Magpie
@shy-magpie.bsky.social
Queer; Jewish; SF/F/H Fan; still not sure what goes in these things; over 30; they/them;
Pinned
Magpie
@shy-magpie.bsky.social
· Jul 29
FYI its nothing personal if I don't follow you/follow you back, my brain has is fried and vetting people takes a lot of spoons. Even if I recognize you from somewhere else, I'm probably not going to follow until we've interacted so much I think I already have
Been getting more followers, so sharing this again. You're welcome to follow, you're welcome to lurk, my not following back means nothing. Also I have a near block on the ability to recognize people from one site to another unless they spell it out directly, it doesn't mean I don't value both of you
Reposted by Magpie
Device…hoarding. Because you don’t go get a new one while yours is still fine.
Apparently I am also practicing car hoarding, house hoarding, husband hoarding, dog hoarding, computer hoarding, furniture hoarding and art hoarding.
Apparently I am also practicing car hoarding, house hoarding, husband hoarding, dog hoarding, computer hoarding, furniture hoarding and art hoarding.
stupid young people, stop buying a new phone every year if you don't want to be broke. wait no, not like that.
November 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Device…hoarding. Because you don’t go get a new one while yours is still fine.
Apparently I am also practicing car hoarding, house hoarding, husband hoarding, dog hoarding, computer hoarding, furniture hoarding and art hoarding.
Apparently I am also practicing car hoarding, house hoarding, husband hoarding, dog hoarding, computer hoarding, furniture hoarding and art hoarding.
Reposted by Magpie
Staple this to the forehead of everyone in Congress.
Canada made weird tv shows because it was all being done with government funded art grant money so they fell in this wacky middle ground between “shoestring budget” and “no expectation to generate shareholder value” which is really the best way to make art
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Staple this to the forehead of everyone in Congress.
Reposted by Magpie
folks sticking their heads through the door and shouting "y'all still hate AI?" and getting sad when everyone screams "YES YOU FUCKER" is such a fun holiday game for the whole family.
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
folks sticking their heads through the door and shouting "y'all still hate AI?" and getting sad when everyone screams "YES YOU FUCKER" is such a fun holiday game for the whole family.
Reposted by Magpie
Sending love to my Indigenous and Native friends and mutuals this week.
Friends, please remember this is a day of mourning for many of our Indigenous and Native neighbors for a very good reason. Please be respectful of that, and them.
Friends, please remember this is a day of mourning for many of our Indigenous and Native neighbors for a very good reason. Please be respectful of that, and them.
November 26, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Sending love to my Indigenous and Native friends and mutuals this week.
Friends, please remember this is a day of mourning for many of our Indigenous and Native neighbors for a very good reason. Please be respectful of that, and them.
Friends, please remember this is a day of mourning for many of our Indigenous and Native neighbors for a very good reason. Please be respectful of that, and them.
Reposted by Magpie
~* it’s beginning to look a lot like gay cardinal season *~
November 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM
~* it’s beginning to look a lot like gay cardinal season *~
Reposted by Magpie
"An essential step in the fascist march to acceptance and power was to persuade law-and-order conservatives and members of the middle class to tolerate fascist violence as a harsh necessity in the face of Left provocation."
- Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism
(2004)
- Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism
(2004)
November 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
"An essential step in the fascist march to acceptance and power was to persuade law-and-order conservatives and members of the middle class to tolerate fascist violence as a harsh necessity in the face of Left provocation."
- Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism
(2004)
- Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism
(2004)
Reposted by Magpie
If you're a writer on deadline to write a food vendor and it feels boring or unimportant, that's when you put on your Big Game Writer Pants and make the food vendor's dialogue a sneaky reference to the Chicks' "Goodbye, Earl," LIKE A PROFESSIONAL.
i take frenzy damage every time i see someone go "well i just use it for the boring stuff". what are you TALKING about? if it's boring or unimportant, why are you putting it in? NPC dialogue is fertile ground for worldbuilding, creating verisimilitude, conveying important information, and hijinks!!
Buy a solo indie dev's game because I want to support them.
Find out it uses OpenAI to write "non-important NPC dialogue".
🫠
Find out it uses OpenAI to write "non-important NPC dialogue".
🫠
November 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
If you're a writer on deadline to write a food vendor and it feels boring or unimportant, that's when you put on your Big Game Writer Pants and make the food vendor's dialogue a sneaky reference to the Chicks' "Goodbye, Earl," LIKE A PROFESSIONAL.
Reposted by Magpie
Ran across a thread where the replies were all claiming naming the Creature *anything* is disrespectful to Mary Shelley because him being nameless in the book is important and it's like...yes, it is important in the book. But the book is tragic. He's alone forever. That's good story but sad.
1/4
1/4
November 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Ran across a thread where the replies were all claiming naming the Creature *anything* is disrespectful to Mary Shelley because him being nameless in the book is important and it's like...yes, it is important in the book. But the book is tragic. He's alone forever. That's good story but sad.
1/4
1/4
Reposted by Magpie
I love me some heavy scenes and extreme play. So it’s not that. It’s that you’re asking me to walk into a mine field with you that you have no map to.
Get specific; tell me what you’re curious about, what makes your skin flush, your breath short. Or even that you don’t know, and we can discover.
Get specific; tell me what you’re curious about, what makes your skin flush, your breath short. Or even that you don’t know, and we can discover.
November 26, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I love me some heavy scenes and extreme play. So it’s not that. It’s that you’re asking me to walk into a mine field with you that you have no map to.
Get specific; tell me what you’re curious about, what makes your skin flush, your breath short. Or even that you don’t know, and we can discover.
Get specific; tell me what you’re curious about, what makes your skin flush, your breath short. Or even that you don’t know, and we can discover.
Reposted by Magpie
I’ll say it again.
The biggest red flag for me in a sub is when they tell me that they “Have no limits,” or that I “Can do anything I want.”
This carte blanche isn’t as exciting as you think it is. The sub text here is that you haven’t taken the time to explore or interrogate your limits.
The biggest red flag for me in a sub is when they tell me that they “Have no limits,” or that I “Can do anything I want.”
This carte blanche isn’t as exciting as you think it is. The sub text here is that you haven’t taken the time to explore or interrogate your limits.
November 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I’ll say it again.
The biggest red flag for me in a sub is when they tell me that they “Have no limits,” or that I “Can do anything I want.”
This carte blanche isn’t as exciting as you think it is. The sub text here is that you haven’t taken the time to explore or interrogate your limits.
The biggest red flag for me in a sub is when they tell me that they “Have no limits,” or that I “Can do anything I want.”
This carte blanche isn’t as exciting as you think it is. The sub text here is that you haven’t taken the time to explore or interrogate your limits.
Reposted by Magpie
I ordered one of these last week (because I thought I did it months ago and had not). Sent it directly to the recipient's house.
He got it today!
That means that if you order today, you can probably use it as this year's advent calendar! Learn about eels! Do it!
He got it today!
That means that if you order today, you can probably use it as this year's advent calendar! Learn about eels! Do it!
This year we have sold 31% of the advent calendars that we sold last year 😓
The art is so pretty and colorful 🥺
The facts are so good 🥺
Eels are so cool 🥺
Get an eel facts advent calendar at EelFacts.net
The art is so pretty and colorful 🥺
The facts are so good 🥺
Eels are so cool 🥺
Get an eel facts advent calendar at EelFacts.net
November 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I ordered one of these last week (because I thought I did it months ago and had not). Sent it directly to the recipient's house.
He got it today!
That means that if you order today, you can probably use it as this year's advent calendar! Learn about eels! Do it!
He got it today!
That means that if you order today, you can probably use it as this year's advent calendar! Learn about eels! Do it!
Reposted by Magpie
#GameNightQuotes: "So the Tolkien-themed dancer is named Misty Mountains?"
"Yep."
"That's low-hanging fruit."
"No, he's a different dancer."
"Yep."
"That's low-hanging fruit."
"No, he's a different dancer."
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
#GameNightQuotes: "So the Tolkien-themed dancer is named Misty Mountains?"
"Yep."
"That's low-hanging fruit."
"No, he's a different dancer."
"Yep."
"That's low-hanging fruit."
"No, he's a different dancer."
Reposted by Magpie
If it helps with the decision, there's a Valorverse story in here. Not Torin, but Valorverse. (Previously published in Last-Ditch, a Zombies Need Brains anthology)
Because my children are Gen Alpha monsters, they want to know if I've sold 67 copies of Year's Best Canadian F&SF Vol 3 this month--get it? 6-7 * makes flailing juggling motion and despairs * I'm about 20 copies shy. For Black Friday, want to help an indie publisher pull one over on his kids?
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three: Kotowych, Stephen: 9781738187539: Books - Amazon.ca
a.co
November 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If it helps with the decision, there's a Valorverse story in here. Not Torin, but Valorverse. (Previously published in Last-Ditch, a Zombies Need Brains anthology)
Reposted by Magpie
No idea. West coast artists, got anywhere ethical where you like to buy art stuff?
.. oh, ffs. Where's my corp-smiting carp... >_<
Got a West Coast equivalent?
Got a West Coast equivalent?
November 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
No idea. West coast artists, got anywhere ethical where you like to buy art stuff?
Reposted by Magpie
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Reposted by Magpie
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS! Do not ask me how my writing is going.
Because @lollardfish.bsky.social says we should promote our books: utpress.utexas.edu/9781477313138/
Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back
Triumphant wins, gut-wrenching losses, last-second shots, underdogs, competition, and loyalty—it’s fun to be a fan. But when a football player takes a hi...
utpress.utexas.edu
November 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS! Do not ask me how my writing is going.
Ok seeing discourse about using USian, just want to say
1) I live here so I get to choose whatever term for myself amuses me
2) USian has fewer letters
3) if anyone has a real reason why I should use or avoid it let me know, but it sounds like its a pet peeve rather than actual harm
1) I live here so I get to choose whatever term for myself amuses me
2) USian has fewer letters
3) if anyone has a real reason why I should use or avoid it let me know, but it sounds like its a pet peeve rather than actual harm
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Ok seeing discourse about using USian, just want to say
1) I live here so I get to choose whatever term for myself amuses me
2) USian has fewer letters
3) if anyone has a real reason why I should use or avoid it let me know, but it sounds like its a pet peeve rather than actual harm
1) I live here so I get to choose whatever term for myself amuses me
2) USian has fewer letters
3) if anyone has a real reason why I should use or avoid it let me know, but it sounds like its a pet peeve rather than actual harm
That reminds me, some are just dicks but some can be worked with: if it's an anxiety thing they make this thing you can put in your glovebox that has 1 end to cut the belt & the other to break open a window. If its a comfort thing they make pads that get it off your neck.
Huh, I wonder if we’re going to get some 1980s retro nostalgia/reactionary screeds about personal liberty and how seatbelts are responsible for more injuries (that would have been deaths without a seatbelt). Because seriously, it was (and still is, in some circles) A Thing.
Travelers will experience significant changes when moving around Virginia this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.
via @virginiamercury.com
via @virginiamercury.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
That reminds me, some are just dicks but some can be worked with: if it's an anxiety thing they make this thing you can put in your glovebox that has 1 end to cut the belt & the other to break open a window. If its a comfort thing they make pads that get it off your neck.
Mom, I know you mean well asking if there's anything that would really make my Thanksgiving but it is Wednesday. The only thing anyone will be making that isn't already on the menu is a store run, & as the non cook I'll be the one making it
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Mom, I know you mean well asking if there's anything that would really make my Thanksgiving but it is Wednesday. The only thing anyone will be making that isn't already on the menu is a store run, & as the non cook I'll be the one making it
I remember the 1st time I heard that, checking out a forum back in the dawn of time where one of first posts I saw was someone joking that you always knew when one of the mods was actively hunting down a spam or troll network was when they changed the music in their status to Maxwell's silver hammer
I can only pick ONE? Gah.
Today I will pick Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Today I will pick Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Name your fav song by The Beatles.
November 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I remember the 1st time I heard that, checking out a forum back in the dawn of time where one of first posts I saw was someone joking that you always knew when one of the mods was actively hunting down a spam or troll network was when they changed the music in their status to Maxwell's silver hammer
Reposted by Magpie
fuck you
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
fuck you
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
Reposted by Magpie
Librarian here.
I’ve been too broke for books before. It happens. So here are some resources.
1) The library. Now, maybe your particular local library doesn’t have whatever it is. You can request that we purchase something (PLEASE! Makes my job SO much easier). If that doesn’t work 🧵
I’ve been too broke for books before. It happens. So here are some resources.
1) The library. Now, maybe your particular local library doesn’t have whatever it is. You can request that we purchase something (PLEASE! Makes my job SO much easier). If that doesn’t work 🧵
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 8:21 PM
Librarian here.
I’ve been too broke for books before. It happens. So here are some resources.
1) The library. Now, maybe your particular local library doesn’t have whatever it is. You can request that we purchase something (PLEASE! Makes my job SO much easier). If that doesn’t work 🧵
I’ve been too broke for books before. It happens. So here are some resources.
1) The library. Now, maybe your particular local library doesn’t have whatever it is. You can request that we purchase something (PLEASE! Makes my job SO much easier). If that doesn’t work 🧵
Reposted by Magpie
Learn from a LEGEND.
Very cool upcoming virtual lecture on embroidery in cosplay! More info here: egausa.org/courses/mara...
Lecture is December 14th at 1pm ET, registration is $5 for EGA members or $25 for non-members.
Lecture is December 14th at 1pm ET, registration is $5 for EGA members or $25 for non-members.
November 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Learn from a LEGEND.
Reposted by Magpie
My biggest issue with the art supply suitcase is that a poor tool can lead to an artist feeling like it’s THEM and they can’t progress.
Example in next skeet.
Example in next skeet.
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
My biggest issue with the art supply suitcase is that a poor tool can lead to an artist feeling like it’s THEM and they can’t progress.
Example in next skeet.
Example in next skeet.
Short thread
Oh no I just saw a picture of the art supply suitcase go by so it must be time for my yearly psa: don't buy that.
I've been given it many times in my life and it was usable once: in 1989.
"But I don't know what to get my artist friends/talented cousins for the holidays!"
I will help.
I've been given it many times in my life and it was usable once: in 1989.
"But I don't know what to get my artist friends/talented cousins for the holidays!"
I will help.
November 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Short thread