John Jackson
@jjruns.bsky.social
Was once a runner, now a swimmer. Reader. Cubs fan. Bad at improv. Likes to write. Husband to 1, Dad to 2, Brother to 3.
Not that anyone asked, but here are my favorite books of the year.
The Last Manager
Carnality
Leonard and Hungry Paul
The Gales of November
Long Island Compromise
To Smithereens
Goals for the new year - read classics (starting with Crime and Punishment) and use the library card more.
The Last Manager
Carnality
Leonard and Hungry Paul
The Gales of November
Long Island Compromise
To Smithereens
Goals for the new year - read classics (starting with Crime and Punishment) and use the library card more.
December 31, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Not that anyone asked, but here are my favorite books of the year.
The Last Manager
Carnality
Leonard and Hungry Paul
The Gales of November
Long Island Compromise
To Smithereens
Goals for the new year - read classics (starting with Crime and Punishment) and use the library card more.
The Last Manager
Carnality
Leonard and Hungry Paul
The Gales of November
Long Island Compromise
To Smithereens
Goals for the new year - read classics (starting with Crime and Punishment) and use the library card more.
Reposted by John Jackson
I have big plans for my reading next year:
1 – no big plans
2 – nothing that feels like a burden/deadline
3 – not to read when I'm tired
4 – look up words I don't know
5 – look up places, foods, plants sometimes
6 – make more of an effort to remember characters' names
7 – slow the fuck down
1 – no big plans
2 – nothing that feels like a burden/deadline
3 – not to read when I'm tired
4 – look up words I don't know
5 – look up places, foods, plants sometimes
6 – make more of an effort to remember characters' names
7 – slow the fuck down
November 30, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I have big plans for my reading next year:
1 – no big plans
2 – nothing that feels like a burden/deadline
3 – not to read when I'm tired
4 – look up words I don't know
5 – look up places, foods, plants sometimes
6 – make more of an effort to remember characters' names
7 – slow the fuck down
1 – no big plans
2 – nothing that feels like a burden/deadline
3 – not to read when I'm tired
4 – look up words I don't know
5 – look up places, foods, plants sometimes
6 – make more of an effort to remember characters' names
7 – slow the fuck down
Dang. This was so good.
Thanks for an absolutely fantastic story, @ronanhession.bsky.social
Thanks for an absolutely fantastic story, @ronanhession.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Dang. This was so good.
Thanks for an absolutely fantastic story, @ronanhession.bsky.social
Thanks for an absolutely fantastic story, @ronanhession.bsky.social
Reposted by John Jackson
Editing tip:
Best to edit on paper, not screen. Hold a good old fashioned wooden ruler under each line as you read. Amazing how it focuses the eye.
Best to edit on paper, not screen. Hold a good old fashioned wooden ruler under each line as you read. Amazing how it focuses the eye.
November 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Editing tip:
Best to edit on paper, not screen. Hold a good old fashioned wooden ruler under each line as you read. Amazing how it focuses the eye.
Best to edit on paper, not screen. Hold a good old fashioned wooden ruler under each line as you read. Amazing how it focuses the eye.
Reposted by John Jackson
The DJ Carey case sending headline writers on a golden run of form.
November 4, 2025 at 10:22 AM
The DJ Carey case sending headline writers on a golden run of form.
Just arrived in the mail and am looking forward to reading this. First learned of this book while watching someone read it on the El in Chicago for their entire trip. They hardly looked up. They just stayed focused and kept reading the whole time. That’s a good rec for me.
November 3, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Just arrived in the mail and am looking forward to reading this. First learned of this book while watching someone read it on the El in Chicago for their entire trip. They hardly looked up. They just stayed focused and kept reading the whole time. That’s a good rec for me.
Got mine. Sounds spooky
I just turned in the final round of edits to my new novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS before its October 7 release! I think I’m going to declare this the beginning of my Halloween season. 🎃
By all means, preorder this monster! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trail-of-s...
Or here: www.amazon.com/Trail-Shadow...
By all means, preorder this monster! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trail-of-s...
Or here: www.amazon.com/Trail-Shadow...
August 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Got mine. Sounds spooky
I remember watching this live while doing some work in our basement. I stopped, stood up, and watched. Ozzy had done it again.
July 23, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I remember watching this live while doing some work in our basement. I stopped, stood up, and watched. Ozzy had done it again.
Good times in New York
July 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Good times in New York
Found this gem on Broadway and saw that the author lives near my hometown in Richmond. Small world! @joshpachter.bsky.social
July 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Found this gem on Broadway and saw that the author lives near my hometown in Richmond. Small world! @joshpachter.bsky.social
Thanks to @pjvogt.bsky.social and his excellent Search Engine podcast about making things in America, I got this sweet Smarter ScrubberJust have to wait until the winds die down. @smartereveryday.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Thanks to @pjvogt.bsky.social and his excellent Search Engine podcast about making things in America, I got this sweet Smarter ScrubberJust have to wait until the winds die down. @smartereveryday.bsky.social
You ever look back at something you’ve written, think it’s pretty good, but can’t remember what you were planning to do with it?
March 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM
You ever look back at something you’ve written, think it’s pretty good, but can’t remember what you were planning to do with it?
Government shutdowns should lead to votes of no confidence and new elections for every seat in both houses. They’ve pulled this shit for decades because they know they can get away with it.
March 14, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Government shutdowns should lead to votes of no confidence and new elections for every seat in both houses. They’ve pulled this shit for decades because they know they can get away with it.
Not sure if it’s the case with this book, but I put down another one of his “history” books after realizing it didn’t contain any notes or bibliography.
just checking out noted historian bill oreillys book a about the Salem witch trials and chewing off my hand so it won’t pick up a book like this ahead
March 3, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Not sure if it’s the case with this book, but I put down another one of his “history” books after realizing it didn’t contain any notes or bibliography.
Yep
March 2, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Yep
Wrote something while waiting to board a plane about writing is thinking from @biblioracle.bsky.social’s excellent new book “More Than Words.” open.substack.com/pub/johnjack...
#flashfiction #writing
#flashfiction #writing
It’s true - writing is thinking
In his new book, "More Than Words," John Warner talks about the rise of ChatGPT and its impact on those who write, edit, and read for a living.
open.substack.com
February 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Wrote something while waiting to board a plane about writing is thinking from @biblioracle.bsky.social’s excellent new book “More Than Words.” open.substack.com/pub/johnjack...
#flashfiction #writing
#flashfiction #writing
Got 3-ish miles in today. Not a lot, but I ran the whole way and the plantar fasciitis is behaving with some stretches and post run therapy. Small gains. #running
February 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Got 3-ish miles in today. Not a lot, but I ran the whole way and the plantar fasciitis is behaving with some stretches and post run therapy. Small gains. #running
Workplace roulette: Send unlabeled screenshots to colleagues without previewing in hopes that it’s the right one for the issue at hand.
February 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Workplace roulette: Send unlabeled screenshots to colleagues without previewing in hopes that it’s the right one for the issue at hand.
As a kid growing up in Richmond in the 70s-80s, I would listen for Alden Aaroe’s voice announce my school as being closed for snow. A long ass time later, I’m blasting text messages and emails to college kids and faculty telling them the same thing.
February 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
As a kid growing up in Richmond in the 70s-80s, I would listen for Alden Aaroe’s voice announce my school as being closed for snow. A long ass time later, I’m blasting text messages and emails to college kids and faculty telling them the same thing.
Get it! I did!
Evening, folks! The Horror Short Reads @storybundle.bsky.social launched today!
22 Horror Novellas for $20, with fiction from @csecooney.bsky.social,
@amcgeewrites.bsky.social,
@mattmbartlett.bsky.social,
@authordileo.bsky.social,
@dalexward.bsky.social,
& more!
Get it at storybundle.com/horror
22 Horror Novellas for $20, with fiction from @csecooney.bsky.social,
@amcgeewrites.bsky.social,
@mattmbartlett.bsky.social,
@authordileo.bsky.social,
@dalexward.bsky.social,
& more!
Get it at storybundle.com/horror
February 9, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Get it! I did!
The crux of the AI argument “Fetching tokens based on weighted probabilities is not the same process as what happens when humans write.” Thanks @biblioracle.bsky.social for that line.
February 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The crux of the AI argument “Fetching tokens based on weighted probabilities is not the same process as what happens when humans write.” Thanks @biblioracle.bsky.social for that line.
Reposted by John Jackson
Reminder: They're trying to demoralize you, and they're doing a great job of it. Part of resisting is making time for joy despite the attempts to make you feel this is not the time for it. Love your people. Dig the art that speaks to you. Go to the places where life flows into you. You deserve joy.
February 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reminder: They're trying to demoralize you, and they're doing a great job of it. Part of resisting is making time for joy despite the attempts to make you feel this is not the time for it. Love your people. Dig the art that speaks to you. Go to the places where life flows into you. You deserve joy.
Today’s NYT Connections is definitely for swimmers
January 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Today’s NYT Connections is definitely for swimmers
It’s never too late to try something new. In the last year (at 51), I joined an improv group and did my first triathlon.
people over 30 quote this with some life advice for the rest of us?
January 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
It’s never too late to try something new. In the last year (at 51), I joined an improv group and did my first triathlon.
I remember when this book came out and recently reread it. Stephenson must have had a time machine because he nailed it
1. I'm NOT the sort of SF/F nerd who thinks everyone needs to read a "canon" of older works in genre like they're homework before they get to call themselves a fan, nevertheless the book I'm always mildly surprised when people say they haven't read it is "Snow Crash," which to me is era-defining...
January 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I remember when this book came out and recently reread it. Stephenson must have had a time machine because he nailed it