things and have a middle school band concert to attend tonight.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
December 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I did, however, get a new mentor today, who is hyped about my book project and I think will push me to the next level with it.
Reposted by Kelly J. Baker (she/her)
I’m a text-based life form.
i have said this before but if you are actually interested in influencing people beyond a narrow circle of too-online journalists you will be making direct to camera videos on tiktok, instagram and youtube. if you primarily post on text-based social media then you're just dicking around.
December 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I’m a text-based life form.
Residency Day 4: I have managed to attend all of one session, I have read all of one workshop piece, and I am running kids around to things and have a middle school band concert to attend tonight.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
December 15, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Residency Day 4: I have managed to attend all of one session, I have read all of one workshop piece, and I am running kids around to things and have a middle school band concert to attend tonight.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
I'm not managing the school from home thing well.
I drank way too much coffee and workshopped my work with a group for an hour or so, so now, I'm trying to crawl out of my skin.
Anxiety is fun*
*not fun
Anxiety is fun*
*not fun
December 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I drank way too much coffee and workshopped my work with a group for an hour or so, so now, I'm trying to crawl out of my skin.
Anxiety is fun*
*not fun
Anxiety is fun*
*not fun
I'm wearing my Saja Boys hoodie today, which folks might be able to tell at residency if they look closely at me on Zoom.
It's making my life.
It's making my life.
December 13, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I'm wearing my Saja Boys hoodie today, which folks might be able to tell at residency if they look closely at me on Zoom.
It's making my life.
It's making my life.
Residency Day 2.
My tween is still sick, and we did a trip to urgent care before residency started.
And the roofers are back and yelling at one another between hammering all the things.
I just...
My tween is still sick, and we did a trip to urgent care before residency started.
And the roofers are back and yelling at one another between hammering all the things.
I just...
My (virtual) residency for MFA starts today, and I have a sick tween at home.
Thank you, universe.
Thank you, universe.
December 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Residency Day 2.
My tween is still sick, and we did a trip to urgent care before residency started.
And the roofers are back and yelling at one another between hammering all the things.
I just...
My tween is still sick, and we did a trip to urgent care before residency started.
And the roofers are back and yelling at one another between hammering all the things.
I just...