Amanda J. McGee
@amcgeewrites.bsky.social
Mapmaker by day, spec fic writer by night. Opinions my own. Codex. She/her. A RIVER WIDE (horror novella) coming from Interstellar Flight Press. Currently raising a toddler, so I have ten whole brain cells.
http://amandajmcgee.com
http://amandajmcgee.com
Pinned
Oh, hey, new followers! Nice to meet you all. I'm Amanda! I write books, most recently A RIVER WIDE, which doesn't have a release date yet but is forthcoming from @interstellarflight.bsky.social and "Viridian" in A SINISTER QUARTET, published by @mythicdelirium.bsky.social. #horrorwriter
And my emotional support blog is down. Alright. Okay.
a man in a blue shirt and tie is talking and saying `` alright , i 'm gonna go cry '' .
Alt: a man in a blue shirt and tie is talking and saying `` alright , i 'm gonna go cry '' .
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
And my emotional support blog is down. Alright. Okay.
Wow is my mental health supremely not good today.
December 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Wow is my mental health supremely not good today.
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 2876:
Don't write "a woman character", or "a gay character", or "a disabled character." Write a complete human being, with agency, and feelings, and flaws. No-one in fiction should be wholly defined by the groups they belong to.
Don't write "a woman character", or "a gay character", or "a disabled character." Write a complete human being, with agency, and feelings, and flaws. No-one in fiction should be wholly defined by the groups they belong to.
December 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 2876:
Don't write "a woman character", or "a gay character", or "a disabled character." Write a complete human being, with agency, and feelings, and flaws. No-one in fiction should be wholly defined by the groups they belong to.
Don't write "a woman character", or "a gay character", or "a disabled character." Write a complete human being, with agency, and feelings, and flaws. No-one in fiction should be wholly defined by the groups they belong to.
Well this work thing is successfully novel-length, does that mean I can count it towards my novel-length drafts in my internal tracker?
December 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Well this work thing is successfully novel-length, does that mean I can count it towards my novel-length drafts in my internal tracker?
I am mentally a ghost today and I am 100% not keeping up.
December 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I am mentally a ghost today and I am 100% not keeping up.
The embarrassment of riches that is all these round-up lists.
December 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The embarrassment of riches that is all these round-up lists.
I left my water bottle at the house and wow what a bad day to leave my water bottle.
December 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I left my water bottle at the house and wow what a bad day to leave my water bottle.
And lo, the edits are done, and once I get a couple of things pulled together the manuscript will be ready to send back and I will maybe have a publication date officially! It's happening!
anna from frozen is standing in front of a body of water with a lighthouse in the background .
Alt: anna from frozen is standing is squeeing.
media.tenor.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:54 AM
And lo, the edits are done, and once I get a couple of things pulled together the manuscript will be ready to send back and I will maybe have a publication date officially! It's happening!
Do you tell your boss that double spaces after a period are no longer required in copy, or do you just ignore it and get on with your life?
December 4, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Do you tell your boss that double spaces after a period are no longer required in copy, or do you just ignore it and get on with your life?
Tonight or tomorrow will be the end of these edits, I am certain. In the last couple of scenes now, then have to add some front/back matter stuff. It's very exciting!
December 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Tonight or tomorrow will be the end of these edits, I am certain. In the last couple of scenes now, then have to add some front/back matter stuff. It's very exciting!
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
At the end of each year I publish a community roundup of awards-eligible work for folks to check out! Go add your information so I can put you on the list for 2026.
2026 Community Awards Eligibility Roundup
It's the time of year when I ask folks to share their awards eligibility with me! Send us your information using this form. We'll round up all the eligibility information people chose to share and wil...
forms.gle
December 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
At the end of each year I publish a community roundup of awards-eligible work for folks to check out! Go add your information so I can put you on the list for 2026.
Omg I want to go to this and also I am working, le sigh.
and on THURSDAY all three editors will be in conversation with @issuesinst.bsky.social @edfinn.bsky.social @craigcalhoun.bsky.social in what promises to be a fascinating virtual event - join us! issues.org/event/what-i...
What Is Fiction’s Role in Imagining Better Social Policies?
Join us for a conversation on how social scientists, advocates, and policy makers can use fiction to imagine better futures.
issues.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Omg I want to go to this and also I am working, le sigh.
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Had an accidental legit staycation for like four days because the toddler is blowing snot everywhere and we decided not to give our germs to the extended family. It was glorious.
December 1, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Had an accidental legit staycation for like four days because the toddler is blowing snot everywhere and we decided not to give our germs to the extended family. It was glorious.
In related news, once these edits are done I have only 4,500 words left in the WIP to meet my wordcount goal for the draft/year and a delightful swordfight/battle with dragons to finish writing. I am so excited.
November 30, 2025 at 2:48 AM
In related news, once these edits are done I have only 4,500 words left in the WIP to meet my wordcount goal for the draft/year and a delightful swordfight/battle with dragons to finish writing. I am so excited.
There comes a moment every time I am deep in an edit where I am certain I am going to somehow break the story. I have reached that point.
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 AM
There comes a moment every time I am deep in an edit where I am certain I am going to somehow break the story. I have reached that point.
Finished the written portion of my edits (I always edit by hand) so now it's time to read back over everything as I type it up and see if it makes sense...so close! I can't wait for this story to see the light.
November 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Finished the written portion of my edits (I always edit by hand) so now it's time to read back over everything as I type it up and see if it makes sense...so close! I can't wait for this story to see the light.
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
Anybody who is like “Piracy is activism!”—trust me, supporting your local library is about 1000% more effective activism, and it’s still free for you and authors still get paid!
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Anybody who is like “Piracy is activism!”—trust me, supporting your local library is about 1000% more effective activism, and it’s still free for you and authors still get paid!
1. Orca
2. Raccoon
3. Skunk
4. Black bear
5. Five line skink
2. Raccoon
3. Skunk
4. Black bear
5. Five line skink
5 animals you've seen in the wild:
1. Reindeer
2. Grizzly bear
3. Moose
4. Steller sea lion
5. Ravens
1. Reindeer
2. Grizzly bear
3. Moose
4. Steller sea lion
5. Ravens
5 animals you've seen in the wild:
1. Moose (including one swimming)
2. Bald eagle (including one swimming)
3. Black bear (not swimming)
4. Beaver (obviously swimming)
5. Osprey(s) (diving but not swimming)
1. Moose (including one swimming)
2. Bald eagle (including one swimming)
3. Black bear (not swimming)
4. Beaver (obviously swimming)
5. Osprey(s) (diving but not swimming)
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
1. Orca
2. Raccoon
3. Skunk
4. Black bear
5. Five line skink
2. Raccoon
3. Skunk
4. Black bear
5. Five line skink
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
all the AI slop out there makes me want the most aggressively analog stories out there. like I want a one-of-a-kind homemade zine someone tucked into a baggie in the hollow of a tree, and I want that zine to include a shitty hand drawn map to a treasure it may or may not take 30 years to find
November 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
all the AI slop out there makes me want the most aggressively analog stories out there. like I want a one-of-a-kind homemade zine someone tucked into a baggie in the hollow of a tree, and I want that zine to include a shitty hand drawn map to a treasure it may or may not take 30 years to find
Reposted by Amanda J. McGee
There are coincidences, and there are trends, and then there's this. This is erasure.
"According to the report, [...]during the 2024-25 television season, queer characters increased across platforms by 4%, bringing the total to 489. However, the Thursday report found that 41% of those characters will not return." www.thewrap.com/glaad-where-...
Nearly Half of All LGBTQ+ Characters Will Disappear From TV Next Season, GLAAD Study Finds
The 2024-25 TV season recorded 489 queer characters across broadcast, cable and screenings, but cancellations and plot find a deep decline to come
www.thewrap.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 AM
There are coincidences, and there are trends, and then there's this. This is erasure.
New life goal.
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
New life goal.
In less fun news the project of doom at the dayjob also came back with revisions. Was really hoping to dodge that, but not surprised. Onward!
November 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
In less fun news the project of doom at the dayjob also came back with revisions. Was really hoping to dodge that, but not surprised. Onward!
Finished my first pass on edits last night, a week after I'd planned but still within tolerance. Second pass to begin this evening (I hope) and then it will be time to type it up!
November 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Finished my first pass on edits last night, a week after I'd planned but still within tolerance. Second pass to begin this evening (I hope) and then it will be time to type it up!
Sharing this because I haunt the House Andrews blog for many reasons, but the writing posts (which are succinct and informative) are definitely one. ilona-andrews.com/blog/trad-pu...
Trad Publishing: Editing and Production Glossary - ILONA ANDREWS
I heavily debated posting this. I might still take it down, because I've long ago decided that the internet doesn't need my "wisdom." Also, I am bitter and jaded. However, we keep getting repeated que...
ilona-andrews.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Sharing this because I haunt the House Andrews blog for many reasons, but the writing posts (which are succinct and informative) are definitely one. ilona-andrews.com/blog/trad-pu...