Nisi Shawl
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nisishawl.bsky.social
Nisi Shawl
@nisishawl.bsky.social
8.3K followers 1.3K following 2K posts
Writer editor singer songer. I'm just another part of you.
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nisishawl.bsky.social
You all deserve treats for being so naughty and so nice. Here you go; I took extra care with my headwrap this morning.
A light-skinned Black person wearing a headwrap of blue silk and sparkles eyes the camera with suspicion and amusement. Large pouches curve below their eyes. They wear a tan tshirt and a small gold hoop earring. A beaded sea creature made by Vonda McIntyre hangs in the background.
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
We live not merely in our bodies but in the web of our communings with each other. These plants recite stories in my head of how I got them, who from, who will want to share their fruits with me.
Wooden table in a corner. The walls are spring green, the large window on our left is covered by venetian blinds. Three plants on the table strive toward the window's light. A sealed cardboard box and other items rest on the table; chairs beside the table hold a half bag of kitty litter and a stack of books.
November 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Friend from 50+ years ago (!) sent me scans of our 9th grade yearbook. It stars Doris Saliwancek, Ruben Cummings, Gloria and Abel Sanchez. And two childhood boyfriends. And me at 14, rockin the Angela Davis look and wearing a mystic amulet and a sweater dress.
In this black-and-white photo, a young, lightskinned Black woman smiles serenely as she leans into the shot frame from the left. She wears a five-inch Afro, black-framed glasses, a mock turtleneck sweater, and a round glass pendant on a black leather cord.
October 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
I asked my niece to name her favorite flower (tiger lily) and then realized I wouldn't be able to name mine if she asked me. Thought about it for hours and decided it is nasturtiums. They are both beautiful and tasty, and a companion plants for squash, beans, tomatoes--ornamental AND useful.
Golden and crimson nasturtium blooms rising from a mound of variegated green-and-white nasturtium leaves.
October 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Here's my list of desirable qualities in a resistance movement. Think of it as sort of like an activist's Cosmo checklist:
Black type on a white background. It reads as follows: Strategies and Qualities of Unstrained Resistance Transparency - We will be surveilled and infiltrated. Let them know we know and that there’s nothing to hide. I realized this fifty years ago, when I found out the government had a file on me. Withdrawal - Rather than confrontation--maybe a general strike or evacuation or self-imposed lockdown is in order. Fullness - Or maybe the opposite is called for: peaceful occupation. Thousands of visitors and tourists. Art - This has consistently been favored via divination. Any forays into shared or public space or time should be framed as art. Kindness - We need to pay attention to one another’s needs, and do our best to meet them: food, medicines, labor, supplies, knowledge. Entanglement - We want to recognize our kinship with those deployed against us. We greet their highest selves with our highest selves.
September 27, 2025 at 8:26 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Publishers resist like this: We Will Rise Again antho blends activism and science fiction stories, like mine I wrote with Yoruba priest @luisahteish.bsky.social. Appearing December 2; pre-order right now to show the industry that we want them to be brave.
Graphic for We Will Rise Again including purple-green-and-peach abstract design cover and the words "In this guide for imagining a better tomorrow...Nisi Shawl's 'The Gray and the Green," a short story exploring: access to clean water, the pairing of spiritual discovery with practical actions, and the possibility of change. Available for pre-order now. 12/02/25
September 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
"New York City, just like I pictured it! Skyscrapers and everthang!" Five years ago I made it to Times Square! That's my book's cover glowing over your head...couldn't figure out how to make this old pic of my Black Stars antho and story shareable on FB, so here it is without stupid guardrails.
Tall buildings stand against the evening sky, adorned with glowing billboards. One billboard reads "hello new york." A closer billboard advertises Black Stars, an e-anthology I co-edited and which includes my story "2043...A Merman I Should Turn to Be." The covers are gorgeous jewels.
September 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
My primary raison d'etre is brushing Minnie.
My white-and-grey longhaired cat Minnie nuzzles a two-panel sign proclaiming the spot a "Certified WILDLIFE Habitat" and a "Bird-Friendly Habitat." She wears a knowing smile.
July 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Craft immersive speculative worlds with Writing the Other's On Demand class:

🌍 Building Inclusive Worlds Part 1: Foundations 🌏

Learn at your own pace from #worldbuilding experts Andrea Hairston, Max Gladstone, Jaymee Goh, & more!

Price: $200

Learn More & Register: writingtheother.co...
a hand holds a planet or globe, the other hand holds a pen which touches the globe, the planet is in the middle of a fiery transformation.
July 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
🕬 Writing the Other Alumni! Did you take the previous version of Diverse Narrative Structures with Henry Lien? The 2.0 version is expanded with more content. Check your email for deets (and a special discount).

August 1 - 31
$350
Scholarships available

Registration ⇢ writingtheother.co...
Henry Lien, an Asian American author with a bald head and a beard looks off into the distance, lost in thought. Text is the same as in post
July 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Writing the Other's Diverse Narrative Structures 2.0 has new & expanded content, including:

* New sections
* More writing exercises
* More lecture material
* Double the case studies
* Original theme song!

August 1 - 31 | $350 | Scholarships available

Register Here ⇢ writingtheother.com...
Henry Lien, an Asian American author with a bald head and a beard looks off into the distance, lost in thought. Text is the same as in post
July 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
New Writing the Other Webinar: Writing Revolution - How To Create Believable Resistance Movements with Helen Gould

Join us live on July 12 OR get the video after!

Price: $150 (live) | $75 (recording)

Details and Registration ⇨ writingtheother.com/...
Image of fists rising above urban landscape. Text: is the class name and instructor.
July 3, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Support Writing the Other's Vonda N. McIntyre Sentient Squid Scholarship to help us help creators combat cultural toxicity and create better narratives. You can make a one-time donation or give monthly via Patreon.

Donate Here: writingtheother.com/...

#WritingCommunity
hands of people from different ethnicities form a heart. text reads Donate to Writing the Other
July 1, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Did you know Writing the Other has a collection of resources on their website? Articles, essays, book recs, podcasts, videos - many free! Level up your writing craft between classes.

Explore them here: writingtheother.com/...
a typewriter in the background superimposed with the phrases Level up your writing craft and Free writing resources
July 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Writing the Other's Diverse Narrative Structures 2.0 with Henry Lien has a new start date and a new scholarship deadline!

When: August 1 - 31, 2025
Price: $350
Yes, there will be a break for Worldcon

Click for Details & Registration ⇢ writingtheother.com/...
Henry Lien, an Asian American author with a bald head and a beard looks off into the distance, lost in thought. Text is the same as in post
June 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Craft immersive speculative worlds with Writing the Other's On Demand class:

🌍 Building Inclusive Worlds Part 1: Foundations 🌏

Learn at your own pace from #worldbuilding experts Andrea Hairston, Max Gladstone, Jaymee Goh, & more!

Price: $200

Learn More & Register: writingtheother.co...
a hand holds a planet or globe, the other hand holds a pen which touches the globe, the planet is in the middle of a fiery transformation.
June 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Join Writing the Other for ✊🏾 Writing Revolution with Helen Gould ✊🏾

A webinar for writers who want to create believable resistance movements in fictional narratives.

Join us live on July 12 or get the video after!

Details and Registration ⇨ writingtheother.com/...
Image of fists rising above urban landscape. Text: is the class name and instructor.
June 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
FYI #WritingCommunity, if you want to know when new Writing the Other classes open for registration, you can follow us on:

Mastodon ⤇ writing.exchange/@wr...
BlueSky ⤇ https://bsky.app/profile/writingtheother.com
Threads ⤇ www.threads.com/@wri...
Tumblr ⤇ http...
large crowd of cartoon people of many different identities, all talking together. speech bubbles above them have logos from all the socials
June 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
🕬 Writing the Other Alumni! Did you take the previous version of Diverse Narrative Structures with Henry Lien? The 2.0 version is expanded with more content. Check your email for deets (and a special discount).

August 1 - 31
$350
Scholarships available

Registration ⇢ writingtheother.co...
Henry Lien, an Asian American author with a bald head and a beard looks off into the distance, lost in thought. Text is the same as in post
June 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
New Writing the Other Webinar: Writing Revolution - How To Create Believable Resistance Movements with Helen Gould

Join us live on July 12 OR get the video after!

Price: $150 (live) | $75 (recording)

Details and Registration ⇨ writingtheother.com/...
Image of fists rising above urban landscape. Text: is the class name and instructor.
June 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Just look at this splendiferous cover art by @goblinprincete.bsky.social for my forthcoming story "Slippernet"! Delight and understanding! This may be the best yet of his great illos. See it June 4 on Reactor, accompanied by my words, which Aislyn Fredsall edited.
A woman dances joyously as intertwining tendrils rise from her head and the heads of those dancing around her. She smiles, and her eyes are shut in ecstasy. She wears a pearl bracelet and a tattoo reading P L U R. Her makeup and clothes and the root-rich background are pink and purple. The story title, Slippernet, and my name as author, Nisi Shawl, float above her head.
May 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
📢 New From @writingtheother.com 📢

Diverse Narrative Structures 2.0 class with Henry Lien

👇🏾 Check it out! 👇🏾
writingtheother.com/...
May 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Here is a write-up about services my niece provides. She has been doing the emotional and artistic labor of sensitivity reading professionally for a while now.
Two paragraphs and a bulleted list in Verdana font, reading as follows: "My name is Aaliyah Hudson. I provide sensitivity reads/cultural consultations for fiction writers and game developers. My areas of highest expertise are: • Racial dynamics--especially between white and Black communities and characters • Generational dynamics--especially between “Millenials” and other age categorizations • Sexuality dynamics and expression--particularly as concerns lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and polyamorous dynamics and expression • Gender dynamics and expression • Dynamics of neurological and psychological difference--particularly those dealing with the areas of ADHD, depression, and anxiety I charge competitive rates tailored to your needs. Before agreeing to consult on your work I will need a general outline of what you’re looking for from me. I also require half the fee I charge for my services in advance. Testimonials available upon request. For further information, please contact me at: Hudsonaaliyah13@gmail.com."
May 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
📢 New From @writingtheother.com 📢

Writing Revolution: How To Create Believable Resistance Movements with Helen Gould

👇🏾 Check it out! 👇🏾
writingtheother.com/...
May 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
nisishawl.bsky.social
Latest pies are chicken with turmeric beet and peas: quite colorful! And the crust work looks nice and pudendal.
Close up a section of a pie with interior filling peeking through an irregular rhombus of a hole. Predominant color of the filling is curry gold, with a sprinkling of magenta and dark green Three individual sized pies in their baking pan. Crusts are lightly browned. All have rough, home-made top crusts, with the top right pie's crust in sporting a big "vee" shaped slash down the middle.
May 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM