If you consistently and unapologetically do something abhorrent, I'm not obliged to be nice to you, and neither is anyone else Kind of an important part of the social contract
TC Parker (she/her)
@tcparker.bsky.social
Neuroqueer Luddite. Angry intersectional feminist. Co-owner, Nefarious Bat Press 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ PhD, media/politics. Work in social/cultural semiotics, CDA, storytelling. Rage as deep as the abyss Books at https://payhip.com/NefariousBatPress/collection/tc-parker
When they say ‘They don’t even know how it works!’, I’m always reminded of G(husband)’s response: yes we do. And it doesn’t even do half of what the marketing people claim it does. That’s the real problem most of the time. Are these people actual idiots? Anyway, enough of why I’m so sceptical… 🤓
Hi Sephera! I understand how commercialised LLM-based text/image extruders (the "AI" you're talking about) work, and how they're trained I assume that means I'm alright to call you out for this particular bit of bad-faith grifting? P.S. other people also understand them. Might be a you problem
Malda Marlys 🍉@aardwyrm.bsky.social · 5h agoi don't have anything clever to add about the hwa mess but i did peek over at the facebook wasteland where the author posted this, uh, defense. we're all bullies, because it's the wild west, and see we're all proving her point, and who really understands ai, fuckin magnets how do they work amirite?
As far as mush-brained defense of AI, this is the mushest lmao
Holly Lyn Walrath@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 18h agoThere is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.
Really disappointing from the HWA, again.
TC Parker (she/her)@tcparker.bsky.social · 11h agoHWA back on its bullshit, I see I'm not a member (this isn't their first pro-"AI" rodeo). But fucking hell, we need better options Shauna and I run a horror press. We're EXACTLY the people who should be joining an org like the HWA. Where are we supposed to go, when this is what they serve up?
"We do not and will not condone the deliberate use of commercialised LLM-based text/image extruders ("generative AI") by any of our members or affiliates. We condemn "AI" - and its apologists - in the strongest possible terms" If you're not saying this by now, you're saying the opposite
Since this is my only public-facing internet presence, here's my AI policy: I don't use AI for my writing. I don't use it for idea generation or editing. I don't use it for publicity. I have not in the past, and will not in the future. I have "no AI" statements in all the contracts that I sign.
The “and yet we participate in a society” argument being rolled out for AI is dissapointing in the extreme. Disappointing, but not surprising.
Holly Lyn Walrath@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 18h agoThere is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.
I love how there's "what, are we in grade school?" preceded and followed by juvenile raving to stop being divisive by caving to slop. The author who wrote this also has a slop "writing coach" she developed, so this is just use the newsletter as advertising for her grift. Waste of email space.
Holly Lyn Walrath@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 18h agoThere is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.
Sèphera Girón: so i hear some of you writers don't like ai Girón: well, i'm tired of all you writers not liking ai! Girón: and i'm gonna let you all know it! Girón: i'm mad as hell! Girón: put that in the newspaper! Girón: or better yet Girón: put it in the HWA newsletter!
HWA back on its bullshit, I see I'm not a member (this isn't their first pro-"AI" rodeo). But fucking hell, we need better options Shauna and I run a horror press. We're EXACTLY the people who should be joining an org like the HWA. Where are we supposed to go, when this is what they serve up?
Holly Lyn Walrath@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 18h agoThere is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.
Like every other writer in the world, I get a LOT of "book marketing" scams in my inbox Sometimes I even get ones intended for other people Today, though, we've reached a new milestone: a scam email intended for someone *I actually know*!
if the online right can’t post on bsky without getting blocked by so many people it makes the place too dull for them to hang around, i suggest they go and learn some manners and then try again
I don't want to add to any ratios here, but there have been a few incidences of 'I am deeply saddened and shocked at the reaction to the death of [X very nefarious journalist and proven abuser]' Yes, that's kind of the point. These responses act as a warning and deterrent against abusing your power.
Kate Watson@loreandordure.com · 3y agoOnce again for those at the back: ‘Don’t speak ill of the dead’ is about your great aunt Elsie, who liked a long gin with a short tonic at elevenses, and blew your inheritance money betting on the horses. Speaking ill of absolute monsters is a moral obligation, actually.
All true. I know (personally, have been for coffee with, stayed with, etc) three award-winning writers, people who've been at the top of best-seller lists, not one is financially well-off. Not one. All of them incredibly talented writers.
TC Parker (she/her)@tcparker.bsky.social · yesterdayThe impression I get is that the people complaining about "gatekeeping" in writing/publishing aren't talking about the writing itself, but the business end They want someone to tell them the publishing industry isn't arbitrary. That there IS (cf. @debbiemoon.bsky.social) One Weird Trick (1)
The impression I get is that the people complaining about "gatekeeping" in writing/publishing aren't talking about the writing itself, but the business end They want someone to tell them the publishing industry isn't arbitrary. That there IS (cf. @debbiemoon.bsky.social) One Weird Trick (1)
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.
Seeing 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.
What more fitting way to remember Rod Liddle’s life and work than by making nasty jokes about someone who can’t answer back
Hivemind question: We're thinking of setting up a Patreon or similar for the Bat. What kind of material would make people want to subscribe? (I'm quite keen to serialise a novel on there, but it was a bit of a disaster last time I tried, so Shauna thought we should put it to a public vote!)
look, if fear of having everyone on the internet celebrate your death by bringing up every bad thing you’ve done is what it takes to stop people being cunts while they’re alive, i say let’s give it a go
Not just for librarians: Steve Thomas asks me about INCARNATE over at Circulating Ideas circulatingideas.com/2026/07/30/3...
I didn't heed this lesson yesterday, and all it got me was a brief, unpleasant interaction with Lewis Goodall - which, let's face it, nobody wants Today, I'm happy to say, I blocked Ben Goldacre on sight It's never too late to improve your evening!
Leona@editor.scot · 3d agothey’re going to go and post elsewhere like ‘well, THIS didn’t go down too well on Bluesky’ and it will be incredibly smug and their replies will be from other Big Brain Smart Guys
Wow, The Media Terves And Sensible Opinionist Set seem VERY touchy about us orrible oiks repeatedly mentioning that their dead bestie Rod Liddle beat his pregnant girlfriend and wrote repeatedly about wanting to view CSAM and rape children just bc it's true, we should probably all stop saying that
Making society more controlling, restrictive, and invasive for all women in the name of protecting cis women from trans women isn't a side-effect. It's the project in its entirety.
To avoid any ambiguity. If you use (commercialised LLM-based probabilistic text/image extruders masquerading as) "AI," you are contributing to the destruction of everything we value about the world. You are, to paraphrase someone smarter and better than us, anti-life. Ergo, we hate you.
@coyhall.bsky.social @nomarslevik @beverleylee.bsky.social @stephanieellis.bsky.social @stephsandersjacob @fletcherhorror.bsky.social @maeisafraid @l.c.marino @druhuf @brianamorganbooks.bsky.social @author_kenyamossdyme @radardeboard.bsky.social
There are still many amazing writers of horror out there publishing increasingly stellar titles without selling their souls to AI. Aren't sure where to start? Read these folks: @nicole.mann.writer @emroy.bsky.social @crossedmoss @samanthaeatonwrites @viggyparhampton @micahcastle.com 🧵
There are more people who've parlayed middling athletic prospects into profitable careers decrying the inclusion of trans women in sports than there are trans women in sports.