TD

I’m interested and based in Houston. Teacher for ten years. Agented writer and progressive in most things as far as I know. Extremely online just less so Bluesky.

Photo of my fluffy white cat Francie, glaring sleepily up at the camera with her tongue sticking out.

This is how your email finds me.

My 8yo used to nest on books for this precise reason, verbatim. I miss it 😭

Build something that isn’t work or paid labor. Build something just for you. Build love, respect, dignity. Build community. Build a spiritual practice. Nurture your soul. Nurture the present. Don’t give value to things that will just throw you away. Be the integral part, the needful thing, yourself.

I think about this quote from Alexander Chee all the time: “I loved him for what he could be, which is not a good way to love someone.”

I’m in and out of bluesky, but want to engage more. I have been busy writing. Still hoping for a sale soon. We shall see.

guy on twitter imagining king of the hill but its like gay or something

this is the true endgame for AI: conservatives can now actually make up anything they want to get mad at

Writing Tip: An important part of revising is determining not only what can be excised but also what needs to be added. As you read each scene, ask, "Is this scene gay enough?" "Could it be gayer?" and "Should I take out all the non-gay stuff to better accentuate the gay?"

Grimes has invented something she calls “butter toast” and it is exactly what you think it is

For the love of Zsa Zsa Gabor, people, stop carrying water for Christian extremists by pretending they’re “not really Christian.”

All you’re doing there is *REINFORCING* the very Christian hegemony and privilege from which they draw power

Most White Americans who regularly attend worship services voted for Trump in 2020 Among White Americans, worship service attendance remains highly correlated with presidential vote choice.

Your sadly still necessary reminder that very active, very religious Christians can be and often are terrible people

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

Paidraig O’Tauma’s 50 Poems To Open Your World is a great primer to get an idea of poets you might like. Read a poem a day, like a little literary snack.

2024 do more reading hack: if you need small wins to get thru longer books that may take more time read some poetry books alongside it. They are short but dense and full of meaning.

1. White nationalist guy: In conclusion, America must ban immigrants from inferior nations and instead celebrate European culture. 2. Woman: You mean you support a strong safety net? WNG: Er, no. 3. Woman: Excellent high-speed train systems? WNG: No. 4. Woman: Universal health care? WNG: No. 5. Woman: Liberal democracy? WNG: No. 6. Woman: Respect for science and the Paris climate accord? WNG: No. 7. Woman: Generous vacations and paid family leave? WNG: No. 8. Woman: Bicycle-friendly cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen? WNG is fuming with anger 9. WNG: LOOK, I MEAN I LIKE WHITE PEOPLE, OKAY? Woman: Oh, right!

I drew this strip a few years ago, but it feels even more relevant now.

Why You Should Rest—a Lot—If You Have COVID-19 It could help prevent Long COVID

Just a friendly reminder in this season of covid that should you get covid you should rest as much as is humanly possible. You should move slower than a sloth. You aren't lazy, or indolent, you're practicing self-care.

time.com/6215346/covi...

I don’t know if anyone else watches Married At First Sight on Lifetime, but I have kept up for years and find it fascinating 👀

Got an agent Feb ‘23, been on sub since May 3rd, sending new projects and concepts to my agent for 2024 tomorrow. I have been working hard with the hope of reward. More stability in my family’s future would be nice, a world where I can create queer fiction for the next generation.

You have to care enough to get through. Big dreams are beyond your control, but being curious and interested in your work will help you connect to readers when you revise and edit.

If you’re going to write a novel in 2024 you need themes and characters that connect to what you are curious about. If there’s not something in it for you it’s gonna get hard to move forward.

My husband had two boxes in his hand and was just like, “why not Dolly?”

Scratch someone who says “I used to be progressive but the left’s support for (insert XYZ anti-oppressive struggle) has really pushed me to the right!!”

And u will usually find someone who was never actually progressive in the first place!!!!!!

a man holding a donut and sign that says "size of the donut hole down through the years in 1927 it was an inch and 1/2 in 1937 it was 7/8ths of an inch in 1948 3/8ths of an inch

This is the most important picture in american history

Two large birds, flapping their wings and jumping

Ditto

Ibid

Etc

Sandhill cranes dancing 🪶

📷 Woodbridge

We got the Dolly Parton cornbread mix for New Years. May her benevolence shine upon us 🤪

Bluesky has a new logo that’s giving me medical logo vibes 😅

Rigatoni has been waiting all month for me to let her smash her face through the sake advent calendar and her day has ARRIVED! 😂🍶 She got her gift early.

most toddlers have a spider controlling them like a mech

The image is of a gathering of opossum all drinking wine. one possum is on the floor playing dead while the others look at him. the caption reads, "he's fine. He just plays dead when he's done socializing."

From Speed Bump by Dave Coverly:

the gradual replacement of “exchanging money for goods” with “exchanging money for a license to use goods as a service” has been one low key one of the worst changes of the 21st century