Laura
@lauraipsumwrites.bsky.social
Finnish heavy metal runs through my veins. English professor. Seeking a publisher for my debut horror novel. Animal lover. Slava Ukraini.
Does anyone else stress bake? I started doing it during finals week as a university student, and now that I'm a professor, I'm still stress baking during finals week, haha!
December 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Does anyone else stress bake? I started doing it during finals week as a university student, and now that I'm a professor, I'm still stress baking during finals week, haha!
Baking Christmas cookies to German Christmas songs from my German grandmother's vinyl collection. I still remember the lyrics to O Tannenbaum!
December 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Baking Christmas cookies to German Christmas songs from my German grandmother's vinyl collection. I still remember the lyrics to O Tannenbaum!
End of semester weekend grading is afoot! All the AI use is disheartening, but even without a grade penalty, it consistently gives students a "D" at best. AI may help you say what you want to in a nice sounding way, but there's always little to no substance being said. The human element is missing.
December 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
End of semester weekend grading is afoot! All the AI use is disheartening, but even without a grade penalty, it consistently gives students a "D" at best. AI may help you say what you want to in a nice sounding way, but there's always little to no substance being said. The human element is missing.
I think YouTube wrapped just put me on the autism spectrum, haha! But I do love train travel and learning new things!
December 6, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I think YouTube wrapped just put me on the autism spectrum, haha! But I do love train travel and learning new things!
One of my students gave me the best excuse for his paper potentially being late: his parents are kicking him out of the house temporarily because they need to perform a seance. I have so many questions!
December 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
One of my students gave me the best excuse for his paper potentially being late: his parents are kicking him out of the house temporarily because they need to perform a seance. I have so many questions!
This has gotten me to finally make my own sing-a-long playlist since it's good for my health. My toxic trait is that I think I can execute Nightwish's Ghost Love Score, but hey, it's healthy to try!
bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com/future/artic...
Why singing is surprisingly good for your health
From boosting the brain to reducing pain, joining others in song can bring some wide-ranging benefits.
bbc.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This has gotten me to finally make my own sing-a-long playlist since it's good for my health. My toxic trait is that I think I can execute Nightwish's Ghost Love Score, but hey, it's healthy to try!
bbc.com/future/artic...
bbc.com/future/artic...
Woo is just the cutest little bean! A portion of my vintage metal tour posters in the background as a bonus. #catsofbluesky #siamese
November 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Woo is just the cutest little bean! A portion of my vintage metal tour posters in the background as a bonus. #catsofbluesky #siamese
I proofread my novel for another time, and I may be biased, but I truly love this book and my characters. It features a black metal band involved in Lovecraftian psychological horrors that change the trajectory of their success. I'm looking for a publisher and/or agent! #amquerying #writesky
November 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I proofread my novel for another time, and I may be biased, but I truly love this book and my characters. It features a black metal band involved in Lovecraftian psychological horrors that change the trajectory of their success. I'm looking for a publisher and/or agent! #amquerying #writesky
Have a little ladybug roaming around my autumn mums and diving headfirst into them.
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Have a little ladybug roaming around my autumn mums and diving headfirst into them.
Such a nice gloomy day! Give me clouds and fog over sunshine any day!
November 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Such a nice gloomy day! Give me clouds and fog over sunshine any day!
I saw a statistic that said the average person has their first cup of coffee at age 22 and that feels painfully old to me. I'm also an anomaly having my first cup at age 8 because I wanted what the adults were having and they didn't think I'd like it. Turned out I loved it!
November 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I saw a statistic that said the average person has their first cup of coffee at age 22 and that feels painfully old to me. I'm also an anomaly having my first cup at age 8 because I wanted what the adults were having and they didn't think I'd like it. Turned out I loved it!
This is only half of what we made today (a tray was taken for quality control testing). Making so much mac and cheese from scratch is surprisingly exhausting!
November 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
This is only half of what we made today (a tray was taken for quality control testing). Making so much mac and cheese from scratch is surprisingly exhausting!
My students were talking about a walk-out protest over ICE next week at the high school, and one said "Oops, I shouldn't have said that in front of you." I responded with, "I wouldn't shut it down. If anything, I'd be joining you." They cheered. The kids are alright!
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
My students were talking about a walk-out protest over ICE next week at the high school, and one said "Oops, I shouldn't have said that in front of you." I responded with, "I wouldn't shut it down. If anything, I'd be joining you." They cheered. The kids are alright!
For the first time in my over a decade teaching, I had not a single student show up to my first class today. Granted, there are only 5 students in the class and it's at 8:20 AM, but still, that's an accomplishment!
November 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
For the first time in my over a decade teaching, I had not a single student show up to my first class today. Granted, there are only 5 students in the class and it's at 8:20 AM, but still, that's an accomplishment!
Woo hasn't been sitting with me like normal, then I realized that I had a different blanket. I brought the bat blanket back, and he's happily sitting again. Luckily bats are year-round decor!
November 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Woo hasn't been sitting with me like normal, then I realized that I had a different blanket. I brought the bat blanket back, and he's happily sitting again. Luckily bats are year-round decor!
The sun was shining through the trees just right and encompassed fall so perfectly
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The sun was shining through the trees just right and encompassed fall so perfectly
I was lucky enough to spot a cardinal and blue jay hopping around a bush together on my midday, I've been staring at a computer screen for hours and need a break, walk at work.
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I was lucky enough to spot a cardinal and blue jay hopping around a bush together on my midday, I've been staring at a computer screen for hours and need a break, walk at work.
My mom gifted Woo pads that collect and reflect body heat, and he's a very happy boy on this oddly freezing early November day!
November 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
My mom gifted Woo pads that collect and reflect body heat, and he's a very happy boy on this oddly freezing early November day!
Good morning from the Appalachian Mountains! My morning commute is so much nicer when I can actually see
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Good morning from the Appalachian Mountains! My morning commute is so much nicer when I can actually see
I wish I was this comfy
November 3, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I wish I was this comfy
It's that time of year where I have to decide what gets put away as Halloween decor and what stays out as year round spooky decor. It's difficult!
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It's that time of year where I have to decide what gets put away as Halloween decor and what stays out as year round spooky decor. It's difficult!
Snagged Halloween deals today and found this fun game that's like pictionary but you use a ghost like a planchette to draw on a whiteboard.
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Snagged Halloween deals today and found this fun game that's like pictionary but you use a ghost like a planchette to draw on a whiteboard.
Thanks for the super professional response option to my novel rejection, Gmail! "Bummer!" with no additions is totally the right move here.
#amquerying #writesky
#amquerying #writesky
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Thanks for the super professional response option to my novel rejection, Gmail! "Bummer!" with no additions is totally the right move here.
#amquerying #writesky
#amquerying #writesky
Gloomy days are so pretty in the mountains, especially during autumn
October 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Gloomy days are so pretty in the mountains, especially during autumn
Started a wendigo/monster romance audiobook out of morbid curiosity and rage quit when I heard "conversate." Made it only 2 hours in out of 18.
October 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Started a wendigo/monster romance audiobook out of morbid curiosity and rage quit when I heard "conversate." Made it only 2 hours in out of 18.