Mason T. Matchak
@masontmatchak.bsky.social
A fantasy writer, among other things. But mostly a writer. Good at reposting, bad at replying. 😅 He/him.
Pinned
Advertise your BlueSky account in three w̶o̶r̶d̶s̶ phrases:
Flailing, horny weirdness, i write sff 🤷🏻♀️
Flailing, horny weirdness, i write sff 🤷🏻♀️
Videogames, books, andvideogamebooks.
Writing and other nerdy stuff.
Still trying to get published after 22 years.
I'm not giving up.
Still trying to get published after 22 years.
I'm not giving up.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
My 7 year old just reached for a piece of pizza fresh out of the oven and exclaimed, in the same tone as an adult swearing…
“English folklore, that’s hot!”
I choked laughing ENGLISH FOLKLORE AS A SWEAR? WHO ARE YOU?!?
“English folklore, that’s hot!”
I choked laughing ENGLISH FOLKLORE AS A SWEAR? WHO ARE YOU?!?
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
My 7 year old just reached for a piece of pizza fresh out of the oven and exclaimed, in the same tone as an adult swearing…
“English folklore, that’s hot!”
I choked laughing ENGLISH FOLKLORE AS A SWEAR? WHO ARE YOU?!?
“English folklore, that’s hot!”
I choked laughing ENGLISH FOLKLORE AS A SWEAR? WHO ARE YOU?!?
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
Want to avoid AI writing? Turns out Wikipedia has the answer
The best guide to spotting AI writing comes from Wikipedia | TechCrunch
Wikipedia's guide to “Signs of AI writing” is a great resource for learning to spot LLM-generated prose.
techcrunch.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Want to avoid AI writing? Turns out Wikipedia has the answer
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
Do you know how much of the cover price goes to a trad published writer? About 10-15%.
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Do you know how much of the cover price goes to a trad published writer? About 10-15%.
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
The various types of indie pub get a higher percentage (but have to do more work with virtually zero publicity budget).
How many publishers have been put out of business by piracy? Not a lot. Writers, tho'...
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
I know this week can be really hard for queer and trans folks. So if that's you, remember that I love you and you are under no obligation to hide who you are for anyone. You're perfect. And if your family can't see that, it's their loss.
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I know this week can be really hard for queer and trans folks. So if that's you, remember that I love you and you are under no obligation to hide who you are for anyone. You're perfect. And if your family can't see that, it's their loss.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
All AI music does is devalue the work done by human artists. It’s not accessibility, it’s exploitation. We need real protections for artists against AI!
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
All AI music does is devalue the work done by human artists. It’s not accessibility, it’s exploitation. We need real protections for artists against AI!
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
BTW — even if you had access to this AI startup as a child, you still wouldn’t know how to make music.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
This platform is full of nerds with a conscience: we recognize ecocide-plagiarism-psychosis machines for the radioactive snake oil they are.
Is this platform still massively against AI or has it moved more towards acceptance?
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 AM
This platform is full of nerds with a conscience: we recognize ecocide-plagiarism-psychosis machines for the radioactive snake oil they are.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
and that's also why there are so many "unfinished" trilogies: the author *wants* to write all three, but you waiting for all 3 to end up on the shelves is also why there *isn't a third one*. you're never going to get it if you don't buy book 1. so go actually buy (or borrow from the library!).
Most publishers (there are always exceptions) decide whether or not to buy a second book (or a third etc) based on how the previous book did. So when you pirate a book in most cases it’s less about the money you just stole from both author and publisher it’s about the future book you just killed.
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 AM
and that's also why there are so many "unfinished" trilogies: the author *wants* to write all three, but you waiting for all 3 to end up on the shelves is also why there *isn't a third one*. you're never going to get it if you don't buy book 1. so go actually buy (or borrow from the library!).
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
it's here
it's QUEER
it's the
2025 Queer Adult SFF Books list!!!!
🌈📚🌈📚🌈📚🌈
it's QUEER
it's the
2025 Queer Adult SFF Books list!!!!
🌈📚🌈📚🌈📚🌈
2025 Queer Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
Welcome to the 2025 list of queer adult science-fiction and fantasy books! If you’re new to this dance, this list and the ones before (see: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019) are my answer t…
kadoore.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
it's here
it's QUEER
it's the
2025 Queer Adult SFF Books list!!!!
🌈📚🌈📚🌈📚🌈
it's QUEER
it's the
2025 Queer Adult SFF Books list!!!!
🌈📚🌈📚🌈📚🌈
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
I truly need "AI Won't Stand in Authentic Wonder" swag sold in the Vatican gift shop. Also, I will need it on a tote and shirt.
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I truly need "AI Won't Stand in Authentic Wonder" swag sold in the Vatican gift shop. Also, I will need it on a tote and shirt.
Final Fantasy VI. The series peaked there no matter how many angsty boys with weather-based names came later.
Also: Chrono Trigger. Possibly the greatest JRPG of that era.
Also: Chrono Trigger. Possibly the greatest JRPG of that era.
November 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Final Fantasy VI. The series peaked there no matter how many angsty boys with weather-based names came later.
Also: Chrono Trigger. Possibly the greatest JRPG of that era.
Also: Chrono Trigger. Possibly the greatest JRPG of that era.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
I love trans women so much we are so wonderful and precious and every day I fight for a world that cares for us as much as it should
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I love trans women so much we are so wonderful and precious and every day I fight for a world that cares for us as much as it should
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
*Always* tell authors when you like their stuff.
It's an emotional high that we'll ride for days.
Brought to you by someone who liked my book
It's an emotional high that we'll ride for days.
Brought to you by someone who liked my book
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
*Always* tell authors when you like their stuff.
It's an emotional high that we'll ride for days.
Brought to you by someone who liked my book
It's an emotional high that we'll ride for days.
Brought to you by someone who liked my book
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
be the bigolas dickolas you wish to see in the world.
FWIW: Mention books you like or you think others might like. You never know what'll happen:
I saw The Sad Bastard Cookbook here so I mentioned it on Masto (in a "in case you need this" sense). It kinda went viral (1K shares). It jumped to a high ranking on Amazon and then they got media attention.
I saw The Sad Bastard Cookbook here so I mentioned it on Masto (in a "in case you need this" sense). It kinda went viral (1K shares). It jumped to a high ranking on Amazon and then they got media attention.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
be the bigolas dickolas you wish to see in the world.
I read for about an hour, almost every day, so my TBR pile is under control. Heck, it's down to four (five if you count a pending reread). I need to buy more books. 😝
November 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I read for about an hour, almost every day, so my TBR pile is under control. Heck, it's down to four (five if you count a pending reread). I need to buy more books. 😝
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
West Point plaque: "Our code of military obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law."
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
West Point plaque: "Our code of military obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law."
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
1. I see elsewhere on Bluesky that the discourse has turned toward telling writers not to be ashamed to admit they have day jobs or other sources of income (or spousal/family financial support), and you know what, that's 100% correct. Day jobs and support from loved ones are great if you have them!
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 AM
1. I see elsewhere on Bluesky that the discourse has turned toward telling writers not to be ashamed to admit they have day jobs or other sources of income (or spousal/family financial support), and you know what, that's 100% correct. Day jobs and support from loved ones are great if you have them!
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
I mean, that's just tech in a general sense
Bluesky owes much of it's existence to swingers & furries
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I mean, that's just tech in a general sense
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
“Authors need to—“
No, we don’t.
No, we don’t.
November 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
“Authors need to—“
No, we don’t.
No, we don’t.
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
Reposted by Mason T. Matchak
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.