Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 3d

My 18-year-old Hoover finally died which means there's a NEW ONE arriving tomorrow and I'm currently listening to Babyshambles to prove I'm still rock'n'roll because I am unreasonably excited about this

The SmokeLong Quarterly Emerging Writer Fellowship 2026 - SmokeLong Quarterly

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 4d

We're holding a month-long write-in in the awkward time between November and December, and we'd love for you to join us. It's free. Tell your friends. www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 11d

Join SmokeLong for a mysterious month between November and December we’ve christened Promptember! We’ll be meeting several times a week online with live write-in and open mic events at various times to suit participants around this spinning globe, 100% free.
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...

10 18

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 11d

Emerging writer? Write flash? Feeling isolated? We'd love to help you reach that next step. Apply for The SmokeLong Quarterly Emerging Writer Fellowship. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...

For over a decade SmokeLong has supported emerging writers through The Kathy Fish Fellowship, later renamed The SmokeLong Quarterly Emerging Writer Fellowship. As we have grown, we’ve decided to offer...

OpenAI’s New Sora Video Generator to Require Copyright Holders to Opt Out

3 9

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 11d

Join SmokeLong for a mysterious month between November and December we’ve christened Promptember! We’ll be meeting several times a week online with live write-in and open mic events at various times to suit participants around this spinning globe, 100% free.
www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...

11 26

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 12d

Here is the updated cover art for issue 89. The previous cover art (above) has been removed from the site out of respect for the literary journal who used it first a few weeks before our issue came out. We just became aware of this last night.

A person apparently sitting on the edge of a high-rise building, legs hanging over the side.

1 4 18

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 16d

In October we're going to explore the collision of the odd and the ordinary, and on October 25th, you can join us and Sage Tyrtle for the 2-hour webinar "Speculative Fiction as Metaphor"! Or book SmokeLong Fitness today and get this webinar at no extra charge! www.smokelong.com/product/spec...

3 7

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 19d

"We all need extremes to feel like ourselves." AJ O'Reilly, on their story "Code of the Mosh Pit". AJ is our featured author this week. Read their interview in SmokeLong. www.smokelong.com/interviews/s...

2 5

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 13d

Was asked to look after two sausage dogs but I was lied to: these are clearly croissant dogs.

1 8

Reposted by Helen Rye

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 18d

Not the sole reason, but a large part of why an increasing number of people see Reform as a "credible" party to vote for is because Starmer, and Labour in general, have done little else but tell people what a "credible force" with "legitimate concerns" Reform and it's supporters are. #r4today

19 90 320

Reposted by Helen Rye

Alex Usher @alexusherhesa.bsky.social · 18d

I am starting a new service where I slash the tires of expensive cars in Silicon Valley unless their owners specifically opt-out.

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 18d

Exclusive: OpenAI is planning to release a new version of its Sora video generator, which creates videos featuring copyrighted material unless copyright holders opt out of having their work appear.

Executives at the startup notified talent agencies and studios over the last week.

on.wsj.com

15 220 760

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Sep 16

Join SmokeLong for Promptember! This series of write-ins and open mics is free! Let's write! Donations will go to @sundresspub.bsky.social and their fellowships/residencies for trans, black and/or indigenous writers. www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...

1 12 28

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 23d

Please tell all your emerging-writer friends! Deadline December 15th! The SmokeLong Emerging Writer Fellowship Jan-June 2026! www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...

The SmokeLong Quarterly Emerging Writer Fellowship 2026 - SmokeLong Quarterly

For over a decade SmokeLong has supported emerging writers through The Kathy Fish Fellowship, later renamed The SmokeLong Quarterly Emerging Writer Fellowship. As we have grown, we’ve decided to offer...

Organs - SmokeLong Quarterly

7 13

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 23d

This week's featured story is "Organs" by Aimee Bender @aimee-bender.bsky.social www.smokelong.com/stories/orga...

Los Angeles is pelted by torrential rains the same week my father is admitted to the hospital with too much fluid in his legs. You cannot safely empty them slowly, explains the doctor, as they hook hi...

Smoke Signals with Aimee Bender - SmokeLong Quarterly

3 10

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · 23d

"I still very much and thoroughly consider myself a fiction writer. But sometimes something of life presents itself directly for writing, and that was this." Our first featured author of Issue 89 is Aimee Bender @aimee-bender.bsky.social. Read her interview here: www.smokelong.com/interviews/s...

You have three threads woven together here—the story of your father, of the taxed sump pump, and of Joni Mitchell making music—and it’s all seamless and brilliant. Are you on the lookout for events li...

1 8 23

Reposted by Helen Rye

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 25d

Awesome to see the former ‘greatest country in the world’ is run by people who don’t know the difference between correlation and causation I mean I know these days that’s not the worst thing wrong with them but also when you’re *in charge of America* it is quite important

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 25d

Awesome to see the former ‘greatest country in the world’ is run by people who don’t know the difference between correlation and causation I mean I know these days that’s not the worst thing wrong with them but also when you’re *in charge of America* it is quite important

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 29d

(I mean, not just my job: everyone’s job, obvs, but this is MY ridiculous complaint space)

a man says it 's too much while standing in front of a window

Reposted by Helen Rye

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · Sep 17

‘EU-wide data shows that sexual violence is committed by European nationals who are known to the woman…The problem is spelled M-E-N. Women’s rights organisations are rejecting your cynical weaponisation of our pain for your racist agenda. I have my voice. Don’t you DARE claim to represent it.’ AMEN

Silkabelli (mutazione-piromane Edition) @silkabelli.bsky.social · Sep 16

Queen

5 15

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · 29d

Oh my GOD, there is so much brilliant writing in our journal submissions queue right now and it's basically making my job so freaking hard, you guys

ALT: a man says it 's too much while standing in front of a window

media.tenor.com

1 8

Reposted by Helen Rye

SmokeLong Quarterly @smokelong.bsky.social · Sep 17

Announcing our nominations for the inaugural Monarch Queer Literary Awards! @monarch.gay @fifthwheelpress.bsky.social 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @seaheye.bsky.social, Sam Mainz, @jjpena.bsky.social, @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social, and C Ray Borck

8 18

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · Sep 17

@tawseefkhan.bsky.social

Reposted by Helen Rye

Monarch Queer Literary Awards @monarch.gay · Aug 1

Hello, friends! We're Monarch Queer Literary Awards, a project of @fifthwheelpress.bsky.social. Monarch is a new anthology recognizing the best new queer writing and art published by literary magazines and independent presses. 🦋

Submissions open September 1. Until then, get to know us: monarch.gay

Hi, we’re Monarch. Monarch Queer Literary Awards is a new anthology recognizing the best new queer writing and art published by literary magazines and independent presses. We aim to uplift the groundbreaking and often under-celebrated poems, short stories, essays, and artwork that are published in magazines, chapbooks, zines, and other collections.

More about Monarch. We want to celebrate excellence in all regards: great writing and great community stewardship. While submissions from both emerging and established publications will (of course) be given equal consideration, we really hope to see some of our longstanding community members come out and join us in the revelry of it all!

Submit to Monarch. We will accept submissions from September 1 through November 30, 2025. Submissions must come from the editor or editors of the publication. Journals and independent presses are eligible. The work must have been initially published between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, either online or in print.

1 16 25

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · Sep 17

‘I devoured this book’—Ziggy the Rabbit, UK

image of copy of the book Once Upon a Time by Marina Warner, chewed up by a rabbit

Helen Rye @helenrye.bsky.social · Sep 17

Trying to work in the same room as a house bunny with the zoomies demanding constant attention, as if my own brain doing that wasn't enough

cute tan and black small lop-eared rabbit staring intently up for attention before shooting off again