Joyce Reynolds-Ward
@joycereynoldsward.bsky.social
Writer of speculative fiction from the wide open spaces. Rural liberal. Dispenser of horse cookies to the fancy-stepping Marker-boi. Former special ed teacher who's forgotten more about cognitive assessment than most people knew. #SFWA
Pinned
Wow. I guess #BookTok has shown up here? Well, anyway, welcome to my new followers.
So here's how I do things.
I tend to keep my followbacks low until I get to know you as an account management tool. I use the OnlyPosts and Spec List feeds primarily.
Gotta have time to write.
What do I write? 1/5
So here's how I do things.
I tend to keep my followbacks low until I get to know you as an account management tool. I use the OnlyPosts and Spec List feeds primarily.
Gotta have time to write.
What do I write? 1/5
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
The class traitor is the poor person who robs the poor and gives to themself
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The class traitor is the poor person who robs the poor and gives to themself
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
The 21st century marxist is someone who pirates books and then gets mad when there's not enough fan service
November 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The 21st century marxist is someone who pirates books and then gets mad when there's not enough fan service
THIS (with regard to the piracy argument).
Some people just don't get it.
In fact, actual poor people often have the highest appreciation of property rights.
In fact, actual poor people often have the highest appreciation of property rights.
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
THIS (with regard to the piracy argument).
Yep. And I'm old enough to remember when the arguments from the pirating crowd were "information wants to be free!" rather than poverty-based. Same crowd.
During the piracy discussion yesterday, someone was like, I'm not a thief & you're mocking poor people.
Then, after being reminded of the existence of libraries, ended the conversation with a passionate insistence that they will continue to 'steal' whatever they wanted.
Case closed.
Then, after being reminded of the existence of libraries, ended the conversation with a passionate insistence that they will continue to 'steal' whatever they wanted.
Case closed.
November 26, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Yep. And I'm old enough to remember when the arguments from the pirating crowd were "information wants to be free!" rather than poverty-based. Same crowd.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Why in fantasy movies are ancient secret languages always m relatively easy to pronounce for anglophones? I have trouble saying shitsureeshimasu or smaoineachadh, but a gormless teenager can open any old grimoire and rattle off a whole sentence in forgotten tongue made to suit inhuman mouths?
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Why in fantasy movies are ancient secret languages always m relatively easy to pronounce for anglophones? I have trouble saying shitsureeshimasu or smaoineachadh, but a gormless teenager can open any old grimoire and rattle off a whole sentence in forgotten tongue made to suit inhuman mouths?
Same here. I can think of multiple use cases which don't involve stealing people's work in order to train text/image/audio generators that would be a lot more useful than said generators.
But...it's those generators that keep getting shoved down our throats.
But...it's those generators that keep getting shoved down our throats.
I can't speak for all of bluesky but I'm fully aware that machine learning has genuinely good applications outside of the crap they're selling us as 'AI' text/image/audio generators. Please don't assume ignorance just because people aren't corporate shills.
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Same here. I can think of multiple use cases which don't involve stealing people's work in order to train text/image/audio generators that would be a lot more useful than said generators.
But...it's those generators that keep getting shoved down our throats.
But...it's those generators that keep getting shoved down our throats.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Aramis craves violence
November 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Aramis craves violence
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
It's never "let's fund free music education at every public school so all children can learn how to make music." Instead it's letting billionaires steal the labor of musicians to make a shitty slop machine.
All AI music does is devalue the work done by human artists. It’s not accessibility, it’s exploitation. We need real protections for artists against AI!
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
November 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
It's never "let's fund free music education at every public school so all children can learn how to make music." Instead it's letting billionaires steal the labor of musicians to make a shitty slop machine.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
"I'm stealing from people who make little money from labor to bring beauty into the world because I'm a MARXIST"
Communists who want communism to be POPULAR with WORKERS should find these people and parade them through the streets in a painful shame ritual involving rotten eggs being hurled at them
Communists who want communism to be POPULAR with WORKERS should find these people and parade them through the streets in a painful shame ritual involving rotten eggs being hurled at them
We’re not small business owners, ffs - we’re independent contractors, and we are routinely robbed by the world’s dumbest dingbats.
![A quote-tweet with the profile blocked out because I won’t be accused of sending flying monkeys at this digital turd.
counterpoint: pirate everything all the time. pirate a sandwich. download a car. abscond from from small business owner mindset with your brain
[High Priestess, Low Patie... • @cherie... • 14h
Re: previous post - People who steal art of any kind are assholes, full stop. If *you* deserve to be paid for your labor, so do I - and so does everybody else; this means writers, visual artists, musicians, and every other category of People Who Make Things.]
• • •
every time vulgar leftism pipes in from the sidelines of petit bourgeoisdom i am forced to become 8.75% more marxist](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ssvkga34xug334b66hvrje/bafkreigp2f33rtfu62kqjygnsxhg3jxxs6udwuyisipmyqrh5ew4c6kbyi@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 2:45 AM
"I'm stealing from people who make little money from labor to bring beauty into the world because I'm a MARXIST"
Communists who want communism to be POPULAR with WORKERS should find these people and parade them through the streets in a painful shame ritual involving rotten eggs being hurled at them
Communists who want communism to be POPULAR with WORKERS should find these people and parade them through the streets in a painful shame ritual involving rotten eggs being hurled at them
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
A good portion of people live in rural areas, where quick access to medical care isn't an easy task like it is in a big city. Botulism in infants needs to be detected and treated FAST, or the results can be horrendous. Organic is mainly a marketing term and doesn't not mean the best product.
I am changing my recommendation about buying ByHeart baby formula.
Earlier, I suggested not buying it “for the next little while”.
Now, I suggest considering “never” buying it.
An “organic” product does not mean a safe product.
Earlier, I suggested not buying it “for the next little while”.
Now, I suggest considering “never” buying it.
An “organic” product does not mean a safe product.
ByHeart baby formula from all lots may be contaminated with botulism bacteria, tests show
The makers of ByHeart infant formula say tests of products tied to a botulism outbreak show that all of the company's products may have been contaminated.
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:53 AM
A good portion of people live in rural areas, where quick access to medical care isn't an easy task like it is in a big city. Botulism in infants needs to be detected and treated FAST, or the results can be horrendous. Organic is mainly a marketing term and doesn't not mean the best product.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
My genuine advice to people who want new releases fresh from the oven is become a reviewer and get arcs. Then you get to be ahead of everybody.
You do kinda have to get along with authors for this to work the best that it can tho.
You do kinda have to get along with authors for this to work the best that it can tho.
"I have to pirate because I'm on a fixed income, otherwise I am ALIENATED FROM POP CULTURE."
stg I feel like I'm having a stroke with this app, I gotta put Freedom back up and pretend it doesn't exist.
Is this a thing? Do people need to all engage with the same entertainment at the same time?
stg I feel like I'm having a stroke with this app, I gotta put Freedom back up and pretend it doesn't exist.
Is this a thing? Do people need to all engage with the same entertainment at the same time?
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
My genuine advice to people who want new releases fresh from the oven is become a reviewer and get arcs. Then you get to be ahead of everybody.
You do kinda have to get along with authors for this to work the best that it can tho.
You do kinda have to get along with authors for this to work the best that it can tho.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
I don't care what gender you are, the answer to your emotional distress has never been and will never be "bring a literal new human life into the world", my god
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I don't care what gender you are, the answer to your emotional distress has never been and will never be "bring a literal new human life into the world", my god
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Something people need to understand: There’s no code to crack in book publishing.
November 26, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Something people need to understand: There’s no code to crack in book publishing.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
it says something interesting that the People Arguing With Will Stancil assume as a background baseline that literally everyone in the country, or at least everyone who matters, lives in NYC
It’s a big, big country, and while “living in NYC” is the modal experience, it is very, very far from the average experience
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 AM
it says something interesting that the People Arguing With Will Stancil assume as a background baseline that literally everyone in the country, or at least everyone who matters, lives in NYC
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Don't forget Glen Cook. Worked on a GM assembly line until retirement.
November 26, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Don't forget Glen Cook. Worked on a GM assembly line until retirement.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
I couldn't afford to move to Denver in 2021 when my job at the time did. The reality is many of these metro areas have largely caught up with "high cost coastal" metro areas in recent years.
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I couldn't afford to move to Denver in 2021 when my job at the time did. The reality is many of these metro areas have largely caught up with "high cost coastal" metro areas in recent years.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Average rent is not affordable with average incomes in Baltimore and elsewhere. Data repeatedly show this. Why are we pretending that affordability is a concern limited to “high-cost coastal” areas?
November 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Average rent is not affordable with average incomes in Baltimore and elsewhere. Data repeatedly show this. Why are we pretending that affordability is a concern limited to “high-cost coastal” areas?
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Don’t pirate books! And if you do, stfu about it and stop pretending it’s some kind of moral or Marxist or revolutionary stance. Just be brave and own the fact that you don’t care that you are a thief who doesn’t care about artists.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Don’t pirate books! And if you do, stfu about it and stop pretending it’s some kind of moral or Marxist or revolutionary stance. Just be brave and own the fact that you don’t care that you are a thief who doesn’t care about artists.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
I promise you're not the only selfish soi disant Marxist. Hell, you might even be among the majority!
Don’t pirate books! And if you do, stfu about it and stop pretending it’s some kind of moral or Marxist or revolutionary stance. Just be brave and own the fact that you don’t care that you are a thief who doesn’t care about artists.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 26, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I promise you're not the only selfish soi disant Marxist. Hell, you might even be among the majority!
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
The reality is, there are sometimes areas and communities that simply are not ripe for organizing, or at least organizing around liberatory values.
Sometimes they're just too hate pickled.
Sometimes they just haven't lost enough, yet.
Sometimes they've recently been burned by organizing.
Sometimes they're just too hate pickled.
Sometimes they just haven't lost enough, yet.
Sometimes they've recently been burned by organizing.
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 AM
The reality is, there are sometimes areas and communities that simply are not ripe for organizing, or at least organizing around liberatory values.
Sometimes they're just too hate pickled.
Sometimes they just haven't lost enough, yet.
Sometimes they've recently been burned by organizing.
Sometimes they're just too hate pickled.
Sometimes they just haven't lost enough, yet.
Sometimes they've recently been burned by organizing.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Non fiction authors usually supplement their book income with public speaking, consulting, have full time jobs or they're in academia.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Non fiction authors usually supplement their book income with public speaking, consulting, have full time jobs or they're in academia.
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
People are very coy about being sponsored by someone else but I swear to God behind 90% of successful journalists there's a spouse in IT or a family that made good
And good for them. They're making it work. I'm not mad at them, but I am furious at this entire industry and inches from quitting
And good for them. They're making it work. I'm not mad at them, but I am furious at this entire industry and inches from quitting
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
People are very coy about being sponsored by someone else but I swear to God behind 90% of successful journalists there's a spouse in IT or a family that made good
And good for them. They're making it work. I'm not mad at them, but I am furious at this entire industry and inches from quitting
And good for them. They're making it work. I'm not mad at them, but I am furious at this entire industry and inches from quitting
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
If you're ever wondered why journalists seem so out of touch most of the time it's because in order to establish yourself you need to either come from money, marry into money, or be OK with abject poverty and daily financial panic
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 PM
If you're ever wondered why journalists seem so out of touch most of the time it's because in order to establish yourself you need to either come from money, marry into money, or be OK with abject poverty and daily financial panic
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
This is why we all freak out about theft btw, bc just a few copies can make an actual, real difference. you would be surprised at how few copies someone needs to make it onto a bestseller list
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
This is why we all freak out about theft btw, bc just a few copies can make an actual, real difference. you would be surprised at how few copies someone needs to make it onto a bestseller list
Reposted by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
yes. if not for my husband’s health insurance/salary + some money my family gave me while i built my business, it’s unlikely i would be where i am—something for which i’m all too aware, and all too grateful. success in writing = talent + perseverance + coverage of human necessities.
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
November 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
yes. if not for my husband’s health insurance/salary + some money my family gave me while i built my business, it’s unlikely i would be where i am—something for which i’m all too aware, and all too grateful. success in writing = talent + perseverance + coverage of human necessities.