Joyful Sage
@joyfulsage.bsky.social
Reading, writing, trying to eat less cheese
Reposted by Joyful Sage
The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
November 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
Reposted by Joyful Sage
'What keeps fascinating me is just the process of writing. Where will it lead me? What will I learn about the world this time? What will I bring to the world that I didn’t know about before.' Jon Fosse answers @thetls.bsky.social's Twenty Questions: www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
Twenty Questions with Jon Fosse
“How can I know what I think, until I see what I say?” (E. M. Forster). How much of your writing surprises you? If it doesn’t surprise me, I am writing badly, and then it isn’t worth writing. After ma...
www.the-tls.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
'What keeps fascinating me is just the process of writing. Where will it lead me? What will I learn about the world this time? What will I bring to the world that I didn’t know about before.' Jon Fosse answers @thetls.bsky.social's Twenty Questions: www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Just discovered this account on Instagram and it’s so charming. The concept: Open mic in an old camper in Paris. Mostly singers, but this poet was incredible. I don’t even speak French, but I watched it all.
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
lebaladeur.openmic on Instagram: "OPEN MIC à Paris 🎙️On a posé notre van Serge devant le parc des Buttes Chaumont à Paris et on attendu que des artistes viennent ch…"
OPEN MIC à Paris 🎙️On a posé notre van Serge devant le parc des Buttes Chaumont à Paris et on attendu que des artistes viennent chanter🎙️@felixradu passait par là et nous a demandé si il pouvait nous chanter un morceau qu’il a composé. On a pris une claque 💛😮#artiste #openmic #vanView all 1,861 comments
www.instagram.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Just discovered this account on Instagram and it’s so charming. The concept: Open mic in an old camper in Paris. Mostly singers, but this poet was incredible. I don’t even speak French, but I watched it all.
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Spotted near Russell Square today.
October 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Spotted near Russell Square today.
Reposted by Joyful Sage
I am completely dumbfounded by Labour’s reluctance to take on these people and to apply legal restraints to foreign interference in our politics and while I’m at it do something about GBNews! Does anybody have any sensible explanation for this reluctance?
October 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I am completely dumbfounded by Labour’s reluctance to take on these people and to apply legal restraints to foreign interference in our politics and while I’m at it do something about GBNews! Does anybody have any sensible explanation for this reluctance?
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Palestinians and Jews across this land are taking a breath right now after a period of unimaginable suffering. Two years of bombing and intentional starvation. Two years of captivity and abandonment. Two years of infuriating political calculations at the expense of all of us. (1/6)
October 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Palestinians and Jews across this land are taking a breath right now after a period of unimaginable suffering. Two years of bombing and intentional starvation. Two years of captivity and abandonment. Two years of infuriating political calculations at the expense of all of us. (1/6)
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Does anyone have any good examples of polyphonic flash fiction / short stories (from several voices / perspectives) or flash that uses head-hopping / shifting perspective (like my piece in the link below)? Your own or others. Pieces that are freely available online. Thanks in advance!
October 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Does anyone have any good examples of polyphonic flash fiction / short stories (from several voices / perspectives) or flash that uses head-hopping / shifting perspective (like my piece in the link below)? Your own or others. Pieces that are freely available online. Thanks in advance!
This is lovely.
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
it’s been a minute since i’ve published anything, so i’m especially grateful that @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social gave this little musing on love + leavings a home.
you can read the full piece here: matchbooklitmag.com/mb/relles/departures
you can read the full piece here: matchbooklitmag.com/mb/relles/departures
October 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is lovely.
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
Reposted by Joyful Sage
🧵Some real Jilly Cooper quotes from her Rutshire Chronicles, the series of books that Rivals is from.
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
October 18, 2024 at 5:01 PM
🧵Some real Jilly Cooper quotes from her Rutshire Chronicles, the series of books that Rivals is from.
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Linguists/word nerds: help me out? What is the word/concept for a term that no longer applies to the reality of the thing it references. Like, no one uses rags for menstruation anymore but (some) ppl still say "on the rag." 🥴Or, ppl call television the "boob tube" tho TVs no longer have vacuum tubes
October 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Linguists/word nerds: help me out? What is the word/concept for a term that no longer applies to the reality of the thing it references. Like, no one uses rags for menstruation anymore but (some) ppl still say "on the rag." 🥴Or, ppl call television the "boob tube" tho TVs no longer have vacuum tubes
Reposted by Joyful Sage
At the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936, at least 100,000 people, including Jewish residents, Irish dock workers, Communists and Labour Party members prevented a march by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing through the East End...
October 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
At the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936, at least 100,000 people, including Jewish residents, Irish dock workers, Communists and Labour Party members prevented a march by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing through the East End...
Reposted by Joyful Sage
It fell to the post-war generation to build our human rights protections. Today, it is the responsibility of progressives - especially within my own party - to mount a strong defence of these principles, or risk them being cast aside
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Holocaust survivor and Labour Lord calls for return of compassionate immigration
Lord Dubs has said Labour is giving in to pressure from the right to harden its stance on immigration
www.standard.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It fell to the post-war generation to build our human rights protections. Today, it is the responsibility of progressives - especially within my own party - to mount a strong defence of these principles, or risk them being cast aside
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Imagine you're in a weird romcom where Paul Hollywood is your rival. Do you go "let's have a bread baking competition" or do you emphasise your own relative strengths?
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
September 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Imagine you're in a weird romcom where Paul Hollywood is your rival. Do you go "let's have a bread baking competition" or do you emphasise your own relative strengths?
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
I’m looking for recommended reading on the subject of repetition. Essays, poems, stories, articles, any/all suggestions gratefully received 🙏
September 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I’m looking for recommended reading on the subject of repetition. Essays, poems, stories, articles, any/all suggestions gratefully received 🙏
This is so beautiful, I had share. Anyone want to set up a Bluesky book club for poems?!
Running into a poem you loved is like bumping an old friend at a pub. Thus do I find Robert Creeley's "The Rain," six stanzas I copied on the back of my AP econ spiral notebook in high school, and re-read often during that neolib seminar. Ooof the splendid enjambment of that “semi-/lust”
September 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This is so beautiful, I had share. Anyone want to set up a Bluesky book club for poems?!
Reposted by Joyful Sage
I find it so funny that royals give themselves so many badges and buttons to show they are good at kinging, it's like a 5 year old found the teacher's sticker drawer. Bless
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I find it so funny that royals give themselves so many badges and buttons to show they are good at kinging, it's like a 5 year old found the teacher's sticker drawer. Bless
Reposted by Joyful Sage
"Mention Mosley and the fascists of the 1930s, and you realise that we have seen off these characters before. What is ominous today is the absence of committed leadership to rally pro-democracy and anti-racist forces"
Who will speak for liberal Britain? Nick Cohen on the acquiescence to the populist right and even the far right, using some of the data familiar to my BlueSky followers
nickcohen.substack.com/p/when-will-...
nickcohen.substack.com/p/when-will-...
When will our spineless leaders speak for liberal Britain?
Cowardice enables the radical right
nickcohen.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
"Mention Mosley and the fascists of the 1930s, and you realise that we have seen off these characters before. What is ominous today is the absence of committed leadership to rally pro-democracy and anti-racist forces"
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Still waiting on the Prime Minister’s statement condemning the huge, violent, Nazi mob that attacked police officers in London…
September 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Still waiting on the Prime Minister’s statement condemning the huge, violent, Nazi mob that attacked police officers in London…
I’m not a fan of writing rules, but I mostly follow the ‘just use said’ one. However, I love the use of ‘announces’, and particularly ‘admit’ here 👌
“Your uterus,” she announces, “is not happy.”
“I know,” I admit. “I have been sensing its unhappiness.”
New @kathyfish.bsky.social is always a delight. I love this one, especially the use of dialogue and humour. SO GOOD AS ALWAYS! A must read.
“I know,” I admit. “I have been sensing its unhappiness.”
New @kathyfish.bsky.social is always a delight. I love this one, especially the use of dialogue and humour. SO GOOD AS ALWAYS! A must read.
I was thinking recently about how much I missed writing dialogue. This piece I wrote for the "my body, my choice" inaugural issue of Hot Flash Literary uses lots of dialogue and is very short. I'd love for you to read it and the whole amazing debut issue! 💙
hotflashliterary.com/wyoming/
hotflashliterary.com/wyoming/
September 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I’m not a fan of writing rules, but I mostly follow the ‘just use said’ one. However, I love the use of ‘announces’, and particularly ‘admit’ here 👌
Reposted by Joyful Sage
NEW: An Oxford report warns that misleading media coverage is shaping public debate on immigration and human rights.
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
September 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
NEW: An Oxford report warns that misleading media coverage is shaping public debate on immigration and human rights.
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Picked your story yet? Just over 4 weeks to go. Closes, Midnight GMT 5 October 2025
Winners: Announced by 1 Nov Judge @kazbarwrites.bsky.social
£1460 prize fund.
50 authors offered anthology publication, with all published authors getting a free print copy.
Bathflashfictionaward.com/enter
Winners: Announced by 1 Nov Judge @kazbarwrites.bsky.social
£1460 prize fund.
50 authors offered anthology publication, with all published authors getting a free print copy.
Bathflashfictionaward.com/enter
a group of smurfs are picking apples in a garden
ALT: a group of smurfs are picking apples in a garden
media.tenor.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Picked your story yet? Just over 4 weeks to go. Closes, Midnight GMT 5 October 2025
Winners: Announced by 1 Nov Judge @kazbarwrites.bsky.social
£1460 prize fund.
50 authors offered anthology publication, with all published authors getting a free print copy.
Bathflashfictionaward.com/enter
Winners: Announced by 1 Nov Judge @kazbarwrites.bsky.social
£1460 prize fund.
50 authors offered anthology publication, with all published authors getting a free print copy.
Bathflashfictionaward.com/enter
Reposted by Joyful Sage
The European Convention on Human Rights entered into force on this day in 1953.
The convention has improved people’s lives, in many different ways, across the continent.
Here are more than 200 examples: www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
The convention has improved people’s lives, in many different ways, across the continent.
Here are more than 200 examples: www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights - Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights - www.coe.int
European convention on human rights : How it changed the lives of many people across the continent.
www.coe.int
September 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The European Convention on Human Rights entered into force on this day in 1953.
The convention has improved people’s lives, in many different ways, across the continent.
Here are more than 200 examples: www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
The convention has improved people’s lives, in many different ways, across the continent.
Here are more than 200 examples: www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Where has this ludicrous ECHR "debate" even come from.
I've never once met an ordinary member of the public who's said to me, "Do you know what? We REALLY need to leave the ECHR."
It's just a new right wing talking point because every other shit idea they've foisted on us has run out of steam.
I've never once met an ordinary member of the public who's said to me, "Do you know what? We REALLY need to leave the ECHR."
It's just a new right wing talking point because every other shit idea they've foisted on us has run out of steam.
September 1, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Where has this ludicrous ECHR "debate" even come from.
I've never once met an ordinary member of the public who's said to me, "Do you know what? We REALLY need to leave the ECHR."
It's just a new right wing talking point because every other shit idea they've foisted on us has run out of steam.
I've never once met an ordinary member of the public who's said to me, "Do you know what? We REALLY need to leave the ECHR."
It's just a new right wing talking point because every other shit idea they've foisted on us has run out of steam.
Reposted by Joyful Sage
Just written to Ofcom to complain about Rylan and This Morning. If we don't speak up things will get worse
share.google/sEgiv5VPGkyX...
share.google/sEgiv5VPGkyX...
August 31, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Just written to Ofcom to complain about Rylan and This Morning. If we don't speak up things will get worse
share.google/sEgiv5VPGkyX...
share.google/sEgiv5VPGkyX...
I love these. The sheer confidence in the way he uses so many of his precious words on things like names and places, and the way they beautifully enhance the piece
Obsessed with Félix Fénéon’s NOVELS IN THREE LINES:
August 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I love these. The sheer confidence in the way he uses so many of his precious words on things like names and places, and the way they beautifully enhance the piece