John Wiswell

Story rejection! Not something I celebrate, but it's worth sharing because this happens to everybody.

If you've gotten a rejection lately? It doesn't mean anything about you as a writer. Keep writing, finishing, and submitting those stories.

Sometimes humor is a coping mechanism for people, but often it's a way of experiencing life that is every bit as valid as seriousness or malaise. I wish more people understood this. But I guess they're too stuck in their mode to see it. You wish them the best of luck, and some punchlines.

Guy: I'm not a robot!
Sarah Connor: Prove it. How would you email Stephen King?
Guy: Dear Stephen King, Carrie White is a complicated young woman whose story needs to be told. I spent last night reading everything I could about Carrie--
Sarah Connor: *empties her entire clip*

One thing about Dolly Parton's passing that strikes me is that unlike some others, she experienced a lot of praise before passing. It wasn't saved for obituaries. There were regular (warranted) love-fests for Parton.

I wish that for everyone. It's a good day to tell people you appreciate them.

There exist some powerful feelings where the only thing you can do with them is feel them. There's no way to act on them, no matter how your heart beats. You wish you could bend time. But the only time you've got is right now, and so you feel that feeling. It's not irrational. It's just what we are.

I am blessed that I even know my friends, let alone that I get to actually be friends with these people. You don't get luckier than this.

Did my first computer maintenance since the whole sickness episode. Discovered one of my fans had completely bit it. Glad I caught that before the summer heat became anymore of a problem for the poor machine!

I have never, even once, looked back and wished I had dogpiled someone.

My birthday is coming up and hospitals are low on blood. If you want to do something for me and can donate blood, maybe look up a drive?

I finished Finn Longman's The Wolf and His King today. Lovely book. A monarch and his loyal werewolf yearn for each other! Who could ask for more? Surprisingly soft and sweet for a retelling of a grim folktale.

*Columbo voice* Why would a crab plant its apple tree this far inland?

Finished a draft of a new short story today! You'll be shocked to learn that it's a weird one. Used a structure I've never done in a short story before. Also, someone's brain becomes a slurpee.

After seven months of medical hell, I am able to exercise again. It feels great.

Two months ago, it was hard to just walk into the doctor's office.

Tonight, I did half a mile on the elliptical.

Onward, fellow babies.

There is a wild lie going that Rocky in Project Hail Mary was a puppet. I don't know who spread this RIDICULOUS story. To be clear: Rocky is real and I want to be his friend.

Would you give a good home to a disabled dragon? Then I've got a book for you! https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dragon-has-some-complaints-john-wiswell/5ce9f46503b423bf

AHHHH! Wearing The Lion is a Nebula finalist for Best Novel!

A woman who habitually references old things finally goes back in time to an era when she’ll feel welcome, and accidentally winds up romancing a younger version of herself.

Coming next Valentine’s Day: WAY TO DATE YOURSELF.

Ugh, spare me with your Reality Competition Shows unless the contestants are actually from alternate realities.

Eventually every SFF writer comes up with a werewolf youtuber who says "Lycan subscribe." We all think we're the first to think of it, but there's NO shame in it. We should have a club! There should be badges!

I love my men like I love my women: platonically.

Happy International Asexuality Day!

Now I know I've worked in publishing too long because autocorrect keeps changing it to "Joan of ARC."

To the two cashiers who were making out on the floor behind the counter because they figured nobody was coming in: you are amazing, and early Happy Pride.

The protests really weren't that impressive if you were an op-ed writer with your fingers in your ears and going "Lalala can't hear you."

White collar shipwright: I work in sails.

Congratulations to everyone who managed to be normal for even five minutes today.

What are your favorite Fantasy novels of 2026 so far?

Sometimes my job is to become a fairy who delivers good news to people who missed it. This might be my favorite of all my jobs.

Vampires cannot cross running water. Fortunately for vampires, water doesn't have legs.

Hall of Fames seem so expensive to maintain. If you want something old-fashioned and accessible to celebrate your field, what you want is a Geocities of Fame.

You all were SO EXCITED about Artemis II leaving, but I knew they'd come crawling back to us. Space sounded so cool until you needed your laundry done!

"This crude art of a spiky-headed boy with jaundice saying 'Don't have a cow man' reveals that 20th century peoples were still terrified of minotaurs."

New Story Day: "Welcome To Heroism" is out in Uncanny Magazine!

A mysterious app is daring people to increasingly impossible things for a chance at fame. The feats seem so ridiculous that nobody notices they might have some altruistic sides. Could the app have an agenda...?

https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/welcome-to-heroism/

I love that word processors all have a strikethrough command now because it means I get to pronounce it "strikethruff" 900% more frequently.

If you live in glass houses, don’t throw stones. Use those stones to build an invulnerable stone house, and then chuck your glass furniture out at anyone who crosses you. Be transparent about your aggression.

Happy Friday the 13th to ALL GOALIES, not just Jason.

It's funny to rewatch an old kaiju movie and realize that a song I hum to myself all the time is a random track from the OST.

In this case, it's the fifth kaiju movie song I hum to myself all the time. But hey, it's not my fault that Akira Ifukube ruled!

I can't say this migraine is helping my productivity, but wow, the migraine is really giving its all.

My big dragon book drops July 14th! For the next two days you can get it for 25% at Barnes & Noble using the code PREORDER25.

It's the perfect discount for a four-headed dragon who's now missing one head.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dragon-has-some-complaints-john-wiswell/1148361603

Citizens of central New York state: tonight I'll be at Rough Draft Bar & Books in Kingston at 6:00 PM! I'll be reading alongside several splendid authors, and chatting and signing books.

This is my last public appearance for the year. I'd love to see you there! https://www.roughdraftny.com/events/2026/aug-night-school

Someone You Can Build A Nest In is just seven bucks in the Audible sale! Do you need some monster romance this weekend?

https://www.audible.com/pd/Someone-You-Can-Build-a-Nest-In-Audiobook/B0CX7C9FQM