Rachel Kramer Bussel
@rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social
Writer on books, culture, my life. Editor, @opensecretsmag.bsky.social
https://opensecretsmagazine.com
Author, How to Write Erotica. Editing anthology about our attachments to our belongings. https://linktr.ee/rkbwriter and rachelkramerbussel.com
https://opensecretsmagazine.com
Author, How to Write Erotica. Editing anthology about our attachments to our belongings. https://linktr.ee/rkbwriter and rachelkramerbussel.com
Pinned
Yesterday was a day of several firsts: first essay in The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com, first time getting gas by myself, first time my daughter pet a bunny or goat or horse at a farm tour. Read the essay at
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
All I want for Christmas is for the worst people in the world to experience some consequences
December 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
All I want for Christmas is for the worst people in the world to experience some consequences
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
🇺🇸"Trump doesn’t know a single, damn thing about Army values, Navy values, or ANY values, because the only thing he truly values — the only thing he has EVER valued — is himself. So six patriots and public servants stayed true to their oaths, love of country, and their duty to warn."
-A grateful vet
-A grateful vet
DUTY TO WARN
The blood-thirsty Trump wasted no time illustrating why Democrats' video aimed at our troops was so necessary ...
dearlstephens.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
🇺🇸"Trump doesn’t know a single, damn thing about Army values, Navy values, or ANY values, because the only thing he truly values — the only thing he has EVER valued — is himself. So six patriots and public servants stayed true to their oaths, love of country, and their duty to warn."
-A grateful vet
-A grateful vet
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
no sorry you’re right this technology is absolutely worth depleting our water supply
November 23, 2025 at 5:25 AM
no sorry you’re right this technology is absolutely worth depleting our water supply
Hey @officialgrammarly.bsky.social, a lot of people agree with me that asking “When you’re working with AI, how do you ensure your work is original?” in a marketing email is problematic.
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Hey @officialgrammarly.bsky.social, a lot of people agree with me that asking “When you’re working with AI, how do you ensure your work is original?” in a marketing email is problematic.
I had a perfect mellow 50th birthday with my favorite people. It was a pretty typical Monday which was exactly what I wanted. I’m excited for the decade ahead and all and big and little moments and seeing my baby who’s no longer a baby grow up and to keep expanding @opensecretsmag.bsky.social.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I had a perfect mellow 50th birthday with my favorite people. It was a pretty typical Monday which was exactly what I wanted. I’m excited for the decade ahead and all and big and little moments and seeing my baby who’s no longer a baby grow up and to keep expanding @opensecretsmag.bsky.social.
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
“It was August 13, 2022. Early that Saturday morning, after an evening of drinking wine and watching movies, I awoke to use the bathroom.”
Read Christina Berry’s essay, “The Stroke of a Pen,” in @opensecretsmag.bsky.social! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-stroke...
Read Christina Berry’s essay, “The Stroke of a Pen,” in @opensecretsmag.bsky.social! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-stroke...
The Stroke of a Pen
What happened to a romance novelist in her mid-forties when she couldn't read or write after a stroke
opensecretsmagazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
“It was August 13, 2022. Early that Saturday morning, after an evening of drinking wine and watching movies, I awoke to use the bathroom.”
Read Christina Berry’s essay, “The Stroke of a Pen,” in @opensecretsmag.bsky.social! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-stroke...
Read Christina Berry’s essay, “The Stroke of a Pen,” in @opensecretsmag.bsky.social! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-stroke...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
I’m a guest writer on Open Secrets Magazine!
I’m on SNAP for the second time as a single mother. Only this time, I’m also ill with medically required diets for two of my diagnoses.
The Exhausting Mathematics of Hunger While Receiving SNAP
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-exhaus...
I’m on SNAP for the second time as a single mother. Only this time, I’m also ill with medically required diets for two of my diagnoses.
The Exhausting Mathematics of Hunger While Receiving SNAP
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-exhaus...
The Exhausting Mathematics of Hunger While Receiving SNAP
How ill health and being poor impact my eating
opensecretsmagazine.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I’m a guest writer on Open Secrets Magazine!
I’m on SNAP for the second time as a single mother. Only this time, I’m also ill with medically required diets for two of my diagnoses.
The Exhausting Mathematics of Hunger While Receiving SNAP
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-exhaus...
I’m on SNAP for the second time as a single mother. Only this time, I’m also ill with medically required diets for two of my diagnoses.
The Exhausting Mathematics of Hunger While Receiving SNAP
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/the-exhaus...
Hello from the last day of my forties!
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Hello from the last day of my forties!
New York friends, tomorrow, November 9, is your last chance to check out The Other Art Fair in Gowanus, Brooklyn and catch my boyfriend Drew in booth 123! He’s made some amazing pieces that make perfect holiday gifts. toaf.com/4288meX
November 8, 2025 at 11:45 PM
New York friends, tomorrow, November 9, is your last chance to check out The Other Art Fair in Gowanus, Brooklyn and catch my boyfriend Drew in booth 123! He’s made some amazing pieces that make perfect holiday gifts. toaf.com/4288meX
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
PLEASE SHARE: Personal essays on current food insecurity, including loss of SNAP benefits, wanted. Pays $200/essay. Authors retain all rights. Rolling deadline until all 5 essays are commissioned. See our writing guidelines for details: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/food-insec...
November 2, 2025 at 8:54 PM
PLEASE SHARE: Personal essays on current food insecurity, including loss of SNAP benefits, wanted. Pays $200/essay. Authors retain all rights. Rolling deadline until all 5 essays are commissioned. See our writing guidelines for details: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/food-insec...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Ahead of World Vegan Day on November 1, @gia_mora explores why she took “vegan” off her bio for a while, why it’s back, and how her approach to talking to non-vegetarians has changed. Read it at
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/why-stoppe...
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/why-stoppe...
October 29, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Ahead of World Vegan Day on November 1, @gia_mora explores why she took “vegan” off her bio for a while, why it’s back, and how her approach to talking to non-vegetarians has changed. Read it at
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/why-stoppe...
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/why-stoppe...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
The Heartbreak Years author Minda Honey gives advice on how to find your voice as a writer. It’s for our paid subscribers (who also get access to all our draft essays), but there’s a sneak peek for everyone. There’s even a quiz to test your literary knowledge! opensecretsmagazine.com/p/writing-vo...
October 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The Heartbreak Years author Minda Honey gives advice on how to find your voice as a writer. It’s for our paid subscribers (who also get access to all our draft essays), but there’s a sneak peek for everyone. There’s even a quiz to test your literary knowledge! opensecretsmagazine.com/p/writing-vo...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Below watch @ruwithsonali.bsky.social on advice she gives friends facing breast cancer.
Our full Q&A is on being a breast cancer previvor, her preventive double mastectomy, BRCA, the aftermath of her surgery, reconstruction, body image, mental health & more: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/interview-...
Our full Q&A is on being a breast cancer previvor, her preventive double mastectomy, BRCA, the aftermath of her surgery, reconstruction, body image, mental health & more: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/interview-...
October 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Below watch @ruwithsonali.bsky.social on advice she gives friends facing breast cancer.
Our full Q&A is on being a breast cancer previvor, her preventive double mastectomy, BRCA, the aftermath of her surgery, reconstruction, body image, mental health & more: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/interview-...
Our full Q&A is on being a breast cancer previvor, her preventive double mastectomy, BRCA, the aftermath of her surgery, reconstruction, body image, mental health & more: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/interview-...
A few of my favorite No Kings protest signs from Galloway, NJ. Some inflatable costumes, loud energy. We got a lot of honks which is great for our very purple area. Great job, @acindivisible.bsky.social!
October 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A few of my favorite No Kings protest signs from Galloway, NJ. Some inflatable costumes, loud energy. We got a lot of honks which is great for our very purple area. Great job, @acindivisible.bsky.social!
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Our November Open Secrets Book Club pick is @crownpublishing.bsky.social memoir in essays Alligator Tears by @otroedgargomez.bsky.social. Our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social will interview Edgar Nov. 17 at 8:30 pm ET. Audience questions welcome! Details: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/memoir-boo...
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Our November Open Secrets Book Club pick is @crownpublishing.bsky.social memoir in essays Alligator Tears by @otroedgargomez.bsky.social. Our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social will interview Edgar Nov. 17 at 8:30 pm ET. Audience questions welcome! Details: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/memoir-boo...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Shooting our shot as we look for the best venue for personal storytelling summit Open Secrets Live 2026! Tentative dates are May 2 or May 3. For leads on a 200-300 seat theater or event space in Manhattan (NYC) for a 1-day weekend event, let us know details or contact info: opensecretsmag at gmail
October 13, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Shooting our shot as we look for the best venue for personal storytelling summit Open Secrets Live 2026! Tentative dates are May 2 or May 3. For leads on a 200-300 seat theater or event space in Manhattan (NYC) for a 1-day weekend event, let us know details or contact info: opensecretsmag at gmail
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Our latest Object-ives flash essay on “possessions we can't stop thinking about” is special. Michelle Geiss not only wrote a witty ode to her 1970s-era IBM Selectric typewriter, she also wrote another essay on the Selectric titled “Machines.” Read: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/vintage-ib...
October 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Our latest Object-ives flash essay on “possessions we can't stop thinking about” is special. Michelle Geiss not only wrote a witty ode to her 1970s-era IBM Selectric typewriter, she also wrote another essay on the Selectric titled “Machines.” Read: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/vintage-ib...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Journalist @ruwithsonali.bsky.social wrote powerful personal essay, “Confessions of a Breast Cancer Previvor,” about her preventive double mastectomy: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
Join us Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:30 pm ET for a Substack Live Q&A with our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social.
Join us Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:30 pm ET for a Substack Live Q&A with our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social.
October 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Journalist @ruwithsonali.bsky.social wrote powerful personal essay, “Confessions of a Breast Cancer Previvor,” about her preventive double mastectomy: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
Join us Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:30 pm ET for a Substack Live Q&A with our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social.
Join us Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:30 pm ET for a Substack Live Q&A with our EIC @rachelkramerbussel.bsky.social.
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sonali Kolhatkar @ruwithsonali.bsky.social wrote about getting a preventive double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation and has a family history of breast and other cancers, including the complex aftermath:
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
October 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sonali Kolhatkar @ruwithsonali.bsky.social wrote about getting a preventive double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation and has a family history of breast and other cancers, including the complex aftermath:
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
opensecretsmagazine.com/p/breast-can...
I was so happy my copy of Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt arrived a day early, another bonus of pre-ordering from @bookshop.org. As someone who constantly feels overwhelmed, I’m so looking forward to reading this and learning how to manage my tendency to overcommit.
October 6, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I was so happy my copy of Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt arrived a day early, another bonus of pre-ordering from @bookshop.org. As someone who constantly feels overwhelmed, I’m so looking forward to reading this and learning how to manage my tendency to overcommit.
Yesterday was a day of several firsts: first essay in The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com, first time getting gas by myself, first time my daughter pet a bunny or goat or horse at a farm tour. Read the essay at
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
October 5, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Yesterday was a day of several firsts: first essay in The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com, first time getting gas by myself, first time my daughter pet a bunny or goat or horse at a farm tour. Read the essay at
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
For @nytimes.com I wrote about why and how people splurge on experiences and things, and how to splurge responsibly.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
Splurging? In This Economy? Here’s How to Do It Right.
www.nytimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
For @nytimes.com I wrote about why and how people splurge on experiences and things, and how to splurge responsibly.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
A hoarder doing a decluttering project? Yes! I put all my feelings of overwhelm lately into this post that I hope signals the start of something new and positive. rachelkramerbussel.substack.com/p/my-year-of...
September 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
A hoarder doing a decluttering project? Yes! I put all my feelings of overwhelm lately into this post that I hope signals the start of something new and positive. rachelkramerbussel.substack.com/p/my-year-of...
Reposted by Rachel Kramer Bussel
What’s the difference between being alone and loneliness? Discuss it in Open Secrets Book Club on memoir in essays The Loneliness Files by @athenadixon.bsky.social published by @tinhouse.bsky.social. You can ask Athena questions on September 30 at 8:30 pm ET: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/open-secre...
September 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
What’s the difference between being alone and loneliness? Discuss it in Open Secrets Book Club on memoir in essays The Loneliness Files by @athenadixon.bsky.social published by @tinhouse.bsky.social. You can ask Athena questions on September 30 at 8:30 pm ET: opensecretsmagazine.com/p/open-secre...