Stephi Cham
@stephicham.com
Editor by day and night | LGBTQ+ Editors Association secretary, board of directors
Published by Publishers Weekly, Capstone Press, Strange Horizons, JAMA, et al.
Former medical end-of-life music therapist
she/her | StephiCham.com
Published by Publishers Weekly, Capstone Press, Strange Horizons, JAMA, et al.
Former medical end-of-life music therapist
she/her | StephiCham.com
bit awkward reappearing with no revelation, no exciting secret ventures, etc... no idea how to answer "where have you been?!"
August 9, 2026 at 2:46 AM
bit awkward reappearing with no revelation, no exciting secret ventures, etc... no idea how to answer "where have you been?!"
I'm here. I don't wonder as often anymore how I'll get through the day; I just know I probably will, even if I don't want to.
May 19, 2026 at 4:38 AM
I'm here. I don't wonder as often anymore how I'll get through the day; I just know I probably will, even if I don't want to.
My floofreader is sleeping on the job...
April 20, 2026 at 5:18 AM
My floofreader is sleeping on the job...
If I could talk to young me, obviously other things would take priority but somewhere down the list would be:
War and Peace is very long, and life is not. It's okay if you don't finish reading it.
War and Peace is very long, and life is not. It's okay if you don't finish reading it.
April 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM
If I could talk to young me, obviously other things would take priority but somewhere down the list would be:
War and Peace is very long, and life is not. It's okay if you don't finish reading it.
War and Peace is very long, and life is not. It's okay if you don't finish reading it.
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling, what if indeed.
Oh but my darling, what if indeed.
March 27, 2026 at 11:32 PM
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling, what if indeed.
Oh but my darling, what if indeed.
sometimes courage really does take a little rage.
March 12, 2026 at 1:41 AM
sometimes courage really does take a little rage.
Sometimes I feel so scared of dying that I just want to get it over with. There must be people who can relate or even just understand; I wish there were a socially acceptable way to find out.
March 6, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Sometimes I feel so scared of dying that I just want to get it over with. There must be people who can relate or even just understand; I wish there were a socially acceptable way to find out.
Has anyone found a good alternative to the saying about eating an elephant one bite at a time (taking things in small steps)? I find the idea helpful but hate the imagery it evokes.
March 4, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Has anyone found a good alternative to the saying about eating an elephant one bite at a time (taking things in small steps)? I find the idea helpful but hate the imagery it evokes.
You know it's time to reprioritize when tasks are marked as urgent, URGENT, and URGENT!!!
March 3, 2026 at 12:23 AM
You know it's time to reprioritize when tasks are marked as urgent, URGENT, and URGENT!!!
"fake it 'til you make it!"
ok quick question: how do i fake it
ok quick question: how do i fake it
February 23, 2026 at 2:11 AM
"fake it 'til you make it!"
ok quick question: how do i fake it
ok quick question: how do i fake it
In watching others experience parenthood, I've noticed they can get SO GOOD at optimism. My friends want a baby babble translator so their infants can say "I love you" — but I tend to think what's being yelled in Baby might be closer to "RETURN ME TO NONEXISTENCE" and "NO NO NO NO NO!!!"
February 21, 2026 at 3:52 AM
In watching others experience parenthood, I've noticed they can get SO GOOD at optimism. My friends want a baby babble translator so their infants can say "I love you" — but I tend to think what's being yelled in Baby might be closer to "RETURN ME TO NONEXISTENCE" and "NO NO NO NO NO!!!"
it's silly how much bravery this takes for me or how insurmountable it feels, but I'm trying now to ask for support without running away. even if I think I "failed"' their support or I hide anyway, I think I'll try showing back up, even asking again. believing all these people loving me out loud.
February 18, 2026 at 2:47 AM
it's silly how much bravery this takes for me or how insurmountable it feels, but I'm trying now to ask for support without running away. even if I think I "failed"' their support or I hide anyway, I think I'll try showing back up, even asking again. believing all these people loving me out loud.
to teenage me: you know that feeling when you KNOW you're being so so annoying but can't seem to stop? you're not the only one; many teens feel that way and grow out of it! not you, though, so get used to it. 🩷
February 11, 2026 at 4:24 AM
to teenage me: you know that feeling when you KNOW you're being so so annoying but can't seem to stop? you're not the only one; many teens feel that way and grow out of it! not you, though, so get used to it. 🩷
it's not so much that I sometimes lie when I say "no worries" — more so that I don't clarify when it's short for "nothing but worries"
February 10, 2026 at 1:03 AM
it's not so much that I sometimes lie when I say "no worries" — more so that I don't clarify when it's short for "nothing but worries"
The thing about grief is that it doesn't get easier with practice. I worked in hospice and end-of-life ICUs for years and stopped a while back, but this morning I unexpectedly cried at my desk upon learning of a former patient's death. Sometimes it just... really hurts.
January 29, 2026 at 11:52 PM
The thing about grief is that it doesn't get easier with practice. I worked in hospice and end-of-life ICUs for years and stopped a while back, but this morning I unexpectedly cried at my desk upon learning of a former patient's death. Sometimes it just... really hurts.
I love being right. "to prove a point" is reason enough to motivate me. but when it comes to my self-image vs how loved ones see me, I hope life makes of me an ignorant fool.
January 27, 2026 at 3:25 AM
I love being right. "to prove a point" is reason enough to motivate me. but when it comes to my self-image vs how loved ones see me, I hope life makes of me an ignorant fool.
I ordered something via DoorDash today and 😭😭😭
January 8, 2026 at 4:25 AM
I ordered something via DoorDash today and 😭😭😭
I don't (and prob won't) understand what anyone thinks they accomplish by telling me "You can't help that you're not pretty. But you CAN choose not to be ugly. You just need discipline."
Kind =/= nice, but that feels very much like it's neither.
Kind =/= nice, but that feels very much like it's neither.
January 5, 2026 at 12:13 AM
I don't (and prob won't) understand what anyone thinks they accomplish by telling me "You can't help that you're not pretty. But you CAN choose not to be ugly. You just need discipline."
Kind =/= nice, but that feels very much like it's neither.
Kind =/= nice, but that feels very much like it's neither.
May 2026 be much kinder to us. I don't want to forget or stop carrying the grief of 2025, but I hope the weight of it won't be so heavy anymore.
January 2, 2026 at 2:38 AM
May 2026 be much kinder to us. I don't want to forget or stop carrying the grief of 2025, but I hope the weight of it won't be so heavy anymore.
it's just a day. I don't need to feel panic and guilt. nothing has to change. I can forgive who I am and who I couldn't become.
...right?
...right?
December 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
it's just a day. I don't need to feel panic and guilt. nothing has to change. I can forgive who I am and who I couldn't become.
...right?
...right?
but like, what do you do with the two wolves inside you when everyone around you is a cat person?
December 31, 2025 at 1:00 AM
but like, what do you do with the two wolves inside you when everyone around you is a cat person?
your life is not ruined, and neither are you.
December 29, 2025 at 9:08 PM
your life is not ruined, and neither are you.
If I can't be happy I'm alive, I can at least be happy that others are.
December 28, 2025 at 5:25 AM
If I can't be happy I'm alive, I can at least be happy that others are.
A couple is walking in St. Petersburg Square on Christmas Eve. They feel a slight precipitation.
“I think it’s raining,” says the man.
“No, it’s snowing,” replies the woman.
“How about we ask this Communist officer here? He is always right!” exclaims the man...
“I think it’s raining,” says the man.
“No, it’s snowing,” replies the woman.
“How about we ask this Communist officer here? He is always right!” exclaims the man...
December 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
A couple is walking in St. Petersburg Square on Christmas Eve. They feel a slight precipitation.
“I think it’s raining,” says the man.
“No, it’s snowing,” replies the woman.
“How about we ask this Communist officer here? He is always right!” exclaims the man...
“I think it’s raining,” says the man.
“No, it’s snowing,” replies the woman.
“How about we ask this Communist officer here? He is always right!” exclaims the man...