iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#caturday - Rain back as an almost-kitten, content to be a laptop holder so long as he was warm on both sides We miss you, bud #catsofbluesky

Rain getting scritches while acting as a laptop holder

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Reposted by Joseph Eckert

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 22/09/2026

Apropos to discussions today, a piece I wrote in 2017 -- the "before times" here on Bluesky -- about how the Brain Eater comes for (some, not all) writers and other creatives, and what happens then. whatever.scalzi.com/2017/05/03/t...

whatever.scalzi.com

The Brain Eater

So, let’s say, there’s this writer. (It doesn’t have to be a writer. It could be a musician, or painter, or actor, any aspirant in any creative or indeed competitive field, in whi…

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Random aside about @chuckwendig.bsky.social’s The Calamities: the hardcover is *awesome*. High quality paper stock, fantastic artwork on the dust jacket and on book itself, bespoke designs inside including on the chapter headings. It makes me happy to have the book on my shelf. The little things.

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Our handsome, grumpy boy passed a week ago today. He was 16. We are sad and miss him, but for #caturday I’d like to remember him as he was, with all his catitude and love. Rest easy, our mini lion. I know you’re wrestling with your brother on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. #catsofbluesky

Rain in his prime with all his catitude on display

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Just finished @chuckwendig.bsky.social’s The Calamities. This felt like ‘Chuck Off the Leash,’ his endless imagination ratcheting things up to 11, putting down a demonic procession of ideas. Grabbed me and wouldn’t let go—and I can’t wait for Chaos Reigns, where we can find out where all this goes!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

@noahgervais.bsky.social Noah’s latest essay is brilliant critical analysis that nails what these games are and simultaneously has some profound statements for giving creatives the space to learn and grow, enabling them to build at a level matching their ambition: youtu.be/8EYthstJbis?...

youtu.be

Adapting the '80s With Teyon Games [Rambo: TVG, Terminator: Resistance, Robocop: Rogue City]

YouTube video by Noah Caldwell-Gervais

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

#caturday #catsofbluesky Handsome boy looking up, probably hoping for treats

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m very glad you enjoyed it! And, yes, @realrayporter.bsky.social is brilliant!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

@chuckwendig.bsky.social picked up my copy of The Calamities from @brick-mortar.bsky.social! Can’t wait to dig in!

Hardcover of The Calamities by Chuck Wendig

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Reposted by Joseph Eckert

TheAfterwords @theafterwords.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

UK #DEAL ALERT! Calling all one-clickers because THE TRAVELER @josepheckert.bsky.social is on #sale on #Kindle UK for a limited time only! link.amazon/B0ivllAHC #TheTraveler #ad #amazonuk

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

In a good way, I hope! Thanks for reading!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Happy to be included among so many great works!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Thank you so much, @stephandhercats.bsky.social! I’m very happy you enjoyed it!

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Reposted by Joseph Eckert

The Literate Lizard @theliteratelizard.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

In these stressful political times, don't you wish you could just time-travel away from it all? Well, that isn't possible yet, but here are four recent time-travel novels, plus the upcoming new novel by @audreyniffenegger.bsky.social, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, all 20% off! Link in reply🧵⬇️

Four recent and one upcoming novels featuring time travel:
- Time Travel for Beginners, by Jaclyn Moriarty
- The Traveler, by Joseph Eckert
- Retro: A Novel, by Jessica M. Goldstein
- The Midnight Train: A Novel, by Matt Haig
- And the upcoming novel by Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, coming out Oct. 6th: Life Out of Order

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Reposted by Joseph Eckert

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 06/08/2026

Over on Whatever today, I'm talking about "AI" and creativity and how, when it comes to learning creative skills, Generative "AI" is rather like the old "Guitar Hero" game, i.e., a really fun way not to actually learn how to do a creative thing: whatever.scalzi.com/2026/08/06/g...

whatever.scalzi.com

Generative “AI”: The Guitar Hero of Creativity

So, you’re a person who has decided to embark on a creative journey of self-expression — to make art, in other words. First off, this is awesome! The universe needs more people making a…

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I see writers who use LLMs with the excuse “It’s here and it’s not going away.” Just don’t use it. There’s no reason to. Create and grow as a writer without ever touching an LLM. Turn Copilot off. Use DuckDuckGo and disable AI results. Don’t buy into what we’re all told is the only way. It’s not.

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Just finished listening to @paultremblay.bsky.social’s Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep. Feels very much of the moment and simultaneously scarily prescient, a product of now and what’s coming. Great stuff, highly recommended!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

As a recently published author, given all the swirl, I feel it’s important to say: I have not, and will not, use “AI” for any part of my writing. Why? It’s ethically compromised on multiple levels It’s a contractual, legal, and financial minefield It doesn’t help me improve as a writer

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

#caturday #catsofbluesky Snow on his back in the sunlight, being super chill

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Reposted by Joseph Eckert

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 31/07/2026

I've written a longer piece on the book that's been pulled due to "AI" use allegations, what that means particularly for newer authors, and what, if anything writers can do in the "AI" era to prove their work is their own: whatever.scalzi.com/2026/07/31/a...

whatever.scalzi.com

Another Reason Not to Use “AI” For Your Writing

Back in February I did a long post about “AI” and why I wouldn’t use it for my own writing, and one of the reasons I gave was “the fact that ‘AI’-generated text …

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

#caturday “Oh, sorry, did you need to go somewhere? That’s too bad.”

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Heading to the San Diego Comic Con this week/weekend? Come see me on a panel talk “Threads of Tension” on Saturday at 10:30 with @kateerobert.com, Terry J Benton-Walker (Bluesky doesn’t like Terry’s handle, sorry), and Deena Helm. I’ll sign your copy of The Traveler, too!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Thank you, Matt! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! And Ray’s narration is incredible, I feel lucky to have him

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

#caturday “Ghost kitty” (actually she just wanted to look out the window)

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I finished listening to @aptshadow.bsky.social’s Green City Wars. It’s great! I keep thinking about Herr Wash-bear and his adventures. And the audiobook version is fantastic.

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Thanks for the link! This isn’t a story I’ve read before, so I’ll check it out

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The last few weeks I’ve run into the “can you separate the art from the artist” question again for some artists whose art I’d admired. Won’t name any names. No easy answers, but I was reminded of a post @scalzi.com made that has some related thoughts: whatever.scalzi.com/2024/08/15/p...

whatever.scalzi.com

Please Don’t Idolize Me (or Anyone, Really)

In the wake of the various recent allegations involving Neil Gaiman, people have been both very sad that someone who they looked up to as an inspiration has, allegedly, turned out to be something l…

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

It wasn’t NYC or Paris or Moscow

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I beat Cronus: The New Dawn this weekend and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend @noahgervais.bsky.social’s take on it. They nail it with their analysis: youtu.be/OCILYvpOBY0?...

youtu.be

Misery Loop-- A Critique of Cronos: The New Dawn

YouTube video by Noah Caldwell-Gervais

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Guest kitty for #caturday: Gracie looking cute moments before taking a swipe at the camera

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Continuing my Alaska photo series: a glacier at the water’s edge, continuing up the mountainside #Alaska #photography #sigma

A photograph of a glacier and mountain in Alaska

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Continuing my mini Alaska photo series, this waterfall as seen from the deck of a ship #Alaska #photography #sigma

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Starting a bit of a series of photography I did in Alaska recently. First! A vision of the mountains from the highway. #alaska #photography #sigma

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

@celsoguarei.bsky.social I’m really happy you’re enjoying The Traveler so far! To answer your question, no, I haven’t read either of those works you mentioned. I’ve also heard some people say there is some similarities to an episode of Deep Space Nine but I didn’t watch DS9. All coincidental!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

*coughs politely* Perhaps you’d care to look up my recently published book, The Traveler? Father-son relationship at the core of an epic time travel story!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Guest cat for #caturday: Pope the Cat, rolling on his back in the dust and dirt, begging for attention #catsofbluesky

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Preordered and looking forward to it!

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Joseph Eckert @josepheckert.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I thought at first it was more squirrel antics that had captured his attention, but no: this time, it was two bunnies #caturday #catsofbluesky

Cat gazing out at a sunny lawn, watching bunnies

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