New foster crew has extra toes and adorable bob tail. They are part of the “bean” litter 🥰
Holly Lyn Walrath
@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social
Writer. Poet. Editor. Nerd. Managing Editor Interstellar Flight Press. Author of NUMINOUS STONES, THE SMALLEST OF BONES, GLIMMERGLASS GIRL. She/They Website: www.Hlwalrath.com
Resharing this post on my blog every time an AI controversy arises out of someone clearly not understanding AI’s exploitation of creative work: newsletter.hlwalrath.com/p/theaiboom
The AI Writing "Boom" and the Myths That Surround It
LLMs Are Not AI, and They Certainly Aren't Toothpaste. A discussion of the AI Boom and its impact on creative artists and writers.
newsletter.hlwalrath.com
There is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.
So I think this is a *strong* candidate for a Hugo award. Presumably poetry or short story categories. I'm going to make note of it as such.
New-Cleckit Dominie@ncdominie.bsky.social · last wk.This is just to say I have OCRed the text thet was in tne arch:ve and whicb yov were prabaldy seamhing for "breahtast" Fargme ms fheg mem debo:w5 sb ?mccf mmb 5c oc1b
Just a reminder that Hugo voting closes on 8/8 at 12PM PST! @laworldcon.bsky.social is featuring several fantastic poetry panels and readings this year, but in case you can't make it, I wrote about the inspirations + writing process for my nominated poem, "The Mourning Robot" here:
A Story About A Poem: “The Mourning Robot”
In one of my favorite books, “On Earth We’re Briefly Beautiful” by Ocean Vuong, there is a surreal scene toward the end of the book where after a heartbreaking experience with his schizophrenic, ca…
liu-angela.com
Uncanny Magazine@uncannymagazine.bsky.social · last wk.Reading for the Hugo Awards? Try the finalist for Best Poem "The Mourning Robot" by Angela Liu. It is also on the Rhysling longlist and was a Nebula finalist! You can read it here or in the Hugo packet! buff.ly/2SDpM66
Hey y’all my birthday is the same day as the deadline for submitting your Hugo Ballot! For my birthday, could you take the time to read the Best Poem works? Even if you’re not sure about poetry—even if you’re not a Hugo voter—just read the Best Poem finalists 🩵
Really great thread about how to vote in the poem category for the Hugo Awards, and below is the essential part. The Hugos are fan awards, so read the poems and vote for the one you liked the most - everyone is qualified! Poetry is for *you*, and you can like what you like, no questions asked.
Kyle Aisteach@badwriter.bsky.social · 5d agoStep 1: Read the nominated works. Step 2: Ask yourself, "Did I like this poem?" Step 3: Rank the poems on the ballot in order of how much you liked them. That's it. You don't need any special magick or training. Which did YOU like best?
"But," I hear someone say, "I don't like or even get ANY of the nominated poems!" Well, my friend, it's too late for this year, but the fix for that is that next year, you can NOMINATE!
The Hugos are unique in that they're voted on by FANS, not by writers, or critics, or academics. Fans. YOU. Yes, I have an MFA and I think it's really cool to spot an Ezra Pound homage or a well-done obscure Welsh form, but that's just me. You don't need to know anything more than if you liked it.
Step 1: Read the nominated works. Step 2: Ask yourself, "Did I like this poem?" Step 3: Rank the poems on the ballot in order of how much you liked them. That's it. You don't need any special magick or training. Which did YOU like best?
It has come to my attention that a whole bunch of people are fretting over casting a vote in the poetry category of @thehugoawards.bsky.social this year because they feel somehow unqualified. So I have decided to write up a handy guide for how to assess which poems are worthy of your vote.
In September, I'm teaching an entirely new, very advanced art challenge. Can you make 70 works in 70 days? Vincent did. That's the goal of this class: To create with Vincent Van Gogh as muse. www.hlwalrath.com/wo...
There is still time.... Buy a $50 supporting membership and you can still vote for the Hugos. You also get the Hugo packet which contains a lot of free nominated books/fiction. scifiinc99.regfox.com/membership
LAcon V Registration
Register for LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), August 27-31, 2026 in Anaheim, California.
scifiinc99.regfox.com
If you are voting in the Hugo’s - vote in the fan categories. Give Fan Artist some love- real people making real art for the love of doing it
Owen Blacker@owen.blacker.me.uk · 4d agoHugo Awards deadline is next weekend, so I'm putting in my ballot so far and *damn* the Fan Artist category has some super strong finalists this year. They are all so beautiful!
It is funny that as more people get duped by AI, the response more frequently seems to be to insist that the models are developing godlike intelligence and we all need to be sooo careful when the real lesson is clearly that the human psyche can get absolutely one-shotted by personalized flattery
This writing doesn't affect reality any more than any writing does; that is to say, indirectly, but considerably.
Man Everytime they bring out those ladies who inspired A League of Their Own I am CRYING
Watching some lady baseball tonight 💪 Anyone else catching the women’s baseball league opening game?
My 30 Stories workshop is sold out but I have lots coming up soon: www.hlwalrath.com/workshopsapp...
Workshops
30 Stories in 30 Days DATE: 4 Weeks Starting August 3, 2026 TIME: Asynchronous via Writing Workshops This generative workshop is chock full of 30 writing prompts for short story writers. Whether...
hlwalrath.com
There are still seats in my rock painting class at my art studio for next Saturday the 8th. We will be having a little plant swap if you have any cuttings to bring! I've got TONS of succulents that need an artsy home.
Are you jonesing for a little Halloween spooky season inspiration? I've got you, boo. Here are my 31 creative prompts for Summerween! newsletter.hlwalrath.com
Happy to announce that I will be speaking at LACon V (The World Science Fiction Convention) on August 28th. I'll be on the Latinx Futurisms: The Cal State Fullerton Archive panel along with some amazing guests. Come say hi!
So cute! If you love gardening like me and find it a respite from your normal creative endeavors, join me on August 8th for a fun rock painting workshop AND plant swap! www.eventbrite.com/e...
ICYMI! Reading for the Hugo Awards? Try the finalist for Best Poem "Care for Lightning" by Mari Ness. It was also a Nebula Award finalist! You can read it here or in the Hugo packet! buff.ly/bcWJY8N
I'm working on research to further substantiate the need for a #poetryhugo. Here is a "concrete" piece of lit from the first Hugo Award for best novel. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester, 1952. Very "poemy"
