Brainstorming with my cynical gen-z little brother is the best.
Today he whipped out “and then they got a DOD contract” as an ending idea to a lite horror short story and that’s just… *chef’s kiss*
Yesterday my oldest was ill and told me she was “feeling under the bus”.
Idioms are hard man, but I have to admit that her mash up of under the weather/being thrown under the bus captured a very specific feeling.
Every spring we anxiously await the telltale sound of our migrating hummingbirds swooping past the window to demand a full feeder. They can be VERY LOUD.
It is time.
The title is “Go Ahead And Use AI. It Will Only Help Me Dominate You.”
Do not let the image fool you.
“There will be long-term consequences to the richness of our discipline and our ability to make important advances if we—especially those in the next generation of ecologists—accept this AI-enabled shortcut, which encourages quantity over quality.”
Love this write up on what we are losing to GenAI from @ecologyofgavin.bsky.social
Written by a scientist but applicable to my author peeps too.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Americans disappointed to learn that yes, they still have to go to work tomorrow.
I often think the obsession with the end of the world here is that it's the only way we figure we can get some time off.
Everyone is very tired.
I've seen people trying to defend it today by saying "No, no, I just use it to brainstorm, bounce ideas, I do the actual writing" and with all the kindness in the world I need to tell you: if there is a stage of writing you are not good at, you need to get good, not use the plagiarism machine.
Every good organization system needs a booby trap.
A hand holding a bundle of safety pins, paperclips, and staples all stuck to a magnet at the center.
Doesn’t everyone store their paperclips, staples, and safety pins by allowing a powerful magnet to just roll around in the junk drawer? No? Just me? Ok.
Got some really great feedback on a writing piece from a professional who had no outside reason to be kind to me. Gonna ride that high for a while…
#aspiringauthor #amwriting #editor
Next piece of advice, when asked what to do when secondary characters start taking control of your story:
“You are running a small business. Those characters work for you.”
Writing advice from Jim Butcher:
“Oh yes! Pile in the doom! I really believe in that.”
#ssws2026 #superstars #aspiringauthor
This is my comfy place. This is where I come to see that the world is full of good people. This is where I recharge after fighting the good fight elsewhere. Love you all ❤️❤️❤️
STATEMENT FROM MATT MOBERG, CHAPLAIN OF THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES IF YOU'RE A CHURCH POSTING PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND UNITY TODAY WHILE MY CITY BLEEDS IN THE STREET. MISS ME WITH THAT SOFTNESS YOU ONLY WEAR WHEN IT COSTS YOU NOTHING. DON'T DRESS AVOIDANCE UP AS HOLINESS. DON'T CALL SILENCE "PEACEMAKING." DON'T LIGHT A CANDLE AND THINK IT SUBSTITUTES FOR SHOWING UP. TONIGHT AN ICE AGENT TOOK A PHOTO OF ME NEXT TO MY CAR, LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND TOLD ME, "WE'LL BE SEEING YOU SOON." NOT METAPHOR. NOT HYPERBOLE. A THREAT DRESSED UP IN A BADGE AND A PAYCHECK. PEACE ISN'T WHAT YOU ASK FOR WHEN THE BOOT IS ALREADY ON SOMEONE'S NECK. PEACE IS WHAT THE POWERFUL ASK FOR WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO BE INTERRUPTED. UNITY ISN'T NEUTRAL. UNITY THAT REFUSES TO NAME VIOLENCE IS JUST LOYALTY TO THE ONES HOLDING THE WEAPONS. STOP USING SCRIPTURE LIKE CHLOROFORM. STOP CALLING YOUR FEAR "WISDOM." STOP PRETENDING JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE HE PREACHED GOOD VIBES AND PERSONAL GROWTH. YOU DON'T GET TO QUOTE SCRIPTURE LIKE A LULLABY, WHILE INJUSTICE STAYS WIDE AWAKE. YOU DON'T GET TO ASK GOD TO "HEAL THE LAND" IF YOU WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE WOUND. THERE IS A KIND OF PEACE THAT ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE IT REFUSES TO TELL THE TRUTH. THAT PEACE IS A LIE. AND LIES DON'T GROW ANYTHING WORTH SAVING. THE SCRIPTURES YOU LOVE WEREN'T WRITTEN TO KEEP THINGS CALM. THEY WERE WRITTEN TO SET THINGS RIGHT. AND SOMETIMES THE MOST FAITHFUL THING YOU CAN DO IS STOP PRAYING AROUND THE PAIN AND START STANDING INSIDE IT. IF THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE-GOOD. GROWTH ALWAYS IS.
Amazing statement from the chaplain of the MN Timberwolves, I’m guessing in response to the craven press release co-signed by so many local CEOs today (inc the Timberwolves!) calling for the “deescalation of tensions” here but refusing to assign any specific blame or even *mention* ICE / CBP
“[the mountains were] darkly serrated against the sky”
Beautiful writing.
A gray stone plate holds a slice of sticky toffee pudding covered in powered sugar, a pile of fresh berries and cream, and the words “Happy Anniversary” stenciled in chocolate.
Celebrating 15 years of marriage seems post-worthy. Also that was the best sticky toffee pudding I’ve ever had and we absolutely fought over the last bite.
🎶 Then one soggy Christmas Eve… Santa came to pray 🎶
— tiniest human in the house
Husband: Why so cranky this morning?
Me: capitalism
Husband: Fair.
Very very true… same reason I had a hard time teaching High School. 18 is not an adult.
I am making the professional move from middle school teacher to project/people manager and…
It turns out I have eternal patience for incompetent 12 year olds and absolutely no patience for incompetent adults.
This has been uncomfortable to learn about myself.
Really good thread
I spluttered 😂😂
I may have audibly gasped when I saw what was under the dust jacket.
Tiny human #2 immediately wanted to know if I wanted to be blue or red 😆
A hand holding the delux hardback edition of This Is How You Lose A Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
😍😍😍
This frees up my original copy for gift giving
A large band of pink and blue/turquoise northern lights are visible above some trees and a house.
Mother Nature has blessed us with a surprise night painting.
The cover of a well loved Penguin Classics translation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Pages are falling out and the cover is taped together.
The back of a well loved Penguin Classics translation of The Count of Monte Cristo. The spine is ripped and the pages are falling out.
Possibly it’s time for a new copy
It’s a wonderful time of year!
