Mara Lynn Johnstone
@marlynnofmany.bsky.social
Author of science fiction and fantasy. Exploring the multiverse, with pens, pencils and enthusiasm! She/her. Further shenanigans all over the internet and at MaraLynnJohnstone.com
Pinned
I don't know about you, but I've been making up stories since I could talk, & writing them down since shortly after.
In 5th grade, I decided that since I probably (probably) wouldn't get to ride a dragon / turn into a dragon etc, I'd write about it all instead.
Here's a thread of my books so far!🧵
In 5th grade, I decided that since I probably (probably) wouldn't get to ride a dragon / turn into a dragon etc, I'd write about it all instead.
Here's a thread of my books so far!🧵
Back to #DnD! The hobgoblin pirates have mostly-graciously given us a place to sleep (while grumbling about the robot who doesn't sleep, and who set their old ship on fire back in the day).
Nobody got stabbed in the night. Hooray!
Nobody got stabbed in the night. Hooray!
#DnD
Further pirate shenanigans and dinosaur haggling will have to wait for next time! Dinner's ready.
Further pirate shenanigans and dinosaur haggling will have to wait for next time! Dinner's ready.
February 14, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Back to #DnD! The hobgoblin pirates have mostly-graciously given us a place to sleep (while grumbling about the robot who doesn't sleep, and who set their old ship on fire back in the day).
Nobody got stabbed in the night. Hooray!
Nobody got stabbed in the night. Hooray!
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
Checks out.
You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).
February 13, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Checks out.
Typo update: "fingers" and "gingers" are much too similar, and only one of them belongs in a sentence about licking up messy food. This is not THAT type of story.
February 13, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Typo update: "fingers" and "gingers" are much too similar, and only one of them belongs in a sentence about licking up messy food. This is not THAT type of story.
This is not the first time I've sung new lyrics for a Disney song at my cat. It will not be the last.
"Do you want to be a probleeeem? Do you want to get in the way?"
(She really does. She's a black cat and today is Friday the 13th; this is her day.)
"Do you want to be a probleeeem? Do you want to get in the way?"
(She really does. She's a black cat and today is Friday the 13th; this is her day.)
February 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM
This is not the first time I've sung new lyrics for a Disney song at my cat. It will not be the last.
"Do you want to be a probleeeem? Do you want to get in the way?"
(She really does. She's a black cat and today is Friday the 13th; this is her day.)
"Do you want to be a probleeeem? Do you want to get in the way?"
(She really does. She's a black cat and today is Friday the 13th; this is her day.)
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
drawing expressions is my passion
February 13, 2026 at 3:24 AM
drawing expressions is my passion
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
This is absolutely INFURIATING because it is so relentless, and yet it's still... it's still KIND of funny because honestly who is out there trying to get money from WRITERS, that's like holding a cup underneath a Bigmouth Billy Bass and hoping for caviar to come out
The book club scam has taken an exciting new leap forward. I got one today from a "curated literary platform and newsletter" that, unusually, offered a link to its website. I'm in edits, so obviously I took the opportunity to procrastinate. /1
February 11, 2026 at 8:32 PM
This is absolutely INFURIATING because it is so relentless, and yet it's still... it's still KIND of funny because honestly who is out there trying to get money from WRITERS, that's like holding a cup underneath a Bigmouth Billy Bass and hoping for caviar to come out
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
Lessons I Learned on Book Tour
1. Get ahead of your anxiety.
This was my first solo driving tour. I am scared of highways. I rented a car similar to mine that I knew would be highly reliable. I brought pepper spray and a tire gauge. I overpacked and brought a heavy coat. If you can slash worry, do.
1. Get ahead of your anxiety.
This was my first solo driving tour. I am scared of highways. I rented a car similar to mine that I knew would be highly reliable. I brought pepper spray and a tire gauge. I overpacked and brought a heavy coat. If you can slash worry, do.
February 11, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Lessons I Learned on Book Tour
1. Get ahead of your anxiety.
This was my first solo driving tour. I am scared of highways. I rented a car similar to mine that I knew would be highly reliable. I brought pepper spray and a tire gauge. I overpacked and brought a heavy coat. If you can slash worry, do.
1. Get ahead of your anxiety.
This was my first solo driving tour. I am scared of highways. I rented a car similar to mine that I knew would be highly reliable. I brought pepper spray and a tire gauge. I overpacked and brought a heavy coat. If you can slash worry, do.
I just pasted a url instead of the character's name, and thought of this.
February 10, 2026 at 7:19 PM
I just pasted a url instead of the character's name, and thought of this.
I swear, writing "smirk" with an N just makes it more smirky.
He snirked. It was the most in-character snirk you ever saw.
He snirked. It was the most in-character snirk you ever saw.
February 10, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I swear, writing "smirk" with an N just makes it more smirky.
He snirked. It was the most in-character snirk you ever saw.
He snirked. It was the most in-character snirk you ever saw.
Cartoon typo: "in the blink of an eye" just turned into "in the boink of an eye." Somehow this heartfelt conversation has turned into slapstick with silly sound effects.
February 10, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Cartoon typo: "in the blink of an eye" just turned into "in the boink of an eye." Somehow this heartfelt conversation has turned into slapstick with silly sound effects.
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
If a door gets left open here for any length of time it summons the elusive but impressive garage peacock.
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
If a door gets left open here for any length of time it summons the elusive but impressive garage peacock.
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
Heaven help me if I ever meet someone in person who claims to be an AI author. I have a glass face. I cannot pretend. I will do my trademark cackle and then just snicker uncontrollably for a while. Do you let the plagiarism robot kiss your lover? Look at sunsets for you? Why are you even alive?
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Heaven help me if I ever meet someone in person who claims to be an AI author. I have a glass face. I cannot pretend. I will do my trademark cackle and then just snicker uncontrollably for a while. Do you let the plagiarism robot kiss your lover? Look at sunsets for you? Why are you even alive?
It's a pity Hourly Comic Day was moved on such short notice. That really cut the participation down. Maybe next year will be bigger again.
February 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM
It's a pity Hourly Comic Day was moved on such short notice. That really cut the participation down. Maybe next year will be bigger again.
Me: *writes one sentence*
My Brain: "Cool, time to stare out the window."
Me: "Let's not rest on our laurels JUST yet, shall we?"
#WriterProblems #Burnout #ItSucks
My Brain: "Cool, time to stare out the window."
Me: "Let's not rest on our laurels JUST yet, shall we?"
#WriterProblems #Burnout #ItSucks
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Me: *writes one sentence*
My Brain: "Cool, time to stare out the window."
Me: "Let's not rest on our laurels JUST yet, shall we?"
#WriterProblems #Burnout #ItSucks
My Brain: "Cool, time to stare out the window."
Me: "Let's not rest on our laurels JUST yet, shall we?"
#WriterProblems #Burnout #ItSucks
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
February 8, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Happy Hourly Comic Day, to all who celebrate! I hope you got enough sleep last night.
#hourlycomicday
#hourlycomicsday
#hourlycomicday2026
#hourlycomicsday2026
#hcd
#hcd2026
#hourlycomicday
#hourlycomicsday
#hourlycomicday2026
#hourlycomicsday2026
#hcd
#hcd2026
February 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Happy Hourly Comic Day, to all who celebrate! I hope you got enough sleep last night.
#hourlycomicday
#hourlycomicsday
#hourlycomicday2026
#hourlycomicsday2026
#hcd
#hcd2026
#hourlycomicday
#hourlycomicsday
#hourlycomicday2026
#hourlycomicsday2026
#hcd
#hcd2026
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
It is Superb Owl Sunday
February 8, 2026 at 1:05 PM
It is Superb Owl Sunday
I love doing these every year. It's nice to read back on previous years and remember what I was doing at the beginning of February.
Here's last year's, while I get the current one going.
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
Here's last year's, while I get the current one going.
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
Who else is too busy doing things and drawing comics about them to actually post the comics??
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
February 8, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I love doing these every year. It's nice to read back on previous years and remember what I was doing at the beginning of February.
Here's last year's, while I get the current one going.
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
Here's last year's, while I get the current one going.
#hourlycomicsday #hourlycomicday
You know you spend a lot of time in Writer Space when you see an ad where someone is complaining about his readers not getting the job done, and you get offended on their behalf.
Reading glasses. It was an ad for reading glasses. Phrased badly.
Reading glasses. It was an ad for reading glasses. Phrased badly.
February 6, 2026 at 10:06 PM
You know you spend a lot of time in Writer Space when you see an ad where someone is complaining about his readers not getting the job done, and you get offended on their behalf.
Reading glasses. It was an ad for reading glasses. Phrased badly.
Reading glasses. It was an ad for reading glasses. Phrased badly.
So fortunate to share a house with a tiny predator who is prone to tearing out of the shadows to gallop down the stairs at the least likely moment. Keeps you on your toes, that does.
February 6, 2026 at 6:14 PM
So fortunate to share a house with a tiny predator who is prone to tearing out of the shadows to gallop down the stairs at the least likely moment. Keeps you on your toes, that does.
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
A gravelly voice spoke from under the mayor's bed.
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
February 5, 2026 at 6:25 PM
A gravelly voice spoke from under the mayor's bed.
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
Getting emotional about Honey Guides, a bird that evolved along with ancient humans and formed a deep symbiotic relationship with us to get into beehives. youtube.com/shorts/xrCeq...
How This Bird Domesticated Humans
YouTube video by Miniminuteman
youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Getting emotional about Honey Guides, a bird that evolved along with ancient humans and formed a deep symbiotic relationship with us to get into beehives. youtube.com/shorts/xrCeq...
Reposted by Mara Lynn Johnstone
Holy shit, that slide 😂.
Now this is how you epically apologize for something. And that's coming from a Canadian 😂
Now this is how you epically apologize for something. And that's coming from a Canadian 😂
japanese volleyball player makes the most genuine apology after accidentally hitting someone with his serve
February 2, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Holy shit, that slide 😂.
Now this is how you epically apologize for something. And that's coming from a Canadian 😂
Now this is how you epically apologize for something. And that's coming from a Canadian 😂
Seriously! I've commissioned artwork of friends' D&D characters as gifts to give them, and I had to photoshop the artist's name in myself, just so it's there SOMEWHERE.
That friend may want to commission the artist later! I might want to again!
Sign your work where people can see it!
That friend may want to commission the artist later! I might want to again!
Sign your work where people can see it!
Artists, now more than ever: sign your work, legibly, where people can see your name when it's in a dang frame or something
February 2, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Seriously! I've commissioned artwork of friends' D&D characters as gifts to give them, and I had to photoshop the artist's name in myself, just so it's there SOMEWHERE.
That friend may want to commission the artist later! I might want to again!
Sign your work where people can see it!
That friend may want to commission the artist later! I might want to again!
Sign your work where people can see it!
New typo, new concept: "undersog," the character who is unlikely to win, but very likely to be moist. Ew.
February 2, 2026 at 2:37 AM
New typo, new concept: "undersog," the character who is unlikely to win, but very likely to be moist. Ew.