John Bryant

a man with a beard says words are hard in front of a bunch of guitars Alt: A man with a beard says "Words are hard" in front of a bunch of guitars

I can't trust a literary festival that touts their inaugural event as first annual. 😐

Anthropic Settlement: What Authors Should Know - The Authors Guild Copyright holders recently secured preliminary approval of a $1.5 billion class settlement in the Bartz v. Anthropic case, in which authors Andrea Bartz, Kirk Johnson, and Charles Graeber led a class-...

Authors!! Let’s talk ANTHROPIC SETTLEMENT. We’re holding a virtual meeting this THURSDAY at 6 PM to go over everything you need to know about the Anthropic settlement, determining eligibility and filing claims. It’s free to attend but please register here: authorsguild.org/event/anthro...

The #WIPSnips word of the day is "prize." Here's a snipped from my work in progress, Slaves of God: At eighteen, his father died, and the weight of Brown Estates fell on his shoulders. Davis had a knack for spending, not business. By the time folks finally called him grown, he’d drained the family fortune, buying up superficial things he figured passed for wealth. Exotic goods from far away lands. Elaborate dinner parties. Horses, even a prized Thoroughbred. Eventually, predictably, the money dried up.

A fool and his money are soon parted. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

Censorship by the Numbers Every year, the American Library Association compiles data on censorship attempts in libraries around the United States based on reports from the field and media coverage.

"Censorship by the Numbers" from @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social www.ala.org/bbooks/censo... #BannedBooksWeek #LetFreedomRead

For Oct. 7th, the #WIPSnips word of the day is "safe." Here's a snippet from my WIP, Slaves of God: He felt her eyes on him, waiting for something more, not knowing what to say. “We should get back,” he said, and heaved the bundle onto his shoulder. “Oughta be enough.” She nodded. Adelia cradled the twigs and flowers in her dress, caring for them like delicate things. Like something worth keeping safe. They headed toward camp, the space between them filling with things left unsaid. Camouflaged in the brush, the hare watched.

Words unsaid keep you safe. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

I almost didn't catch the typo in my work in progress: "Davis picked himself up. Brushed pollen and grass from his clothes. His old bones creaked and pooped as he stretched."

Pooped? 😂 #typo #amwriting #writesky

Blue graphic with a bright pink box at the top that says, “Apply Today!” Beneath that, in all caps are the words “Walter Grants” followed by a brief description that says, “WNDB’s Walter Dean Myers Grants provide promising unpublished writers and illustrators $2000 to support their career development” To the left of the text is an illustration of a person with long black hair sitting at a desk and writing in a word doc. At the bottom of the graphic are the dates “October 1st through October 31st,” denoting the application period for Walter Grant applications. In the bottom right hand corner of the graphic is a light green box containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form.

Blue graphic displaying a mock-up internet browser window. At the top of the window is a search bar containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form for WNDB’s Walter Grants. Beneath that, the mock-up browser window is titled “About Walter Grants” and contains the following description: “The Walter Dean Myers Grant provides a financial boost to promising writers and illustrators from diverse backgrounds who are currently unpublished. Each grantee receives $2000 to hone their craft and support their career development. The Walter Grant can be used in a variety of ways, from attending conferences to purchasing new writing devices to covering childcare.”

🔔 Apply for a Walter Dean Myers Grant today!

The Walter Dean Myers Grant program was established to provide grants of $2,000 each to promising diverse writers and illustrators who are currently unpublished. Follow the 🔗 below (also in our bio) to apply ⬇️

💻 bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp

Banned & Challenged Books ALA compiles data on book challenges from reports filed by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States.

Banned books speak volumes to those who listen. 📚 #BannedBooksWeek #LetFreedomRead www.ala.org/bbooks

The #WIPSnips word of the day is "miss." Here's a snippet from my historical fantasy joint, Slaves of God: He spotted Birdie. Middle pew, dead center. Hard to miss. He knew what folks thought of her, and how little she cared. Thought of most like tiny bugs beneath her well-manicured feet. She crossed one leg over the other, exposing a flash of thigh under her petticoats. A dare to look. For eyes to linger longer than they ought to.

Birdie knows what she's doing. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

Finally! ⚜️🏈 Who dat!!

Today's #WIPSnips word is "hunt." Here's a snipped from my historical fantasy joint, Slaves of God: "Kuua!” Nanyamka cried out. Dayo’s ears twitched. That word. She hadn’t heard it since she was a cub, hunting game across the wilds with Nanyamka and Uncle. She remembered the impala. Graceful. Terrified. Fast. But not fast enough. She clamped her jaws around its neck and held firm until the body stilled beneath her. Nanyamka screamed. Not with praise, but horror. Dayo never understood. Nature never asked permission. Balance fed on blood. After that, kuua vanished. In its place came mlinzi. Guard. Protect. The word defined her mission. Now, the old word resurfaced, clawing its way out from the dark corners of her mind. “Kuua!” Nanyamka repeated, shouting this time. Something stirred. Ancient. Primal. Dayo complied. No hesitation. No doubt. She knew what it meant. Kill. And so she did."

When a giant hyena is your protector, old memories sometimes stir. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

two children are riding a wooden airplane on top of a snow covered mountain .. Alt: Three children ride a wooden, pedal-powered airplane and pass by a snow covered mountain.

Sign me up!

Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.

secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.

Who's your favorite Jedi?
(wrong answers only)

The title of my upcoming book, Slaves of God. Below that are the words, a novel. And finally my name, John Bryant.

Playing with fonts today. I dunno if I'm 100% sold on this one, but I don't hate it. #amwriting #writesky

The word for today's #WIPSnips is "leave." Here's a snippet from my historical fantasy joint, SLAVES OF GOD: Wink knew nobody else could see it. How it came and went in the corner of his eye. Been like that for awhile now. Kept it to himself as best he could. Wasn’t always easy. But if he ignored it long enough, the hare would slip away and leave him be. At least for a while.

Is Wink going crazy? Seeing that damn hare again. 🐰 #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

a group of people standing next to each other with the words " wheels up " written on the bottom ALT: a group of people standing next to each other with the words " wheels up " written on the bottom

Is it weird that it's Criminal Minds? 🤔

Tigers gonna give me a heart attack. MIZ! 🐯🏈

Extreme close up of a keyboard. A few number and letter keys are visible.

Ok, old friend. Do do that voodoo that you do so well. #amwriting #writesky

three men are standing in front of a debate night sign Alt: Cedric the Entertainer gets in a man's face, throws his hand in the air like a tomahawk chop and says "Facts!"

My life! 😂

a man wearing a fur hat and glasses is sitting down . Alt: Urkel is stunned. The earflaps of his winter cap raise up like bunny ears.

"... struggled to compete with the gloom." That's such a great line.

Today's #WIPSnips is red. Here's a snipped from my historical fiction joint, Slaves of God: Once-buried childhood memories resurfaced. Lush, landscaped greenery. Sturdy trees. Flowers that once bloomed in vivid yellows, reds, and violets now withered and dry. The landscape bore scars from felled trees, leaving behind ancient stumps as silent reminders of the past. A faded shell of the home Adelia once knew.

Adelia visits her childhood home. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

a bald man with a beard is wearing a shirt that says girl same Alt: A bearded bald man in a black shirt rolls his eyes and says: "Girl, same."

My life!

The word for the September 16th #WIPSnips is practice. Here's a snippet from my urban fantasy joint, Slaves of God: “Yes sir,” Wink said, swallowing what dignity he could. “God’s honest truth.” Jairus nodded and donned his mask of a smile, the kind practiced over a lifetime.

Self-preservation and fake smiles. #WIPSnips #amwriting #writesky

A shout out to Leonard Snart's 4 Rules of Planning in my WIP: Cope didn’t have an answer. Not one that would go down easy, anyway. Father Lorenzo hadn’t sent word for days. The truth? He didn’t know when the cross would get there. He’d planned. Stuck to the plan. But the unreliable priest had thrown off the timetable. The plan was about to go sideways and he considered throwing it out altogether.

A shout out to Leonard Snart's 4 Rules of Planning in my #WIP Slaves of God. 🤔 #IYKYK #amwriting #writesky #ScarletSpeedster

a man is holding his hand to his chin and making a funny face . Alt: Wee-Bey from The Wire reacting, holding his hand to his chin with his jaw agape.

The moment when you finally understand how you're gonna plug that gaping plot hole that's been wrecking your head for months. #amwriting #writesky

The #WIPSnips word for September 9th is pressure. Here's a snipped from my work in progress, Slaves of God: He squeezed his eyes shut. Tight. So hard his temples throbbed from the pressure. But when he opened them, the hare still stood there. “No, no. You ain’t real,” he whispered. The hare flicked its black-tipped ears. Then it scooped up a fallen acorn and hurled it at Wink, hitting him square in the forehead. “That real enough for you?” it teased, twitching its nose.

When a figment of Wink's imagination proves it's no figment. #WIPSnips #writesky #amwriting

MIZ 🏈🐯

a hillside with trees on it and a cloudy sky in the background Alt: A car flies off a hillside with trees on it and a cloudy sky in the background.

Ugh. Today's writing adventure 😱 #amwriting