Mae Tang 董美妍
@maetang.myatproto.social
She/her. Writer. Chinese Singaporean immigrant to the UK. This is where I talk about writing.
Books:
- My 1st book. Shortlisted for the Hachette Children’s Novel Awards 2025.
- Books One & Two. The duology I'm querying with.
- WIP/new novel.
Books:
- My 1st book. Shortlisted for the Hachette Children’s Novel Awards 2025.
- Books One & Two. The duology I'm querying with.
- WIP/new novel.
Pinned
Mae Tang 董美妍
@maetang.myatproto.social
· Jun 24
I'm happy that my first book made the shortlist for the Hachette Children's Novel Awards 2025, which is part of the #NorthernWritersAwards with @newwritingnorth.bsky.social. Many thanks to the judges for their encouraging feedback, and congrats to the winners!
Re-reading Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, since I thought about it recently. I double-dipped and picked it up on eBook, because my eyesight has deteriorated so much that it's easier to read it on screen. (Worth getting it all over again to avoid eyestrain!)
Anyway, I'm struck by several things.
Anyway, I'm struck by several things.
Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, which I read in my 20s when my PTSD was at its worst. The horrors of war are starkly portrayed. The book is luminous with compassion for people racked by trauma. I would re-read it when I felt incomprehensible. I would feel seen, and comprehended, and human again.
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Re-reading Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, since I thought about it recently. I double-dipped and picked it up on eBook, because my eyesight has deteriorated so much that it's easier to read it on screen. (Worth getting it all over again to avoid eyestrain!)
Anyway, I'm struck by several things.
Anyway, I'm struck by several things.
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
This also makes me fiercely glad that I yelled about the cultural importance of wangxian and Mo Dao Zu Shi for Vox's proposed submissions for the new queer canon: www.vox.com/culture/2315...
We need beloved queer heroes now more than ever, especially in periods of draconian criminalization.
We need beloved queer heroes now more than ever, especially in periods of draconian criminalization.
What should be added to the queer canon?
The queer canon should point us toward the future. We made a list of new, vibrant queer stories helping us get there.
www.vox.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This also makes me fiercely glad that I yelled about the cultural importance of wangxian and Mo Dao Zu Shi for Vox's proposed submissions for the new queer canon: www.vox.com/culture/2315...
We need beloved queer heroes now more than ever, especially in periods of draconian criminalization.
We need beloved queer heroes now more than ever, especially in periods of draconian criminalization.
Had my writing session for the day, and wheeeeeee! Nothing feels better than being able to jump back into it, to do a mental swan dive into the characters, after having had to miss a day with them 🥰
Plus since I got ahead of myself querying yesterday, no querying for Book 1 today or tomorrow either
Plus since I got ahead of myself querying yesterday, no querying for Book 1 today or tomorrow either
November 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Had my writing session for the day, and wheeeeeee! Nothing feels better than being able to jump back into it, to do a mental swan dive into the characters, after having had to miss a day with them 🥰
Plus since I got ahead of myself querying yesterday, no querying for Book 1 today or tomorrow either
Plus since I got ahead of myself querying yesterday, no querying for Book 1 today or tomorrow either
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 AM
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
hey, seattle, here's a bookstore to avoid
(as nicole says, don't harass them! but I would add: also don't give them your money)
(as nicole says, don't harass them! but I would add: also don't give them your money)
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
hey, seattle, here's a bookstore to avoid
(as nicole says, don't harass them! but I would add: also don't give them your money)
(as nicole says, don't harass them! but I would add: also don't give them your money)
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
This morning I feel rage at the idea the MXTX may not be receiving the fruits of her wonderful labour that’s given us all so much joy. Her creations (and what followed) have made me want live these past 5 years.
I’ve signed the petition in Sam’s thread - you can do that here.
c.org/n9N2yRwDS2
I’ve signed the petition in Sam’s thread - you can do that here.
c.org/n9N2yRwDS2
November 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
This morning I feel rage at the idea the MXTX may not be receiving the fruits of her wonderful labour that’s given us all so much joy. Her creations (and what followed) have made me want live these past 5 years.
I’ve signed the petition in Sam’s thread - you can do that here.
c.org/n9N2yRwDS2
I’ve signed the petition in Sam’s thread - you can do that here.
c.org/n9N2yRwDS2
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
The wonderful library at Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire. One of our favourite rooms in any Scottish castle, it was formed in the 1840s within the upper part of the original tower house that was built here in about 1300. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot...
#Scotland #DrumCastle #Aberdeenshire
#Scotland #DrumCastle #Aberdeenshire
November 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The wonderful library at Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire. One of our favourite rooms in any Scottish castle, it was formed in the 1840s within the upper part of the original tower house that was built here in about 1300. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot...
#Scotland #DrumCastle #Aberdeenshire
#Scotland #DrumCastle #Aberdeenshire
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
A surprise drop for your weekend reading pleasure! Check out our special reprint issue: SINNERS, SAINTS & HAINTS! Guest editors: @edenroyce.bsky.social + @shakeemasmalls.bsky.social Cover by @goblinprincete.bsky.social
Black authors been IN these genre streets, don't let anyone say otherwise 🔥🔥🔥
Black authors been IN these genre streets, don't let anyone say otherwise 🔥🔥🔥
November 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A surprise drop for your weekend reading pleasure! Check out our special reprint issue: SINNERS, SAINTS & HAINTS! Guest editors: @edenroyce.bsky.social + @shakeemasmalls.bsky.social Cover by @goblinprincete.bsky.social
Black authors been IN these genre streets, don't let anyone say otherwise 🔥🔥🔥
Black authors been IN these genre streets, don't let anyone say otherwise 🔥🔥🔥
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
if the hundreds of thousands of western danmei fans were actually able to organize our shit tho. just think how formidable we could be. let yourself dream it for a moment. then fall on your face and beg the heavens for the writers who put their LIVES ON THE LINE to give you THESE STORIES to be safe.
Sign the Petition
Creators are being imprisoned. Where is Seven Seas Entertainment?
www.change.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
if the hundreds of thousands of western danmei fans were actually able to organize our shit tho. just think how formidable we could be. let yourself dream it for a moment. then fall on your face and beg the heavens for the writers who put their LIVES ON THE LINE to give you THESE STORIES to be safe.
I feeling I LOVE from books and TV, is when the characters and their relationships are so good that I wish they could go on forever. It's not that plot doesn't matter, but at that point, I pretty much don't care about it anymore. It's taken a back seat to the joys of hanging out with the characters.
November 15, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I feeling I LOVE from books and TV, is when the characters and their relationships are so good that I wish they could go on forever. It's not that plot doesn't matter, but at that point, I pretty much don't care about it anymore. It's taken a back seat to the joys of hanging out with the characters.
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
"This book is so good, I want to put it in my mouth and eat it." ~ Sarah Wendell at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
/jb
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Unvei...
Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/...
Nook: http://www.barnesand...
Google: play.google.com/stor...
/jb
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Unvei...
Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/...
Nook: http://www.barnesand...
Google: play.google.com/stor...
November 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
"This book is so good, I want to put it in my mouth and eat it." ~ Sarah Wendell at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
/jb
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Unvei...
Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/...
Nook: http://www.barnesand...
Google: play.google.com/stor...
/jb
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Unvei...
Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/...
Nook: http://www.barnesand...
Google: play.google.com/stor...
Trying to cheer myself up (because I'm sooooo crabby at disruption making me miss my writing session 😭), by watching wolfhound videos and pretending it's research.
Just listen to the deep noises they make though. Their massive lungs! 😭
youtu.be/npzzsVU7f3Y?...
Just listen to the deep noises they make though. Their massive lungs! 😭
youtu.be/npzzsVU7f3Y?...
Duffy & Domhnall playing chase | Wolvebrigg Irish Wolfhounds
YouTube video by Wolvebrigg Irish Wolfhounds
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Trying to cheer myself up (because I'm sooooo crabby at disruption making me miss my writing session 😭), by watching wolfhound videos and pretending it's research.
Just listen to the deep noises they make though. Their massive lungs! 😭
youtu.be/npzzsVU7f3Y?...
Just listen to the deep noises they make though. Their massive lungs! 😭
youtu.be/npzzsVU7f3Y?...
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
On the road, but that never stops #FridayReads! Let’s boost all signals. Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. Here’s a perfect (and 45% off!) book for the season and for this month (Puerto Rican Heritage Month). Go ahead, share what you love!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
November 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM
On the road, but that never stops #FridayReads! Let’s boost all signals. Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. Here’s a perfect (and 45% off!) book for the season and for this month (Puerto Rican Heritage Month). Go ahead, share what you love!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
CRYING, SCREAMING, THROWING UP: On Grief & Horror
My FREE, VIRTUAL master class for the Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing is next Monday, November 17! You do not need to be affiliated with Western or have prior writing experience to attend. Tell your friends!
My FREE, VIRTUAL master class for the Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing is next Monday, November 17! You do not need to be affiliated with Western or have prior writing experience to attend. Tell your friends!
November 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
CRYING, SCREAMING, THROWING UP: On Grief & Horror
My FREE, VIRTUAL master class for the Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing is next Monday, November 17! You do not need to be affiliated with Western or have prior writing experience to attend. Tell your friends!
My FREE, VIRTUAL master class for the Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing is next Monday, November 17! You do not need to be affiliated with Western or have prior writing experience to attend. Tell your friends!
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
A new episode of the Clarkesworld podcast has been published. Listen to "The Apologists" by Tade Thompson (and many other stories) at our website:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_11_25b/
or via any of these podcast directories:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/podcasting/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_11_25b/
or via any of these podcast directories:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/podcasting/
November 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
A new episode of the Clarkesworld podcast has been published. Listen to "The Apologists" by Tade Thompson (and many other stories) at our website:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_11_25b/
or via any of these podcast directories:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/podcasting/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_11_25b/
or via any of these podcast directories:
clarkesworldmagazine.com/podcasting/
LLMs use em dashes because the humans whose stolen work they were trained on also use em dashes a lot. (Word defaults to em dashes, they're used more in some European languages, etc.) So when the LLM's algorithm is looking to predict what text comes next, it'll vomit up em dashes due to common usage
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
LLMs use em dashes because the humans whose stolen work they were trained on also use em dashes a lot. (Word defaults to em dashes, they're used more in some European languages, etc.) So when the LLM's algorithm is looking to predict what text comes next, it'll vomit up em dashes due to common usage
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
New #WriterBeware blog post: Yet another in the growing catalog of AI-driven writing scams from Nigeria: a multi-layered marketing/editing referral scheme that begins with a message or email from someone purporting to be a well-known author writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: Yet another in the growing catalog of AI-driven writing scams from Nigeria: a multi-layered marketing/editing referral scheme that begins with a message or email from someone purporting to be a well-known author writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
Having electricians drilling through my ceiling, covering my stuff with plaster dust, moving furniture around, and generally interrupting my focus means no writing today.
I did get out 4 more queries for Book One though. That should see me through till Mon, on my "try for about a query a day" push.
I did get out 4 more queries for Book One though. That should see me through till Mon, on my "try for about a query a day" push.
November 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Having electricians drilling through my ceiling, covering my stuff with plaster dust, moving furniture around, and generally interrupting my focus means no writing today.
I did get out 4 more queries for Book One though. That should see me through till Mon, on my "try for about a query a day" push.
I did get out 4 more queries for Book One though. That should see me through till Mon, on my "try for about a query a day" push.
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
So there’s a lawyer going around BlueSky right now responding to everyone talking about the Anthropic book settlement by (1) urging people to opt out and (2) saying that they are representing authors who are opting out.
November 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
So there’s a lawyer going around BlueSky right now responding to everyone talking about the Anthropic book settlement by (1) urging people to opt out and (2) saying that they are representing authors who are opting out.
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
Bursaries for writers of colour to attend the Milford Writers Workshop next year are now open. I seriously cannot recommend the experience enough. Apply here: www.milfordsf.co.uk/bursaries.htm @milfordsff.bsky.social
Milford Bursaries for Writers of Colour
www.milfordsf.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Bursaries for writers of colour to attend the Milford Writers Workshop next year are now open. I seriously cannot recommend the experience enough. Apply here: www.milfordsf.co.uk/bursaries.htm @milfordsff.bsky.social
Looking forward to all of this being impossible to fit into a 1-2 page synopsis that must also cover
- characters (4 guys, a nemesis, a small child, a wolfhound!)
- relationships (2 romances. Friendship. Siblings. Uncles & nephew.)
- story (horror!)
when I eventually query with the finished MS 😭
- characters (4 guys, a nemesis, a small child, a wolfhound!)
- relationships (2 romances. Friendship. Siblings. Uncles & nephew.)
- story (horror!)
when I eventually query with the finished MS 😭
Anyway. By the time I was done inventing magics with different mechanisms - one of them affecting politics and the social order, the other one requiring its own religion (that's thinly veiled Christianity), and the third one affecting warfare - it was just easier to make up a whole secondary world.
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Looking forward to all of this being impossible to fit into a 1-2 page synopsis that must also cover
- characters (4 guys, a nemesis, a small child, a wolfhound!)
- relationships (2 romances. Friendship. Siblings. Uncles & nephew.)
- story (horror!)
when I eventually query with the finished MS 😭
- characters (4 guys, a nemesis, a small child, a wolfhound!)
- relationships (2 romances. Friendship. Siblings. Uncles & nephew.)
- story (horror!)
when I eventually query with the finished MS 😭
Broadly speaking, while the world of the WIP has different systems of magic, the way those work can be roughly divided into 2 mechanisms.
Combat magic, which Gabe is teaching Baldric, relies on skill, learning and practice. Mages hone their focus with gestures and words.
Combat magic, which Gabe is teaching Baldric, relies on skill, learning and practice. Mages hone their focus with gestures and words.
November 14, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Broadly speaking, while the world of the WIP has different systems of magic, the way those work can be roughly divided into 2 mechanisms.
Combat magic, which Gabe is teaching Baldric, relies on skill, learning and practice. Mages hone their focus with gestures and words.
Combat magic, which Gabe is teaching Baldric, relies on skill, learning and practice. Mages hone their focus with gestures and words.
Reposted by Mae Tang 董美妍
Hey y'all the "Witching Season" Kickstarter has just under $6000 to make our goal and with only 36 hours left that's not a ton of time to get across the finish line!
There are SO many incredible creative teams, artists, and writers in this anthology!
Let's Go!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
There are SO many incredible creative teams, artists, and writers in this anthology!
Let's Go!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
WITCHING SEASON - A Witch Horror Comic Anthology
A 150+ page Horror Anthology filled with stories about WITCHES, WARLOCKS, and FAMILIARS from some of the biggest names in comics!
www.kickstarter.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Hey y'all the "Witching Season" Kickstarter has just under $6000 to make our goal and with only 36 hours left that's not a ton of time to get across the finish line!
There are SO many incredible creative teams, artists, and writers in this anthology!
Let's Go!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...
There are SO many incredible creative teams, artists, and writers in this anthology!
Let's Go!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/phi...