iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

The wonderful @gregvaneekhout.bsky.social, who was one of my Clarion instructors, gracefully signed and sent a copy of Weird Kid, which was described by one of my sixth graders as, 'The first book he's ever actually liked'. I love my job(s). Faces cropped out for obvious reasons.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Apparently a couple of people have received emails from @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social soliciting money in exchange for marketing/editorial help. For the record, that is not a service we currently offer, and those emails are scams. Ignore them. Emails from me always come from sam@thecosmicbackground.com

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Breaking my social media embargo to say that the ending of Stranger Things is the worst thing I've ever seen, and I literally sat and watched my grandfather die. Gonna teach a new writing class on how not to do any of that audience-winking cynical happy-ending bullshit.

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Ignyte Award-Nominated Writer/Editor LP Kindred @lpkindred.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Little known fact: @samasherwriter.bsky.social was so distraught by the closure of Daily Science Fiction that he wouldn't stop whingeing about it. So @crsutton.bsky.social told him to start a magazine or shut the fuck up. And that's how they started magazine. That and Asher selling his shoe

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V. Astor Solomon @howsweetthewords.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Please go give these lovely people some money so they can keep putting out excellent work.

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Stars and Sabers @starsandsabers.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

In case you missed it, we're now using Ko-fi and we're pushing OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to June 2026. This is an open-ended funding situation which worked great for us for our first anthology, OF SHADOWS, STARS, AND SABERS, and also leads to faster author payouts! Let's get this book made.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

'Pumpkin spice season' has always felt ridiculous, but this year in particular the whole idea of this being news makes me want to vomit. We're all broke, and terrified, and sliding into oblivion while the world burns. But oh look, cinnamon.

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Locus Magazine @locusmag.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Let's focus on supporting each other this year. Indie authors, publishers, magazines & editors need to stay connected! Keep yourself integrated into the SFFH world by reading Locus! Support our nonprofit and help us create the network we all deserve... locusmag.com

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Not to toot @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's horn too hard, but we respond faster, and are more reliable than the vast majority of magazines. We have statistics to prove it. We also pay writers $0.10 a word, and pay our artists $100 per piece.

A screenshot of the cosmic background's statistics.

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Uncanny Magazine @uncannymagazine.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

PLEASE SHARE! Writers! Uncanny Magazine is OPEN to Short Story Submissions from August 25 to September 8! We can't wait to read your stories!!! buff.ly/xB0IZOX

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Can confirm, I have several other jobs. The nice thing about being a writer, though, is that when people ask me what I do, I don't have to say 'soul-crushing minimum wage trudgery which tarnishes my soul' and can just point them at my first book.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I don't think I can be a writer anymore. Sorry everyone.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

We need less than $800 to get us to our basic goal of existing for another year. That is so close. And yet, as they say, really fucking far away.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I'd like to remind all of our writers that @charliejane.bsky.social just called you bold and startling.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

As part of @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's fundraising efforts, we're delighted to offer our whole-ass guide on writing successful flash fiction, released in parts at every $400 interval. Here's part 1. www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start

thecosmicbackground.com

How We Start

As promised, as we raise money for Year 3 of The Cosmic Background, we'll be posting editor Sam Asher's guide to writing Flash on here, in sections, every week. These posts will be removed one month a...

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

I've been the primary caregiver to our daughter her whole life, so at this point I must be the Superman of fertility.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

In case anyone's curious about what it's like to run @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, this is a part of how I afford it. It's GoFundMe, and delivering people Popeyes for $3 a go. I do that as an extra job to pay writers. My car always smells like chicken, and I'm a vegetarian. Never doubt my love.

A screenshot of the UberEats delivery page.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

I'm not saying that if you don't support @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social your dog will die, but I'm not saying it won't happen either. Are you willing to take that risk?

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

This question is only unsettling if you're a dipshit who has way too much time on their hands. The most unsettling question of our times is surely, 'Can I afford to feed my kid this evening?'

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year. Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it. gofund.me/ca0c2b7d

gofund.me

Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher

For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

@aijiang.bsky.social is hard at work, and we'll be letting the first batch of writers know today if, alas, their piece didn't quite make it for our special issue over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

I'm not saying I'm a suggestible person, but I am saying that watching a single episode of House Hunters International made me decide we're moving to Costa Rica.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

@thecosmicbgr.bsky.social is gearing up for our third annual Kickstarter this fall. In the past we've mostly sent out merch and offered 1-1 talks, but is there anything else you like to see from a magazine's Kickstarter?

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

This is the wisdom that all millennials need. Waking up and reading emails in bed is not healthy. Emails should be read in the email room. Right before we go on AIM.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

I think when people see me at cons, they see 6'2 guy who knows what he's doing, but the reality is that I spent maybe 1/10th of my time in Seattle having a Little Cry in the bathroom. I think @lpkindred.bsky.social (my elder brother, who I often have little breakdowns to) can attest to that.(1)

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Does anyone else love grocery store circular day?

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

People who have ever successfully quit smoking: I have been smoking since I was 13, and am now dispiritingly close to 40. I have successfully quit alcohol, drugs, meat, and super skinny pants. Help me, I need advice.

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Skyla Dawn Cameron @skyladawn.ca · 19/08/2025

From a writer group post someone sent me: "...the attitude now is so exclusive and unwelcoming for those of us who are either pro-AI or use AI" GOOD JOB, EVERYONE, KEEP MAKING THEM FEEL UNWELCOMED, YOUR SHAME IS WORKING. 🥰

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

I was on this panel at Worldcon, but missed the group photo. Our delightful moderator @shiwritesprose.bsky.social caught me outside for a rectifying-selfie.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

I think someone somehow got the idea out there that all editors have mad respect for 'Hustle'. Like if you find my email address and email me subs when we're very clearly closed, I'll be impressed by your commitment to The Game. In reality I immediately delete it, and ignore all your queries.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Only perfectly healthy children who are starved to death matter. Got it. There's no roasting too hot for this Nazi-fucking-piece-of-shit-ghoul.

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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Fuck this and fuck this festival.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

@erikgrove.com is my absolute favorite vibe at cons. I have nothing else to add, I just like him a lot.

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Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

I’m sick of all this pro-beach propaganda: every experience on the beach is actively unpleasant.

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L Carmichael @utarcher.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

"I've learned I don't have the spoons to write both good fiction and neurotypical fiction. I can write one or the other, and I would much rather write good fiction that people enjoy. When I kind of gave up trying to write that shit, all of a sudden, I sold way more." @samasherwriter.bsky.social

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

If you saw me on a @seattlein2025.org panel and liked what I said, or read my book and enjoyed it, that's amazing, thank you. Just please maybe wait to tell me until I'm done at the urinal. I'm not eloquent when I'm holding my penis.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

An old white lady at @seattlein2025.org just talked at me for 20 minutes/a thousand years about how fiction didn't used to have ideology in it and everything is too political now (contrary to my point on the below panel) and I need a hug and a shower.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

I was not-so-reliably informed that my signing at @seattlein2025.org had been moved, so if you missed me this afternoon, my/someone else's bad.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Did anyone happen to take photos of the Working Class Fiction panel at @seattlein2025.org yesterday? I need to impress my nephew by proving I hung out with Becky Chambers.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Listen I'm not saying I have better taste than John Campbell (I am, I'm saying that) but if you all wrote fiction like you were gonna send it to @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social then we'd have a ton of really rad shit. Queer and weird and anti fascist.

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 11/08/2025

In science fiction, so much of what is "classic" was essentially written for one man: John W. Campbell, the editor of the pre-eminent US SF magazine. Even the stuff published elsewhere, because it was often sent to him first. Think on what it means to have a whole genre filtered through one dude.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

My WorldCon schedule, for anyone who wants to know where I'm gonna be (nobody wants to know).

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Does anyone else find it really difficult to trust/take seriously anyone who still has an active Twitter presence? If I look-up a writer and see they're on there, I'm immediately turned way off.

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Sam Asher @samasherwriter.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

As I'm getting ready for @concurrentseattle.bsky.social and @seattlein2025.org next week, I remember how anxious these events always make me. With that in mind, if anyone would like a hug from a Big Queer Dad who's built like a grumpy bear while we're in Seattle, just let me know. I've got you.

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