Joshua Blackwood
@joshuablackwood.bsky.social
Horror novelist and curator of ghosts and other specters. 🌲PNW🌲🏳️🌈 Tell your dog I said hi.
The hard part about being a BIPOC author is that everyone wants to represent/publish you but only if you mine your culture for the story. I can’t just be a Latino author, my story has to be about being Latino or the monster has to be a reimagining of La Llorona etc. and I don’t love that #Writing
November 18, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The hard part about being a BIPOC author is that everyone wants to represent/publish you but only if you mine your culture for the story. I can’t just be a Latino author, my story has to be about being Latino or the monster has to be a reimagining of La Llorona etc. and I don’t love that #Writing
I’ve been in the trenches for five years now and I’ve watched the attention spans of agents narrow considerably in that time. It used to be an inciting incident was necessary in the first 10 pages. Then it was 5. Now I’m seeing it has to be in the first paragraph.
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I’ve been in the trenches for five years now and I’ve watched the attention spans of agents narrow considerably in that time. It used to be an inciting incident was necessary in the first 10 pages. Then it was 5. Now I’m seeing it has to be in the first paragraph.
Has anyone here used #Inkshares before? I think Im gonna head that way in the new year. Any and all tips appreciated! #WritersCommunity
November 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Has anyone here used #Inkshares before? I think Im gonna head that way in the new year. Any and all tips appreciated! #WritersCommunity
I will say tho, it’s not as bad as the one publisher that said they’d auto reject if they see a semicolon in your manuscript because “semicolons don’t belong in novels”. #writing
I’ve come across 3 publishers who are seeking books exactly like mine but they explicitly state they’ll take NOTHING that mentions the pandemic and while mine is not a pandemic book, it is mentioned and an important background detail for the setting. Weird that something so small is such a big deal.
November 14, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I will say tho, it’s not as bad as the one publisher that said they’d auto reject if they see a semicolon in your manuscript because “semicolons don’t belong in novels”. #writing
I’ve come across 3 publishers who are seeking books exactly like mine but they explicitly state they’ll take NOTHING that mentions the pandemic and while mine is not a pandemic book, it is mentioned and an important background detail for the setting. Weird that something so small is such a big deal.
November 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I’ve come across 3 publishers who are seeking books exactly like mine but they explicitly state they’ll take NOTHING that mentions the pandemic and while mine is not a pandemic book, it is mentioned and an important background detail for the setting. Weird that something so small is such a big deal.
Not me showing up in agent’s inboxes like Duolingo if they’ve had my full for over 8 months.
November 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Not me showing up in agent’s inboxes like Duolingo if they’ve had my full for over 8 months.
I would like to actually meet someone who had a publisher sign them and then wanted to make BIG changes to their book because right now all my rejections look like “we loved this novel but you misused a semicolon on page 34 and this is a problem that can’t be overcome by anyone ever.” #Writing
November 9, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I would like to actually meet someone who had a publisher sign them and then wanted to make BIG changes to their book because right now all my rejections look like “we loved this novel but you misused a semicolon on page 34 and this is a problem that can’t be overcome by anyone ever.” #Writing
Reposted by Joshua Blackwood
🕯️Manifesting 🕯️
October 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
🕯️Manifesting 🕯️
Nothing like receiving a rejection addressed to “Dear Author” 🫠🔫
October 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Nothing like receiving a rejection addressed to “Dear Author” 🫠🔫
Sexy venomous puss caterpillar larvae.
sexy radio address to the nation on free and fair trade april 25, 1987
October 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Sexy venomous puss caterpillar larvae.
Aaaaaand major bullet dodged. Y’all, stay safe out there. A red flag is a red flag no matter how badly you want a book deal.
I recently connected with an indie publisher that I was real excited about… and then…
a man wearing sunglasses and headphones is holding red flags and says red flags everywhere !
Alt: A man dressed as an American founding father waving around red flags
media.tenor.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Aaaaaand major bullet dodged. Y’all, stay safe out there. A red flag is a red flag no matter how badly you want a book deal.
I may look like I have it all together on the outside, but on the inside I don’t know any other way to indent paragraphs other than using tab.
spongebob says i 'm ugly and i 'm proud in front of a flower
Alt: spongebob says i 'm ugly and i 'm proud in front of a flower
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM
I may look like I have it all together on the outside, but on the inside I don’t know any other way to indent paragraphs other than using tab.
I feel like agents should have to present themselves according to the same standards they hold authors to. I should know what you’re looking for in the first sentence. And the STAKES! What are THE STAKES Jennifer?? I don’t care where you got your BA, tell me which shelves you can get my books on.
October 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I feel like agents should have to present themselves according to the same standards they hold authors to. I should know what you’re looking for in the first sentence. And the STAKES! What are THE STAKES Jennifer?? I don’t care where you got your BA, tell me which shelves you can get my books on.
I bring a certain octogenarian vibe to the hangout that just can’t be found elsewhere.
October 19, 2025 at 3:47 AM
I bring a certain octogenarian vibe to the hangout that just can’t be found elsewhere.
I recently connected with an indie publisher that I was real excited about… and then…
a man wearing sunglasses and headphones is holding red flags and says red flags everywhere !
Alt: A man dressed as an American founding father waving around red flags
media.tenor.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I recently connected with an indie publisher that I was real excited about… and then…
About to spend the whole day explaining “Indigenous People’s Day” to old yt folks at my day job in the sticks. Pray for me.
October 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
About to spend the whole day explaining “Indigenous People’s Day” to old yt folks at my day job in the sticks. Pray for me.
If you believe that “said” or “asked” are the only acceptable dialogue tags, I assume your chicken is unseasoned.
a woman in a pink dress is saying i said what i said
Alt: Nene Leakes wearing a pink dress and saying “I said what I said”.
media.tenor.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:11 PM
If you believe that “said” or “asked” are the only acceptable dialogue tags, I assume your chicken is unseasoned.
When you find someone in publishing who is actually nice 😭
a man wearing a black shirt with the number 20 on it is making a funny face and says oh ok
Alt: a man wearing a black shirt is wiping tears from his eyes. Beneath are the words “oh… ok”
media.tenor.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:36 AM
When you find someone in publishing who is actually nice 😭
Ive always found it awkward to tell ppl I’m a writer, I find either people think it’s a fancy way of saying “unemployed dead weight” or that I’m bragging and think I’m better than them. No matter which direction they are thinking though, I have yet to be asked what my books are about 🫠
October 1, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Ive always found it awkward to tell ppl I’m a writer, I find either people think it’s a fancy way of saying “unemployed dead weight” or that I’m bragging and think I’m better than them. No matter which direction they are thinking though, I have yet to be asked what my books are about 🫠
As a new home canner I would like recipes to be a lot more clear about their statements. “Roma tomatoes are not recommended for this recipe” why Carol? Because they taste funny or because I’ll die?? Be specific! #Homesteading
September 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
As a new home canner I would like recipes to be a lot more clear about their statements. “Roma tomatoes are not recommended for this recipe” why Carol? Because they taste funny or because I’ll die?? Be specific! #Homesteading
When the agency website is purple.
homer simpson from the simpsons is standing in a grassy field
Alt: homer simpson from the simpsons slowly backing into a bush until he vanishes into it.
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
When the agency website is purple.
Agents be like “seeking horror!” Then you realize what they mean is dark supernatural romance with a love interest that’s like a ghost or a werewolf and I’m just in their inbox with my horror novel like, hiiiiiiiiii
September 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Agents be like “seeking horror!” Then you realize what they mean is dark supernatural romance with a love interest that’s like a ghost or a werewolf and I’m just in their inbox with my horror novel like, hiiiiiiiiii
Wouldn’t even know how if I wanted to.
August 21, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Wouldn’t even know how if I wanted to.
Reposted by Joshua Blackwood
August 18, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Reposted by Joshua Blackwood
This is the same information given to the Horror Writers Association members in today's email:
"If your books were uploaded to LibGen/fed into the LLMs, add your name to the potential class action lawsuit by tomorrow." Details:
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This is the same information given to the Horror Writers Association members in today's email: