iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 11h

I’ve been learning (or trying) to be slightly less weird in person, with mixed results. I’ll be okay. We can chat anytime the new cycle gets you down.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12h

The personal stuff will be fine — it’s mostly annoying, like I need a job and think I have a bacterial infection and my car needs work, all solvable. I don’t think I’ve read it. I’m sorry in person is hard. I have few friends but love to see them.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12h

It all sucks so much. Tiny conversations (like this) and seeing friends here and there is keeping me from despair mostly. This week has been full of crappy personal stuff, which makes it all a little harder.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12h

I like speculative fiction, but can’t think of any travel writing I’ve read. I love having a pile of options!

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 13h

I take a short walk every day and look at the sky. Usually helps a little.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 13h

I had no idea there’s a sequel to Get Shorty! And Hav looks really interesting. I need to read a book club book after this. I’m glad there are plenty of stories.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 14h

I jumped on the Dungeon Crawler band wagon. I’m on book 3 because my cousin bought them all and is loaning them to me—only one at a time, though 😆 They are good escapism and fun.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 14h

Yes. Let’s talk about something else for a little while. What are you reading?

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 15h

I’m having a sort of rough week, then remembered the cool mushrooms I saw today. Then discovered I forgot to take photos. But then I found this one from a week or so ago. It looks so soft.

A close up of fungus growing on a stick. It looks a little fuzzy or velvety

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 15h

I thought it was Monday at three different points today. Not sure what to make of that.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Have y’all seen that AI slop video of Marsha Blackburn doing Kendrick Lamar? It’s…something.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

An acquaintance has a new book! She is trying to sell 100 copies in 30 days. It’s romance and about mental health — and $4 is a low price. Oyinkansola a great content marketer and this looks like a fantastic story: oyinkansolaogunyinka.co/where-the-lo...

oyinkansolaogunyinka.co

Books by Oyinkansola A. Ogunyinka (@thegraceola) | On Love, Faith, and Reality

Read snippets and buy thegraceola’s books, Where The Lotus Grows (2019) and A Love For Tomorrow (2021)

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

I’m here to say hi, from my weird emotional roller coaster. Played with a kid, found out how much I owe in taxes, made some new friends, found out my car is no longer rainproof (in addition to needing a new clutch). Up, down, up down. You?

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Definitely potatoes and dreams. Mostly potatoes.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

A few people near me leave them up all year, accessorizing to fit the season — hula shirts in summer, Christmas lights, hearts in February. I admire the creativity.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

The library is magical! Digital stuff, real books, and my library has tools and camping gear and all kinds of stuff — even recording facilities.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Pretty much everyone I know is buying extra beans and rice every time they go to the grocery store.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Sometimes by Friday, I'm so tired that I just have to focus on writing the next sentence, or getting through the next five minutes. I'm really ready for a rainy, restful kind of weekend—and hoping that the Gulf Coast doesn't endure too much damage.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Yeah, Thats was my thought too. They need systems set up so they can hire someone to keep things on track.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Even simple searches for things like the hours of a local business are so much worse.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I’m slowly realizing that a lot of what I do is project management and what I needed to describe it was the right vocabulary.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I switched to DuckDuckGo a long time ago. As far as I can tell they are all based on Google. The results suck on all of them. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It's been a lovely chat, friends, but I have to jump away (isn't that a nice image?) This is the only break in my schedule today and I need it. #FrelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

They are purposely degrading Google search to push us all toward AI. I don't like that manipulation at all. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Yeah, "interesting" is one word for it. Usually, I click on the AI overview, then click on the sources and go directly to those. It's really problematic for technical or science stuff. I don't need to know what someone on Reddit thinks about a study. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Most of my clients tend to stick with me for years, which means I never needed to do a ton of marketing. I also get referrals from fellow writers sometimes which helps. Maybe I'm also absolutely shit at marketing 😆 #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

When I have the mental space, I love exploring new platforms, which I'm discovering is unusual. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

As I said, I'm not anti-AI, and I've definitely used overviews before. I vastly prefer regular old Google searches for things like that, but that's degrading, so I find myself using AI the way you described. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I'm always interested in talking about systems. I've learned that I'm fascinated by them. Airports, logistics, big systems like that right down to how to track client projects. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Well, the shifting happened as a result of the marketing not working. Something has to give somewhere, you know? #freelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This person seems to struggle with client communications, scheduling, all the business stuff related to running a content business. They're apparently excellent with strategy and writing, but very bad at the other stuff and need help #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

No, I'd be the person coming in to set things up. I'd approach it as an opportunity to practice the project management skills I've been learning. And I agree -- my own systems are highly personalized, and I struggle to use out-of-the-box stuff. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I mean...I've spent a LOT of time over the last few years marketing and networking and upskilling and I *think* I know how to market myself, but my client roster has dwindled precipitously, and I don't want to talk about cash reserves. Times are bizarre. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I use it, particularly for resume and job-application related stuff, and to find typos in my own writing, but I'm getting an ickier and ickier feeling. I'm not anti-AI, but it needs serious consideration. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I have an open mic question for #FreelanceFriends today: have any of you ever hired someone to set your business systems? Or have you ever done that for someone else? I have a discovery call next week with someone who needs this kind of help.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I don't, but have definitely seen folks who offer automation services, and know at least one person who is considering creating an offer that would include training people on how to set up AI automations. I'm steadily moving away from using AI at all. #FreelanceFriends

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I’m very happy you have those days and a tiny bit jealous (but am also a few years older than you).

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This entire conversation made me snort laugh and it felt good. Thanks.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I did buy some Bobs Red Mill rye flour to get started but had planned on using good old White Lily to feed it. I appreciate the tip! I'll have to watch the random YouTuber, too.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ooooh. I’m planning to try making some starter this week. Good looking loaf.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I think those are important—crucial— but that mitigation is also still important and worth our effort. But this writer did a good job with a tough topic (he is from Nepal).

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I know someone who only makes socks and a super accomplished knitter who never makes socks. It seems like a love them or hate them kind of thing. I’ve only made dishclothes,towels, and hats so far.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

So those folks could apply to be paid for the loss of their livelihood? That's pretty amazing.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

That was where I tried to land with the story. I'm experiencing watching a forest I adore be razed for a housing development, and am trying to apply those feelings to the characters. It's hard in a lot of different ways.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Yeah, if it directly impacted your ability to make a living, it makes perfect sense to be opposed. I think in those cases, there needs to be more effort to address those concerns ahead of development.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

That would be tough, for sure. Much more sympathetic than "I don't like the way my view looks"

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I tried to create empathetic characters who were upset about their view being ruined and ended up abandoning the story. I should probably revisit it and see if I can credibly see things from that perspective. Sigh.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

it's wild to me because I think wind turbines are really cool looking. Much less weird or disturbing than seeing the Starlink satellites in the night sky.

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I was writing some fiction and wondered about why there's so much opposition to wind in some places and as far as I could tell, it's mostly, "I don't like how it looks."

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Dava Stewart @davastewart.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Here's a really good article about preparing for future climate-related disasters. We're going to have to get better, because events like the one Nepal are going to keep happening. www.sciencenews.org/article/floo...

sciencenews.org

In the wake of the flood, could Nepal avert the next disaster?

Gaps in early warning systems and community preparedness contributed to the high death toll from Nepal’s debris flow.

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