"There's still enough there to make the saleable appearance of a whole creature, but nobody gets gnawed on that way without becoming a little dead. So, if Cupid (that perverted little motherfucker) decides his lightning ought to strike this gnarly tree trunk again, whoever or whatever gets me is going to get a handy second, damaged goods, something a little dead and a little crippled."

--Harlan Ellison

#Authors
#Writing
#Love

"In every human being there is only so large a supply of love. It's like the limbs of a starfish, to some extent: if you chew off a chunk, it will grow back. But if you chew off too much, the starfish dies. [A person] chewed off a chunk of love from my dwindling reserve...a reserve already nibbled by [other people] down through the years."

1/2

#Authors
#Writing
#Love

While I seldom boost my old posts, on the off-chance it might help the growing #WritingCommunity here, figured I'd boost this old thread in particular (next post after this).

#CoSoWriters
#Writing
#Writers
#Pseudonyms

LMAO

#Writing
(Obviously) #Satire

"Only fantasy has eternal youth. What happened nowhere and never can never age." (Friedrich von Schiller)

#quotes
#Schiller
#writing

😥

#Writing
#Authors
#StormConstantine
#RIP

https://www.tor.com/2021/01/19/author-and-publisher-storm-constantine-has-passed-away/

I saw these on Reddit & nearly had a stroke myself I laughed so hard 🤣😂🤣

#writing
#writers
#comedy

😂🤣😂

#writing

When your editor is almost as disorganized as you are 😂😂😂

I'm not saying that in a mean way: every single editor I've ever worked/interacted with have been great people save one (who *was* a bit of a dickie). And, Yes, I'm including even the editors who rejected submissions, as even that can serve as a positive experience.

#editors
#editing
#writing

Not like this is any surprise, however, Hemingway I am *not*...😂

#writing

People often talk about what a *huge* PITA it is to give their cats a bath, whereas I've found it to be quite easy.

While the cats can be unsure at first, after a few minutes, they settle down, and even seem to enjoy it.

Of course, it's a drag for *me*, as I have to make sure not to swallow any cat hair, & it *ALWAYS* gets all over my tongue & face, & I have to do a LOT of flossing afterward...

But I'd say those are small prices to pay for a well-bathed cat 😸

#CatsofCoSo
#Writing

Was rereading Lovecraft's complete works the other night, and am astonished I'd never caught this before (and now feel inestimably stupid).

"Get the hell out of here ya mug" 😂

#Lovecraft
#Fiction
#Writing
#Horror

"Why, Yes, I *AM* a tremendous DickHead," he said, hastily stopping a precarious mountain of PKD books from collapsing and crushing a cat. "Why do you ask...?"

#books
#writing
#SpeculativeFiction
#sciencefiction
#authors
#PhilipKDick

RIP, #HarlanEllison - picture circa (mid) 1990s, and Yes, the Infamous Ellison Scowl was staged. Still though.

#writers
#writing
#authors

I remain possessed of the unremitting filthiness of the scholar's mind (with apologies to Andrew Wallace-Hadrill).

#writers
#writing
#CoSoWriters
#CoSoWriting

One of my favorite short poems by Percy Shelley: He dashed this off in response to a rather hateful, vitriolic critic.

He remained unflappable.

A brilliant poet, writer, and (per all accounts) an amazingly soulful and caring human being.

"I hate thy want of truth and love-
How should I then hate thee?"

#Classics
#Writing
#CoSoWriters
#Poetry
#CoSoPoetry

Wow, also just came across another gem as well: the proofs for an article I (co)authored for SI (published over a decade and a half ago).

Great stuff, if a rather inflammatory article.

I've obviously redacted some parts which could be used to discern identities ;)

I get enough harassment & death threats as it is -- no need for more, thanks ;)

#writing
#CoSoWriters
#SkepticalInquirer

This is not to say one should _never_ use nom de plumes/pseudonyms; at times, it is entirely necessary -- and to answer the unasked question, I did so at those times because I quite realistically wished to remain employed, and had *any* of those writings at the time been connected with me in any way, I'd have been promptly and unceremoniously de-jobbed.

Beyond the above, there *are* valid reasons for them; I would merely counsel judiciousness in their use.

#writing
#CoSoWriters
#pseudonyms

Further Words of (Questionable) Wisdom For Young Writers

On the (ab)use of pseudonyms/nom de guerres...

Tempting though it may be, DO NOT leave a pointer to another nom which is, in itself, A DIFFERENT YET EQUALLY FAKE NAME.

Unless, like myself, you're a Professional Idiot™. It WILL screw you later. Trust me.

#Writing
#CoSoWriters
#pseudonyms

Under the "Words of Advice for Young Writers" Category

1) Proof your bio *repeatedly* (that should have been "VERBALLY abuses"), and
2) Do NOT, for the love of all that's holy, use a dozen pseudonyms for the same number of stories. Not even if you have to. Just...don't.

#Writing
#Writers
#CoSoWriters