I picked a serial killer on national TV because I wanted attention. There’s no cleaner way to say it.
My new short story “The Dating Game” is out now at Dodo Eraser.
dodoeraser.org/2026/03/06/t...
Just voted. Politics in this country are messy af but hey, at least we get a sticker…
Writer's life is staying up until 1:30am staring at two almost identical gradients like one of them will determine the fate of your entire book...
Been thinking about why some horror franchises are so hard to shake once they get in your system.
New piece is up…
open.substack.com/pub/malsmart...
Getting ready to see a scary movie…
We return with two new pieces tomorrow, but before then, give a read to The Bulb Region writer Wilson Koewing's (@wilsonkoewing.bsky.social) gut-punch of a story, "The Deep End," published in @maudlinhouse.bsky.social.
maudlinhouse.net/the-deep-end/
Scream drops tonight so I’m logging off until I see it Saturday. Not because I’m evolved. Because I’ve met the internet.
My chapbook We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes arrives this April...
Brain buffering at 11:45 PM but the anxiety is in HD. Love that for me…
Chicago really said World’s Fair but with a body count.
Should I be concerned this already feels like a comfort read?
When suddenly faced with silence, your mind would rather be wrong than be unprepared…
open.substack.com/pub/malsmart...
Pour one out because HBO finally clocked the shared login and GigaFloat2 just got evicted from the premises…
Still thinking about how every human feeling now comes with a subscription tier.
“We’ve Got a Pill for That” is live at Vol. 1 Brooklyn.
www.vol1brooklyn.com/2026/02/22/s...
Starbuck can hear the exact moment my soul re-enters my body. One weak breath and she appears…
People hate on disaster movies, but nothing hits as hard as the moment the world quietly tips and everyone realizes they’re just too late.
There’s nothing I love more than the moment in a movie when everything is technically still fine and absolutely is not…
We’ve reached the stage of capitalism where your doctor prescribes vibes.
My new short story “We’ve Got a Pill for That” is live at Vol. 1 Brooklyn.
It’s about anxiety, optimization, and the slow horror of being medically fine but spiritually buffering.
www.vol1brooklyn.com/2026/02/22/s...
Tonite at The Midnight Realm…
Nothing like recording a thoughtful literary podcast and then wondering if you sounded weird the the whole night after…
Ready to start a new season of Textual Healing…🎧
My husband just secured Hilary Duff tickets and suddenly my 2003 personality is back online…
My husband just secured Hilary Duff tickets and suddenly my 2003 personality is back online…
I’m done saying “go to hell.” Too easy. From now on it’s, “I hope the Netflix adaptation of your favorite book has an awful cast.”
Way more personal…
She’s staring outside like the plot is about to begin and I’m just background noise…
Valentine’s Day at Tangible Books talking about Winesburg, Ohio.
Bleak Midwestern loneliness, but make it romantic…
I don’t trust writers who build a personality around hating pop culture. I’m just a dork who loves Stephen King, Ryan Murphy, and unhinged emotional chaos.
No apologies…
The Shortlist for February 13:
A new story from James Vella in Turn & Work
Plus links to other great stories from:
Wim Hylen and Henrick Karoliszyn in @mrbullbull.bsky.social
Mallory Smart @mallorysmart.bsky.social in Little Engines
Check them all out here:
My oldest niece turns 26 today, which feels fake because she’s basically my sister with different paperwork.
Evidence: my extremely responsible bottle-rocket supervision…
Just got my Scream tix!
Doctor’s office waiting room. The receptionist softly singing along to Purple Rain.
Everyone pretending not to need saving…
