Chris Baty

bsky.app/profile/john...

It also sounds like the administration is being forced to push more and more cases onto inexperienced junior lawyers, whose work is being eviscerated in court.

My friend's take: The administration will never be able to rebuild their lost legal capacity.

Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...

This connects to some hopeful news I heard from a friend who works in social justice law.

It sounds like attrition from heroic lawyers stepping down instead of doing unethical work has left the administration so understaffed that they increasingly lack bandwidth to appeal rulings against them.

News headline that reads “‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ offers comfort, not reinvention”

Bad news, cinephiles

You bet! We’re so glad it was helpful!

Sending raucous cheers and high-fives to anyone sprinting towards The End on a big November writing project today.

Need a pep talk? I got you: nano2.org/posts/2025/a...

Hit your goal? The NaNo 2.0 validator is standing by to shower you with badges and certificates: nano2.org/validator/ 📚🎉🏆

Congrats!

Way to take the second path!

Book cover featuring a large fireball with the title “What do we know about spontaneous human combustion?”

Good to see the kids’ section of our local bookstore still carries the classics.

Any other parents living in a fever dream of Italian brainrot music right now?

I helped write the new NaNo 2.0 newsletter!

It comes with a free gift for you from our grumpy office leprechaun. sh1.sendinblue.com/adv2nuoholpf...

Also from me: How to save an ailing writing project by leveraging the mighty power of physics: nano2.org/posts/2025/a...

A New Predator Has Emerged From the Deepest, Darkest Part of the Ocean What else is hiding down there?

Scientists: We discovered a new 1.5" crustacean off the coast of Chile!

Popular Mechanics headline writer: www.popularmechanics.com/science/anim...

Handpainted sign that reads "Novels written while you wait"

Handpainted sign by www.analogsigns.com

Also, I wrote a Week One pep talk that will be going out to NaNo 2.0 newsletter subscribers in a few hours. If you'd like to get it, you can subscribe here: nano2.org/subscribe/

Wishing a wildly productive first day of NaNoWriMo to everyone writing!

If you'd like some company, NaNo 2.0 volunteers will be hosting word sprints today starting at noon Pacific: bsky.app/profile/nano...

The latest NaNo 2.0 newsletter has some of my writing in it! If you love stories of jewel thieves absconding with office microwaves, this one is for you.

Read the harrowing tale here: sh1.sendinblue.com/acoxmioholpf...

Totally in awe of the mood boards authors are creating for books they're writing next month.

As someone who struggles to visualize my scenes ("Phil was an older man with reddish hair and two eyeballs"), it is really inspiring to see stuff like this.

That's a really healthy way of looking at change. And that makes my day to hear NaNoWriMo had such a positive impact on you. It changed the way I saw my potential too.

Please let me know if you have ideas on things we should add or do next to make the project more useful!

Agree. The era of having a central place where the world's writers gather sadly feels like it's over for now. But people are starting to find support in smaller communities, which is awesome.

I hope NaNo 2.0 can be one of those communities, and also provide a map to help writers find the others.

I helped write the first NaNo 2.0 newsletter that just went out!

It's here: sh1.sendinblue.com/ackpx6oholpf...

We want these to feel like a writing buddy who lives in your inbox, cheers you on, and makes way too many jokes about imaginary Norwegian history museums.

Subscribe: nano2.org/subscribe

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO EMAIL YOU ABOUT THIS VERY MATTER!

Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words! ❤️

Aw thank you! And I was just thinking about Debbie’s comics yesterday! 🤣

“Make more art” is screenprinted on a piece of sheet music.

Spotted in a window in Fort Bragg, CA.

Hi! Chris Baty here!

I think at this point there are maybe 3 "NaNoWriMo 2" projects floating around. 😂 I'm part of the volunteer team working on www.nano2.org. We're a static resource site for kids, teens, and adults doing the challenge. If you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it!

Meeeeee.

Oh that's so wonderful to hear, Lauren! Please tell your students we're cheering them on!

We're working on a blog post now with tips from teachers on doing NaNoWriMo with their students. If you'd be up for sharing any nuggets of advice for the article, please send 'em my way!

Thanks, Mari! We did get them spayed, neutered, and chipped and I think you're probably right about food insecurity. Great advice!

Orange tabby kitten sprawled across a chair smiles up at the camera.

Newbie cat parent with a question. We adopted two strays a few months ago—a mom and her orange tabby son.

Every time they see us they act like they haven't eaten in weeks, so we've been feeding them 3 times a day. That's too much, right? We want to dial it back, but we fear their hangry wrath.

That feels like a cinematic way to write. Love it, Chris.

And so agree that the second draft is where all my cool high concepts go to die. 🤣