Profile avatar
roberthelfst.bsky.social
Cosmic horror enthusiast. FCQ editor. Words in Gamut, Chthonic Matter Quarterly, Twin Pies Literary, & more. https://linktr.ee/roberthelfst
112 posts 176 followers 406 following
Prolific Poster
Conversation Starter
Posts 39 Comments 11

this might be wishful thinking on my part but: it doesn't have a point of view. like holding a human-made object in your hands rather than a machine-made object. the human-made objects have, somehow, a point of view. I do wonder whether we're actually quite good at detecting that.

submitted 1 day ago • 14 comments

Weekend to do list: baseball/softball supply run, taxes, rewrites, redo some seed starts that got too leggy, FCQ 5 design, long form reading, play catch.

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

I've seen one too many former classmates "playing" with generative AI this week. Blech.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

ME: *sits at desk and works* Just focus. Just focus. Don't look around. Do NOT look around. THE NEWS:

submitted 38 days ago • 67 comments

Richard Donner told this great moustache-related story about working with GENE HACKMAN on Superman.

submitted 10 days ago • 8 comments

Oh, man, not Gene Hackman. 2025 can just fuck right off. Okay. Let me tell you a little bit about Gene Hackman...

submitted 11 days ago • 110 comments

Candle, flame, or vessel?

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

"after that, he really started falling apart."

submitted 11 days ago • 28 comments

Why is it that all burnout help articles basically say "it's okay to not be okay! So just don't be okay and keep doing your stuff." CURED!

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

2025 lineup of FCQ is gonna be siiiiick! #indiehorror

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

If I've learned anything in the last 12 months its that spite and dislike can create award-winning art. Hate harder. Let spite fuel you. Make angry art. Kendrick knows you aren't hating to your full potential.

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

A certain FDA nominee comes to mind, but I’m sure there are many other candidates.

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

Post your favorite #DoctorWho. Wrong answers only.

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

My favorite story is in here! I'd be thrilled if you supported Cosmic Horror Monthly and just maybe read my story. This one means a lot to me.

submitted 52 days ago • 1 comment

Heck yeah @alexebenstein.bsky.social !

submitted 53 days ago • 1 comment

what if: new pro-paying magazine from Psychopomp in 2025? what then!? INTEREST???

submitted 80 days ago • 24 comments

Well this is just lovely. @lhelfst.bsky.social

submitted 56 days ago • 0 comments

Maybe the publishing world is a hypercompetitive hellscape for YOU. Skill issue. My writer pals and I are all over here reading each other's stories and crying. I am in all of their fan clubs. If y'all aren't hyping each other up, what are you even doing?

submitted 56 days ago • 11 comments

What is a movie you love from 1992?

submitted 59 days ago • 0 comments

New: Meta employees are furious about a new policy that allows users to call LGBTQ+ people "mentally ill." Some have resigned in protest. Some LGBTQ+ employees have started saying they if they are 'mentally ill' they should get leave of absences from work www.404media.co/its-total-ch...

submitted 59 days ago • 394 comments

“I'm tired of writing to market” (he said while planning out how to write 6 stories for themed calls between now and 3/7)

submitted 59 days ago • 0 comments

everybody knows how good it feels to get laffs which is why I want Judge Merchan to understand that if he hands down the maximum sentence for falsifying business records -- four years in prison -- he will be widely acclaimed as the funniest man ever to live

submitted 59 days ago • 8 comments

Planning out my writing and submitting game plan for now through mid-March has me feeling a little bit deranged.

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

One of my favorite things I had published last year is now free to read online! You can check out my cosmic body horror story "Momentary Brightness" for free in HouseofGamut now! houseofgamut.com/gamut-magazi... #cosmic #body #horror #shortstory #horrorlit

submitted 61 days ago • 0 comments

And since it's my birthday, if you'd like to give some of my favorite art I've done an extra spin around this site, I'd appreciate it a lot! ❤️ #Art

submitted 63 days ago • 2 comments

First day of the 4:45 AM wake up has been going well. Did some laundry, yoga, treadmill, reading. Now some writing/planning, all before the sun and my kids are up.

submitted 66 days ago • 0 comments

We're open for submissions now through 1/7! Send us your paranoid, obsessive cosmic horrors! Guidelines are here: fraidycatpress.com/submission-g... #shortstory #art #horror #literaryhorror #horrorcommunity #cosmichorror #paranoia #growth #rage #gnaw #callforsubmissions #opencall

submitted 67 days ago • 0 comments

We open for submissions at 12:01 AM January 1st! We cannot wait to kick off our second year with some great new scares from you all out there! #opencall #horrorlit #indie #indieauthor #shortstory #horrorcommunity #cosmichorror #weirdhorror #submissions #horrorart

submitted 69 days ago • 2 comments

2024 Writing & Publishing wrap up: - 103 submissions (+3 against goal of 100, +61 vs 2023 stats) - 87 rejections - 3 acceptances - 7 submissions pending - 2 stories published - 1st pro sale ("Momentary Brightness" to HouseofGamut Magazine) - 7+ new stories completed - 6+ add’l stories started

submitted 73 days ago • 1 comment

May your fires be warm, your reading be scary and may you all be home safe in your own universe for the holidays. Check out "Home Safe" by L.R. McGary during your restful holiday afternoon. fraidycatpress.com/home-safe-by... #horror #shortstory #alienabduction #indie #freestory

submitted 74 days ago • 0 comments

Every time Butker misses a kick, a girl gets a PhD.

submitted 74 days ago • 0 comments

“You will be visited by three spirits” The spirits:

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

Can’t wait to get the kids tucked in for our annual tradition of bourbon, Bad Santa, and last minute gift wrapping!

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

This story is a certified banger and a quick read! Perfect for travel on Christmas Eve!

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 3: Clark Griswold’s Seasonal Affective Disorder and Self-Inflicted Holiday Burnout

submitted 76 days ago • 0 comments

Fraidy Cat Quarterly Volume 3 & 4 are shipping out to a lot of lucky readers tomorrow! We’re going to have to get another bin soon! Be sure to get caught up on our latest releases! #indiepublishing #horrorcommunity #cosmichorror #smallpress

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

Congrats to Jennifer Lee Rossman on her upcoming colllection “Allosaurus in Wonderland and Other Stories from Avalonia” with From Beyond Press! You can check out her story “The Huldra” in Fraidy Cat Quarterly: Volume 1! #shortstories #smallpress

submitted 85 days ago • 0 comments

Great opportunity to snag some killer #cosmichorror fiction from up and coming authors on the cheap!

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

The vibe I bring to the party.

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments