David M. Briggs and Halberd Books's Avatar

David M. Briggs and Halberd Books

@halberdbooks.bsky.social

My name is David M. Briggs, but everybody calls me either Dave or Hal. I am a mid-30s Midwestern writer, designer, performer and enthusiast who is full of love and poetry and breakfast cereal. davidmbriggs.com

123 Followers  |  141 Following  |  443 Posts  |  Joined: 23.09.2023  |  1.863

Latest posts by halberdbooks.bsky.social on Bluesky

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🪭CONTRIBUTOR LINEUP! 🪭
Our long awaited lineup reveal is here! Take a peek at our program to get to know the stars of our show. Get your tickets now, for a truly scandalous spectacle awaits! 🌹

03.11.2025 21:38 — 👍 26    🔁 25    💬 1    📌 3
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Here's the FB event page!
#poetry read by the authors!
#openmic for everyone!
#donationdrive for the community!
#queerjoy for all!
www.facebook.com/events/77776...

16.10.2025 18:04 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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In just over a week, we'll be celebrating the power of our joy in a world that tells us we shouldn't find any. If you can make it to Springfield, Il on Sunday, October 26th, please come to this event. And please share and spread the word!

16.10.2025 18:00 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

RIGHT!!! OPINION!!!!!

11.10.2025 01:55 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Right Opinion!

11.10.2025 01:55 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

right opinion.

11.10.2025 01:54 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
The cover of Crispy Zine, a publication dedicated to queer midwestern artists. it centers on paint brushes next to a tastefully risqué painting of a muscular man showing off his butt.  Text reads "Crispy Zine" on the top and "A Protest Wrapped in a Love Letter" on the bottom.

The cover of Crispy Zine, a publication dedicated to queer midwestern artists. it centers on paint brushes next to a tastefully risqué painting of a muscular man showing off his butt. Text reads "Crispy Zine" on the top and "A Protest Wrapped in a Love Letter" on the bottom.

A full two-page spread from Crispy Zine featuring poet David M. Briggs. There is a picture of Briggs petting one of his cats and a picture of Briggs performing one of her poems at a poetry slam. There is a pull quote from Briggs where they say "Penis! Penis! That's not even profanity! Cocks and cunts!" on one page. The facing page has the title "Loud. Messy. Necessary." and the words "Dive deeper into David's work". The full text of each page will be in the alt text for the next two images.

A full two-page spread from Crispy Zine featuring poet David M. Briggs. There is a picture of Briggs petting one of his cats and a picture of Briggs performing one of her poems at a poetry slam. There is a pull quote from Briggs where they say "Penis! Penis! That's not even profanity! Cocks and cunts!" on one page. The facing page has the title "Loud. Messy. Necessary." and the words "Dive deeper into David's work". The full text of each page will be in the alt text for the next two images.

Interview with poet David M. Briggs. Text as follows.
Crispy Zine asks, You’ve been building this loud, messy, necessary body of work for two decades. What’s kept the fire alive all these years?

Briggs answers, The thing that has kept me writing for all these years is the same thing that made me start writing: a gnawing, ever-present feeling that I am not enough, but perhaps if I work hard enough, I can create something that justifies my existence and will give me the recognition that I have craved forever. The best thing about this is that there is no level of renown that will quiet it! I could be the most famous, most successful person in the entire world, and I would still feel like the work is never done. But in my quieter moments, more level, I recognize that this is something that I am good at, that I can do it well, and this is what I can and should give to the world, to my friends, to myself.

Crispy asks, Halberd Books Vol. 3 is described as “profane, humane, and slightly deranged.” Which of those three words feels most like home to you right now?

Briggs answers, I'm scared! I am so scared all the time, so I'm tempted to say deranged. But more than I am scared, I am tired, so I want to be humane. But more than that, I want to be human. And in order to be human, a writer has to separate herself both from fucking corpo nonsense and this fucking generative A.I. business. And you know what big corporations hate more than anything? Profanity. Google search turns off its A.I. summaries if you curse enough in your search terms. Algorithms punish the use of not just swears but other completely necessary words to describe the human experience, like kill and die and suicide and porn. So I have to be most at home in profane. If I stop myself from saying shit and fuck and cum and tits just because Mister Musk will shadowban me, how am I any better than McDonalds? Penis!!!!!! PENIS!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT EVEN PROFANITY!!! COCKS AND CUNTS!!!!!!

Interview with poet David M. Briggs. Text as follows. Crispy Zine asks, You’ve been building this loud, messy, necessary body of work for two decades. What’s kept the fire alive all these years? Briggs answers, The thing that has kept me writing for all these years is the same thing that made me start writing: a gnawing, ever-present feeling that I am not enough, but perhaps if I work hard enough, I can create something that justifies my existence and will give me the recognition that I have craved forever. The best thing about this is that there is no level of renown that will quiet it! I could be the most famous, most successful person in the entire world, and I would still feel like the work is never done. But in my quieter moments, more level, I recognize that this is something that I am good at, that I can do it well, and this is what I can and should give to the world, to my friends, to myself. Crispy asks, Halberd Books Vol. 3 is described as “profane, humane, and slightly deranged.” Which of those three words feels most like home to you right now? Briggs answers, I'm scared! I am so scared all the time, so I'm tempted to say deranged. But more than I am scared, I am tired, so I want to be humane. But more than that, I want to be human. And in order to be human, a writer has to separate herself both from fucking corpo nonsense and this fucking generative A.I. business. And you know what big corporations hate more than anything? Profanity. Google search turns off its A.I. summaries if you curse enough in your search terms. Algorithms punish the use of not just swears but other completely necessary words to describe the human experience, like kill and die and suicide and porn. So I have to be most at home in profane. If I stop myself from saying shit and fuck and cum and tits just because Mister Musk will shadowban me, how am I any better than McDonalds? Penis!!!!!! PENIS!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT EVEN PROFANITY!!! COCKS AND CUNTS!!!!!!

Crispy asks, Your poems crack open everything from heartbreak to injustice to survival. How do you protect your own tenderness when you’re writing about pain?

Briggs answers, I don't protect my tenderness. I simply don't know how to be anything else. Even the anger is just a symptom of it.

Crispy asks, For those trying to build something weird, scrappy, honest, and durable like you have—what’s your advice?

Briggs answers, You have to do it for you. I know I've said a whole bunch of shit about recognition and renown, but none of that will mean anything if I am not creating something for me first and foremost. I write the kind of poetry I want to read. I make the kind of art I want to look at. Sure, I could get a lot more comments and kudos on AO3 if I write Destiel or Reylo, but I have no real interest in reading that. Now, a Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow-style narrative poem about a minor antagonist from a spinoff of a relatively obscure browser game that describes a slow-burn enemies-to-rivals-to-wild-back-alley-transgender-fucking-one-night-stand-to-tattooing-your-poetry-on-each-other-type of romance? Now that is what I want to read. But nobody's gonna write it, so I guess I'll have to do it myself. The same is true for any of you. If you aren't interested in what you are making, if the product or the process doesn't bring you joy, you won't want to keep doing it. And I don't know about you, but I cannot for the life of me do anything I don't want to do.

Crispy asks, Can you talk about the tension between suffering and survival in your work—and why it feels urgent to name both?

When I was ten years old, I tried to kill myself. Afterwards, I promised myself that I would never die by my own hand. I've gotten real close to breaking that promise a whole bunch of times. But I have to keep going. I have to because my work isn't done. I have to because the people I'm scared of would be real fuckin happy if they didn't have to deal with me anymore.

Text continues.

Crispy asks, Your poems crack open everything from heartbreak to injustice to survival. How do you protect your own tenderness when you’re writing about pain? Briggs answers, I don't protect my tenderness. I simply don't know how to be anything else. Even the anger is just a symptom of it. Crispy asks, For those trying to build something weird, scrappy, honest, and durable like you have—what’s your advice? Briggs answers, You have to do it for you. I know I've said a whole bunch of shit about recognition and renown, but none of that will mean anything if I am not creating something for me first and foremost. I write the kind of poetry I want to read. I make the kind of art I want to look at. Sure, I could get a lot more comments and kudos on AO3 if I write Destiel or Reylo, but I have no real interest in reading that. Now, a Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow-style narrative poem about a minor antagonist from a spinoff of a relatively obscure browser game that describes a slow-burn enemies-to-rivals-to-wild-back-alley-transgender-fucking-one-night-stand-to-tattooing-your-poetry-on-each-other-type of romance? Now that is what I want to read. But nobody's gonna write it, so I guess I'll have to do it myself. The same is true for any of you. If you aren't interested in what you are making, if the product or the process doesn't bring you joy, you won't want to keep doing it. And I don't know about you, but I cannot for the life of me do anything I don't want to do. Crispy asks, Can you talk about the tension between suffering and survival in your work—and why it feels urgent to name both? When I was ten years old, I tried to kill myself. Afterwards, I promised myself that I would never die by my own hand. I've gotten real close to breaking that promise a whole bunch of times. But I have to keep going. I have to because my work isn't done. I have to because the people I'm scared of would be real fuckin happy if they didn't have to deal with me anymore. Text continues.

I'm so happy with this incredible feature that Crispy Zine did on me! It is an honor, an absolute honor to be highlighted like this!

03.09.2025 01:16 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

i need to read it 🥺

11.10.2025 01:52 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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🌙 Production Update 🦋
Our sample deck has arrived, and we're excited to share a sneak peek of the tarot box, tarot cards, and tarot cloth 👀

Follow us for future production updates!
#persona3 #tarotdeck #zinepromos

30.09.2025 03:05 — 👍 20    🔁 8    💬 1    📌 2

I am antifascist. I am queer and bi and trans and nonbinary. I lean Left because my morality is based in compassion for my fellow humans. I have so much love in my heart. I don't want others to suffer. I am neither dangerous nor a terrorist. I will not be silenced. I will not die by my own hand.

18.09.2025 18:07 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

hi, cis folks!

if you said you’d stand with trans people, we need you now.

the FY26 budget bill gets a vote by 9/30. the GOP wants to jam a ban on federal funding for ALL health services that provide trans care for ANY AGE.

we need you to call senators: reps.fyi

more info & script downthread.🧵

09.09.2025 15:13 — 👍 4674    🔁 4888    💬 7    📌 73

oh my GOODNESS

07.09.2025 02:04 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
The cover of Crispy Zine, a publication dedicated to queer midwestern artists. it centers on paint brushes next to a tastefully risqué painting of a muscular man showing off his butt.  Text reads "Crispy Zine" on the top and "A Protest Wrapped in a Love Letter" on the bottom.

The cover of Crispy Zine, a publication dedicated to queer midwestern artists. it centers on paint brushes next to a tastefully risqué painting of a muscular man showing off his butt. Text reads "Crispy Zine" on the top and "A Protest Wrapped in a Love Letter" on the bottom.

A full two-page spread from Crispy Zine featuring poet David M. Briggs. There is a picture of Briggs petting one of his cats and a picture of Briggs performing one of her poems at a poetry slam. There is a pull quote from Briggs where they say "Penis! Penis! That's not even profanity! Cocks and cunts!" on one page. The facing page has the title "Loud. Messy. Necessary." and the words "Dive deeper into David's work". The full text of each page will be in the alt text for the next two images.

A full two-page spread from Crispy Zine featuring poet David M. Briggs. There is a picture of Briggs petting one of his cats and a picture of Briggs performing one of her poems at a poetry slam. There is a pull quote from Briggs where they say "Penis! Penis! That's not even profanity! Cocks and cunts!" on one page. The facing page has the title "Loud. Messy. Necessary." and the words "Dive deeper into David's work". The full text of each page will be in the alt text for the next two images.

Interview with poet David M. Briggs. Text as follows.
Crispy Zine asks, You’ve been building this loud, messy, necessary body of work for two decades. What’s kept the fire alive all these years?

Briggs answers, The thing that has kept me writing for all these years is the same thing that made me start writing: a gnawing, ever-present feeling that I am not enough, but perhaps if I work hard enough, I can create something that justifies my existence and will give me the recognition that I have craved forever. The best thing about this is that there is no level of renown that will quiet it! I could be the most famous, most successful person in the entire world, and I would still feel like the work is never done. But in my quieter moments, more level, I recognize that this is something that I am good at, that I can do it well, and this is what I can and should give to the world, to my friends, to myself.

Crispy asks, Halberd Books Vol. 3 is described as “profane, humane, and slightly deranged.” Which of those three words feels most like home to you right now?

Briggs answers, I'm scared! I am so scared all the time, so I'm tempted to say deranged. But more than I am scared, I am tired, so I want to be humane. But more than that, I want to be human. And in order to be human, a writer has to separate herself both from fucking corpo nonsense and this fucking generative A.I. business. And you know what big corporations hate more than anything? Profanity. Google search turns off its A.I. summaries if you curse enough in your search terms. Algorithms punish the use of not just swears but other completely necessary words to describe the human experience, like kill and die and suicide and porn. So I have to be most at home in profane. If I stop myself from saying shit and fuck and cum and tits just because Mister Musk will shadowban me, how am I any better than McDonalds? Penis!!!!!! PENIS!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT EVEN PROFANITY!!! COCKS AND CUNTS!!!!!!

Interview with poet David M. Briggs. Text as follows. Crispy Zine asks, You’ve been building this loud, messy, necessary body of work for two decades. What’s kept the fire alive all these years? Briggs answers, The thing that has kept me writing for all these years is the same thing that made me start writing: a gnawing, ever-present feeling that I am not enough, but perhaps if I work hard enough, I can create something that justifies my existence and will give me the recognition that I have craved forever. The best thing about this is that there is no level of renown that will quiet it! I could be the most famous, most successful person in the entire world, and I would still feel like the work is never done. But in my quieter moments, more level, I recognize that this is something that I am good at, that I can do it well, and this is what I can and should give to the world, to my friends, to myself. Crispy asks, Halberd Books Vol. 3 is described as “profane, humane, and slightly deranged.” Which of those three words feels most like home to you right now? Briggs answers, I'm scared! I am so scared all the time, so I'm tempted to say deranged. But more than I am scared, I am tired, so I want to be humane. But more than that, I want to be human. And in order to be human, a writer has to separate herself both from fucking corpo nonsense and this fucking generative A.I. business. And you know what big corporations hate more than anything? Profanity. Google search turns off its A.I. summaries if you curse enough in your search terms. Algorithms punish the use of not just swears but other completely necessary words to describe the human experience, like kill and die and suicide and porn. So I have to be most at home in profane. If I stop myself from saying shit and fuck and cum and tits just because Mister Musk will shadowban me, how am I any better than McDonalds? Penis!!!!!! PENIS!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT EVEN PROFANITY!!! COCKS AND CUNTS!!!!!!

Crispy asks, Your poems crack open everything from heartbreak to injustice to survival. How do you protect your own tenderness when you’re writing about pain?

Briggs answers, I don't protect my tenderness. I simply don't know how to be anything else. Even the anger is just a symptom of it.

Crispy asks, For those trying to build something weird, scrappy, honest, and durable like you have—what’s your advice?

Briggs answers, You have to do it for you. I know I've said a whole bunch of shit about recognition and renown, but none of that will mean anything if I am not creating something for me first and foremost. I write the kind of poetry I want to read. I make the kind of art I want to look at. Sure, I could get a lot more comments and kudos on AO3 if I write Destiel or Reylo, but I have no real interest in reading that. Now, a Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow-style narrative poem about a minor antagonist from a spinoff of a relatively obscure browser game that describes a slow-burn enemies-to-rivals-to-wild-back-alley-transgender-fucking-one-night-stand-to-tattooing-your-poetry-on-each-other-type of romance? Now that is what I want to read. But nobody's gonna write it, so I guess I'll have to do it myself. The same is true for any of you. If you aren't interested in what you are making, if the product or the process doesn't bring you joy, you won't want to keep doing it. And I don't know about you, but I cannot for the life of me do anything I don't want to do.

Crispy asks, Can you talk about the tension between suffering and survival in your work—and why it feels urgent to name both?

When I was ten years old, I tried to kill myself. Afterwards, I promised myself that I would never die by my own hand. I've gotten real close to breaking that promise a whole bunch of times. But I have to keep going. I have to because my work isn't done. I have to because the people I'm scared of would be real fuckin happy if they didn't have to deal with me anymore.

Text continues.

Crispy asks, Your poems crack open everything from heartbreak to injustice to survival. How do you protect your own tenderness when you’re writing about pain? Briggs answers, I don't protect my tenderness. I simply don't know how to be anything else. Even the anger is just a symptom of it. Crispy asks, For those trying to build something weird, scrappy, honest, and durable like you have—what’s your advice? Briggs answers, You have to do it for you. I know I've said a whole bunch of shit about recognition and renown, but none of that will mean anything if I am not creating something for me first and foremost. I write the kind of poetry I want to read. I make the kind of art I want to look at. Sure, I could get a lot more comments and kudos on AO3 if I write Destiel or Reylo, but I have no real interest in reading that. Now, a Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow-style narrative poem about a minor antagonist from a spinoff of a relatively obscure browser game that describes a slow-burn enemies-to-rivals-to-wild-back-alley-transgender-fucking-one-night-stand-to-tattooing-your-poetry-on-each-other-type of romance? Now that is what I want to read. But nobody's gonna write it, so I guess I'll have to do it myself. The same is true for any of you. If you aren't interested in what you are making, if the product or the process doesn't bring you joy, you won't want to keep doing it. And I don't know about you, but I cannot for the life of me do anything I don't want to do. Crispy asks, Can you talk about the tension between suffering and survival in your work—and why it feels urgent to name both? When I was ten years old, I tried to kill myself. Afterwards, I promised myself that I would never die by my own hand. I've gotten real close to breaking that promise a whole bunch of times. But I have to keep going. I have to because my work isn't done. I have to because the people I'm scared of would be real fuckin happy if they didn't have to deal with me anymore. Text continues.

I'm so happy with this incredible feature that Crispy Zine did on me! It is an honor, an absolute honor to be highlighted like this!

03.09.2025 01:16 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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maya + susato request from tumblr #aceattorney #thegreataceattorney

31.08.2025 21:50 — 👍 92    🔁 53    💬 0    📌 0
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猛獣襲来

01.09.2025 07:27 — 👍 55    🔁 20    💬 0    📌 0
Frustrated little dude gripping a pencil saying “how do I pack this down into something I can actually share?” While swirling rainbows labeled “INFINITE POTENTIAL” float around them.

Little dude frowns at a tiny grey box, exclaiming “all that work for THIS?!”

Little dude shoves the grey box into another little guy’s hands; Frowning, stomping off, and saying “Here you go, I made this, it sucks.”

Second little dude cracks open the box, swirling rainbows project out onto their face.

Second little dude stares in awe at all the swirling rainbows now floating around them.

Frustrated little dude gripping a pencil saying “how do I pack this down into something I can actually share?” While swirling rainbows labeled “INFINITE POTENTIAL” float around them. Little dude frowns at a tiny grey box, exclaiming “all that work for THIS?!” Little dude shoves the grey box into another little guy’s hands; Frowning, stomping off, and saying “Here you go, I made this, it sucks.” Second little dude cracks open the box, swirling rainbows project out onto their face. Second little dude stares in awe at all the swirling rainbows now floating around them.

Sometimes we’re unsatisfied with a thing we made because when it only existed in our head, we saw all the things it could have been and when it’s done we know all the things that it isn’t, but we can’t see the way it expands into a million new things when someone else unpacks it in their head. 🖊️🦑

31.08.2025 09:04 — 👍 25373    🔁 8726    💬 152    📌 205
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The summer I went wild 🐾💖☀️

30.08.2025 06:13 — 👍 128    🔁 19    💬 2    📌 0
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anyway here's the highlight from last night's stream. kind of want to actually complete a zooter with a timer. maybe tomorrow.

30.08.2025 14:22 — 👍 45    🔁 7    💬 1    📌 1
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can someone edit this photo so it looks like I'm holding the pointy building in the back

18.07.2025 03:14 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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パオうら

29.08.2025 17:46 — 👍 16    🔁 5    💬 0    📌 0
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IT IS MY BIRTHDAY

WE'RE PLAYING NEW KIRBY DLC

you're invited 🥳

twitch.tv/kelpsey

28.08.2025 14:38 — 👍 29    🔁 3    💬 11    📌 0

INCREDIBLE

27.08.2025 14:30 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

i don't say it to guilt you but seriously, the ratio of Hits to Kudos to Comments is sad, y'all. it does not have to be a full in depth analysis of the work the author posted every time

just a "this was great, thank you for writing this" with your own additional flavor to it is more than enough

25.08.2025 19:48 — 👍 47    🔁 16    💬 0    📌 0

and if you have writers in your friend group, please take the extra care when you can to support and kudos and comment on their works

in a lot of cases, it's more difficult to get traction on socmedia with writing, and for some reason a lot of readers are allergic to leaving comments

25.08.2025 19:48 — 👍 184    🔁 129    💬 1    📌 0

Writing is truly a nightmare. Fic authors are too powerful

25.08.2025 02:02 — 👍 14    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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I dont "NETWORK", I do not "keep a consistent schedule", I don't try to make my art "stand out" on people's feeds. I POST MY ART. And if it flops, I DON'T CARE.

04.08.2025 21:22 — 👍 18480    🔁 5980    💬 105    📌 187

Dumbasses: Artists are gatekeeping their skills. The bourgeoisie look down from their canvas castles on us poor middle management stockowners!

Every artist i know: I'm behind on rent again, please help

22.08.2025 21:51 — 👍 1884    🔁 684    💬 14    📌 9

yeah like it's a bad and boring redesign but now some motherfuckers think it's The Great Replacement, so I'm not gonna say anything.

23.08.2025 21:16 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

@halberdbooks is following 19 prominent accounts