buy my book
@nmamatas.bsky.social
Buy KALIVAS! OR, ANOTHER TEMPEST from my local bookstore now:
https://www.ebbooksellers.com/item/Hq3ZF19tm0p_ea_Y-YTFdA
https://www.ebbooksellers.com/item/Hq3ZF19tm0p_ea_Y-YTFdA
Pinned
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@nmamatas.bsky.social
· Jan 27
Don't tell me what to skeet.
Don't tell me what not to skeet.
Read my skeets before replying to them.
Reply to the skeet as written, not to the imaginary other person who wrote some other skeet in your mind that made you mad at someone who is not me.
Don't tell me what not to skeet.
Read my skeets before replying to them.
Reply to the skeet as written, not to the imaginary other person who wrote some other skeet in your mind that made you mad at someone who is not me.
Reposted by buy my book
One more thing before I shut up about this…having seen Online use literally any shred of available information about writers to discredit and insult them, the idea that writers must disclose their finances is insane.
We have zero obligation to tell the outrage engine anything about ourselves.
We have zero obligation to tell the outrage engine anything about ourselves.
So next time people wanna ask about why authors don’t talk about their personal finances online to strangers let’s all remember how strangers online behave to writers.
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 5:54 PM
One more thing before I shut up about this…having seen Online use literally any shred of available information about writers to discredit and insult them, the idea that writers must disclose their finances is insane.
We have zero obligation to tell the outrage engine anything about ourselves.
We have zero obligation to tell the outrage engine anything about ourselves.
Reposted by buy my book
Mostly, writers aren't rich. In India an anglophone writer is usually at least middle class by default, but I don't personally know any who earn c-suite level incomes. Mamatas points out the many ways writers make earning a living work, but of course there's also a failure and drop out rate.
OH is that quoted bit the cause of the day's issues? Gosh, here's the real secret.
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
i mean it's odd to say "tell us how you make your money" and then not actually let us respond, but
Hello, I make my money from writing books and through the kindness of people who bail me out of emergencies on ko-fi and kick in a few bucks a month on patreon
my biggest advance was $15k per book
Hello, I make my money from writing books and through the kindness of people who bail me out of emergencies on ko-fi and kick in a few bucks a month on patreon
my biggest advance was $15k per book
November 26, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Mostly, writers aren't rich. In India an anglophone writer is usually at least middle class by default, but I don't personally know any who earn c-suite level incomes. Mamatas points out the many ways writers make earning a living work, but of course there's also a failure and drop out rate.
Speaking of, @ebbooksellers.bsky.social is currently out of Kalivas! Or Another Tempest so this is a good time to place YOUR order so they can get more copies for me to sign and ship to you after the holiday weekend!
Can ONE TENTH of ONE PERCENT of my skeeties do this?
Can ONE TENTH of ONE PERCENT of my skeeties do this?
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Speaking of, @ebbooksellers.bsky.social is currently out of Kalivas! Or Another Tempest so this is a good time to place YOUR order so they can get more copies for me to sign and ship to you after the holiday weekend!
Can ONE TENTH of ONE PERCENT of my skeeties do this?
Can ONE TENTH of ONE PERCENT of my skeeties do this?
Reposted by buy my book
I actually have started writing down my favorite, trusted online recipes in a binder because I am not sure the sites will survive.
When I traveled overseas last year, I bought a paper travel guide, something that I never thought I would do again.
When I traveled overseas last year, I bought a paper travel guide, something that I never thought I would do again.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I actually have started writing down my favorite, trusted online recipes in a binder because I am not sure the sites will survive.
When I traveled overseas last year, I bought a paper travel guide, something that I never thought I would do again.
When I traveled overseas last year, I bought a paper travel guide, something that I never thought I would do again.
Floating boats is MUCH more gay!
I got kicked in elementary school at one point for looking at my fingernails in a “gay” way.
I was told at one point it was queer to say “to each, their own” rather than “whatever floats your boat, dude”.
Those 2 things made me aware that gender norms are l made up & policed by the insecure.
I was told at one point it was queer to say “to each, their own” rather than “whatever floats your boat, dude”.
Those 2 things made me aware that gender norms are l made up & policed by the insecure.
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Floating boats is MUCH more gay!
Reposted by buy my book
I didn't know his work was being taken out of print! He's great. I skipped school once to attend a signing of his at the comic shop in Bonn. I met my dad standing in line; he totally approved.
November 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I didn't know his work was being taken out of print! He's great. I skipped school once to attend a signing of his at the comic shop in Bonn. I met my dad standing in line; he totally approved.
Reposted by buy my book
So next time people wanna ask about why authors don’t talk about their personal finances online to strangers let’s all remember how strangers online behave to writers.
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 2:21 PM
So next time people wanna ask about why authors don’t talk about their personal finances online to strangers let’s all remember how strangers online behave to writers.
All of this reminds me of when I was publishing with Dark Horse and my editor told me he was leaving to pursue full-time freelance writing, which I thought was strange as the US was just emerging from the economic meltdown of 2008-2010. So I asked "Why?" and he said...
"I make $12.50 an hour here."
"I make $12.50 an hour here."
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
All of this reminds me of when I was publishing with Dark Horse and my editor told me he was leaving to pursue full-time freelance writing, which I thought was strange as the US was just emerging from the economic meltdown of 2008-2010. So I asked "Why?" and he said...
"I make $12.50 an hour here."
"I make $12.50 an hour here."
Reposted by buy my book
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 11:07 PM
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.
Reposted by buy my book
The Only Conversation I Ever Have With Strangers As A Writer: A One Act Play
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Cool! Would I have read anything you’ve written?”
“Probably not!”
“Oh. So…do you make a living from that?”
“Not a good one.”
“Oh.”
Fin
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Cool! Would I have read anything you’ve written?”
“Probably not!”
“Oh. So…do you make a living from that?”
“Not a good one.”
“Oh.”
Fin
Of the few responses the OP allowed through, the concern seemed to be that "baby writers" should not feel like failures for not being full-timers, that low advances are somehow a secret etc etc.
I dunno tho, whenever I tell a stranger I'm a writer I get asked, "Yeah, but how do you pay your rent?"
I dunno tho, whenever I tell a stranger I'm a writer I get asked, "Yeah, but how do you pay your rent?"
November 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
The Only Conversation I Ever Have With Strangers As A Writer: A One Act Play
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Cool! Would I have read anything you’ve written?”
“Probably not!”
“Oh. So…do you make a living from that?”
“Not a good one.”
“Oh.”
Fin
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Cool! Would I have read anything you’ve written?”
“Probably not!”
“Oh. So…do you make a living from that?”
“Not a good one.”
“Oh.”
Fin
Reposted by buy my book
Free publishing advice: it is a good idea, before saying something online about publishing/writing/writers, to ask yourself:
“Is this true, like ‘I have evidence for this’ true, or just something I wish was true, as part of my larger set of personal grievances.”
“Is this true, like ‘I have evidence for this’ true, or just something I wish was true, as part of my larger set of personal grievances.”
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Free publishing advice: it is a good idea, before saying something online about publishing/writing/writers, to ask yourself:
“Is this true, like ‘I have evidence for this’ true, or just something I wish was true, as part of my larger set of personal grievances.”
“Is this true, like ‘I have evidence for this’ true, or just something I wish was true, as part of my larger set of personal grievances.”
Reposted by buy my book
I once saw someone on Reddit justify pirating my book as "a tax on the golden elite."
I had no other employment at that point in time, and hadn't received an advance on my book. I literally had no money.
Those words made me want to cry, and to never write another word for publication.
I had no other employment at that point in time, and hadn't received an advance on my book. I literally had no money.
Those words made me want to cry, and to never write another word for publication.
November 26, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I once saw someone on Reddit justify pirating my book as "a tax on the golden elite."
I had no other employment at that point in time, and hadn't received an advance on my book. I literally had no money.
Those words made me want to cry, and to never write another word for publication.
I had no other employment at that point in time, and hadn't received an advance on my book. I literally had no money.
Those words made me want to cry, and to never write another word for publication.
Connections
Puzzle #898
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Puzzle #898
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Connections
Puzzle #898
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Puzzle #898
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
But who are these people who insist that it is a commonly held misconception that all you need to do is write and publish a book to make a middle-class living?
I won't bother asking about the people who hold the embedded misconception because I do not believe they exist in any significant number.
I won't bother asking about the people who hold the embedded misconception because I do not believe they exist in any significant number.
November 26, 2025 at 7:11 AM
But who are these people who insist that it is a commonly held misconception that all you need to do is write and publish a book to make a middle-class living?
I won't bother asking about the people who hold the embedded misconception because I do not believe they exist in any significant number.
I won't bother asking about the people who hold the embedded misconception because I do not believe they exist in any significant number.
Reposted by buy my book
There was a defensive afterword to the edition Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius I read where Eggers broke down where the money went and I was young probably washing dishes and I remember thinking, yeah, I have living expenses too.
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 AM
There was a defensive afterword to the edition Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius I read where Eggers broke down where the money went and I was young probably washing dishes and I remember thinking, yeah, I have living expenses too.
OH is that quoted bit the cause of the day's issues? Gosh, here's the real secret.
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
i mean it's odd to say "tell us how you make your money" and then not actually let us respond, but
Hello, I make my money from writing books and through the kindness of people who bail me out of emergencies on ko-fi and kick in a few bucks a month on patreon
my biggest advance was $15k per book
Hello, I make my money from writing books and through the kindness of people who bail me out of emergencies on ko-fi and kick in a few bucks a month on patreon
my biggest advance was $15k per book
November 26, 2025 at 5:44 AM
OH is that quoted bit the cause of the day's issues? Gosh, here's the real secret.
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
Many writers don't need to pretend that they make their money from the book; they do make their money from the books.
They're just poor. They make as much money as their neighbors who are CNAs or Walmart greeters. 🧵
Reposted by buy my book
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 buy my book
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
Reposted by buy my book
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 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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.
Pie is good.
Pumpkin gloop is bad.
Eat a berry pie or a chocolate pie, you fools, YOU FOOLS!
Pumpkin gloop is bad.
Eat a berry pie or a chocolate pie, you fools, YOU FOOLS!
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Pie is good.
Pumpkin gloop is bad.
Eat a berry pie or a chocolate pie, you fools, YOU FOOLS!
Pumpkin gloop is bad.
Eat a berry pie or a chocolate pie, you fools, YOU FOOLS!
Reposted by buy my book
Just heard back from the library about my request for a copy of kalivas or another tempest by nick mamatas. Apparently they have a form on the website and I am not supposed to be submitting requests by sticking them to the front door with a hunting knife. Who knew?! Technology really is a miracle!
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Just heard back from the library about my request for a copy of kalivas or another tempest by nick mamatas. Apparently they have a form on the website and I am not supposed to be submitting requests by sticking them to the front door with a hunting knife. Who knew?! Technology really is a miracle!
YOU KNOW OF ALL THE SKEETS ON THIS MORNING'S THREAD WHY ARE SO MANY OF YOU LIKING THIS ONE OH BOY NICK ISN'T IN STORES ANYMORE HAHAHA YAY VALENTINE'S DAY HEARTS FOREVER
Just kidding. Barnes & Noble has totally burned me. You're not going to find my books there.
November 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
YOU KNOW OF ALL THE SKEETS ON THIS MORNING'S THREAD WHY ARE SO MANY OF YOU LIKING THIS ONE OH BOY NICK ISN'T IN STORES ANYMORE HAHAHA YAY VALENTINE'S DAY HEARTS FOREVER
Reposted by buy my book
My soon to be 12 year old niece just showed me this animated cartoon she’s really into (she went as one of the characters for Halloween) and it’s pretty cool but I’m like “wow this is a little bleak” and looked it up and apparently it’s based on Harlan Ellison’s “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream”
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
My soon to be 12 year old niece just showed me this animated cartoon she’s really into (she went as one of the characters for Halloween) and it’s pretty cool but I’m like “wow this is a little bleak” and looked it up and apparently it’s based on Harlan Ellison’s “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream”
The most absurd part of the current controversy over military orders are all the right-wingers saying "Buh...WHUT illegal orders?!" between explosions of small fishing boats that mayyyyy (what, me worry?) have drugs on them or may have just had fishermen on them.
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The most absurd part of the current controversy over military orders are all the right-wingers saying "Buh...WHUT illegal orders?!" between explosions of small fishing boats that mayyyyy (what, me worry?) have drugs on them or may have just had fishermen on them.
Reposted by buy my book
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.