iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Magazine @bcsmagazine.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Live in BCS #450 Science-Fantasy Month 8: "A Dirge for the Mirrorbirds" @eskaftun.bsky.social "I wanted to tell her that it was possible to choose to see the people she loved again. But after all, for her it wasn't. She wasn’t Yem." www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-di...

beneath-ceaseless-skies.com

Beneath Ceaseless Skies - A Dirge for the Mirrorbirds by Emily C. Skaftun

I wanted to tell her that it was possible to choose to see the people she loved again. But after all, for her it wasn't. She wasn’t Yem. So I said the next thing on my mind: “I think it’s beautiful to...

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Postcard #128: The underground music scene (postcard story in alt text) Would you like to get these in your inbox? What about in your MAILbox? Buy-in starts at just $3/mo. at patreon.com/skaftun

(Vintage-style postcard of an organ in a cavern)

Dearest Terrence,
The cave sang; that’s how I found it. Wisps of unearthly melody from a crack in the earth. I descended heedlessly, enraptured by the siren call. After many twists and turns the cavern opened into a vast auditorium whose very stalactites were ringing. I stood inside a vast instrument, and at a keyboard sat a being the likes of which I’d never seen. Covered in soft dark fur, beckoning with a long tail, blinking her huge eyes in my lantern’s dim light. I dimmed the light further, sat at her side, and oh what a duet we played!
I shan’t return.
Love,
Millicent

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Septimus Brown @septimusbrown.com · 02/06/2025

Happy pride month ❤️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

A sign in the background says New Hope church, God says homosexuality is in. In the foreground there are two men smiling holding the letter s that they've taken from the sign

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Upcoming postcard weirdness for May and beyond. Subscribe at patreon.com/skaftun for miniature stories of lies, regrets, aliens, and things that hatch from strange eggs.

A jumble of postcards showing the mouth of truth, Chichen Itza, horse-drawn carriages, suspicious eggs, a statue’s broken head, and a person on a bike carrying an upright bass.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Just said "okay guys," to my own brain, so that's how I (we?) am doing today. How are you?

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

"This Is Just To Say" retellings might be my favorite thing about the internet.

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Louisa @louisathelast.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

US hegemony ending=good US just totally collapsing=oh no, all my stuff is here

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I'm apparently going for the daily record for times I've microwaved the same cup of coffee and forgotten to drink it. I'm up to FOUR. (Yes I'm a heathen who nukes coffee; sue me.)

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Postcard 98: Who can stay mad at a face like that? (postcard story in alt text) Want more? patreon.com/skaftun

[Postcard of a bloody polar bear]

Dear Tara,
The puppies are growing up fast! Especially Bjørn; he’s MUCH bigger than his siblings and causes more mischief. I’m pleased at least one is thriving; I still don’t know what killed their poor mama.
Today I let them out to romp in the fresh snow, and boy did Bjørn get into something messy! I’d be mad if his self-satisfied smile wasn’t so stinking cute. I was so busy cleaning him up I barely noticed that the other puppies weren’t underfoot. They never came home! Tomorrow I’ll look for them, but for now at least I have my Bjørn to cuddle with. He’s a little bitey, but we’re working on it.
Love,
Ellie

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Hey world, guess what? I'm open to freelance gigs right now. Writing, editing (developmental, line edits, proofreading), graphic design, layout, blah blah blah... Message me.

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Martha Rich Art Projects @martharichart.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I made this the other night while procrastinating, mainly because I thought all the posts about the blackout were boring. It feels like there is momentum bringing people together!

A poster for the economic blackout on February 28. It is a big red Jack rabbit on an aqua blue back ground. It says economic blackout in hand done black type. There are two black speech bubbles. One says “don’t buy stuff Friday February 28th. The other says we have power. Below it says No Amazon, Walmart, target, gas food, gas. Below that it says OK small business, use cash. Designed by Martha Rich.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Postcards on deck for March and beyond include space cats, an emotaur, global domination, ancient evil, and more. Patreon.com/skaftun

A collage of postcards including umbrellas, space cats, a highland cow, Trevi Fountain, and Mt. Pilatus.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Today's feeling of accomplishment: I have a new patreon member and I DO NOT KNOW WHO IT IS! Where did you come from, new member? How did you find me? Is it a mistake? :)

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Dear Muskrat: Last week I: • Wrote 1,667 words of extremely queer fiction. • Finished reading a powerful book about monsters, human and otherwise; what needless war does to people; and the fears and perceptions about others that lead inevitably to tragedy. 1/3

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High Priestess, Low Patience @cheriepriest.com · 18/02/2025

I don't get personal on main very often, but I spent a few hours writing this, and I want you to read it. It's about my dad and my stepmom, and me, and Stranger Things, and what's happening to the VA right now. www.cheriepriest.com/blog/the-dep...

cheriepriest.com

The Department of Veterans Affairs Gets Well and Truly Fucked — The Haunt*

Sometime in the late 1980s when I was a teenager, I accompanied my dad to the mall. Dad had gotten a pair of un-torn, un-used tickets to Woodstock as a gift and he wanted to have them framed for displ...

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

I write postcard microfiction and send it to your inbox or even your MAILbox. Patreon.com/skaftun #selfpromosaturday

Text side of 2 postcards atop a bed of postcard images including a furry car, a skeleton, a medieval fish, the little mermaid, and more.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Annalise was a perfectly average student at St. Clare’s School for the Invisible, until she started making friends. Now she’s got a dark secret that may unlock the mystery of the school’s disappearing students—or bring the whole place crashing down. #2025pit #YA #F

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Andie Penn Romine @andiepennromine.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

When the last of prep school reptilian Leon’s powerful family is murdered (probably by stupid humans), his only hope to avenge their deaths is Lizzie, his science lizard cousin. Getting to the truth puts Lizzie’s small town—and its working-class cryptids—in world-class peril. #2025Pit #A #SPF

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

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Andie Penn Romine @andiepennromine.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

The only explanation is that they WANT us to hear.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

I live in Seattle and I really want to see international writer friends in my city this summer—but I’ll 1000% understand if/when people choose to avoid traveling to this increasingly unwelcoming, unsafe country. If I wasn’t already here I’d think twice about it.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

help i was scrolling and now there’s so much doom

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

The book it recommended to me is one I bought YESTERDAY. Spooky.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

I’m on lion’s mane, which I’m going to pretend is about actual lions because I find mushrooms a bit horrifying.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

It’s 1/12 (in the USA; don’t judge me), and I’ve just written postcard story #112. I don’t love this one, I’ll admit, but at least I finally used up this utter dog’s breakfast of a postcard.

On a field of bright red poppies, an almost monochromatic meerkat (l) regards a teddy bear holding an ice cream cone like a bludgeoning weapon for some fucking reason. This is an actual postcard that someone sold and in a fit of madness, I purchased.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Reposting this to save it to look at later.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Without downloading any new pics, what’s your energy going into 2025?

Some kind of critter next to a sign reading “I am NOT dead. Just tired & ugly. Please let me sleep!!!”

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Turbo Button | Floor Plan: Slap Out Of It! @turbobuttoninc.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Nobody at Turbo Button could figure out how to make an AI-generated greeting card. But we heard studios like us are expected to use AI for everything now, so we commissioned some of our favorite artists to hand draw what they think those cards might have looked like. Here's what they came up with.

A collection of five hand-drawn greeting cards, each representing an artist's interpretation of AI-generated art.

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Ann Aguirre @annaguirre.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Like and re-skeet if you hate Ronald Reagan Yes, down to his bones

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Apropos of absolutely nothing: My UHC premium is going up by 31% in January. Next year, I will be paying THIRTY-ONE PERCENT MORE (more than $1,000 over the course of the year) for the privilege of them covering 0% of the cost of visits to in-network specialists my GP refers me to.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

This is what I'll be doing this Saturday. Join me? It should be zany fun.

Strange Women Strange Worlds Holiday Extravaganza! December 14. Register at StrongWomenStrongWorlds.weebly.com

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

That writerly feeling when you think you have a silly little couple-thousand-word idea and by the time you're done it's over 10K and you're crying to nail the tragic ending.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Sharing this mostly for the alt text on the photos. Check that out.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I truly don't understand how someone in one of those mega-tall pickup truck with the bazillion-lumen headlights can roll up behind a Miata at a red light and feel anything but overwhelming shame and remorse.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

These are the postcards on deck for my patreon this month. To read their stories, subscribe at patreon.com/skaftun.

Five postcards in a jumble, featuring ponies, a skeleton, vintage pie-making, large bugs, and an odd car.

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Reposted by emily c. skaftun (she/her)

Sandra Newman @sannewman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Writing Tip: Mine your experiences for stories, but change small details to protect people's identities. For instance, if you are writing about how your dad embezzled money from his catering business, make him a goblin and say he embezzled magic from the Fairy King.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Deer to hunter: No, I'll kill YOU and wear your clothes. Your head's gonna look so good on my wall.

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A friend recently asked me what the C in my name stood for and I blurted out "Cryptid," so BRB, legally changing my middle name.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Here’s a visualization of all the curse words in real time, which is oddly satisfying: swearsky.bagpuss.org

swearsky.bagpuss.org

SwearSky

Bluesky profanity, as it happens

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Five writers of whom I’ve read 10+ books: Christopher Pike David Brin Tim Powers Jeanette Winterson Seanan McGuire

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emily c. skaftun (she/her) @eskaftun.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Hi, new followers! I write stories sometimes, but lately I'm mostly obsessed with postcard fiction.

patreon.com

#97: A bumpy landing | Emily C. Skaftun

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