Jim Keplinger
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jimkeplinger.bsky.social
Jim Keplinger
@jimkeplinger.bsky.social
Storyteller, entrepreneur, scientist, magician, and all-around swell guy.
"So, what genre is your book?"
"Thriller....er...mystery...er, um...upmarket conspiracy thriller?"

I'm learning there are questions I dread. I have also learned "just read the damn thing" is apparently the wrong answer.

#writing #BookSky
August 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Groovy news: my #FlashFiction “Doors Don’t Whisper” took 1st (Short, Short Story—Military Experience) in the local (Indiana) VA Creative Arts Festival and advances to national judging. Results Jan 2026. A small story about fear, change, and choosing the next door.
#VeteransCreativeArts
August 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If you think this new executive order is about making you safer,
I’ve got bad news. [thread follows]
April 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
This letter appeared in the Bloomsburg PA Press Enterprise this morning. I am assured the writer is who he purports to be, an Air Force veteran.
March 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
Dear Dems. This is a reminder that Donald Trump rescinded the ethics rules preventing gifts to executive branch employees.

Now would be a good time to propose legislation formalizing the prevention into a law

Time to do things that make him react to you.
apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has canceled Biden's ethics rules. Critics call it the opposite of 'drain the swamp'
Donald Trump took office eight years ago pledging to “drain the swamp” of the dominance of Washington influence peddlers.
apnews.com
February 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
Have you seen this? I'm so proud of our Park Rangers. This was no easy feet.
February 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I just read an article about a record setting cricket match. I'm not sure if I've ever read so many words I knew used in sentences I couldn't make any sense of. I clearly have no clue how this game plays.
January 26, 2025 at 5:14 AM
I feel like I'm deboning a chicken evertime I rip a chapter out of this novel. It's for the best, I don't want the reader to choke on them, but I hate the blood and guts all over the floor. #WritingCommunity #AmEditing
January 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
"Then I watched him dig up a crumpled pack of cigarettes, spear his mouth with one, strike a match on the counter, after missing twice on his thumb nail, and inhale with a lot of very poor nonchalance that he knew wasn't going over." - Raymond Chandler, "Finger Man."

Mercy, that's masterful. #write
January 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
Love this one!
January 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I thought in November I was ready to #query my new manuscript, I was wrong. I clawed it back, took another pass, and now I'm feeling far better about it. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more! Anyone feeling frisky and wants to make agent introductions, drop a DM, I'd love to chat!
January 8, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The Weather Channel has named this winter storm "Blair." If the season ends without a "Natalie," "Jo," and "Tootie," I'm going to be very disappointed.
January 5, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Today is apparently about digging out weak words in this #manuscript. No matter how many I'm certain I didn't write, they seem to gather like Cubs fans in dive bars. #AmEditing
December 27, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Happy #amediting accident of the week: I realized that a minor character really has legs and needs her own novel and the bones of the outline virtually wrote itself this morning. Once I get the current one to bed, I know where to go next. Hooray!
December 17, 2024 at 1:07 AM
Creature Commandoes is brilliant. The soundtrack is even better. Gogol Bordello is heavily featured. Finally, "Start Wearing Purple" gets the fight scene it deserves.
December 7, 2024 at 4:02 AM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
Happy Thanksgiving from Big Bang Comics.
November 28, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Today's editing amusement, I spent about an hour and a half rewriting one paragraph. Obviously, a very important paragraph. This is what I get for reading Raymond Chandler late at night. #WitingCommunity #amediting
November 25, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Several days into the querying quagmire, I have discovered a far better way to handle chapter one...you know, the most important chapter in the novel. Normally I'm not one to second-guess myself or redo work, but here I am, positive it's the right move. #amquerying #amediting #writingcommunity
November 21, 2024 at 10:20 PM
This is not surprising me at all. This place has better carpets.
This is particularly gratifying.
Despite a massive head start, BlueSky has now overtaken Threads in the US 👇
November 21, 2024 at 12:14 AM
After spending the afternoon banging my head against the manuscript considering whether I should rewrite the first chapter or not, I finally remembered I own a sauna. Yes, that was the right decision. Some days ya just need to sit in a hot box and sweat the story out. #WritingCommunity #Writing
November 20, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Well, that's genius.
November 20, 2024 at 9:46 PM
It has begun: The first query rejection of the new manuscript. Fortunately, I developed a very tough skin for these things years ago and consider the first rejection proof that I am now moving forward. So...um...hooray? #amquerying
November 18, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Jim Keplinger
A frustrating thing for me right now is the media narrative that RFK Jr is just an “anti-vaxxer” when he has said so many crazy things about other stuff over the years. We compiled 10 nutty clips on various topics, which still barely scratches the surface. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
'Viruses Are Our Friend'— 10 Off the Wall Video Clips from RFK Jr. Resurface on Bluesky
Past comments include denying AIDS and calling vaccinated children "damaged"
open.substack.com
November 15, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Today I have shut down the sun putting together targeted query letters to only the most compatible agents IMHO. Now to wait and see if they agree with my assessment.
#amquerying
November 16, 2024 at 11:17 PM