Matthew C. McLean
@mcleansix.bsky.social
"I have to go on makin' a livin'...so I can die."
Writer. My fetish is a good narrative. I make them for fun and profit. if you like what you see here you can find more at https://matthewcmclean.com
Writer. My fetish is a good narrative. I make them for fun and profit. if you like what you see here you can find more at https://matthewcmclean.com
The visitor was #pale, like a solid ghost without invitation. It sat down for tea, which Jeremy served without thinking. After pouring it, though,, he said, "Oh you shouldn't drink that." The pale visitor only responded, "Oh, I'm here for the poison. Not the tea." #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
February 8, 2026 at 3:54 PM
The visitor was #pale, like a solid ghost without invitation. It sat down for tea, which Jeremy served without thinking. After pouring it, though,, he said, "Oh you shouldn't drink that." The pale visitor only responded, "Oh, I'm here for the poison. Not the tea." #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
Lacking in color, deficient in intensity, to enlose. What's your #pale? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
February 8, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Lacking in color, deficient in intensity, to enlose. What's your #pale? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
The #blood of the ancestors drips from the halls we walk, betrayed by more than the dragon that stalked these halls, but by the broken oath of those that slew him. Now brother falls upon brother to stand upon its hoard and claim the Hall as their own, and the dead gods laugh. #vss365 #flashfiction
February 7, 2026 at 2:48 PM
The #blood of the ancestors drips from the halls we walk, betrayed by more than the dragon that stalked these halls, but by the broken oath of those that slew him. Now brother falls upon brother to stand upon its hoard and claim the Hall as their own, and the dead gods laugh. #vss365 #flashfiction
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
‘Whoa! Stop & catch your breath. Why’re you so excited?’
‘I just beat the local chess champion in 5 moves.’
‘Really? That’s amazing. You always called him an arrogant snob. When did you learn how to play chess?’
‘I didn’t.’
‘Oh. Guess that explains the #blood on your hands.’
#vss365
‘I just beat the local chess champion in 5 moves.’
‘Really? That’s amazing. You always called him an arrogant snob. When did you learn how to play chess?’
‘I didn’t.’
‘Oh. Guess that explains the #blood on your hands.’
#vss365
February 7, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Some people donate it, some spill it, others drink it, but everyone has #blood. Is it yours or theirs? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
February 7, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Some people donate it, some spill it, others drink it, but everyone has #blood. Is it yours or theirs? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction
The #wound would never heal. It drove the king mad with pain. Once patient with mercy, now swift with brutality, he even cast off his long-time love to marry and marry again. Finally, the cobbler’s daughter said yes to his proposal, knowing it give her the chance to right the kingdom. #vss365
February 6, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Is it an injury? Or have you hurt someone? What's your #wound? Let's #write. #promptshare #vss365 #flashfiction
February 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Is it an injury? Or have you hurt someone? What's your #wound? Let's #write. #promptshare #vss365 #flashfiction
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
The results of this year's SmokeLong Workshop Prize are finally here! We have 11 wonderful finalists. And (drumroll):
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Workshop Prize — Finalists and Winners! - SmokeLong Quarterly
We’re behind. We know! The problem with The SmokeLong Workshop Prize competition is that the stories are all good. Choosing winners is like choosing a favorite child. This is famously bad parenting. B...
www.smokelong.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
The results of this year's SmokeLong Workshop Prize are finally here! We have 11 wonderful finalists. And (drumroll):
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
Third Prize winner: @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social
Second Prize: @travisflatt.bsky.social
First Prize: @katehorsleywriter.bsky.social ⭐
www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
This isn't news. Silicon Valley has been about greed and fear, nearly as much as Wall Street. Everything that comes out of it (or the people that go into it) is about money.
February 5, 2026 at 10:31 PM
This isn't news. Silicon Valley has been about greed and fear, nearly as much as Wall Street. Everything that comes out of it (or the people that go into it) is about money.
The light was #lambent off the snow, every bird following the warmth of those rays coming from above & below. Snow on the beach wasn’t meant to happen, but here it was, and the flocks knew better than to question it. The old patterns didn’t hold anymore, but the migrations did. #vss365 #flashfiction
February 5, 2026 at 7:59 PM
The light was #lambent off the snow, every bird following the warmth of those rays coming from above & below. Snow on the beach wasn’t meant to happen, but here it was, and the flocks knew better than to question it. The old patterns didn’t hold anymore, but the migrations did. #vss365 #flashfiction
Good God, that's hilarious.
Great excuse to rewatch @stanzipotenza.bsky.social's very awesome short.
www.youtube.com/shorts/md9i1...
www.youtube.com/shorts/md9i1...
February 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Good God, that's hilarious.
All the women stared anywhere but the source of the conflict, attuned to the possibility of violence and desiring nothing but to avoid it.
Except for Sophie. Behind the men she glared at me, her eyes widening with the clear message that it was time for me to leave. #WIPSnips #amquerying #skywrite
Except for Sophie. Behind the men she glared at me, her eyes widening with the clear message that it was time for me to leave. #WIPSnips #amquerying #skywrite
February 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM
All the women stared anywhere but the source of the conflict, attuned to the possibility of violence and desiring nothing but to avoid it.
Except for Sophie. Behind the men she glared at me, her eyes widening with the clear message that it was time for me to leave. #WIPSnips #amquerying #skywrite
Except for Sophie. Behind the men she glared at me, her eyes widening with the clear message that it was time for me to leave. #WIPSnips #amquerying #skywrite
Are you bright or radiant? Glide or graceful? Or do you flicker and disappear? What's your #lambent? Let's #write. #promptshare #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Are you bright or radiant? Glide or graceful? Or do you flicker and disappear? What's your #lambent? Let's #write. #promptshare #vss365 #flashfiction #skywrite
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
I found a photo of what's left of the Washington Post
February 5, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I found a photo of what's left of the Washington Post
The #ghost didn’t believe in people until it learned how to breathe. Then it could smell every rancid odor the living produced. Surely, then the next thing to learn was how to move things. Forcefully, at will, and to enjoy the screams of those that filled its mouth with unpleasant surprises. #vss365
February 4, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The #ghost didn’t believe in people until it learned how to breathe. Then it could smell every rancid odor the living produced. Surely, then the next thing to learn was how to move things. Forcefully, at will, and to enjoy the screams of those that filled its mouth with unpleasant surprises. #vss365
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
New fuck/marry/kill list just dropped
February 4, 2026 at 6:05 AM
New fuck/marry/kill list just dropped
Wow, they are really pushing that Melania trashumentary.
February 4, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Wow, they are really pushing that Melania trashumentary.
The basket ride down to hell is probably more comfortable than the drive down the mountains in that tiny backseat. The shifting of the car on the curves and descents moved me constantly, putting me into new & interesting stress #positions the Israelis would be proud to invent. #WIPSnips #amquerying
February 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The basket ride down to hell is probably more comfortable than the drive down the mountains in that tiny backseat. The shifting of the car on the curves and descents moved me constantly, putting me into new & interesting stress #positions the Israelis would be proud to invent. #WIPSnips #amquerying
February 4, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Master Jaffer carefully chronicled the #pain he inflicted on his property to keep it inline. There were daily scourges, a hundred rapes, and for one chattel, Jaffer covered him in honey for the flies to have him. Jaffer’s head was filled with torments, right until it came off his shoulders. #vss365
February 3, 2026 at 8:28 PM
I set a fast pace, #confident Sophie would be shepherding the lovers behind me. The backstreets shown with a lunar glow. Over the beating of my own heart yells came from everywhere, making it impossible to judge how close the Russians were. #amquerying #WIPSnips
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
I set a fast pace, #confident Sophie would be shepherding the lovers behind me. The backstreets shown with a lunar glow. Over the beating of my own heart yells came from everywhere, making it impossible to judge how close the Russians were. #amquerying #WIPSnips
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
Reposted by Matthew C. McLean
Going to post more of my traditional media work. Priss from bubblegum crisis. 11x17 comic board drawn with pencil on my trusty acme drawing board with animation paper pegs.
February 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Going to post more of my traditional media work. Priss from bubblegum crisis. 11x17 comic board drawn with pencil on my trusty acme drawing board with animation paper pegs.
Suffering is the one thing that all living things do. What's your #pain? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction #skywrite
February 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Suffering is the one thing that all living things do. What's your #pain? Let's #write. #vss365 #promptshare #flashfiction #skywrite