Ziv W
@quitevague.bsky.social
"There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind."
Editor at Diabolical Plots,
Associate Editor PodCastle .
He/Him.
Editor at Diabolical Plots,
Associate Editor PodCastle .
He/Him.
Reposted by Ziv W
Today, on my blog, I review The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore.
#booksky #bookblogger #nonfiction #booksaboutbooks
#booksky #bookblogger #nonfiction #booksaboutbooks
Book Review: The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones o…
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog
November 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Today, on my blog, I review The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore.
#booksky #bookblogger #nonfiction #booksaboutbooks
#booksky #bookblogger #nonfiction #booksaboutbooks
Reposted by Ziv W
Before you have kids, you intellectually understand they need to eat dinner every day. But you do not understand what this means. You can't. They need to eat dinner EVERY day
November 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Before you have kids, you intellectually understand they need to eat dinner every day. But you do not understand what this means. You can't. They need to eat dinner EVERY day
Reposted by Ziv W
all the AI slop out there makes me want the most aggressively analog stories out there. like I want a one-of-a-kind homemade zine someone tucked into a baggie in the hollow of a tree, and I want that zine to include a shitty hand drawn map to a treasure it may or may not take 30 years to find
November 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
all the AI slop out there makes me want the most aggressively analog stories out there. like I want a one-of-a-kind homemade zine someone tucked into a baggie in the hollow of a tree, and I want that zine to include a shitty hand drawn map to a treasure it may or may not take 30 years to find
This is extremely cool as-is, but the bigger-picture potential as a resource to help map and navigate online short fiction is even extemely cooler
Working on Enhancements to the "Stories" page, where you can find all of Diabolical Plots's published stories on The Submission Grinder. Now with dates! Word counts! Teaser pitch! Genres! And Tags!
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This is extremely cool as-is, but the bigger-picture potential as a resource to help map and navigate online short fiction is even extemely cooler
Reposted by Ziv W
Working on Enhancements to the "Stories" page, where you can find all of Diabolical Plots's published stories on The Submission Grinder. Now with dates! Word counts! Teaser pitch! Genres! And Tags!
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Working on Enhancements to the "Stories" page, where you can find all of Diabolical Plots's published stories on The Submission Grinder. Now with dates! Word counts! Teaser pitch! Genres! And Tags!
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
Big thanks to @erincairns.bsky.social and the DP team!
thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Market/Stori...
Reposted by Ziv W
I guess I have a couple responses. the first one is that...like, getting everyone to behave respectably and ideally in general, much less on an app optimized for harassment by a Nazi, is not actually a political plan. 1
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
I guess I have a couple responses. the first one is that...like, getting everyone to behave respectably and ideally in general, much less on an app optimized for harassment by a Nazi, is not actually a political plan. 1
Reposted by Ziv W
Honestly could not agree more
I do like different readers for different stories in a collection or even different chapters/long sections if they’re from a starkly different written voice or POV, but within that section, single voice for all the dialogue please, it’s very distracting otherwise
I do like different readers for different stories in a collection or even different chapters/long sections if they’re from a starkly different written voice or POV, but within that section, single voice for all the dialogue please, it’s very distracting otherwise
Lukewarm take:
I don't care for full-cast audiobooks. Ironically, it breaks the immersion, and sense of having your inner monologue occupied.
I don't care for full-cast audiobooks. Ironically, it breaks the immersion, and sense of having your inner monologue occupied.
November 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Honestly could not agree more
I do like different readers for different stories in a collection or even different chapters/long sections if they’re from a starkly different written voice or POV, but within that section, single voice for all the dialogue please, it’s very distracting otherwise
I do like different readers for different stories in a collection or even different chapters/long sections if they’re from a starkly different written voice or POV, but within that section, single voice for all the dialogue please, it’s very distracting otherwise
Reposted by Ziv W
Reminder that, if you are already sympathetic, you do not need to traumatize yourself with the details of the horror. Witnessing the degradation by reading the article / seeing the video doesn't actually help the victims.
November 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reminder that, if you are already sympathetic, you do not need to traumatize yourself with the details of the horror. Witnessing the degradation by reading the article / seeing the video doesn't actually help the victims.
This has been said many times and in many ways, and KJ Charles says it beautifully once again:
Writing a story is so much more than "having an amazing idea."
You can't separate the story from its execution.
...and boy is that something that people trying to use GenAI for writing need to understand
Writing a story is so much more than "having an amazing idea."
You can't separate the story from its execution.
...and boy is that something that people trying to use GenAI for writing need to understand
I've had a few 'what do you do' convs recently, and everyone on hearing I'm an author comes out with "so how do you come up with ideas?", just like every book or movie about a writer has them staring numbly into space because they don't have an idea for the next book. And look, that is Not It.
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
This has been said many times and in many ways, and KJ Charles says it beautifully once again:
Writing a story is so much more than "having an amazing idea."
You can't separate the story from its execution.
...and boy is that something that people trying to use GenAI for writing need to understand
Writing a story is so much more than "having an amazing idea."
You can't separate the story from its execution.
...and boy is that something that people trying to use GenAI for writing need to understand
Tragic to see magazines I have such appreciation for, going so very low.
Thanks @scottedelman.bsky.social for this in-depth and heartfelt description of the current process. Clearly this is not a publisher negotiating in good faith, nor a publisher whose focus is amazing authors and amazing stories.
Thanks @scottedelman.bsky.social for this in-depth and heartfelt description of the current process. Clearly this is not a publisher negotiating in good faith, nor a publisher whose focus is amazing authors and amazing stories.
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Tragic to see magazines I have such appreciation for, going so very low.
Thanks @scottedelman.bsky.social for this in-depth and heartfelt description of the current process. Clearly this is not a publisher negotiating in good faith, nor a publisher whose focus is amazing authors and amazing stories.
Thanks @scottedelman.bsky.social for this in-depth and heartfelt description of the current process. Clearly this is not a publisher negotiating in good faith, nor a publisher whose focus is amazing authors and amazing stories.
Reposted by Ziv W
short fic folks should read this post -
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:19 PM
short fic folks should read this post -
Great piece. I always perk up at a story that does something challenging -- not just "because it's hard," but because a good story bothering to go to all that trouble is likely saying something that wouldn't come across the same in a more usual format.
Wrote a little about difficult books, short books, and short and difficult books. countercraft.substack.com/p/short-litt...
Short Little Difficult Books
Novels that challenge with style, story, or form that you can read in a day.
countercraft.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Great piece. I always perk up at a story that does something challenging -- not just "because it's hard," but because a good story bothering to go to all that trouble is likely saying something that wouldn't come across the same in a more usual format.
Reposted by Ziv W
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
Reposted by Ziv W
40 years ago today the world was introduced to a small boy and his best friend. Happy birthday Calvin & Hobbes.
November 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
40 years ago today the world was introduced to a small boy and his best friend. Happy birthday Calvin & Hobbes.
Reposted by Ziv W
Today's Low Quality Ad is for this Based pin. That skull is a 100% accurate depiction of how I feel anytime younger generations invent a new word that I must either Google or accept that my vocabulary is slowly fading into obsolescence.
collabs.shop/upgydk
collabs.shop/upgydk
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Today's Low Quality Ad is for this Based pin. That skull is a 100% accurate depiction of how I feel anytime younger generations invent a new word that I must either Google or accept that my vocabulary is slowly fading into obsolescence.
collabs.shop/upgydk
collabs.shop/upgydk
Reposted by Ziv W
Priya Sridhar examines two Kelly Link short stories with many narratives layers in this new essay.
Subscribe to read: AUD30/year (~GBP15 or USD19) gets you an extra essay/ month, plus 6-month compilations with exclusive content!
www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
Tag @priyajsridhar.bsky.social
Subscribe to read: AUD30/year (~GBP15 or USD19) gets you an extra essay/ month, plus 6-month compilations with exclusive content!
www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
Tag @priyajsridhar.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Priya Sridhar examines two Kelly Link short stories with many narratives layers in this new essay.
Subscribe to read: AUD30/year (~GBP15 or USD19) gets you an extra essay/ month, plus 6-month compilations with exclusive content!
www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
Tag @priyajsridhar.bsky.social
Subscribe to read: AUD30/year (~GBP15 or USD19) gets you an extra essay/ month, plus 6-month compilations with exclusive content!
www.speculativeinsight.com/subs
Tag @priyajsridhar.bsky.social
Reposted by Ziv W
In case you missed it earlier, I've started collecting links for my annual eligibility and recommendation links post. I added several earlier and will update again soon, so please spread the word and keep sending your links my way!
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
What Have You Done, What Have You Loved 2025 – acwise.net
acwise.net
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
In case you missed it earlier, I've started collecting links for my annual eligibility and recommendation links post. I added several earlier and will update again soon, so please spread the word and keep sending your links my way!
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
acwise.net/what-have-yo...
Reposted by Ziv W
The Long List Anthology is out inboth ebook and print! All the stories that were nominated for the Hugo, in one place. You can get it at the usual places, but if print is your bag I recommend @bookshop.org :
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
The Long List Anthology Volume 9: More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List
More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List
bookshop.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The Long List Anthology is out inboth ebook and print! All the stories that were nominated for the Hugo, in one place. You can get it at the usual places, but if print is your bag I recommend @bookshop.org :
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Reposted by Ziv W
Sadako crawling out of your tv, turning motion smoothing off, then crawling back in
October 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Sadako crawling out of your tv, turning motion smoothing off, then crawling back in
Reposted by Ziv W
Bathtime zoomies with the ducklings!! This never gets old…
#Ducklings #bathtime #FarmLife #LittleFarm
#Ducklings #bathtime #FarmLife #LittleFarm
October 28, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Bathtime zoomies with the ducklings!! This never gets old…
#Ducklings #bathtime #FarmLife #LittleFarm
#Ducklings #bathtime #FarmLife #LittleFarm
Reposted by Ziv W
Tell folks to come donate food items. Let them know you'll be there to answer questions about the shutdown. Invite reporters and content creators for interviews. Make it a thing.
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Tell folks to come donate food items. Let them know you'll be there to answer questions about the shutdown. Invite reporters and content creators for interviews. Make it a thing.
Reposted by Ziv W
Dear Democratic Members of Congress:
I am urging each of you to adopt a food pantry this week. Make it clear that Trump and the GOP are withholding $5 billion in a contingency fund that could fund SNAP benefits and feed Americans, so you're adopting a food pantry in your district.
I am urging each of you to adopt a food pantry this week. Make it clear that Trump and the GOP are withholding $5 billion in a contingency fund that could fund SNAP benefits and feed Americans, so you're adopting a food pantry in your district.
October 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Dear Democratic Members of Congress:
I am urging each of you to adopt a food pantry this week. Make it clear that Trump and the GOP are withholding $5 billion in a contingency fund that could fund SNAP benefits and feed Americans, so you're adopting a food pantry in your district.
I am urging each of you to adopt a food pantry this week. Make it clear that Trump and the GOP are withholding $5 billion in a contingency fund that could fund SNAP benefits and feed Americans, so you're adopting a food pantry in your district.
Reposted by Ziv W
זה הגרסה הישראלית של בטעות לקרוא למפלצת פרנקנשטיין
October 23, 2025 at 5:48 AM
זה הגרסה הישראלית של בטעות לקרוא למפלצת פרנקנשטיין
Reposted by Ziv W
We've reached the final 7 days of our Kickstarter—and we're SO happy with how many stretch goals you all have smashed! Thank you!
Now help us fund some Year 3 issues so we can keep bringing you fantastic queer poetry, fiction, and art for a long time? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
Now help us fund some Year 3 issues so we can keep bringing you fantastic queer poetry, fiction, and art for a long time? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
OTHERSIDE 2026: A New Magazine of Queer SFF!
A new queer-led literary magazine devoted to speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.
www.kickstarter.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
We've reached the final 7 days of our Kickstarter—and we're SO happy with how many stretch goals you all have smashed! Thank you!
Now help us fund some Year 3 issues so we can keep bringing you fantastic queer poetry, fiction, and art for a long time? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
Now help us fund some Year 3 issues so we can keep bringing you fantastic queer poetry, fiction, and art for a long time? 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
Great thread on time estimates.
I need to write a long thing on this; time estimates sit at a confluence of:
- Managing the certainty of outputs (a foolish endeavor)
- Timeboxing and feedback loops (my jam)
- Wicked problem framing/solving (yay)
- Handoffs (boo)
- Folk Agile
- The feature factory
- Clarity/shared mental models
- Managing the certainty of outputs (a foolish endeavor)
- Timeboxing and feedback loops (my jam)
- Wicked problem framing/solving (yay)
- Handoffs (boo)
- Folk Agile
- The feature factory
- Clarity/shared mental models
No seriously @spavel.bsky.social please tell me how you think about estimating work it’s a big part of my life
October 21, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Great thread on time estimates.