Luke Wortley
@lukewortley.bsky.social
partner & parent - board gamer - writer - talker - queer/bi - kentuckian/hoosier hybrid - leftist - sports fan - community seeker - population & public health advocate - he/him
This was the thing that finally turned the knob for me back to "on to the next one." I've submitted one thing in the last 13 months - a packet of poems. It's reflective of all the things I hate about the literary publishing world. One cold sentence. 13 months of inactivity. No pay even if accepted.
![A single line from a literary magazine form rejection letter after over a year of sitting inactive that reads: "Ultimately, while we didn't feel that your work was quite right for [Journal Name Here] at this time, we are grateful to have read it."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jjkhkdt4osirdkwanwzrnho3/bafkreic3ao5ovkhaigemvlkmm6wqvuy5dsjq7m3rfhwzum4zio36ef6nzm@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This was the thing that finally turned the knob for me back to "on to the next one." I've submitted one thing in the last 13 months - a packet of poems. It's reflective of all the things I hate about the literary publishing world. One cold sentence. 13 months of inactivity. No pay even if accepted.
Reposted by Luke Wortley
November 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Luke Wortley
New Short Story, Long story tomorrow!
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
“Inheritance” by Luke Wortley
“My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral, ending in rounded tips.”
ashortstorylong.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New Short Story, Long story tomorrow!
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
All social media genuinely makes me feel bad about myself, but if I ever want hope of returning to some form of a literary life, then I have to at least be tangentially connected to it, and I am just not sure how sustainable that is.
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
All social media genuinely makes me feel bad about myself, but if I ever want hope of returning to some form of a literary life, then I have to at least be tangentially connected to it, and I am just not sure how sustainable that is.
Reposted by Luke Wortley
Vaccines cause adults
Tylenol causes pain relief
Neurodiversity is good
Tylenol causes pain relief
Neurodiversity is good
September 22, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Vaccines cause adults
Tylenol causes pain relief
Neurodiversity is good
Tylenol causes pain relief
Neurodiversity is good
I’m finding it hard to make meaning out of anything. No friends locally. No family locally. Third career, one I don’t care about even slightly but had to remove myself from previous one for many reasons. Total isolation. I try to do stuff. Just doesn’t matter. Nobody to talk to about anything
September 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I’m finding it hard to make meaning out of anything. No friends locally. No family locally. Third career, one I don’t care about even slightly but had to remove myself from previous one for many reasons. Total isolation. I try to do stuff. Just doesn’t matter. Nobody to talk to about anything
I think one of the omnipresent pieces of fact that drives my inability to create is knowing that I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been said better by so many other, better people many times over.
September 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I think one of the omnipresent pieces of fact that drives my inability to create is knowing that I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been said better by so many other, better people many times over.
Planning on finally finishing a few pieces of writing this week. Been a while since I said, yes, I think I’m done.
September 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Planning on finally finishing a few pieces of writing this week. Been a while since I said, yes, I think I’m done.
Reposted by Luke Wortley
It is pretty amazing to see people go from “the left is the enemy of democracy and must be purged” to “who can really know why good kids do bad things?”
September 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
It is pretty amazing to see people go from “the left is the enemy of democracy and must be purged” to “who can really know why good kids do bad things?”
Is Bluesky very active for many people?
September 2, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Is Bluesky very active for many people?
Have to post joy. What a fun time teaching my little one to paint and have fun with it without being perfect.
August 30, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Have to post joy. What a fun time teaching my little one to paint and have fun with it without being perfect.
Reposted by Luke Wortley
Day 22 of the #sealeychallenge
August 22nd- Shared Blood, Luke Wortley
This collection of prose poems from @lukewortley.bsky.social and @gnashing-teeth.bsky.social feels surreal and magical and true all at once
August 22nd- Shared Blood, Luke Wortley
This collection of prose poems from @lukewortley.bsky.social and @gnashing-teeth.bsky.social feels surreal and magical and true all at once
August 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Day 22 of the #sealeychallenge
August 22nd- Shared Blood, Luke Wortley
This collection of prose poems from @lukewortley.bsky.social and @gnashing-teeth.bsky.social feels surreal and magical and true all at once
August 22nd- Shared Blood, Luke Wortley
This collection of prose poems from @lukewortley.bsky.social and @gnashing-teeth.bsky.social feels surreal and magical and true all at once
Yall I started reading a “Terms of Use and Privacy Statement” in earnest tonight, and I’m just so not here for any of it.
August 15, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Yall I started reading a “Terms of Use and Privacy Statement” in earnest tonight, and I’m just so not here for any of it.
Reposted by Luke Wortley
Sent a manuscript acceptance offer today for one of our 2027 book picks & she said yes!
We now have:
Both book picks for 2026
Both book picks for 2027
More info soon 🤐
We now have:
Both book picks for 2026
Both book picks for 2027
More info soon 🤐
August 5, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Sent a manuscript acceptance offer today for one of our 2027 book picks & she said yes!
We now have:
Both book picks for 2026
Both book picks for 2027
More info soon 🤐
We now have:
Both book picks for 2026
Both book picks for 2027
More info soon 🤐
My titles are getting fun and playful again. Thanks in particular to @danielmiller.bsky.social and @toddedillard.bsky.social for so many reminders to make writing fun again.
August 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
My titles are getting fun and playful again. Thanks in particular to @danielmiller.bsky.social and @toddedillard.bsky.social for so many reminders to make writing fun again.
Just now occurred to me...I don't know of any formal prose poetry. Certainly there has to be something out there, no?
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Just now occurred to me...I don't know of any formal prose poetry. Certainly there has to be something out there, no?
Understood this is hella niche in 2025 but one thing that gives me joy is that two interests of mine are in the best competitive meta they’ve ever had — Warcraft 3 and NCAA wrestling. Not bc it’s evenly distributed in levels but bc the skill is diffuse enough to be awe inspiring at the top level.
August 1, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Understood this is hella niche in 2025 but one thing that gives me joy is that two interests of mine are in the best competitive meta they’ve ever had — Warcraft 3 and NCAA wrestling. Not bc it’s evenly distributed in levels but bc the skill is diffuse enough to be awe inspiring at the top level.
For those who have taken a long time off writing, how do you come back and not just give up immediately? Maybe, more generally, how do you build resilience in total creative isolation?
July 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
For those who have taken a long time off writing, how do you come back and not just give up immediately? Maybe, more generally, how do you build resilience in total creative isolation?
I don't know if I'll ever get over the disparity between what I wish to create and what I'm actually capable of creating. It totally freezes me, even when I'm motivated. I just don't even know if there's a legitimate reason to continue to try and do anything creative anymore.
July 18, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I don't know if I'll ever get over the disparity between what I wish to create and what I'm actually capable of creating. It totally freezes me, even when I'm motivated. I just don't even know if there's a legitimate reason to continue to try and do anything creative anymore.
Whatever. I'm writing, I guess.
July 17, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Whatever. I'm writing, I guess.
Sometimes music and art CAN heal. I don't feel the need to call out any particular piece, but maybe soon I'll be able to articulate this feeling of figuring something out while having a good soundtrack and tactile timeline.
July 15, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Sometimes music and art CAN heal. I don't feel the need to call out any particular piece, but maybe soon I'll be able to articulate this feeling of figuring something out while having a good soundtrack and tactile timeline.
Anyone know if Gulf Coast is still operational?
July 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Anyone know if Gulf Coast is still operational?
Trying to get back into reading and writing more consistently is hard. It’s like when you get super disappointed in your physical fitness level when you step outside to run for the first time after an extended hiatus due to injury and mental health issues and American life and existential dread.
July 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Trying to get back into reading and writing more consistently is hard. It’s like when you get super disappointed in your physical fitness level when you step outside to run for the first time after an extended hiatus due to injury and mental health issues and American life and existential dread.
Rediscovering art with my boy as a way to heal our perfectionist and horribly impulsive tendencies has been a revelation.
June 26, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Rediscovering art with my boy as a way to heal our perfectionist and horribly impulsive tendencies has been a revelation.
Not sure why I never thought I had a worthy short story collection…because I totally do. If only it weren’t a negative investment to try and get it published 🙄
June 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Not sure why I never thought I had a worthy short story collection…because I totally do. If only it weren’t a negative investment to try and get it published 🙄