Leslie Farnsworth

@[email protected]
185 Followers
158 Following
1.3K Posts

#Writer of #fiction, voracious #reader of #literature, inveterate #humanities and #socialsciences nerd (and former #academic), ponderer, yoga person, flaneuse, goofball, friend.

From the #USA 🇺🇸, living in #Switzerland 🇨🇭. Here for connections and conversations.

Author Sitehttps://lesliefarnsworth.com
Observing Leslie (Blog)https://observingleslie.com/
The Letterhttps://observingleslie.com/subscribe
Leslie Farnsworth1d ago

In this month's Letter (going out next Wednesday!), we'll look at a mystery surrounding the origins of the Swiss flag.

Sign up here if you aren't already!

https://observingleslie.com/subscribe

Subscribe to The Letter — Observing Leslie

Once a month, I'll send you a little miniature post with cultural, historical, and travel observations and fun facts.

Observing Leslie
Leslie Farnsworth3d ago

How would *you* respond, were you asked for "old-school advice?"

observingleslie.com/magazine/on-getting-asked-for-old-school-advice

Leslie Farnsworth5d ago
Just me, or is there an accelerating decline in human curiosity? About the world and about other humans, I mean. And if it's not just my imagination, what's spurring it?
Leslie FarnsworthMar 13

I'm still ruminating over a report that said sci-fi novel sales had increased by 22 percent in 2025. 🤔

I mean... I *love* sci-fi, and I would *love* for this to be true... but I can't say I saw a bunch of new novels in the category last year.

What did I miss?!? Does anyone know?

Leslie FarnsworthMar 11

"A government agent changes their opinion when presented with evidence. Maybe reintroduce the leopards from earlier and have them threaten to eat the agent’s face?"

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/revisions-for-your-hopelessly-optimistic-dystopian-ya-novel

Revisions for Your Hopelessly Optimistic Dystopian YA Novel

Dear Sir/Madam, While we are always on the lookout for the Next Big Thing, the editors regret to inform you that your manuscript, in its current fo...

McSweeney's Internet Tendency
Leslie FarnsworthMar 9

<sigh> And here we are again.

https://observingleslie.com/magazine/nobody-knows-what-time-it-is-seasonal-time-change-confusion

Nobody Knows What Time it Is: Seasonal Time Change Confusion — Observing Leslie

Despite the endless confusion and evident misery, we may never get rid of changing the clocks twice a year.

Observing Leslie
Leslie FarnsworthMar 5

I'm ready for a little more sunshine and outdoors time and social activity, aren't you?

https://observingleslie.com/magazine/month-in-review-highlights-february-2026

Month-in-Review Highlights: February 2026 — Observing Leslie

February Februaried, which made it a good month for working on my fiction and a bad month for socializing. Bring on some sunshine and spring already.

Observing Leslie
Leslie FarnsworthMar 3

Does having a minor character named "Gary" in my novel-in-progress count as doing my part to preserve the name?

This dataviz project by @erindataviz.bsky.social is fun. Worth a look.

https://erdavis.com/2026/02/16/is-the-name-gary-going-extinct/

Is the name Gary going extinct? – Data Stuff

Leslie FarnsworthFeb 27

I really want to go to this, one of these years.

https://observingleslie.com/magazine/the-french-fete-du-citron-in-menton

The French Fête du Citron in Menton — Observing Leslie

When life gives you lemons, glue ‘em on a truck and call it a parade.

Observing Leslie
Leslie FarnsworthFeb 25

😆

"Problem: While researching cults for your semi-likable characters to be ensnared by, you accidentally get ensnared by an actual cult.

"Solution: Honestly, it’s not that different."

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/twenty-solutions-to-common-story-problems

Twenty Solutions to Common Story Problems

Problem: The story you are writing has severe, glaring plot holes. Solution: Unreliable narrator with amnesia.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency