Marshall Moore

That too. It’s like there’s this need to be triumphant over some imaginary nameless oppressor. Struggle, performance, hesitant triumphalism (while atrocities are carried out but minimized), rinse, wash, repeat.

It’s performative.

First decent night’s sleep in a week. The new Stratus variant of Covid, which I apparently have had, comes with tooth pain as a fun new symptom. Sinus headache + aching mouth + chills + nagging cough at night = enough already. Bleh. At least now there is windy stormness to listen to. ⛈️ 🌀 🤒

Hard relate. Is that a phrase? It should be.

I just saw it for the first time last year. There was one night it was so intense even people in the US were seeing it. I’m glad I finally did, even if this far south it was kind of wispy. Bucket list for me too.

I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the aurora tonight. The streetlights go out around midnight here, so it’s pitch black at night. It was sort of clear, and somehow now there’s dense fog. Because, you know, Cornwall.

I stopped using Grindr years ago and haven’t looked back.

Essential reading if you’re a writer or in some other area of publishing. Really, plus ça change etc etc. The real work of being a writer isn’t so much getting the big advance (which can tank your career) as it is managing to keep getting published, ideally more or less on your own terms.

Finished a new short story over the weekend, “Far Gone and Out.” Took several months to write because the new novel is going so well. Beta reader said it reminded him of old-school Ray Bradbury. I’m calling that a win. Will embargo until later in October and start sending it out.

He’s backed off some of his more insane and indefensible proposals before, so I’m hoping that’ll happen again. I’m also hoping I can squeak in and get citizenship before the next election. It was nice feeling secure for a month, though.

As someone now in the UK on ILR, I did not enjoy today’s headlines in the slightest.

And here is exactly where I think this present lunacy is coming from. There have been any number of other such news-driven market manipulations already.

I cannot believe that this was even considered, much less proposed. I just went through the ILR process myself. UK visas cost thousands of pounds, and these are just the application fees. There’s no guarantee of approval. The notion that ILR holders aren’t contributing is deplorable. And wrong.

I’m completely appalled, having just gone through the process myself.

There are various ways to interpret that.

Now that my job and UK residency status are sorted and I know I’m moving, I’ve been looking at cats at a couple of rescues. It’s almost time. A lovely gingerish tabby boy I’d have adopted in a hot second has just found a home. I felt a tiny stab. I’m still occasionally messy but this is progress.

I was about to ask where you got it.

A former partner would occasionally get exasperated with me because if I didn’t start cooking early enough, we would sometimes end up eating dinner at 11. I’m eating at 11 tonight because I made a seafood stew and it took a minute to prepare, and also, fuck that guy.

Worth noting if you’re in academia. It’s a bit late here but I’ll check this for myself tomorrow and delete my account if I still have one, which I’m not entirely sure I do.

Anyone else feeling kind of exhausted after that storm? After about 24hr of intermittent noisy wind, I’m sort of gently pulverized and would really mostly like to lie down.

underscore_magazine - nominated work 2026

I can share this now: my short story “On the Carcosa Metro” has been nominated for this year’s Best of the Net. This is lovely. I’ve been nominated for the Stoker and the Pushcart, but this is my first BOTN. 🤞🏻

www.underscoremag.com/noms

I like this.

Battle doomscrolling by posting five small pleasures in life.

1. My bed, and no longer needing to use an alarm clock.
2. News of new books by writers I like.
3. Dramatic cloudy skies.
4. My kitchen. Not large but very well equipped.
5. Doing laundry (I know that’s weird).

I’m so sorry. I went though that earlier this year with my little guy.

One of these days, you absolutely should.

Kind of what I thought you were going to say. That would be an immediate nope for me. I can’t think of anything else, other than overt bigotry, which would set me off faster.

Dare I ask?

That sounds grim at best. I occasionally consider looking for groups like that, but then I remember they would entail being around people, and with gatekeeping, so no.

“The Walk” has long been one of my favorite songs, and some of the B sides and extra tracks from that album are fantastic too.

Rumination and RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria) are terms worth knowing about if you don’t already. If you find that one or both of those things are going on with you, recognizing it and naming it can sometimes help pull you out of your tailspin. (Hugs)

I’ve always struggled with the advice to write every day. The idea of a daily word count horrifies me. Sometimes there just isn’t time, sometimes I’m too busy, etc. I don’t think it’s helpful to make people feel guilty about having other things going on in their lives too.