iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

ICYMI: Understanding Birdsong--my piece exploring how both memory loss and recovery shapes relationships--is in the beautifully curated Turning leaf Journal. Thank you to everyone who has read and shared their own Nana experiences 🥹

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

New fiction! Migrations explores—through the story of a young girl working at her father’s restaurant—the intersection between tourism, forced migration, and survival. It also asks: Does preserving a culture mean embalming it? elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/migrations

elenidvlachos.substack.com

Migrations

New fiction published in The Marlowe Review

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

A fantastic resource for writers submitting work. Thank you, Brecht.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

So happy to have a piece published today in The Turning Leaf Journal! This one is close to my heart. In Understanding Birdsong, I explore my changing relationship with my Nana, asking how past relationships affect the present, and, when you are forgotten...what remains?

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

So excited my #CNF piece Understanding Birdsong will be publishing here June 15th! It explores the play of memory and forgetting on relationships through the story of my Nana and our mysterious journey from combatants to companions. Can't wait to read the other stories! #WriterSky #AuthorSky

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

It is this nothing that interests me. For what else can we fill our time with but these daily repeated questions of living? Reading I Who Have Never Known Men by #JacquelineHarpman The post: elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/when-almos... #booksky #writingcommunity #writerssky #WriterSky

Picture of alien sitting in front of wooden fake wall with the title When Almost Nothing Happens (but it's still great)

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Now reading! Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Have you read it? Played opera to accompany (Marie Callas) and going to her museum this Friday here in Athens. Love it when one form of art encourages the exploration of another (even not on purpose). #annpatchett #belcanto #books #writingcommunity

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Reposted by Eleni Vlachos

Diane D. Gillette @ddgwriter.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Thanks to @youbigtalker.bsky.social for the shout-out on her Substack. elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/grabbing-a... I'm honored to have my story appear in the same issue as her powerful CNF "Starving Art."

elenidvlachos.substack.com

Grabbing (and keeping) reader attention

Reading select fellow authors in The Spotlong Review

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

To me, "voice" is the joy of an unexpected ride. It is when your quirky friend says something at once embarrassing and true and wonderful and terrible. You ask: what’s next? #TheWhiteHot #WritingCommunity #WriterSky My latest "Reading like a writer" > > elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/voice-all-...

elenidvlachos.substack.com

Voice all over the place

Reading The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

My favorite part of #FightClub arrived in the Afterward, which might imply this was a one-star book for me, but the actual takeaway from my reading like a writer experience was more complex than star rankings: elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/im-talking... #WriterSky #onwriting #readerwriter #booksky

elenidvlachos.substack.com

I'm talking about the Fight Club

Breaking rules with Chuck Palahniuk

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Just published: My First Rescue Can! A satirical look at one reaction to the rescue movement. Spoiler: It involves canimal rights. Thanks to Laughs not Slaughs for publishing! medium.com/laughs-not-s... #humorwriting #veganhumor

medium.com

My First Rescue Can!

The case for canimal rights.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

While writing, I often forget the mundane—plates, pens, tissue boxes—in favor of the central drama or dialogue. In so doing I miss a large part of what makes us human: our accessories and what we do with them. On reading #Audition by #KatieKitamura as a #writer: open.substack.com/pub/elenidvl...

open.substack.com

The joy of finding your audience

Reading Audition, Katie Kitamura's lovely disorienting novel

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Reposted by Eleni Vlachos

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 28/01/2026

"While it may have looked like a shooting, it was actually a 'rapid de-escalation outcome.' We recognize that phrases like that may sound invented, which is why we ask you to repeat them anyway."

buff.ly

A Message from Your Federal Overlords

“Even as videos emerged that contradicted the government’s account, the Trump administration was in a race to control the narrative around the kill...

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Reposted by Eleni Vlachos

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 28/01/2026

A class-action lawsuit notes that detainees refer to the California City ICE Detention Facility as a “torture chamber” and “hell on Earth.” An attorney said that conditions are so terrible that those held there are resigning themselves to self-deportation. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/2qOQj9

newyorkermag.visitlink.me

The Cruel Conditions of ICE’s Mojave Desert Detention Center

How immigration authorities have weaponized medical neglect to encourage self-deportations.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Recently, I listened to an excellent #HiddenBrain podcast episode “Murder Mystery” exploring why we are drawn to true crime. I just finished Jesus’ Son by the late Denis Johnson. You will understand why this is a segue if you’ve read him: open.substack.com/pub/elenidvl... #nowreading #writers

open.substack.com

We humans love a good mess

Reading Denis Johnson's Jesus' Son

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Whether we call it imposter syndrome or low-self esteem, many writers struggle pursuing individual voice... Regardless of the supposed requirement to toss aside the need for permission, reading adventurous works eschewing conventional standards gives me courage: open.substack.com/pub/elenidvl...

open.substack.com

Courage to write like a Samurai

The permission I received from Helen DeWitt's classic

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

A year in books--what were your top reads in '25? "Absorb as many stories as you physically can. Introduce yourself to lots of great writing. To lots of mediocre writing too. This is your most important task.” —Haruki Murakami elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/2025-in-bo...

elenidvlachos.substack.com

2025 in Books

How did your reading go? Did it inform your writing?

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Just started #James by Percival Everett after slogging through the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. #currentlyreading #nowreading

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

For all you creatives--such an inspiring interview w/ #RickRubin on the creative process. He also helped naysayers hear hip-hop as "music" by mixing the familiar with the lesser known in Walk This Way. Is the known/unknown marriage a key to creating idea accessibility? youtu.be/QGKFVmxbGBw?...

youtu.be

Rick Rubin on How to Make Something Great (Update) | People I (Mostly) Admire

YouTube video by Freakonomics Radio Network

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

I am #currentlyreading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. In the vein of Pound's observation "poetry is news that stays news," there is much to appreciate here in Akbar's astute observations. Have you read it? #martyr #kavehakbar

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Currently reading #LastExitToBrooklyn. A little rough around the edges (a little?) & most likely added "to read" due to author's lack of a guiding hand & my own novel's attempting same [(no use of " " -- even no apostrophes to avoid holding down the "shift" key (!) used "/" instead (eg, isn/t)].

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Introducing...Paxon's Prose Pantomime! A new weekly series where Paxon interprets prose from established literature via his pantomime talents. Up first: "they jog their hands around their waist..." open.substack.com/pub/elenidvl...

open.substack.com

Introducing...Paxon's Prose Pantomime!

Interpretations of published prose

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Just finished reading #SelfHelp by #LorrieMoore. Picked up the collection after reading "How to become a writer." Such excellent work, published in 1985--how did I not know about this author/book? So good. Have you read any of her work?

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

I’ve made the (controversial) choice not to use quotation marks (speech tags) around dialogue in my #WIP. Should I die on this hill? More in this short #Substack: elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/dont-quote... #litfic #literaryfiction #speechtags #writing #writers #howto #books #novels

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Finally bought this for my new #Kobo. How beautifully O' Brien breaks writing rules. Admittedly, I was intrigued by the author's own life trajectory and autobiographical nature of this work. Have you read? #nowreading #literaryfiction #litfic #writing #writers #books #novels #leavinglasvegas

Pictures of casinos on the book cover of Leaving Las Vegas

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

In what other industry do we celebrate rejection? My latest on tiered rejections: elenidvlachos.substack.com/p/for-the-lo... Have you received a tiered rejection? ❌ Leave a comment below 📩 #tieredrejections #submitting #writers #writing #literaryjournals #literaryfiction

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Now reading! Enjoying the gorgeous prose so far ... have you read anything by Vuong? #literaryfiction #vuong

book cover with title The Emperor of Gladness, A novel by Ocean Vuong. Pic of a young man in orange slightly slouching.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

From my 2019 piece, Stranger. "Xenos is the needle that weaves unknown threads into the fabric of civilization. Sometimes that needle is piercing, invasion, colonialism. Other times, it’s holding everything together — including our civilization." medium.com/@elenivlacho...

medium.com

Stranger

The word “xenos” translated as “stranger” in Greek embodies a range of meanings from possible enemy to a most welcoming “guest friend.”…

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Began #4321 by Paul Auster. Adjusting to 4 different lives of the protagonist, but enjoying overall. Have you read? My husband thought it was Auster's own efforts to encapsulate his life's possibilities near the edge of his own end, which I find possible. #nowreading #paulauster

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Do people make trailers for short stories? It is a lot of fun. I made a 30-second trailer to celebrate A View of Hotel Poseidon. I think I captured its "tone." #humor #fiction #shortstories www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Wr...

youtube.com

New fiction #humor

YouTube video by You Big Talker

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

A View of Hotel Poseidon takes a satirical look at the fictitious story behind actual terrible reviews of a hotel. For this is a time we all need to laugh, especially at our own species. Big thanks to @rfpress.bsky.social (love the graphic!) #newfiction www.roifaineantpress.com/post/a-view-...

roifaineantpress.com

"A View of Hotel Poseidon" by Eleni Vlachos

Reviews are actual. Story is fictitious. *1 starwe all basically had to get drunk so we could make it through the night When the five-star reviews slipped, George’s family gossiped: He was never equip...

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Hello living beings--check out the latest from Roi Fainéant Press, including some of my words arranged in a humorous fashion. Link below:

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Sunday! So excited to share this story with you, and read all of the incredible authors in this edition. You can follow this great press below ⏬

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Reposted by Eleni Vlachos

Roi Fainéant Press SUBS ARE OPEN, BAYBEE! @rfpress.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Ready for some amazing fiction! Join us Sunday for a satirical look at the fictitious story behind actual terrible reviews of a hotel. “A View of Hotel Poseidon” by Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social is a welcome bit of humor as our own Poseidon sinks under the weight of late stage capitalism.

we all basically had to get drunk so we could make it through the night

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

So excited to be publishing my short story "A View of Hotel Poseidon" in the fab @rfpress.bsky.social Sunday! Story is fictitious, reviews are actual. IRL the hotel's reviews were so bad they were comical. Bugs, bloody sheets, drunken staff. How did things get so bad? #newfiction #shortstory

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Just finished: Orbital (review on Goodreads) Now reading: American Pastoral. And you?

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Reposted by Eleni Vlachos

After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 04/03/2025

Loads of #literary #magazines are coming to Bluesky, here is a great list to follow! PLEASE SHARE TO HELP THEM LEAVE TWITTER! #litmags #writer #writingcommunity go.bsky.app/7cWNC2j

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I came across #MaryGaitskill in a "Best American Short Stories" compilation where I read her moving story "This is Pleasure." I knew I had to read more of her work. Completely enamored with her descriptive so-purple-its-black-and-blue writing. 🧠✨ #nowreading Veronica.

Woman in cocktail dress bending over to buckle her sandal.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Now playing! My band's song about one particular Beat of the #beatgeneration as set out in On the Road but more broadly about celebrating madness youtu.be/IUTz95qhXEI?... #newindierock #kerouac

youtu.be

Beats by Beloved Binge (official video)

YouTube video by Beloved Binge

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Anyone else track referrals, or why they added a book to read on a spreadsheet? 🤓 Well, I forgot to do that for this one, so I worked backward. Turns out Elaine (Seinfeld) is based on the author's daughter, whom Larry David dated. Yates, her surly father, was depicted in "The Jacket." #nowreading

A man lights a cigarette in the background and a woman (both dressed up) stares into the camera. Appears to be the 1950s. Title: Revolutionary Road

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Our 'lil song about the difficulties of connecting with humans is up with both a regular and lyric video. Meet epipen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEBb...

youtube.com

Epipen by Beloved Binge (official video)

YouTube video by Beloved Binge

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Have you read Ferrante? I keep hearing about this book and had to pick it up. Elena told her her true identity over coffee since we almost share the same name. JK! #NowReading

Book cover for Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend showing two girls hiding

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Began this book in 2021, and am about at 50%. It's a book I pick up whenever I want to feel relaxed or put into a meditative state. Barry Lopez was such a thoughtful and meticulous person and author. His own childhood story is harrowing, but he somehow manages to find the heart of every beast.

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

When I'm not writing, I'm drumming. Our new single (indie-pop-rock) has hit the stream-waves! All the links to your favorite platforms: linktr.ee/belovedbinge

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Eleni Vlachos @youbigtalker.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Currently reading! I first heard an excerpt on a podcast. An American told the protagonist: "I was on your side [of the war]." Response: "Which side was that?" Here, the Vietnam war is portrayed through a refreshingly non-USA lens, told as a spy story. Have you read? #thesympathizer #vietthanhnguyen

Picture of The Sympathizer book cover, with a man and a "winner of the pulitzer prize" sticker

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