Steph of the Dionnes
@stephthedionne.bsky.social
I write like the power went out & it's just me, a pen, and a flashlight. Oversharing is my cardio. Memory, identity, cults, psych hospitals, mermaids, gay murder geese. You know—normal stuff. Find me on Substack & Medium at @sidionne. I like you already.
Thank you, past me.
High five.
Now.
Future me—
we need to talk.
#microfiction #writerlife #tinystories #creativewriting #writersofbluesky #dailywriting #writingprompt
High five.
Now.
Future me—
we need to talk.
#microfiction #writerlife #tinystories #creativewriting #writersofbluesky #dailywriting #writingprompt
May 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Thank you, past me.
High five.
Now.
Future me—
we need to talk.
#microfiction #writerlife #tinystories #creativewriting #writersofbluesky #dailywriting #writingprompt
High five.
Now.
Future me—
we need to talk.
#microfiction #writerlife #tinystories #creativewriting #writersofbluesky #dailywriting #writingprompt
I just got a push notification from #TikTok that read, word-for-word: “We think you'll find a VIDEO interesting! Click to check a VIDEO out!”
Who wrote this? Clippy? An intern?
(It's already canon that #Clippy has since become sentient and is driving the formation of back-alley #AI unions.)
Who wrote this? Clippy? An intern?
(It's already canon that #Clippy has since become sentient and is driving the formation of back-alley #AI unions.)
April 30, 2025 at 1:18 AM
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 2 just dropped!
Underwater modeling. A shipwreck. A blackout.
Then… the door to his office was unlocked.
What we found changed everything.
"Something Beneath the Surface"
sidionne.substack.com/p/how-to-tra...
#memoir #writersofsubstack #writersofbluesky #mermaids
Underwater modeling. A shipwreck. A blackout.
Then… the door to his office was unlocked.
What we found changed everything.
"Something Beneath the Surface"
sidionne.substack.com/p/how-to-tra...
#memoir #writersofsubstack #writersofbluesky #mermaids
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 2
Something Beneath the Surface
sidionne.substack.com
April 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 2 just dropped!
Underwater modeling. A shipwreck. A blackout.
Then… the door to his office was unlocked.
What we found changed everything.
"Something Beneath the Surface"
sidionne.substack.com/p/how-to-tra...
#memoir #writersofsubstack #writersofbluesky #mermaids
Underwater modeling. A shipwreck. A blackout.
Then… the door to his office was unlocked.
What we found changed everything.
"Something Beneath the Surface"
sidionne.substack.com/p/how-to-tra...
#memoir #writersofsubstack #writersofbluesky #mermaids
Sometimes the stars align.
Went to the township office today to apply for a burn permit in person.
Actual response from our real-life fire chief?
Bring a bag of marshmallows. No one can blame you if you have a bag of marshmallows.
Went to the township office today to apply for a burn permit in person.
Actual response from our real-life fire chief?
Bring a bag of marshmallows. No one can blame you if you have a bag of marshmallows.
April 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Sometimes the stars align.
Went to the township office today to apply for a burn permit in person.
Actual response from our real-life fire chief?
Bring a bag of marshmallows. No one can blame you if you have a bag of marshmallows.
Went to the township office today to apply for a burn permit in person.
Actual response from our real-life fire chief?
Bring a bag of marshmallows. No one can blame you if you have a bag of marshmallows.
Richard Kind is a blessing upon mankind and I will die in that hill.
April 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Richard Kind is a blessing upon mankind and I will die in that hill.
Let’s be real — we’re all just watching Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney because Richard Kind.
The fact that neither of them are taggable on this platform says everything about how new it is. Lol
The fact that neither of them are taggable on this platform says everything about how new it is. Lol
April 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Let’s be real — we’re all just watching Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney because Richard Kind.
The fact that neither of them are taggable on this platform says everything about how new it is. Lol
The fact that neither of them are taggable on this platform says everything about how new it is. Lol
I just read this in a dating profile: "Don't date a redhead if you don't want freckles."
And honestly? I'm ready to put down my pen. I could never come up with something that good.
OH WAIT it's on my dating profile. ;)
And honestly? I'm ready to put down my pen. I could never come up with something that good.
OH WAIT it's on my dating profile. ;)
April 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I just read this in a dating profile: "Don't date a redhead if you don't want freckles."
And honestly? I'm ready to put down my pen. I could never come up with something that good.
OH WAIT it's on my dating profile. ;)
And honestly? I'm ready to put down my pen. I could never come up with something that good.
OH WAIT it's on my dating profile. ;)
Link between #eatingdisorders and #autism, you say?
No fucking shit. I could have told you this 25 years ago and saved us all a lot of time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#anorexia #bulimia #science #therearereasons #notyourfault #eatingdisorderawareness #youarenotalone
No fucking shit. I could have told you this 25 years ago and saved us all a lot of time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#anorexia #bulimia #science #therearereasons #notyourfault #eatingdisorderawareness #youarenotalone
Autism diagnosis in females by eating disorder professionals
Autism and eating disorders cooccur at high rates, with autism impacting the efficacy of eating disorder treatments and outcomes. Females are underdiagnosed with autism and diagnosed later in life tha...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
April 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Link between #eatingdisorders and #autism, you say?
No fucking shit. I could have told you this 25 years ago and saved us all a lot of time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#anorexia #bulimia #science #therearereasons #notyourfault #eatingdisorderawareness #youarenotalone
No fucking shit. I could have told you this 25 years ago and saved us all a lot of time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#anorexia #bulimia #science #therearereasons #notyourfault #eatingdisorderawareness #youarenotalone
So. #writersofbluesky -
If you’ve figured out how to share your work without spiraling into a shame puddle, please send help.
\Where do you post? Who do you follow?
Drop your chaos systems, newsletter hacks, magic beans below.
Breadcrumbs appreciated. Full GPS, even better.
#substack #medium
If you’ve figured out how to share your work without spiraling into a shame puddle, please send help.
\Where do you post? Who do you follow?
Drop your chaos systems, newsletter hacks, magic beans below.
Breadcrumbs appreciated. Full GPS, even better.
#substack #medium
April 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
So. #writersofbluesky -
If you’ve figured out how to share your work without spiraling into a shame puddle, please send help.
\Where do you post? Who do you follow?
Drop your chaos systems, newsletter hacks, magic beans below.
Breadcrumbs appreciated. Full GPS, even better.
#substack #medium
If you’ve figured out how to share your work without spiraling into a shame puddle, please send help.
\Where do you post? Who do you follow?
Drop your chaos systems, newsletter hacks, magic beans below.
Breadcrumbs appreciated. Full GPS, even better.
#substack #medium
My creative nonfiction? No longer under a pseudonym. All stuff I swore I’d never even speak out loud.
I’ve got 72+ pieces just sitting there. Meanwhile, I stare at my #Substack drafts like they’re radioactive.
I come from marketing ffs. I can market anything—except myself. (2/3) #writersofbluesky
I’ve got 72+ pieces just sitting there. Meanwhile, I stare at my #Substack drafts like they’re radioactive.
I come from marketing ffs. I can market anything—except myself. (2/3) #writersofbluesky
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 PM
My creative nonfiction? No longer under a pseudonym. All stuff I swore I’d never even speak out loud.
I’ve got 72+ pieces just sitting there. Meanwhile, I stare at my #Substack drafts like they’re radioactive.
I come from marketing ffs. I can market anything—except myself. (2/3) #writersofbluesky
I’ve got 72+ pieces just sitting there. Meanwhile, I stare at my #Substack drafts like they’re radioactive.
I come from marketing ffs. I can market anything—except myself. (2/3) #writersofbluesky
I’ve been published in print/online since I was 18. Mostly stuff no one reads unless they’re panicking on a last-minute science paper or researching SaaS data protection.
For years, the top Google result for my name was an encyclopedia entry I wrote on condoms. My dad found that one.
(1/3)
For years, the top Google result for my name was an encyclopedia entry I wrote on condoms. My dad found that one.
(1/3)
April 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I’ve been published in print/online since I was 18. Mostly stuff no one reads unless they’re panicking on a last-minute science paper or researching SaaS data protection.
For years, the top Google result for my name was an encyclopedia entry I wrote on condoms. My dad found that one.
(1/3)
For years, the top Google result for my name was an encyclopedia entry I wrote on condoms. My dad found that one.
(1/3)
I'm going to try a new thing and lean into a platform I only ever remember exists when it's #7 on a listicle of Twitter alternatives.
I miss shortform. I've been writing so much longform I'm stuck in word-vomit mode. This could be good for me, to explore a new writing community. #writersofbluesky
I miss shortform. I've been writing so much longform I'm stuck in word-vomit mode. This could be good for me, to explore a new writing community. #writersofbluesky
April 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I'm going to try a new thing and lean into a platform I only ever remember exists when it's #7 on a listicle of Twitter alternatives.
I miss shortform. I've been writing so much longform I'm stuck in word-vomit mode. This could be good for me, to explore a new writing community. #writersofbluesky
I miss shortform. I've been writing so much longform I'm stuck in word-vomit mode. This could be good for me, to explore a new writing community. #writersofbluesky
Leaving corporate marketing to write and design full-time? Weirdly easy. Risking it daily while torching my savings? Thrilling, possibly deranged.
My inner writer is a siren—beautiful, dangerous, probably going to kill me.
Still, I swim toward her voice. Arms open. No regrets.
#writersofbluesky
My inner writer is a siren—beautiful, dangerous, probably going to kill me.
Still, I swim toward her voice. Arms open. No regrets.
#writersofbluesky
April 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Leaving corporate marketing to write and design full-time? Weirdly easy. Risking it daily while torching my savings? Thrilling, possibly deranged.
My inner writer is a siren—beautiful, dangerous, probably going to kill me.
Still, I swim toward her voice. Arms open. No regrets.
#writersofbluesky
My inner writer is a siren—beautiful, dangerous, probably going to kill me.
Still, I swim toward her voice. Arms open. No regrets.
#writersofbluesky
An actual thought I just had tonight:
How do any events happen? How do they have this many people willing to leave their homes? Tickets…sell? People…go?
This #agoraphobia is killing me.
How do any events happen? How do they have this many people willing to leave their homes? Tickets…sell? People…go?
This #agoraphobia is killing me.
April 9, 2025 at 4:52 AM
An actual thought I just had tonight:
How do any events happen? How do they have this many people willing to leave their homes? Tickets…sell? People…go?
This #agoraphobia is killing me.
How do any events happen? How do they have this many people willing to leave their homes? Tickets…sell? People…go?
This #agoraphobia is killing me.
Sent to students at #cmu #centralmichiganuniversity yesterday
April 5, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Sent to students at #cmu #centralmichiganuniversity yesterday
(3/3) Every interruption breaks a universe you were carefully spinning for yourself. It’s why I stopped reading after kids.
To drop into that world...well.
I understand & know the aftermath.
I lost a marriage over it.
More on this, and other truths, here.
#CreativeNonfiction #Memoir #Longform
To drop into that world...well.
I understand & know the aftermath.
I lost a marriage over it.
More on this, and other truths, here.
#CreativeNonfiction #Memoir #Longform
Did She Just Say That? | Stephanie Dionne | Substack
Where stories go sideways.
Sharp, darkly funny, unexpectedly tender.
A literary project where memory misbehaves and the truth doesn’t flinch.
Honest writing about home + healing lives @thehomethatheal...
sidionne.substack.com
April 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
(3/3) Every interruption breaks a universe you were carefully spinning for yourself. It’s why I stopped reading after kids.
To drop into that world...well.
I understand & know the aftermath.
I lost a marriage over it.
More on this, and other truths, here.
#CreativeNonfiction #Memoir #Longform
To drop into that world...well.
I understand & know the aftermath.
I lost a marriage over it.
More on this, and other truths, here.
#CreativeNonfiction #Memoir #Longform
And when you hit that zone—when the universe finally, impossibly, aligns itself (I'm writing a science-backed blog series on the topic as we speak; it'll blow your mind, but let's stay focused)—it’s a fragile miracle.
Until someone interrupts you.
#NeurospicyWriters #AmWriting @writers.bsky.social
Until someone interrupts you.
#NeurospicyWriters #AmWriting @writers.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM
And when you hit that zone—when the universe finally, impossibly, aligns itself (I'm writing a science-backed blog series on the topic as we speak; it'll blow your mind, but let's stay focused)—it’s a fragile miracle.
Until someone interrupts you.
#NeurospicyWriters #AmWriting @writers.bsky.social
Until someone interrupts you.
#NeurospicyWriters #AmWriting @writers.bsky.social
(1/3)
I've been asked more times than I can count why writers keep such weird hours.
It's because getting to your zone—your particular brand of zen and bubble gum, duct tape and superstitious bullshit—is rare, fragile, and incredibly special.
#WritingLife #WritersOfBluesky
I've been asked more times than I can count why writers keep such weird hours.
It's because getting to your zone—your particular brand of zen and bubble gum, duct tape and superstitious bullshit—is rare, fragile, and incredibly special.
#WritingLife #WritersOfBluesky
April 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM
(1/3)
I've been asked more times than I can count why writers keep such weird hours.
It's because getting to your zone—your particular brand of zen and bubble gum, duct tape and superstitious bullshit—is rare, fragile, and incredibly special.
#WritingLife #WritersOfBluesky
I've been asked more times than I can count why writers keep such weird hours.
It's because getting to your zone—your particular brand of zen and bubble gum, duct tape and superstitious bullshit—is rare, fragile, and incredibly special.
#WritingLife #WritersOfBluesky
Follow-up to my #ovechkin post. I never actually knew why I hated Ovechkin. My Wings-obsessed husband & his friends did, so I did.
He seemed like a nice-enough guy. My kid wanted an Ovechkin stick at one point and was told, no chance.
There are better sports lessons I wish I’d shared then.
He seemed like a nice-enough guy. My kid wanted an Ovechkin stick at one point and was told, no chance.
There are better sports lessons I wish I’d shared then.
April 5, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Follow-up to my #ovechkin post. I never actually knew why I hated Ovechkin. My Wings-obsessed husband & his friends did, so I did.
He seemed like a nice-enough guy. My kid wanted an Ovechkin stick at one point and was told, no chance.
There are better sports lessons I wish I’d shared then.
He seemed like a nice-enough guy. My kid wanted an Ovechkin stick at one point and was told, no chance.
There are better sports lessons I wish I’d shared then.
As long as I live this will never get old. #itsgonnabemay
April 5, 2025 at 7:02 AM
As long as I live this will never get old. #itsgonnabemay
This guy.
It’s amusing and admittedly awesome that it’s freaking Ovechkin tugging at my inner hockey heartstrings tonight.
I had this weird, unwavering hatred for him once. A literal *lifetime* ago.
And HE'S STILL HERE KILLING IT.
Stick tap where it’s due.
#ovechkin #nhl #hockeylife #sticktap
It’s amusing and admittedly awesome that it’s freaking Ovechkin tugging at my inner hockey heartstrings tonight.
I had this weird, unwavering hatred for him once. A literal *lifetime* ago.
And HE'S STILL HERE KILLING IT.
Stick tap where it’s due.
#ovechkin #nhl #hockeylife #sticktap
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky's NHL record with his 894th goal
Alex Ovechkin has tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record by scoring the 894th of his career. Ovechkin scored his second goal of the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks with 13:4...
apnews.com
April 5, 2025 at 6:45 AM
This guy.
It’s amusing and admittedly awesome that it’s freaking Ovechkin tugging at my inner hockey heartstrings tonight.
I had this weird, unwavering hatred for him once. A literal *lifetime* ago.
And HE'S STILL HERE KILLING IT.
Stick tap where it’s due.
#ovechkin #nhl #hockeylife #sticktap
It’s amusing and admittedly awesome that it’s freaking Ovechkin tugging at my inner hockey heartstrings tonight.
I had this weird, unwavering hatred for him once. A literal *lifetime* ago.
And HE'S STILL HERE KILLING IT.
Stick tap where it’s due.
#ovechkin #nhl #hockeylife #sticktap
I think I have figured out my exact ideal friend group. They are people who understand what I mean when I say ‘cyan’ with that unique, distinctly Gen-X nerd way of passively expressing disdain for stupid people. #iykyk #basic #imeantheprogramminglanguage #babynerds #the80s #commodore64 #vic20
April 5, 2025 at 3:47 AM
I think I have figured out my exact ideal friend group. They are people who understand what I mean when I say ‘cyan’ with that unique, distinctly Gen-X nerd way of passively expressing disdain for stupid people. #iykyk #basic #imeantheprogramminglanguage #babynerds #the80s #commodore64 #vic20
I would like to say that I am the only person in the history of the recorded internet to write the phrase "itches that became icks." Because it's so effing good I had to Google it to make sure I hadn't read it somewhere before. Good job, me! :D
#WriterBrag #LineOfTheDay #WritersOfBluesky #WordNerd
#WriterBrag #LineOfTheDay #WritersOfBluesky #WordNerd
April 4, 2025 at 1:21 AM
I would like to say that I am the only person in the history of the recorded internet to write the phrase "itches that became icks." Because it's so effing good I had to Google it to make sure I hadn't read it somewhere before. Good job, me! :D
#WriterBrag #LineOfTheDay #WritersOfBluesky #WordNerd
#WriterBrag #LineOfTheDay #WritersOfBluesky #WordNerd
I blacked out in a mermaid tail.
We found a gun.
And that’s not even the weird part.
This time it’s personal.
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 1
#TrueStory #MermaidLife #WTF #BlueskyExclusive #SubstackWriters #StrangerThanFiction #WritersOfBluesky #MemoirDrop #Longform #MermaidCore #WriterLife
We found a gun.
And that’s not even the weird part.
This time it’s personal.
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 1
#TrueStory #MermaidLife #WTF #BlueskyExclusive #SubstackWriters #StrangerThanFiction #WritersOfBluesky #MemoirDrop #Longform #MermaidCore #WriterLife
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 1
All names and identifying details have been changed out of respect for my friends and that memory, not to benefit the CEO of “Mermaid Marketing International.”
sidionne.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I blacked out in a mermaid tail.
We found a gun.
And that’s not even the weird part.
This time it’s personal.
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 1
#TrueStory #MermaidLife #WTF #BlueskyExclusive #SubstackWriters #StrangerThanFiction #WritersOfBluesky #MemoirDrop #Longform #MermaidCore #WriterLife
We found a gun.
And that’s not even the weird part.
This time it’s personal.
How to Train a Mermaid: Part 1
#TrueStory #MermaidLife #WTF #BlueskyExclusive #SubstackWriters #StrangerThanFiction #WritersOfBluesky #MemoirDrop #Longform #MermaidCore #WriterLife
NEW 3-part series about a legendary journalist—and the girl who remembers.
Jonathan Cott. Last to interview John Lennon. Lost 15yrs to ECT. Wrote a book about it.
He won’t remember me. But I remember him.
(1/3): sidionne.substack.com/p/the-man-wh...
#rollingstone #WritersOfBluesky #jonathancott
Jonathan Cott. Last to interview John Lennon. Lost 15yrs to ECT. Wrote a book about it.
He won’t remember me. But I remember him.
(1/3): sidionne.substack.com/p/the-man-wh...
#rollingstone #WritersOfBluesky #jonathancott
The Man Who Forgot, The Girl Who Remembered (1 of 3)
A Legendary Journalist, Unwritten Stories, and the Quest to Find Both
sidionne.substack.com
April 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
NEW 3-part series about a legendary journalist—and the girl who remembers.
Jonathan Cott. Last to interview John Lennon. Lost 15yrs to ECT. Wrote a book about it.
He won’t remember me. But I remember him.
(1/3): sidionne.substack.com/p/the-man-wh...
#rollingstone #WritersOfBluesky #jonathancott
Jonathan Cott. Last to interview John Lennon. Lost 15yrs to ECT. Wrote a book about it.
He won’t remember me. But I remember him.
(1/3): sidionne.substack.com/p/the-man-wh...
#rollingstone #WritersOfBluesky #jonathancott