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Nicole Sune Sbitani

@nsune.bsky.social
760 followers 752 following 544 posts

Mostly microfiction, with little sprinkles of personality between. nicolesune.sbitani.com Personal account, not representative of Department of State or USG.

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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
Dr. Damien P. Williams, dread portent down from a mountain cave @wolven.blacksky.app · 5h
Creating an "AI" avatar of your dead loved one w/o their input or consent, & saying that it counts "the same" as the dead loved one— ESPECIALLY as evidence in a MURDER TRIAL— is both a massive misunderstanding of what "AI" is & how it works, & a hugely dehumanizing insult to said dearly departed.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 3h
Ouch!! Hope it feels better soon 😞
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
toilet bones @toiletbones.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Found the email I sent when I got accidentally added to the faculty listserv of an orthopedic surgery clinic and nobody would remove me so I sent this email to all faculty/staff/med students and they removed me almost immediately
Hello Bone Colleagues, 
I have invented a new type of ankle and I'm very excited to show it to you. Early raccoon trials suggest a 60% increase in scurrying speed and dramatic increases in fine motor banditry. I know we are not supposed to create super raccoons, but I think you'll change your mind and professional ethics when you see how cute they are. I believe we are on the cusp of a new era in advanced human scurrying because if medical science has taught me anything, it's that improvements in raccoons correspond 1:1 to improvements in humans. 

--
[My name]
Chief Bone Inventor
Chair, Department of Foot and Leg Innovation
Lord Mayor, Musculoskeletal Medicine 
Hartford HealthCare,
The Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Have you read Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit? He's a Harvard professor who makes a very compelling argument for merit lottery admissions like you described
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I really enjoyed this! Great way to start my day and put a smile on my face
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
There are some news articles going around about sexual violence reporting rates at different universities. Let’s talk about why some schools have higher reporting rates than others:
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
If you see this, recommend a short book. One Level Down by Mary G. Thompson
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Some manuscripts had great interiority. Where authors successfully balanced dialogue and infused descriptions with what's not said aloud but from the protagonist's perspective, I learned more about the world and the characters at the same time. It made the whole story feel more real and immersive.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Several books showcased important character development even in the first 10 pages. I was impressed with these, and I felt it made me better understand why the story needed to start where it did. In other words, what's different about the protagonist before and after this specific thing?
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I love beautiful but concise worldbuilding. In these manuscripts, there were descriptions of spaceships, urban centers, forest groves, and historical small towns that skillfully weaved story elements and setting information together. These really hit that sweet spot for me as a reader.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Many writers did a great job of planting curiosity seeds for me (a term I learned from the TSNOTYAW podcast, which I highly recommend). The best is when I was curious early on to learn more about the protagonist and the world, especially since the manuscripts were speculative fiction.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
On a related note, there were several passages of dialogue that were so delightful to read. The dialogue itself wasn't too on the nose (something I find challenging personally), the section had the perfect balance of talking and action beats, and every character speaking had a distinct voice.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I love a well-done voicey narrator, especially in the first person. Several manuscripts did this very well, and I could easily understand why first person POV was the best choice for their book.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Since I did a previous thread about my common criticisms of the 7 sets of the first 10 pages of novels I read for an upcoming writing workshop, here are some of the things that made me write compliments in the margins. Here are the roses to my previous thread's thorns:
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
maura quint @mauraquint.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yes every woman has been harassed, many assaulted. But every woman has also experienced invisible loss from moments she avoided harassment. She felt a space becoming unsafe, so she left, while men stayed on. And in leaving, she lost: opportunities, experiences, learning, promotions, even simply fun.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
If you want help getting this right in your own storytelling and seeing examples of international affairs done well (and poorly) in fiction, definitely check out my newsletter: Fics & Dip! nicolesune.sbitani.com
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Please do not make characters repeat things they both already know to each other - it comes across as an obvious exposition for the reader's benefit and takes me right out of the story.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Do not drop international affairs bombshells that make no sense in today's context without at least some hint that the world has changed in a way that makes sense. (E.g., a story where Kiribati becomes the sole backup location for all Earth's most important data... why??)
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
There's a legitimate debate to be had about historical accuracy and when offensive language might be permissible in fiction (and by whom). But for me (+ many other readers of color), I'm not looking for my fiction to be full of slurs and stereotypes I'm already tired of seeing in real life.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Don't use gratuitous racist or exclusionary language. When one protagonist kept referring to another character as "the Chinaman" (even in his head, even after meeting him, and even after staying in his house) I thought, "well I'm clearly not the audience for this book."
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Please do not make the only women you introduce in your first 10 pages caricatures of "hot" or "unhot" only. Multiple of these manuscripts mentioned women only in passing and only in terms of whether the male protagonist wanted to sleep with them.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Please do not make me guess who the main character or protagonist is. If you introduce too many characters, jump around inside too many heads, or have a first-person or second-person narrator with no description, then I as a reader will get confused. I want to know who to root for in the story!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I'm attending a writing workshop in two days for which I had to read the first 10 pages of 7 other authors' manuscripts in advance to provide feedback during the session. Here are some of my most common suggestions for improvement in those opening pages:
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The global resistance movement against longevity recruits Hanna Kim when a forced blood donation leaves her sister in a preventable coma. Hanna must defy her powerful mother and reject everything she was taught to discover the truth and save those she loves. #DVpit #A #SF #SFF #OWN #Asian #POC #WOC
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is so relatable. I read and write a lot of sci-fi, and I had absorbed a lot of harmful attitudes from some members of the specfic community that look down on romance as "fluffy" or less intelligent. In reality, writers in all genres can learn great character development from romance!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thank you!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I literally laughed out loud
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 30/09/2026
anyway character driven stories are not, in fact, easy to generate by a thing that doesn't understand human emotion
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
When 150yo grandma gets in an accident, Hanna & sis are forced to donate too much blood to save her. With sis in a coma & everything she knew about longevity shattered, Hanna chooses to reject the system her mom helped build & join the global resistance. #DVpit #A #SF #SFF #OWN #Asian #POC #WOC
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Great perspective in this thread for all of us participating in a pitch event for the first time!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I swear these people are proud of what a small market they have. They think it's evidence that only the most refined tastes could appreciate what they have to offer 🙄
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I was already in from the moment I read the comps. Awesome premise!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Love this pitch! Great premise
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It made me reflect in a deeper way than ever before how I would hope I and my children act when faced with such striking injustice and cruelty that is unfortunately way too common. It is also just a masterpiece of performance, a true work of art. I cannot recommend it highly enough. #InterAlia
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I saw a screening of it in Dubai, and it blew me away. I laughed, I sobbed, and I haven't stopped thinking about it ever since. I went home from the show and told hubby he had to see it. It changed how I parent, especially as a mother to a son.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If you find yourself repulsed by the never-ending stream of horrible stories about campus sexual violence and wondering how so many young men can treat so many young women as less than human, please see Inter Alia! It's running in NY, or you can watch at home: www.ntathome.com/videos/inter...
ntathome.com
Inter Alia: Full Play
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This sounds right up my alley! I pre-ordered on Kobo and look forward to reading it, @goodwords.bsky.social 😀
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thank you so much!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
BLACK MIRROR x ANNIE BOT x ONE LEVEL DOWN When sis is forced to give too much blood, Hanna Kim sees longevity isn't worth it. Only by joining the resistance does Hanna learn what humanity lost in the quest for longer life & how far she’ll go to get it back. #DVpit #A #SF #SFF #OWN #Asian #POC #WOC
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
Sarah Andersen @sarahseeandersen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The image is of a four panel comic.
The first panel shows Sarah, the protagonist, holding a red ball labeled "A SILLY MEME".
The second panel shows Sarah taking the ball and going through a door labeled "GROUP CHAT".
The third panel shows a group of women sitting together and consoling one woman in the center. The woman in the center is saying "...And that's how it happened. It's been the worst day of my life."
The fourth panel shows Sarah standing in the doorway behind them awkwardly holding the red ball.
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thank you!! 😀
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Family secrets and ancient curse... I'm in! Great premise!!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Would you open your veins to keep your ancestors alive? What if you didn't have a choice? Descendants in 2200 must donate blood, but once her mom pressures her anemic sis to donate until she’s comatose, Hanna Kim joins the global resistance against longevity. #DVpit #A #SF #SFF #OWN #Asian #POC #WOC
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Reposted by Nicole Sune Sbitani
E. Catherine Octobler @ecatherine.com · 02/09/2026
My bones need some recovery time, y'all, so @thedeadlands.com is taking a break to give me that time. 💖💀💖
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Oooh, I love this premise! Good luck
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is so cute! Love the premise!
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I love this premise! I would definitely read this
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Given your vote, I have some great news for you. 😁 (Plus, you have great taste!)
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
BLACK MIRROR x ANNIE BOT x ONE LEVEL DOWN In 2200, descendant blood doubles ancestor lifespans. When donating too much puts her sis in a coma, Hanna Kim must decide whether to keep supporting the system her mom spent her life building or help tear it down. #DVpit #A #SF #SFF #OWN #Asian #POC #WOC
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Nicole Sune Sbitani @nsune.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I love biotech sci-fi - what a great premise!
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