iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

I need to be on here more and less on the higher-priced spreads.

William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Delighted to post that the University of Chicago Press has brought out a fourth edition (substantially revised and updated) of Getting It Published. I how could I have known twenty-five years ago that this book would be my companion?

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Thanks, RP-V! Happy to report that Chicago has just brought a a fourth edition, substantially updated!

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Hector Diaz @iamhectordiaz.com · 08/05/2025

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Thank you! I wrote this to be helpful - so glad it’s of use!

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I see more criticism here of Democrats in Congress than I do condemnation of Republicans. And yet it is the GOP who are enabling Trump. It tells me a lot when I see you regularly bash our side but say nothing, ever, about the other. Reflect on your choices. You may be helping the fascists.

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Measles, mumps and rubella like this post.

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Sam Cohen @samcohen.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Just reminded of my favorite citation ever, there will be no topping this (thanks @williamgermano.bsky.social)

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

This is what the government did with 120K+ Japanese Americans in 1942. I know. I was there in those camps.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Heading out of town now. Let’s connect (where in the world are you?).

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Writing as teaching. Still finding my way around this app, looking for my peeps, looking out for the problems on which I work: writing for real people, teaching real students, reimagining the real work of the classroom. Using tech but without succumbing to AI. Helping others to do exactly that.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Back home from the MLA. The sessions were a vast array of specialized ideas in progress, but the in-person conversations were exhilarating and energized my ideas for and about writing. The Publishers exhibit hall was terrific, as always.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

10. Leave you what you don’t need, which means most of your homework. Revise for better, not for perfect. Better is often shorter, simpler, but also clearer and riskier. You can do this.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

9. A hum and a narrative. Writers are storytellers. Even scholarly writers are storytellers. Link the pieces. Keep the lights on in your writing.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

8.True fact: no reader, no book. So as you revise, pay special attention to what your reader will hear. You wrote it, but the reader makes the writing happen, at least turns the ignition key. You want there to be a hum.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

7. Architecture isn’t just making shapely chapters. It’s using language to build a habitable space for your ideas and your reader. So a book is more like a workshop than a museum. Appealing units, good directional signals, openings and closings.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

6. What’s an argument? Sometimes it’s really more of a compelling question about something that bothers you. That can be plenty. Don’t be fixated on solving for x. Your contribution may be the discovery of an x and the gift of ways to think about it.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

5. You won’t get lost in the revising weeds if you can concentrate on three axes: Argument, Architecture, and Audience. (Don’t have an axe to grind when you’re revising. Have three.)

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

4. Good revision is sometimes self-centered (“So what do I think?”), but always generous (“Hey, reader, I made this for you.”)

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

3. So you need to know what work you want the writing to do, and what you hope your reader will do with it in turn. That’s point and consequence.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

2. Knowing that you need to revise is never a sign of failure. It’s what every writer does and knows. Good stuff gets cut because it’s not doing the work you want it to.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

1. Revising is figuring out what you really think, or getting as close as you can. You may do it once or a dozen times. But you do it for the reader. Always for the reader.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

With the collapse of Twitter, BlueSky is a good venue for helping writers move their work forward. Here’s a thread of ten tips on revising (thanks to folks who reached out to me about this). Thread is adapted from my “On Revision” (Chicago, 2021).

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Sorry about the Twitter thread, but it had to happen. Thanks for mentioning “On Revision.” I go back to it and (whew!) still like it. An odd thing to say, maybe, but that’s what we each go through when we publish - turning pages, waiting for our own updated response. A kind of revision, I guess!

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Idea for a tattoo parlor: “Needles to Say.”

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Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

I have no patience anymore for people (critics or otherwise!) who get so anxious when greatness in any medium is put in front of them that they feel they have to "Yes, but..." it. Huge talent isn't that common. So when you see it, let yourselves be awed! You won't lose credibility, you'll gain it.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Auf Wiedersehen, Frau. Last night’s terrific final performance of “Die Frau ohne Schatten” at the Met, a reminder that in this deeply screwed up moment it’s still possible for people to come together to make something beautiful and tender and, well, great.

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Sound about right.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Lamont is being generous. Somebody somewhere uses the abbreviation RSFs. Or should.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

A colossal “Frau ohne Schatten”last night at the Met. Nézet-Séguin led the revival of Herbert Wernicke’s gorgeous, multilevel production. Acting-singing from Volle, Stemme, Lindstrom, Van den Heever, plus Russell Thomas thrilling as the Emperor. It’s “Zauberflöte” on drugs only Strauss could brew.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Strauss’s “Die Frau ohne Schatten” begins its run at the Met this Friday in Herbert Wernicke’s dazzly production: Nézet-Séguin; Van den Heever, Lindstrom, Stemme, Volle, Thomas, Green. Can’t wait.

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Maylis de Kerangal’s “The Heart,” trans. Sam Taylor. Wow. Tour de force is a description easily thrown around, but here it really applies. A terrific book.

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Facts matter. Science saves lives. Anti-science destroys them.

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Greg Britton @gmbritton.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

My #HigherEd book of the day: Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis by @edufuturist.bsky.social www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/... @hopkinspress.bsky.social #AcademicSky #ClimateCrisis

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Cannot recommend highly enough Meylis De Kerangal’s “The Heart” (FSG, 2016), beautifully translated from the French by Sam Taylor. The most moving novel I have read in recent memory. (What’s it about? Being alive. Go read it.)

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Bonnie Honig @bonniehonig.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

That’s the quote. I was looking for it. And here it is. Hannah Arendt on the Matt Gaetz as AG announcement

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William Germano @williamgermano.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

This is the grim reality we’ve allowed to happen. www.facebook.com/share/r/15NF...

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