Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mari Ness, writer of things

@mariness.bsky.social

2.6K followers 100 following 8.1K posts

I write things. Occasionally they get published. Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness

medium.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · Apr 6

So yes, delighted to say that I am one of the inaugural finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem, alongside @angelaliu.bsky.social, @aijiang.bsky.social,
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · Apr 6

So, this happened!!!

List of the three finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem: Calypso, by Oliver K. Langmead (Titan), "Ever Noir," by Mari Ness (Haven Spec Magazine, Issue 16, July 2024), "There Are No Taxis for the Dead," by Angela Liu (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58), 219 ballots cast for 266 nominees, Finalists range 11 to 26.

35 20 140

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 3h

This one is definitely hoping that staying in his current position will result in additional distribution of his very favorite cat treats.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 3h

Alas, I will not be able to make this event, but spreading the word:

Flame Tree Press is hosting a REAL LIVE PARTY at World Fantasy Convention at 7 pm on October 31st (that's right, Hallowe'en!) - and rumor has it that you can pick up a copy of ACHILLES, which has a short story by ME, while there!

2 3

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 3h

The main problem with cats is just how easy it is to get trapped beneath them.

3 1 6

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 14h

I've had to withdraw from a couple of contracts when the editors/publishers were unwilling to answer questions or discuss potential changes. It sucks. I hated doing so.

And in each case, a few years later I found out, through gossip, that I'd dodged major problems.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 14h

And again, in my experience, if a short fiction/poetry/essay editor is not willing to answer questions about contracts, or discuss changes, that's a HUGE RED FLAG.

1 5

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 14h

BTW, since the subject has now come up, in my experience, most editors/publishers of short fiction/poetry/essays have no problems answering questions about contracts.

Key word there is "most."

1 6

Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things

🪦"Pushing Up" Daisy 🥀 @daisyfm.net · 15h

What if corporations talked about other things we don't want the same way they talk about AI?

"Poisonous mushrooms are here to stay, so here's 10 delicious poisonous mushroom recipes!"

"Mosquitoes are here to stay, so our new line of laptops are filled with live mosquitoes!"

1 50 140

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

I think it improves in later seasons, for the record, once it gets past the short stories and into the books.

1 1

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

....how have I not pushed you into watching this before?

1 1

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

I MOSTLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE PUBLISHER DIRECTLY ABOUT CONTRACTS instead of Adobe Acrobat's AI assistant, especially since, and I can't overstate this enough, Adobe DIDN'T WRITE THIS CONTRACT! THE PUBLISHER DID!

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

It's telling me to ask the AI assistant questions about a publishing contract!

Like, Adobe Acrobat CREATES PDF FILES. How is it supposed to talk to me about rights reversions and exclusivity?

1 4

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

And just...I'd like to be able to work with this publisher in the future (the publisher is fine, and the contract is fine!) but if I can't SIGN THE CONTRACT and provide a mailing address that's going to be tricky.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

This is unbelievable. It just kept jumping up everywhere every single time I tried to type something, and was claiming that I needed to open the assistant in order to sign the document.

2 4

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

Also, Adobe, if I have questions about a contract, I will ASK THE PUBLISHER, not your AI program.

Your AI program is not going to be answering my questions about, say, rights reversions!

(Which are very clear in this particular contract, but haven't always been clear in other contracts.)

1 1 7

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

Sigh. Stop asking me to ask the AI Assistant why this information is important. It's important BECAUSE IT'S MY MAILING ADDRESS, which in this particular case yes, THE PUBLISHER NEEDS TO HAVE.

1 8

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

The really fun part is that this particular contract has a whole section about how I guarantee that everything I'm providing is human generated, and that I did not use any AI tools, which was all true RIGHT UP UNTIL NOW WHEN ADOBE IS TRYING TO FORCE ME TO USE AI.

1 2 4

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

I don't want to ask the AI assistant anything, Adobe. I just want to type in my address and send this off.

1 8

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

Sigh. Adobe Acrobat, I DO NOT NEED AI POWERED PDF SPACES.

I just need to be able to sign this contract. That's it. THAT'S LITERALLY IT. The contract already has all sorts of very nice spaces where I can put in my name and the date and we're good to go IF YOU STOP OFFERING ME AI CRAP.

2 2 21

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

I'm expecting this one to end up on a number of year's bests and awards lists.

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 15h

THE RIVER HAS ROOTS, by Amal El-Mohtar.

1 5

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 1d

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 2d

@carolinemyoachim.bsky.social's WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ wins the #2025IgnyteAwards in Outstanding Short Story
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/we-w...

2025 Winner Outstanding Short Story: WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ | WE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO READ by Caroline M. Yoachim

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 1

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

This is an OUTSTANDING choice.

Congratulations!!!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations to Fasasi Ridwan who wins the #2025IgnyteAwards for Outstanding Speculative Poetry for RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...

2025 Winner: Outstanding Speculative Poetry:
RELIVING: POST TRAUMA OF THE LEKKI TOLLGATE MASSACRE by Fasasi Ridwan

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

....so yeah, once again I'm incredibly biased here, but if you need some positive speculative poetry in your life, and/or need proof that yes, I AM capable of writing the occasional positive/optimistic piece, the paperback and ebook are for sale everywhere:

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worlds-of-...

Worlds of Possibility -Poetry|eBook

This volume collects 43 poems originally published in the magazine version of Worlds of Possibility. Spanning science fiction and fantasy, these poems show us wondrous landscapes, whimsical adventures...

www.barnesandnoble.com

Mari Ness, writer of things @mariness.bsky.social · 2d

The Worlds of Possibility anthology ALSO includes poems by Hugo Award winner Marie Brennan AND Hugo finalist Angela Liu, PLUS poems from other favorite poets including C.S.E. Cooney, Elizabeth R. McClellan, Sara Norja, and Bogi Takács!!!!!

2 1 1