iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Had such a fun time hosting the incredible @aijiang.bsky.social, @megancheewrites.bsky.social, @elianeboey.bsky.social and @vivianlicreates.bsky.social here in Singapore last week! Also lol at out our co-typewritting story attempt. 😂

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

The lone mooncake I was able to steal from my work pantry because nobody got budget to send me mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival this year. 🥲

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

Me rocking my 4 Immortals of VN shirt with @nghivo.bsky.social, my literary hero & the 5th immortal to me! Thank you for being so gracious with my fanboying. Your writing helped me believe that my Viet-American ass has a chance to write & meeting you was a highlight of the Nebulas. 🙏

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 16/06/2024

Had such a great time at the Nebulas in Pasadena last weekend. Thanks to all the cool, amazing people who let lil’ ol’ me hang out with them & congrats to all the finalists. You inspire me to keep pushing my own writing forward & I can’t wait to see you again. ♥️

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 05/06/2024

One of the most exciting things about going back to the U.S. for me is getting a chance to experience all the Cheetos innovation. New packaging?? Xxtra Flamin’ Hot?? Take my money!! 🤤

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 14/04/2024

Get a whole-ass jug of this insane but surprisingly smooth 女儿红 (red daughter) drink at Magazine 63, the coolest speakeasy in Penang, to feel like a wandering wuxia warrior. ⚔️

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 11/04/2024

Visited Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The Buddhist nerd in me finds it fascinating that though the temple’s name means supreme bliss in Hokkien and is a reference to the pure land of the buddha Amitabha, its defining feature is the giant statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin. 🤔

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Monkey King sightings in Penang. I’m only mildly surprised that a purely fictional (vs mythological) character gets whole ass temples/shrines devoted to him.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

Accurate representation of my TBR: lots of wine and food, but never made it to chapter 2.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 09/03/2024

Discovered that there’s a shrine to the local Chinese tutelary deity (a sort of very local neighborhood god) in the back of Tanjong Pagar plaza. I lit incense & prayed for inspiration for my next story & for my enemies to always hit every red light on their way to work.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2024

Sunday afternoon Riesling and Pringles tasting at @tanvisingh.bsky.social’s suggestion because I hold her opinions both literary and otherwise in such high esteem.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2024

Surprisingly little-known fact: there’s a food court under the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore that serves delicious, affordable vegetarian food. Only SGD$4 for this laksa that actually uses fresh coconut milk for the broth, unlike most vegetarian restaurants.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 23/02/2024

The Saint of Bright Doors by @vajra.me is such a unique & great book about the son of a messiah he was raised to kill. I was sucked in by the complex & realistic post-colonial but still oppressive world, fleshed out characters finding their way in it, & really 🤯 use of the narrator’s POV. 🔥

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 15/02/2024

Painted dragons at our team CNY activity. Yes I purposely made mine look like a devil and then imprisoned it in a cup for the next foolish mortal to free. 😈

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

First lo hei (捞起 or “prosperity toss”) of the year—a Chinese Singaporean LNY tradition where you toss a dish of raw fish, vegetables & condiments into the air for good fortune. I always aim for the ceiling.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

In Singapore when sidewalks are being repaired they place temporary alternate paths in the grass next to it. In the U.S. we would write funny messages in the drying cement and then walk in the street (there’s probably no grass) and get hit by a Tesla.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 28/01/2024

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore at night looks pretty amazing.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 27/01/2024

Saw this cool edition of the Bell Jar at @kinobkt.bsky.social Singapore but couldn’t reach it because I’m too short. 😭😭

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 19/01/2024

I FINISHED THE 1ST DRAFT OF MY WIP!! AND IT ONLY TOOK ME 1 YEAR THIS TIME! 😆💀 It’s waay longer than I want (7.5k words 😅) & I have a lot of revising to do, but this is actually my favorite part—where I have all the pieces already & just need to shape it into a story I love.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 14/01/2024

Had steamed pork buns (called Big Paus here) from Tiong Bahru Pau, which some say are the best in Singapore. You know it’s legit when they don’t even have an English menu.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 11/01/2024

Bought deodorant today and got a free Doraemon storage box. This is the best day of my life.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

Missed the Sichuan dumplings in Chengdu at WorldCon, so made them for New Year’s Eve.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 24/12/2023

The best way to spend Christmas is reading @aijiang.bsky.social’s I AM AI while eating Cheetos (chopsticks also important to keep cheese stains off the pages). 🎄

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 11/12/2023

Put up the Christmas tree. Funny story: I was raised Buddhist but my parents sent me to a Catholic school for 2 years because they thought it would give me a better education than public schools. They pulled me out after I started trying to say grace at dinner. 😂

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 09/12/2023

Finally took down our Vietnamese Lunar New Year of the Cat decorations. Yes we literally kept these up all year just to counterbalance the Chinese family across the street who didn’t take down their CNY Rabbit decorations. 😼

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 04/12/2023

Had a great time last week meeting up with the amazing Megan Chee and fellow @sfwa.bsky.social member @drfionamoore.bsky.social to chat about SFF and Management Lessons from Game of Thrones. ☺️

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 26/11/2023

Highlight of my weekend was hanging out at the Singapore Writers Festival signing table long enough to snap this selfie with @byzantienne.bsky.social, Vivian Shaw & @victorocampo.bsky.social! 😊

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 19/11/2023

Came for the watches, stayed for the vintage (those buddhas! 🙈🙊🙉).

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 18/11/2023

In Singapore they even build public housing for the wild chickens.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 05/11/2023

My @khoreo.bsky.social story “This is What You Came For” is on the Nebula reading list! Check it out for a love story about memory, music & dancing, chasing something you can almost remember in a club you can’t seem to escape. www.sfwa.org/forum/readin...

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

I used to work straight through my afternoons, now I sneak out of the office to take walks and commune with Baby Yoda for writing inspiration. Follow me for more great career advice! 🤡

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

And thanks @arleysorg.bsky.social & @aijiang.bsky.social for helping me feel welcome in this community for the 2nd con in a row. It made all the difference seeing friendly, familiar faces at this overwhelming event. And omg I had so much fun escaping to explore Chengdu & Chongqing with you! 🚄

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

Thanks @xuetingni.bsky.social and @macula.bsky.social for reaching out for WorldCon and making time to meet up with us. It was so great going from reading Chinese Myths and Sinopticon to eating hot pot with you by a glowing river with ducks romantically quacking at us. 🦆

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 30/10/2023

The best part of WorldCon was the people. I literally saw 2 panels but had so much fun just hanging out. Thanks @wtalabi.bsky.social & Rocio for teaching me to always be prepared for nonsense, & @witchywonderer.bsky.social & Isabella for getting me into the reception with a Hugo winner! 💫

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 22/10/2023

So happy I got to be at the Hugos with @reasie.bsky.social, @aijiang.bsky.social & @witchywonderer.bsky.social! A bit emotional having a story published with @khoreo.bsky.social & getting to be here for their first Hugo nomination. ☺️

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 17/10/2023

Made it to Chengdu for WorldCon and these spicy Sichuan wontons are my first challenge. 🌶️🌶️

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 11/10/2023

Found my spirit Chinese zodiac animal: buffalos on acid.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 09/10/2023

POV: you’re trying to write but there’s a robot drilling a hole to the center of the earth right outside your window. 💀

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 08/10/2023

Did an immersive audio walking tour of Jalan Besar in Little India by OH! Stories, “guided” by a fictional Singaporean writer recalling past loves in old SG. Got more vibes than history but the storytelling was excellent. Very well-written & produced. ohopenhouse.org/OH-Stories-N...

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 08/10/2023

You know you’re an SFF nerd when you see this and immediately think of @uncannymagazine.bsky.social.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 03/10/2023

Can I get one of these for life too?

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 02/10/2023

Mid Autumn Festival mooncakes haul: double yolk lotus seed mooncakes in cool shophouse box, Shanghainese meat mooncakes, & snow skin (frozen glutinous rice) mooncakes. As an Asian American I didn’t even know snow skin existed before coming to SG. The moon cake technology is advanced here.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 30/09/2023

Mooncake season & I got these delicious homemade mooncakes from a colleague. 😋 Mooncakes are a pain in the ass to make & I’m always amazed by how much effort people here put into not just the mooncakes but the professional boxing. 🤯 Also these look like cute lil gremlins. 😍

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 29/09/2023

My copy of @neonhemlock’s Luminescent Machinations anthology just arrived from the UK! Super excited to start reading this. And yes I purposely took this picture next to a luminescent machine. 😆

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 25/09/2023

This dragon likes to eat burgers.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 25/09/2023

I used to think this was some interesting Chinese-inspired probably Singapore National Arts Council sponsored street art, and have just realized it’s a giant Shake Shack sign. Zoom in to see the little burger logos in the tiles on the right.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 18/09/2023

That time I blindly joined a random line because everybody was at a peranakan culture event and saw the prime minister of Singapore.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 14/09/2023

I have discovered a superior way and even more Asian way of eating Cheetos than with chopsticks: eating Cheetos with nori wraps.

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Phong Quan @pqwrites.bsky.social · 13/09/2023

Walked by this restaurant in SG Chinatown and for a moment felt like I was in an anime.

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