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Jonathan Helland (He/Him)

@jonathanhelland.bsky.social

I'm a writer of horror and fantasy, an amateur pop-culture scholar, a professional educator, a semi-professional HEMA instructor, an aspiring ally, and a man with ADHD, depression, too many hobbies. https://www.clippings.me/users/jhelland

656 Followers  |  883 Following  |  11 Posts  |  Joined: 20.09.2023  |  1.6109

Latest posts by jonathanhelland.bsky.social on Bluesky

๐ŸŒŸUPCOMING AUCTION ๐ŸŒŸ
The auction will start tomorrow, May 9.
Stay tuned for the link ๐Ÿ“ท and please boost and share.
In the meantime, more teasers of what is being offered:

09.05.2025 03:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

This comic is excellent.

This idea that every new technological advance must be embraced--no matter how bad for people, society, and/or the environment--has done as much harm as any other ideology in history.

08.05.2025 11:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Itโ€™s called elevated horror, T. Itโ€™s when the dracula is actually that your mom died.

23.01.2024 18:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4586    ๐Ÿ” 1224    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 18    ๐Ÿ“Œ 32

1. Scariness is one of the least important qualities by which to measure a horror novel. Reading is almost never scary, but horror has more to offer than that.

2. There are probably more deconstructions of the "Final Girl" trope than there ever were unironic Final Girls. We can relax a bit.

20.03.2025 20:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
a cat is laying on the floor next to a sausage and a ball ALT: a cat is laying on the floor next to a sausage and a ball
18.03.2025 13:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
four loaves of bread are covered in flour with a green g on the bottom ALT: four loaves of bread are covered in flour with a green g on the bottom
18.03.2025 13:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Contemplating including a prologue in my new WIP, proving that I refuse to learning anything from my querying experience.

14.03.2025 14:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Trial Run now available

Trial Run now available

Today is publication day for Trial Run! Iโ€™m so excited to share this book with the world! ๐ŸŽ‰

14.03.2025 12:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 22    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 12

I'M SO EMOTIONAL ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ

27.02.2025 14:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 154    ๐Ÿ” 47    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
"Is this a pigeon?" meme but with the man labeled "me" asking "is this a healthy hobby?" about a label that says "stalking querytracker timelines"

"Is this a pigeon?" meme but with the man labeled "me" asking "is this a healthy hobby?" about a label that says "stalking querytracker timelines"

The current mood for real. #amquerying

24.02.2025 19:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Look in your agency's Second Chance inbox, I have something there you might like!

12.02.2025 18:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I got two requests!

Sent one submission this morning, the other one I decided wasn't a fit.

Overall, I'm pretty thrilled to get any attention at all for a novelette. It's such an awkward length to get published.

03.02.2025 15:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I love The Midnight Society and I know this is satire, but as a folk horror superfan, I have to be that guy:

Harvest Home was published in 1973, Children of the Corn was published in 1977.
If someone was being derivative, it sure wasn't Thomas Tryon.

31.01.2025 17:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
#CritPit
What is it? A bsky event to help writers find new alpha readers, beta readers, and/or critique partners!
When is it happening? 8 February 2025. No time zone restrictions. As long as itโ€™s Feb 8 somewhere, #CritPit is happening!
Who can participate? All writers who have something for which theyโ€™d like to find a reader/partner! This includes novels, novellas, short stories, etc.

#CritPit What is it? A bsky event to help writers find new alpha readers, beta readers, and/or critique partners! When is it happening? 8 February 2025. No time zone restrictions. As long as itโ€™s Feb 8 somewhere, #CritPit is happening! Who can participate? All writers who have something for which theyโ€™d like to find a reader/partner! This includes novels, novellas, short stories, etc.

How to participate
1. Create a short (single post-length) pitch to describe your work. Your pitch doesnโ€™t need to be perfect, but it should tell people what your writing is about!

2. Post up to 3 works, 1 post per work

3. Include the #CritPit hashtag!

4. To help people find you, include an age category tag and at least 1 genre tag (see bit.ly/CritPit for a list of tags)

5. If a pitch interests you, leave a comment to let the writer know!

How to participate 1. Create a short (single post-length) pitch to describe your work. Your pitch doesnโ€™t need to be perfect, but it should tell people what your writing is about! 2. Post up to 3 works, 1 post per work 3. Include the #CritPit hashtag! 4. To help people find you, include an age category tag and at least 1 genre tag (see bit.ly/CritPit for a list of tags) 5. If a pitch interests you, leave a comment to let the writer know!

FAQ
Am I allowed to like pitches? Yes! Anyone can like, comment, and/or repost! Go wild!
Are agents/editors participating? This is NOT an event for pitching to agents/editors. This is for writers to find other writers. Agents/editors who are also writers may participate, but do so as writers only.
Can I include a moodboard/graphic? Do I HAVE to include a moodboard/graphic? Graphics (moodboards, โ€œa guide to,โ€ etc.) are not required but they are allowed. Do include alt text for all images. Do not use AI-generated content.

FAQ Am I allowed to like pitches? Yes! Anyone can like, comment, and/or repost! Go wild! Are agents/editors participating? This is NOT an event for pitching to agents/editors. This is for writers to find other writers. Agents/editors who are also writers may participate, but do so as writers only. Can I include a moodboard/graphic? Do I HAVE to include a moodboard/graphic? Graphics (moodboards, โ€œa guide to,โ€ etc.) are not required but they are allowed. Do include alt text for all images. Do not use AI-generated content.

Finding a match
You do not have to work with everyone to comments/volunteers as a reader! 
Recommended first steps for a potential match:
1. Discuss whether youโ€™ll be swapping (reading for each other) or just 1 person will read for the other.
2. Share a slightly longer blurb + any content/trigger warnings.
3. Share a sample (like first 1-2 chapters) so you can see if you vibe (reader is interested/engaged & writer feels the feedback style of the reader works for them).
4. Always notify someone if you donโ€™t think youโ€™ll be a good fit, canโ€™t make the time commitment, or canโ€™t finish once you start.

Finding a match You do not have to work with everyone to comments/volunteers as a reader! Recommended first steps for a potential match: 1. Discuss whether youโ€™ll be swapping (reading for each other) or just 1 person will read for the other. 2. Share a slightly longer blurb + any content/trigger warnings. 3. Share a sample (like first 1-2 chapters) so you can see if you vibe (reader is interested/engaged & writer feels the feedback style of the reader works for them). 4. Always notify someone if you donโ€™t think youโ€™ll be a good fit, canโ€™t make the time commitment, or canโ€™t finish once you start.

All right, let's do this, #WritingCommunity! Next Saturday (Feb 8), I'm hosting #CritPit, an event for #writers to find critique partners and alpha/beta readers. The event is open to all writers! Please share widely!

31.01.2025 05:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 89    ๐Ÿ” 60    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 13    ๐Ÿ“Œ 19

I'm not bringing this up for any particular reason, but have you all heard of JURY NULLIFICATION?

Just an interesting thing I think people should be aware exists.

09.12.2024 20:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'll be keeping this queued up to show people tomorrow

28.11.2024 02:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
WHY WE LOVE HORROR: THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR BLACK THEORY Most people avoid feelings of fear, disgust, and unease โ€“ horror fans seek them out again and again. We have all experienced the awkwardness of trying to explain why. There is no one answer &โ€ฆ

'Why are you always in Black?!?'
Tired of hearing it? Well, @jonathanhelland.bsky.social has a few (well a good deal of) words in defense of the shade of choice for a lot of us horror-heads, goths, punks, emos, and otherwise for #NightTideMag!
nighttidemag.com/2024/11/27/c...

27.11.2024 16:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Horned Mother Playlist - YouTube

#unhingedpit #ya #horror #Horned_Mother_Hungry_Mother_Bride_of_the_Woods

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

13.11.2024 16:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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