Nephele Tempest

THREAD: I got laid off from NYMag/Vulture after 14 years. The family lost 75% of income + medical. Now mzs.press bookstore, once a side project. is do-or-die for Judith & I. I feel weird telling you this because others are doing much worse. But if you could like or share this, we'd be so grateful!

The 2026 Online Texas Writing Workshop Get Your Writing Published: March 6-7, 2026

Looking forward to taking one-on-one pitches at the 2026 (Online) Texas Writing Workshop on March 6-7. Join me! Anyone from anywhere can attend. Learn more about the virtual writers conference here: texaswritingworkshop.com

Crafting a Query Letter How to Stand Out with a Personalized, Professional Pitch

Sharing tips on how to write a query letter, step by step, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/crafting-a...

This is so needed. Thank you for the post.

Crafting a Query Letter How to Stand Out with a Personalized, Professional Pitch

Sharing tips on how to write a query letter, step by step, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/crafting-a...

The 2026 Online Texas Writing Workshop Get Your Writing Published: March 6-7, 2026

Looking forward to taking one-on-one pitches at the 2026 (Online) Texas Writing Workshop on March 6-7. Join me! Anyone from anywhere can attend. Learn more about the virtual writers conference here: texaswritingworkshop.com

Well this seems bad!

If only someone had thought to make a movie warning about this very thing. You know, in the 80's. Starring Ferris Bueller.

Journaling in the Show-and-Tell Age Analog journaling has taken over the internet—or at least discussing it has.

Journaling the old fashioned way—by hand, in a notebook—appears to be enjoying a resurgence. Ironically, much of this increased chatter has been happening on social media. Discussing the art of journaling, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/journaling...

Journaling in the Show-and-Tell Age Analog journaling has taken over the internet—or at least discussing it has.

Journaling the old fashioned way—by hand, in a notebook—appears to be enjoying a resurgence. Ironically, much of this increased chatter has been happening on social media. Discussing the art of journaling, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/journaling...

Actor Robert Duvall has died — he brought a compassionate center to edgy hard roles Duvall appeared in over 90 films over the course of his career, imbuing stock Hollywood types — cowboys, cops, soldiers — with a nuanced sense of vulnerability.

Duvall appeared in over 90 films over the course of his career, imbuing stock Hollywood types — cowboys, cops, soldiers — with a nuanced sense of vulnerability. n.pr/4rUDvwW

U.S. Public Libraries Forced to End Passport Services Today. Can They… Starting Feb. 13, you won't be able to apply for a U.S. passport at public libraries—unless a bipartisan effort to extend the deadline succeeds.

Fun little companion piece to the SAVE Act www.frommers.com/tips/news/pu...

Line by Line The Act of Editorial Housecleaning

Once your characters start behaving and you've perfected your plot, it's type to clean up your actual prose. Taking a look at line edits and what to check for, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/line-by-line

The 2026 Online Texas Writing Workshop Get Your Writing Published: March 6-7, 2026

Very excited to take one-on-one pitches at the 2026 (Online) Texas Writing Workshop on March 6-7. Join me! Anyone from anywhere can attend. Learn more about the virtual writers conference here: texaswritingworkshop.com

The Room Where It Happens What Do We Mean By Creative Space?

Considering the role of place in the artistic process, whatever the medium, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/the-room-w...

Mamdani Forces Delivery Apps to Pay Back $4.6 Million Cheated From Drivers New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has already scored a major win for deliveristas working for three delivery giants.

The main business model of Silicon Valley from Uber to AirBnB to Spotify is: skim profit off others' goods and labor. Often in ways that are exploitative of individuals or destructive of larger forces (as with Amazon and the retail that kept people heading out in public).

A little late, but the world sucks, so this is a fun trend to continue. Also, I'm old and had to look up course titles.

Tell me 5 classes you took in college:

Greek Thought & Lit
Arthurian Romances
The Little Red Schoolhouse (Academic & Professional Writing)
The 18th Century Novel
Feminist Theory

I'm Running as Fast as I Should Pace Your Novel to Keep Pages Turning

You might have the most captivating idea, but if your novel is poorly paced, readers will stop turning pages. Discussing how to master pacing to do your story justice, in today's newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/im-running...

This evening's thought to ponder from Maggies Farm. Essential reading, now more than ever.

If you're watching this, the government is shut down.

Reporter Jacob Bogage breaks down which services are open and which are closed during the shutdown. https://wapo.st/4alk8qJ

🚨TONIGHT’S PROTEST IN MINNEAPOLIS IS INSANE:

CNN is STUNNED. Share this widely!

“I've covered many protests… I've not seen a crowd like this before.” It’s 8 degrees. “It is freezing, but nothing, nothing is stopping these people.”

This isn’t a rally. It’s a movement. @calltoactivism.bsky.social

I'm Running as Fast as I Should Pace Your Novel to Keep Pages Turning

You might have the most captivating idea, but if your novel is poorly paced, readers will stop turning pages. Discussing how to master pacing to do your story justice, in today's newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/im-running...

Writing Limbo When Words Flow but Meaning Won’t

Writer's block isn't always about you. Sometimes it's just a natural byproduct of life. Talking about the struggle to find clarity, in today's newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/writing-li...

Writing Limbo When Words Flow but Meaning Won’t

Writer's block isn't always about you. Sometimes it's just a natural byproduct of life. Talking about the struggle to find clarity, in today's newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/writing-li...

Tweet from Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun: "Ignorance like this cheapens the horror of the Holocaust. Anne Frank was in Amsterdam legally and abided by Dutch law. She was hauled off to a death camp because of her race and religion. Her story has nothing to do with the illegal immigration, fraud, and lawlessness plaguing Minnesota today. Our brave law enforcement should be commended, not tarred with this historically illiterate and antisemitic comparison."

To avoid the possibility Holocaust remembrance might lead to empathy for migrants, Trump's antisemitism envoy claims Anne Frank "was in Amsterdam legally."

In reality, Margot Frank received a summons to go to a labor camp on July 5, 1942. After ignoring this call, they were in Amsterdam illegally.

Sometimes Writers Block is really Depression Last year, I stopped writing. Previously, I’ve always looked at Writers Block as a way of diagnosing that something has gone wrong with my story. I found that I could examine my reactions to …

How can you tell the difference between Writer's Block and Depression? Mary Robinette Kowal has your answer!

maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/some...

#LianaEdits #AmWriting

For ease of navigation and sharing, I have turned my little list into a website: standwithminnesota.org

What Your Senses Tell You Developing Layers of Description

New year means new tips in my series on editing for submission. Come discuss all the ways description can deepen your writing, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/what-your-...

Discord wants to know how you feel about AI.

Go tell them: discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

What Your Senses Tell You Developing Layers of Description

New year means new tips in my series on editing for submission. Come discuss all the ways description can deepen your writing, in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/what-your-...

Everything Old Is New Again Reviving Foundational Strengths

Happy New Year! I'm starting the new year by bringing back some old habits, good things that used to be routine but got lost along the way. Come discuss in my latest newsletter: nepheletempest.substack.com/p/everything...