Wendy Sparrow's avatar

Wendy Sparrow

@wendysparrow.bsky.social

704 followers 885 following 6070 posts

Author of books, lover of HEA, dog person, happily-married mom of 2, disabled, Fibro, EDS, agoraphobia, PTSD, OCD. She/her

Sci-fi rom series on KU: How to Choose a Gaiian in Seven Days www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CH7HSKWH

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Paris Marx's avatar Paris Marx @parismarx.bsky.social
[ View ]

Google’s emissions are up 48% in 5 years. Microsoft’s are up 30% since 2020. Those soaring figures are being driven by mass investments in data centers to power AI tools. Generative AI is a climate disaster and data center expansion must be stopped.

14 replies 626 reposts 1099 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

It's been nice talking with you, btw. These interactions after how tough it's been on here lately were very welcome. Thank you for replying.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Also, one of my siblings has anxiety disorders and I will gladly hug and accept the issues I have over the unfamiliar and overwhelming nature of those and other mental health conditions. It's all difficult in immeasurable ways.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Hormones and OCD were a vile combo, but then I layered on PTSD and agoraphobia. I'm doing much better now. The high doses of meds I'm on have some repercussions, but it's all livable. Plus, I've helped other people deal with all this, and there's a lot of validation in using my past for good.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I've planned for dozens of futures that will never happen and it sometimes feels like I've lived at least a portion of them. It's exhausting. I'm grateful there is more understanding now than there was in my teenage years, but I wish I'd gotten help so much sooner.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I have made so many unnecessary contingencies for contingencies for contingencies. They were my security blanket and they have inhaled my energy and time. I'm better on meds, but anything that causes a surge in my OCD or shifts my meds' efficacy can plunge me back into hell.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

And we've spent so much time minimizing and hiding and dismissing that it doesn't occur to us that we're being hurt and that we're worth something. It's also hard to recognize you deserve better when you've never experienced better or haven't for a while. OCD and anxiety disorders are complex.

0 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Then, something breaks through, and we think, "Maybe it's not normal to research and plan for hours on where we're going to park in the city. Maybe it's not normal to obsess about something that happened in junior high for hours every night of our lives." It doesn't "hurt" anyone...so it's fine.

2 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

My OCD is so atypical that I didn't realize it was OCD until I was older and, then, I started hiding it, accommodating, and avoiding triggers. I think all that prevents us from recognizing severity, symptoms, and that we need help. And the longer we're at it, the more we normalize it in our minds.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Mr. Am I Being Detained 's avatar Mr. Am I Being Detained @gonebabygone.bsky.social
[ View ]

Biden passed the most aggressive climate package in US history and probably ever again and I feel like the environmental beat is the only place we’re covering it

5 replies 50 reposts 214 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I've wondered if it's a small portion of why I gravitated to reading and writing almost entirely romance--because they suit the needs I have. It's pretty rare that I DNF a romance because it's so description-heavy that it feels like work to read it.

0 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic's avatar Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic @grubreport.bsky.social
[ View ]

ALA was only my 2nd trip since 2020. Before May '24, I've flown nowhere, done nothing. I never would have flown if I tested positive for COVID. I never would have knowingly exposed people. I would have taken a loss; my trip was not being paid for by anyone else. I'm losing faith in us.

6 replies 4 reposts 20 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Mike Jung's avatar Mike Jung @mikejungwroteabook.bsky.social
[ View ]

A librarian who tested positive for Covid the Monday before ALA went to ALA anyway and fucking blogged about it, which at least provides some info for potential exposure. She went to opening session, the Printz awards, and the Morris awards. The audacity

10 replies 7 reposts 38 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

And it separates you in times and in places so you feel different and isolated unable to feel the intimacy and understanding that others experience just by existing in those moments and spaces. You can be surrounded and feel heartbreakingly alone.

2 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Matthew Cortland (they)'s avatar Matthew Cortland (they) @matthewcort.land
[ View ]

Most people who are immunocompromised can (and I would argue, should!) get vax'd. (There are some severely immunosuppressed people on some specific therapies that cannot get vaccinated, or who have to carefully time vaccination–please consult the physician/team writing for your immunosuppression)

1 replies 7 reposts 31 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

But I have always tried to not just write for myself, but also for readers who do picture things, and I force myself to add descriptions (often in later drafts.) This current WIP I am adding like three or four times as much as I normally do.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Yes. I think if there's metaphorical imagery it'll keep my attention, but if someone is describing the outside of a house like you'd find in a realtor's ad, I tap out of paying attention and skip by it. My brain will grab "fading" "white" "two-story" and jump to the next bit of dialogue or action.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I once had someone say I was lucky to have OCD because it helped me clean. (It doesn't. My OCD isn't like that.) It made me absolutely livid because OCD has stolen so much from me beyond time and energy. It nearly killed me as a teenager. Anyway, I've wondered if it took this and my inner monologue.

1 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Yes. I appreciate this type of description where a character is interacting with the environment and providing sensory details. Ex. The clammy, encroaching fog dimmed her awareness like a sinister blanket of nothingness. As opposed to: The fog was thick and obscured much of the gaslit streets.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Also, what a miserable way to experience social media the OP has. Why bother if you don't think that you can gain something or help others in some way by being a part of an online community? Why bother being here?

0 replies 0 reposts 19 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Social media has saved my life and my health because it can put you in touch with people with similar struggles and with knowledgeable people. I will forever be grateful to the people who told me that my frequent dislocation were not normal and pointed me to resources and commiserated with me.

3 replies 0 reposts 30 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Much like inner monologue, I assumed the ability to hold images within your head was a narrative device. Though, it's possible I had it as a child. I seem to remember being able to immerse myself in a story more fully, but OCD might have stolen it at puberty, so I don't know.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I know the story isn't about the pictured diamond necklace, but... I mean, my hell, that's a gorgeous necklace. *gestures* That's gorgeous. The style is perfection and it's managed to straddle the extravagant/gaudy line perfectly. *stares--enthralled* Sorry, did you say something about laundry?

1 replies 1 reposts 5 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

donni saphire 's avatar donni saphire @donni.bsky.social
[ View ]

If sleep deprivation and bad choices got me into this mess, sleep deprivation and bad choices are the only way out

3 replies 54 reposts 211 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Thank you--in particular for understanding my intent on this. The labeler also flags for frequent unhelpful alt text (with obvious bad intent like labeling "alt text" or "picture") but I think that's entirely based on report so a period on extra pics already covered should stop them being hidden.

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Shepherd's avatar Shepherd @neolithicsheep.bsky.social
[ View ]

I am not kidding when I say that Romancing the Vote has out-organized and done more to materially improve conditions in the southeastern US than any explicitly leftist org. Romancelandia ain't here to fuck around.

6 replies 91 reposts 348 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Which is all to say that this is a very weird method of writing that I've committed myself too because I wanted this WIP to be a gothic, noir, paranormal, Victorian romance. I'm hoping it pans out and this isn't a waste of time. I haven't wanted any readers until it's less rough, sooo... *shrugs*

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I can very briefly hold images in my head that I've seen in a 2-D format. My knowledge of what even my kids look like is from recent pictures of them. I remember how they looked in pictures. And it's a fleeting vague image in my head at best. But I can find lost items using my spatial memory.

2 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Also, I don't really picture things in my head like I guess many people do. I can picture spatial relativity. I can tell you where everything is on the spaceships in my sci-fi romance series--it's mapped out. But I frequently have to look back on what characters look like or what they're wearing.

1 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I don't mind some description--especially emotionally-expressed description, but a dry description of a forest or house and I'm out. I learned to speed-read at a young age and the method I learned was to use quotation marks as guides to track while picking out a few words here and there between.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Having a focus on dialogue isn't out of place in contemporary romances, in particular. You don't need to set the scene in every room or describe what they're wearing. The relationships can build on action and dialogue. Also, I'll be honest, I don't really like descriptions when I'm reading.

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I'm trying something different with my latest WIP in shifting my style of writing narrative. I'm hoping it's successful. I'm trying for a more noir style with inner monologue, more descriptions, and atmospheric tone. But it's really different from my normal...everything. I write very dialogue-heavy.

1 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I love those patterns and colors. Brilliant choices.

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

This was such a pleasant surprise. I've bought so many of the hats where you just slide in several ice packs, and they fit like you've strapped blocks of ice to your skull because they don't conform at all. I should go ahead and order two more actually. One for me and one for my niece.

1 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I literally can't hold books open with my hands because of my disabilities. My mom recently mentioned she was reading Fourth Wing, and I asked, "On the Kindle? I bought it for you." She wasn't, but gratefully switched over because it was dislocating her thumbs, but she'd really wanted to read it.

0 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Iron Spike's avatar Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social
[ View ]

Kids just getting started trying to be independent artists will never experience or understand what a real "grass roots" support network on Twitter or whatever can be like. I've mentioned this before but early Kickstarters I ran? 1/3rd of the funding was from Twitter.

3 replies 12 reposts 232 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

It's so frustrating. Promo and networking in a lot of ways feels like I'm completely starting over. Most sites were never very useful, even if you paid for promo *coughs* Facebook *coughs* but Twitter used to be effective for networking and promo. Here, I kind of feel guilty using hashtag feeds.

0 replies 3 reposts 7 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

It's the one and only time I've felt badass for carrying enough benadryl with me at all times to supply a small country.

0 replies 1 reposts 3 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Me: "But I do have that knife..." Him: *stares in allergist* I'm still not 100% convinced he understood that his attempt to deter me was really weak. I mean, I have benadryl with me at all times... I'm basically carrying around a knife to foil all potential histamine attackers.

1 replies 1 reposts 5 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

When watermelon popped up on my testing, allergist asked, "Did you know you're allergic to watermelon?" Me: "Yeah, but it's not too bad." Him: *flatly* "Continuing to expose yourself is like walking into a dark alley known for muggers." Me: "I always have benadryl." Him: "Fine, you have a knife."

1 replies 1 reposts 9 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

It's so brilliant. When it arrived, I was amazed that it was so comfortable. She got it in February and I think she's worn it nearly every day since then. It even looks cute on her. She looks like a headachey thug. But, I've been impressed at how soothing it seems to be to her.

2 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

Is yours a soft jiggly gel (not a hard ice-pack) migraine cap? I got that for my daughter and she uses it for both these things and I don't think she puts it in the freezer very often. I keep meaning to get a few more now that I know it's nothing like the other migraine caps I've thrown money at.

2 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Wendy Sparrow's avatar Wendy Sparrow @wendysparrow.bsky.social
[ View ]

I go in for a routine rheumatology appointment on Monday, and I'm glad they're still masking.

0 replies 1 reposts 9 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Romancing the Vote's avatar Romancing the Vote @romancingthevote.bsky.social
[ View ]

A fun number for you before I cartwheel away to bed: 1,129 of you won a total of 3,273 items between you!

1 replies 12 reposts 80 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Celeste Pewter's avatar Celeste Pewter @celestepewter.bsky.social
[ View ]

There are many things that infuriate me about the pundit class right now, but probably one of the top on my list: Project 2025 has posted their plans for every single federal department on their website. They have a training academy for prospective appointees. Where are the hard hitting op-eds?

1 replies 161 reposts 420 likes

Reposted by Wendy Sparrow

Kari Dru's avatar Kari Dru @karidru.bsky.social
[ View ]

This is apparently a controversial opinion but I don't actually want anybody with the football codes to be underslept.

1 replies 2 reposts 24 likes