Matt Bell
@mdbell79.bsky.social
Writer, teacher. Out now: APPLESEED, a novel (2021, @marinerbooks). REFUSE TO BE DONE, a guide to novel revision (2022, @soho_press). He/him.
Pinned
Matt Bell
@mdbell79.bsky.social
· Sep 8
I just found out that REFUSE TO BE DONE is going into its 8th printing! I've heard so many stories from writers whose projects have been helped along by this little yellow book over the past three years. Nothing makes me happier!
I enjoyed the hell out of Blue Moon, especially Ethan Hawke's performance, of course. The script's a blast.
February 15, 2026 at 9:45 PM
I enjoyed the hell out of Blue Moon, especially Ethan Hawke's performance, of course. The script's a blast.
Reposted by Matt Bell
Honestly, still floored by this. Never in a million years would I have anticipated being on this list, let alone with a Denis Johnson comparison. Just wild.
February 15, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Honestly, still floored by this. Never in a million years would I have anticipated being on this list, let alone with a Denis Johnson comparison. Just wild.
Hannibal's elephants were in the NYT today, as good an occasion as any to reread this favorite Jack Gilbert poem. This one is always close at hand.
February 15, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Hannibal's elephants were in the NYT today, as good an occasion as any to reread this favorite Jack Gilbert poem. This one is always close at hand.
House rules: if you're still at the desk writing at 8pm, you get to take a Last Word with you.
February 15, 2026 at 3:11 AM
House rules: if you're still at the desk writing at 8pm, you get to take a Last Word with you.
Reposted by Matt Bell
My new collection, The Pandemonium Waltz, will be on the loose tomorrow, Feb. 15th. 17 stories, cover and inside front and back cover art by Derek Ford, and an interview with me conducted by Kelly Link. Buy early and often. If you're so inclined, spread the word.
February 14, 2026 at 8:33 PM
My new collection, The Pandemonium Waltz, will be on the loose tomorrow, Feb. 15th. 17 stories, cover and inside front and back cover art by Derek Ford, and an interview with me conducted by Kelly Link. Buy early and often. If you're so inclined, spread the word.
Reposted by Matt Bell
Because of recent events, we had to give my cover a little update.
Thank you everyone who helped make this possible. Truly.
Thank you everyone who helped make this possible. Truly.
February 14, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Because of recent events, we had to give my cover a little update.
Thank you everyone who helped make this possible. Truly.
Thank you everyone who helped make this possible. Truly.
Today I started a "weakest sentences" pass as described in Refuse to Be Done, and it's always amazing how much good this mass culling of a novel's prose does, even late in the game. ("Weakest" here doesn't mean "bad," necessarily, only "not as strong as the rest." Your book gets better so fast!)
February 14, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Today I started a "weakest sentences" pass as described in Refuse to Be Done, and it's always amazing how much good this mass culling of a novel's prose does, even late in the game. ("Weakest" here doesn't mean "bad," necessarily, only "not as strong as the rest." Your book gets better so fast!)
On my run this morning, I crawled into a human-sized drain pipe out in the desert to frame this photo.
February 14, 2026 at 2:14 AM
On my run this morning, I crawled into a human-sized drain pipe out in the desert to frame this photo.
Reposted by Matt Bell
From @bookreporter.bsky.social my review of Jonathan Miles's novel, ERADICATION: A Fable: www.bookreporter.com/reviews/erad.... Like @mdbell79.bsky.social, who reviewed it for @nytimes.com, I thought it was an excellent novel.
Eradication: A Fable | Bookreporter.com
Reeling from tragedy, a former jazz musician turned schoolteacher named Adi answers a job listing advertising a chance to save the world. The assignment: to spend five weeks alone on the tiny, isolate...
www.bookreporter.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:51 AM
From @bookreporter.bsky.social my review of Jonathan Miles's novel, ERADICATION: A Fable: www.bookreporter.com/reviews/erad.... Like @mdbell79.bsky.social, who reviewed it for @nytimes.com, I thought it was an excellent novel.
Reposted by Matt Bell
This is one of those quotes I think about more than any other.
February 1, 2026 at 1:11 PM
This is one of those quotes I think about more than any other.
Having a good laugh with a writer friend about revising my new novel with Refuse to Be Done open on my desktop, so I can remember my own best revision practices. This is the first novel I've finished since publishing RTBD, and I have to say: it's pretty helpful!
February 13, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Having a good laugh with a writer friend about revising my new novel with Refuse to Be Done open on my desktop, so I can remember my own best revision practices. This is the first novel I've finished since publishing RTBD, and I have to say: it's pretty helpful!
On Mike Birbiglia's podcast, he talked about realizing he was wrong for 99% of roles, not because of what he did but because he wasn't what the director was seeking. You have to keep doing your thing the best you can until the right person sees it. I think that's close to the whole game in the arts.
February 12, 2026 at 9:00 PM
On Mike Birbiglia's podcast, he talked about realizing he was wrong for 99% of roles, not because of what he did but because he wasn't what the director was seeking. You have to keep doing your thing the best you can until the right person sees it. I think that's close to the whole game in the arts.
"When my son and I talk about courage,
he claims the dark is the only thing
he fears and I want to tell him, one day
the darkness will swallow everything
and someone who loves you will leave you
something bright to keep you safe."
—@toddkaneko.bsky.social
he claims the dark is the only thing
he fears and I want to tell him, one day
the darkness will swallow everything
and someone who loves you will leave you
something bright to keep you safe."
—@toddkaneko.bsky.social
"Neither of us understands / the science of gravity, but I know how it feels..."
From "White Hot Star" by ASU creative writing alum W. Todd Kaneko.
Read the poem and hear it read by Maggie Smith on The Slowdown. https://ow.ly/SPQI50Y7JW8 #ASUHumanities
From "White Hot Star" by ASU creative writing alum W. Todd Kaneko.
Read the poem and hear it read by Maggie Smith on The Slowdown. https://ow.ly/SPQI50Y7JW8 #ASUHumanities
1424: White Hot Star by W. Todd Kaneko
Today’s poem is White Hot Star by W. Todd Kaneko.
ow.ly
February 12, 2026 at 5:10 PM
"When my son and I talk about courage,
he claims the dark is the only thing
he fears and I want to tell him, one day
the darkness will swallow everything
and someone who loves you will leave you
something bright to keep you safe."
—@toddkaneko.bsky.social
he claims the dark is the only thing
he fears and I want to tell him, one day
the darkness will swallow everything
and someone who loves you will leave you
something bright to keep you safe."
—@toddkaneko.bsky.social
If you've read Refuse to Be Done, you know the "pulling up the widows" trick (that I learned from a Pam Houston essay). I just did it twice, once in my original font, then another in TNR (after the switch moved all my line breaks again). Just an all-time method for tightening a manuscript all over.
February 11, 2026 at 10:37 PM
If you've read Refuse to Be Done, you know the "pulling up the widows" trick (that I learned from a Pam Houston essay). I just did it twice, once in my original font, then another in TNR (after the switch moved all my line breaks again). Just an all-time method for tightening a manuscript all over.
This was a fun book! Good casting here, I think. (Rachel Weisz is always good casting.)
New poster for ‘VLADIMIR’ unveiled.
Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall star in the limited series, coming March 5 on Netflix.
#Vladimir #RachelWeisz
Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall star in the limited series, coming March 5 on Netflix.
#Vladimir #RachelWeisz
February 11, 2026 at 10:02 PM
This was a fun book! Good casting here, I think. (Rachel Weisz is always good casting.)
Very sad to hear the news about James Van Der Beek. My brother and I were talking about how much we loved him in Varsity Blues, an important movie during our own football years, and I realized that three of the main players in the movie have passed: Van Der Beek, Paul Walker, and Ron Lester.
February 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Very sad to hear the news about James Van Der Beek. My brother and I were talking about how much we loved him in Varsity Blues, an important movie during our own football years, and I realized that three of the main players in the movie have passed: Van Der Beek, Paul Walker, and Ron Lester.
Happy pub week to @aaronburch.bsky.social and his new book TACOMA! I can't wait for my copy to arrive.
alpaca-seal-wlbs.squarespace.com/store/p/tacoma
alpaca-seal-wlbs.squarespace.com/store/p/tacoma
February 11, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Happy pub week to @aaronburch.bsky.social and his new book TACOMA! I can't wait for my copy to arrive.
alpaca-seal-wlbs.squarespace.com/store/p/tacoma
alpaca-seal-wlbs.squarespace.com/store/p/tacoma
Reposted by Matt Bell
have got to go to the college library now and get filthy amongst dirty books.
—J. R. R. Tolkien, letter to Edith Bratt of October 1914
—J. R. R. Tolkien, letter to Edith Bratt of October 1914
February 11, 2026 at 3:37 PM
have got to go to the college library now and get filthy amongst dirty books.
—J. R. R. Tolkien, letter to Edith Bratt of October 1914
—J. R. R. Tolkien, letter to Edith Bratt of October 1914
Reposted by Matt Bell
It's pub day for my new novel, The Tavern at the End of History. When writing I imagined it like The Magic Mountain, but shorter & with Jews. (& also angels, a dybbuk, & stolen art). Looking forward to sharing it with you all!
February 10, 2026 at 8:26 PM
It's pub day for my new novel, The Tavern at the End of History. When writing I imagined it like The Magic Mountain, but shorter & with Jews. (& also angels, a dybbuk, & stolen art). Looking forward to sharing it with you all!
Reposted by Matt Bell
It’s my book birthday!!
Happy pub day to @bethanycmorrow.com & The Body. I was lucky enough to get an arc and let me tell you I was shook the entire time I was reading this.
Thank you to @tornightfire.bsky.social @netgalley.bsky.social & Bethany C. Morrow for the eARC.📚
#booksky #booktok #books #pubday #thebody
Thank you to @tornightfire.bsky.social @netgalley.bsky.social & Bethany C. Morrow for the eARC.📚
#booksky #booktok #books #pubday #thebody
February 10, 2026 at 5:53 PM
It’s my book birthday!!
Reposted by Matt Bell
I had to wait to read @mdbell79.bsky.social's excellent review of Jonathan Miles's latest novel, ERADICATION: A Fable until I filed mine. Now that I have, I'm happy to see we agree in our assessment. Look for my review for @bookreporter.bsky.social here later this week.
My review of Jonathan Miles's excellent new novel ERADICATION is live at the @nytimes.com! I loved reading and thinking about this book, and I think it's a strong addition to the climate fiction genre. Give it a look!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
5 Weeks Alone on an Island, With a Rifle and a License to Kill
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I had to wait to read @mdbell79.bsky.social's excellent review of Jonathan Miles's latest novel, ERADICATION: A Fable until I filed mine. Now that I have, I'm happy to see we agree in our assessment. Look for my review for @bookreporter.bsky.social here later this week.
Reposted by Matt Bell
Im teaching Clarion West this summer. Not too late to join us!
If you're still thinking about applying for the 2026 Six-Week Workshop, applications close on Friday, February 13 at 12:00 PM PT (Noon!).
The 2026 workshop is virtual with instructors @taracampbell.bsky.social, @indrapramitdas.bsky.social, David Thomas Moore, and @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social!
The 2026 workshop is virtual with instructors @taracampbell.bsky.social, @indrapramitdas.bsky.social, David Thomas Moore, and @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social!
February 10, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Im teaching Clarion West this summer. Not too late to join us!
Today was "switch the manuscript into Times New Roman" day for the new novel, which means things are getting serious around here...
February 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Today was "switch the manuscript into Times New Roman" day for the new novel, which means things are getting serious around here...
My review of Jonathan Miles's excellent new novel ERADICATION is live at the @nytimes.com! I loved reading and thinking about this book, and I think it's a strong addition to the climate fiction genre. Give it a look!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
5 Weeks Alone on an Island, With a Rifle and a License to Kill
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
My review of Jonathan Miles's excellent new novel ERADICATION is live at the @nytimes.com! I loved reading and thinking about this book, and I think it's a strong addition to the climate fiction genre. Give it a look!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
Thanks to Dave Kim for his wise edits and advice on this one!
"I’ve never liked thinking back, going back in time, reviewing the day or the week or the life. To crush and gut. To eviscerate. Power works best when there’s no memory attached. Ramrod straight." —Don DeLillo, Cosmopolis
February 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM
"I’ve never liked thinking back, going back in time, reviewing the day or the week or the life. To crush and gut. To eviscerate. Power works best when there’s no memory attached. Ramrod straight." —Don DeLillo, Cosmopolis