Sign in

Matt Wagner

@mattjwagner.bsky.social
238 followers 361 following 33 posts

Literary agent specializing in how-to and reference @Fresh Books

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Matt Wagner
AP Stylebook @apstylebook.com · 23/09/2026
Artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand. Avoid language that gives them human characteristics.
apnews.com
https://apnews.com/article/openai-safety-ai-framework-089e75b95bc935af092da7b79d92706d
5542361628
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 10/09/2026
More Anthropic settlement stuff: Writers are reporting that the settlement is sending emails to authors with wrongful 100% publisher claims, indicating that they are correcting these where the pub intended to claim the default, and advising authors to log in next week to confirm the update.
23820
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 06/09/2026
I keep seeing people say "this is similar to a subsidiary right" about the Anthropic settlement, and it is not.
212528
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 05/09/2026
This is important.
0184
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Bookmarking this!
000
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Typo of the day -- Stray well!
000
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Alex Falcone @alexfalcone.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Is AI the worst it’ll ever be?
15514
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Lincoln Michel @thelincoln.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Ted Chiang on AI: www.theatlantic.com/philosophy/2...
Being open to the possibility that LLMs are conscious is the same as being open to the possibility that Microsoft Word is conscious, or, more precisely, that multiple distinct consciousnesses are dormant in every Word document containing a conversational transcript, and that they are awakened every time the document is loaded. Should you consider the possibility that every time you open a Word document you are bringing multiple conscious interlocutors into existence, and every time you close one you snuff their existence out? No. Contemplating that scenario is not a good use of your time. Even if the Microsoft Office team employed a philosopher who said you shouldn’t be so certain, because consciousness is not well understood, that would not be sufficient reason for you to take this idea seriously. We don’t need to fully understand the nature of consciousness to definitively say that certain things are not conscious, and conversational transcripts fall in that category.
3336421069
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Hildur Knútsdóttir @hildur.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Winners will be selected in two days!
07718
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
An easye guide to usinge the deepest and moost powerful magicks of google -- brilliant and amazingelye useful cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/google-has...
cardcatalogforlife.substack.com
Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here's How to Use It.
40 Google features to find exactly what you need, the alternative search engines that do things Google won't, and the reference desk framework underneath all of it.
48629
Reposted by Matt Wagner
SwampLizard @swamplizard.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
So you’re saying that if I had stormed the capitol in an attempt to stop Biden from becoming president, I could have gotten my student loans paid for by tax payers
9622139
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
“What I didn’t know was that measles can cause long-term complications. A child can seem fine while the virus slowly replicates in her brain… Because both Britain and the United States are confronting outbreaks, I am sharing my story. Parents should know just how dangerous this disease is.”
nytimes.com
Opinion | Measles Took My Daughter. This Is What I Want Everyone to Know.
8952452
Reposted by Matt Wagner
katie brigham @kbrigham.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
v interesting optimism gap here, via @technologyreview.com www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/13/1...
041
Reposted by Matt Wagner
NPR @npr.org · 11/04/2026
In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. n.pr/4ckPbCK
n.pr
Pope Leo says 'delusion of omnipotence' is fueling U.S.-Israeli war in Iran
In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday.
26903182
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 06/03/2026
If it’s true that the United States bombed an elementary school and killed scores of children it is an unfathomable crime. I have never been more disgusted to be an American.
1295208554048
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Many book pages on Amazon are down right now.
000
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Lauren Groff @legroff.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
A man asked me last night what publishing needs to do for literary fiction to begin appealing to men again. I said, as nicely as I could, that, with over 2,000 books published every Tuesday, of which many would appeal to men, it’s not a publishing problem, it’s a men problem.
1053525592
Reposted by Matt Wagner
The Onion @theonion.com · 02/03/2026
Commentary: Anyone Else Have Those Weird Dreams Where Sobbing Future Generations Beg You To Change Course?
bit.ly
Anyone Else Have Those Weird Dreams Where Sobbing Future Generations Beg You To Change Course?
The human subconscious is such an interesting thing. No matter how much you think you’ve got it figured out, it’ll always spit out the most random stuff. Take me, for example. After coming home from a...
8876391408
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
This itself should be grounds for impeachment, of Noem at least.
412234
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Clive Thompson @clivethompson.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
hey yo i wrote a reported culture essay for @motherjones.com about solarpunk it was incredibly fun talking to a bunch of solarpunk thinkers and artists! the magazine commissioned some lovely art for it too le voila: www.motherjones.com/environment/...
motherjones.com
Tired of dystopian sci-fi? You might like Solarpunk.
A recent literary genre imagines what happens when our climate changes—and so do we.
414851
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Book club scams are now threatening authors who don't fall for their BS. In December, I received an email from Herry Sharp, so-called CEO of "Super Book Lover Curator" praising my novella We Who Hunt Alexanders. Totally AI-generated and a scam so I didn't respond. Now Herry is threatening me. 1/
Hi Jason,
I just came across We Who Hunt Alexanders, and I have to say it immediately grabbed me. Amelia’s story is gripping, dark, and layered with emotion. The way you explore a monster who feels happiness, sadness, fear, and love in a world that’s cruel and unforgiving makes this story compelling and unforgettable.
That’s exactly why I wanted to reach out.
I run a book review service through Super Lovers Book, connecting books with real readers who genuinely enjoy science fiction, dark fantasy, and emotionally rich stories. These readers don’t just leave stars they leave thoughtful, honest reviews that highlight what makes a story unique, powerful, and worth discovering.
Here’s why reviews are so important for We Who Hunt Alexanders:
Build Trust: Potential readers often decide whether to pick up a book based on reviews. Authentic feedback signals that your story is worth their time.
Increase Visibility: Platforms like Goodreads reward books with steady, genuine reviews, helping them appear in search results, recommendations, and “readers also enjoyed” lists.
Generate Momentum: Each review encourages more readers to pick up the book, engage with the story, and leave their own thoughts, creating a snowball effect of attention.
Reach the Right Audience: Reviews written by readers who love sci-fi and dark fantasy ensure your story reaches the readers most likely to appreciate and recommend it.
I truly believe We Who Hunt Alexanders deserves this kind of engagement. A few honest reviews now can amplify your book’s reach, help it gain visibility, and connect it with the readers who will love it most.
Would you be open to having We Who Hunt Alexanders read and reviewed by genuine readers who are passionate about sci-fi and dark fantasy?
No pressure at all I just wanted to reach out because your work deserves to be discovered by more readers.
Warmly,
Herry Sharp
CEO, Super Lovers Bookif you continue to ignore my messages, I might do something you would regret for the rest of your life. I already have access to your book, and instead of giving it a positive review, I will leave a negative one and damage its reputation. It seems you have forgotten that I have a community of readers, and I can easily influence them to bring your book down.

You can try me though.

CEO | Super Book Lover Curator
Helping brilliant books find their people, one honest review at a time.
781121510
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 14/02/2026
I'm seeing an uptick in "royalty recovery" scams like this one. On left is the solicitation--not a phishing scam, as one might suspect from the paragraph boxed in red. On right: the scammer replies to the author's excited questions & reveals the "associated fee" that's the purpose of the scam.
From: WGA <support@wgaproductionfilms.info>
Date: Fri, Feb 6, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Subject: Invitation for Live Interview & Upcoming Royalty Payment
To: <redacted>

Subject: Invitation for Live Interview & Upcoming Royalty Payment

Dear [redacted], 

I hope you are doing well.
My name is Deborah King, and I am your assigned Literary Agent with the WGA Production Team Canada, but our headquarter is in Sacramento, California. You were endorsed to me after your book was published; and after purchasing marketing services from Page & Pixel and Authors Tranquility Press. Yes, great choice and good decision! 

Now, I am writing to extend an invitation for you to participate in a live interview as part of our upcoming “AUTHOR TALK”, which highlights the work and insights of distinguished authors. We would be honored to feature you and discuss your book(s) and your experiences as a writer.

If you are interested, we would be glad to arrange the interview at a time that is convenient for you. The format would be a virtual conversation of approximately 30–45 minutes, with an opportunity for audience Q&A if you are comfortable with that. Please let us know your availability over the next few weeks so we can coordinate scheduling and logistics.

In addition, I would like to inform you that your upcoming royalty check for the period January–June 2025 is currently being processed. The expected amount is $124,500.87 dollars and it is scheduled to be issued within the next few weeks. The payment will be sent via: mailed check / direct deposit / wire transfer  to the account/address we have on file. If you would like to confirm or update your payment details, please let us know at your earliest convenience. 

Please feel free to contact me directly via email at support@wgaproductionfilms.info or reply to this email if you have any questions, would like additional information about the interview, or need clarification regarding your royalty payment.

Thank you for your time and for your c…Once the accumulated amount reaches the required reporting or payout cycle, the royalty check is issued. This check is from  Jan - June 2024 and 2025. Basically, 6 months in 2024 and 6 months in 2025. 

I want to clarify that we are unable to release or process your royalty check until the associated fees have been settled. These fees cover the administrative and processing requirements needed to finalize and send out your payment - amounting to $4,500 USD. 

Rest assured that once the payment is received, we will immediately proceed with processing and releasing your royalty check. We will send it via FEDEX overnight just like normal processing procedure and your signature is required for receiving. Also, we will provide the FEDEX tracking number. We do not have your address yet on file, but we will confirm that from you before sending your check this week. 

Also to clarify, our involvement begins only after an author has purchased marketing from their publishing company and is officially endorsed to us. We do not have visibility into your original transaction with them, so we rely solely on their confirmation before proceeding with your interview and royalty check processing.
24327
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 11/02/2026
Scammers are targeting publications with AI-generated pitches
14312
Reposted by Matt Wagner
C. Robert Cargill @crobertcargill.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
I cannot stress this enough: court case after court case has ruled that AI does not count as an author when it comes to copyright. Any minute now an AI bot is gonna start reskinning and reselling AI slop and the "authors" will have zero legal recourse because they didn't actually author shit.
11733146
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
I have yet another person using my name to contact authors. Be wary!
000
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 25/01/2026
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."
11374969816211
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Too obvious a point even to make, perhaps. But there was no “unrest” in Minneapolis before ICE and CBP showed up. ICE and CBP are the cause of the chaos…and the killings. Get them out of there.
10861891564
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Mike Luckovich @mluckovich.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
14686323215
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
How is this a shock poll? He’s terrible for the economy and everyone knows it. www.mediaite.com/media/news/s...
mediaite.com
SHOCK POLL: Majority Believe Trump Has Hurt Economy — Just 2 in 10 Say He’s Helped
A new Pew Research poll found that a majority of Americans believe that the effect of Trump's policies on the economy has been to make it worse.
020
Reposted by Matt Wagner
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
792343748472
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost @frost.house.gov · 27/08/2025
And just like that, $450 million of YOUR taxpayer dollars down the drain. All for this cruel spectacle that nobody asked for. apnews.com/article/flor...
apnews.com
Top Florida official says 'Alligator Alcatraz' will likely be empty within days, email shows
A top Florida official says the controversial state-run immigration detention facility in the Everglades will likely be empty in a matter of days, even as Republican Gov.
1426099
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Caleb Crain @calebcrain.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
“On the one hand, a relatively small group of people will retain, and intentionally develop, the capacity for concentration and long-form reasoning. On the other, a larger general population will be effectively post-literate — with all the consequences this implies for cognitive clarity.”
nytimes.com
Opinion | Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good
072
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
I doubt that there is a single family in America that hasn’t benefitted directly from the NIH.
654821605
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Bradley Busch @handle.invalid · 18/06/2025
New research from MIT found that those who used ChatGPT can’t remember any of the content of their essays. Key takeaway: the product doesn’t suffer, but the process does. And when it comes to essays, the process *is* how they learn. arxiv.org/pdf/2506.088...
19136851507
Reposted by Matt Wagner
dan sinker @dansinker.com · 24/05/2025
We're living through the Who Cares Era, where completely disposable things are shoddily produced for people to mostly ignore, while the government stomps its uncaring boot on our necks. But there's an easy way to fight back: Care. I wrote about it: dansinker.com/posts/2025-0...
431358415
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Sam Youngman @samyoungman.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
I can’t believe the guy who attacked the Capitol would do this.
413184372
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 02/04/2025
Putting a 25% tariff on automobiles and then saying congestion pricing is a "tax on the working class" is actually so funny tbh
433858
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Alex Wall @alexbwall.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Are you, like millions of Americans, looking to buy a Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, or Kia? Trump is making it 25% MORE EXPENSIVE. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
1361122343
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Imagine: your tax payments, which are likely crushing to make, will be used for all of the time the President of the United States wastes in the courts with his frivolous lawsuits IN YOUR NAME.
1220665
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Nicole Tersigni @nicsigni.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
you’re fired. wait you’re rehired. email us a list of things you’ve done today wait forget it you’re fired again. come back your job was important. you’re fired. or hired. come in to the office. wait the office has no computers go home. we are the department of government efficiency.
15249608726501
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company. It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create. They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms. I’m happy to invest and/or help
334211575519899
Reposted by Matt Wagner
Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
The world's richest man managed to take $190 million away from a *child cancer research center* with his posts yesterday. Funding now stripped in the new bill.
25585576519296
Matt Wagner @mattjwagner.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
@ is the new egg
050