J. Needham
@j-needham.bsky.social
I'm a bog witch that writes about queer people. (They/Them)
Writing seen in Graveside Press, Heartlines Spec, Femspec, Dragon Tomes, Queer Sci Fi, Tor.com, Dark Harbor Magazine & more.
Upcoming in If There's Anyone Left
Editing my gothic horror novel 🦇
Writing seen in Graveside Press, Heartlines Spec, Femspec, Dragon Tomes, Queer Sci Fi, Tor.com, Dark Harbor Magazine & more.
Upcoming in If There's Anyone Left
Editing my gothic horror novel 🦇
Reposted by J. Needham
We're officially OPEN TO NONFICTION AND REPRINT SUBMISSIONS! We are looking for full nonfiction pieces (not pitches) and reprints of stories currently unavailable for free online.
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
We're officially OPEN TO NONFICTION AND REPRINT SUBMISSIONS! We are looking for full nonfiction pieces (not pitches) and reprints of stories currently unavailable for free online.
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
🪐See our guidelines for details: othersidespec.com/guidelines
🗡️Submit here: hybrispress.moksha.io/publication/...
I'm waiting for like 10+ outstanding submissions. I am too weak for this delayed response life.
a cat is laying on its back on a wooden floor next to a wall .
ALT: a cat is laying on its back on a wooden floor next to a wall .
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I'm waiting for like 10+ outstanding submissions. I am too weak for this delayed response life.
Reposted by J. Needham
🍂🍁 Critique Partner Matching is tomorrow!🍁🍂
For those seeking critique partners, post to the #FiFRevPit feed on Bluesky on Friday, the 14th, and then take some time to scroll through this weekend to find your match! 🧵
For those seeking critique partners, post to the #FiFRevPit feed on Bluesky on Friday, the 14th, and then take some time to scroll through this weekend to find your match! 🧵
November 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
🍂🍁 Critique Partner Matching is tomorrow!🍁🍂
For those seeking critique partners, post to the #FiFRevPit feed on Bluesky on Friday, the 14th, and then take some time to scroll through this weekend to find your match! 🧵
For those seeking critique partners, post to the #FiFRevPit feed on Bluesky on Friday, the 14th, and then take some time to scroll through this weekend to find your match! 🧵
Moira's black-out rejection poetry is literally the best thing. Go read it. The worst part is I now look forward to her rejections almost as much as her acceptances, which feels.... weird. 😂
Finally… was getting a bit twitchy without #anotherrejection #submitelsewhere
October 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Moira's black-out rejection poetry is literally the best thing. Go read it. The worst part is I now look forward to her rejections almost as much as her acceptances, which feels.... weird. 😂
Goya is truly the Halloween It Girl 🦇 I have to resist making the Witches' Sabbath goat my PFP.
October 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Goya is truly the Halloween It Girl 🦇 I have to resist making the Witches' Sabbath goat my PFP.
Super jazzed to be included in Dragon Tomes' upcoming spooky Voices from the Void anthology with my comedic New Orleans ghost story "There’s No Runner-Up for the Best Haunt Award". The best part is sharing a cover with @moirariom.bsky.social 🐀💙
Out Oct. 20th: tinyurl.com/293hvx9k
Out Oct. 20th: tinyurl.com/293hvx9k
October 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Super jazzed to be included in Dragon Tomes' upcoming spooky Voices from the Void anthology with my comedic New Orleans ghost story "There’s No Runner-Up for the Best Haunt Award". The best part is sharing a cover with @moirariom.bsky.social 🐀💙
Out Oct. 20th: tinyurl.com/293hvx9k
Out Oct. 20th: tinyurl.com/293hvx9k
I'm comically late on praising @2thestrugglebus.bsky.social 💚 I used her butcher special for an awkward length 50k story that wasn't selling as novel. Jenee took on the impossible task of cutting it down to 40k with zeal. I seriously couldn't have submitted this to proper novella calls without her 🫣
October 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I'm comically late on praising @2thestrugglebus.bsky.social 💚 I used her butcher special for an awkward length 50k story that wasn't selling as novel. Jenee took on the impossible task of cutting it down to 40k with zeal. I seriously couldn't have submitted this to proper novella calls without her 🫣
September 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
@gravesidepress.bsky.social's "What Lurks" cryptid anthology is live and kicking. My queer, monstrous story "The Winter Caretaker" is inside ❄️. I can't express how much this story means to me.
And for all those who decide to read it... remember to keep the lantern lit 🕯️.
And for all those who decide to read it... remember to keep the lantern lit 🕯️.
September 4, 2025 at 5:17 AM
@gravesidepress.bsky.social's "What Lurks" cryptid anthology is live and kicking. My queer, monstrous story "The Winter Caretaker" is inside ❄️. I can't express how much this story means to me.
And for all those who decide to read it... remember to keep the lantern lit 🕯️.
And for all those who decide to read it... remember to keep the lantern lit 🕯️.
My gay little sci-fi romp is live and free to read at @heartlines-spec.com 🫀!
Kissing, Brain Parasites, and a (Mild) Nuclear Explosion by @j-needham.bsky.social is now free-to-read!
The title tells you everything! So scrub up, get some hazmat, and we'll meet you after the autopsy
www.heartlines-spec.com/kissing-brai...
The title tells you everything! So scrub up, get some hazmat, and we'll meet you after the autopsy
www.heartlines-spec.com/kissing-brai...
Kissing, Brain Parasites, and a (Mild) Nuclear Explosion
Kissing, Brain Parasites, and a (Mild) Nuclear Explosion by J. Needham
www.heartlines-spec.com
September 3, 2025 at 12:05 AM
My gay little sci-fi romp is live and free to read at @heartlines-spec.com 🫀!
My queer vampire western story just won third place in Reach Your Apex's contest. 🧛♂️🖤🧛
Announcing the winners of our Weird West Quick Draw flash fiction contest, guest-judged by award-winning weird west author, KC Grifant @kcgrifant.bsky.social
reachyourapex.com/announcing-t...
reachyourapex.com/announcing-t...
Announcing The Weird West Quick Draw Flash Fiction Contest Winners - REACH YOUR APEX
Announcing the winners of our Weird West Quick Draw flash fiction contest.
reachyourapex.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
My queer vampire western story just won third place in Reach Your Apex's contest. 🧛♂️🖤🧛
Reposted by J. Needham
Why send us early subs?
You get:
❣️fresh eyeballs (plump, moist, dense)
❣️boundless reading energy (cackling and exhaustion free)
❣️more time to submit again (good vibes of deadlines)
You get:
❣️fresh eyeballs (plump, moist, dense)
❣️boundless reading energy (cackling and exhaustion free)
❣️more time to submit again (good vibes of deadlines)
Early submission period for @heartlines-spec.com /Heartlines Spec is upon us! Send us your fantasy and/or sci-fi stories based around long-term relationships (platonic, familial, romantic)! Refresh your memory here with the full guidelines: www.heartlines-spec.com/submission-g...
Submission Guidelines
Learn all about our submissions guidelines, what we're looking for, and our payment details
www.heartlines-spec.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Why send us early subs?
You get:
❣️fresh eyeballs (plump, moist, dense)
❣️boundless reading energy (cackling and exhaustion free)
❣️more time to submit again (good vibes of deadlines)
You get:
❣️fresh eyeballs (plump, moist, dense)
❣️boundless reading energy (cackling and exhaustion free)
❣️more time to submit again (good vibes of deadlines)
My short story about hurt girls and bulging wallpaper is now live at @darkharbormagazine.bsky.social. 🪱
www.darkharbormagazine.com/stories/ym4v...
www.darkharbormagazine.com/stories/ym4v...
Things that Live in the Walls — Dark Harbor Magazine
There are things that live in the walls here, but they don't tell you that in the welcome tour.
www.darkharbormagazine.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
My short story about hurt girls and bulging wallpaper is now live at @darkharbormagazine.bsky.social. 🪱
www.darkharbormagazine.com/stories/ym4v...
www.darkharbormagazine.com/stories/ym4v...
Great people are running this publication 🐀
Ratty and his Rat Pack of editors are SO EXCITED to say that submissions to Rat Bag Lit are NOW OPEN 🐀📝 The rats look forward to reading your work! Please take a look at our submission guidelines on the site. We want your weird fiction, but remember - we're rats, not heathens. We do have SOME rules.
August 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Great people are running this publication 🐀
#queerpit #A #MR #N #R #SN
Delilah, a cranky doctor for hidden magical beings, is ambushed by her ex Darcy with a plea: remove her newborn son Noah’s magic with an illegal surgery to stop the danger his “faulty” magic poses. Think Rowell’s Wayward Son (magical road trip vibes) + a second-chance 👭❤️.
Delilah, a cranky doctor for hidden magical beings, is ambushed by her ex Darcy with a plea: remove her newborn son Noah’s magic with an illegal surgery to stop the danger his “faulty” magic poses. Think Rowell’s Wayward Son (magical road trip vibes) + a second-chance 👭❤️.
August 15, 2025 at 6:28 PM
#queerpit #A #MR #N #R #SN
Delilah, a cranky doctor for hidden magical beings, is ambushed by her ex Darcy with a plea: remove her newborn son Noah’s magic with an illegal surgery to stop the danger his “faulty” magic poses. Think Rowell’s Wayward Son (magical road trip vibes) + a second-chance 👭❤️.
Delilah, a cranky doctor for hidden magical beings, is ambushed by her ex Darcy with a plea: remove her newborn son Noah’s magic with an illegal surgery to stop the danger his “faulty” magic poses. Think Rowell’s Wayward Son (magical road trip vibes) + a second-chance 👭❤️.
August 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This is... one of the weirder pieces of flash I've written 😂
July 31, 2025 at 9:47 PM
This is... one of the weirder pieces of flash I've written 😂
Reposted by J. Needham
Issue 8 has stepped through the portals! Our summer issue is always special because it's powered by a birthday wish, BUT this issue is EXTRA POWERFUL because it's powered by TWO BIRTHDAYS.
You should subscribe (or buy online!) -- can't let a birthday wish down 🎂
www.heartlines-spec.com/issue-8/
You should subscribe (or buy online!) -- can't let a birthday wish down 🎂
www.heartlines-spec.com/issue-8/
Issue 8
Issue 8 features portals, aliens, and metamorphoses. These stories and poems are about growing up, growing apart, and growing together. As much as our characters wish they could stay locked in their f...
www.heartlines-spec.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Issue 8 has stepped through the portals! Our summer issue is always special because it's powered by a birthday wish, BUT this issue is EXTRA POWERFUL because it's powered by TWO BIRTHDAYS.
You should subscribe (or buy online!) -- can't let a birthday wish down 🎂
www.heartlines-spec.com/issue-8/
You should subscribe (or buy online!) -- can't let a birthday wish down 🎂
www.heartlines-spec.com/issue-8/
Love this!! 😍 It's so cool how there ended up being a space/sci-fi through-line in a lot of these stories. Can't wait!
Issue 8 will be coming to your inbox July 31st 👾
@itsbabypears.bsky.social aced these Unbothered Flirty Objects
$18CAD gets you a full year of Issues and helps us continue to pay our artists
www.heartlines-spec.com
@itsbabypears.bsky.social aced these Unbothered Flirty Objects
$18CAD gets you a full year of Issues and helps us continue to pay our artists
www.heartlines-spec.com
July 28, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Love this!! 😍 It's so cool how there ended up being a space/sci-fi through-line in a lot of these stories. Can't wait!
Reposted by J. Needham
SURPRISE! We couldn't wait until next week—our Kickstarter pre-launch page is live right now!!! Sign up to be the first to know when it launches in October, and please spread the word and tell a friend! Every sign-up makes a huge difference. We are officially one step closer to OTHERSIDE!
Coming soon: OTHERSIDE 2026: A New Magazine of Queer SFF!
A new queer-led literary magazine devoted to speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.
www.kickstarter.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
SURPRISE! We couldn't wait until next week—our Kickstarter pre-launch page is live right now!!! Sign up to be the first to know when it launches in October, and please spread the word and tell a friend! Every sign-up makes a huge difference. We are officially one step closer to OTHERSIDE!
Can't wait to share my (emotional disaster 👨❤️💋👨) space boys & their (gossipy 👀) nonbinary assistant with the world. Thanks @heartlines-spec.com for making it possible.
What do dissections, awkward declarations of love that ruin everything, and an alien virus have in common? They're fun to read about (probably less fun to deal with tho)!!
Kissing, Brain Parasites, and a (Mild) Nuclear Explosion by @j-needham.bsky.social is a 'splody good time
Kissing, Brain Parasites, and a (Mild) Nuclear Explosion by @j-needham.bsky.social is a 'splody good time
July 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Can't wait to share my (emotional disaster 👨❤️💋👨) space boys & their (gossipy 👀) nonbinary assistant with the world. Thanks @heartlines-spec.com for making it possible.
Reposted by J. Needham
Time to bring back the summoning circle for writers!
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
That email
🕯 or acceptance 🕯
you've been
🕯 waiting for 🕯
🕯 🕯️
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
That email
🕯 or acceptance 🕯
you've been
🕯 waiting for 🕯
🕯 🕯️
July 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Time to bring back the summoning circle for writers!
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
That email
🕯 or acceptance 🕯
you've been
🕯 waiting for 🕯
🕯 🕯️
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
That email
🕯 or acceptance 🕯
you've been
🕯 waiting for 🕯
🕯 🕯️
My horror flash piece "Things that live in the walls" was accepted at @darkharbormagazine.bsky.social. Thanks for giving it a home! 🖤
July 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
My horror flash piece "Things that live in the walls" was accepted at @darkharbormagazine.bsky.social. Thanks for giving it a home! 🖤
Reposted by J. Needham
We're delighted to share the cover (by @mspencerdraws.bsky.social) and announce the table of contents for WE'RE HERE: THE BEST QUEER SPECULATIVE FICTION 2024, selected by editor @rykaaoki.bsky.social and working with series editor @cypayseur.bsky.social!
www.neonhemlock.com/news/were-he...
www.neonhemlock.com/news/were-he...
June 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
We're delighted to share the cover (by @mspencerdraws.bsky.social) and announce the table of contents for WE'RE HERE: THE BEST QUEER SPECULATIVE FICTION 2024, selected by editor @rykaaoki.bsky.social and working with series editor @cypayseur.bsky.social!
www.neonhemlock.com/news/were-he...
www.neonhemlock.com/news/were-he...
My Canadiana queer folk horror story "The Winter Caretaker" is coming out this summer in @gravesidepress.bsky.social 's "What Lurks" cryptid anthology. It's a story that went through many loving hands before finally finding a home 🖤.
June 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
My Canadiana queer folk horror story "The Winter Caretaker" is coming out this summer in @gravesidepress.bsky.social 's "What Lurks" cryptid anthology. It's a story that went through many loving hands before finally finding a home 🖤.