Nate Hoffelder

One problem with flying to conferences is that I inevitably end up with even more books than I started with. This is bad because then I have to carry them back to the airport. THIS TIME AROUND, I DIDN'T EVEN VISIT ANY BOOKSTORES, AND IT STILL HAPPENED, FOR PETE'S SAKE.

Weekly News: 19th October 2026 buff.ly/FqX5aKE

Calibre now has decent sounding text to speech functions. buff.ly/5xXOeOd

Someone didn't think this sign through.

AI isn't all bad - someone used it to clone and release Photoshop. buff.ly/nbZ2WoJ

Doyle Calhoun points out that most if not all of the high profile accusations about writers using AI have been aimed at minority writers. buff.ly/j08VJpO

Josh Heath wrote an explainer post about writing for hire. buff.ly/hW2IrOM

Don't use AI to make art. Use childhood trauma like a real artist.

The Walrus questions whether readers can actually detect AI writing. buff.ly/PL6k3gq

Spritz has released a new version of the Readme! speed reading app: buff.ly/zuw5T42

Top 5 Publishing Articles/Blogs Posts of the Week 10/12/26-10/16/26 buff.ly/O2FEqSM

Five years ago I'd be lucky to update once a month. Now I draw *two* comics and update weekly. And literally the biggest change is that I work less and sleep more. Quality demolishes quantity, hands-down.

Where's a good site to get a few t-shirts printed?

If you want to check whether that media you just saw/heard was AI-generated, Google has a site which will check for AI tags embedded in the content. synthid.com

The Corndog, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Weekly News: 12th October 2026 buff.ly/uIMOO51

Sally Rooney pulled from sale in UK over support for Palestine Action (This week in books) buff.ly/lGD1ApI

Friday’s Endnotes – 10/16/26 buff.ly/6OfYxID

Do you want to hear something that never ceases to annoy me? It's when authors add me to their mailing list without my permission. This has happened more and more of late, and I really don't get why authors don't realize it's a bad idea to piss people off.

Beware of The Digital Reads (thedigitalreads.com). The photos of its staff are AI, and the employees' names are unverifiable. Many of the book covers on the site do not match actual book covers for the published books as available at bookstores. #bookmarketingscam #author #amwriting #booksky

The Madman who wrote this dedicated himself to the dark arts, despite knowing perfectly well that all the real money is in YA.

I have a 3 and a half hour drive to go to an all-day event coming up. The event starts at 10 am. Should I drive the night before and get a room, or get up early that morning?

Using chat-type AI has been shown to be asbestos for the mind. buff.ly/HZnGIaY

Clayton Noblit explains how to optimize your FB author page. buff.ly/PEb42uV

Did you hear the news ?!?

I'm dying laughing at how the cat has conformed to her flower shaped bed today

Kristen Lamb updates us on AI publishing scams. buff.ly/Y4ERWKX The latest trend in AI scams is author impersonations. For example, I got a letter supposedly from V.E. Schwab, and Matt Dinnaman (of Dungeon Crawler Carl fame) got a letter from Matt Dinnaman (no joke).

Rick Hollick writes about forgeries. buff.ly/wHs9Frz

Nathan Bransford explains how to interpret rejection letters. buff.ly/wvMo4jR

How crazy would it be to be an exhibitor at 2 conferences on 2 consecutive weekends? There's a 4 day gap between them, and a flight from Denver to San Francisco.

Anne Carson wins the Nobel Prize in Literature (This week in books) buff.ly/Z106fwY

Friday’s Endnotes – 10/09/26 buff.ly/m7gZalr

Here's something fun: buff.ly/9fKTto2 (It's not like you needed to get anything done today, did you?)

We are soon going to have to come to grips with the fact that this shit is asbestos for the mind

Former employer screwed me and i have no unemployment. Rent was due over a week ago, am literally outbof funds, lack enough even for basic needs like food, and I have no idea what's gonna happen right now. Freaking out daily. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! www.ko-fi.com/brainclouds

how I read

It's both shameful and deeply humiliating for what was until recently the world's most powerful democracy to be reorienting itself so that it can be more like, and closer to, a second tier criminal autocracy like Russia.