Mixed Metaphors
@mixedmetaphors.bsky.social
reader, writer, vegan, techie, shiba inu, mixer of metaphors. He/him.
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Good morning, here’s a story by @mixedmetaphors.bsky.social to go with your coffee!
malarkeybooks.com/fiction/bean...
malarkeybooks.com/fiction/bean...
The Bean Vault—Jeff Goldberg — Malarkey
You might think me a snob, based on my profession and my attitude. And you would be, in many ways, correct. But, also, to be a snob and a connoisseur means more than a discerning palate, at least for ...
malarkeybooks.com
I'm so so so excited to have a story in Malarkey. They are a wonderful press and I've read and loved so many of their short fiction collections. (Subscribe to their book club!!!)
Please read and share my story if you are so inclined and please forgive my use of too many exclamation marks!!!
Please read and share my story if you are so inclined and please forgive my use of too many exclamation marks!!!
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
oh now we are talking about writing salaries? My contribution: No one* has ever made money from it. Don't romanticize the past. There are zillions of examples of destitution in the archives of your faves!
*except a couple, here and there, randomly
*except a couple, here and there, randomly
November 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
oh now we are talking about writing salaries? My contribution: No one* has ever made money from it. Don't romanticize the past. There are zillions of examples of destitution in the archives of your faves!
*except a couple, here and there, randomly
*except a couple, here and there, randomly
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
J G Ballard is the DeLillo of the empty swimming pool.
November 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
J G Ballard is the DeLillo of the empty swimming pool.
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
Re-reading - DeLillo hits some kind of high pitch of perfection in the first fifty pages of this.
But he could write about anything.
Look at how deep he goes in this description of the day you go to the supermarket and they’ve re-arranged the shelves.
But he could write about anything.
Look at how deep he goes in this description of the day you go to the supermarket and they’ve re-arranged the shelves.
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Re-reading - DeLillo hits some kind of high pitch of perfection in the first fifty pages of this.
But he could write about anything.
Look at how deep he goes in this description of the day you go to the supermarket and they’ve re-arranged the shelves.
But he could write about anything.
Look at how deep he goes in this description of the day you go to the supermarket and they’ve re-arranged the shelves.
Can I ask a dumb BlueSky question?
I don't understand the etiquette on when to comment vs quote-post.
I generally quote-post if I'm going on a tangent and comment if directly engaging on the topic.
But it doesn't seem consistent. And I think the rules might shift for more "popular" accounts?
I don't understand the etiquette on when to comment vs quote-post.
I generally quote-post if I'm going on a tangent and comment if directly engaging on the topic.
But it doesn't seem consistent. And I think the rules might shift for more "popular" accounts?
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Can I ask a dumb BlueSky question?
I don't understand the etiquette on when to comment vs quote-post.
I generally quote-post if I'm going on a tangent and comment if directly engaging on the topic.
But it doesn't seem consistent. And I think the rules might shift for more "popular" accounts?
I don't understand the etiquette on when to comment vs quote-post.
I generally quote-post if I'm going on a tangent and comment if directly engaging on the topic.
But it doesn't seem consistent. And I think the rules might shift for more "popular" accounts?
I often get pulled in when the discourse focuses its anti-snobbery cannons on literary fiction, so I'm always intrigued to see other inter-genre drama.
It turns out lots of people circle their wagons around perceived genre rules. I suppose every genre must deal with this. Part of the book world.
It turns out lots of people circle their wagons around perceived genre rules. I suppose every genre must deal with this. Part of the book world.
It's... really silly to see any such discourse at all.
I thought we all agreed genre was a flexible marketing construct, more aesthetic signifier than a set of hard rules?
We need to be more relaxed about this sort of thing, it's such small potatoes.
I thought we all agreed genre was a flexible marketing construct, more aesthetic signifier than a set of hard rules?
We need to be more relaxed about this sort of thing, it's such small potatoes.
November 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I often get pulled in when the discourse focuses its anti-snobbery cannons on literary fiction, so I'm always intrigued to see other inter-genre drama.
It turns out lots of people circle their wagons around perceived genre rules. I suppose every genre must deal with this. Part of the book world.
It turns out lots of people circle their wagons around perceived genre rules. I suppose every genre must deal with this. Part of the book world.
I don't understand people.
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I don't understand people.
This is a very comforting quote. Life affirming, even. Sometimes as a writer I just want to know I'm not alone.
“I spent the morning putting in a comma and the afternoon removing it.”
— Gustave Flaubert
— Gustave Flaubert
November 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This is a very comforting quote. Life affirming, even. Sometimes as a writer I just want to know I'm not alone.
Very astute observation. AI investment is propped up by a kind of inverse imposter syndrome, a job-solipsism, where it makes sense if you assume no one else cares about anything even though you do.
AI seems to be an expensive way to do someone else’s job as well as you reckon they probably do it, whatever, but no use for anything you do yourself, where you can professionally tell it’s hopeless.
Good luck with the bubble, lads.
(Clipped from The Wrap, about Disney giving up on its AI R&D.)
Good luck with the bubble, lads.
(Clipped from The Wrap, about Disney giving up on its AI R&D.)
November 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Very astute observation. AI investment is propped up by a kind of inverse imposter syndrome, a job-solipsism, where it makes sense if you assume no one else cares about anything even though you do.
Kind of funny, kind of sad, kind of hopeless, kind of hopeful, with such a clear, fully imagined voice that you can't help but love.
"When she got knocked up, presumably by Rick, she told Joey and me that she was marrying him." The Petting Zoo by C. Christine Fair #flashfiction #readingcommunity #writingcommunity. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/11/23/t...
November 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Kind of funny, kind of sad, kind of hopeless, kind of hopeful, with such a clear, fully imagined voice that you can't help but love.
No matter how meticulous I am with the rubber spatula, I'm always able to use my finger to remove some leftover batter from the bowl.
This tells us they should make rubber spatulas in the shape of a finger.
This tells us they should make rubber spatulas in the shape of a finger.
November 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
No matter how meticulous I am with the rubber spatula, I'm always able to use my finger to remove some leftover batter from the bowl.
This tells us they should make rubber spatulas in the shape of a finger.
This tells us they should make rubber spatulas in the shape of a finger.
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
had the enormous pleasure of collaborating with my colleagues at The Sewanee Review on a full-issue tribute to the life & work of Brad Watson, which we built around the complete text of his final, unfinished novel thesewaneereview.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
had the enormous pleasure of collaborating with my colleagues at The Sewanee Review on a full-issue tribute to the life & work of Brad Watson, which we built around the complete text of his final, unfinished novel thesewaneereview.com
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
Great news! All ELJ Editions books published after March 2025 are now available on Amazon, BN.com, and Bookshop.org, as well as ELJ’s website! Pick yourself up a book this Holiday season!
November 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Great news! All ELJ Editions books published after March 2025 are now available on Amazon, BN.com, and Bookshop.org, as well as ELJ’s website! Pick yourself up a book this Holiday season!
If you ever become a famous author and someone asks you this question in an interview... Do Not Answer It! It is a trap! It will just make people mad at you!
(This has happened multiple times and made otherwise nice and thoughtful writers the center of angry social media discourse.)
(This has happened multiple times and made otherwise nice and thoughtful writers the center of angry social media discourse.)
Welcome to #Bookvember Day 21!
Follow the directions on the prompt card and explore the many genres readers love.
#BookSky #WriteSky #Books #Authors #WritingCommunity
Follow the directions on the prompt card and explore the many genres readers love.
#BookSky #WriteSky #Books #Authors #WritingCommunity
November 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
If you ever become a famous author and someone asks you this question in an interview... Do Not Answer It! It is a trap! It will just make people mad at you!
(This has happened multiple times and made otherwise nice and thoughtful writers the center of angry social media discourse.)
(This has happened multiple times and made otherwise nice and thoughtful writers the center of angry social media discourse.)
When I called my appliance guy he answered the phone with a boisterous "Ashley from Chase, you bitch!" and I said, "Uh... this is Jeff?" and with no hesitation or apology he said, "Jeff! What's up?" and then we discussed my fridge.
I am astounded and amazed by his confidence. I would have died.
I am astounded and amazed by his confidence. I would have died.
November 20, 2025 at 6:59 PM
When I called my appliance guy he answered the phone with a boisterous "Ashley from Chase, you bitch!" and I said, "Uh... this is Jeff?" and with no hesitation or apology he said, "Jeff! What's up?" and then we discussed my fridge.
I am astounded and amazed by his confidence. I would have died.
I am astounded and amazed by his confidence. I would have died.
I am paying $35 for a $5 replacement part on my compost tumbler because of tariffs.
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I am paying $35 for a $5 replacement part on my compost tumbler because of tariffs.
I get the pricey GE water filters for my refrigerator every six months rather than an after-market one because I don't want to damage my fridge. This morning the new GE filter had a defect that pinched the line and now the water in my house is shut off until the repair guy can get here.
November 20, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I get the pricey GE water filters for my refrigerator every six months rather than an after-market one because I don't want to damage my fridge. This morning the new GE filter had a defect that pinched the line and now the water in my house is shut off until the repair guy can get here.
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not thebaffler.com/outbursts/si...
Signed Away | Sara Nović
The hearing world continues to pillage and caricature the deaf community—most recently with the proprietary, sign-based system Makaton.
thebaffler.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not thebaffler.com/outbursts/si...
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
Hey hey!
Do you love Elden Ring, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls and wish someone would write a weird quiet horror story paying homage to the occult in said videogames???
If that’s the case, you need to check out my new story over at @3lobedmag.com!!!
www.3lobedmag.com/issue46/3lbe...
Do you love Elden Ring, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls and wish someone would write a weird quiet horror story paying homage to the occult in said videogames???
If that’s the case, you need to check out my new story over at @3lobedmag.com!!!
www.3lobedmag.com/issue46/3lbe...
For When the Night is Behind You and the Depths are Ahead by Corey Farrenkopf
We stood in front of the video game store for the midnight release of Castles Underground III. The crowd wore different homemade versions of the crimson armor featured on the posters, foam swords surp...
www.3lobedmag.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Hey hey!
Do you love Elden Ring, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls and wish someone would write a weird quiet horror story paying homage to the occult in said videogames???
If that’s the case, you need to check out my new story over at @3lobedmag.com!!!
www.3lobedmag.com/issue46/3lbe...
Do you love Elden Ring, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls and wish someone would write a weird quiet horror story paying homage to the occult in said videogames???
If that’s the case, you need to check out my new story over at @3lobedmag.com!!!
www.3lobedmag.com/issue46/3lbe...
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
Go vote for us for best litmag award from chill subs! https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
Best Lit Mag Awards - Chill Subs
Welcome to Chill Subs' 3rd annual Community Favorites Best Lit Mag Awards! Vote for your favorite literary magazines and celebrate the publications that make our community thrive.
www.chillsubs.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Go vote for us for best litmag award from chill subs! https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
Reposted by Mixed Metaphors
If you’d like to come dig with us and share your reflections on recovery from trauma, here are the guidelines:
Creative non-fiction only.
Essays must be no longer than 1500 words.
#submissions open 1/1/26
Edited by Diane Gottlieb
Creative non-fiction only.
Essays must be no longer than 1500 words.
#submissions open 1/1/26
Edited by Diane Gottlieb
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
If you’d like to come dig with us and share your reflections on recovery from trauma, here are the guidelines:
Creative non-fiction only.
Essays must be no longer than 1500 words.
#submissions open 1/1/26
Edited by Diane Gottlieb
Creative non-fiction only.
Essays must be no longer than 1500 words.
#submissions open 1/1/26
Edited by Diane Gottlieb
BlueSky, this is a funny bit and deserves more recognition and/or no one gets my humor.
Woody’s death in Toy Story 4 is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Woody “was blown to pieces.”
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
November 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
BlueSky, this is a funny bit and deserves more recognition and/or no one gets my humor.
Woody’s death in Toy Story 4 is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Woody “was blown to pieces.”
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Woody’s death in Toy Story 4 is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Woody “was blown to pieces.”
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
Buzz Lightyear, author of three Toy Story novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
Someone needs to take that article about the James Bond writers not knowing how to bring Bond back from the dead and do a mashup version about the Toy Story 5 writers with Woody.
November 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Someone needs to take that article about the James Bond writers not knowing how to bring Bond back from the dead and do a mashup version about the Toy Story 5 writers with Woody.
The most interesting part of this article comes near the end, where Google outright lies to the journalist by claiming they fixed the problem immediately, and then the journalist does one Google search and confirms that, no, they did not.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
Who Pays When A.I. Is Wrong?
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The most interesting part of this article comes near the end, where Google outright lies to the journalist by claiming they fixed the problem immediately, and then the journalist does one Google search and confirms that, no, they did not.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
What I've learned from the "Good at Math/Words/Visuals" discourse is that many who consider themselves "Good at X" look down on all the others. That includes you too, Good at Word people.
Holding lifelong primary-school grudges and looking down on everyone else isn't unique to Good at Math.
Holding lifelong primary-school grudges and looking down on everyone else isn't unique to Good at Math.
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
What I've learned from the "Good at Math/Words/Visuals" discourse is that many who consider themselves "Good at X" look down on all the others. That includes you too, Good at Word people.
Holding lifelong primary-school grudges and looking down on everyone else isn't unique to Good at Math.
Holding lifelong primary-school grudges and looking down on everyone else isn't unique to Good at Math.