Jason Sanford
@jasonsanford.bsky.social
Archaeologist turned author with a science fiction take on life. Author of Plague Birds, member of SFWA and SPJ. He/His. Represented by Lucienne Diver. www.jasonsanford.com
Don’t forget to cast your vote for the 2026 Hugo Awards! Did you know that voting on the entire Hugo Awards ballot is NOT required? Do you know films and video games, but not novels? Do you love art and graphic stories, but haven't read the novellas?
Hugo Award Finalists – LAcon V
Important Links:
lacon.org
My answer is LOL ROFL (dickbrain) The terminally AI-pilled can't even *imagine* some people have *never* asked stochastic parrots to cheat at their job for them.
"Much of science as we conceptualize it now was built on top of the framings of Verne’s era. Revisiting the exuberance, obliviousness, chauvinism, and optimism of Verne’s science-related worldview offers a useful reminder of where some of our own narratives come from." @mitpress.bsky.social
Jules Verne’s Empty Dream of Spaceflight
In “From the Earth to the Moon,” scientific advancement is treated as destiny — but no one quite asks why.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
If you show up to Bluesky without following anyone, you'll be treated to a series of posts about art, music, and dogs. If you show up to X without following anyone, you'll be bombarded with right-wing conspiracies and white supremacist slop. It's weird which one is seen as a "political bubble"
I love all the authors sharing this post with comments about how people helped them become a writer. This is 100% true. There is no gatekeeping here -- almost all authors are very willing to help new writers succeed.
Antony Johnston@antonyjohnston.bsky.social · 2d agoSeeing complaints online that authors 'gatekeep' information…! Absolute nonsense. There is no industry or craft in the world which is so comprehensively written about, studied, and discussed as fiction writing, and every author I know welcomes new writers who are serious about giving it a go.
One of my favorite things about this field is how much information gets shared. Once social media took off, authors were comparing writing practices, sharing tips, talking about contracts. I got pointed to Duotrope and Writer Beware. So many writers want to help each other. It's awesome.
Antony Johnston@antonyjohnston.bsky.social · 2d agoSeeing complaints online that authors 'gatekeep' information…! Absolute nonsense. There is no industry or craft in the world which is so comprehensively written about, studied, and discussed as fiction writing, and every author I know welcomes new writers who are serious about giving it a go.
If this was true I wouldn't have a career. Every step of the way other authors offered guidance and advice, with generosity and kindness. But I would add a caveat. If you spend a lot of time being a dick to other people, the amount of guidance and advice you get will be....less.
Antony Johnston@antonyjohnston.bsky.social · 2d agoSeeing complaints online that authors 'gatekeep' information…! Absolute nonsense. There is no industry or craft in the world which is so comprehensively written about, studied, and discussed as fiction writing, and every author I know welcomes new writers who are serious about giving it a go.
It was an absolute joy of a Symposium and such a radical improvement over my first one three years ago that I can’t even express it in words. Here’s to a great third year to come!
Maurice Broaddus @mauricebroaddus.bsky.social · 2d agoWe survived GenCon Writers Symposium 2026, y’all (and that’s saying something considering the occasional tornado). I was so busy running around I barely got to enjoy it. Luckily, my interns and friends made sure to slow me down to experience what we were curating.
Award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer @jasonsanford.bsky.social will be joining us at #LAconV virtually! He is a passionate advocate for fellow authors, creators, and fans, in particular through reporting in his Genre Grapevine column.
This year's GenCon Writers Symposium was amazing! Check out this thread from @mauricebroaddus.bsky.social to learn why the convention is a must-attend for writers. Maurice and his staff have truly transformed the Symposium in the last two years. I can't wait to see what they do next time!
Maurice Broaddus @mauricebroaddus.bsky.social · 2d agoWe survived GenCon Writers Symposium 2026, y’all (and that’s saying something considering the occasional tornado). I was so busy running around I barely got to enjoy it. Luckily, my interns and friends made sure to slow me down to experience what we were curating.
If anything, you can't get writers to shut up about craft...
Antony Johnston@antonyjohnston.bsky.social · 2d agoSeeing complaints online that authors 'gatekeep' information…! Absolute nonsense. There is no industry or craft in the world which is so comprehensively written about, studied, and discussed as fiction writing, and every author I know welcomes new writers who are serious about giving it a go.
Everyone should read this amazing poem by @alwayscoffee.bsky.social!
Ali Trotta@alwayscoffee.bsky.social · 2d agoSome days are anchor, anvil, & ghost-- heavy & haunting, like a melody that lingers. Sometimes, we end up rooted in the ruin, unsure of the asking, the question in our hearts tumbling out. Each of us is longing for honey & wine, but this is the wrong spell-- careful the nails don't rust. #TinyPoem
You may recall the case where Lynne Freeman sued Tracy Wolff for writing a YA set in Alaska where the male lead was hot and broody, just like in Freeman's book. This litigation went on for three years before a judge finally read both books and said there was zero infringement.
Courtney Milan@courtneymilan.com · 2mo agoSo do you all remember Lynne Freeman who sued Tracy Wolff because Freeman wrote a YA paranormal set in Alaska where the hero was hot and the heroine only learned about her paranormal heritage as a teenager, and so did Tracy?
Despite the accusations (by the Bells), I do not belong to the Dark Money IP Racist Cabal (tm pending). I just refuse to tolerate harassment, abuse, and the weaponization of identity to find new targets. (DMs are open for anyone wishing to hire me to write in certain IPs. I can provide a list) 1/2
Jason Sanford@jasonsanford.bsky.social · 3d agoAs a reminder, I now tap the sign every time I see Emily or Chris Bell posting BS. Despite what's pinned on Emily's Bluesky, "white supremacy in genre spaces" is not why myself and many other want her to stop harassing people. Read my report for details. 1/ www.patreon.com/jasonsanford...
As a reminder, I now tap the sign every time I see Emily or Chris Bell posting BS. Despite what's pinned on Emily's Bluesky, "white supremacy in genre spaces" is not why myself and many other want her to stop harassing people. Read my report for details. 1/ www.patreon.com/jasonsanford...
Everyone at #GenCon is taking shelter due to a tornado warning. Massive rains falling on the roof. I'm in a closet with a bunch of wonderful people from the Writers Symposium.
No professional accomplishment has ever made me happier than this. theonion.com/translator-o...
Translator Of Original ‘Minions’ Epic Poem Slams ‘Sexless, Bloodless’ Film Adaptation
PHILADELPHIA—In a 4,500-word essay published in Harper’s Magazine, Emily Wilson, known for her popular translation of the Minions epic poem, blasted the latest film Thursday as a “sexless, bloodless” ...
theonion.com
I was just thinking about how "you need to become an influencer to sell books" is ruining everything
Delilah S. Dawson@delilahsdawson.bsky.social · 5d agoI hate how what I need to do is write books, and yet I keep thinking, "Maybe if I wore increasingly weird glasses and sat in front of my taxidermy with a bubble pipe and did unhinged houseplant reviews I could go viral and sell some books." Doing the work doesn't feel like enough, some days.
Version control isn’t gonna save a writer from a dedicated enough witch hunt
Overheard at the Gen Con Writers Symposium: "If you write 'content,' AI can replace your writing. If you make art, AI can't replace you." -- @stormhumbert.bsky.social
A lot of QTs/replies along the lines of "how can a book with bad prose fetch millions!?" I mean... those are about the only books that get big advances. These are the franchise popcorn blockbuster, Netflix reality show, or TikTok influencer account of books. Quality is rarely the goal.
Lincoln Michel@thelincoln.bsky.social · 6d ago👀 Fascinated by the "withdrawn by its agents" detail. So the AI use was so blatant that the agents due a huge payday preemptively withdrew the contract?
UPDATE: After the publication of this piece, Google sent 404 Media a statement saying it was “rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails.” www.404media.co/google-earth...
Google Earth’s New AI Lets Anyone Fabricate Completely Bullshit Satellite Images
"Tonight I typed just one sentence into Google Earth and put refugees near the Mexican border. Then I planted a nuclear plant in Iran. Then I put a fatal crash on a street in Amsterdam."
404media.co
Or their hosting provider took action upon receiving a flood of DMCA notices. I'm not terribly inclined to assume whoever's behind SFW went "oh no, my bad!" given the lying they did right out of the gate.
One of my stories was illegally posted here. The site is currently down, makes me wonder if the publishers realized how badly they messed up.
Marie Brennan@swantower.bsky.social · 6d agoIf anybody was excited that Science Fiction Weekly is aiming to "revive" Daily Science Fiction, you should know they are straight-up lying about having gotten permission from writers to republish DSF stories on their website. (Yes, I have sent a DCMA takedown notice.)
A reminder I'm a finalist for Best Fan Writer.
Los Angeles Worldcon@laworldcon.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards voting is still open until Sunday, August 8 at 8 pm Pacific! Don't forget to submit your ballots if you're an Attending, Virtual, or WSFS member. If you don't have a membership yet, you can sign up through the #LAconV site now: lacon.org/register
A reminder I'm a finalist for Best Fan Writer.
Los Angeles Worldcon@laworldcon.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards voting is still open until Sunday, August 8 at 8 pm Pacific! Don't forget to submit your ballots if you're an Attending, Virtual, or WSFS member. If you don't have a membership yet, you can sign up through the #LAconV site now: lacon.org/register
Monica Valentinelli @booksofm.com wrote a guest Genre Grapevine essay on "The Most Important Story You'll Ever Tell." "When I talk about the most important story you'll ever tell yourself, what I'm referring to is the one your conscious, unique narrator is saying." 1/
Guest Genre Grapevine Essay: The Most Important Story You'll Ever Tell | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Note from Jason: I hope you enjoy the following guest essay by Monica Valentinelli. You can catch Monica later this week at the Gen Con Writ
patreon.com
I'm doing an AMA on @redditfantasy.bsky.social today! Come say hi and ask me anything! www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
From the Fantasy community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Fantasy community
reddit.com
Guest Genre Grapevine Essay: The Most Important Story You'll Ever Tell A guest post by Monica Valentinelli at @jasonsanford.bsky.social Genre Grapevine www.patreon.com/jasonsanford...
Guest Genre Grapevine Essay: The Most Important Story You'll Ever Tell | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Note from Jason: I hope you enjoy the following guest essay by Monica Valentinelli. You can catch Monica later this week at the Gen Con Writ
patreon.com
