Rue Sparks (They/Them)
@ruesparks.bsky.social
📚 Author 🎨 Artist ❤️🩹 Advocate
Queer Adventurer | Stubborn Spoonie | Mental Health Rebel “Just be kind.”
https://www.ruesparks.com/links
Queer Adventurer | Stubborn Spoonie | Mental Health Rebel “Just be kind.”
https://www.ruesparks.com/links
Pinned
I am making anti-holiday cards and #neurodivergent / #mentalHealth / #chronicIllness bookmarks because why the hell not at this point.
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
2025 will be known as the year of “I thought it was an article from The Onion”
The president added Sunday that he has “no idea” which part of his body was scanned by the MRI.
“It was just an MRI,” he said. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.” https://to.pbs.org/440Wz37
“It was just an MRI,” he said. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.” https://to.pbs.org/440Wz37
Trump says he'll release MRI results but doesn't know what part of his body was scanned
“It was just an MRI,” President Donald Trump said Sunday. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”
www.pbs.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM
2025 will be known as the year of “I thought it was an article from The Onion”
I am late to the acrylic marker party and I’m so ashamed. It’s all the things I love about acrylic and none of the things I hate??
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 AM
I am late to the acrylic marker party and I’m so ashamed. It’s all the things I love about acrylic and none of the things I hate??
A while back I bought this zine titled “Art is Hard.”
It was portraits of all these famous artists from history with quotes of them talking about how difficult it is to create, or that their art sucks.
#Creativity is to never be satisfied, to be constantly learning. It is a double edged sword.
It was portraits of all these famous artists from history with quotes of them talking about how difficult it is to create, or that their art sucks.
#Creativity is to never be satisfied, to be constantly learning. It is a double edged sword.
I just became aware of this incredibly relatable drawing by John Singer Sargent.
November 29, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A while back I bought this zine titled “Art is Hard.”
It was portraits of all these famous artists from history with quotes of them talking about how difficult it is to create, or that their art sucks.
#Creativity is to never be satisfied, to be constantly learning. It is a double edged sword.
It was portraits of all these famous artists from history with quotes of them talking about how difficult it is to create, or that their art sucks.
#Creativity is to never be satisfied, to be constantly learning. It is a double edged sword.
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
"There was so much to learn about women, and so little time."
🪐Terra Flux🪐
A mechanical lesbian sci-fi novella about the exploration of planets & women
🤖Robofuckers need apply 🤖
MURDERBOT
X
THE MACHINE MANDATE
X
PSALM FOR THE WILD BUILT
danifinn.itch.io/terra-flux
books2read.com/b/boQL2L
🪐Terra Flux🪐
A mechanical lesbian sci-fi novella about the exploration of planets & women
🤖Robofuckers need apply 🤖
MURDERBOT
X
THE MACHINE MANDATE
X
PSALM FOR THE WILD BUILT
danifinn.itch.io/terra-flux
books2read.com/b/boQL2L
November 28, 2025 at 11:47 PM
"There was so much to learn about women, and so little time."
🪐Terra Flux🪐
A mechanical lesbian sci-fi novella about the exploration of planets & women
🤖Robofuckers need apply 🤖
MURDERBOT
X
THE MACHINE MANDATE
X
PSALM FOR THE WILD BUILT
danifinn.itch.io/terra-flux
books2read.com/b/boQL2L
🪐Terra Flux🪐
A mechanical lesbian sci-fi novella about the exploration of planets & women
🤖Robofuckers need apply 🤖
MURDERBOT
X
THE MACHINE MANDATE
X
PSALM FOR THE WILD BUILT
danifinn.itch.io/terra-flux
books2read.com/b/boQL2L
I am making anti-holiday cards and #neurodivergent / #mentalHealth / #chronicIllness bookmarks because why the hell not at this point.
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
November 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I am making anti-holiday cards and #neurodivergent / #mentalHealth / #chronicIllness bookmarks because why the hell not at this point.
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
2025 was a pre-apocalyptic shite show and I'm coming to terms with my own issues with emotional blindness and lack of body awareness.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks
Listened to the #WritingExcuses episode on “show don’t tell” & it made me realize why I have issue with the over abundance of this advice.
It was originally coined for silent film, where blocks of text were frustrating for viewers. So you were encouraged to show with visuals, not tell via text.-
It was originally coined for silent film, where blocks of text were frustrating for viewers. So you were encouraged to show with visuals, not tell via text.-
a close up of a man 's face with the words `` now it all makes sense '' written below him .
Alt: a close up of a man 's face with the words `` now it all makes sense '' written below him .
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Listened to the #WritingExcuses episode on “show don’t tell” & it made me realize why I have issue with the over abundance of this advice.
It was originally coined for silent film, where blocks of text were frustrating for viewers. So you were encouraged to show with visuals, not tell via text.-
It was originally coined for silent film, where blocks of text were frustrating for viewers. So you were encouraged to show with visuals, not tell via text.-
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
FREE COLORING PAGES!
If you find yourself having to entertain bored kiddies today, you can download a set of 3 free coloring pages including this turkey fellow! (Or you can download for you? Do kids even color anymore? Do adults? I don't know anymore😂)
whistberry.itch.io/bird-colorin...
If you find yourself having to entertain bored kiddies today, you can download a set of 3 free coloring pages including this turkey fellow! (Or you can download for you? Do kids even color anymore? Do adults? I don't know anymore😂)
whistberry.itch.io/bird-colorin...
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
FREE COLORING PAGES!
If you find yourself having to entertain bored kiddies today, you can download a set of 3 free coloring pages including this turkey fellow! (Or you can download for you? Do kids even color anymore? Do adults? I don't know anymore😂)
whistberry.itch.io/bird-colorin...
If you find yourself having to entertain bored kiddies today, you can download a set of 3 free coloring pages including this turkey fellow! (Or you can download for you? Do kids even color anymore? Do adults? I don't know anymore😂)
whistberry.itch.io/bird-colorin...
No one:
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
No one:
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
Me in my copyright page: So fun fact, the Luddites weren’t really anti ALL technology. They were pro workers rights and evaluating technology based on whether it increased the quality of the product and made workers jobs easier. Funny, huh? I wonder why that would be relevant right now…
“What kind of #neurospicy are you?”
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
“What kind of #neurospicy are you?”
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Me: *researching the evolution of European helmets on a random Sunday*
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Copyright page train. 🖋️📖💰
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
November 16, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Copyright page train. 🖋️📖💰
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
I like mine from "Even If We're Broken" because I felt like I should state the archaeology sites were fake so folks don't go looking for em 😂
I need to update its language to include the clause about genAI that I started adding to my later books.
Treatment for my hearing loss failed. It’s permanent.
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Treatment for my hearing loss failed. It’s permanent.
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
The constant ringing in my ear is likely due to my brain looking for auditory input that isn’t there. It’s may or may not eventually fade.
Sometimes I think about how so much of growing older is learning how to lose.
#artProcess #HearingLoss
Today I found out the sudden hearing loss in right ear, which is also likely a factor in my 24/7 tinnitus, is unlikely to recover. The treatment failed.
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Today I found out the sudden hearing loss in right ear, which is also likely a factor in my 24/7 tinnitus, is unlikely to recover. The treatment failed.
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
At this point I’m just hoping I don’t continue to lose more. Music is to integral to my day to day. IDEK anymore
My favorites stories I started without characters, setting, or plot.
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Does the ending to your stories come naturally or evolve over time? #writingq #WritingCommunity
October 22, 2025 at 7:12 PM
My favorites stories I started without characters, setting, or plot.
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
Inspo:
There are biologically immortal jellyfish how cool is that?!
Result:
Story about a scientist trying to avert the death of his husband and all the ethical and moral dilemmas involved but also ✨JELLYFISH✨
You can pretty much guarantee whatever story I’m working on they’re in some way fighting✨TRAUMA✨
Your characters are preparing to fight monsters in your book's universe. What are they fighting? How are they preparing? #WritingPrompt
October 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
You can pretty much guarantee whatever story I’m working on they’re in some way fighting✨TRAUMA✨
I f0cking love weird ass #sci-fi and #fantasybooks
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
What’s the most unusual element in your fictional world? In my current WIP, the MC has a necklace that tells the future #writingq #WritingCommunity
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I f0cking love weird ass #sci-fi and #fantasybooks
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
I’ve written shorts where:
- MC is followed by a literal tiny rain cloud and just kind of accepts it
- A couple try to reset the universe using black holes after the apocalypse
- Companies find a way to create new colors but CAPITALISM
Plus we’re in a transitory stage of marketing. A lot of social platforms are in their death throes, generative AI is saturating the market, infrastructure for local communication took a hit with COVID, and US tariffs raised production/shipping costs.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
I’ve said this before, a lot, but when you’re an author and your book doesn’t sell your feelings can default to the premise, “Everyone in the world was offered my book and they all personally rejected it.” The truth is most people don’t know it exists. Awareness is the problem, not you or your book.
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Plus we’re in a transitory stage of marketing. A lot of social platforms are in their death throes, generative AI is saturating the market, infrastructure for local communication took a hit with COVID, and US tariffs raised production/shipping costs.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Many authors I know are just writing right now.
Speculative fiction as a way to indirectly process trauma, grief, and marginalization.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Okay #WritingCommunity...
You've recruited as a teacher at a new writing school. You get to choose a custom class to teach.
What are you teaching?
Mine? How to develop interesting quirky characters that readers will love.
You've recruited as a teacher at a new writing school. You get to choose a custom class to teach.
What are you teaching?
Mine? How to develop interesting quirky characters that readers will love.
October 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Speculative fiction as a way to indirectly process trauma, grief, and marginalization.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
Art Therapy is an incredibly underutilized modality. Most creatives already do it, we just don’t name it as such.
PSA that has nothing to do with current events whatsoever I “promise.” 🙃
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
October 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
PSA that has nothing to do with current events whatsoever I “promise.” 🙃
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from people judging you for your toxic opinions.
You can think and say what you want.
I’m free to think you’re an asshole.
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
- Saint Mesa
- Riot Music
- Aespa
- Florence + The Machine
- Hozier
- Ramin Djawadi
- Halsey
- Taylor swift (Red to present)
- Saint Mesa
- Riot Music
- Aespa
- Florence + The Machine
- Hozier
- Ramin Djawadi
- Halsey
- Taylor swift (Red to present)
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
- Nothing But Thieves
- Glass Animals
- The Veils
- Florence + The Machine
- The Decemberists
- Maneskin
- Placebo
- My Chemical Romance
- Nothing But Thieves
- Glass Animals
- The Veils
- Florence + The Machine
- The Decemberists
- Maneskin
- Placebo
- My Chemical Romance
October 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Define your music taste with 8 artists:
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
Garbage
Worlds First Cinema
Neoni
Bastille
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
MISSIO
Florence + the Machine
(This is too hard I’m polyjamorous y’all…)
With everything going on I want to remind everyone & myself in relation to #communityOrganizing:
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
October 16, 2025 at 11:36 PM
With everything going on I want to remind everyone & myself in relation to #communityOrganizing:
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
You don’t need permission to start something.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to say it’s a good idea.
It’s better to start imperfect & perfect it as you get input than always be waiting.-
Libraries before 🏴☠️
PSA: For those of us in rural areas
I was at an adjacent library & mentioned our ebook catalog is small. The librarian gave me a list of local library systems to add that cooperate to expand their patrons #Libby & #Hoopla catalogs. Check and see-
PSA: For those of us in rural areas
I was at an adjacent library & mentioned our ebook catalog is small. The librarian gave me a list of local library systems to add that cooperate to expand their patrons #Libby & #Hoopla catalogs. Check and see-
Also, a load of them are all just pirating books because they are bragging about it on this app.
"Where can I buy instead of Kindle" and the teehee booklover6969 handles were out there linking pirate book sites.
So anyway fuck those people
"Where can I buy instead of Kindle" and the teehee booklover6969 handles were out there linking pirate book sites.
So anyway fuck those people
October 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Rue Sparks (They/Them)
Facts about Wildforged! Links in bio. #Fantasy #Flyer #Books #NewRelease #LGBTQIA #WheretoFind #Summary #Author
October 15, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Facts about Wildforged! Links in bio. #Fantasy #Flyer #Books #NewRelease #LGBTQIA #WheretoFind #Summary #Author
Reminder to fellow #indieAuthor agonizing over bad reviews:
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
October 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reminder to fellow #indieAuthor agonizing over bad reviews:
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky
I am looking at books for research and am absolutely getting some because of the content in their negative reviews.
Sometimes reviews mentioning a Thing a reader didn’t like is a green flag for people who do like the Thing
#bookSky