Matt Bell
@mdbell79.bsky.social
Writer, teacher. Out now: APPLESEED, a novel (2021, @marinerbooks). REFUSE TO BE DONE, a guide to novel revision (2022, @soho_press). He/him.
It's been a beautiful couple of days for running up in Flagstaff, despite lingering wildfire smoke from nearby prescribed burns.
November 15, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It's been a beautiful couple of days for running up in Flagstaff, despite lingering wildfire smoke from nearby prescribed burns.
And it looks like the phrase tracks with the rise of the home security industry, also no surprise.
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
And it looks like the phrase tracks with the rise of the home security industry, also no surprise.
Looks like a creature of the 1980s, which tracks with your theory!
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Looks like a creature of the 1980s, which tracks with your theory!
Backyard pizzas and backyard beers! Pretty hard to beat on a Saturday night.
November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Backyard pizzas and backyard beers! Pretty hard to beat on a Saturday night.
This was my first 40+ mile running week since my 100K race in February—plus I walked another 40, for an 80-mile week on foot. Feels really great to have covered so much ground as part of my everyday life!
November 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This was my first 40+ mile running week since my 100K race in February—plus I walked another 40, for an 80-mile week on foot. Feels really great to have covered so much ground as part of my everyday life!
Our final novel for my Worldbuilding course this semester is BLACK SUN by @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social, always a favorite of my students. I'm looking forward to digging into it again starting next week!
November 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Our final novel for my Worldbuilding course this semester is BLACK SUN by @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social, always a favorite of my students. I'm looking forward to digging into it again starting next week!
Last night I saw Murder by Death, one of my favorite bands, on their farewell tour. I’ve been listening for 20+ years. I’ve seen them live a half-dozen times, starting in 2008 or so in Ann Arbor, at what happened to be their 1000th show. Last night was their 1941st—and it was pretty fucking great.
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Last night I saw Murder by Death, one of my favorite bands, on their farewell tour. I’ve been listening for 20+ years. I’ve seen them live a half-dozen times, starting in 2008 or so in Ann Arbor, at what happened to be their 1000th show. Last night was their 1941st—and it was pretty fucking great.
A beautiful morning hike in the Superstition Mountains!
November 1, 2025 at 6:28 PM
A beautiful morning hike in the Superstition Mountains!
Well, time to see if I can still fit in my favorite Halloween costume!
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Well, time to see if I can still fit in my favorite Halloween costume!
Time for some Friday afternoon backyard reading!
October 24, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Time for some Friday afternoon backyard reading!
Thanks to @erikaswyler.bsky.social for an amazing lecture as this semester’s ASU Worldbuilding Initiative Distinguished Lecturer! It was an absolutely fantastic talk about literary resistance, novel design, and “writing against” as a mode of thought. Truly inspiring for me and my students!
October 23, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Thanks to @erikaswyler.bsky.social for an amazing lecture as this semester’s ASU Worldbuilding Initiative Distinguished Lecturer! It was an absolutely fantastic talk about literary resistance, novel design, and “writing against” as a mode of thought. Truly inspiring for me and my students!
Set out for a five-mile hike with Mom, up to the saddle of Pass Mountain. Told her at the saddle that we could turn around there or keep going—but that keeping going meant doing ten miles total instead. But I knew before I asked that mom never goes the easy way… so 10 miles it is!
October 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Set out for a five-mile hike with Mom, up to the saddle of Pass Mountain. Told her at the saddle that we could turn around there or keep going—but that keeping going meant doing ten miles total instead. But I knew before I asked that mom never goes the easy way… so 10 miles it is!
A beautiful hike up the Peralta Trail to see Weaver’s Needle with my mom! So happy to have her in town for a while.
October 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
A beautiful hike up the Peralta Trail to see Weaver’s Needle with my mom! So happy to have her in town for a while.
As night fell, I cooycated three pizzas from local Phoenix legend Chris Bianco in my Ooni: the Rosa (pistachios!!), the Wiseguy (veggie sausage and onion, forgot to caramelize the onion, forgot the Gouda, still so good), and the Biancoverde (mozzerella, parmigiana, ricotta, and arugula). Fantastic!
October 17, 2025 at 2:44 AM
As night fell, I cooycated three pizzas from local Phoenix legend Chris Bianco in my Ooni: the Rosa (pistachios!!), the Wiseguy (veggie sausage and onion, forgot to caramelize the onion, forgot the Gouda, still so good), and the Biancoverde (mozzerella, parmigiana, ricotta, and arugula). Fantastic!
Maybe he was just looking for Jesus's keys when he accidentally stabbed him a little?
October 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Maybe he was just looking for Jesus's keys when he accidentally stabbed him a little?
So good to finally get to see Minus the Bear live last night! A show I’ve wanted to go to for 20 years.
October 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
So good to finally get to see Minus the Bear live last night! A show I’ve wanted to go to for 20 years.
A beautiful day for a long run in the desert!
October 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A beautiful day for a long run in the desert!
"AI art is an interesting technology, because despite its growing popularity, nobody seems to want it. Artists hate using it. Consumers hate consuming it. And yet it thrives, like an Arby's built inside a protected forest."
This The Oatmeal comic is well worth a read: theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art
This The Oatmeal comic is well worth a read: theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art
October 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM
"AI art is an interesting technology, because despite its growing popularity, nobody seems to want it. Artists hate using it. Consumers hate consuming it. And yet it thrives, like an Arby's built inside a protected forest."
This The Oatmeal comic is well worth a read: theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art
This The Oatmeal comic is well worth a read: theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art
I had the good fortune of reading @erikaswyler.bsky.social's WE LIVED ON THE HORIZON before it came out, but rereading it this week to prep it for class made me love it even more. It's so smart, so well-written, so well-built. First class discussion today!
October 6, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I had the good fortune of reading @erikaswyler.bsky.social's WE LIVED ON THE HORIZON before it came out, but rereading it this week to prep it for class made me love it even more. It's so smart, so well-written, so well-built. First class discussion today!
Yesterday morning on the Lost Goldmine trail.
October 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Yesterday morning on the Lost Goldmine trail.
If you're in Phoenix/Tempe today, come out to the Rift for the first Desert Grit Reading Series, with me, @shipraagarwal.bsky.social, @jonathanin2k.bsky.social, @sabrinahicks.bsky.social, @haydenmcasey13.bsky.social, and @stephanieaustin.bsky.social!
October 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
If you're in Phoenix/Tempe today, come out to the Rift for the first Desert Grit Reading Series, with me, @shipraagarwal.bsky.social, @jonathanin2k.bsky.social, @sabrinahicks.bsky.social, @haydenmcasey13.bsky.social, and @stephanieaustin.bsky.social!
Wet Leg was fantastic last night in Phoenix! So good to see them again.
October 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Wet Leg was fantastic last night in Phoenix! So good to see them again.
Post-run, post-tattoo, pre-dinner, pre-concert beer and book session. Solid Friday afternoon. (Book not pictured for SECRET REASONS.)
October 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Post-run, post-tattoo, pre-dinner, pre-concert beer and book session. Solid Friday afternoon. (Book not pictured for SECRET REASONS.)
A beautiful sunrise run in the Superstitions!
October 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A beautiful sunrise run in the Superstitions!