Vanessa Smith
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ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Vanessa Smith
@ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
340 followers 2.1K following 99 posts
The editing service for half completed writing projects. Run by @normalness.bsky.social

https://ohshitmydraft.com/
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ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation
theconversation.com/how-poetry-c...
How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation
By encouraging people to imagine beyond their own experience, reading poetry can help them see things from a different perspective.
theconversation.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:22 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
'More than meets the eye': The hidden meanings in a US masterpiece
www.bbc.com/culture/arti...
'More than meets the eye': The hidden meanings in a US masterpiece
School of Beauty, School of Culture is among the exhibits in a major new London retrospective of the US artist Kerry James Marshall. But there is more to it than first meets the eye.
www.bbc.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Baby Steps Is a Hiking Game That Trolls ‘Slightly Problematic’ Men
www.wired.com/story/baby-s...
'Baby Steps' Is a Hiking Game That Trolls ‘Slightly Problematic’ Men
The walking simulator, launching September 23 on PlayStation and Steam, stars a jobless 35-year-old “privileged, white male” whose pride stops him from getting help.
www.wired.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
What are the key purposes of human writing? How we name AI-generated
text confuses things
theconversation.com/what-are-the...
What are the key purposes of human writing? How we name AI-generated text confuses things
Decolonizing our understandings of how western institutions have positioned English writing will help universities revisit writing as thinking and invention.
theconversation.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:55 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Who are the worst mothers in literature?
theconversation.com/who-are-the-...
Who are the worst mothers in literature?
Literature is full of dysfunctional families. We asked critics to nominate their least favourite mothers.
theconversation.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:09 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Who are the worst fathers in literature?
theconversation.com/who-are-the-...
Who are the worst fathers in literature?
Literature is full of dysfunctional families. We asked critics to nominate the most troublesome fathers.
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
'It reinforced the idea that anything can happen': The glitch in Super
Mario Bros that obsessed gamers
www.bbc.com/culture/arti...
'It reinforced the idea that anything can happen': The glitch in Super Mario Bros that obsessed gamers
Forty years ago, the series' original game was released by Nintendo. As well as trying to complete it, fans were desperate to access a secret world that became legendary.
www.bbc.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
What Does It Mean to Have a Compelling Voice in Your Story?
janefriedman.com/what-does-it...
What Does It Mean to Have a Compelling Voice in Your Story? | Jane Friedman
In storytelling, voice can refer to three different elements: character voice, narrative voice, and author voice—and they can often overlap.
janefriedman.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:42 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Why listening to stories and talking about them is so important for
young children
theconversation.com/why-listenin...
Why listening to stories and talking about them is so important for young children
Reading stories with young children lays the foundation for language and literacy development.
theconversation.com
October 12, 2025 at 11:37 PM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
The decision to close Meanjin misunderstands its wider importance.

Australian culture deserves better

theconversation.com/the-decision...
The decision to close Meanjin misunderstands its wider importance. Australian culture deserves better
The decision to close Meanjin is the latest in a string of recent decisions that suggest universities are not safe harbours for priceless cultural institutions.
theconversation.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:23 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Pink Shorts, Evercreech Editions, Bakers Lane Books, Aniko Press… 5 new Australian publishers are making defiant, weird, grass-roots books
theconversation.com/5-new-austra...
5 new Australian publishers are making defiant, weird, grass-roots books
The launch of 5 new Australian book publishers is good news, for once. Meet Perentie Press, Pink Shorts Press, Evercreech Editions, Aniko Press and Bakers Lane Books.
theconversation.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:55 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Flashlight to Katabasis: 18 of the best books of the year so far
www.bbc.com/culture/arti...
Flashlight to Katabasis: 18 of the best books of the year so far
From an "epic" coming-of-age story to "delicious" dark academia – this is the very best fiction of the year, as chosen by BBC journalists.
www.bbc.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:28 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
If Book Marketing Feels Miserable, Read This Now
janefriedman.com/if-book-mark...
If Book Marketing Feels Miserable, Read This Now | Jane Friedman
Most of us feel unskilled at marketing, but real resistance to it might reveal an emotional pattern that protects us when visibility feels risky.
janefriedman.com
October 5, 2025 at 3:32 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
CW: Abelist terminology in the headline but article worth reading

Wealthy, whiny and wildly tone deaf: Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir
exemplifies ‘priv-lit’

theconversation.com/wealthy-whin...
Wealthy, whiny and wildly tone deaf: Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir exemplifies ‘priv-lit’
In Elizabeth Gilbert’s shocking new confessional memoir, she falls in love with her dying best friend, enables her addiction – and once again blows up her own life.
theconversation.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:48 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Tom Gauld on reading to survive – cartoon
www.theguardian.com/books/pictur...
Tom Gauld on reading to survive – cartoon
To be, or not to be …
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:33 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
How the art of Chinese calligraphy can bring creative freedom in the age of AI
theconversation.com/how-the-art-...
How the art of Chinese calligraphy can bring creative freedom in the age of AI
Calligraphy is one of the most significant forms of traditional and modern art in China.
theconversation.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Smith
harrysaddler.bsky.social
I’ll never have the fame, money, book sales or life experience of JKR but I do know that when you say something publicly *everyone* has the right to critique you, and when you espouse harmful bigotry against one of society’s most marginalised groups *everyone* has the obligation to critique you you.
A quote from JK Rowling as reported in the Guardian which reads ‘She adds: “However, Emma and Dan [Radcliffe] in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right – nay, obligation – to critique me and my views in public.”’
September 30, 2025 at 3:47 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
After Bendigo: 4 reasons free speech for artists benefits society as a whole
www.artshub.com.au/news/analysi...
After Bendigo: 4 reasons free speech for artists benefits society as a whole
The disastrous attempt to impose a restrictive Code of Conduct on Bendigo Writers Festival participants offers some important lessons on free speech.
www.artshub.com.au
September 30, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Smith
anatolitis.bsky.social
Art, tenacity, democracy. The ways we create and experience new work, sustain the courage of our convictions, and make important decisions together: they're all intertwined. I've devoted my career to the ethics of creative and civic practice, working to expand public spaces and champion new voices,
September 28, 2025 at 5:22 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation
theconversation.com/how-poetry-c...
How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation
By encouraging people to imagine beyond their own experience, reading poetry can help them see things from a different perspective.
theconversation.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:27 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
I love news like this.
September 27, 2025 at 12:46 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Reading retreats the salve for modern women's burnout
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

(I mean, I think restructuring society to avoid burn out is a better idea, but reading is good as well, obviously.)
Reading retreats offer women time to devour a good book in nature
As symptoms of burnout rise, an increasing number of women are turning to reading retreats as a salve for stress.
www.abc.net.au
September 27, 2025 at 12:45 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
The best new books released in August, from Toni Jordan, Rhett Davis and more
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
The nine books our critics couldn't put down in August
In this month's best new releases, humans transform into trees, grief meets the supernatural in a haunted house and a volcanic eruption disrupts life in rural New Zealand.
www.abc.net.au
September 20, 2025 at 5:31 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Fucking radiologists. $650 in one place or bulk billed in another. Hmm.
September 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
ohshitmydraft.bsky.social
Had a dream last night where I got kudos at a job from someone I really respect, only to realise I will never actually work for them because it’s a job that can’t be made accessible for me.

(Not a job I do or ever could do, but apparently dream brain says it was my job.)

Kinda sad now.
September 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM