iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 13h

So I’m doing creepy short stories with my 11th graders and decided to bring creepypasta into the fold. I’m going to use Candle Cove. It plays with a trope I really like: the forgotten/never existed TV show. I want to write one but I’m afraid it’d be too much of a riff on Candle Cove.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 13h

It was almost like they felt obligated to respond to the package then offer me their services as an editor. Other times I got some good feedback and some nice encouragement. I don’t think I’m doing it this time.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 13h

A writing/pitch event opened up today and if you know me, I’m not one to ignore such things. I’ve entered this one before and gotten mixed results. The last time left a sour taste in my mouth because it felt like the editor just whiffed on what I was doing and was angry about it.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

One of the great failures of the education system is the complete acceptance amd adoption of the “meet students where they are” philosophy.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Feel free to DM and we can figure it out.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This is honestly a ripping fantasy series with incredible but not overwhelming worldbuilding, a complex and intertwined plot, mashed up genre combinations and spectacular characters. Really one of my favorites of the last decade.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

There is hope folks. This morning my students were working on writing narratives. One young man asked me what was the best way to describe young men going out to check out and meet girls without being disrespectful or inappropriate. We turned the moment into a brief classroom discussion.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Tonight was fun as always. Inwas distracted by some writing stuff and I didn’t have as much to say as normal but it’s always great seeing my #kidlitchat peeps! Have a great night and see yall next week. If you need a pick me up, never hesitate to reach out!

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The four that I teach are HEAVY on writing and I get loads of freedom within those classes. I helped write the college writing prep class curriculum and I'm rewriting on the fly. It's kind of fun. But like I said, I'm lucky. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'm lucky. I have five section that I teach. Four of the five are for students that have already passed the state ELA test, so I'm relatively unfettered. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

We're so jammed with curriculum and testing, there's no space for things that aren't going to prep them for a damn test. It's very frustrating. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I think I'd rather do an activity with a single class at a time. I teach a college prep writing class and I'd love to find a writer to come and talk to them about doing a longform research heavy piece of writing. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

We did a writing institute and had all kinds of cool writers come in to talk to the kids. That was cool, but we could never nail down an author and we have plenty of them around here to participate. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Never read it. Bought it over the summer to read it and haven't gotten to it yet.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Every once and a while one of my colleagues will send a kid or two to me to talk about writing and I eat it up. But I think I'd go right into teacher mode if I were to do a school visit. Plus I think I have the charisma of an avocado. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I know. I can't remember ever having an author come and visit. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Okay, he's the thing about this, I'm a full-time high school English teacher....I kind of think I wouldn't be the best school visitor. I couldn't turn my teacher brain off! #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Holy crap, I was so engrossed with my crossword, I forgot about #kidlitchat!

static.klipy.com

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Because I’m such a generous guy, I gave a colleague of mine not one but two terrific novel ideas, one YA & one MG, complete with full loglines for each. They are really good too, but I’m not the one to write the stories and I believe wholeheartedly that she is!

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

There’s something very off putting about a wildly successful, multimillionaire author griping about money on social media while at the same time posting about their 20 city international book tour.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I don’t know if they’re a good company but I get the impression that chewy.com is a good company. My daughter’s cat tragically passed this summer. Today we received a lovely flower arrangement from them.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I can't find a GIF, but the gas station fight in It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World s the finest example of physical comedy in the history of cinema. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNB...

youtube.com

IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (1963) | Fight At The Gas Station | MGM

YouTube video by Amazon MGM Studios

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Reposted by John Zeleznik

Rose Spears @rosespearsauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

CHASING THE DELTA | 88k | Para-romance In a Silicon Valley where Greek gods hide as tech bros, Apollo’s immortality depends on a plant that ornithologist Daphne opposes. They clash as they romp through the Delta, fighting about the plant and against the monsters lurking in the wetlands. #DVpit #A #R

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Reposted by John Zeleznik

Rose Spears @rosespearsauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

HADESTOWN x IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY CHASING THE DELTA | 88k paranormal romance 🪶 rivals to lovers ☀️ mythological retelling 🪶 scientist FMC ☀️ bisexual tech bro MMC 🪶 email feud ☀️ romcom romp antics #DVpit #A #R

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Why is Royal Road being all wonky tonight with the formatting? Christ.

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

That's great. I think I cast everyone as either Kathyn Hahn, Melissa McCarthy, James Spader or Marc Maron. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

True. I love writing about kid athletes and that'd be part of it. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I've had a "male body image" YA book kicking around for 25 years, first conceptualized in a YA lit class I took during my master's work. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A new book store opened in my town and they have at least two writer's groups with open enrollments. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I think I'm going to try at some point. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I don't ever force my writing on them or ask them to read but I'll talk about it, bring up ideas I'm working on or considering. They listen. Encourage. Give advice. And that's all I need from them. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We all need the nudge. Someone to help keep us in line. I have a bunch of buddies that really back me up as a writer. It helps. They aren't crit partners or betas or anything like that, they are just cheerleaders. And they are sometimes just as important. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It did. She's really good too. She should be an editor. She knows how to catch little things I missed having read the piece a million times. A simple repetition. A forgotten detail that'll make something better. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Random question: what actors/actresses do you hear everyone in chat's voices as when you read them? #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think that I'd like my creative partners to have a similar vision as me, though typing this I'm wondering if we need to have the same entry points to our shared interests? #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I had to reorient the way that I gave feedback when I had kids. I grew up with the negative. "What, are you an idiot?" My kids didn't respond to that so I had to change. But I still sort of respond to "what, are you an idiot" when it comes to a crit partner. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I did it well and she loved the story. It helps that she's an voracious reader and was an English major in college. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I reached out to a friend from HS that I hadn't spoken to in decades to read one of my books. I had a little person character in the story & her daughter is a little person, so I just wanted her feeling on how I did representing the character. She's since become one of my trusted betas. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

See, now I'm wishing I had a PopTart dammit. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I tried doing a crit group but it fizzled. Finding the right mix is really difficult especially when considering all the things: trust and skill while trying to find partner's with similar interests. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think it was an interesting idea that I would definitely like to try again. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I don't think it got very far, but it was an interesting idea. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

That's awesome. Many, many moons ago, there was a writring group I belonged to that was an offshoot of the Westeros online community and we tried doing a collaborative Game of Thrones (back when it was ASOIAF only) type novel where we all took a POV. It was interesting. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I've been doing peer editing with my college prep and college writing courses. I'm not one of the "complment sandwich"types, but my editing protocols emphsize the positive. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm a terrible crit partner, and I've talked about this before, because as a teacher I'm constantly reading and critiquing student work, I'm gassed. #kidlitchat

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John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I have these great ideas for two anthologies but I don't have the name to pull them off. I think it would be fun to work with a bunch of other authors writing in common setting/theme. #kidlitchat

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