H. A. Spector, MFA

Recently had one of my short stories picked up for publication! If you want to check it out (need a free reader subscription to do so) check out the link below!

www.darkharbormagazine.com/my-little-desert-oasis/

Thanks @darkharbormagazine.bsky.social

After 35 grueling weeks of non-stop writing, revising, editing, reading, etc., I have finished my novel and thus have finished all coursework for my MFA degree! What's next? I am letting it sit in a drawer for 3+ months to get distance. Then back to revise once more!

#AuthorSky #BookSky

I feel like this post peered into my soul and pushed me to do the things I was trying to push off until tomorrow. Damn. Thanks though. I needed it.

That cover is eye-catching! I would pick it up in a book store for sure. Congratulations!

Can’t wait to read both projects some day, Haley. I expect signed copies! Haha.

So good and timeless advice. Writing is a game of suffering (with hopefully tiny sprinkles of joy every now and again)

It felt like ground breaking advice to me, and yet also… so simple and efficient.

Hello from StokerCon 2025! Shouting out a few pieces of writing advice I’ve heard so far:

1. If you wanna learn how to be concise with words, study rap lyrics.

2. “Writing rituals are just excuses not to write.” -SGJ

What’s your favorite piece of writing advice?

#BookSky #Writer #Author

Thank you!

To everyone who listens to Ink to Paper: Stories & Interviews (my interview podcast) thank you! I am taking the month of June off from posting new episodes as I have a packed schedule. The show will resume in July! :)

#PodSky #BookSky

For the first time in my life, I have officially completed a manuscript for a novel. It's a surreal feeling to finally put a big ol' green check mark next to "write a novel" on my bucket list.

Up next, 10 weeks to edit it from top to bottom so I can finish this MFA . . .

#BookSky #Writing #MFA

One week remaining to finish my first draft of my Thesis novel for my MFA degree.

It’s surreal to think that I’ll have completed a draft of a manuscript for the first time in my life.

Bucket List Item: ✅

Then 10 weeks to fully revise and edit before final submission!

#BookSky #WritingJourney

Episode 8 of Ink to Paper: Stories & Interviews drops tomorrow at 5am on all your favorite podcast platforms! On this week's episode join me as I welcome to the show Briar Hyssop as they read their #weirdfiction short, "The Ballad of M'Yon'Ezu". Hope you enjoy!

#BookSky #PodSky #Podcasts

Episode 8 of Ink to Paper: Stories and Interviews drops tomorrow with the wonderful and wise @amieglazier. You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever else you get your podcasts!

#podcast #BookSky #writers #authors

YouTube video by Heath Midkiff 6. "The Package" by Randall Madden

Hey everyone! A bit late on the post, but nonetheless wanted to let you all know that the next episode of Ink to Paper: Stories and Interviews is live and available wherever you get your podcasts!

Warning: Sexual Topics and Mature Language

youtu.be/9WUfc77e1FA?...

#BookSky #Podcast #Writer

Reading “They Bloom at Night” by Trang Thanh Tran (highly recommend) and loved this line:

“Adults having their shit figured out is an illusion of childhood. You wake up one day and the mirage is gone.”

#BookSky #Books #YAHorror

5. Starting an Online Speculative Fiction Magazine Podcast Episode · Ink to Paper: Stories and Interviews · 04/02/2025 · 53m

Episode 5 is now live wherever you get your podcasts (we are also now on YouTube)! This week, I talk to four amazing people making an impact on the literary community by starting their own online speculative fiction magazine!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5...

#BookSky #podcast #writer #magazine

4. Grandpa's Little Protégé by Chloe Longstreet Podcast Episode · Ink to Paper: Stories and Interviews · 03/19/2025 · 20m

The next short story episode of Ink to Paper dropped yesterday feature indie author Chloe Longstreet and their short story "Grandpa's Little Protégé". Go check it out wherever you get your podcasts!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4...

#booksky #author #writing #indie #shortfiction #podcast

Glad it’s not just me!

There is nothing wrong with twirling in your chair and whoever tells you otherwise should be cut from your life. Haha!

To be respectful and not to disparage any writer's work, I'll be vague here. I DNF'd a horror book the other day because it had content that gave me the ick over and over. But, it felt weird DNFing a book as this was my first. Do you all do it? Why or why not?

#BookSky #TBR #DNF

My only advice would be to push through and write something (even fragments of ideas) to get something down on "paper" then revise, revise, revise at a later time. That's how I do it when I've run out of excuses or ways to avoid writing.

Sounds like me minus the skipping part. I’ve tried to skip and my brain can’t. Any tips to force it? Haha!

Hey Writers! How do you become unstuck when writing a scene? Do you skip it and come back? Do you power through to get a first draft? Do you twirl around in your chair until your brain thinks of something? Let me know!

#Writer #AmWriting #BookSky #Author #WIP

12 weeks until my full first draft of my manuscript is due for Thesis. 12 weeks to write 60k words. 12 weeks until I can officially say, I've written a novel front to back. #BucketList #BookSky #Writing #AmWriting #Author #MFA

3. The Indie Publishing Journey with Chloe Longstreet Podcast Episode · Ink to Paper: Stories and Interviews · 03/05/2025 · 42m

The new episode of Ink to Paper: Stories & Interviews is now live wherever you get your podcasts! Come listen as I interview indie author Chloe Longstreet on their journey publishing "The Undead Uprising." #BookSky #Writing #AmWriting #podcast #author

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...

I don't, though I've toyed with the idea. Happy to know someone would be interested though! :)

The next episode of Ink to Paper: Stories & Interviews drops tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts! Here is a sneak peak into the conversation with indie author Chloe Longstreet! #writing #amwriting #BookSky #podcasts

Clay was a great presenter at StokerCon ‘24! Still need to read one of his books! I’ll add this to my TBR!

Sorry if I’m a broken record about utilizing your local library but also please go get a library card even if you don’t plan on doing anything with it! Anything we can do to support libraries as institutions by bumping their stats is a net good!