Sam Asher
@samasherwriter.bsky.social
Writer, Editor, Father. 'Really, Shockingly Bad Things' out now from 55 Fathoms Press.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/really-shockingly-bad-things-and-other-stories-sam-asher/21758019
https://bookshop.org/p/books/really-shockingly-bad-things-and-other-stories-sam-asher/21758019
Pinned
Sam Asher
@samasherwriter.bsky.social
· Aug 26
Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher
For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices
gofund.me
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
This review in Tangent (which I've never heard of) by David Wesley Hill (who I've never heard of) is a prime example of a talentless hack attacking a story he doesn't understand because it makes him feel stupid. Spoiler: He is stupid. @diabolicalplots.com.
tangentonline.com/e-market-mon...
tangentonline.com/e-market-mon...
Diabolical Plots #128, October 2025 - Tangent Online
Diabolical Plots #128, October 2025 “(Skin)” by Chelsea Sutton “Resurrection Scars” by Sheila Massie Reviewed by David Wesley Hill Let me admit this straight out—I detest (hate) parentheses. Next to the semi-colon, they're my (least) favorite punctuation mark. They (jarringly!) interrupt the flow of narrative, jolting the reader from the story, and (if a punctuation
tangentonline.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This review in Tangent (which I've never heard of) by David Wesley Hill (who I've never heard of) is a prime example of a talentless hack attacking a story he doesn't understand because it makes him feel stupid. Spoiler: He is stupid. @diabolicalplots.com.
tangentonline.com/e-market-mon...
tangentonline.com/e-market-mon...
Reposted by Sam Asher
Little known fact: @samasherwriter.bsky.social was so distraught by the closure of Daily Science Fiction that he wouldn't stop whingeing about it. So @crsutton.bsky.social told him to start a magazine or shut the fuck up. And that's how they started magazine. That and Asher selling his shoe
September 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Little known fact: @samasherwriter.bsky.social was so distraught by the closure of Daily Science Fiction that he wouldn't stop whingeing about it. So @crsutton.bsky.social told him to start a magazine or shut the fuck up. And that's how they started magazine. That and Asher selling his shoe
Reposted by Sam Asher
i still haven't seen anything on this front and it's feeling kinda dismal. it's really unlikely i'm gonna get out of this situation without hiring legal help, and i'm setting aside what money i can but it's really a drop in the bucket. shares and donations are deeply appreciated no matter how small.
Hi, I'm Prior, I have to raise 5000 dollars to be able to hire a lawyer. Neither me nor my wife have the ability to get a loan of that size.
I've been in an unhealthy situation for three years.
It seems like if it's to end, we'll have to go to court.
www.gofundme.com/f/priors-urg...
I've been in an unhealthy situation for three years.
It seems like if it's to end, we'll have to go to court.
www.gofundme.com/f/priors-urg...
Donate to Prior's Urgent Need for Legal Assistance, organized by Dogtail North
Hi, my name is Prior, some of you know me as Dogtail, and for reasons I can't r… Dogtail North needs your support for Prior's Urgent Need for Legal Assistance
www.gofundme.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
i still haven't seen anything on this front and it's feeling kinda dismal. it's really unlikely i'm gonna get out of this situation without hiring legal help, and i'm setting aside what money i can but it's really a drop in the bucket. shares and donations are deeply appreciated no matter how small.
Reposted by Sam Asher
Please go give these lovely people some money so they can keep putting out excellent work.
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher
For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices
gofund.me
August 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Please go give these lovely people some money so they can keep putting out excellent work.
Reposted by Sam Asher
In case you missed it, we're now using Ko-fi and we're pushing OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to June 2026. This is an open-ended funding situation which worked great for us for our first anthology, OF SHADOWS, STARS, AND SABERS, and also leads to faster author payouts! Let's get this book made.
News: we are postponing the horror anthology OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to June 2026 to explore other funding opportunities. We do have one available, via Ko-fi. Learn more about the book and find that link on its book page: www.starsandsabers.com/books/of-dre...
#books #horror #horrorbooks
#books #horror #horrorbooks
Of Dread, Decay, and Doom – Stars and Sabers
Of Dread, Decay, and Doom: a horror-themed anthology edited by Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell featuring masters of horror fiction.
www.starsandsabers.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
In case you missed it, we're now using Ko-fi and we're pushing OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM to June 2026. This is an open-ended funding situation which worked great for us for our first anthology, OF SHADOWS, STARS, AND SABERS, and also leads to faster author payouts! Let's get this book made.
'Pumpkin spice season' has always felt ridiculous, but this year in particular the whole idea of this being news makes me want to vomit. We're all broke, and terrified, and sliding into oblivion while the world burns. But oh look, cinnamon.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks: See entire fall menu
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks: See entire fall menu
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is officially back at Starbucks beginning Aug. 26. Here's a look at the chain's entire fall menu for 2025.
bit.ly
August 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
'Pumpkin spice season' has always felt ridiculous, but this year in particular the whole idea of this being news makes me want to vomit. We're all broke, and terrified, and sliding into oblivion while the world burns. But oh look, cinnamon.
Reposted by Sam Asher
Let's focus on supporting each other this year. Indie authors, publishers, magazines & editors need to stay connected! Keep yourself integrated into the SFFH world by reading Locus! Support our nonprofit and help us create the network we all deserve... https://locusmag.com/
August 21, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Let's focus on supporting each other this year. Indie authors, publishers, magazines & editors need to stay connected! Keep yourself integrated into the SFFH world by reading Locus! Support our nonprofit and help us create the network we all deserve... https://locusmag.com/
Not to toot @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's horn too hard, but we respond faster, and are more reliable than the vast majority of magazines. We have statistics to prove it. We also pay writers $0.10 a word, and pay our artists $100 per piece.
August 27, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Not to toot @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's horn too hard, but we respond faster, and are more reliable than the vast majority of magazines. We have statistics to prove it. We also pay writers $0.10 a word, and pay our artists $100 per piece.
Reposted by Sam Asher
PLEASE SHARE! Writers! Uncanny Magazine is OPEN to Short Story Submissions from August 25 to September 8! We can't wait to read your stories!!! buff.ly/xB0IZOX
August 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
PLEASE SHARE! Writers! Uncanny Magazine is OPEN to Short Story Submissions from August 25 to September 8! We can't wait to read your stories!!! buff.ly/xB0IZOX
Can confirm, I have several other jobs. The nice thing about being a writer, though, is that when people ask me what I do, I don't have to say 'soul-crushing minimum wage trudgery which tarnishes my soul' and can just point them at my first book.
This can't really apply to most writers, though, can it? The vast majority of writers (even published ones) don't make enough money to live off, I thought?
August 27, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Can confirm, I have several other jobs. The nice thing about being a writer, though, is that when people ask me what I do, I don't have to say 'soul-crushing minimum wage trudgery which tarnishes my soul' and can just point them at my first book.
I don't think I can be a writer anymore. Sorry everyone.
Avid readers have probably already seen their favorite authors--many of whom rely on these grants to buy time to finish their books--posting in shock about the form rejections they've received from the NEA. Well, here is the obituary.
www.npr.org/2025/08/26/n...
www.npr.org/2025/08/26/n...
NEA cancels decades-long creative writing fellowship
For decades the program has supported writers who would become big names – Alice Walker, Michael Cunningham, Louise Erdrich and more. Last week, applicants got an email saying the program would be no ...
www.npr.org
August 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I don't think I can be a writer anymore. Sorry everyone.
We need less than $800 to get us to our basic goal of existing for another year. That is so close. And yet, as they say, really fucking far away.
The Cosmic Background is cooking! ...see what I did there? Let's nuke this campaign! 😬
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
August 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
We need less than $800 to get us to our basic goal of existing for another year. That is so close. And yet, as they say, really fucking far away.
I'd like to remind all of our writers that @charliejane.bsky.social just called you bold and startling.
Now more than ever, we need to be supporting our indie fiction mags, especially ones that feature bold, startling writing. Please give what you can! 💝
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
August 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I'd like to remind all of our writers that @charliejane.bsky.social just called you bold and startling.
Reposted by Sam Asher
Over halfway there! This is a fabulous magazine doing excellent work -- support or share, if you can!
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher
For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices
gofund.me
August 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Over halfway there! This is a fabulous magazine doing excellent work -- support or share, if you can!
Ai is the current guest editor @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and look how awesome they are. If you want us to keep having awesome guest editors, maybe check out our year 3 fundraiser.
gofund.me/e5c7b7a3
gofund.me/e5c7b7a3
August 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Ai is the current guest editor @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and look how awesome they are. If you want us to keep having awesome guest editors, maybe check out our year 3 fundraiser.
gofund.me/e5c7b7a3
gofund.me/e5c7b7a3
As part of @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's fundraising efforts, we're delighted to offer our whole-ass guide on writing successful flash fiction, released in parts at every $400 interval. Here's part 1.
www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start
www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start
How We Start
As promised, as we raise money for Year 3 of The Cosmic Background, we'll be posting editor Sam Asher's guide to writing Flash on here, in sections, every week. These posts will be removed one month a...
www.thecosmicbackground.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
As part of @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social's fundraising efforts, we're delighted to offer our whole-ass guide on writing successful flash fiction, released in parts at every $400 interval. Here's part 1.
www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start
www.thecosmicbackground.com/how-we-start
I've been the primary caregiver to our daughter her whole life, so at this point I must be the Superman of fertility.
A new paper by Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin has found that countries where men take on more of the household labor and child care — in other words, those who buck traditionalism’s standards of the provider husband and homemaker wife — have higher fertility rates.
To raise fertility rates, it’s not women who need to step up — it’s men
New research found that countries where men do more housework and child care have higher fertility rates.
19thnews.org
August 26, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I've been the primary caregiver to our daughter her whole life, so at this point I must be the Superman of fertility.
In case anyone's curious about what it's like to run @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, this is a part of how I afford it. It's GoFundMe, and delivering people Popeyes for $3 a go. I do that as an extra job to pay writers. My car always smells like chicken, and I'm a vegetarian. Never doubt my love.
August 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In case anyone's curious about what it's like to run @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, this is a part of how I afford it. It's GoFundMe, and delivering people Popeyes for $3 a go. I do that as an extra job to pay writers. My car always smells like chicken, and I'm a vegetarian. Never doubt my love.
I'm not saying that if you don't support @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social your dog will die, but I'm not saying it won't happen either. Are you willing to take that risk?
Support the Cosmic Background. For my dog. For ALL of our dogs.
Although you know what your dog definitely really likes? When you support small progressive magazines.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-th...
August 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I'm not saying that if you don't support @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social your dog will die, but I'm not saying it won't happen either. Are you willing to take that risk?
This question is only unsettling if you're a dipshit who has way too much time on their hands. The most unsettling question of our times is surely, 'Can I afford to feed my kid this evening?'
Can AIs suffer? Big tech and users grapple with one of most unsettling questions of our times
Can AIs suffer? Big tech and users grapple with one of most unsettling questions of our times
As first AI-led rights advocacy group is founded, industry is divided on whether models are, or can be, sentient
www.theguardian.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This question is only unsettling if you're a dipshit who has way too much time on their hands. The most unsettling question of our times is surely, 'Can I afford to feed my kid this evening?'
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Donate to Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices, organized by Sam Asher
For two years, The Cosmic Background has been the world's premier venue for f… Sam Asher needs your support for Support The Cosmic Background's Diverse Voices
gofund.me
August 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
It's officially fundraising time over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social, and we're doing things a little differently this year.
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
Help a pro-paying, deeply-progressive, 100% human magazine continue to thrive. We'll love you for it.
gofund.me/ca0c2b7d
@aijiang.bsky.social is hard at work, and we'll be letting the first batch of writers know today if, alas, their piece didn't quite make it for our special issue over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social.
August 26, 2025 at 1:23 PM
@aijiang.bsky.social is hard at work, and we'll be letting the first batch of writers know today if, alas, their piece didn't quite make it for our special issue over at @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social.
I'm not saying I'm a suggestible person, but I am saying that watching a single episode of House Hunters International made me decide we're moving to Costa Rica.
August 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I'm not saying I'm a suggestible person, but I am saying that watching a single episode of House Hunters International made me decide we're moving to Costa Rica.
@thecosmicbgr.bsky.social is gearing up for our third annual Kickstarter this fall. In the past we've mostly sent out merch and offered 1-1 talks, but is there anything else you like to see from a magazine's Kickstarter?
August 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
@thecosmicbgr.bsky.social is gearing up for our third annual Kickstarter this fall. In the past we've mostly sent out merch and offered 1-1 talks, but is there anything else you like to see from a magazine's Kickstarter?
This is the wisdom that all millennials need. Waking up and reading emails in bed is not healthy. Emails should be read in the email room. Right before we go on AIM.
things were better when the computer lived in its own specific room and you only went in there sometimes
August 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This is the wisdom that all millennials need. Waking up and reading emails in bed is not healthy. Emails should be read in the email room. Right before we go on AIM.