Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Paul Witcover

Jane Friedman @janefriedman.com · 1d

When I graduated with my writing degree in the late 1990s, it was still feasible to earn a living freelancing for newspapers, magazines, and other publications.

That path has all but dried up, but every once in a while, you'll find someone who is still muscling through—like @nberlat.bsky.social.

How Do Freelancers Survive Today? An Interview with a 20-Year Veteran | Jane Friedman

The landscape is very different today: publications have folded, arts coverage has dried up, and most opinion writing is on Substack.

janefriedman.com

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Tony Gentry @logentry.bsky.social · 2d

This is the most haunted building in #Richmond, #Virginia, the original Medical College of Virginia, a National Historic Landmark and a sterling example of Egyptian Revival #architecture. Click alt text for why so haunted.

#Spooktober #hauntedhouses #VCU #Halloween #history #RVA

Hundreds of graves (mostly in Black cemeteries) were robbed to supply "anatomy material" for medical students in this building during the 19th Century. The remains are buried in a covered-over well beneath the building. My biographical novel The Night Doctor of Richmond tells the story of Chris baker, the reviled 19th Century grave robber and anatomy man for the medical school. More on that here: www.tonygentry.com.

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Penmen Review @penmenreviewsnhu.bsky.social · 2d

How about a poem to start your week? Here's "Epiphany," by Chris Dungey. Enjoy! #litmag #poetry.
penmenreview.com/epiphany-2/

Epiphany

by Chris Dungey With first light and all through the bitter day, a dandelion ...

penmenreview.com

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 4d

“Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes .... Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated."

-Anne Frank

CNN @cnn.com · 5d

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken. https://cnn.it/4pPCXIt

37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments | CNN

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken.

www.cnn.com

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James R. Gapinski @jamesrgapinski.bsky.social · 4d

Come out and celebrate THE MUSEUM OF FUTURE MISTAKES with me! 🎉Launches next week from
@boa-editions.bsky.social. Nine events (seven in-person and two virtual). I'm looking at you Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York! More info here: jamesrgapinski.com/events

#books

Graphic advertising the October book tour dates for "The Museum of Future Mistakes" Stops including: Portland, OR October 9th at 7:00pm at Powell's Books on Hawthorne with Alissa Hattman. Seattle, WA October 17th at 7:00pm at Elliott Bay Book Company with Carolyn Abram. Chicago, IL October 21st at 7:00pm at Madison Street Books with Mallory Smart. Milwaukee, WI October 24th at 5:00pm at Lion's Tooth Sheboygan, WI October 25th at 11:00am WordHaven BookHouse.

Graphic advertising the November book tour dates for "The Museum of Future Mistakes" St. Paul, MN at Dual Citizen Brewing Company. November 8th at 7:00pm hosted by Conium Press and Paranoid Tree. Virtual event November 12th at 7:00pm (EST) hosted by Writers & Books with Peter Conners. Virtual event November 18th at 7:00pm (EST) hosted by The Writer's Center with Zach Powers. New York, NY November 26th at 7:00pm at KGB Bar
hosted by NYC Writer's Circle.

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 5d

Finally! #Hawkwind

New Hawkwind 9-CD boxed set of Hall of the Miuntain Grill LP

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Penmen Review @penmenreviewsnhu.bsky.social · 5d

SNHU is excited to announce its 11th Annual Fall Fiction Contest! Submissions are open from Oct. 1-31. Enter for a chance to win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships, have your short story featured in The Penmen Review, and more!

penmenreview.com/fall-fiction...

SNHU Fall Fiction Contest Guidelines

Calling All Writers! 11th Annual SNHU Fiction Contest Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) 11th annual Fall Fiction Short Story Contest kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Writers can gain mor...

penmenreview.com

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Penmen Review @penmenreviewsnhu.bsky.social · 5d

How about a short story to close out your week in style? Here's "The Noise," by Annh Browder. Enjoy! #litmag #shortstory.
penmenreview.com/the-noise/

The Noise

by Annh Browder I have always hated noise. After the funeral, it seemed like no one ever stopped talking. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” “She would want you to be happy,” and “If you ever need anything...

penmenreview.com

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@WildMelissaHart @wildmelissahart.bsky.social · 6d

My free October newsletter for creative writers is packed with excellent opportunities and inspiring articles; it has only a little to do with obese black cats. #creativewriting #writing
writingwithhart.substack.com/p/harness-th...

Harness the Power of Time- and News-Pegs to Sell your Stories

October 2025

writingwithhart.substack.com

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DongWon Song @dongwon.bsky.social · 6d

Hello! I'm open to unsolicited submissions for the first time in ages...

Looking for: Adult Epic Fantasy and Horror only

Guidelines are here: www.dongwonsong.com/submission-g...

Submission Guidelines — DongWon Song

www.dongwonsong.com

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SNHU Online MFA @snhumfa.bsky.social · 6d

This thread is a great explainer on the Anthropic settlement and its many shortcomings.

Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 6d

The official database of works eligible for the Anthropic AI settlement has been released and, as I suspected, many authors are screwed. Basically, if your books weren't officially registered with the US Copyright Office you're out of luck. 1/ secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/results

Welcome to the Anthropic Copyright Settlement Website
Are you the legal or beneficial copyright owner of a book included in the Anthropic Copyright Settlement?
You could get a payment from the $1.5 billion Settlement.

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 7d

Whut

Thomas Pynchon @tompynchon.bsky.social · 7d

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@WildMelissaHart @wildmelissahart.bsky.social · 7d

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. To celebrate, purchase a copy of DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD: 20+ Stories of Disability & Determination for your library, school, bookclub, community center, Little Free Library, family member, or friend! #downsyndrome #disability #inclusion #teacher #librarian

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Adam Wiener @adamwiener.bsky.social · 7d

In my new TVNewsCheck column, Reading Between The Screens, I explain why the NFL’s latest moves could flip broadcast licenses from hedge to liability. tinyurl.com/42vz9yum

NFL Opt-Outs Make Disney’s ABC Debate Everyone’s Problem

With opt-outs looming and a stake in ESPN, the NFL is rewriting the rules of broadcast economics, potentially turning licenses from a hedge to a liability.

tinyurl.com

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 8d

Happy anniversary!

Reposted by Paul Witcover

David Bowie News @davidbowienews.bsky.social · 8d

A new BBC documentary on Bowie’s Berlin years is coming in 2026

“He hit bottom, but he also found himself making some of his most personal music, then relaunched himself for the first time without a mask, as himself”

“He hit bottom, but he also found himself making some of his most personal music, then relaunched himself for the first time without a mask, as himself”: A new BBC documentary on Bowie’s Berlin years ...

Includes interviews with friends who’ve rarely spoken before

www.musicradar.com

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 8d

We watched Possession on Criterion last night. Man, that is one freaky movie. Unlike its stars, Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani, it has not aged well. Still, it was almost good. And it was spectacular in all the ways that it was not good. The trailer does not do it justice. youtu.be/aLXW-oVbTxE

Possession (1981) - Official Trailer

YouTube video by Shudder

youtu.be

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 8d

H.R. Lovecraft,
Who's your fiend when things go daft
H.R. Lovecraft,
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 9d

Why I love my day job, reason #290792: a chance to shoot the breeze with smart, talented, funny, and just downright awesome writers like Cynthea!

SNHU Online MFA @snhumfa.bsky.social · 9d

Hot off the presses--September's Wireside Chat, featuring the phenomenal Cynthea Liu!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RgZ...

Wireside Chat, Featuring Special Guest Cynthea Liu, 9/8/25

YouTube video by SNHU Academic Support

www.youtube.com

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Penmen Review @penmenreviewsnhu.bsky.social · 9d

Happy Monday! Have a poem! Here's "Fish Food for the Birds," by Mike O'Brien. Enjoy! #litmag #poetry
penmenreview.com/fish-food-fo...

Fish Food for the Birds

by Mike O'Brien It seemed like a good idea at the time, mixing fish food in with seeds, suet, and lard to make fat balls to hang around the garden. Our feathered friends seemed to thrive on them. S...

penmenreview.com

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jeffreyford8 @jeffreyford8.bsky.social · 10d

Courtesy of the Library of Congress -- a copy of the first edition of The Wizard of Oz. The illustrations are awesome. you can go through page by page, and there are illustrations on almost every page. read.gov/books/pagetu....

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 11d

Yup

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Paul Witcover @paulwitcover.bsky.social · 11d

Right with you, brother!

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Penmen Review @penmenreviewsnhu.bsky.social · 12d

‪How about a poem to make your Friday better? Here's "Bloom," by David Armand. Enjoy! #litmag #poetry
penmenreview.com/bloom/

Bloom

by David Armand Last spring I planted a wisteria tree in the yard with my father. It was the third time we’d met in person, having known one another for only five years. Until then, neither one of us ...

penmenreview.com

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@WildMelissaHart @wildmelissahart.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks to the @dsrfcanada.bsky.social for featuring DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD on The LowDOWN and including insights from activists Karen Gaffney, Charlotte Woodward, and Zack Gottsagen!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWPZ... #downsyndrome #disabilityawareness #inclusion #reading #teacher #newrelease

The LowDOWN Podcast - Down Syndrome Out Loud (S11, Ep 3)

YouTube video by DSRFCANADA

www.youtube.com

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