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Annie Tan

@annietan.com
1.9K followers 2.4K following 7.9K posts

educator, activist, storyteller (she/her) #writing a #memoir #WIP #writersky! VT Studio Center, Tin House, & Bread Loaf '23! #AAPI #BLM annie@annietan.com Most of my old posts were transferred & archived here from my old Twitter account annietangent, RIP

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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 23/09/2025
Finally, here's a poem my uncle Vincent Chin wrote to his fiance Vikki Valentine's Day 1979, in the classifieds section of the Detroit Free Press, about 3 years before he was murdered. (Vincent wanted to be a writer but his mom, my great-auntie Lily Chin, wanted him to do something more practical.)
VIKKI
My love for you is like a fire
That glows in my heart
So bright when we're together
So very dim when we're apart

The fire will last forever
And my love will never die
As long as we have each other
As long as we both try

There is no life without you
There is no joy or laughter
There is no brightness, no warmth
All the mornings after

So stay with me
And we'll face the tomorrows
To find if our love
Can overcome the sorrows

Remember me always
For my love for you is true
There isn't anyone else
I love you

Happy Valentine's Day
Love
Vincent
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 16/09/2025
Note for NY: I got my COVID shot at a Walgreens but didn't disclose I have asthma & almost wasn't able to get my shot. It could be Walgreens policy, despite Hochul's executive order, requires people to have an underlying condition, where my friends who've gotten boosters at CVS have had no problems.
Annie standing in front of a Walgreens with two red Walgreens bandaids on her arm showing she got both the COVID and flu shots today
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 16/05/2025
I am an alum of Columbia University, and I would love it if someone marked up the letter they just sent to alumni:
Letter from Columbia University to alumni:

Dear Annie,

I write to you in a moment of real consequence–not only for Columbia, but for higher education. At a time when our University’s values, research, and global mission face mounting challenges, what we do together now will help shape Columbia’s future.

Columbia has always been a place where big ideas thrive, where talented people come together to pursue knowledge and serve the public good. This must be carefully protected.

As a member of the Columbia community, you have a uniquely important role to play. We must now rally around our shared purpose to ensure that our essential work continues. Counting yourself in provides access to timely updates and resources to help protect and move our mission forward.
Count Me In
What’s at Stake – And What We’re Doing
Our research is at risk. More than $400 million in federal grants have been terminated, jeopardizing groundbreaking work and forcing cutbacks that threaten the life changing impact of our research. We are deploying bridge funding where possible, but the long-term implications are serious.

Academic independence must be upheld. Columbia is resisting calls to diminish its academic freedom. We are responding by strengthening internal accountability and reaffirming our commitment to self-governance and open inquiry.

Our international students face mounting uncertainty. Many of our students from abroad are facing new logistical hurdles and challenges to their ability to study at Columbia. The University has responded with expanded advising, emergency aid, and legal resources, but the path forward remains uncertain for many of these vital members of our community.    
How You Can Help
Stay current. Read my announcements and other updates and utilize our online toolkit  to access facts and counter misinformation.

Inspire and inform. Share and amplify the University’s story and impacts with others who care about the future of Columbia and higher education.
(cut off)
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 02/05/2025
Whoops 😂 #itsgonnabemay
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 26/03/2025
Giggled to myself as I was packing my suitcase
Picture of all the yellow clothes I packed in my yellow suitcase, and a message: "I can't control many things in this political hellscape, but I can choose to wear all yellow to AWP and LA this coming week 💛"
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 26/03/2025
I'm heading to Los Angeles for #AWP25 and will be wearing (pretty much) all yellow the whole writing conference, so come say hi! On Saturday come see us at 12:10pm for our panel on writing about language loss!
Annie wearing a yellow face mask, yellow flower clip in her hair, a gold sweater underneath a bright yellow jacket with a mustard yellow purse strap and a mustard yellow backpack
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 17/03/2025
Ugh I lost my parents' languages because I grew up in America and now, to go to #AWP25 in LA to talk about this very topic & not get unlawfully detained by ICE I have to bring my US passport around? I hate this so much. BUT I am excited to be in community with other Asian diaspora writers on this:
I'm so excited to be on this #AWP25 writers panel on The Cost of Assimilation: Writers on Losing Their First Language with Grace Loh Prasad, Geetha Iyer, and Brian Truong Saturday March 29th 12:10pm-1:25pm in room 511AB of the LA Convention Center. 

"Assimilation offered safety—stepping out of the leaky boat of immigrant identity onto the solid ground of Americanness. But how do we reclaim our lost languages and selves in borrowed tongues?"
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 28/02/2025
I'm telling a COVID story at P&T Knitwear in LES (NYC) next Sat 3/8 at 5pm, a 5-yr anniversary of COVID. Not to ruin my story, but I'm sharing how collectively 80% of NYC schools families stayed home remote in Sept 2020, a needed reminder that all our collective action is what keeps people safe.
A sign for an event: 
Handle with Care 
A COVID reflection series through storytelling
March 8th 5pm-6:30pm P&T Knitwear
On the Lower East Side on Orchard Street
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 23/02/2025
There's a street near my apartment hubby & I have walked past many times: we've seen so so many cats. Every time I walk by I anticipate getting mauled (which, obvs, not happening) & it's so exciting and joyous to imagine their lives. Just saw one today, but I imagine if I walked by at night... 🐈🐾😸😼
A cat is walking in the center of a sidewalk in New York City staring at the person taking a picture.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 17/02/2025
"Stop the Coup! Stop the Coup!" "No Kings in US" "Hey hey, ho ho: Trump and Musk have got to go" "Show me what democracy looks like: this is what democracy looks like!" Tens of thousands of New Yorkers marched from a Union Square to Washington Square Park this afternoon #notmypresident #StoptheCoup
At least a hundred protestors in this image walking down Broadway right south of Union Square and holding signsAt least a hundred protestors in this image walking down Broadway south of Union Square and holding signsAt least a hundred protestors in this image walking south to Washington Square Park in NYC and holding signsBlue bumper sticker on a car that reads "Bernie: Because fuck this shit" with light blue and pink lines denoting solidarity with trans people
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 16/02/2025
To calm down my feed. Here's some photos of cat paw prints in the snow on the sidewalk here in NYC 🐾🐱
On the sidewalk: Human shoeprints in the snow on the left, cat paw prints in the snow on the rightThree cat paw prints in the snow on the sidewalk closer upFive cat paw prints in the snow on the sidewalkTen cat paw prints in the snow on the sidewalk showing a cat has walked on it
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 11/02/2025
I'm reading your new book now and, as someone who went through a pregnancy loss in May and who's also, in my own memoir writing (third draft!), confronting language loss with my immigrant parents (not because of residential boarding schools but the American education system) I thank you immensely ❤️‍🩹🫂
Annie holding up Amanda Peters' new book Waiting for the Long Night Moon that came out today
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 10/02/2025
How @tinhouse.bsky.social winter workshop writers spent tonight 😂 Thanks @almajor.bsky.social and @thedennemichele.bsky.social for the AMAZING conversations about submitting pieces to online places. So insightful! As we said, we would LOVE for you two to have a podcast!!! 😍
Screenshot of a Zoom chat during a Tin House Winter Workshop session on submitting pieces to online places, as the facilitator apologizes for taking up our time during the super bowl 2025: 

Chat 1: F*CK the superbowl
(Has 4 "100" emoji responses in agreement) 

Chat 2, from Me: Grateful we're here instead of the Superbowl lol
(Has two purple heart emoji responses in agreement) 

Chat 3: this is my super bowl
(Six "+" responses, four heart-eye emojis, three red hearts, and one laughing emoji) 

Chat 4 at 7:39pm EST: what super bowl
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 26/01/2025
For those like me prone to sinus infections or post-nasal drip: micro-filter nasal washes are a godsend. Basically it's a neti pot where you run saline through your nostrils and clear your sinuses out, but with a filter (no distilled or boiled water needed). Getting clearer! Though still not 100% 🤧
Picture of a micro filter nasal wash plastic container, with a white rubber nozzle at the top, blue big cap with filter and plastic container for the saline
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 24/12/2024
No one asked me, but if you're in need of an eye mask because you're trying to sleep, use a new KF94 face mask! It's got ear loops plus the nose bridge fold for you, and then once you're done using it you can use it as a face mask and stop the spread of your germs & COVID!
Annie repurposing a green KF94 face mask as an eye mask over her eyes and folded at her nose
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 05/12/2024
Heading to Philadelphia for PAX Unplugged and lots of board games this weekend!!! Anyone else? I'll be wearing my yellow flower in my hair!
An East Asian woman with shoulder-length black hair looking at the camera with a navy blue KF94 face mask on. She has a yellow (fake) flower pinned to the side of her hair for visibility.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 17/11/2024
Hi Bluesky! I'm Annie, NYC Chinatown kid of immigrants: people know me as a special ed teacher (quit in 2022), activist, storyteller, & a cousin of Vincent Chin. I'm a huge extrovert (few match me, including my mom😺), love karaoke & Halloween, & I'm writing a memoir! I missed the Twitter community 😭
Annie and her husband dressed up as two memes on fire this past Halloween. On the left is Annie's husband wearing an Elmo mask and holding his arms up like the "elmo on fire" meme. On the right is Annie dressed as a beige tan dog with a brown hat, with a sweater on that has comic fire images and a comic speech bubble saying "this is fine," referencing the dog on fire "this is fine" meme. Behind the two of them are orange floating balloons with flames drawn on them, simulating the comic fire drawings of both the memes they're representing for Halloween.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 15/11/2024
End of an era: I deactivated my Twitter account of 11 years. It'll be permanently deleted after 30 days. I downloaded my Twitter archive and will put it on my Bluesky thru blueark. I'm super sad about this and have been sad since Musk bought Twitter, but it had to be done.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 13/11/2024
Current feeling: I'm Not Okay (by My Chemical Romance) @banhmi_chronicles reminded me I haven't put out a badly-played ukulele video in a while. Also did not mean to repeat letters, that was a mid-song improvisation 🤦🏻‍♀️
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 13/11/2024
A noticing: I posted the exact same thread quoting @heathercoxrichardson on Twitter/X as my Thread last night; I have more than 10x the followers here as Threads (around 600 last night, now 800); it only had 1 like & 1 repost here vs. 2.3k likes on Threads. The algorithm, though.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 01/11/2024
Also my phone kept taking selfies automatically cuz I think the AI on my phone kept auto-sensing the smile on my face mask #thisisfine
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 01/11/2024
Our couple Halloween costume of memes on fire, encapsulating our year as a couple #thisisfine #elmo
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 29/07/2024
11 years on Twitter and I feel like it's been wasted since an ego-driven billionaire bought this app #MyXAnniversary
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 18/06/2024
Hey everyone: this week (June 18-24) my story "Drumstick, Please!" about trying to connect with my dad despite a language barrier is re-airing on The Moth Radio Hour across America! Find your @TheMoth radio station, usually NPR; it'll be on the podcast next week!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 18/04/2024
Heading to the Asian Educators Alliance Conference in Atlanta now! They told me to rep my Asian merch and so I shall all three days! This one is a VERY ASIAN shirt from a Seattle brewery!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 08/04/2024
Logan Paul about to pull something with a deLorean #WrestleMania
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 08/04/2024
@WWE Like, why is the light so bright on my face at night as an audience member @wwe #WrestleMania shut the damn lights off!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 08/04/2024
"I can't see" chants at #WrestleMania and "f*** you lights" from the audience, this is wild lol, just please @WWE shut off the damn lights
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 08/04/2024
If y'all at home are confused, us at #WrestleMania are shouting "SHUT THE LIGHT OFF" "WE CAN'T SEE"
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 07/04/2024
From "We want tables" in the six-way tag team to tables in #WrestleMania 40 and getting to see Bubba Ray Dudley's audience reaction to "E-C-W!" 👏🏼 What an honor! #WrestleManiaXL #WrestleMania40
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 05/03/2024
I run a virtual mentoring program with Apex for Youth for Asian American, low-income & immigrant youth across the USA: plz send flyer to current 8th thru 11th-grade students! Attend an info session 3/26 or 4/27 at bit.ly/NVMPinfo & apply by 5/31 at apexforyouth.org/nvmp!
I run a virtual mentoring program with @ApexForYouth for Asian American, low-income & immigrant youth across the USA: plz send this flyer to current 8th thru 11th-grade students! Attend an info session 3/26 or 4/27 at bit.ly/NVMPinfo & apply by 5/31 at apexforyouth.org/nvmp!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 05/03/2024
I run a virtual mentoring program with @ApexForYouth for Asian American, low-income & immigrant youth across the USA: plz send flyer to current 8th thru 11th-grade students! Attend an info session 3/26 or 4/27 at bit.ly/NVMPinfo & apply by 5/31 at apexforyouth.org/nvmp!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 07/02/2024
So excited to be a 1st-time @awpwriter panelist at my 1st-ever AWP this weekend! I'll be around w/ my yellow flower laurel! "Crafting Counternarratives in the Age of Anti-AAPI Hate" with Celeste Chan (thx!) @mayleechai.bsky.social Kavita Das, & Chino Lee Chung! Room 2102A, Sat 2/10 at 3:20pm
Crafting Counternarratives in the Age of Anti-AAPI Hate

Room 2102A, Kansas City Convention Center, Street Level
Saturday, February 10, 2024
3:20 pm to 4:35 pm
 

In an era of escalating violence against AAPIs, in the aftermath of imperialist wars and the Atlanta spa shootings, AAPI writers are crafting counternarratives. We’ll strike back against model minority and victim stereotypes with more complex stories: from Vietnamese refugee resettlement to South Asian feminist biography; from activism against transphobic and homophobic legislation to Chinese intergenerational resilience. We’ll also create a shared resource through the conversation and reading. With Celeste Chan, May-lee Chai, Chino Lee Chung, Kavita Das, and Annie Tan.Annie smiling with a new Lunar New Year haircut wearing a yellow flower laurel on her head! She will be wearing this throughout the AWP conference this weekend in Kansas City Feb 8-10th.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 07/02/2024
So excited to be a 1st-time @awpwriter panelist at my 1st-ever AWP this weekend! I'll be around w/ my yellow flower laurel! "Crafting Counternarratives in the Age of Anti-AAPI Hate" with Celeste Chan (thx!) @mayleechai Kavita Das & Chino Lee Chung! Room 2102A, Sat 2/10 at 3:20pm
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 27/12/2023
Does anyone I know use a vertical monitor setup (alongside a 2nd horizontal monitor) for their home office? Does it work for you? What do you use it for? And any tips for a writer who's considering using a monitor in portrait mode instead of landscape? TIA! Picture for reference.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 27/12/2023
Does anyone I know use a vertical monitor setup (alongside a second horizontal monitor) for their home office? Does it work for you? What do you use it for? And any tips for a writer who's considering using a monitor in portrait mode instead of landscape? TIA! Picture for reference.
A picture of someone's home office setup, with a vertical monitor on the left and a horizontal monitor and keyboard on the right
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 02/12/2023
PAX Unplugged Day 2! Bought a few board games, tried a bunch more, excited to keep exploring and hanging with friends! If you're in Philly and here at PAX, I'm in my yellow RenFaire flower laurel!
PAX Unplugged Day 2! Bought a few board games, tried a bunch more, excited to keep exploring and hanging with friends! If you're in Philly and here at PAX, I'm in my yellow RenFaire flower laurel!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 02/12/2023
PAX Unplugged Day 2! Bought a few board games, tried a bunch more, excited to keep exploring and hanging with friends! If you're in Philly and here at PAX, I'm in my yellow RenFaire flower laurel!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 01/12/2023
I'll be at PAX Unplugged this weekend playing board games and learning some game development with my brothers, hubby, and friends! If you're there spot me with my RenFaire yellow flower Laurel!
I'll be at PAX Unplugged this weekend playing board games and learning some game development with my brothers, hubby, and friends! If you're there spot me with my RenFaire yellow flower Laurel!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 01/12/2023
I'll be at PAX Unplugged this weekend playing board games and learning some game development with my brothers, hubby, and friends! If you're there spot me with my RenFaire yellow flower Laurel!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 28/11/2023
I've been entirely exploring and researching during third draft revisions, trying to figure out how to write growing up in Chinatown in the 1990s/2000s, then went after the @Bookshop_Org free shipping today for Cyber Monday: @yuandmebooks rec'd me this...
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 06/10/2023
Me, putting in my username and password: "Login failed" "error with the form" I click Forgot Password, go to change it: "Your password cannot be your current password" WHYYYYY
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 29/09/2023
I hope/don't think this will be a spoiler, but my prediction for the Only Murders in The Building Season 3 finale is that the podcast trio don't solve the murder and Oliver is wrongfully arrested in a cliffhanger @OnlyMurdersHulu
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 26/09/2023
Got my COVID-19 & flu vaccines today! You can schedule on Walgreens, CVS, & Rite Aid websites, or w/ your local pharmacy, but check b4 you go: the CVS I scheduled for ran out of the COVID-19 shot (but had flu shots); luckily I found a nearby Walgreens that had Pfizer in stock!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 23/09/2023
Ready!
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 16/09/2023
I fixed my first ever hole in jeans with some visible mending, using an old college T-shirt plus an old pair of jeans as the patch! I got embroidery thread + fusible web, then used my own stitching based on sashiko patterns! Proud of myself. #visiblemending #patchwork #latenight
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 27/08/2023
Damn, Bray Wyatt dying from complications of COVID-19 leading to a heart attack. He was 36. He was such a visionary wrestler. Keith Lee's also shared about heart inflammation after COVID. Despite what our larger society has pretended to think, COVID is not over. Keep us safe.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 25/08/2023
I am still at Bread Loaf and wrote this on my Instagram Tuesday morning around 5am. It has been horrifying to watch the COVID-19 outbreak here. I felt trapped because I had my piece workshopped today (Friday). We have had our workshops outdoors since Wednesday.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 21/08/2023
Also I got to take a walk with @DianaCejasMD yesterday in the Bread Loaf meadow: it's absolutely gorgeous here. So grateful for the community we're making here. And glad we have been indoor masking all along at this place: COVID isn't over.
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Annie Tan @annietan.com · 21/08/2023
I've been listening to Leah Lakshmi Piepzna Samarasinha's Care Work while at Bread Loaf: it's such a wonderful book on how we as community make the world accessible, real & loving. @tiphanieyanique had an amazing lecture reminding us of that interdependence. Been so inspired.
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