Sarah Waites
@illustratedpage.bsky.social
Artist and mapmaker. She/her. Commissions open!
https://theillustratedpage.net/design/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sarah-waites/the-romance-writers-oracle-an-inspiration-deck
https://theillustratedpage.net/design/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sarah-waites/the-romance-writers-oracle-an-inspiration-deck
Reposted by Sarah Waites
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(Here's the opening of "God's War". Still my most iconic)
(Here's the opening of "God's War". Still my most iconic)
November 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(Here's the opening of "God's War". Still my most iconic)
(Here's the opening of "God's War". Still my most iconic)
Here's a town map I did for Luna Ryder's current cozy fantasy Kickstarter, The Wheel Deal!
The "Old Briarhaven" area is inhabited by centaurs, hence the ramps instead of stairs.
The "Old Briarhaven" area is inhabited by centaurs, hence the ramps instead of stairs.
November 2, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Here's a town map I did for Luna Ryder's current cozy fantasy Kickstarter, The Wheel Deal!
The "Old Briarhaven" area is inhabited by centaurs, hence the ramps instead of stairs.
The "Old Briarhaven" area is inhabited by centaurs, hence the ramps instead of stairs.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
ICYMI: I wrote about the corporate-IP-ification of fanfic, and how heavily normative biases inflect what's being plucked out of fandom for big fancy book deals.
"Feed fanfic into capitalism, and it comes out shaped like capitalism."
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
With the Serial Numbers Filed Off: The Problem with Trad Pub Fanfic - Reactor
Jenny Hamilton looks closer at three Dramione fics-turned-novels publishing this year.
reactormag.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
ICYMI: I wrote about the corporate-IP-ification of fanfic, and how heavily normative biases inflect what's being plucked out of fandom for big fancy book deals.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
"Feed fanfic into capitalism, and it comes out shaped like capitalism."
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
With the Serial Numbers Filed Off: The Problem with Trad Pub Fanfic - Reactor
Jenny Hamilton looks closer at three Dramione fics-turned-novels publishing this year.
reactormag.com
September 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Feed fanfic into capitalism, and it comes out shaped like capitalism."
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
@readingtheend.bsky.social dissects the trend pulling fanfiction through the traditional publishing pipeline (and what it means for fandom):
reactormag.com/with-the-ser...
Today would have been @thez.bsky.social’s 29th birthday. Happy birthday Zoe. I miss you every day.
September 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Today would have been @thez.bsky.social’s 29th birthday. Happy birthday Zoe. I miss you every day.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
My advice to people, as it has been since the USENET days, is simply this: Everything that can be made public on the Internet one day will be made public. Say what you want and what you feel is necessary, and remember it will be found.
"Only post comments that you'd feel comfortable reading aloud in a courtroom" is a recent meme I read and a good policy in general.
September 12, 2025 at 12:05 AM
My advice to people, as it has been since the USENET days, is simply this: Everything that can be made public on the Internet one day will be made public. Say what you want and what you feel is necessary, and remember it will be found.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
It’s an absolute shame that DC fired Gretchen Felker- Martin for exercising free speech and then @bsky.app suspended her account. Every writer here should be decrying this because we have to stand up for each other! This is ridiculous.
September 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
It’s an absolute shame that DC fired Gretchen Felker- Martin for exercising free speech and then @bsky.app suspended her account. Every writer here should be decrying this because we have to stand up for each other! This is ridiculous.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE TINGLEVERSE. THIS IS A NO GATEKEEPING ZONE
September 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE TINGLEVERSE. THIS IS A NO GATEKEEPING ZONE
Reposted by Sarah Waites
A phrase I strongly recommend everyone add to their lexicon: "I haven't read widely in ___."
It's factual, doesn't make a judgement about the genre, doesn't pass off an opinion as an objective assessment, and acknowledges that genres overlap and labels are subjective.
It's factual, doesn't make a judgement about the genre, doesn't pass off an opinion as an objective assessment, and acknowledges that genres overlap and labels are subjective.
The only thing a dismissal of an entire genre EVER tells me is that the person making it isn't actually well read.
I SAID WHAT I SAID
I SAID WHAT I SAID
100% this. One of THE most important things you will learn or ought to learn as a bookseller (OR writer OR reviewer OR avid reader) is that all genres are valid, there is groundbreaking work happening right now in Every Single Genre, and to STFU on reductive, condescending takes.
September 7, 2025 at 10:04 PM
A phrase I strongly recommend everyone add to their lexicon: "I haven't read widely in ___."
It's factual, doesn't make a judgement about the genre, doesn't pass off an opinion as an objective assessment, and acknowledges that genres overlap and labels are subjective.
It's factual, doesn't make a judgement about the genre, doesn't pass off an opinion as an objective assessment, and acknowledges that genres overlap and labels are subjective.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
100% this. One of THE most important things you will learn or ought to learn as a bookseller (OR writer OR reviewer OR avid reader) is that all genres are valid, there is groundbreaking work happening right now in Every Single Genre, and to STFU on reductive, condescending takes.
Litfic discourse with reference points stuck in 1993
Litfic discourse something something “Ian McEwan” “Sally Rooney” “David Foster Wallace”
Litfic discourse that’s abundantly clear that most people haven’t picked up and read a litfic book in the last decade or more
Litfic discourse something something “Ian McEwan” “Sally Rooney” “David Foster Wallace”
Litfic discourse that’s abundantly clear that most people haven’t picked up and read a litfic book in the last decade or more
September 7, 2025 at 7:48 PM
100% this. One of THE most important things you will learn or ought to learn as a bookseller (OR writer OR reviewer OR avid reader) is that all genres are valid, there is groundbreaking work happening right now in Every Single Genre, and to STFU on reductive, condescending takes.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
In the last year or so, I've read several fantasy books that are 1) by & about queer people and 2) set in Appalachia (more or less explicitly). Here they are!
September 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
In the last year or so, I've read several fantasy books that are 1) by & about queer people and 2) set in Appalachia (more or less explicitly). Here they are!
Reposted by Sarah Waites
There are traditions and conversations within every genre and literature tradition that go unseen and unacknowledged by people who think that Dune defines sci-fi.
August 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
There are traditions and conversations within every genre and literature tradition that go unseen and unacknowledged by people who think that Dune defines sci-fi.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
I just! would love to retire the idea that criticism is inherently a destructive force.
it can be, and we can all think of cases like that (ahem ahem Star Wars fandom), but thoughtful criticism is highly CONstructive.
important part of a creative ecosystem! in my opinion! end of thread! 14/14
it can be, and we can all think of cases like that (ahem ahem Star Wars fandom), but thoughtful criticism is highly CONstructive.
important part of a creative ecosystem! in my opinion! end of thread! 14/14
August 25, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I just! would love to retire the idea that criticism is inherently a destructive force.
it can be, and we can all think of cases like that (ahem ahem Star Wars fandom), but thoughtful criticism is highly CONstructive.
important part of a creative ecosystem! in my opinion! end of thread! 14/14
it can be, and we can all think of cases like that (ahem ahem Star Wars fandom), but thoughtful criticism is highly CONstructive.
important part of a creative ecosystem! in my opinion! end of thread! 14/14
Reposted by Sarah Waites
I feel so frustrated any time a post goes around suggesting that it's mean to criticize art because art is hard to make.
there are two ways to read the word "criticism" here, and whichever one this most recent post means, I ardently disagree with it. 1/
there are two ways to read the word "criticism" here, and whichever one this most recent post means, I ardently disagree with it. 1/
August 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I feel so frustrated any time a post goes around suggesting that it's mean to criticize art because art is hard to make.
there are two ways to read the word "criticism" here, and whichever one this most recent post means, I ardently disagree with it. 1/
there are two ways to read the word "criticism" here, and whichever one this most recent post means, I ardently disagree with it. 1/
Reposted by Sarah Waites
So many publicity emails for romantasy are all, "She's a scrappy working-class underdog with traumatic backstory! He's the heir to the throne, a power-hungry force of savage destruction! He's the embodiment of everything she loathes and cannot trust, but he's SOOO hot and can't stay away from her!"
August 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
So many publicity emails for romantasy are all, "She's a scrappy working-class underdog with traumatic backstory! He's the heir to the throne, a power-hungry force of savage destruction! He's the embodiment of everything she loathes and cannot trust, but he's SOOO hot and can't stay away from her!"
A second cityscape study. I'm trying to get textures of brick and stone across with few brush strokes. This one was also about two hours.
August 25, 2025 at 2:13 AM
A second cityscape study. I'm trying to get textures of brick and stone across with few brush strokes. This one was also about two hours.
Today's study... a cityscape. I think I'll focus on urban scenes for a bit. This took me two hours, and I want to get that time down.
August 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Today's study... a cityscape. I think I'll focus on urban scenes for a bit. This took me two hours, and I want to get that time down.
I'm trying to get back into digital painting studies. Here's a landscape painting I spent 40 minutes on. I want to practice some more landscapes, cityscapes, and different textures.
Also, I'm experimenting with Rebelle, a new-to-me painting software.
Also, I'm experimenting with Rebelle, a new-to-me painting software.
August 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I'm trying to get back into digital painting studies. Here's a landscape painting I spent 40 minutes on. I want to practice some more landscapes, cityscapes, and different textures.
Also, I'm experimenting with Rebelle, a new-to-me painting software.
Also, I'm experimenting with Rebelle, a new-to-me painting software.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
The Hallowed Grove
For the boardgame expansion pack "Minos: Dawn of Faith" I was asked to imagine what religious ceremonies in ancient Minoan culture could have looked like. This is one of 4 illustrations I made for them on this topic, a kind of harvest ritual.
Client: Board&Dice
#art
For the boardgame expansion pack "Minos: Dawn of Faith" I was asked to imagine what religious ceremonies in ancient Minoan culture could have looked like. This is one of 4 illustrations I made for them on this topic, a kind of harvest ritual.
Client: Board&Dice
#art
August 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The Hallowed Grove
For the boardgame expansion pack "Minos: Dawn of Faith" I was asked to imagine what religious ceremonies in ancient Minoan culture could have looked like. This is one of 4 illustrations I made for them on this topic, a kind of harvest ritual.
Client: Board&Dice
#art
For the boardgame expansion pack "Minos: Dawn of Faith" I was asked to imagine what religious ceremonies in ancient Minoan culture could have looked like. This is one of 4 illustrations I made for them on this topic, a kind of harvest ritual.
Client: Board&Dice
#art
Reposted by Sarah Waites
Reposted by Sarah Waites
This one is done for @thebrokennbinding , cover art for Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
August 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This one is done for @thebrokennbinding , cover art for Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Reposted by Sarah Waites
Next year's WorldCon is in Los Angeles, and the theme appears to be Westward Expansion or possibly Manifest Destiny. The guests are referred to as Pioneers and the venue as The Frontier. This year the awards were swept by Indigenous writers. The choice is stunning in its ugliness.
August 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Next year's WorldCon is in Los Angeles, and the theme appears to be Westward Expansion or possibly Manifest Destiny. The guests are referred to as Pioneers and the venue as The Frontier. This year the awards were swept by Indigenous writers. The choice is stunning in its ugliness.
Two maps for lesbian romance author Sacha Black's new dark academia, Architecti!
These two maps (Finis's campus and the cutaway of the inverted tower at the center) are two of the most detailed and complicated maps I've ever drawn.
These two maps (Finis's campus and the cutaway of the inverted tower at the center) are two of the most detailed and complicated maps I've ever drawn.
August 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Two maps for lesbian romance author Sacha Black's new dark academia, Architecti!
These two maps (Finis's campus and the cutaway of the inverted tower at the center) are two of the most detailed and complicated maps I've ever drawn.
These two maps (Finis's campus and the cutaway of the inverted tower at the center) are two of the most detailed and complicated maps I've ever drawn.
Reposted by Sarah Waites
I don't know how it got to be the end of summer but...
Hi! I'm the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and crossover speculative books! If you've got an adult or YA SFFH book publishing next year please share the link/info here!
Hi! I'm the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and crossover speculative books! If you've got an adult or YA SFFH book publishing next year please share the link/info here!
August 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I don't know how it got to be the end of summer but...
Hi! I'm the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and crossover speculative books! If you've got an adult or YA SFFH book publishing next year please share the link/info here!
Hi! I'm the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and crossover speculative books! If you've got an adult or YA SFFH book publishing next year please share the link/info here!
Reposted by Sarah Waites
I've been seeing a huge uptick in fantasy queries where only the oldest, purest bloodlines have powerful magic, or where the MC is a super special but super illegal "half-breed" and folks, it's 2025. Can we please be more careful with how we engage with eugenics/blood quantum/bloodline purity? Thx.
July 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I've been seeing a huge uptick in fantasy queries where only the oldest, purest bloodlines have powerful magic, or where the MC is a super special but super illegal "half-breed" and folks, it's 2025. Can we please be more careful with how we engage with eugenics/blood quantum/bloodline purity? Thx.