Steve Rydz
@steverydz.com
Web developer with a passion for music, photography and writing dark/horror fiction.
Tonights choice for drowning out the music of The Shadows from next door is Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone
January 19, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Tonights choice for drowning out the music of The Shadows from next door is Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone
On micro-fiction
Some thoughts about my recent experiments with micro-fiction
steverydz.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:41 AM
I couldn't agree with this more. The first thing I did when I got my most recent TV was to turn off all the "enhancements". Directors have a vision when producing media, so it's a shame to let manufacturers preferences interfere with what they intended.
screenrant.com/stranger-thi...
screenrant.com/stranger-thi...
Stranger Things Creator Insists Viewers Turn Off "Garbage" Settings For Premiere
Stranger Things creator tells fans to turn off "garbage" controls.
screenrant.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I couldn't agree with this more. The first thing I did when I got my most recent TV was to turn off all the "enhancements". Directors have a vision when producing media, so it's a shame to let manufacturers preferences interfere with what they intended.
screenrant.com/stranger-thi...
screenrant.com/stranger-thi...
New post-christmas micro-fiction: Rita Lives
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
Micro-fiction: Rita Lives
An entry from my micro-fiction series where I write a story of exactly 50 words
steverydz.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New post-christmas micro-fiction: Rita Lives
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
Finally got around to watching Frankenstein on Netflix. It's clear that no expense was spared on the production. There were a few differences from the book, but I felt it still captured the essence of the story.
December 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Finally got around to watching Frankenstein on Netflix. It's clear that no expense was spared on the production. There were a few differences from the book, but I felt it still captured the essence of the story.
I woke up feeling very unsettled from a dream about writing a story. I wish I could remember the story!
December 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I woke up feeling very unsettled from a dream about writing a story. I wish I could remember the story!
I've read a lot of books this year; novels, story collections, anthologies and so on, but what I've really enjoyed is finding publishers which have led me to new authors that I've been able to explore, such as @nightjarpress.bsky.social, @blackshuckbooks.bsky.social and @remainsmagazine.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I've read a lot of books this year; novels, story collections, anthologies and so on, but what I've really enjoyed is finding publishers which have led me to new authors that I've been able to explore, such as @nightjarpress.bsky.social, @blackshuckbooks.bsky.social and @remainsmagazine.bsky.social
Embarrassingly, I hadn't read Frankenstein until recently. I found it to be far superior to Dracula. It didn't feel like I was reading a story written over 200 years ago. It's easy to see why it's a classic.
December 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Embarrassingly, I hadn't read Frankenstein until recently. I found it to be far superior to Dracula. It didn't feel like I was reading a story written over 200 years ago. It's easy to see why it's a classic.
"Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups."
Excluding marginalised groups from an organisation is not supporting marginalised groups.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Excluding marginalised groups from an organisation is not supporting marginalised groups.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trans girls banned from joining Girlguiding
Girlguiding says the move is in response to the Supreme Court ruling that said sex meant biological sex in equality law.
www.bbc.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:13 PM
"Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups."
Excluding marginalised groups from an organisation is not supporting marginalised groups.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Excluding marginalised groups from an organisation is not supporting marginalised groups.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Today is international unsubsribe from mailing lists that I either hadn't realised I'd signed up for, or have previously unsubscribed from day
November 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Today is international unsubsribe from mailing lists that I either hadn't realised I'd signed up for, or have previously unsubscribed from day
Learning how to use breathing techniques is invaluable when you're prone to anxiety attacks. You have to experiment to find the technique that works for you, but for me, box breathing is often the most effective.
November 22, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Learning how to use breathing techniques is invaluable when you're prone to anxiety attacks. You have to experiment to find the technique that works for you, but for me, box breathing is often the most effective.
I often find it hard to describe to people what having bipolar disorder is like. Here, Nick Helm does a great job of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0k-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0k-...
Nick Helm On Living With Bipolar Disorder
YouTube video by Happy Hour Podcast
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I often find it hard to describe to people what having bipolar disorder is like. Here, Nick Helm does a great job of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0k-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0k-...
New additions to the TBR pile. Ghost Stories by M.R. James, Cunning Folk and the Unquiet Guests anthology
November 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM
New additions to the TBR pile. Ghost Stories by M.R. James, Cunning Folk and the Unquiet Guests anthology
I've been struggling to make a story work for a while, but have just decided to completly flip the POV and things are falling into place.
November 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I've been struggling to make a story work for a while, but have just decided to completly flip the POV and things are falling into place.
This review on Metal Talk does a great job of capturing what it felt like to see Godflesh a little over a week ago in London, where they performed a dub set, followed by a traditional set. So good.
www.metaltalk.net/gig-review-g...
www.metaltalk.net/gig-review-g...
Gig Review: Godflesh At Scala: Brutal Minimalism In Dub
Godflesh bring brutal minimalism to life at Scala with the long-awaited live debut of In Dub, delivering industrial catharsis in a venue built for intensity.
www.metaltalk.net
November 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This review on Metal Talk does a great job of capturing what it felt like to see Godflesh a little over a week ago in London, where they performed a dub set, followed by a traditional set. So good.
www.metaltalk.net/gig-review-g...
www.metaltalk.net/gig-review-g...
It was nice to return home to the new @helleborezine.bsky.social short stories anthology. I'm looking forward to reading this.
Check it out: helleborezine.com/products/tales
Check it out: helleborezine.com/products/tales
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
It was nice to return home to the new @helleborezine.bsky.social short stories anthology. I'm looking forward to reading this.
Check it out: helleborezine.com/products/tales
Check it out: helleborezine.com/products/tales
I went out for some food this evening and unexpectedly came across a Word Soul open mic night, and really enjoyed it. It's something I would definitely see again.
October 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I went out for some food this evening and unexpectedly came across a Word Soul open mic night, and really enjoyed it. It's something I would definitely see again.
It took me too long to get around to reading Greener Pastures by @michaelwehunt.bsky.social, but I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to reading The October Film Haunt in the not too distant future.
October 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM
It took me too long to get around to reading Greener Pastures by @michaelwehunt.bsky.social, but I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to reading The October Film Haunt in the not too distant future.
I'm glad Instagram sent me that push notification about someone commenting on someone else's post. I'd hate to have missed it.
October 24, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I'm glad Instagram sent me that push notification about someone commenting on someone else's post. I'd hate to have missed it.
I started a new story this evening. I know the beginning and have a good sense of the ending, and having fun finding my way there.
October 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I started a new story this evening. I know the beginning and have a good sense of the ending, and having fun finding my way there.
I'm experimenting with writing stories of exactly 50 words. Here is the first entry:
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
Micro-fiction: The Suitcase
An entry from my micro-fiction series where I write a story of exactly 50 words.
steverydz.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:33 AM
I'm experimenting with writing stories of exactly 50 words. Here is the first entry:
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
steverydz.substack.com/p/micro-fict...
Don't you just love single people in coffee shops that manage to take up two tables?
October 5, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Don't you just love single people in coffee shops that manage to take up two tables?