James Parenti
@jamesparenti.bsky.social
Writer, performer, cat dad (he/him)
My writing:
- https://www.havenspec.com/the-back-of-the-hand-to-everything
- https://www.thedreadmachine.com/nothing-separates-you/
My writing:
- https://www.havenspec.com/the-back-of-the-hand-to-everything
- https://www.thedreadmachine.com/nothing-separates-you/
This is a great thread, and one I really needed to read today. I'm always grateful when @delilahsdawson.bsky.social shares her hard-won wisdom!
I think one of the hardest things about being a career writer in traditional publishing is that writing attracts the neurodivergent brain while the variable reinforcement schedule punishes it. We are all the rat at the water bottle, waiting for the hit of cocaine. You get one win, and you need MORE.
November 20, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This is a great thread, and one I really needed to read today. I'm always grateful when @delilahsdawson.bsky.social shares her hard-won wisdom!
Reposted by James Parenti
if you think "AI" is going to "outperform" writers at "literary fiction" we have nothing else to talk about. there is a fundamental rift in the way we see art and humanity and it's never gonna get solved, even when this AI horseshit goes away
November 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
if you think "AI" is going to "outperform" writers at "literary fiction" we have nothing else to talk about. there is a fundamental rift in the way we see art and humanity and it's never gonna get solved, even when this AI horseshit goes away
Reposted by James Parenti
A bunch of writer friends are noting that they have not used LLMs to write. Me either, absolutely not. I feel like we need to stop asking kids what they want to BE when they grow up and start asking them what they want to DO. Because: I am not here to BE A WRITER, I am here to WRITE.
November 9, 2025 at 12:04 PM
A bunch of writer friends are noting that they have not used LLMs to write. Me either, absolutely not. I feel like we need to stop asking kids what they want to BE when they grow up and start asking them what they want to DO. Because: I am not here to BE A WRITER, I am here to WRITE.
Out here representing in PA. Hoping for good news from NYC.
November 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Out here representing in PA. Hoping for good news from NYC.
Reposted by James Parenti
Happy November 1st! Welcome to second October. Things are dying. Night comes sooner, hungrier than in the summer. The cold is here. Things haunt the woods. Snow can trap you, Donner Party your plans. Colds and flus awake, go hunting. Yeah, it’s still spooky season. It’s always spooky season.
November 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Happy November 1st! Welcome to second October. Things are dying. Night comes sooner, hungrier than in the summer. The cold is here. Things haunt the woods. Snow can trap you, Donner Party your plans. Colds and flus awake, go hunting. Yeah, it’s still spooky season. It’s always spooky season.
Happy Halloween, friends!
This is Wednesday—she let me dress up as her for our Halloween party last weekend!
This is Wednesday—she let me dress up as her for our Halloween party last weekend!
October 31, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Happy Halloween, friends!
This is Wednesday—she let me dress up as her for our Halloween party last weekend!
This is Wednesday—she let me dress up as her for our Halloween party last weekend!
Sexy hello shot recipe!
Your halloween costume is "sexy" + the last thing you search engined
I'm going as "sexy bated or baited breath" 😭
#justdumbasswriterthings
I'm going as "sexy bated or baited breath" 😭
#justdumbasswriterthings
bringing back my most viral tweet for spooky season
October 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Sexy hello shot recipe!
Finished first draft of a story today! Any day is a good day when you finish a draft. It'll need plenty of work down the line, but for now, it rests.
October 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Finished first draft of a story today! Any day is a good day when you finish a draft. It'll need plenty of work down the line, but for now, it rests.
There’s a chance refreshing the Submission Grinder 1000 times a day won’t make these responses come any faster.
But I’m willing to put in the time to find out.
But I’m willing to put in the time to find out.
October 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
There’s a chance refreshing the Submission Grinder 1000 times a day won’t make these responses come any faster.
But I’m willing to put in the time to find out.
But I’m willing to put in the time to find out.
Spouse and I both have Covid, her symptoms more intense than mine. Between that and the rapidly rising wave of fascism in the US, it doesn’t take much to remind us we’re still living in the summer of 2020, and might always be.
September 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Spouse and I both have Covid, her symptoms more intense than mine. Between that and the rapidly rising wave of fascism in the US, it doesn’t take much to remind us we’re still living in the summer of 2020, and might always be.
This shit with Kimmel, after what they pulled with Colbert, has me more scared than ever of this country. I don't think it's been safe here for a long time, and I don't know if I can stay much longer
September 18, 2025 at 1:30 AM
This shit with Kimmel, after what they pulled with Colbert, has me more scared than ever of this country. I don't think it's been safe here for a long time, and I don't know if I can stay much longer
I’m disappointed to learn that apparently the Buffy reboot is likely going to follow the new teenage slayer character, and I realized why this type of choice tends to bother me, where the previous protagonist ages into a mentor figure for a new protag. 1/2
June 19, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I’m disappointed to learn that apparently the Buffy reboot is likely going to follow the new teenage slayer character, and I realized why this type of choice tends to bother me, where the previous protagonist ages into a mentor figure for a new protag. 1/2
One of the most satisfying parts of fatherhood is sharing the beautiful things in life* with your daughters**
*chicken wings
**Claudia and Wednesday
*chicken wings
**Claudia and Wednesday
June 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
One of the most satisfying parts of fatherhood is sharing the beautiful things in life* with your daughters**
*chicken wings
**Claudia and Wednesday
*chicken wings
**Claudia and Wednesday
Tell me your pet’s name with a gif:
June 6, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Tell me your pet’s name with a gif:
Tell me your pet’s name with a gif:
June 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Tell me your pet’s name with a gif:
Here, have a photo of Claudia holding my hand while we read together.
May 22, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Here, have a photo of Claudia holding my hand while we read together.
Make an observation about your pantry that also sounds like the title of a novel.
Mom Requested Peaches
Mom Requested Peaches
Make an observation about your pantry that also sounds like the title of a novel.
So Much Sauce
So Much Sauce
Make an observation about your pantry that also sounds like the title of a novel.
Somebody Else’s Cognac
Somebody Else’s Cognac
May 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Make an observation about your pantry that also sounds like the title of a novel.
Mom Requested Peaches
Mom Requested Peaches
A writer friend got some great publishing news, and I’m just punching-the-air happy for him. Love to see good things happening for good people.
May 9, 2025 at 2:46 AM
A writer friend got some great publishing news, and I’m just punching-the-air happy for him. Love to see good things happening for good people.
Reposted by James Parenti
also i maintain that if there are vampires i am profoundly offended i have not yet been recruited. i am extremely nocturnal & allergic to the sun. i would like many more years than a human lifespan to be able to write my books. i could put any vampiric abilities toward good causes. etc., etc.
April 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
also i maintain that if there are vampires i am profoundly offended i have not yet been recruited. i am extremely nocturnal & allergic to the sun. i would like many more years than a human lifespan to be able to write my books. i could put any vampiric abilities toward good causes. etc., etc.
That canceled tv show you’ll never stop thinking about
April 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
That canceled tv show you’ll never stop thinking about
The book I’m reading right now seems to have a higher percentage of “summary” to “scene” than most recent books I’ve read. It moves the story along in a really efficient way, but also makes it feel a little monotonous and difficult to connect with emotionally. Efficiency isn’t everything, I guess.
April 16, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The book I’m reading right now seems to have a higher percentage of “summary” to “scene” than most recent books I’ve read. It moves the story along in a really efficient way, but also makes it feel a little monotonous and difficult to connect with emotionally. Efficiency isn’t everything, I guess.
When I was a kid and the song first came out, part of me thought it was about a guy named Jason Waterfalls. Don’t go, Jason.
April 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM
When I was a kid and the song first came out, part of me thought it was about a guy named Jason Waterfalls. Don’t go, Jason.
When spouse and I re-watch Gilmore Girls (usually 1x/year), it infiltrates my dreams.
Last night's dream episode: the Gilmores attend a kitschy "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. A day with Emily gives Lorelai a heart attack, who spends the rest of the episode terrorizing the hospital staff. (cont'd..)
Last night's dream episode: the Gilmores attend a kitschy "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. A day with Emily gives Lorelai a heart attack, who spends the rest of the episode terrorizing the hospital staff. (cont'd..)
April 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
When spouse and I re-watch Gilmore Girls (usually 1x/year), it infiltrates my dreams.
Last night's dream episode: the Gilmores attend a kitschy "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. A day with Emily gives Lorelai a heart attack, who spends the rest of the episode terrorizing the hospital staff. (cont'd..)
Last night's dream episode: the Gilmores attend a kitschy "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. A day with Emily gives Lorelai a heart attack, who spends the rest of the episode terrorizing the hospital staff. (cont'd..)
It's a great feeling when a magazine you admire opens for subs right as you have something ready that fits their style and guidelines 😎
April 4, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It's a great feeling when a magazine you admire opens for subs right as you have something ready that fits their style and guidelines 😎