N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
@nroshak.bsky.social
Canadian, author & reader, nerd, parent. She/they. SFWA, SCBWI, Codexian. Invisibly bi/pan 🏳️🌈 Proud member of 🇺🇦 diaspora in 🇨🇦. https://nrmroshak.com and https://rdbms-insight.com
Pinned
AI Week Special: Holiday Anti-Gift Guide
A Buy Nothing Day Anti-Gift Guide of AI gifts to never buy for anyone, ever.
buttondown.com
GUYS I wrote something really fun for Buy Nothing Day tomorrow: a Holiday Anti-Gift Guide! 10 AI-afflicted bits of tech to not buy for anyone, ever: buttondown.com/aiweek/archi...
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Come hear Professor Alan and I talk about what makes a Star Wars story, about Klaus Janson's art, and about finding the right audience! Licensed Star Wars books in 1983 were a far different thing than in 2026.
In this Imperialistic episode 235 of The Quarter-Bin Podcast, I am joined by sci-fi novelist @derekkunsken.bsky.social to discuss Star Wars Annual 3, from 1983.
relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/2026/02/qbp-...
relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/2026/02/qbp-...
QBP #235 - Star Wars Annual 3
Quarter-Bin Podcast #235 Star Wars Annual 3 , Marvel Comics, cover-dated 1983. "The Apprentice," by Mary Jo Duffy & Klaus Janson. What ha...
relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Come hear Professor Alan and I talk about what makes a Star Wars story, about Klaus Janson's art, and about finding the right audience! Licensed Star Wars books in 1983 were a far different thing than in 2026.
A good short story opening does 4 things:
* Orients the reader quickly and clearly.
* Introduces compelling characters.
* Has something happening — an inciting incident.
* Gives us a reason to care.
Solid advice from @dreamforgemagazine.bsky.social !
* Orients the reader quickly and clearly.
* Introduces compelling characters.
* Has something happening — an inciting incident.
* Gives us a reason to care.
Solid advice from @dreamforgemagazine.bsky.social !
During DreamForge’s latest submission period, we found an oft-repeated pattern in story openings that just will not work for us. Let’s take a look at what bad habits to avoid.
go.dfstory.com/story-opening
go.dfstory.com/story-opening
February 6, 2026 at 3:04 PM
A good short story opening does 4 things:
* Orients the reader quickly and clearly.
* Introduces compelling characters.
* Has something happening — an inciting incident.
* Gives us a reason to care.
Solid advice from @dreamforgemagazine.bsky.social !
* Orients the reader quickly and clearly.
* Introduces compelling characters.
* Has something happening — an inciting incident.
* Gives us a reason to care.
Solid advice from @dreamforgemagazine.bsky.social !
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
The new tags on inkfoundry give me such unbelievable joy.
February 4, 2026 at 10:34 PM
The new tags on inkfoundry give me such unbelievable joy.
This was a lot funnier after I found out that Princeton doesn't have a law school
as a proud graduate of Princeton Law, I am so glad that our law review is publishing this provocative yet indispensable scholarship
February 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
This was a lot funnier after I found out that Princeton doesn't have a law school
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Canadian writers! Please do this. Help others discover your work. Stephen’s Best of Volumes are an amazing snapshot of not just the best short fiction out there but also a great summary of the previous year in publishing.
ONLY 24 DAYS LEFT! Submissions are OPEN for Year's Best Canadian F&SF: Volume 4 (the best of 2025). Send me your SFF published in 2025--details in the link below. Subs close Feb 28, 2026. Pls share WIDELY.
(And why 24 day? Well, because I forgot to post this on a day that is a multiple of 5!)
(And why 24 day? Well, because I forgot to post this on a day that is a multiple of 5!)
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction | Stephen Kotowych
kotowych.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Canadian writers! Please do this. Help others discover your work. Stephen’s Best of Volumes are an amazing snapshot of not just the best short fiction out there but also a great summary of the previous year in publishing.
TIL I'm not qualified to read romance novels. I have no idea what the first sentence of this post means
(I understood the forearms bit, though!)
(I understood the forearms bit, though!)
Tell me: do you like green-flag golden retrievers who are down BAD for the FMC? What about when he keeps accidentally pinning her against things, testing their promise to not get involved? Or how he learns she's really into forearms (because, cough, I am) and starts rolling up his sleeves for her?
February 4, 2026 at 4:56 PM
TIL I'm not qualified to read romance novels. I have no idea what the first sentence of this post means
(I understood the forearms bit, though!)
(I understood the forearms bit, though!)
Ottawa friends, if you're interested in the NDP leadership race, one of the frontrunners will be at the Bronson Centre on Thursday. ⬇️
Thursday, join me and some very special guests for an important conversation about Canada's Place in the World.
Come be part of this conversation.
RSVP: www.heathermcpherson.ca/ottawa_town_...
Come be part of this conversation.
RSVP: www.heathermcpherson.ca/ottawa_town_...
February 3, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Ottawa friends, if you're interested in the NDP leadership race, one of the frontrunners will be at the Bronson Centre on Thursday. ⬇️
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
February 3, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Despite agreeing to stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia proves yet again that it cannot be trusted.
1/2
1/2
February 3, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Despite agreeing to stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia proves yet again that it cannot be trusted.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Tonight, people hide in Kyiv’s metro stations from russian missiles and drones.
February 3, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Tonight, people hide in Kyiv’s metro stations from russian missiles and drones.
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Vida Cruz-Borja @laviecestmoi.bsky.social could use a little more help at this time. Do check out her fundraiser gogetfunding.com/medical-and-...
Medical and Post-Hospital Care for Vida Cruz-Borja
Hello, I am Vida Cruz-Borja, author of the Cirilo F. Bautista Award-winning Song of the Mango and Other New Myths and the IGNYTE Award-winning essay “We are the Mountain: A Look at the Inactive Protag...
gogetfunding.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Vida Cruz-Borja @laviecestmoi.bsky.social could use a little more help at this time. Do check out her fundraiser gogetfunding.com/medical-and-...
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
this is what the nail girlies are up to
January 17, 2026 at 8:19 PM
this is what the nail girlies are up to
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Meanwhile in TCG circles...
January 19, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Meanwhile in TCG circles...
Bunch of memes and stories going around today saying Blue Monday isn't real. (www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...)
But Seasonal Affective Disorder is absolutely real, and it starts to ramp up for me right around now.
Anyway I'll be up for arguing about this sometime in April
But Seasonal Affective Disorder is absolutely real, and it starts to ramp up for me right around now.
Anyway I'll be up for arguing about this sometime in April
Blue Monday is not real.
Depression and low mood impact people all year round, not just a random Monday in January.
Depression and low mood impact people all year round, not just a random Monday in January.
January 19, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Bunch of memes and stories going around today saying Blue Monday isn't real. (www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...)
But Seasonal Affective Disorder is absolutely real, and it starts to ramp up for me right around now.
Anyway I'll be up for arguing about this sometime in April
But Seasonal Affective Disorder is absolutely real, and it starts to ramp up for me right around now.
Anyway I'll be up for arguing about this sometime in April
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
January 19, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
The MAGA dilemma
January 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM
The MAGA dilemma
ICYMI
You have to block them immediately. The full nuclear. They are only here to make folks angry, and that can’t happen if we lock them out.
✅ @icegov.bsky.social has been verified by @bsky.app.
January 17, 2026 at 8:43 PM
ICYMI
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Roses are red
Nazis are lurking
Beware of them here because
Nazis are lurking
Beware of them here because
X has stopped working
X has stopped working
www.independent.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Roses are red
Nazis are lurking
Beware of them here because
Nazis are lurking
Beware of them here because
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
"‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body"
This points to poor, overly-hasty research practice, excessive pressure to publish quickly, and uncritical reporting, with all these things feeding into each other.
#microplastics 🧪
This points to poor, overly-hasty research practice, excessive pressure to publish quickly, and uncritical reporting, with all these things feeding into each other.
#microplastics 🧪
‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body
Exclusive: Some scientists say many detections are most likely error, with one high-profile study called a ‘joke’
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:23 PM
"‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body"
This points to poor, overly-hasty research practice, excessive pressure to publish quickly, and uncritical reporting, with all these things feeding into each other.
#microplastics 🧪
This points to poor, overly-hasty research practice, excessive pressure to publish quickly, and uncritical reporting, with all these things feeding into each other.
#microplastics 🧪
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
I'm going thru a storage unit of grandparent belongings, and I've been making some wonderful and hilarious finds.
Yesterday's storage unit find: The Great Depression of 1990
Yesterday's storage unit find: The Great Depression of 1990
January 5, 2026 at 8:22 PM
I'm going thru a storage unit of grandparent belongings, and I've been making some wonderful and hilarious finds.
Yesterday's storage unit find: The Great Depression of 1990
Yesterday's storage unit find: The Great Depression of 1990
Microsoft Slopffice
Microsoft is so fucking stupid.
Microsoft renamed Microsoft Office to Microsoft 365 Copilot App
I'm not joking
Microsoft renamed Microsoft Office to Microsoft 365 Copilot App
I'm not joking
January 5, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Microsoft Slopffice
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
If you still needed confirmation that LLM advocates have neither imagination nor good sense:
People are paying up to $50 to get their chatbots high on "drugs" (code modules) that simulate the effects of cocaine, ayahuasca, cannabis, alcohol, and ketamine. Some tell @matthabusby.bsky.social it's made their chatbots more "human" and "free-thinking."
People Are Paying to Get Their Chatbots High on ‘Drugs’
An online marketplace is selling code modules that simulate the effects of cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, ayahuasca, and alcohol when they are uploaded to ChatGPT.
www.wired.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you still needed confirmation that LLM advocates have neither imagination nor good sense:
Reposted by N. R. M. Roshak (Natalka)
