iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

if you are querying, do you put your pen name on the manuscript, or your real (legal) name?

010

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

How many authors out there also keep journals? Why/why not?

000

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

i can tell my psychic little sister ABSOLUTELY knows when i'm going to die and she won't tell me and it's pissing me off. i know there's a story here somewhere and i will find it even if it's the death of me... literally.

000

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Write Query Hook @writequeryhook.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

daily rejection inspiration: "You have to learn to take rejection not as an indication of personal failing but as a wrong address" — Ray Bradbury #writingcommunity #querytrenches #amquerying

0136

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Merryn Rae @merrynrae.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

In August I decided to leave the Film and TV industry after 10 years of service - here’s why: open.substack.com/pub/merrynra...

121

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

team @ogmatthewlillard.bsky.social 4lyfe <3 i don't think i've been on here for months. just had to pop in to say this on the off chance he sees it because i've been a fan for literally decades. that man has RANGE and i'd be honored to work on a film with him someday if i ever got to that level

000

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Malia Pila @maliapila.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day and 2nd day of Halloween! I'm Malia, a hapa Hawaiian illustrator who loves stories that are a little unusual and playing with seasonal color palettes. Rep'd by James McGowan of Bookends Literary ✨ maliapila.com for more of my work!

312118

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Marta Pilosio Illustration @martapilosio.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day and happy Halloween-Month! I am Marta, illustrator and author, and I am open to new projects, especially board books, picture books and book covers! I love anything funny, cute, but also spooky and magical!

1423

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

I have NEVER been skilled at drawing. (This is exhibit a in why I am an abstract painter). However, I decided to participate in #scbwiArtober2025 because I had surgery last week & I need entertainment. So…This is Abel the Spider (RIP) getting SQUASHED by… a Squash. (Since I know you couldn’t tell)

Sketch of a cartoon black spider being squashed to death by a yellowish squash. The spider has x’s for eyes and his tongue stuck out to indicate his unfortunate demise.

020

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Ellen Hopkins @ellenhopkins.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

And she never quit. Goal for all of you: never quit.

18215

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Every time I see a house like this on Zillow I chant to myself WITCH HOUSE, WITCH HOUSE, WITCH HOUSE Anyway I don’t ask for much in life but I can’t wait to be a millionaire with a witch house

000

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

I have this horrible affliction where my real birth name is actually not a very good name for an author or artist. I’ve been dying to drop my last name my entire life help

000

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

One of the best ways for #writers to gauge the literary market is to read recent releases from DEBUT authors. Why? These are writers whom publishers are willing to take a risk on, who don’t yet have a following, which means publishers believe their book has market value.

515820

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Morgan 🍄🌿✨ @morgansketch.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Hi! My name is Morgan ❤️ some things I love to draw: 🍄 whimsical scenes 🌼 kids on adventures 🍂 cozy environments I’d love to book some work in PB and also MG 🩷 💌 Morgan.huffs@gmail.com 🌷morgansketch.com #kidlit #kidlitartpostcard

0374

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Charlene Chua @charlenedraws.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Hello #kidlitartpostcard ! I am Charlene Chua & I illustrate books for kids. 🌟Open for 2026 book projects! 🌟 Portfolio - charlenechua.com Agent - Tracy Marchini @bookendsliterary.bsky.social #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #PB #GN #chapterbooks #boardbooks

Illustration of 3 cute dogs standing in a city park. There is an open box of pizza on the ground. A small sign taped to the box says 'bob's pizza - don't touch'. One dog is curiously investigating the pizza.

930756

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Becki J. Kidd @bjkidd.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Feeling frustrated? Overwhelmed? Take a deep breath and keep going. Keep writing. Keep creating. Believe. #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

192

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

So, fellow authors. I #amquerying & it’s a new manuscript but I’ve queried this agent once before. The query letter is basically going to be the same then besides the info about my new book… is this a problem? lol I don’t know how else to change it but I feel like it’s recognizable, right? HELP

240

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

The people complaining that companies want to pay less to clean up AI generated content is so odd. If we want to be valued for our work as humans we have to show them we’re worth paying for. At least charge your regular rate if you’re gonna do this. www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...

nbcnews.com

Humans are being hired to make AI slop look less sloppy

In the age of automation, human workers are being brought in to fix what artificial intelligence gets wrong.

010

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Caroline McPherson @carolinemcpherson.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day everyone 💌 l'm Caroline, 🇬🇧🇦🇺 picture book maker with a softly textured style and a love of endearing tales ✏️✨ Represented for writing and illustration by @kellydhouse.bsky.social 📚 #kidlit #kidlitart PORTFOLIO www.carolinemcphersonillustration.com

917027

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Gina Perry @ginaperry.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm Gina Perry, a New England author and illustrator of children's books. I'm looking for that next cute and colorful book project: from picture book to early readers and chapter books. Rep'd by Sean McCarthy Lit. More at: www.ginaperry.com #kidlit

Brightly colored illustration of bugs having an outdoor, seaside party. Flowers and plants surround them. A grasshopper plays a flute, a beetle plays a ukulele, a bee shakes a maraca. Fireflies, dragonfly, ladybug, and caterpillar watch on. Art by Gina Perry. Text reads "author / illustrator ginaperry.com represented by Sean McCarthy"

623954

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Helen Rosner @hels.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

More: - Tiffany Aching, Pratchett - Prydain, Alexander (great as a pre-LOTR series imo) - Dark Is Rising, Cooper - His Dark Materials (hits real hard for weirdo smart kids) - Graceling, Cashore (I mistakenly read them in order 1-3-2 and actually might recommend that) - Queen’s Thief, Turner

42566126

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Ash @ashsaidhi.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Gonna tell the future generations this is Labubu.

1358367

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I’ve decided I should stop intentionally limiting myself

010

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Dani 💛 The Editorial Style @theeditorialstyle.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Forever cringe, but forever grateful🫶🏻

213828

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Simon HB @norock.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival

BBC News headline: Frankenstein is monster success at Venice film festival

200245364600

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

“I believe people with imagination have a responsibility to speak other futures into existence.” -Mads Gobbo

000

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Ellen Hopkins @ellenhopkins.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

If you live in Canada and believe you're immune from an Orwelian future, please be aware that the Edmonton School District just banned 200 books, including six of mine, from its school libraries.

50951384

Reposted by aly (she/her)

alexis simpson is confused by display name changes @amutepiggy.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

ai is a vampire. you don't have to invite it in

323546

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 29/08/2025

I hope they sue them for BILLIONS.

9604106

Reposted by aly (she/her)

frankenstonk's monster @stonkers.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

on being a hater anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...

I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.

To speak politely about AI, you put disclaimers before criticism: of course I’m not against it entirely; perhaps in a few years when; maybe for other purposes, but. You are supposed to debate how and when it should be used. You are supposed to take for granted that it must be useful somewhere, to someone, for something, eventually. People who are rich and smart and respected are saying so, and it would be arrogant to disagree with such people.

But I am a hater, which is a kind of integrity. It means I am willing to disagree with anyone, even if it is rude. “But I only use it to–” “Actually if you just—” “The new models–” “I was making fun–” Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself. I am embarrassed for you.

But I am more than a critic: I am a hater. I am not here to make a careful comprehensive argument, because people have already done that. If you’re pushing slop or eating it, you wouldn’t read it anyway. You’d ask a bot for a summary and forget what it told you, then proceed with your day, unchanged by words you did not read and ideas you did not consider.

312346

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Kate Ross @kateross.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

White woman puts Mexican flag on her truck to waste ICE’s time.

Scooby
I am as white as a hotel towel, and the closest thing to Mexican I am was a single all inclusive resort stay in Cancun. I put a Mexican flag sticker on my old Tacoma abd was promptly pulled over by ICE in San Antonio. I'm happy to waste their time
1d

RookaTX
This is the way

Scooby • RookaTX
Their big question was like, "why the sticker" I told them it was on the truck when I bought it-and they suggested I remove it. Obnoxious creatures.
1d

927370999752

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

This is in the replies and it demonstrates a real issue which is if you find profundity from an AI, you’re responding to something profound a human being wrote that was vacuumed up and what ends up happening is you thank AI and not only don’t thank the person, you have no idea they were involved

Michael Love@elkmovie.bsky.social • 6m
I thought this sounded familiar and it turns out it literally just found an old George RR
Martin quote and wrote a short story out of it:
George R.R. Martin > Quotes > Quotable Quote (?)
"I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners.
The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they're going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there's going to be. They have the whole thing
designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up. The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don't know how many branches it's going to have, they find out as it grows. And I'm much more a gardener than an architect."
ALT
- George R.R. Martin

3636441118

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Adam Sharp @adamcsharp.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

My favourite Finnish way of saying “there’s no place like home” is oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka. It means “own land strawberry, other land blueberry.”

712519

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I see #Aughost is a hashtag for the upcoming month and you know what maybe it is a sign to write a ghostly manuscript

020

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Adam Sharp @adamcsharp.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

What’s a shark’s favourite novel? A Farewell to Arms

1929050

Reposted by aly (she/her)

George @hannahtempler.com · 06/07/2025

looks into the camera

screenshot from article. text reads: "When the marketing maestro got down to business, she realized it was going to require a complete overhaul. Ultimately, she spent 20 hours redoing the copy from scratch - and with her $100-per-hour rate, that meant her client was shelling out $2,000 for copy that likely would have ended up being far cheaper had a human just written it in the first place."

1071532762

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

This sounds so sweet 😭 definitely want to read this

Book cover and info about “Phantom Academy” by Christine Virnig, releasing August 26, 2025. Book summary: Filled with humor, heart, and mystery, PHANTOM ACADEMY follows 12-year-old Finn—the newest student at a boarding school for underaged ghosts—as he and his homesick friends plot to break out of the Spirit Realm and return to their families.

010

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I found a writing course called “OMNISCIENCE—HOW TO SEE AND KNOW EVERYTHING” and, like, I’m the eldest daughter. I was born with this ability

000

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I still can’t get over how brilliant the movie title Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is I mean COME ON

000

aly (she/her) @auntaly.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Apparently “The Snowy Day” is on Libby as an audiobook. You know, the award-winning picture book with absolutely NO text? 😂

010

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Kate Halena @katehalena.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Writing is the art of leaving pieces of yourself between the lines, hoping someone else will find them and feel a little less alone. ✨️

58221

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Taco Bell Quarterly @tacobellquarterly.org · 17/06/2025

Literature is dead and no one reads anymore! I would still encourage you to make terrible life choices and become a writer anyway! Fuck a job, write poetry!

531494180

Reposted by aly (she/her)

Torrance Sené (Cassie Donoghue) @torrancesene.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Authors, the submission form for the Queer Enough Book Blast is open now and closes June 19th. Visit the website to get details on how to join us during the June 27th Pride Month event! www.queerenoughbookblast.com/for-authors/ #Romancelandia #QueerRomance

A yellow graphic featuring a rainbow element. The text on the graphic reads:
Authors, do you write queer MF romance or BTQAI+ queer romance that is often perceived as “MF”?

A yellow graphic featuring a rainbow element. The text on the graphic reads:
Do you often feel your work is not “queer enough”? Or have you actually been told that and/or had your work removed from Pride promos because “readers don’t want to read about the ‘hets’?”

A yellow graphic featuring diverse raised hands with various Pride flags. The text on the graphic reads:
Well, friend, your work is queer enough.

A wine red-to-golden yellow gradient graphic featuring a laptop with a screenshot of the Queer Enough Book Blast website in it. The text on the graphic reads:
Second Annual Queer Enough Book Blast. Coming June 27, 2025. Join us by visiting the website to learn more!

053