S. L. Barrett
@slbarrett87.bsky.social
Author (The Dissociation Gazette, The Bus to Adventure City), MFA, Secretary of the Kansas Authors Club, enjoyer of both cat and puppy snuggles. She/her.
My satire, non-topical newspaper newsletter (try saying that five times fast) is now live! Today's post is free, so check it out.
Please subscribe and share, because word of mouth > algorithms. #writingcommunity #amwriting #humor #satire
Please subscribe and share, because word of mouth > algorithms. #writingcommunity #amwriting #humor #satire
Read this week's top story, "My Middle Kid's Special Markers Have Disappeared; Manhunt Underway."
Free subscriptions to TDG get you 2 stories/month in your inbox, & paid gets you stories every Thursday.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
thedissociationgazette.substack.com/p/september-...
Free subscriptions to TDG get you 2 stories/month in your inbox, & paid gets you stories every Thursday.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
thedissociationgazette.substack.com/p/september-...
September 4, 2025
This Week’s Top Story:
thedissociationgazette.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My satire, non-topical newspaper newsletter (try saying that five times fast) is now live! Today's post is free, so check it out.
Please subscribe and share, because word of mouth > algorithms. #writingcommunity #amwriting #humor #satire
Please subscribe and share, because word of mouth > algorithms. #writingcommunity #amwriting #humor #satire
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
Welcome to The Dissociation Gazette!
You signed up on purpose, right?
thedissociationgazette.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
And here’s where to search: publicrecords.copyright.gov
August 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
And here’s where to search: publicrecords.copyright.gov
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
What we are:
-silly
-full of existential dread
-your #1 news source for things that don't matter
What we are not:
-topical
-credible
-real
Sign up for our weekly Substack to receive the regular editions and the Sunday magazine.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
-silly
-full of existential dread
-your #1 news source for things that don't matter
What we are not:
-topical
-credible
-real
Sign up for our weekly Substack to receive the regular editions and the Sunday magazine.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
August 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
What we are:
-silly
-full of existential dread
-your #1 news source for things that don't matter
What we are not:
-topical
-credible
-real
Sign up for our weekly Substack to receive the regular editions and the Sunday magazine.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
-silly
-full of existential dread
-your #1 news source for things that don't matter
What we are not:
-topical
-credible
-real
Sign up for our weekly Substack to receive the regular editions and the Sunday magazine.
Tired of the real news? Read us instead!
I'm launching a weekly Substack newsletter! I started writing silly, darkly humored, fictional news stories as a way to cope with my anxieties about EVERYTHING, and I just kept going until I had enough for several months of publication. Now I'm sharing it. Check it out! #amwriting #writingcommunity
Getting ready for the launch on September 4th!
Not a space launch, a newsletter launch.
Though it would be great to go into space right now. Never come back. Maybe make some friends with microbes from other planets.
Not a space launch, a newsletter launch.
Though it would be great to go into space right now. Never come back. Maybe make some friends with microbes from other planets.
August 29, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I'm launching a weekly Substack newsletter! I started writing silly, darkly humored, fictional news stories as a way to cope with my anxieties about EVERYTHING, and I just kept going until I had enough for several months of publication. Now I'm sharing it. Check it out! #amwriting #writingcommunity
Neville is jealous that he couldn't go to the sidewalk sale at Watermark with me today, but he also can't read.
June 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Neville is jealous that he couldn't go to the sidewalk sale at Watermark with me today, but he also can't read.
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
June 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The other day, I made the conscious decision to take a break from writing my dystopian novel to instead finish drafting my campy murder mystery novel because, well... *looks around* mental health reasons. #skywriters #writingcommunity
June 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The other day, I made the conscious decision to take a break from writing my dystopian novel to instead finish drafting my campy murder mystery novel because, well... *looks around* mental health reasons. #skywriters #writingcommunity
Me: I'm making really good progress on this section of my novel, but I'm still struggling to tie things together.
My brain: Here's an AMAZING idea that will solve all of the problems!
Me: Yay!!
My brain: ...but it requires a complete rewrite of the 10k words you have in the section so far!
Me: 😐
My brain: Here's an AMAZING idea that will solve all of the problems!
Me: Yay!!
My brain: ...but it requires a complete rewrite of the 10k words you have in the section so far!
Me: 😐
June 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Me: I'm making really good progress on this section of my novel, but I'm still struggling to tie things together.
My brain: Here's an AMAZING idea that will solve all of the problems!
Me: Yay!!
My brain: ...but it requires a complete rewrite of the 10k words you have in the section so far!
Me: 😐
My brain: Here's an AMAZING idea that will solve all of the problems!
Me: Yay!!
My brain: ...but it requires a complete rewrite of the 10k words you have in the section so far!
Me: 😐
I wrote* over 1,000 words in my WIP today!
*including a 700-word passage I copied over from a previous draft (I'm still counting it!) #skywriters
*including a 700-word passage I copied over from a previous draft (I'm still counting it!) #skywriters
May 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I wrote* over 1,000 words in my WIP today!
*including a 700-word passage I copied over from a previous draft (I'm still counting it!) #skywriters
*including a 700-word passage I copied over from a previous draft (I'm still counting it!) #skywriters
I have been STRUGGLING with one of the narrators in my novel in progress for over a month, and yesterday I had an epiphany: make it horror.
May 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I have been STRUGGLING with one of the narrators in my novel in progress for over a month, and yesterday I had an epiphany: make it horror.
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
This is the best that I have made choux buns since the first time I made dairy-free cream puffs, when I had beginner's luck and thought to myself "cream puffs aren't so hard." It took a year and eventually adding another egg to the choux dough to get back here. But I did it! #foodsky
May 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is the best that I have made choux buns since the first time I made dairy-free cream puffs, when I had beginner's luck and thought to myself "cream puffs aren't so hard." It took a year and eventually adding another egg to the choux dough to get back here. But I did it! #foodsky
I'm thinking about reading War and Peace. I calculated that if I read 30 pages a day, I can finish it in a month. I did that with Anna Karenina and it worked, but it was also 2018 and I was much more motivated back then. O, to be young and pre-pandemic...
May 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I'm thinking about reading War and Peace. I calculated that if I read 30 pages a day, I can finish it in a month. I did that with Anna Karenina and it worked, but it was also 2018 and I was much more motivated back then. O, to be young and pre-pandemic...
Anyone else feel like screaming today or is it just me? And by today, I mean constantly.
May 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Anyone else feel like screaming today or is it just me? And by today, I mean constantly.
I finished the 2nd draft of my novel!!!
Now onto the 3rd draft 😂😭📝
#writingcommunity #skywriters #writersofbluesky
Now onto the 3rd draft 😂😭📝
#writingcommunity #skywriters #writersofbluesky
April 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I finished the 2nd draft of my novel!!!
Now onto the 3rd draft 😂😭📝
#writingcommunity #skywriters #writersofbluesky
Now onto the 3rd draft 😂😭📝
#writingcommunity #skywriters #writersofbluesky
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
Good news for fellow authors disheartened by your books being illegally used to train AI;
"If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..."
And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.
"If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..."
And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.
Meta's Massive AI Training Book Heist: What Authors Need to Know - The Authors Guild
Today, The Atlantic published a search tool that allows authors to check if their works are in LibGen, an illegal pirate site AI companies copied for their AI systems. This is a similar tool to the on...
authorsguild.org
March 21, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Good news for fellow authors disheartened by your books being illegally used to train AI;
"If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..."
And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.
"If your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California..."
And @authorsguild.bsky.social has some practical steps you can take.
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
Hey, an occasional reminder:
Should you be fighting fascism here in the US? Yes, you should!
Are you the one who decides how best you can do that? Yes, you are!
Should the people who decide that you're not doing it right (i.e., the way they want you to) fuck off into the sun? Yes, they should!
Should you be fighting fascism here in the US? Yes, you should!
Are you the one who decides how best you can do that? Yes, you are!
Should the people who decide that you're not doing it right (i.e., the way they want you to) fuck off into the sun? Yes, they should!
March 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Hey, an occasional reminder:
Should you be fighting fascism here in the US? Yes, you should!
Are you the one who decides how best you can do that? Yes, you are!
Should the people who decide that you're not doing it right (i.e., the way they want you to) fuck off into the sun? Yes, they should!
Should you be fighting fascism here in the US? Yes, you should!
Are you the one who decides how best you can do that? Yes, you are!
Should the people who decide that you're not doing it right (i.e., the way they want you to) fuck off into the sun? Yes, they should!
I got a copy of Kindscher's Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie, and I'm happy to report that my two favorite plant names in the book are Bastard Toadflax and Panic Grass. Both of them grow throughout most of the U.S. That is all.
March 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I got a copy of Kindscher's Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie, and I'm happy to report that my two favorite plant names in the book are Bastard Toadflax and Panic Grass. Both of them grow throughout most of the U.S. That is all.
I had to write a brand-new section of my novel, and once I finish it I'll be finished with this draft of the whole thing.
I have been half a chapter away from finishing it for like 2 weeks 😂
I know exactly what needs to happen but I keep trying to do everything else except write it. Like clean.
I have been half a chapter away from finishing it for like 2 weeks 😂
I know exactly what needs to happen but I keep trying to do everything else except write it. Like clean.
March 18, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I had to write a brand-new section of my novel, and once I finish it I'll be finished with this draft of the whole thing.
I have been half a chapter away from finishing it for like 2 weeks 😂
I know exactly what needs to happen but I keep trying to do everything else except write it. Like clean.
I have been half a chapter away from finishing it for like 2 weeks 😂
I know exactly what needs to happen but I keep trying to do everything else except write it. Like clean.
Reposted by S. L. Barrett
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 30, the number is 100%.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 30, the number is 100%.
March 6, 2025 at 10:57 AM
If you're 60, 69.1% of all job growth since your birth occurred under Democratic administrations.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 30, the number is 100%.
If you're 45, that number is 74.7%.
If you're under 30, the number is 100%.
LAST DAY TO REGISTER!!! #skywriters #writingcommunity
Join the Write Pittsburgh online #Fiction Critique Group! Bring your work to get feedback (including from me!) and give feedback to your fellow writers. Advanced writing knowledge isn't necessary; your opinion is more important than you think! writepittsburgh.com/events #skywriters #writingcommunity
February 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
LAST DAY TO REGISTER!!! #skywriters #writingcommunity
I think this period of American history should henceforth be known as the Reign of Error.
February 16, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I think this period of American history should henceforth be known as the Reign of Error.
Our online fiction critique group starts NEXT WEEK! All experience levels welcome. Check out writepittsburgh.com/events for more information on the workshop and your instructor (me!). #skywriters #writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #amwriting #fiction #amwritingfiction #writingworkshop #writinggroup
In less than a month, I'll be leading our NEW fiction critique group for @writepittsburgh.bsky.social. Bring your work, get feedback, and give feedback to your fellow writers on their work. It's a win-win! Check out writepittsburgh.com/events for this and all of our upcoming workshops. #skywriters
February 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Our online fiction critique group starts NEXT WEEK! All experience levels welcome. Check out writepittsburgh.com/events for more information on the workshop and your instructor (me!). #skywriters #writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #amwriting #fiction #amwritingfiction #writingworkshop #writinggroup
4 spots left! Join our online fiction critique group to get feedback on your work. Starts Feb 23rd. #skywriters #amwriting #writingcommunity #fiction
Also, I'm a speculative author myself, as well as classically educated in literary fiction, so you'll get plenty of well-rounded feedback from me.
Also, I'm a speculative author myself, as well as classically educated in literary fiction, so you'll get plenty of well-rounded feedback from me.
Join the Write Pittsburgh online #Fiction Critique Group! Bring your work to get feedback (including from me!) and give feedback to your fellow writers. Advanced writing knowledge isn't necessary; your opinion is more important than you think! writepittsburgh.com/events #skywriters #writingcommunity
February 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
4 spots left! Join our online fiction critique group to get feedback on your work. Starts Feb 23rd. #skywriters #amwriting #writingcommunity #fiction
Also, I'm a speculative author myself, as well as classically educated in literary fiction, so you'll get plenty of well-rounded feedback from me.
Also, I'm a speculative author myself, as well as classically educated in literary fiction, so you'll get plenty of well-rounded feedback from me.