Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 1d

Go read this epic tale from @jaimegill.bsky.social It's weird & hilarious & creepy AF, & perhaps a little too timely for comfort. (I gotta be careful to avoid the risk of my own TTP! lol*sob)

Well done, Jaime! #shortfiction

Does It Have Pockets @doesithavepockets.bsky.social · 2d

"Fake it ‘til you make it, Tony says, though I’m not sure that works when the it is inside you."

Sharp as an incisor, a phenomenal #fiction #mustread from @jamiegill.bsky.social | www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/jaim...

Art @anchalastudio.bsky.social

1 3

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 6d

September was busy, though I didn't get much new writing done.

#accountability #amwriting #submissions #shortfiction #writingcontests #readmorewomen

Image: a background of fall leaves.
Text: September
Submissions: 14 new (108 YTD) 18 rejections (15 form, 3 personal) 2 acceptances (yay!) 25 pending

Contests: Twisted Teams - 3rd, NYCm Flash R2 - @nd

Drafting: 3 new stories (50 YTD) 2,380 new words (54,649 YTD)

Interview: Writers Workout

Next to an image of the book cover of Bruised, Resilient by MM Schreier: ...and of course a book birthday - Bruised, Resilient turned 1 yr old!

4

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 12d

Mine are often angry, potty-mouthed bitches. lol

1 2

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 12d

Bruised, Resilient is turning one year old!

For tomorrow only, you can get a FREE ebook at Smashwords as my book birthday gift to you! (Use the coupon code at checkout.)

Happy reading!

#shortstories #feministfiction #amwriting #litfic #speculative #collections #readmorewomen #freebooks

3 6

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 23d

Newly released from @writersworkout.bsky.social

I have two stories in this anthology as well as penned the foreword. I guarantee there is something for everyone in this book!

Happy reading!

#amwriting #shortfiction #shortstories

72 Hours of Insanity: Anthology of The Games

THE WRITER'S GAMES is an annual writing competition with a global reach. Registered participants compete in six surprise challenges over six weeks, each with a 72-hour deadline. The top five winning e...

www.amazon.com

1 8

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 28d

It's a 2 rejections and 1 acceptance kind of day... and it's only lunchtime!

#amwriting

10

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 28d

A little "winner's circle" interview with yours truly and @writersworkout.bsky.social

#amwriting #contestjunkie

MM Schreier - First Place, 2025

Read our interview with MM Schreier, the first place winner in the 2025 Writer's Games.

www.writersworkout.net

10

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 28d

Such a good one! Make some time to read it today!

Jaime Gill @jaimegill.bsky.social · 29d

This makes me so happy I could cry. Black Sky, Blue Earth - my aching story about climate collapse & personal rebirth - is the lead story in this year’s @oysterriverpages.bsky.social. It has a lot of my soul in it. Please read it & all of Oyster River’s work

www.oysterriverpages.com/black-sky-bl...

1

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · 29d

Currently at 98 submissions YTD. At this time in 2024, I was at 46. On track to send out double the (non-contest) submissions this year.

Woo!

#amwriting #submissions #shortfiction

1 7

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 31

Sooooo, do I start Tasha Suri’s
Realm of Ash (The Books of Ambha Book 2), sequel to a book I really loved… or Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows which has been giving me sexy eyes from the TBR list.

Dilemmas of a reader who doesn’t have to work tomorrow. #amreading

Two book covers: Tasha Suri’s
Realm of Ash (The Books of Ambha Book 2) with an ornate dagger on the front and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows with a crow’s wing

1 3

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 28

Hey lookie! It's me!

#nominations #amwriting #bestofthenet

Just Keep Up Magazine @justkeepupmagazine.bsky.social · Aug 28

Congratulations to our Best of the Net nominees!

1 8

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 27

A little tête-à-tête with me & Bold Journey Magazine out today.

#amwriting #interview #boldjourney

boldjourney.com

5

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 26

Basic storytelling 101: choose names wisely.

Currently reading a book where one character is named Rain and another Rhin. So confusing.

Are you telling me the author, agent, editor, & publisher all thought this was a good idea? 🤦‍♀️

#amreading

2 8

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 14

Have 25 minutes and looking for someone to read you a story? My piece "When the Soul Catcher Knocks" is featured on today's Storytime w/Writers Playground podcast.

(Links to Apple, Spotify, iHeart, YouTube in blog post!)

#amwriting #podcast #audio #shortstory

Storytime w/WP Podcast

If you have ever wanted to hear my work in audio format, you now have the chance! Writers Playground has started a new podcast where they read winning stories from their contest and discuss them a …

mmschreier.com

4

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 8

TFW a reader loves one of your darlings. They don’t all have to be killed.

#anwriting #writingrules

1 18

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Aug 4

This final essay in my craft series with @intrepidusink.bsky.social is out today. This time I'm talking about breaking the rules with deliberation & artistry.

Thanks for following along!

#amwriting #craftessays #writingrules #breaktherules

Breaking the Rules: Doing It With Intention and Style

They say there are rules for a reason. But who is this mysterious they, and do we really have to listen to them? Yes, and no. Helpful, right? When approaching writing conventions, there’s a complemen...

intrepidusink.com

1 3 9

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 31

Despite being American, “grey” feels more grey than “gray” to me.

Editors think I’m extra.

#amwriting #wordnerd #language

a little girl says i 'm gonna fight you for it in a gif

Alt: a little girl says i 'm gonna fight you for it in a gif

media.tenor.com

1 9

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 31

Wooot! So exciting!

1

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 31

Me: looking forward to a quiet weekend with nothing I need to do.

Also me: forgets about NYCm Flash & does well enough to move on to the next round.

I guess there’s something that needs doing this weekend after all.

🤷🏼‍♀️

#amwriting #contestjunkie

1 12

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 29

RUDE!

1

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 28

The second essay of my craft series at @intrepidusink.bsky.social is out today. This one talks about how to get reader buy-in when adding speculative elements to real world settings.

#amwriting #craftessays

Metaphor or Magic: How to Get the Reader to Accept the Absurd

The absurd is magical to readers; find out how to compose believable prose in this how-to essay by MM Schreier.

intrepidusink.com

1 4

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 27

This is my 10th @writersworkout.bsky.social Writer Games & my 3rd time winning overall.

It’s a contest where I’ve written some of my favorite stories. (& some total flops) It’s a hell of a slog, 5 wks writing prompted shorts on tight time limits.

Insane & yet I keep coming back. 💜#amwriting

Black and grey silhouette of a carnival.
Red letters: Writer’s Games Winner 2925
Overall Winners
First place: MM Schreier

1 1 7

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 23

A little flash-style craft essay by yours truly today. It's the 1st in a series of 3 as guest editor at Intrepidus Ink.

This week, we're talking about character voice.

#craft #writing #charactervoice

Character Voice: It's Not Just What They Say

Character Voice: It's NOT Just What They Say...it's that certain element of style, power, and authenticity.

intrepidusink.com

1 2 9

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jul 8

Has anyone else been just bowled over by an increase of "book promoter" emails/DMs lately? You know, the type that promise for the low, low price of a kidney & a piece of your soul, they'll make you an international best seller by Tuesday....

#amwriting #writerslife

a woman in a white sweater says oh please in orange letters

Alt: Rose from "The Golden Girls" wearing a white sweater, rolls her eyes. Text says "oh please" in orange letters

media.tenor.com

1 5

MM Schreier, author @mmschreier.bsky.social · Jun 30

I’m on staycation this week. I imagine that lots of words will be involved (written & read), there will be too many snacks, and by the end of the week my hair will be a random new color.

I really shouldn’t be left unsupervised.

#vacation #amwriting #amreading

3