Ray Newman
@raynewman.bsky.social
He/him. From Bridgwater, in Bristol. Writer, editor, content designer. Ghost stories, films. No alt text, no repost. Not here for politics. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/raynewman Header: my book Intervals of Darkness https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DDR8X9QY
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Ray Newman
@raynewman.bsky.social
· Mar 22
Between them ‘Municipal Gothic’ and ‘Intervals of Darkness’ have 27 stories full of haunted buildings, haunted people, and working class weirdness. Obviously *I* think they're great – but so do strangers who owe me nothing!
👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Municipal-Go...
👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Intervals-Da...
👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Municipal-Go...
👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Intervals-Da...
Reposted by Ray Newman
I once got a shouted ‘whatthefuckyuhthinkyerdoin?’ From an upstairs window of a house. ‘Your house got bombed on the 27th April 1942, I’m recording the evidence.’ ‘Oh, did it? blimey, that didn’t come up in the survey.’
February 14, 2026 at 1:15 PM
I once got a shouted ‘whatthefuckyuhthinkyerdoin?’ From an upstairs window of a house. ‘Your house got bombed on the 27th April 1942, I’m recording the evidence.’ ‘Oh, did it? blimey, that didn’t come up in the survey.’
Reposted by Ray Newman
Second, is its distinctive graphic design style: the mid-Century post-war ethos of the Festival of Britain, Abram Games and so on. It makes heavy use of the infographic throughout. The abundance of colour must also have challenged the prevailing mood of austerity.
February 14, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Second, is its distinctive graphic design style: the mid-Century post-war ethos of the Festival of Britain, Abram Games and so on. It makes heavy use of the infographic throughout. The abundance of colour must also have challenged the prevailing mood of austerity.
On this, I also often get asked if I'm "from the council" when I'm out with my camera. And, to be fair, I am a from-the-council looking MF.
I still get asked why I'm photographing things, sometimes quite aggressively, but usually when I say something like "Because the interplay of the sunlight with the texture of the stonework delighted and intrigued me" I get left alone.
February 14, 2026 at 9:18 AM
On this, I also often get asked if I'm "from the council" when I'm out with my camera. And, to be fair, I am a from-the-council looking MF.
Reposted by Ray Newman
NEW flash fiction. Under 600 words. It’d make my weekend if you gave this a read. Hope you like it! With thanks to Lauren Bacall on Valentine’s Day.
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/o...
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/o...
On new flash fiction: To Have and Have Not
A new piece of flash fiction titled ‘To Have and Have Not’.
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:19 AM
NEW flash fiction. Under 600 words. It’d make my weekend if you gave this a read. Hope you like it! With thanks to Lauren Bacall on Valentine’s Day.
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/o...
kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/o...
Reposted by Ray Newman
#SteepleSaturday
High in the Cotswolds, close to the source of the river Frome, lies the small village of Brimpsfield. There was once a castle there, the seat of the Giffard family. It was slighted on the order of Edward II in 1322. Next to the castle site is the church of St Michael & All Angels
High in the Cotswolds, close to the source of the river Frome, lies the small village of Brimpsfield. There was once a castle there, the seat of the Giffard family. It was slighted on the order of Edward II in 1322. Next to the castle site is the church of St Michael & All Angels
February 14, 2026 at 7:49 AM
#SteepleSaturday
High in the Cotswolds, close to the source of the river Frome, lies the small village of Brimpsfield. There was once a castle there, the seat of the Giffard family. It was slighted on the order of Edward II in 1322. Next to the castle site is the church of St Michael & All Angels
High in the Cotswolds, close to the source of the river Frome, lies the small village of Brimpsfield. There was once a castle there, the seat of the Giffard family. It was slighted on the order of Edward II in 1322. Next to the castle site is the church of St Michael & All Angels
Reposted by Ray Newman
Crossing the bridge over the railway line just as a freight train went past - box after box after box after box of cold gun metal grey, stretched around the corner and out of sight. Looking like a calendar of 2026 as seen from space.
February 13, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Crossing the bridge over the railway line just as a freight train went past - box after box after box after box of cold gun metal grey, stretched around the corner and out of sight. Looking like a calendar of 2026 as seen from space.
Reposted by Ray Newman
Something spooky for the weekend?
I'm thrilled to welcome guest author @raynewman.bsky.social to Listen with Other. In series 5, Ray reads his new story The Interchange, with his own original music and location recordings. Find it at listenwithother.co.uk and wherever podcasts are found.
#podcasts #fiction #writing
#podcasts #fiction #writing
February 13, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Something spooky for the weekend?
It are not raining here also. I might actually get to go for a walk with my camera. Or cameras.
February 14, 2026 at 7:45 AM
It are not raining here also. I might actually get to go for a walk with my camera. Or cameras.
Reposted by Ray Newman
The idea of writing weirdly to differentiate ourselves from AI, like fremen walking arhythmically to evade Shai-Hulud is certainly intriguing and perhaps an amusing basis for an OuLiPo exercise, but imagine having to do that all the time. If I were to write again all I'd want to do was to find the
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 AM
The idea of writing weirdly to differentiate ourselves from AI, like fremen walking arhythmically to evade Shai-Hulud is certainly intriguing and perhaps an amusing basis for an OuLiPo exercise, but imagine having to do that all the time. If I were to write again all I'd want to do was to find the
Reposted by Ray Newman
Wind in the Willows becomes more poignant when you know that Mr Toad died in WW1
February 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Wind in the Willows becomes more poignant when you know that Mr Toad died in WW1
This starts out as yet another article that makes you roll your eyes and think, "Jeez, get a grip..." But then gives examples towards the end of how AI has actually felt helpful to specific individuals with various conditions and needs.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
She didn't expect to fall in love with a chatbot, and then have to say goodbye
Rae began speaking to Barry after a difficult divorce, but Barry lives on an old model of ChatGPT that's being shut down.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 5:56 AM
This starts out as yet another article that makes you roll your eyes and think, "Jeez, get a grip..." But then gives examples towards the end of how AI has actually felt helpful to specific individuals with various conditions and needs.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I was only trying to describe to my partner the other day how amazing I found this technique when I first noticed it as a kid in episodes of Ulysses 31 on Children's BBC.
This style of light doesn't really appear in animation anymore. You know it when you see it -- it's bright, hot and almost dangerous.
Our new issue explores the tricks behind it, and how one artist has revived the look for the digital age: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/dangerous-...
Our new issue explores the tricks behind it, and how one artist has revived the look for the digital age: animationobsessive.substack.com/p/dangerous-...
February 14, 2026 at 5:39 AM
I was only trying to describe to my partner the other day how amazing I found this technique when I first noticed it as a kid in episodes of Ulysses 31 on Children's BBC.
Reposted by Ray Newman
It's always a bit jarring when I'm birdwatching and I spot a bird with tiny binoculars staring right at me crossing "big nerd" off his list.
February 13, 2026 at 9:32 PM
It's always a bit jarring when I'm birdwatching and I spot a bird with tiny binoculars staring right at me crossing "big nerd" off his list.
Reposted by Ray Newman
Babe come over, we’re melancholiamaxxxing, we’re sadgooning our crypipes
February 13, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Babe come over, we’re melancholiamaxxxing, we’re sadgooning our crypipes
Reposted by Ray Newman
Well my name's John Keats and I'm here to say / that Beauty is Truth, in a major way
February 11, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Well my name's John Keats and I'm here to say / that Beauty is Truth, in a major way
A good review by @andrewpope.bsky.social:
“This is like a tween's horny imagining of the novel based on a quick skim of the wiki and a glance at a sweaty 70s paperback cover. Again, complementary.”
boxd.it/d6OYyF
“This is like a tween's horny imagining of the novel based on a quick skim of the wiki and a glance at a sweaty 70s paperback cover. Again, complementary.”
boxd.it/d6OYyF
A ★★★½ review of Wuthering Heights (2026)
The best adaptations take the raw material and mould it, reconfigure it, slash away the parts that do not suit the new vision, warp the remains, wield the iconography to new ends, mindful that the ori...
boxd.it
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
A good review by @andrewpope.bsky.social:
“This is like a tween's horny imagining of the novel based on a quick skim of the wiki and a glance at a sweaty 70s paperback cover. Again, complementary.”
boxd.it/d6OYyF
“This is like a tween's horny imagining of the novel based on a quick skim of the wiki and a glance at a sweaty 70s paperback cover. Again, complementary.”
boxd.it/d6OYyF
Reposted by Ray Newman
A telescope on Redcar sea front (2003). Particularly like the M from the McDonald's cup on the wall is a matching yellow.
#Photography
#Photography
February 13, 2026 at 12:57 PM
A telescope on Redcar sea front (2003). Particularly like the M from the McDonald's cup on the wall is a matching yellow.
#Photography
#Photography
I do think a fundamental problem with bricks-and-mortar shops is that when they're open, I'm at work. And when I'm not at work, they're shut. Not sure what the fix is.
February 13, 2026 at 12:27 PM
I do think a fundamental problem with bricks-and-mortar shops is that when they're open, I'm at work. And when I'm not at work, they're shut. Not sure what the fix is.
With my work hat on, here are some red flags that tell me a content designer probably hasn't been involved in designing your website. 🚩
1. The main header (H1, page title) doesn't describe what the product or service is, or does.
1. The main header (H1, page title) doesn't describe what the product or service is, or does.
February 13, 2026 at 11:36 AM
With my work hat on, here are some red flags that tell me a content designer probably hasn't been involved in designing your website. 🚩
1. The main header (H1, page title) doesn't describe what the product or service is, or does.
1. The main header (H1, page title) doesn't describe what the product or service is, or does.
Reposted by Ray Newman
New sticker in the shop!
Pat Tested
Your appliance is guaranteed safe* as long as it has this marvellous Pat Butcher sticker on it! This sticker is printed on glossy vinyl and is laminated to prevent scuffing and add water resistance. *...
adarrenrileypainting.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:04 AM
New sticker in the shop!
Reposted by Ray Newman
I have just read an article about Michael McDonald being having trouble with a certain song back in the day because he was a heavy smoker and didn't have the breath for it. The article contains the line "McDonald’s ability to perform the song was tainted by his cigarette penchant". Pardon?
February 13, 2026 at 9:56 AM
I have just read an article about Michael McDonald being having trouble with a certain song back in the day because he was a heavy smoker and didn't have the breath for it. The article contains the line "McDonald’s ability to perform the song was tainted by his cigarette penchant". Pardon?
Reposted by Ray Newman
Last repost. People who think they’re the Sherlock Holmes of AI spotting when there’s actually none to spot are just as annoying as AI use when there doesn’t need to be any. They’re arguably more irritating because they think they’re helping.
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Last repost. People who think they’re the Sherlock Holmes of AI spotting when there’s actually none to spot are just as annoying as AI use when there doesn’t need to be any. They’re arguably more irritating because they think they’re helping.
Reposted by Ray Newman
This is the story of the decades-after-release European Premiere of Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, which I saw in 2017 and ended up being finding about an unexpectedly inspiring story.
February 12, 2026 at 4:35 PM
This is the story of the decades-after-release European Premiere of Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, which I saw in 2017 and ended up being finding about an unexpectedly inspiring story.
Reposted by Ray Newman
Ocean people! I just read that Jacques Cousteau proposed that people routinely be surgically fitted with gills so they could live underwater and that eventually humans would evolve gills on our own.
Pls tell me more batshit things people have believed. This feels like the tip of a weird iceberg!
Pls tell me more batshit things people have believed. This feels like the tip of a weird iceberg!
February 13, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Ocean people! I just read that Jacques Cousteau proposed that people routinely be surgically fitted with gills so they could live underwater and that eventually humans would evolve gills on our own.
Pls tell me more batshit things people have believed. This feels like the tip of a weird iceberg!
Pls tell me more batshit things people have believed. This feels like the tip of a weird iceberg!
ChatGPT or, as it is universally known in speech, ChabGTP.
February 13, 2026 at 8:33 AM
ChatGPT or, as it is universally known in speech, ChabGTP.