Arley Sorg
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arleysorg.bsky.social
Arley Sorg
@arleysorg.bsky.social
4.3K followers 730 following 580 posts
assoc agent, kt literary
co-Editor-in-Chief, Fantasy Magazine
Senior Editor, Locus Magazine
Do stuff @ Lightspeed/Nightmare, Clarkesworld, F&SF
2014 Odyssey Workshop Grad
He/Him or She/Her in queer contexts

Opinions my own
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arleysorg.bsky.social
Behold! Leslye Penelope's new book! The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass!

lpenelope.com/book/the-ine...
Cover for The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass, a striking dark magenta background, with a silhouette of a woman and a profile of another woman
December 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Malatang for dinner!
Bowl of malatang, with mushrooms, taro, scallions, black fungus, and other veggies swimming in a dark red soup, in a yellow rimmed bowl
December 6, 2025 at 1:17 AM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Chilling in Miami
Massive mural of three boys in gray and black and white, with flowers Big mural of a weird monkey with yellow fur holding a banana with duct tape, the tape makes it look like the banana is taped to the wall Mural of a gray-white astronaut with rips, the ripped parts look like stuffing is inside Mural of a face where half the face is black and half is white, both in stylized comic book style
October 31, 2025 at 9:34 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
It's not even noon and I already have eight scam calls

So much energy and technology is devoted to taking advantage of people, often in ways which are legal

We really have to take care of each other, support each other, and do our best to find, develop, and maintain joy
Image of phone numbers representing voice mails from today's scam callers
October 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
VERY excited to have Jabari aka @goblinprincete.bsky.social on the Fantasy team! This is the first cover they've curated for Fantasy Magazine @fantasymagazine.bsky.social and it's stunning! Check out their art: goblinprincete.com
The cover for Fantasy Issue 98! A brown-haired, light-skinned figure kneels next to a giant golden bird, tending to an arrow wound. The cover is awash in autumnal shades of orange, cream, and brown.
September 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
I posted some thoughts on Facebook which come out of very recent conversations, as well as my publishing industry observations, plus experiences at industry social events.

These posts are never easy to write, and even harder to actually put up, but... 🤷🏽

www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
facebook post beginning: some people would describe me as "white passing" but I have many stories about experiencing racism of different kinds, from very basic "othering" to being singled out in ways that white friends were not. in fact, my first few years at conventions, I experienced a lot of race based/skin color based "othering" - since those spaces were very predominantly white. it happens less often these days, but I still have a lot of gut reactions or preset expectations when entering a range of situations because of things that happened in my personal past. my mother and sisters were all darker than me - I sometimes saw them experience worse, even more direct racism; or experience subtle racism in situations where the racism wasn't sent in my direction. I'm not bringing this up out of any desire for sympathy - pls, I don't need anyone to say, "I'm sorry you went through that" or similar. if you are not in some group (gay, Black, Latine, etc) it is very easy and even likely that you can live a long life without personally seeing these things, or being aware that they happen. racism (and other ~isms & ~phobias) has been and still is a part of US culture; moreover, I have seen, personally witnessed, and been told about racist things that people have said or done in the publishing industry. all of this is to say: the playing field isn't level and fair. even if you personally do not see it or understand it, racism is a thing which happens in publishing, as well as throughout the US in general, in impactful and deliberate ways, as well as in small "unconscious" ways. folks who "don't see color" enable systems, as well as bad actors in various positions of power, to continue to disadvantage Black authors, Indigenous authors, and many others. occasionally someone tries to point out these disparities (such as the BlackSpecFic Report) but it falls on each of us to make daily decisions about what we read... continuation of Facebook post, beginning: even if you do not personally see racism in action, even if it hasn't touched your life in some meaningful or obvious way, it doesn't mean it isn't there; the people who are the targets of racism feel it - and it *really* doesn't feel good. the consequences of racism (and similar) are often obvious to the people it affects, and having to explain these things to folks who are otherwise "friends" is always stressful and exhausting. if you don't like BIPOC submissions or deliberately inviting people of color into positions or other similar initiatives - okay, cool; what are you doing instead to level the playing field, given that racism has a significant impact on everything from education opportunities, to job opportunities, to book publishing, and more? the information is out there - you don't need me or the BlackSpecFic Report or anyone else to point out disparity: look through some Tables of Contents and pay attention; look at who gets what awards - look at different awards; look at who is invited to what programs, or who is even welcomed into which social circles. look at who gets supported by publishers, who gets signal boosted by folks with platforms. who gets solicited, put on panels or even what kinds of panels (who gets to talk about craft vs who is only put on panels about diversity), who gets to be a guest of honor, or gets to teach at a program. again - I don't need anyone's sympathies or apologies or anything else - I need everyone to think hard on disparity, on the fact that disparity can exist whether or not you personally see or understand it, and on the ways that you can help change it, many of those ways as simple as looking for books by Black authors or signal boosting an awesome story by a Latine author or even just looking for a short fic piece by a trans author and giving it a read. if you are an organizer of an event?...
September 17, 2025 at 4:11 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Friday! Gateway to the weekend!

My writers:

rejection

DOES NOT MEAN

you are a bad writer!!!

Keep going, keep telling the stories you need to tell!

Make each story better than the one before it - keep writing!
white alligators cuddling at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta
September 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Today's mood...! : )

But also: it's Friday! Writers...: Rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!!❤️‍🔥
Arley driving a boat on Grand Lake in Colorado, giving a peace sign and looking tired but content
July 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Important update: Cuteness is happening! I'm live on the scene....
Young cat Baozi curled up and napping in a hiding spot
July 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
It's the weekend! As well as PRIDE! Writers - hopefully you can find time to get some words down. Remember:

Rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!

Tell the stories you are moved to tell. You got this. Keep going!
June 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
apologies - I know this is probably not an effective way to share it!!! but again, 🤷🏽

www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

blog.dol.gov/2022/02/07/f...

www.sfadb.com/Hugo_Awards_...
image of a Facebook post discussing bias in the US, especially (but not exclusively) anti-Black bias - excerpt: "If you feel left out by BIPOC submissions, take that feeling and amplify it, knowing that many Black authors see what is obvious: so many mags just... kinda... don't really publish Black authors. So many agents don't have Black clients. So many book publishers have very few to zero books by Black writers. Don't get me started on awards - do your own research - see how many Black authors were given a Best Novel Hugo - or even nominated - in a span of SEVENTY YEARS - keeping in mind that voters won't vote for books/authors they haven't read/never heard of."
June 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
posted to my Facebook - too long to post here but 🤷🏽 ionno

www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

fiyahlitmag.com/2022-blacksp...

www.americanprogress.org/article/afri...
image of a Facebook post discussing bias in the US, especially (but not exclusively) anti-Black bias - excerpt: "DEI and similar efforts for 'inclusivity' are not 'excluding' white people; they are attempting to address what is already (and has been for literally centuries) unfair situations - where bias plays a huge part, often anti-Black bias."
June 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
VERY SOON...! Timing is Everything - come hang out and chat about information in story!

app.inkedvoices.com/event/webina...

arleysorg.com/calendar-con...
informational graphic for class "Timing is Everything: Thoughts on Order of Information" - $25 webinar Sun June 1st 2-3:15PM Eastern - description says: Information is important to nearly every story! What do you tell the reader--and when? Not just bigger "reveals" but details about the world, your characters, and the unfolding of events. How, what, and even when you lay out information can make or break a read. Order of Information--when details are presented--is an often neglected but fundamental story building concept which can smooth out a narrative experience and make a huge difference in the way your work lands for readers. In this interactive course we will talk about delivering information in the context of fiction, particularly Order of Information, and discuss practical methods for improving this element in narrative.
May 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Important announcement: the babies like their new perch!
Young cat siblings Tian Tian and Didi resting on the new glass mounted double perch!
May 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Sunday morning - getting some work done at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery! A pot of Kenyan black tea and my tablet! Hope your weekend is going as well as possible!
Gäbi Coffee & Bakery - windows in the background, big pictures on the wall from Korean history, a tea pot and tablet on the table, a spacious looking room Arley looking pensive and awkward and maybe also tired, with glass windows behind him, reflecting strung up lights
May 25, 2025 at 5:31 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
quick reminder for the weekend -

rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!

breathe. refocus when you can.

keep going!💖
May 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
writers - quick reminder! (and yes: this is my professional opinion)

rejection DOES NOT MEAN you are a bad writer!!!

I put three (3) exclamation points so that you'd know how serious I am.

keep striving, keep working on your craft, keep getting words down!

keep going!💖
nameless vs long sky - scene from the movie Hero, with Jet Li and Donnie Yen attacking and parrying in a courtyard in the rain
May 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Basically the cat equivalent of a night at the theatre
four cats (Boba, Baozi, Didi, and Tian Tian) all at the sliding door screen, their rapt attention on the back yard)
May 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Since I won't let him sit in my lap while I'm working... LOL
Young cat Didi napping at my feet under my desk
May 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
The morning musical performances of birds are always well attended
Three young cats fixated on the morning sounds of birds, all looking in the same direction through a screen door
April 30, 2025 at 2:50 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
that last BlackSpecFic report showed 64 markets, MOST with fewer than 11% of original stories by Black authors

40 magazines had fewer than 6%, 26 venues had zero

if you aren't actively seeking them out, you will likely only read a handful (or maybe none) in a year

fiyahlitmag.com/2022-blacksp...
graphic from the 2022 BlackSpecFic report showing the "top ten" magazines according to percentage of original stories by Black authors - in order: Anathema, Boneyard Soup, Fantasy Magazine, Apparition Lit, Baffling, The Dark, Strange Horizons, Cosmic Roots, Uncanny, F&SF
April 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Friday morning - a pot of Kenyan black tea and getting work done at Gäbi Coffee & Bakery!

To my writers out there:

Rejection DOES NOT mean you are a bad writer!

Keep going! You got this!💖
Strung up lights and a wood table create an inviting coffee shop atmosphere, a tea pot and cup with a tablet create a sense of style and focus
April 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
Hazy day at Newport Beach! Still, it's nice to get out and do something different!
Newport beach, a bit hazy but not too bad, I'm the morning, with a few people out and the waves coming up onto the sand
April 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
behold! along with various goodies, the latest Clarkesworld aka @clarkesworldmagazine.com includes my interviews with:

Ai Jiang aka @aijiang.bsky.social
Natalia Theodoridou aka @nassos.bsky.social

clarkesworldmagazine.com
Clarkesworld April cover - which features a robot helping someone out of a space-age vehicle against a futuristic backdrop - and which lists the April contributors
April 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
arleysorg.bsky.social
big news! just signed Zin E. Rocklyn aka @zinrock.bsky.social and I am SO excited to work with her!!!❤️‍🔥

zinrock.com

arleysorg.com/the-team-
photo of author Zin E. Rocklyn wearing a black shirt that says, "Support Black Women Who Write Weird Shit"
April 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM