C.M. Black
@foucaultu.bsky.social
Writer of things great and small.
B.A., Philosophy; M.A., Technical & Professional Writing
Blog writer for The Philosopher's Shirt
Sometime Goth Auntie
https://linktr.ee/cmblackwriter
B.A., Philosophy; M.A., Technical & Professional Writing
Blog writer for The Philosopher's Shirt
Sometime Goth Auntie
https://linktr.ee/cmblackwriter
I have one opinion regarding writing which may not be in consensus with most: Most writing courses are completely unnecessary. They are a way for people to make money for themselves or their organization, but they are not necessary for the act of writing.
February 19, 2026 at 12:18 AM
I have one opinion regarding writing which may not be in consensus with most: Most writing courses are completely unnecessary. They are a way for people to make money for themselves or their organization, but they are not necessary for the act of writing.
It's amazing that, almost 20 years after my undergrad philosophy degree, I can still read philosophy that takes my breath away. The same passion that made me pursue the "useless" degree of philosophy remains in my current research and work. I am intensely grateful for this.
February 17, 2026 at 8:24 PM
It's amazing that, almost 20 years after my undergrad philosophy degree, I can still read philosophy that takes my breath away. The same passion that made me pursue the "useless" degree of philosophy remains in my current research and work. I am intensely grateful for this.
It's genuinely good to have an employer who is willing to understand your ethics and work with them. I think if more people would listen to writers who do not want to use or be involved with AI, we'd have a better world out there.
February 14, 2026 at 2:35 AM
It's genuinely good to have an employer who is willing to understand your ethics and work with them. I think if more people would listen to writers who do not want to use or be involved with AI, we'd have a better world out there.
I am ordained in the State of Georgia to do weddings. I totally forgot this fact. It is super easy to get ordained. I would love to officiate some LGBTQ+ weddings, especially if there is a costume theme. If the costume theme is good enough, I might not even charge!
February 13, 2026 at 6:15 PM
I am ordained in the State of Georgia to do weddings. I totally forgot this fact. It is super easy to get ordained. I would love to officiate some LGBTQ+ weddings, especially if there is a costume theme. If the costume theme is good enough, I might not even charge!
A new blog post is up from The Philosopher's Shirt. In this article, I discuss ennui and Kierkegaard, taking from some of my own research. I hope you enjoy it.
#philsky
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
#philsky
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
Suffering from Endless Boredom? Meet Søren Kiekegaard and Ennui
In this article, we discuss the concept of ennui, a philosophical state more than boredom. We look at Soren Kierkegaard's search for meaning in Either/Or.
the-philosophers-shirt.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:23 PM
A new blog post is up from The Philosopher's Shirt. In this article, I discuss ennui and Kierkegaard, taking from some of my own research. I hope you enjoy it.
#philsky
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
#philsky
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
I should note here that I appreciate Bluesky as one of the few places where you can engage with people in a thoughtful way. It can be hard to remember this in the wake of other social media places where angry debate is expected.
I think I just woke up grumpy, but I still value Bluesky.
I think I just woke up grumpy, but I still value Bluesky.
February 12, 2026 at 5:11 PM
I should note here that I appreciate Bluesky as one of the few places where you can engage with people in a thoughtful way. It can be hard to remember this in the wake of other social media places where angry debate is expected.
I think I just woke up grumpy, but I still value Bluesky.
I think I just woke up grumpy, but I still value Bluesky.
I block two things when I see them: AI content accounts and unlabeled adult accounts. I did not wake up from my undead slumber to get an eyeful of genitalia and some slop.
The adult content that slips through my filter is not as bad as it used to be, but I didn't come here for gothsploitation.
The adult content that slips through my filter is not as bad as it used to be, but I didn't come here for gothsploitation.
February 12, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I block two things when I see them: AI content accounts and unlabeled adult accounts. I did not wake up from my undead slumber to get an eyeful of genitalia and some slop.
The adult content that slips through my filter is not as bad as it used to be, but I didn't come here for gothsploitation.
The adult content that slips through my filter is not as bad as it used to be, but I didn't come here for gothsploitation.
Brilliant idea and I can't wait to see the Morticia and Gomez!
I have published 2 digital zines in my Ko-Fi shop in the spirit of Valentine's Day coming up! ❤️🌹
The 1st I discuss & critique the movie Waiting to Exhale and benevolent patriarchy & the other one is about my admiration for Morticia and Gomez Addams as a couple.
ko-fi.com/lostfoundbla...
The 1st I discuss & critique the movie Waiting to Exhale and benevolent patriarchy & the other one is about my admiration for Morticia and Gomez Addams as a couple.
ko-fi.com/lostfoundbla...
February 11, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Brilliant idea and I can't wait to see the Morticia and Gomez!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the gothiest places. Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta was having free tours, so I got to tag along. I enjoyed myself too much for photos, so here is one after.
February 9, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the gothiest places. Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta was having free tours, so I got to tag along. I enjoyed myself too much for photos, so here is one after.
You know what says love on Valentine's Day? The complicated and sometimes self-loathing love in Baudelaire's Fleurs du mal. If you're looking for a French copy, I've got you covered. Check out The Raven's Quill for this and more livres en francais!
#poetry #french
pangobooks.com/books/111b53...
#poetry #french
pangobooks.com/books/111b53...
Les fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire, Paperback | Pangobooks
Save 70% or more on Les fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire buying from fellow readers on Pango. Explore new and used inventory or list your own books today!
pangobooks.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:46 PM
You know what says love on Valentine's Day? The complicated and sometimes self-loathing love in Baudelaire's Fleurs du mal. If you're looking for a French copy, I've got you covered. Check out The Raven's Quill for this and more livres en francais!
#poetry #french
pangobooks.com/books/111b53...
#poetry #french
pangobooks.com/books/111b53...
Application for Georgia State University's philosophy MA program complete. I can now sink into my coffin and rest.
February 1, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Application for Georgia State University's philosophy MA program complete. I can now sink into my coffin and rest.
I'd like to invite you to read my latest on Substack (always free), where I discuss January's book on writing in my 12 Writing Books challenge. The Elements of Style was an appropriate place to start.
Thoughts on Strunk & White?
#writer #writing #booksky
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
Thoughts on Strunk & White?
#writer #writing #booksky
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
January's Book on Writing: The Elements of Style
A review of the first book for my new year's challenge
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I'd like to invite you to read my latest on Substack (always free), where I discuss January's book on writing in my 12 Writing Books challenge. The Elements of Style was an appropriate place to start.
Thoughts on Strunk & White?
#writer #writing #booksky
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
Thoughts on Strunk & White?
#writer #writing #booksky
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
One of my icons. While Frankenstein is not my favorite book, the author is my exact vibe. Happy birthday, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the original goth girl.
"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful." (Frankenstein)
✒️ #MaryShelley, English novelist, #DOTD 1 February 1851. #Gothic #Literature
✒️ #MaryShelley, English novelist, #DOTD 1 February 1851. #Gothic #Literature
February 1, 2026 at 8:21 AM
One of my icons. While Frankenstein is not my favorite book, the author is my exact vibe. Happy birthday, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the original goth girl.
I sell books on the Pango app. I've an absurd array for (nearly) every taste. I spent 20+ years collecting books, so most of these are my own.
I need to pay for my new insurance premiums and the grad school application fees. Starving writer life is not lucrative.
pangobooks.com/bookstore/go...
I need to pay for my new insurance premiums and the grad school application fees. Starving writer life is not lucrative.
pangobooks.com/bookstore/go...
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I sell books on the Pango app. I've an absurd array for (nearly) every taste. I spent 20+ years collecting books, so most of these are my own.
I need to pay for my new insurance premiums and the grad school application fees. Starving writer life is not lucrative.
pangobooks.com/bookstore/go...
I need to pay for my new insurance premiums and the grad school application fees. Starving writer life is not lucrative.
pangobooks.com/bookstore/go...
I'd like to invite you to read my latest article on Substack, reworked a little from an older article, on Green Day's American Idiot at 20. I like to write about music and its socio-cultural impact, as well as its impact on my life.
#writing #greenday #music
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
#writing #greenday #music
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
'Twenty years have gone so fast': Green Day's 'American Idiot' at 20
A slight reworking from my old blog, Slices of Thought, originally posted in 2024
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I'd like to invite you to read my latest article on Substack, reworked a little from an older article, on Green Day's American Idiot at 20. I like to write about music and its socio-cultural impact, as well as its impact on my life.
#writing #greenday #music
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
#writing #greenday #music
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
Here is an #academic question. I've published in a journal (that I now read for). Independent scholars in academic journals: are they a no-no in #philosophy? I'd like to get back into academic writing, but am not yet equipped with the PhD. (Long story.) I am also out of date.
January 25, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Here is an #academic question. I've published in a journal (that I now read for). Independent scholars in academic journals: are they a no-no in #philosophy? I'd like to get back into academic writing, but am not yet equipped with the PhD. (Long story.) I am also out of date.
My latest is up on Substack. I swear, I never know what I am going to write about. #writer #bodypositivity
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
January 22, 2026 at 4:22 PM
My latest is up on Substack. I swear, I never know what I am going to write about. #writer #bodypositivity
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
open.substack.com/pub/cmblack/...
To engage in Bluesky or to delete the comment. That is the question.
January 22, 2026 at 2:58 AM
To engage in Bluesky or to delete the comment. That is the question.
I have two more grad school applications to finish, but I also am incredibly anxious about the applications, and wonder if it is worth it to try again.
I know my worth as a writer/researcher of philosophy, and I know my dream. But the fear of rejection (again) twists my stomach in knots.
I know my worth as a writer/researcher of philosophy, and I know my dream. But the fear of rejection (again) twists my stomach in knots.
January 21, 2026 at 5:07 AM
I have two more grad school applications to finish, but I also am incredibly anxious about the applications, and wonder if it is worth it to try again.
I know my worth as a writer/researcher of philosophy, and I know my dream. But the fear of rejection (again) twists my stomach in knots.
I know my worth as a writer/researcher of philosophy, and I know my dream. But the fear of rejection (again) twists my stomach in knots.
In honor of a hero, a legacy, and a philosopher, I'd like to share one of my earliest articles for The Philosopher's Shirt, in which I discuss #MLK as a philosopher, as well as the art of civil disobedience. Read on and celebrate the man.
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
Positive Trolling Through Nonviolent Resistance? The Legacy of Martin
The power of Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy lies in ascribing to the action of nonviolent resistance, an incredible tool to fight injustice.
the-philosophers-shirt.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:50 PM
In honor of a hero, a legacy, and a philosopher, I'd like to share one of my earliest articles for The Philosopher's Shirt, in which I discuss #MLK as a philosopher, as well as the art of civil disobedience. Read on and celebrate the man.
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
A solid and practical tip. Even if you aren't diabetic, wonky blood sugar levels can cause fatigue and confusion. Says a diabetic who still needs to eat today.
Self care is important!
Self care is important!
Writing Tip:
Writers can easily forget to eat while they're working, especially when they're in a writing flow. If you can't seem to concentrate or the words are coming out wrong, ask yourself when was the last time you ate? Maybe take a short break and grab a bite?
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writers can easily forget to eat while they're working, especially when they're in a writing flow. If you can't seem to concentrate or the words are coming out wrong, ask yourself when was the last time you ate? Maybe take a short break and grab a bite?
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
January 16, 2026 at 9:10 PM
A solid and practical tip. Even if you aren't diabetic, wonky blood sugar levels can cause fatigue and confusion. Says a diabetic who still needs to eat today.
Self care is important!
Self care is important!
Lowell & Benson, the publisher of two of my short stories, is opening submissions for their next anthology, The Dichotomy of Love. Submissions are open until February 1st. No fees. Newer #writers encouraged to submit. Please see link for more info.
payhip.com/lowellandben...
payhip.com/lowellandben...
Submissions
payhip.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Lowell & Benson, the publisher of two of my short stories, is opening submissions for their next anthology, The Dichotomy of Love. Submissions are open until February 1st. No fees. Newer #writers encouraged to submit. Please see link for more info.
payhip.com/lowellandben...
payhip.com/lowellandben...
I find neither #writing nor #philosophy pursuits to start if you want money. I've written before how philosophy, historically speaking, has been a pursuit that involves leisure. Part of Marx's critique, too.
Writing is similar, especially in this oversaturated market. It's frustrating I chose both.
Writing is similar, especially in this oversaturated market. It's frustrating I chose both.
January 16, 2026 at 12:48 AM
I find neither #writing nor #philosophy pursuits to start if you want money. I've written before how philosophy, historically speaking, has been a pursuit that involves leisure. Part of Marx's critique, too.
Writing is similar, especially in this oversaturated market. It's frustrating I chose both.
Writing is similar, especially in this oversaturated market. It's frustrating I chose both.
Little known fact: I sell used philosophy (and other weird) books. Last year, I started using Pango to sell most of my collection, curated over 20+ years. It's been a delight to get these books into new homes.
While I am still jobsearching, selling books has offered an income supplement. #booksky
While I am still jobsearching, selling books has offered an income supplement. #booksky
January 15, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Little known fact: I sell used philosophy (and other weird) books. Last year, I started using Pango to sell most of my collection, curated over 20+ years. It's been a delight to get these books into new homes.
While I am still jobsearching, selling books has offered an income supplement. #booksky
While I am still jobsearching, selling books has offered an income supplement. #booksky