Margaret Dunlap
@spyscribe.bsky.social
I write for shows like Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, along with short stories and the updates from the Duolingo Dystopia
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
WRITING TIP, something simple but it catches many of us out: if you have a great/fun idea for your story, *use it now*.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
May 21, 2024 at 11:58 AM
WRITING TIP, something simple but it catches many of us out: if you have a great/fun idea for your story, *use it now*.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
November 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
Yes, I put things I've already done on my to do list for the satisfaction of crossing them off
Furthermore, I don't even give such items serious task names like "get groceries."
No, I just checked off "buy cheap flour and fruit snacks" and have zero regrets about my life choices
Furthermore, I don't even give such items serious task names like "get groceries."
No, I just checked off "buy cheap flour and fruit snacks" and have zero regrets about my life choices
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Yes, I put things I've already done on my to do list for the satisfaction of crossing them off
Furthermore, I don't even give such items serious task names like "get groceries."
No, I just checked off "buy cheap flour and fruit snacks" and have zero regrets about my life choices
Furthermore, I don't even give such items serious task names like "get groceries."
No, I just checked off "buy cheap flour and fruit snacks" and have zero regrets about my life choices
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
If you have ever thought that my journalism or my first book were net positives for the world, understand that they probably would not exist if I did not have a spouse who paid the mortgage. If I'd been a solo earner/parent, I likely would have left criticism, journalism or book writing long ago.
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 11:40 PM
If you have ever thought that my journalism or my first book were net positives for the world, understand that they probably would not exist if I did not have a spouse who paid the mortgage. If I'd been a solo earner/parent, I likely would have left criticism, journalism or book writing long ago.
Okay, I need a French speaker to confirm this for me:
Is the French word for "road-runner" actually "Bip Bip" or is Google translate having me on?
Is the French word for "road-runner" actually "Bip Bip" or is Google translate having me on?
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Okay, I need a French speaker to confirm this for me:
Is the French word for "road-runner" actually "Bip Bip" or is Google translate having me on?
Is the French word for "road-runner" actually "Bip Bip" or is Google translate having me on?
Go get 'em @omgkatiep.bsky.social! gofund.me/fdade21fe
Keep Books with Pictures Alive: Donate Now, organized by Katie Pryde
Dear friends: I need your help.
I’m proud of everything Books with Pictures… Katie Pryde needs your support for Keep Books with Pictures Alive: Donate Now
gofund.me
November 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Go get 'em @omgkatiep.bsky.social! gofund.me/fdade21fe
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
@spyscribe.bsky.social’s “Observations of a Small Object in Decaying Orbit” in @apexmag.bsky.social spotlights the impact of toxic dogmatism on the families of political elites. Humane and unadorned - a space-faring Hemingway, a child-sized Orwell.
#sff #scifi #shortstories #fiction
#sff #scifi #shortstories #fiction
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 AM
@spyscribe.bsky.social’s “Observations of a Small Object in Decaying Orbit” in @apexmag.bsky.social spotlights the impact of toxic dogmatism on the families of political elites. Humane and unadorned - a space-faring Hemingway, a child-sized Orwell.
#sff #scifi #shortstories #fiction
#sff #scifi #shortstories #fiction
Everyone should get to experience an arena full of people chanting your name... even if they're not talking about you 🤷🏻♀️
#TheFullLid - 14th November 2025 - Happy Friday! We're back from Vegas and talking about chance, community, @dimension20.bsky.social and @goblinspod.bsky.social and what connects them. Our Spotlights are Mamdani signs, and @corywong.bsky.social rocks us into the weekend.
mailchi.mp/8c324ddac5a0...
mailchi.mp/8c324ddac5a0...
November 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Everyone should get to experience an arena full of people chanting your name... even if they're not talking about you 🤷🏻♀️
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
There's not a time in my life that I've regretted my humanities degrees. I use them every day, not just professionally (though they've helped me there, too), but to envision and work toward a better future.
Humanities programs have 3 perfect tools here:
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
Major in Africana Studies or any humanities course like English Literature! You could be mayor of New York City. You could do anything.
November 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
There's not a time in my life that I've regretted my humanities degrees. I use them every day, not just professionally (though they've helped me there, too), but to envision and work toward a better future.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Reposting with Alt-text:
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Reposting with Alt-text:
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.
I just wrote an article on my experience playing the collaborative storytelling game Microscope: Chronicle. It's written by @lamemage.com and is in playtesting now!
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
Drosmir: Microscope: Chronicle
Thoughts on the story game Microscope: Chronicle
drosmir.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Okay, I want to say it again for anyone who needs to hear it right now:
Yes, calling is better for getting in touch with your reps. But right now? DO IT HOWEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'm really concerned that the emphasis on calling right now is stopping people from getting in touch.
Yes, calling is better for getting in touch with your reps. But right now? DO IT HOWEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'm really concerned that the emphasis on calling right now is stopping people from getting in touch.
February 3, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Okay, I want to say it again for anyone who needs to hear it right now:
Yes, calling is better for getting in touch with your reps. But right now? DO IT HOWEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'm really concerned that the emphasis on calling right now is stopping people from getting in touch.
Yes, calling is better for getting in touch with your reps. But right now? DO IT HOWEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'm really concerned that the emphasis on calling right now is stopping people from getting in touch.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
I uhhhh… i love Fiona Apple. Like a lot.
This Fiona Apple narrated explainer PSA on how to film (and release footage from, not livestream) ICE arrests is exactly what we need from people with production skills right now and is worth about 3 million celebrity “imagine” covers in terms of survival utility
We Have Rights: When Documenting ICE Arrests
This is "We Have Rights: When Documenting ICE Arrests" by MediaTank on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
vimeo.com
February 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I uhhhh… i love Fiona Apple. Like a lot.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Cis men truly need to understand the power of saying “that’s fucked up bro why would you say that” to another cis man
The responsibility for resisting and correcting this behavior shouldn’t fall solely on a specific gender. If you’re a man of conscience and you see another man mimicking Nick Fuentes, fuck him up on sight before the women even get a chance. I mean that.
November 8, 2024 at 8:41 PM
Cis men truly need to understand the power of saying “that’s fucked up bro why would you say that” to another cis man
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
It's very surreal to be a victim of the Eaton Fire, and we are still too much in survival mode to fully process it, but it's certainly not my favorite experience. We'd greatly appreciate any help you can offer, including sharing this link. Thank you 🙏 gofund.me/cab84a3e
Donate to Help Ashley Clements and Brendan Bradley Rebuild After Fire, organized by Ashley Clements
When I received an alert about a “fast moving fire in your ar… Ashley Clements needs your support for Help Ashley Clements and Brendan Bradley Rebuild After Fire
gofund.me
February 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
It's very surreal to be a victim of the Eaton Fire, and we are still too much in survival mode to fully process it, but it's certainly not my favorite experience. We'd greatly appreciate any help you can offer, including sharing this link. Thank you 🙏 gofund.me/cab84a3e
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
I went to post about the National Japanese American Memorial in D.C., which is beautiful but usually missed by tourists. It is a deeply staggering admission of guilt and a warning to future Americans. I went to link to the inscriptions and-
Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...
Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...
January 31, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I went to post about the National Japanese American Memorial in D.C., which is beautiful but usually missed by tourists. It is a deeply staggering admission of guilt and a warning to future Americans. I went to link to the inscriptions and-
Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...
Well, they took the site down. www.nps.gov/places/japan...
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
I had somebody QP this and ask "what does this accomplish" and Jesus, people, there are two parts to politics. Doing shit, and *being seen to be doing shit*. Not understanding that second bit is why Biden's sitting at home wondering why nobody noticed he dumped all that money into Red States.
The Dem Senators cut a deal so they wouldn’t have to stay the weekend and no, no you feckless tone deaf fuckwits, you put on a little SHOW, you get footage of Dem
senators with their ties yanked down, drinking bad coffee at 2am screaming “fuck these fucking fucks”. How are they so bad at this?
senators with their ties yanked down, drinking bad coffee at 2am screaming “fuck these fucking fucks”. How are they so bad at this?
January 31, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I had somebody QP this and ask "what does this accomplish" and Jesus, people, there are two parts to politics. Doing shit, and *being seen to be doing shit*. Not understanding that second bit is why Biden's sitting at home wondering why nobody noticed he dumped all that money into Red States.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help.
I know you hate this advice. I know you hear it all the time, but for gods sake you need to be calling your congressperson. Now. Today.
If you have a GOP representative, you need to call and ask if they approve of stripping congress of its constitutional authority. If they like being powerless.
If you have a GOP representative, you need to call and ask if they approve of stripping congress of its constitutional authority. If they like being powerless.
January 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I used to work for an elected official as the person who answered their emails. I can tell you from personal experience, if even twenty or thirty people all call an official in a day, they start panicking. This stuff does help.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Your regular reminder that the first known clinic to offer gender-affirming surgeries was … destroyed by Nazis.
In 1933.
(Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.)
They always come for trans people first.
In 1933.
(Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.)
They always come for trans people first.
January 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Your regular reminder that the first known clinic to offer gender-affirming surgeries was … destroyed by Nazis.
In 1933.
(Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.)
They always come for trans people first.
In 1933.
(Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft.)
They always come for trans people first.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Got confimed for 2 major surgeries this week. I will need funds & soon, but I was fired when I was diagnosed with cancer & my only income now is writing.
I hate to ask because I know we're all struggling, but I'd appreciate any donation.
Thank you & please share.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...
I hate to ask because I know we're all struggling, but I'd appreciate any donation.
Thank you & please share.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...
Donate to Help R. S. A. Garcia Pay for Cancer Expenses, organized by Arula Ratnakar
Hi everyone,
I'm Rhonda, also known as R. S. A. Garcia, a speculative … Arula Ratnakar needs your support for Help R. S. A. Garcia Pay for Cancer Expenses
www.gofundme.com
January 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Got confimed for 2 major surgeries this week. I will need funds & soon, but I was fired when I was diagnosed with cancer & my only income now is writing.
I hate to ask because I know we're all struggling, but I'd appreciate any donation.
Thank you & please share.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...
I hate to ask because I know we're all struggling, but I'd appreciate any donation.
Thank you & please share.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Thread unrolled here www.kameronhurley.com/adrift-on-th...
Adrift on the Sea of History: Hope for Realists - Kameron Hurley
I’ve found comfort the last 10 years in looking back at historical comparisons of the last few hundred years in our history. The liklihood that I’ll survive a prolonged disruption of supply chains and...
www.kameronhurley.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Thread unrolled here www.kameronhurley.com/adrift-on-th...
Just saw an ad for Liquid I.V., and two things hit me:
1: Aren’t all IVs liquid?
2: Liquid IV is a powder
That’s going to bug me forever now
1: Aren’t all IVs liquid?
2: Liquid IV is a powder
That’s going to bug me forever now
January 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Just saw an ad for Liquid I.V., and two things hit me:
1: Aren’t all IVs liquid?
2: Liquid IV is a powder
That’s going to bug me forever now
1: Aren’t all IVs liquid?
2: Liquid IV is a powder
That’s going to bug me forever now
Reposted by Margaret Dunlap
Ok.
I keep saying this is the time to find your community abd build. And I keep getting DMs and texts of people who want to find community but say they don't know how.
So here's a couple tips that I personally have found to be useful.
I keep saying this is the time to find your community abd build. And I keep getting DMs and texts of people who want to find community but say they don't know how.
So here's a couple tips that I personally have found to be useful.
January 23, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Ok.
I keep saying this is the time to find your community abd build. And I keep getting DMs and texts of people who want to find community but say they don't know how.
So here's a couple tips that I personally have found to be useful.
I keep saying this is the time to find your community abd build. And I keep getting DMs and texts of people who want to find community but say they don't know how.
So here's a couple tips that I personally have found to be useful.