iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Trollbreath Magazine @trollbreathmag.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Reminder: we turn off the submission queue at the end of the day tomorrow (00:00 UTC; 8:00 PM EDT). Last chance to send us your poetry, short stories, or non-fiction pitches. And remember folks:

1169

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Melanie R. Meadors @lookingupwithmel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I have local events where I'll be selling my hand-bound journals, sketchbooks, and greeting cards with my nature-inspired art on them!

013

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Dear comfort corner of the internet, Please send me vibes for good news! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

150

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

To be clear: when I say “boy doll” I don’t mean some bullshit gendered marketing gimmick I mean a male-presenting doll. They are remarkably hard to find with rainbow or sparkle anything, and my male-presenting child would like one NOW please and thank you

230

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

My mom’s response to finding out my 5 y/o boy would actually love Barbies, thanks, was to ask if he’d like GI Joe 🤦🏻‍♀️ Why is it so hard to find a boy doll with rainbows and sparkles? #ParentSky

160

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Someone just called a whoopie pie a whooping pie and 🤣🤣🤣

150

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Fam, HOW DO I AVOID JINXING MYSELF? History: literally every time in my life I want a result I can’t control (winning a raffle or lottery, my story getting accepted for publication, etc) if I envision it clearly, I don’t get it The problem is I’m a writer. I envision shit

220

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Marie Brennan @swantower.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm delighted to announce that @lightspeedmagazine.com just bought a new story from me -- head on over to their Kickstarter to help them fund this and more fiction in the coming year! www.kickstarter.com/projects/lig...

kickstarter.com

LIGHTSPEED & NIGHTMARE: Award-Winning SF, Fantasy, & Horror

We've published nearly 10 million words of science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction. Help us write the next chapter.

0232

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Rosemary Mosco @rosemarymosco.com · 22/09/2026

Happy mushroom season!

A comic titled "Types of mushrooms" with 12 mushroom species. A wrinkly-looking morel is labeled "creepy but tasty". A brownish deadly galerina is labeled "boring but deadly". A witch's butter on a branch is labeled "jiggles if you poke it". A large puffball is labeled "egg". A creepy red-dripping bleeding tooth fungus is labeled "deeply disconcerting". A fly agaric with a green treefrog sitting under it is labeled "frog umbrella". A black chanterelle is labeled "chalice for forbidden elixers". Three straight-stemmed entolomas are labeled "haha, nipples". A bright purple viscid violet cort is labeled "purple is nice". A birch polypore sticking out of a birch trunk is labeled "tree nose". A complex yellow-tpped coral fungus is labeled "cursed citadel where dwells a fairy queen". A Ravenel's stinkhorn is pixellated at the top for your safety, and labeled "NSFW".

5140331325

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

K. Tempest Bradford @ktempestbradford.com · 22/09/2026

📢 New From @writingtheother.com 📢 Character Deep Dive Workshop 2026 👇🏾 Check it out! 👇🏾 writingtheother.com/character-de...

032

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Professionally Nosy @professionallynosy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My Rage Against the Machine/Les Mis mashup is complete. This is my interpretation of the quilt guild’s summer challenge “quilt with your interpretation and/or feelings towards our current ‘democracy’” all hand stitched.

Quilt hanging on a card catalog. Neutral background with navy cursive appliqué “Do you hear thr people sing?” The background is embroidered in red starting light and getting bolder the lyrics to “killing in the name” the quilting effect is a focused sunburst from the center.

872689844

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Today: Walked in to sub for a class I haven’t subbed for before. They were PSYCHED I was their sub the moment they saw me 🤯 Then I led a really good, really fun creative writing workshop (on using intention as a tool) and everyone left excited

140

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com · 21/09/2026

And... By far, the greatest danger with short stories is that people conclude too early that they understand them.

2999

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com · 21/09/2026

Updating the "AI" community's own words for short fiction marketing: Short stories won’t replace humans, but humans who read short stories will replace those who don’t. The true power of short stories lies not in replacing humans, but in working alongside us to achieve what neither can do alone.

114531

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

OMG @keitichandesu.bsky.social DON’T DO IT (But this thread has me cackling)

250

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Can a very non-empath suddenly take on someone else’s emotions? tldr: I think I actually felt my kid’s emotions today and I’m trying to make sense of it The family i grew up in does not consider others’ emotions. I had to teach myself that and still have to remind myself to be conscious of that

210

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

So damn impressed. Published writer! Teaching writing! Marriage going strong after 18 years. We have amazing kids! I've done shit that scared me, thrived on independence, and found my strength! Though she'd be seriously side-eyeing that whole no-published-book-yet thing...

040

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And of course my 5 year old starts choking on an apple skin while I’m listening to the Creative Life While Caretaking panel… He’s fine! #ParentSky #WriterMom

010

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Currently making tortillas and lemon cookies and listening to @flightsoffoundry.bsky.social panels It’s a Friday! 💜

120

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Now I am become Jeff, the destroyer of Whorls @trollbreath.com · 17/09/2026

I'll be participating in Flights of Foundry this weekend. Here's where you can find me. I'll be moderating the Friday night and both Sunday sessions. And please come to my reading! I may do one of the Fox & Troll stories again like last year.

Graphic showing my schedule for Flights of Foundry online convention.

Friday, September 18th
6:00 PM EDS (18:00 UTC): Dealing with Rejection & Criticism

Saturday, September 19th
7:00 AM EDS (11:00 UTC): Game Recommendations!
10:00 AM EDS (14:00 UTC): Reading!
12:00 AM EDS (16:00 UTC): Short Fiction Magazine Structure
5:00 PM EDS (21:00 UTC): Finance & Short Fiction Markets

Sunday, September 20th
6:00 AM EDS (10:00 UTC): When the Story Call Calls You:
Writing for Anthologies and Very Specific Story Calls
4:00 PM EDS (20:00 UTC): You Can Just DO That? Launching
Magazine (also featuring Jennifer Reynolds)

161

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

W. Kamau Bell @wkamaubell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Words in the dictionary that describe things that aren’t real. 1. unicorn 2. centaur 3. apolitical

561950387

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Newest blog post! Did you know there's a general rule of thumb in genre fiction that you get to ask for one big buy-in from readers before breaking suspension of disbelief? Well, I FINALLY figured out what that is for my current project! 💜 melissaburkart.com/2026/09/14/t...

melissaburkart.com

the one big buy-in

In genre fiction, there’s this general rule of thumb that you can get away with one big buy-in from your readers. More than that tends to break plausibility and readers stop suspending their …

000

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Now I am become Jeff, the destroyer of Whorls @trollbreath.com · 14/09/2026

All of which is to say: pay attention to how you feel, and don't be shy about putting yourself and your needs first if you can. Burn out can easily affect us all, and finding your own ways of mitigating that are important to you living a healthy life. Fin

072

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Trollbreath Magazine @trollbreathmag.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Schedule Update: we are closing to submissions on September 30th instead of the end of October to reduce staff burn out, and provide additional time to focus on the anthology launch and website performance updates. We will reopen on January 1st, 2027. magazine.trollbreath.com/submissions/

02414

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

🍂🍑 Pumpkin Queen Peachy 🍑🍂 @emgiosia.com · 14/09/2026

I need y'all to join the cast for one of these games, because they're going to be SO GOOD!

041

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Melanie R. Meadors @lookingupwithmel.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Tomorrow I'm back on the trails with TWO potential hikes. So who wants to pledge to support me? Well, you're not really supporting me, you are supporting the TREES, the BIRDS, the INSECTS, and all the other life forms that depend on green space. LET'S DO THIS!! www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundra...

zeffy.com

Melanie Meadors's Fundraiser

ONE-TIME & PER-TRAIL OPTIONS 2ND SCREENStay updated online at https://gwlt.org/hike-worcester-week/Discover Wild Worcester!Enjoy the outdoors on trail…

011

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

‎ @handle.invalid · 13/09/2026

how do you book a ticket on a ghost ship? i want to mysterious vanish into the mist and have sea shanties written about me

3259

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I’ve been so excited for the marketing works Adult Ed has done for my workshops. Some of the images they used seemed a little iffy but I didn’t spot any of the usual AI tells. Then they posted an image for another class (not mine) that’s obvious AI slop Fuck There goes my trust

120

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Now I am become Jeff, the destroyer of Whorls @trollbreath.com · 13/09/2026

Available for pre-order now! You can pre-order print editions on Barnes & Noble and ebook versions on both B&N and Amazon. I'll be adding the Kobo store soon. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trollbreat...

barnesandnoble.com

Trollbreath Magazine Volume One (2024-2025)

Barnes & Noble’s online bookstore for books, NOOK ebooks & magazines. Shop music, movies, toys & games, too. Receive free shipping with your Barnes & Noble Membership.

0105

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Saturday adventures: 5’s soccer game, investigating a fiber arts festival (a first for me and the kids!), an impromptu visit to Jasper Beach, then finally home…only for 8 to realize she left her cardigan somewhere 🤦🏻‍♀️ Found it at our first stop of the day! Here’s some zen:

040

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

One of many reasons I adore Trollbreath magazine 💜

020

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Now I am become Jeff, the destroyer of Whorls @trollbreath.com · 12/09/2026

I don't know which is funnier: the fact someone submitted a story I didn't like but I also suspected might be LLM generated; or the fact they emailed back angry we rejected it "in only 2 days; did you even read it?" Which made me double check, and yep, 100% AI. Don't rage email editors. Banned

static.klipy.com

Dwight Schrute: Would An Idiot Do That?

Alt: Dwight Schrute: Would An Idiot Do That?

1181

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Now I am become Jeff, the destroyer of Whorls @trollbreath.com · 11/09/2026

On my list to read as soon as it comes out.

152

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Trump wasn't kidding when he told his cult followers to "cheat" in the midterms. What some might think are "jokes" are trial balloons to see if he'll get pushback on his crimes.

stopthepresses.news

Stop saying Trump is joking when he’s not

Will he rig the midterms? Seek an illegal third term? We need to take him seriously

518954

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Dream Foundry @dreamfoundry.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Flights of Foundry commences in 1 week!!! Have you registered yet??? flights-of-foundry.o...

021

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Alina Lee, Yurisaurus Regina @typewriterlizard.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Skullpunk. Where people reclaim and rediscover funeral rites and mourning traditions in defiance of authority and cultural hegemony. Where people find strength to defy society as they reclaim their "death" culture from their oppressors. Or necromancers vs fascists. I dunno.

1122

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Microcosm Publishing @microcosm.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It's Friday and I'm punchy 1 like = 1 Bird + Microcosm item pairing (You can also request birds) To start: goose x fuck you microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/stic...

a photo of a canada goose running, next extended, probably out to harass someone. there is a pigeon next to it

an illustration of a book with the cover "fuck you I won't do what you tell me"

3255

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I have a sneaking suspicion that once my kids are old enough to not leave me so drained and exhausted at the end of every day (if this is a mythical thing DON’T TELL ME) I will be old enough that I will simply continue to be perpetually drained and exhausted #ParentSky

161

Melissa Burkart @mwithpen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I am really enjoying working with my local Adult Ed. Look at this flyer they made me for my workshops! #WriteSky

Text (edited for 2k-character limit): “RSU 24 Adult Education Presents:
Writer's Toolbox Workshop Series With Melissa Burkart!

Sullivan Learning Center, Mondays, 6PM - 8PM (dates below)
Call 207-422-4794 to register!

Session 1, September 14: Beginning
When it comes to writing, starting can be the hardest part. Every writer-and sometimes every story-needs something ditterent. We will explore story beginnings from different elements, as well as identifying barriers to writing and exploring what makes a resilient writing

Session 2, September 21: Intention
All writers get stuck at some point. This workshop will explore intention-a powerful tool not only to unstick your writing but also to enrich your characters, setting, and plot.

Session 3, September 28: Voice
A strong narrative voice can draw readers in and get them invested in your story. But what is voice? This writing workshop will explore voice so participants come away with a better understanding of what it is and how to use it in their own work.

Session 4, October 5: Details & Description
The devil is in the details. Description builds a world with only words. Mystery authors plant clues in plain sight. We will explore how character can shape description, as well as using details to shift tone and atmosphere.

Session 5, October 19: Character
This workshop will examine how to choose and develop compelling characters, cratting arcs and setting characters as foils to each other. We will also examine different point-of-view types and their effects on a narrative to help writers tell their stories in more effective ways.

Session 6, October 26: Plot, Structure, and Revision If plot is what pulls characters through a story, structure is the shape of that path. This workshop will look at different story structures and focus on making conscious choices. We will also examine revision to help the stories on the page align with writers' vision.

020

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Autumn Wolff | Lesbian Romance Author @autumnwolff.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I'll tell trans folks the same thing I told furries a couple weeks ago. Take this advice from an ex-reporter of 15 years. If a journalist DMs you, SHUT THE FUCK UP. If a journalist DMs you, SHUT THE FUCK UP. If a journalist DMs you, SHUT THE FUCK UP. If a journalist DMs you, SHUT THE FUCK UP.

1224061480

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

Dr Rehaminator's Monster Cock @drrehaminator.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"I'm too talented to need shortcuts" goes so fucking hard.

youtube community post from Huggbees that discusses why he does not and will not ever use AI in his art

4677252375

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 09/09/2026

If the people working at Anthropic et al sincerely believe that GenAI will kill 10% of humanity in the next decade, why can't we try them for conspiracy to murder?

1242183

Reposted by Melissa Burkart

The Other Happy Place @theotherhappyplace.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I remember realizing "wait if someone is kind to me I want them to feel good. If they benefit that's nice."

541483