<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[bstepwrites.com]]></title><description><![CDATA[official website of Brian Steppenwolf, writer and author of The Lows, the Lewd, and the Light, published by PANIC Press]]></description><link>https://www.bstepwrites.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:10:29 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bstepwrites.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Best Gay Media for Pride 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[A lot of best-of lists are algorithmic, AI-influenced, or built for click-through commission. This one is entirely organic, from the top of the head of one gay man (me!) who earns absolutely nothing if you pick one of these wonderful titles up.]]></description><link>https://www.bstepwrites.com/post/best-gay-media-for-pride-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1afeae0d3cce725ea771be</guid><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 18:23:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f6122_c0c1af9e82254750bd4872a3b52e2008~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian Steppenwolf</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Too Many Gay Stories Are Sad]]></title><description><![CDATA[I propose a Bechdel-like test for LGBTQ media, focused on disrupting the prevailing sadness standard because let's face it: far too many of the gay stories that get told are sad, and we are so much more than others' tragic figures.]]></description><link>https://www.bstepwrites.com/post/too-many-gay-stories-are-sad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cbdcacbc536ac286a8cab1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:11:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f6122_2882968ceaea48f8a764d34892852059~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_968,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian Steppenwolf</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Q: What Even Are Your Credentials to Be a Novelist?!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Writing a novel is hard work and heart work. Today I unpack this oft-unspoken question that lives rent-free in the heads of so many a writer, novelist, and aspiring novelist. I won't "bury the lede" here, friends. Here's the most important thing to know: You absolutely do not need any one special thing to be a good writer. The roads to writing (and novel writing) are direct, roundabout, long and winding, and short and straight (and gay). There is no set path, and most importantly, there is no...]]></description><link>https://www.bstepwrites.com/post/q-what-even-are-your-credentials-to-be-a-novelist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bbae1f1c9edf30004ab934</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:23:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f6122_1b082603987b4974b478f45331382f39~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_966,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian Steppenwolf</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I Want to Tell You a Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's about two men. It's written by a gay man. That second point matters. A lot. original artwork, designed by yours truly, to accompany an early version of my novel's manuscript Hi, friends and new friends. My name is Brian Steppenwolf, and I am a pretty ordinary everyman—that is, everyone and no one in particular, all at once. I live in Ohio, where I was born and raised. I have two cats. I work a normal job outside of this writing thing, so I do that. I read. I was brought up to write (more...]]></description><link>https://www.bstepwrites.com/post/i-want-to-tell-you-a-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69abe0703fdd64550e692f5d</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 19:54:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f6122_d2784efc5f814128b8cd57b5468520de~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian Steppenwolf</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>