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Monique Barrow @moniquebarrow.bsky.social · 25d

Happy anniversary to this fragment story that I wrote for @intothespine.bsky.social! Now more than ever, the arts and humanities need our support. Thank you, @diegoarguello.bsky.social, for publishing it!
intothespine.com/2024/09/14/s...

Showtime - Into The Spine

For this week's Fragments, Monique Barrow examines the importance of the arts Princess Peach: Showtime! in contrast to the real-life climate.

intothespine.com

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bee wertheimer @beewertheimer.com · Sep 6

very honored i had the chance to write this for into the spine!!

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Sep 6

"And isn’t that the American dream? To have enough time and money to fulfill your goals, to do meaningful work without having to stress over bills? To be an important and beloved member of your community?"

@beewertheimer.com faces the realities of house flipping

intothespine.com/2025/09/06/g...

Grasping for Agency - Into The Spine

As Bee Wertheimer grasps for agency before moving to a new apartment, House Flipper 2 has them reckoning with real-life house flipping.

intothespine.com

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Sep 6

"And isn’t that the American dream? To have enough time and money to fulfill your goals, to do meaningful work without having to stress over bills? To be an important and beloved member of your community?"

@beewertheimer.com faces the realities of house flipping

intothespine.com/2025/09/06/g...

Grasping for Agency - Into The Spine

As Bee Wertheimer grasps for agency before moving to a new apartment, House Flipper 2 has them reckoning with real-life house flipping.

intothespine.com

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Aug 23

"The students noticed first: my pink backpack, pink bike helmet, pink sneakers. I didn’t start loud. It built slowly."

Jervon Perkins shares the story of Serenity Hart and learning to be seen in Final Fantasy XIV.

intothespine.com/2025/08/23/s...

A Lalafell wearing Aerith's outfit smiles while lifting their arms to the air in Final Fantasy XIV. They're surrounded by flowers.

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · Jul 14

haven't started responding to folks individually, but from a quick glance, the next couple of months might already be fully booked. if you wanted to pitch, i'd encourage you to do so by tomorrow at the latest (sorry that windows are this short - i can only field so many pitches)

Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · Jul 10

spine is taking pitches again, ranging from short ($30 for 150-300 words) to longer form pieces ($60 for 500-700 words). *please* read the guidelines carefully, which now reflect the current monthly budget. i want to hear from bipoc and queer folks first and foremost.

intothespine.com/write-for-us/

Write for Spine - Into The Spine

Do you want to write for Into The Spine? Here's everything you need to know, including rates and what we're looking for at the moment.

intothespine.com

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Jul 10

The best thing I've read all day:
intothespine.com/2020/09/22/h...

If you're not following @intothespine.bsky.social, I recommend you start!

A Letter to That One Shade in Hades - Into The Spine

Deep within the lustrous halls of Elysium, a letter is delivered by the God of Swiftness. It's written by Zagreus, addressed to a fan.

intothespine.com

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · Jul 10

spine is taking pitches again, ranging from short ($30 for 150-300 words) to longer form pieces ($60 for 500-700 words). *please* read the guidelines carefully, which now reflect the current monthly budget. i want to hear from bipoc and queer folks first and foremost.

intothespine.com/write-for-us/

Write for Spine - Into The Spine

Do you want to write for Into The Spine? Here's everything you need to know, including rates and what we're looking for at the moment.

intothespine.com

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Jul 10

"For those of us who struggle with mental health, it offers a sanctuary — a space to dream of a life that feels out of reach."

Jastine Beatrice Yap shares her story of playing The Sims 4 as a depressed queer, and turning 25.

intothespine.com/2025/07/10/t...

a screenshot of a baby sleeping in the sims 4

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · May 23

the site doesn't have the same sway as what people consider an independent outlet nowadays, but I've been running it since 2018 and i get pitches from new writers regularly. i'd love to continue giving them a home. there's a patreon if you want to support them! www.patreon.com/c/intothespine

Get more from Into The Spine on Patreon

creating stories, criticism, and reporting around video games

www.patreon.com

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · May 23

spine is back, albeit with a different schedule. time and budget constraints has led to a monthly piece instead. for context, most of the pieces on the site over the years i've commissioned out of pocket, and that's not longer possible. june and july are covered, but i'll open submissions soon

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · May 23

"An act that is supposed to deny uncertainty ironically becomes complicit in a rigid state of stagnation and exhaustion."

Zonghang Zhou (@zhzhou86.bsky.social) examines the meaning of repetition via Papers, Please, and Tang Shanjun's Sisyphean efforts.

intothespine.com/2025/05/23/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · May 23

"An act that is supposed to deny uncertainty ironically becomes complicit in a rigid state of stagnation and exhaustion."

Zonghang Zhou (@zhzhou86.bsky.social) examines the meaning of repetition via Papers, Please, and Tang Shanjun's Sisyphean efforts.

intothespine.com/2025/05/23/t...

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Reposted by Into The Spine

Monique Barrow @moniquebarrow.bsky.social · May 19

I can't believe it's been one year since I wrote this fragment story for @intothespine.bsky.social! I enjoyed writing about the music in Tears of the Kingdom. Thank you, again @diegoarguello.bsky.social, for the opportunity!

intothespine.com/2024/05/19/t...

The Lonely Skies - Into The Spine

For this week's Fragments, Monique Barrow skydives into Hyrule's past, and future, in Tears of the Kingdom.

intothespine.com

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Mikhail @va11halla.bsky.social · Feb 23

Very happy with this feature I did on Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo for @intothespine.bsky.social (thanks @diegoarguello.bsky.social) covering one of my favorite moments in the game.

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Feb 22

"A fourth-wall break moment early on, however, quickly changed my mind."

Mikhail Madnani (@va11halla.bsky.social) is pulled into Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo by one specific sequence.

intothespine.com/2025/02/22/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Feb 22

"A fourth-wall break moment early on, however, quickly changed my mind."

Mikhail Madnani (@va11halla.bsky.social) is pulled into Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo by one specific sequence.

intothespine.com/2025/02/22/t...

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Natalie Schriefer @nschriefer.bsky.social · Feb 6

Happy publication anniversary to this fun little Paper Mario poem, published a little over a year ago by @diegoarguello.bsky.social & @intothespine.bsky.social. I've always loved Gourmet Guy's line about learning to bake at truck driving school--this poem is an ode to laughter 🚚🚚

I Know Where Princess Peach Keeps Her Dish Detergent - Into The Spine

For Gourmet Guy, from Paper Mario 64

intothespine.com

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Jan 27

"Perhaps that's why this scene felt so angsty, because Vertin is me, and Schneider had said that to me. Schneider was bidding farewell, and I would no longer see her again."

Ree Summers explores a dialogue line in Reverse: 1999.

intothespine.com/2025/01/27/g...

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · Jan 21

happy 7th, @intothespine.bsky.social - and a massive shoutout to everybody who continues to choose the site as a place to share their stories

a postcard of cloudbank, a collectors edition of transistor, and a figure of red sit on a shelf behind 7 stacks of into the spine stickers

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Jan 13

"I’m afraid, but my mouth isn’t. 'Would they see him if he was a little girl?'”

Autumn McGarr (@flamingo-teeth.bsky.social) shares their story about gardening in Sonic Adventure 2.

intothespine.com/2025/01/13/o...

shadow and sonic cross paths while running in sonic adventure 2

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Tanat Boozayaangool 🔜 MIGW @tanatb.housefuckinggame.com · Jan 5

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

If you have not checked this out yet, please do!!

a vast collection of perspectives detailing the different pieces of media that defined their 2024

it's so varied, there's so many morsels to chew on, more games added to the backlog

Stories of 2024 - Into The Spine

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers look back at the year with short stories. This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com

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Marcus Stewart @marcusstewart7.bsky.social · Jan 4

I got to gush about Nine Sols as part of Into the Spine's Stories of 2024. There's some great shoutouts to the best games of last year, so check it out!

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Dec 30

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories.

This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

a collage of 15 images featuring different games. in order: dungeons of hinterberg, ultros, threshold, crow country, content warning, balatro, stalker 2, 1000x resist, lorelei and the laser eyes, mouthwashing, neva, elden ring shadow of the erdtree, dread delusion, nine sols, and persona 3 reload

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Harri @heyriette.bsky.social · Jan 3

I wrote a blurb for this! It’s about (surprise) Slay the Princess 💕

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Dec 30

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories.

This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

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Diego (@ Japan) Argüello @diegoarguello.bsky.social · Jan 3

sharing again ahead of the weekend - i'm still grateful and honored by everyone's participation. if you haven't heard about spine, i've pubbed over 150 writers and counting, and there's a new piece every week. i cover most payments myself, but there's a patreon, too: www.patreon.com/c/intothespine

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Dec 30

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories.

This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

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Brandon @brandonmalave.bsky.social · Jan 2

Glad to be a part of this for a second year!

In an era of dramatic narratives, multilayered characters, and breathtaking graphics, Ape Escape (1999) and Astrobot showed that you don't need any of that to push an industry forward.

Ape Escape was my favorite game that I played in 2024!

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Dec 30

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories.

This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

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Reposted by Into The Spine

Luis Alamilla @gamingvlognetwork.com · Jan 1

Wrote a little piece among a ton of great writers ❤️

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · Dec 30

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories.

This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

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Stephen Wilds @wilds.bsky.social · Jan 1

I contributed to the big 2024 wrap-up on @intothespine.bsky.social, it's over a hundred writers who each contributed ~100 words about various games and other industry subjects from the last year. intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

Stories of 2024 - Into The Spine

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers look back at the year with short stories. This was 2024, told by 102 people.

intothespine.com

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