Melanie Dusseau
@melaniedusseau.bsky.social
Creative writing & lit prof, querying romance author, AI refuser, lover of books & poet of the ginger life. www.melaniedusseau.com
Associate Professor of English, U Findlay (she/her), MFA, analog researcher, dog-loving, traveling Hibernophile 💗
Associate Professor of English, U Findlay (she/her), MFA, analog researcher, dog-loving, traveling Hibernophile 💗
Pinned
Burn it down: a license for AI resistance (opinion)
Resistance is not futile, Melanie Dusseau writes.
www.insidehighered.com
Hoping my op ed in IHE will spark conversations on BlueSky about AI resistance & refusal in creative writing education, publishing, & writing pedagogy.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
#AIinEducation #Edtech #EduSky #AIArt #Technology #creativewriting #writingpedagogy #insidehighered
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
#AIinEducation #Edtech #EduSky #AIArt #Technology #creativewriting #writingpedagogy #insidehighered
From Samhain to the winter solstice: let darkness come.
#CelticFireFestivals #Samhain #harvest #BlessedBe
#CelticFireFestivals #Samhain #harvest #BlessedBe
November 1, 2025 at 2:21 AM
From Samhain to the winter solstice: let darkness come.
#CelticFireFestivals #Samhain #harvest #BlessedBe
#CelticFireFestivals #Samhain #harvest #BlessedBe
October 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by Melanie Dusseau
That one time I wrote a really unserious book that started as a complete joke to pitch to my agent, and then everyone loved it and said it was my best yet and I had a whole identity crisis.....
You can read it #writingcommunity : open.substack.com/pub/kellylbe...
You can read it #writingcommunity : open.substack.com/pub/kellylbe...
August 29, 2025 at 1:09 AM
That one time I wrote a really unserious book that started as a complete joke to pitch to my agent, and then everyone loved it and said it was my best yet and I had a whole identity crisis.....
You can read it #writingcommunity : open.substack.com/pub/kellylbe...
You can read it #writingcommunity : open.substack.com/pub/kellylbe...
Magic 8 Ball: Goth Edition
Q: Will a literary agent love my ragetastic paranormal romance?
A: "If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear." -Mary Shelley
Fin.
#amquerying #writesky #writersky #romancelandia #writingcommunity
Q: Will a literary agent love my ragetastic paranormal romance?
A: "If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear." -Mary Shelley
Fin.
#amquerying #writesky #writersky #romancelandia #writingcommunity
October 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Magic 8 Ball: Goth Edition
Q: Will a literary agent love my ragetastic paranormal romance?
A: "If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear." -Mary Shelley
Fin.
#amquerying #writesky #writersky #romancelandia #writingcommunity
Q: Will a literary agent love my ragetastic paranormal romance?
A: "If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear." -Mary Shelley
Fin.
#amquerying #writesky #writersky #romancelandia #writingcommunity
It's almost Samhain! Do you know what paranormal romance shares with monster literature and media? An appreciation of the well made brute.
The world is burning and you can stop pretending not to love paranormal romance, or if you're some kinda green fool newb: lucky, lucky you. 🦇
#romancelandia
The world is burning and you can stop pretending not to love paranormal romance, or if you're some kinda green fool newb: lucky, lucky you. 🦇
#romancelandia
October 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It's almost Samhain! Do you know what paranormal romance shares with monster literature and media? An appreciation of the well made brute.
The world is burning and you can stop pretending not to love paranormal romance, or if you're some kinda green fool newb: lucky, lucky you. 🦇
#romancelandia
The world is burning and you can stop pretending not to love paranormal romance, or if you're some kinda green fool newb: lucky, lucky you. 🦇
#romancelandia
The resistance finding a home is big, but finding each other has been life-affirming. Join us in the Library of Babel, friends. Check out what we're about at the link.
#NoSurveillance #Humanity #AIRefusal #AIinEdu #EduSky #AIResistance #Luddites #WriterSky
www.law.georgetown.edu/privacy-tech...
#NoSurveillance #Humanity #AIRefusal #AIinEdu #EduSky #AIResistance #Luddites #WriterSky
www.law.georgetown.edu/privacy-tech...
The Library of Babel Group
www.law.georgetown.edu
October 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The resistance finding a home is big, but finding each other has been life-affirming. Join us in the Library of Babel, friends. Check out what we're about at the link.
#NoSurveillance #Humanity #AIRefusal #AIinEdu #EduSky #AIResistance #Luddites #WriterSky
www.law.georgetown.edu/privacy-tech...
#NoSurveillance #Humanity #AIRefusal #AIinEdu #EduSky #AIResistance #Luddites #WriterSky
www.law.georgetown.edu/privacy-tech...
That first incredulous "what?" made me cheer. Meanwhile, the disconnect between creatives and AI hypers grows to a chasm.
#writersky #AI #edusky #writesky #AIresistance #AIrefusal
#writersky #AI #edusky #writesky #AIresistance #AIrefusal
October 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
That first incredulous "what?" made me cheer. Meanwhile, the disconnect between creatives and AI hypers grows to a chasm.
#writersky #AI #edusky #writesky #AIresistance #AIrefusal
#writersky #AI #edusky #writesky #AIresistance #AIrefusal
Need an autumn-themed, swoony distraction? Grab a copy of my 5-minute romance in WW. On newsstands this week! 🍁❤️
@womansworldmag.bsky.social
#romancelandia #writesky #freelance #writersky #romance #writingcommunity
@womansworldmag.bsky.social
#romancelandia #writesky #freelance #writersky #romance #writingcommunity
October 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Need an autumn-themed, swoony distraction? Grab a copy of my 5-minute romance in WW. On newsstands this week! 🍁❤️
@womansworldmag.bsky.social
#romancelandia #writesky #freelance #writersky #romance #writingcommunity
@womansworldmag.bsky.social
#romancelandia #writesky #freelance #writersky #romance #writingcommunity
AWP members, this webinar is free for members: October 21 1:00PM ETS. Registration required.
#WriteSky #WriterSky #AWP #AI
awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Maga...
#WriteSky #WriterSky #AWP #AI
awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Maga...
AWP Member-Only Live Event: Authors’ Rights in the Age of AI
AWP members, you asked for it, and we’re making it happen! Regina Brooks, AWP board member and president of the Association of American Literary Agents, moderates as three invited experts outline the ...
awpwriter.org
October 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
AWP members, this webinar is free for members: October 21 1:00PM ETS. Registration required.
#WriteSky #WriterSky #AWP #AI
awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Maga...
#WriteSky #WriterSky #AWP #AI
awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Maga...
Check out two stabby new poems in @villaineralit.bsky.social, a literary magazine of revenge. 🔪
#poetry #writesky #publishing
#poetry #writesky #publishing
Melanie Dusseau warns that handlers of redheads may find these poems difficult to hear, today at Villain Era!
Two Poems by Melanie Dusseau
Eve Takes One for the Team “Some paradise,” Eve sighed, mind zigzaggingbetween hangry and horny. No snake slithered but the sun struck a tree bushy with ruby baubles: pomegranates. She smashed one open with a rock, mouth agape at the red spill. Juice ran down her chin——a delighted smile lit her faceas she inspected seeds in her palm, mind on fire.
villaineralit.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Check out two stabby new poems in @villaineralit.bsky.social, a literary magazine of revenge. 🔪
#poetry #writesky #publishing
#poetry #writesky #publishing
Need a swoony distraction? My flash fic, "A Season for Love" will appear in WW mag, on sale Oct 10. It's a dual POV set in an apple orchard after a 5K. ✍️💙📚🍁
#freelance #publishing #romancelandia #amquerying #writerlife #writingcommunity #booksky #amwriting #writesky #romancelit #author #lovestory
#freelance #publishing #romancelandia #amquerying #writerlife #writingcommunity #booksky #amwriting #writesky #romancelit #author #lovestory
October 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Need a swoony distraction? My flash fic, "A Season for Love" will appear in WW mag, on sale Oct 10. It's a dual POV set in an apple orchard after a 5K. ✍️💙📚🍁
#freelance #publishing #romancelandia #amquerying #writerlife #writingcommunity #booksky #amwriting #writesky #romancelit #author #lovestory
#freelance #publishing #romancelandia #amquerying #writerlife #writingcommunity #booksky #amwriting #writesky #romancelit #author #lovestory
Joyful aspects of querying:
✍️ Researching agents. I love their personal, bookish stories. The manuscript wish lists that light you on fire.
✍️The little thrill of hope when you hit send.
✍️ Putting off grading to examine QT stats just long enough to conclude you might be a "maybe."
#amquerying
✍️ Researching agents. I love their personal, bookish stories. The manuscript wish lists that light you on fire.
✍️The little thrill of hope when you hit send.
✍️ Putting off grading to examine QT stats just long enough to conclude you might be a "maybe."
#amquerying
October 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Joyful aspects of querying:
✍️ Researching agents. I love their personal, bookish stories. The manuscript wish lists that light you on fire.
✍️The little thrill of hope when you hit send.
✍️ Putting off grading to examine QT stats just long enough to conclude you might be a "maybe."
#amquerying
✍️ Researching agents. I love their personal, bookish stories. The manuscript wish lists that light you on fire.
✍️The little thrill of hope when you hit send.
✍️ Putting off grading to examine QT stats just long enough to conclude you might be a "maybe."
#amquerying
Reposted by Melanie Dusseau
Book Broker: an interview with literary agent Kerry D'Agostino
"It is very clear when we receive a manuscript that is an early stage of drafting."
darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/b...
#amquerying #mswl
"It is very clear when we receive a manuscript that is an early stage of drafting."
darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/b...
#amquerying #mswl
Book Broker: an interview with Kerry D’Agostino
A good manuscript catches my attention right away and does not let it go. I am most drawn to voice-driven narratives, where I find something relatable about the protagonist right away, and I find…
darlingaxe.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Book Broker: an interview with literary agent Kerry D'Agostino
"It is very clear when we receive a manuscript that is an early stage of drafting."
darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/b...
#amquerying #mswl
"It is very clear when we receive a manuscript that is an early stage of drafting."
darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/b...
#amquerying #mswl
October 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I wish Query Tracker had an after hours lounge where insomniac writers in different time zones could meet to laugh and cry together. 💙📚
#AmQuerying #Authors #TradPub #WritingCommunity #WriterLife #WriteSky #SpecFic #WriterSky #ParanormalRomance #RomanceWriter #BookSky #Gingers #WritingProf #Romance
#AmQuerying #Authors #TradPub #WritingCommunity #WriterLife #WriteSky #SpecFic #WriterSky #ParanormalRomance #RomanceWriter #BookSky #Gingers #WritingProf #Romance
October 4, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I wish Query Tracker had an after hours lounge where insomniac writers in different time zones could meet to laugh and cry together. 💙📚
#AmQuerying #Authors #TradPub #WritingCommunity #WriterLife #WriteSky #SpecFic #WriterSky #ParanormalRomance #RomanceWriter #BookSky #Gingers #WritingProf #Romance
#AmQuerying #Authors #TradPub #WritingCommunity #WriterLife #WriteSky #SpecFic #WriterSky #ParanormalRomance #RomanceWriter #BookSky #Gingers #WritingProf #Romance
It is a joy, privilege, and responsibility to create reading lists for my students. It's also more important than ever to stand against censorship and in solidarity with academic freedom in education.
#EduSky #RightToRead #PenAmerica #anticensorship #readbannedbooks
pen.org/report/the-n...
#EduSky #RightToRead #PenAmerica #anticensorship #readbannedbooks
pen.org/report/the-n...
The Normalization of Book Banning
This report offers a window into the complex and extensive climate of censorship between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
pen.org
October 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It is a joy, privilege, and responsibility to create reading lists for my students. It's also more important than ever to stand against censorship and in solidarity with academic freedom in education.
#EduSky #RightToRead #PenAmerica #anticensorship #readbannedbooks
pen.org/report/the-n...
#EduSky #RightToRead #PenAmerica #anticensorship #readbannedbooks
pen.org/report/the-n...
My Weird Tales lit class is tearing through several novellas, and they are the perfect length to capture the reading attentions of college students.
If you haven't read Becky Chambers, you ought to. Next up: book 1 of Murderbot by Martha Wells. *Squeals in Sci Fi*
#novellas #writingprof #readmore
If you haven't read Becky Chambers, you ought to. Next up: book 1 of Murderbot by Martha Wells. *Squeals in Sci Fi*
#novellas #writingprof #readmore
October 3, 2025 at 10:35 AM
My Weird Tales lit class is tearing through several novellas, and they are the perfect length to capture the reading attentions of college students.
If you haven't read Becky Chambers, you ought to. Next up: book 1 of Murderbot by Martha Wells. *Squeals in Sci Fi*
#novellas #writingprof #readmore
If you haven't read Becky Chambers, you ought to. Next up: book 1 of Murderbot by Martha Wells. *Squeals in Sci Fi*
#novellas #writingprof #readmore
Exactly what I have been telling my creative writing students. I am glad to see this kind of messaging on more and more literary agents' submission guidelines.
#EduSky #creativewriting #amquerying #humancreativity #AIResistance
@ecniumata.bsky.social
erinniumata.substack.com/p/why-i-cann...
#EduSky #creativewriting #amquerying #humancreativity #AIResistance
@ecniumata.bsky.social
erinniumata.substack.com/p/why-i-cann...
Why I Cannot Represent AI-Generated Work
It has its uses but not in fiction.
erinniumata.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Exactly what I have been telling my creative writing students. I am glad to see this kind of messaging on more and more literary agents' submission guidelines.
#EduSky #creativewriting #amquerying #humancreativity #AIResistance
@ecniumata.bsky.social
erinniumata.substack.com/p/why-i-cann...
#EduSky #creativewriting #amquerying #humancreativity #AIResistance
@ecniumata.bsky.social
erinniumata.substack.com/p/why-i-cann...
I feel this way about socialslop, too. Imagine that? Automation is not only unethical; it deskills with a vengeance.
#AIResistance #AIRefusal #HumansDoItBetter
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
#AIResistance #AIRefusal #HumansDoItBetter
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity
Despite a surge in generative AI use across workplaces, most companies are seeing little measurable ROI. One possible reason is because AI tools are being used to produce “workslop”—content that appea...
hbr.org
September 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I feel this way about socialslop, too. Imagine that? Automation is not only unethical; it deskills with a vengeance.
#AIResistance #AIRefusal #HumansDoItBetter
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
#AIResistance #AIRefusal #HumansDoItBetter
hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
Pssst: wanna read banned books with me in a red state? Knock twice. Bring booze. Password: Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
#ALA #ReadHumanAuthoredBooks #CelebrateYourRightToRead #EduSky #writingprof #amquerying ✍️🚫🤖
bannedbooksweek.org
#ALA #ReadHumanAuthoredBooks #CelebrateYourRightToRead #EduSky #writingprof #amquerying ✍️🚫🤖
bannedbooksweek.org
September 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Pssst: wanna read banned books with me in a red state? Knock twice. Bring booze. Password: Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
#ALA #ReadHumanAuthoredBooks #CelebrateYourRightToRead #EduSky #writingprof #amquerying ✍️🚫🤖
bannedbooksweek.org
#ALA #ReadHumanAuthoredBooks #CelebrateYourRightToRead #EduSky #writingprof #amquerying ✍️🚫🤖
bannedbooksweek.org
America, when will you be angelic?* When will you take off your clothes?
*Ginsberg doesn't use a comma in a direct address, but I do. 😀🇺🇸🚫🤖
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49305/...
*Ginsberg doesn't use a comma in a direct address, but I do. 😀🇺🇸🚫🤖
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49305/...
www.poetryfoundation.org
September 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
America, when will you be angelic?* When will you take off your clothes?
*Ginsberg doesn't use a comma in a direct address, but I do. 😀🇺🇸🚫🤖
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49305/...
*Ginsberg doesn't use a comma in a direct address, but I do. 😀🇺🇸🚫🤖
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49305/...
Hard working writers. Creatives toiling in education, our craft hacked by unethical tech. Writers who hustle for every reader. Nobody poets. Debut novelists. Bestsellers. Indie authors. Syntax wizards in nonfiction. Cover artists. I see you. I stand with you.
#Human
apnews.com/article/anth...
#Human
apnews.com/article/anth...
Judge approves $1.5 billion copyright settlement between AI company Anthropic and authors
A federal judge on Thursday approved a $1.5 billion settlement between artificial intelligence company Anthropic and authors who allege nearly half a million books had been illegally pirated to train ...
apnews.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Hard working writers. Creatives toiling in education, our craft hacked by unethical tech. Writers who hustle for every reader. Nobody poets. Debut novelists. Bestsellers. Indie authors. Syntax wizards in nonfiction. Cover artists. I see you. I stand with you.
#Human
apnews.com/article/anth...
#Human
apnews.com/article/anth...
Excellent piece in the Chronicle by Kevin Gannon about AI resistance in higher ed.
#EduSky #AIResistance
www.chronicle.com/article/some...
#EduSky #AIResistance
www.chronicle.com/article/some...
Advice | Sometimes We Resist AI for Good Reasons
Why higher ed needs to listen to the contrarians in setting policies on using tools like ChatGPT in faculty work.
www.chronicle.com
September 24, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Excellent piece in the Chronicle by Kevin Gannon about AI resistance in higher ed.
#EduSky #AIResistance
www.chronicle.com/article/some...
#EduSky #AIResistance
www.chronicle.com/article/some...
Little pep talk after hitting send on new queries.😬❤️ #amquerying #writingcommunity #romanceauthor #poetwritingprose #publishing #perseverance #writingprof #hopeful
Cool news: I'm leading the Ireland & Scotland study abroad trip at my uni again in 2026! Travelling research, here I come. #inspired 🇮🇪🏴
Cool news: I'm leading the Ireland & Scotland study abroad trip at my uni again in 2026! Travelling research, here I come. #inspired 🇮🇪🏴
September 24, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Little pep talk after hitting send on new queries.😬❤️ #amquerying #writingcommunity #romanceauthor #poetwritingprose #publishing #perseverance #writingprof #hopeful
Cool news: I'm leading the Ireland & Scotland study abroad trip at my uni again in 2026! Travelling research, here I come. #inspired 🇮🇪🏴
Cool news: I'm leading the Ireland & Scotland study abroad trip at my uni again in 2026! Travelling research, here I come. #inspired 🇮🇪🏴