Ben Shahon
@beansbaker5.bsky.social
Author of SHORT RELIEF, @406press.bsky.social
Fiction editor @publishedbyJAKE.bsky.social
Magic: the Gathering Substack @ajohnnyspridemate.bsky.social
All other writing @ benshahon.com
Occasional (Frequent) posts about other nerdy shit.
(He/Him/His)
Fiction editor @publishedbyJAKE.bsky.social
Magic: the Gathering Substack @ajohnnyspridemate.bsky.social
All other writing @ benshahon.com
Occasional (Frequent) posts about other nerdy shit.
(He/Him/His)
Pinned
Ben Shahon
@beansbaker5.bsky.social
· Dec 2
As the year's winding down, and my 29th birthday comes and goes, I feel like now might be an apt time for a yearly thread of all the stuff I published, since it's more than any other year for me (maybe combined? I haven't exactly counted). 🧵
Reposted by Ben Shahon
i think neoliberalism has fried their brains
they have convinced themselves they are stewards of the system rather than servants of the people, and they are confused why that very system is making a fascism happen
they have convinced themselves they are stewards of the system rather than servants of the people, and they are confused why that very system is making a fascism happen
the failure of Dem opposition still comes from the party being without shared beliefs such that the only message they can agree on is affordability.
the party as a whole won’t condemn cops. they won’t call for a wealth tax. they won’t call for expansive labor rights. they’re lost but hate the left.
the party as a whole won’t condemn cops. they won’t call for a wealth tax. they won’t call for expansive labor rights. they’re lost but hate the left.
January 22, 2026 at 3:27 AM
i think neoliberalism has fried their brains
they have convinced themselves they are stewards of the system rather than servants of the people, and they are confused why that very system is making a fascism happen
they have convinced themselves they are stewards of the system rather than servants of the people, and they are confused why that very system is making a fascism happen
On the one hand, I should get back to writing and trying to publish non-substack things, but on the other, I am really enjoying a more informal style of work lately.
January 22, 2026 at 3:22 AM
On the one hand, I should get back to writing and trying to publish non-substack things, but on the other, I am really enjoying a more informal style of work lately.
I have this coworker I call "The Tornado." Doesn't matter what I'm doing or whether or not it's higher priority, he wants me to drop whatever I'm doing and work on his thing.
The Tornado just dropped like four things in my lap at once. I'm sick of The Tornado.
The Tornado just dropped like four things in my lap at once. I'm sick of The Tornado.
January 21, 2026 at 5:38 PM
I have this coworker I call "The Tornado." Doesn't matter what I'm doing or whether or not it's higher priority, he wants me to drop whatever I'm doing and work on his thing.
The Tornado just dropped like four things in my lap at once. I'm sick of The Tornado.
The Tornado just dropped like four things in my lap at once. I'm sick of The Tornado.
Damn, you guys ever think about how it's been 6 years since we got a new album from The Strokes? Or Fiona Apple? I've played the hell out of both records, but would love something new from either!!!
January 17, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Damn, you guys ever think about how it's been 6 years since we got a new album from The Strokes? Or Fiona Apple? I've played the hell out of both records, but would love something new from either!!!
It never ceases to amaze me that smart TVs are so bad at doing the basics of, y'know, playing TV shows.
January 16, 2026 at 5:45 AM
It never ceases to amaze me that smart TVs are so bad at doing the basics of, y'know, playing TV shows.
Never a good time for a spam call, but in particular, fuck all of them that call before 8:00 a.m.
January 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Never a good time for a spam call, but in particular, fuck all of them that call before 8:00 a.m.
Anyone else ever think about how weird it was that when Trump became president we all just kinda stopped thinking Michael Bay movies were fun? Because damn, when was the last time a Michael Bay movie was like, the big thing to look forward to?
January 13, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Anyone else ever think about how weird it was that when Trump became president we all just kinda stopped thinking Michael Bay movies were fun? Because damn, when was the last time a Michael Bay movie was like, the big thing to look forward to?
Reposted by Ben Shahon
We’re getting cool stuff in the queue! Add yours for a quick response!
We would especially love to see more visual art and non-text based pieces
We would especially love to see more visual art and non-text based pieces
*Quick Response Submissions*
We need more Fiction, CNF, and Brewer's Choice submissions for Flight 4!
We are opening a quick response submission window: anyone who submits before 8pm AK time on Wednesday, January 14th will receive a response by the afternoon of Saturday, January 17th.
We need more Fiction, CNF, and Brewer's Choice submissions for Flight 4!
We are opening a quick response submission window: anyone who submits before 8pm AK time on Wednesday, January 14th will receive a response by the afternoon of Saturday, January 17th.
January 11, 2026 at 5:39 PM
We’re getting cool stuff in the queue! Add yours for a quick response!
We would especially love to see more visual art and non-text based pieces
We would especially love to see more visual art and non-text based pieces
Also, I realized this week that my AWP schedule is remarkably open if folks I know are looking for readers. Might help with organizing a JAKE thing, but we're doing significantly less than last year.
January 11, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Also, I realized this week that my AWP schedule is remarkably open if folks I know are looking for readers. Might help with organizing a JAKE thing, but we're doing significantly less than last year.
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Planning on doing another one of these next month. If you're a mutual in LA interested in reading in one of these, LMK! I'll be reaching out to folks soon!
Reminder that a couple saturdays from now, I'll be reading with some fantastic readers like AJ Brown, @burialmagazine.bsky.social @melissacuisine.bsky.social @romyewing.bsky.social & @dtrobbins.bsky.social! We'll see you there LA!
January 3, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Planning on doing another one of these next month. If you're a mutual in LA interested in reading in one of these, LMK! I'll be reaching out to folks soon!
Writing another absolutely unhinged short story about car crashes, clowns, and the fast food chain Wienerschnitzel.
January 11, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Writing another absolutely unhinged short story about car crashes, clowns, and the fast food chain Wienerschnitzel.
Does anyone else ever feel like they should do those worksheets they give preschoolers/kindergarten kids to make sure they learn how to write clearly? No? Just me?
January 5, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Does anyone else ever feel like they should do those worksheets they give preschoolers/kindergarten kids to make sure they learn how to write clearly? No? Just me?
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I had an interview with Voyage LA go live last week:
voyagela.com/interview/st...
voyagela.com/interview/st...
voyagela.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I had an interview with Voyage LA go live last week:
voyagela.com/interview/st...
voyagela.com/interview/st...
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Who's ready to enter the battlefield?
ajohnnyspridemate.substack.com/p/first-draw...
ajohnnyspridemate.substack.com/p/first-draw...
First Draw: ETB
Where else to begin, then by entering?
ajohnnyspridemate.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Who's ready to enter the battlefield?
ajohnnyspridemate.substack.com/p/first-draw...
ajohnnyspridemate.substack.com/p/first-draw...
Planning on doing another one of these next month. If you're a mutual in LA interested in reading in one of these, LMK! I'll be reaching out to folks soon!
Reminder that a couple saturdays from now, I'll be reading with some fantastic readers like AJ Brown, @burialmagazine.bsky.social @melissacuisine.bsky.social @romyewing.bsky.social & @dtrobbins.bsky.social! We'll see you there LA!
January 3, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Planning on doing another one of these next month. If you're a mutual in LA interested in reading in one of these, LMK! I'll be reaching out to folks soon!
So this is what it's like to live under fascism. Cool cool cool.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQ2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQ2...
Jeff Rosenstock - Powerlessness [OFFICIAL AUDIO]
YouTube video by Polyvinyl Records
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:28 PM
So this is what it's like to live under fascism. Cool cool cool.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQ2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQ2...
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Christmas is over, and New Years is coming. Here at Flight, we know how hazy time can get in that endless week between.
To fight that ennui, we're bringing you Departures, a series of 8 writing prompts. We'll drop one prompt each day from now until January 2nd
Mark the time by writing with us!
To fight that ennui, we're bringing you Departures, a series of 8 writing prompts. We'll drop one prompt each day from now until January 2nd
Mark the time by writing with us!
December 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Christmas is over, and New Years is coming. Here at Flight, we know how hazy time can get in that endless week between.
To fight that ennui, we're bringing you Departures, a series of 8 writing prompts. We'll drop one prompt each day from now until January 2nd
Mark the time by writing with us!
To fight that ennui, we're bringing you Departures, a series of 8 writing prompts. We'll drop one prompt each day from now until January 2nd
Mark the time by writing with us!
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Our final departure as a new year opens comes from @beansbaker5.bsky.social and his Flight 2 essay, “I Need a Sign”
flight-literary.ghost.io/ben-shahon-c...
flight-literary.ghost.io/ben-shahon-c...
January 2, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Our final departure as a new year opens comes from @beansbaker5.bsky.social and his Flight 2 essay, “I Need a Sign”
flight-literary.ghost.io/ben-shahon-c...
flight-literary.ghost.io/ben-shahon-c...
I don't care if Magic is your nerdy hobby or not, this video is for every creative person I know:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S47...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S47...
The Art of Making **it
YouTube video by Rhystic Studies
www.youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 AM
I don't care if Magic is your nerdy hobby or not, this video is for every creative person I know:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S47...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S47...
ASU v Duke in the "Real Men Don't Kick or Punt" bowl
December 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
ASU v Duke in the "Real Men Don't Kick or Punt" bowl
For the record, even though the ending of the story kind of ruins it, I did like most of the rest of the game. Gameplay still really strong, and the new systems in play are good. Side content still pretty enjoyable too.
Finished the main quest of Hades II and hated the ending enough that I'm thinking of writing an essay about it.
December 31, 2025 at 8:20 PM
For the record, even though the ending of the story kind of ruins it, I did like most of the rest of the game. Gameplay still really strong, and the new systems in play are good. Side content still pretty enjoyable too.
Finished the main quest of Hades II and hated the ending enough that I'm thinking of writing an essay about it.
December 31, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Finished the main quest of Hades II and hated the ending enough that I'm thinking of writing an essay about it.
Reposted by Ben Shahon
Hey guys ☺️ - I have held my book!!! In my own two hands!!!
Want an ARC? It would be cool if you’d write / record a review and post it literally anywhere. Let me know.
(ignore the printing error that is currently being fixed)
@malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Want an ARC? It would be cool if you’d write / record a review and post it literally anywhere. Let me know.
(ignore the printing error that is currently being fixed)
@malarkeybooks.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Hey guys ☺️ - I have held my book!!! In my own two hands!!!
Want an ARC? It would be cool if you’d write / record a review and post it literally anywhere. Let me know.
(ignore the printing error that is currently being fixed)
@malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Want an ARC? It would be cool if you’d write / record a review and post it literally anywhere. Let me know.
(ignore the printing error that is currently being fixed)
@malarkeybooks.bsky.social