Jess Simms

Writer, yinzer, demihuman, conlanger, IRL lurker, epitome of Virgo, gamer, hockey fan, coffee snob. They/them preferred, he/she/it also acceptable.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

I find it kind of funny that Guatemala has so many Maya ruins they use artifacts as decorations. Like this is a 1500ish year-old carving from Kaminaljuyu and it's one of several just casually sitting next to paths out in the open at the zoo.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

@AgnesCallard Thanks for writing & sharing it! Made at least one weirdo feel seen over here ☺️

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

This article in Asterisk Magazine's weird issue is definitely worth a read. Hits a lot of points about belonging & being weird I've felt/thought about but never been able to articulate this well. https://t.co/7iHVT20gN8

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Fun fact: in Guate, Uber has a motorcycle option. I am not nearly brave enough to try this but for anyone who is it's quite cheap.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Writerly PSA: Fantasy magazine is being relaunched by Psychopomp and they're open for subs through 1/29: https://t.co/p29v4fbhwB

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Welp they at least let me leave the country with an X passport. We'll see in roughly 20 days if I'm still considered a human and allowed back in. Or maybe I'll just stay in Guatemala, I already saw someone wearing a Penguins shirt so it's basically home.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

@robertisenberg Lol! I've had that happen before with subs. I suppose the bright side is that they at least replied 😆

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Apparently January 14th is official Send Rejections Day because I've gotten literally 5 today, including one for a submission I sent almost a year ago. On the plus side I'm already 10% of the way to my 100 rejection goal for 2025 😆

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

New article up over at City Paper highlighting some new PGH publishers: https://t.co/R3s8mMU6Ay

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Tomorrow night at Poetry Lounge in Millvale! Should be a fun night of chill tunes and weird words.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Crediting a least a portion of our AWP success to the presence of the emotional support pickle bought en-route in Casey IL.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

@BeanCanDan Dude, right? The grind and hustle are no joke, definitely makes me appreciate it more than I would've when I was younger now that all that work is starting to bear fruit.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

I've sold my first story for 2024, have another on short list with one of my favorite mags, and am about to go sell books I made & wrote at AWP. Yinz, think I might actually be turning into a real writer, IDK when this happened but I'm into it

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

About to watch my first ever Lucha Libre match live at at amateur luchador arena and this feels like the right way to end a trip to Mexico.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Pittsburgh literary folks: the next Send It meeting is this Saturday 2-4pm, if you've got stuff to send out to publishers come on out to East Liberty library for info and support to help you submit it! More deets here: https://t.co/BHxgftSqsf

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Love how the normal rules of society are suspended in long-distance public transit stations. Wanna wear fuzzy slippers and a neck pillow? Sit on the floor with your shoes off by the outlet? Go for it bud, everybody's too f-ing tired to care.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Travel pro tip: a cloth face mask alao functions as an effective sleep mask for daytime naps.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

So I saw a wifi network named "FBI Surveillance Van" at my hotel in Sacramento and chuckled at it. But now there's 2 of them here in Omaha, which could mean a) that's a weirdly popular network name or b) the FBI is following me and being super unsubtle about it.

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

@robertisenberg Right? Love it when I get to take advantage of the digital nomad life 😄

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

Nothing like a cross country Amtrak ride to remind you just how friggin huge the US is. I left Sacramento at 1130am, am currently still in Nevada, and won't reach Omaha until 5am on Monday. And there is so so much empty in between (pictured: the empty)

[Jess Simms @jrsimms29]

@Paveluljuk Agreed, love the Amtrak! So much better than flying when you've got the time to mosey a bit.