John Stadelman
@johnstadelman.bsky.social
Horror/sci-fi/lit writer - compiler of words - nightmare crafter - I also write about music - sometimes fun at parties - roaming the city in a state of confusion and awe
Additional words at johnstadelmanwriter.com
Additional words at johnstadelmanwriter.com
Riot Fest 2026: mud, metal and madness.
My Riot Fest 2026
Another year, another riot. From the headliners to the openers, Riot Fest’s lineup kept as true to its punk origins as always, while mixing in plenty of metal and emo, some pop acts and the kind of…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
September 23, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Riot Fest 2026: mud, metal and madness.
Some behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like to write a book, in all its madness and joy:
Writing: Just as Crazy as the Book Itself
So I’ve finished writing my next book, an eco-horror crime-thriller, and after months of intensive researching, writing, re-writing, cutting, consolidating, editing, trying not to add more (and usu…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
August 8, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Some behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like to write a book, in all its madness and joy:
Back at the blogging with two posts about Backrooms, this time talking about liminal cosmic horror:
When Reality Breaks: Backrooms and Liminal Cosmic Horror
Spoilers for Backrooms ahead. The Place That Shouldn’t Exist The first time saw this image— Photo credit: yahoo.com —I picked up on the dread and unease that so many comments expressed. This was ai…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
July 5, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Back at the blogging with two posts about Backrooms, this time talking about liminal cosmic horror:
Back at the blogging with two posts about Backrooms, starting off with some writerly thoughts about the plot:
Plot Thoughts: Backrooms
As much as I enjoyed Backrooms, it was an acquired taste. The film’s interpretation of the eponymous liminal hellscape didn’t match what I had (unknowingly) been expecting, and led to another Backr…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
July 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Back at the blogging with two posts about Backrooms, starting off with some writerly thoughts about the plot:
Since I've been hiding away writing another book, I decided to post a little update:
spring update
So I’ve been mostly incognito on here since my Stranger Things rewrite series, because I’ve been focused on getting my next novel ready to send out to literary agents. But I’ve got some more posts—…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
May 25, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Since I've been hiding away writing another book, I decided to post a little update:
Reposted by John Stadelman
Every single time.
February 24, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Every single time.
Guys I was so disappointed in the last season of Stranger Things that I did an episode-by-episode rewrite.
Some Kind of Rightside Up: A Less-Awful Rewrite of Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 1
I took the finale pretty well. But here’s my proposed rewrite of season five. Disclaimers and Conditions The following is a set of narrative conditions that I gave myself, which aren’t necessary to…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
February 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Guys I was so disappointed in the last season of Stranger Things that I did an episode-by-episode rewrite.
I’ve got a new short story out in the Bloody Valentine’s Day issue of Tales from the Moonlit Path, about a hookup from hell:
Into Pieces by John Stadelman | Tales from the Moonlit Path
talesmoonlitpath.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I’ve got a new short story out in the Bloody Valentine’s Day issue of Tales from the Moonlit Path, about a hookup from hell:
I’m putting together a collection and just realized that I’m looking at 7 years of my life, in 11 stories.
Each of these has its own story behind it, which I guess is how you see the world as a creative—that you can follow part of the course of your life by what you created, when you created it.
Each of these has its own story behind it, which I guess is how you see the world as a creative—that you can follow part of the course of your life by what you created, when you created it.
February 11, 2026 at 11:56 PM
I’m putting together a collection and just realized that I’m looking at 7 years of my life, in 11 stories.
Each of these has its own story behind it, which I guess is how you see the world as a creative—that you can follow part of the course of your life by what you created, when you created it.
Each of these has its own story behind it, which I guess is how you see the world as a creative—that you can follow part of the course of your life by what you created, when you created it.
Celebrating the finish of a month and a half of fully revising the hell out of 130 pages of short stories, including:
February 11, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Celebrating the finish of a month and a half of fully revising the hell out of 130 pages of short stories, including:
Does the thought of being sealed inside an old submarine and dropped to the bottom of a literal ocean of blood with a giant angler fish scare the shit out of you, but also sounds kind of interesting? Then let me recommend:
February 6, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Does the thought of being sealed inside an old submarine and dropped to the bottom of a literal ocean of blood with a giant angler fish scare the shit out of you, but also sounds kind of interesting? Then let me recommend:
I know it's only January but this might be my album of the year. For everyone who's furious and scared right now, but still hopeful, let me recommend:
Heartbroken but Fighting as the World Falls Apart: Empty Hands by Poppy
Poppy goes political on her newest album, turning her characteristic defiance outward against ignorance and hate with a retributive edge that demands blood. She throws us right into the attack with…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:55 PM
I know it's only January but this might be my album of the year. For everyone who's furious and scared right now, but still hopeful, let me recommend:
Logan Square: emergency protest today at the monument in response to another person murdered by ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Logan Square: emergency protest today at the monument in response to another person murdered by ICE.
Reposted by John Stadelman
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
January 22, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Reposted by John Stadelman
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
January 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
If you feel the same way I do about this country, here's some songs about it.
Fuck This Country. Here’s Some Songs About It
Christina Canevari: “Terms and Conditions” Khaos Light & DAMAG3: “I Really Hate This World – Remix” Cheap Perfume: “It’s Okay to Punch Nazis” DemsFight…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:46 AM
If you feel the same way I do about this country, here's some songs about it.
Even with the corporate workplace always having been fake af, the amount of cognitive dissonance going on right now is “no war in Ba Sing Se”-level psychotic. And complicit.
January 9, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Even with the corporate workplace always having been fake af, the amount of cognitive dissonance going on right now is “no war in Ba Sing Se”-level psychotic. And complicit.
Reposted by John Stadelman
Looking back at my writing this year has been as encouraging as looking ahead toward where I'm going.
I also overhauled my website. Now it looks kinda less unprofessional!
I also overhauled my website. Now it looks kinda less unprofessional!
My 2025 Writing Year
What a fucking year, right? I don’t like getting too personal on this blog, but honestly, focusing on my career has been what’s kept me hopeful—which is kinda heavy, but it’s actually a good thing.…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Looking back at my writing this year has been as encouraging as looking ahead toward where I'm going.
I also overhauled my website. Now it looks kinda less unprofessional!
I also overhauled my website. Now it looks kinda less unprofessional!
I read some books this year, and some of them were pretty awesome.
Top Reads of 2025
I think I read more this year than I have since grad school… so it’s been a year well-spent. Here’s what I loved the most. (Disclaimer: these are books I read in 2025, not books that necessarily ca…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
I read some books this year, and some of them were pretty awesome.
Reposted by John Stadelman
Sigh
Listen.
Vote for democrats.
Listen.
Vote for democrats.
November 26, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Sigh
Listen.
Vote for democrats.
Listen.
Vote for democrats.
Turns out my top movies of 2025 were all horror. Huh.
Top Watches of 2025
To absolutely no surprise, my top movies this year are all horror. Considering that the genre is a commentary on the society it comes from, it’s no surprise how recently, much of our collective cre…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Turns out my top movies of 2025 were all horror. Huh.
My top albums list this year is kinda dark, but that feels appropriate, considering.
At least the music's still good though.
At least the music's still good though.
Top Listens of 2025
My favorite album releases this year skewed toward the dark, which isn’t all that surprising considering that (1) look at the fucking world right now and (2) a great artist can make the darkness be…
johnstadelmanwriter.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 AM
My top albums list this year is kinda dark, but that feels appropriate, considering.
At least the music's still good though.
At least the music's still good though.
Being a horror writer is fun because when I have a nightmare so intense that I can’t go back to sleep, I get to turn it into a story and traumatize my readers, too.
October 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Being a horror writer is fun because when I have a nightmare so intense that I can’t go back to sleep, I get to turn it into a story and traumatize my readers, too.
So there’s apparently not enough money to give out SNAP benefits next month to keep poor Americans from starving, but there’s enough for a $250 million demolition and new ballroom at the White House?
October 22, 2025 at 1:18 PM
So there’s apparently not enough money to give out SNAP benefits next month to keep poor Americans from starving, but there’s enough for a $250 million demolition and new ballroom at the White House?