Ryan T. Pozzi
@ryantpozzi.bsky.social
Author of The Mess That Made Them (forthcoming from Bloomsbury) | Historian of cultural myth, fraud, and lost stories | BOTN Nominee | Rep: Anderson Literary Agency | www.ryantpozzi.com | Socials are first draft energy
Reposted by Ryan T. Pozzi
I mean, of course Joyce Carol Oates is a national treasure, but I have to admit "Joyce Carol Oates: The Next Captain of the Resistance" was not on my bingo card.
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I mean, of course Joyce Carol Oates is a national treasure, but I have to admit "Joyce Carol Oates: The Next Captain of the Resistance" was not on my bingo card.
What a naked betrayal of supposed party principles. You got an agreement to follow an existing federal law and a "promise" to hold an ACA vote (that you don't have the votes to win) in December.
I'll be changing my voter registration to leave the Democratic Party in the morning.
I'll be changing my voter registration to leave the Democratic Party in the morning.
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 AM
What a naked betrayal of supposed party principles. You got an agreement to follow an existing federal law and a "promise" to hold an ACA vote (that you don't have the votes to win) in December.
I'll be changing my voter registration to leave the Democratic Party in the morning.
I'll be changing my voter registration to leave the Democratic Party in the morning.
Reason #112 to join Life on the Midlist:
You don't want to be surprised all the time like I was.
"I'm supposed to wait how long? Okay. Then what happens? Wait, what does that even mean?" www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
You don't want to be surprised all the time like I was.
"I'm supposed to wait how long? Okay. Then what happens? Wait, what does that even mean?" www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reason #112 to join Life on the Midlist:
You don't want to be surprised all the time like I was.
"I'm supposed to wait how long? Okay. Then what happens? Wait, what does that even mean?" www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
You don't want to be surprised all the time like I was.
"I'm supposed to wait how long? Okay. Then what happens? Wait, what does that even mean?" www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Reposted by Ryan T. Pozzi
Me: Love, would you say I'm "angsty"?
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
November 7, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Me: Love, would you say I'm "angsty"?
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
It's no secret I've struggled with motivation and gotten behind lately so it's worth a little celebrating that I just finished writing next Tuesday's edition of Life on the Midlist and it's only Friday.
Sign up, quick, before the weekend wipes your brain and you forget: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Sign up, quick, before the weekend wipes your brain and you forget: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Life on the Midlist | Discover Realities of Traditional Publishing — Ryan T. Pozzi
Explore authentic stories from a midlist author about publishing, querying, and the truths behind making it in the book industry, delivered every Tuesday.
www.ryantpozzi.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:48 AM
It's no secret I've struggled with motivation and gotten behind lately so it's worth a little celebrating that I just finished writing next Tuesday's edition of Life on the Midlist and it's only Friday.
Sign up, quick, before the weekend wipes your brain and you forget: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Sign up, quick, before the weekend wipes your brain and you forget: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Me: Love, would you say I'm "angsty"?
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
November 7, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Me: Love, would you say I'm "angsty"?
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
Her: No, of course not. I'd just think it.
#MarriageIsCompromise
Apropos of nothing, I can't stop thinking about how we built a Jim Henson Tribute dinner in 2013 - puppets, songs, dinner of frog legs, pork belly, and Swedish meatballs for something like $25 - and a lady called my office to see if Jim Henson would be there.
"Uhhh, no ma'am. He died 23 years ago."
"Uhhh, no ma'am. He died 23 years ago."
November 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Apropos of nothing, I can't stop thinking about how we built a Jim Henson Tribute dinner in 2013 - puppets, songs, dinner of frog legs, pork belly, and Swedish meatballs for something like $25 - and a lady called my office to see if Jim Henson would be there.
"Uhhh, no ma'am. He died 23 years ago."
"Uhhh, no ma'am. He died 23 years ago."
I'm all for normalizing discussions of mental health and therapy, but I think some post about it expecting folks to say, "YOU have a therapist? No way! Not you."
Knowing many us well, I can tell you I've never had that reaction. I'm usually closer to, "Yeah, that checks out," or "Finally! Damn."
Knowing many us well, I can tell you I've never had that reaction. I'm usually closer to, "Yeah, that checks out," or "Finally! Damn."
November 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I'm all for normalizing discussions of mental health and therapy, but I think some post about it expecting folks to say, "YOU have a therapist? No way! Not you."
Knowing many us well, I can tell you I've never had that reaction. I'm usually closer to, "Yeah, that checks out," or "Finally! Damn."
Knowing many us well, I can tell you I've never had that reaction. I'm usually closer to, "Yeah, that checks out," or "Finally! Damn."
I'm still pretty unstructured in my posting since I came back from my sanity pause. On This Day and that kind of stuff will probably come back. So far, though, I've just felt more like chatting.
I like to think of socials as me in a room just talking constantly. 🤏🧵
I like to think of socials as me in a room just talking constantly. 🤏🧵
November 5, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I'm still pretty unstructured in my posting since I came back from my sanity pause. On This Day and that kind of stuff will probably come back. So far, though, I've just felt more like chatting.
I like to think of socials as me in a room just talking constantly. 🤏🧵
I like to think of socials as me in a room just talking constantly. 🤏🧵
I'm not saying anything dark, but this waking up to another day over and over again gets old sometimes.
Doctors and meds never stop. Bills never stop. Cooking never stops. 🫤😱
(We're in a friendly cleaning standoff, as in I'm very disabled and she's very busy, so we can skip that one for now.)
Doctors and meds never stop. Bills never stop. Cooking never stops. 🫤😱
(We're in a friendly cleaning standoff, as in I'm very disabled and she's very busy, so we can skip that one for now.)
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I'm not saying anything dark, but this waking up to another day over and over again gets old sometimes.
Doctors and meds never stop. Bills never stop. Cooking never stops. 🫤😱
(We're in a friendly cleaning standoff, as in I'm very disabled and she's very busy, so we can skip that one for now.)
Doctors and meds never stop. Bills never stop. Cooking never stops. 🫤😱
(We're in a friendly cleaning standoff, as in I'm very disabled and she's very busy, so we can skip that one for now.)
Coming in HOT.
Sometimes I read criticism of bookshops as I'm scrollingIt's usually about how they should do more to support this or that specific kind or genre of author.
Every time I see it, I think:
Tell me you've never owned a business without telling me you've never owned a business. 🤏🧵
Sometimes I read criticism of bookshops as I'm scrollingIt's usually about how they should do more to support this or that specific kind or genre of author.
Every time I see it, I think:
Tell me you've never owned a business without telling me you've never owned a business. 🤏🧵
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Coming in HOT.
Sometimes I read criticism of bookshops as I'm scrollingIt's usually about how they should do more to support this or that specific kind or genre of author.
Every time I see it, I think:
Tell me you've never owned a business without telling me you've never owned a business. 🤏🧵
Sometimes I read criticism of bookshops as I'm scrollingIt's usually about how they should do more to support this or that specific kind or genre of author.
Every time I see it, I think:
Tell me you've never owned a business without telling me you've never owned a business. 🤏🧵
I voted the CRAP out of that election. 🎆🎆🎆
November 4, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I voted the CRAP out of that election. 🎆🎆🎆
One of the small pleasures of sending Life on the Midlist is that most weeks I get an email back from a subscriber who wants to chat in a little more depth about whatever I've rambled about in the latest edition.
Those conversations are so valuable, even nourishing, for my spirit and my resolve.
Those conversations are so valuable, even nourishing, for my spirit and my resolve.
November 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
One of the small pleasures of sending Life on the Midlist is that most weeks I get an email back from a subscriber who wants to chat in a little more depth about whatever I've rambled about in the latest edition.
Those conversations are so valuable, even nourishing, for my spirit and my resolve.
Those conversations are so valuable, even nourishing, for my spirit and my resolve.
New Life on the Midlist: Trade publishing doesn’t pay like you think. Most authors survive on unseen scaffolding like partner income or low housing costs. I name mine and map my long game approach.
Sign up now before today's edition hits inboxes over the lunch hour: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Sign up now before today's edition hits inboxes over the lunch hour: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Life on the Midlist | Discover Realities of Traditional Publishing — Ryan T. Pozzi
Explore authentic stories from a midlist author about publishing, querying, and the truths behind making it in the book industry, delivered every Tuesday.
www.ryantpozzi.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New Life on the Midlist: Trade publishing doesn’t pay like you think. Most authors survive on unseen scaffolding like partner income or low housing costs. I name mine and map my long game approach.
Sign up now before today's edition hits inboxes over the lunch hour: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
Sign up now before today's edition hits inboxes over the lunch hour: www.ryantpozzi.com/midlist
My people: I'm not mad or bitter. I get a little anxious, but there's probably no stopping that.
My debut will come out next year-ish from the perfect house (for that book, at least) and, in spite of all odds being against me from there, I'll do whatever I have to do to sustain some sort of career.
My debut will come out next year-ish from the perfect house (for that book, at least) and, in spite of all odds being against me from there, I'll do whatever I have to do to sustain some sort of career.
November 4, 2025 at 12:21 AM
My people: I'm not mad or bitter. I get a little anxious, but there's probably no stopping that.
My debut will come out next year-ish from the perfect house (for that book, at least) and, in spite of all odds being against me from there, I'll do whatever I have to do to sustain some sort of career.
My debut will come out next year-ish from the perfect house (for that book, at least) and, in spite of all odds being against me from there, I'll do whatever I have to do to sustain some sort of career.
Okay, I have open enrolled.
Our total premium payments will increase by just over 200%. This was achieved by changing plans since our current plan is set to increase by almost 250%.
Increases of 200+% are reasonable annual cost increases for ethical companies in a working system, right?
RIGHT?
Our total premium payments will increase by just over 200%. This was achieved by changing plans since our current plan is set to increase by almost 250%.
Increases of 200+% are reasonable annual cost increases for ethical companies in a working system, right?
RIGHT?
November 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Okay, I have open enrolled.
Our total premium payments will increase by just over 200%. This was achieved by changing plans since our current plan is set to increase by almost 250%.
Increases of 200+% are reasonable annual cost increases for ethical companies in a working system, right?
RIGHT?
Our total premium payments will increase by just over 200%. This was achieved by changing plans since our current plan is set to increase by almost 250%.
Increases of 200+% are reasonable annual cost increases for ethical companies in a working system, right?
RIGHT?
I won't feed the publishing myth.
My case:
1. We can live on my wife's salary alone.
2. My only jobs are writing and loading the dishwasher.
3. If I fail as an author, only my pride gets hurt.
That's privilege.
My wins don't prove midlisters can build careers without safety nets.
I'm skeptical.
My case:
1. We can live on my wife's salary alone.
2. My only jobs are writing and loading the dishwasher.
3. If I fail as an author, only my pride gets hurt.
That's privilege.
My wins don't prove midlisters can build careers without safety nets.
I'm skeptical.
November 3, 2025 at 5:17 AM
I won't feed the publishing myth.
My case:
1. We can live on my wife's salary alone.
2. My only jobs are writing and loading the dishwasher.
3. If I fail as an author, only my pride gets hurt.
That's privilege.
My wins don't prove midlisters can build careers without safety nets.
I'm skeptical.
My case:
1. We can live on my wife's salary alone.
2. My only jobs are writing and loading the dishwasher.
3. If I fail as an author, only my pride gets hurt.
That's privilege.
My wins don't prove midlisters can build careers without safety nets.
I'm skeptical.
What's funny about having celebrity relatives is that when I miss my little sisters-in-law, I can always just fire up the ole Netflix account.
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 AM
What's funny about having celebrity relatives is that when I miss my little sisters-in-law, I can always just fire up the ole Netflix account.
If I get REALLY honest about it, I started writing books on the off chance that I might get to meet @zadiesmith.bsky.social some day. 💯
If we both live long enough, it could still happen.
If we both live long enough, it could still happen.
November 3, 2025 at 4:53 AM
If I get REALLY honest about it, I started writing books on the off chance that I might get to meet @zadiesmith.bsky.social some day. 💯
If we both live long enough, it could still happen.
If we both live long enough, it could still happen.
I just listened to my first @chucktingle.bsky.social interview. Just listening to him interact and vamp around the topic of art, authenticity, and publishing for 90 minutes just made me a lifelong fan. #booksky #writingcommunity
November 3, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I just listened to my first @chucktingle.bsky.social interview. Just listening to him interact and vamp around the topic of art, authenticity, and publishing for 90 minutes just made me a lifelong fan. #booksky #writingcommunity
While I've struggled to make peace with my place in publishing given the draconian nature of the industry (for both trad and indie, just in different ways), I do really appeciate the folks who have taken the time to reach out with general encouragement, their own war stories, etc. #writingcommunity
November 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
While I've struggled to make peace with my place in publishing given the draconian nature of the industry (for both trad and indie, just in different ways), I do really appeciate the folks who have taken the time to reach out with general encouragement, their own war stories, etc. #writingcommunity
Ahhh, every diabetic's REAL high holy day - the first day of ACA Open Enrollment.
November 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Ahhh, every diabetic's REAL high holy day - the first day of ACA Open Enrollment.
I feel bad for my wife who has to work boh jobs today on the highest holy day of Halloween.
She's on the clock from 9am to 7pm. After the commute, she won't be home until after the Trick or Treaters start to clear out of our neighborhood.
What can I do to help the day still feel special for her?
She's on the clock from 9am to 7pm. After the commute, she won't be home until after the Trick or Treaters start to clear out of our neighborhood.
What can I do to help the day still feel special for her?
October 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I feel bad for my wife who has to work boh jobs today on the highest holy day of Halloween.
She's on the clock from 9am to 7pm. After the commute, she won't be home until after the Trick or Treaters start to clear out of our neighborhood.
What can I do to help the day still feel special for her?
She's on the clock from 9am to 7pm. After the commute, she won't be home until after the Trick or Treaters start to clear out of our neighborhood.
What can I do to help the day still feel special for her?
Equipment replaced. Internet access restored.
Mostly I learned that the level of my dependence on connectivity is a little frightening.
Mostly I learned that the level of my dependence on connectivity is a little frightening.
October 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Equipment replaced. Internet access restored.
Mostly I learned that the level of my dependence on connectivity is a little frightening.
Mostly I learned that the level of my dependence on connectivity is a little frightening.