iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 18h

In my local Waitrose they have several posters that look very AI. DESIGN A POSTER TO ADVERTISE OUR NEW DELI RANGE. Etcetera. I loathe those generic, faux drawn, nostalgic bullshit, friendly font signs but Waitrose. Damn. Do they have a design department? Or is the question did they?

010

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I did not! I like that, thanks.

010

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"...through her work she had come to realize that this (sometimes) happened with people who had not gotten enough love from their mothers when they were young: They ended up wanting to please, to be good." Strout is wise and insightful with a truly distinct voice. 🩶

Blooker shortlisted novel The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

051

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Kelli Dianne Rule @kdiannerule.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Honored. Working with The Forge was a dream. Link to my nominated piece about Cosby sweaters, Sleater-Kinney, and social anxiety: forgelitmag.com/2026/05/11/t...

172

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Cheers all round for our Best of the Net nominations for 2026. Go read them!

011

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ooh, have not read but am on a big Garner reading high at the mo. She is so clear and good.(Currently reading This House of Grief, with the diaries waiting.)

120

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Just a reminder - we truly want to be a litmag anyone who wants to can sub to, but if the same names get in first every time that doesn’t work.

032

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Tony you absolutely should go for it! Sounds perfect. 👌🏻

110

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Hello writers, we @theforge.bsky.social are delighted at how popular we are, but our free sub slots are filling in a day. In an attempt to give everyone a fair chance, we ask that if we decline your submission you wait at least 3 months before trying us again. Thank you! forgelitmag.com/submit/

021

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I loved how beautifully honest he was. Great ep.

010

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Utterly depressing and infuriating. What a nonsense.

031

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Not the sort of thing I read or write but this is so fucked up! (Also, why pay for a magazine - the story is created by AI so you can save your money and ask AI yourself?)

084

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Unbeatable AI book spam. I will never receive a better one than this.

1918129

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Trying not to despair while people all around me claim the hot weather is “lovely” rather than a sign of how we've fucked up the climate.

59419

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

every time I say this, someone didn't know: you can get the NYRB, the New Yorker, the LRB, Paris Review, The Spectator (weirdly not New Statesman), The Week, both French & Italian Vogue & New Scientist among many many other magazines FREE via the Libby app from your local library?

261526605

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

It’s doubtful they will have changed tho isn’t it. Sigh.

100

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I’m glad that neighbour is in your past. Twunt!

110

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I have had to inch my way through it and stopped watching it at night. Finished it today. Terrifying but good. David Morrissey was chillingly believable.

120

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Dr Phoenix CS Andrews @thatdocphoenix.com · 24/05/2026

It’s so illogical to me that there are grown adults with proper jobs who quite happily square their belief that charities and human rights experts and so on can be right about everything apart from trans rights and that fascists and dictators can be wrong about everything apart from trans rights

6629183

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

"They called her Zoongie. Maybe it was a name; maybe rain took a shape and decided to keep it. She had the kind of walking that made benches become men." Excuse me? Make it make sense.

120

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

It's exactly the type of writing I keep telling people to cut from their work. Unbearable tosh.

030

Reposted by Sara Crowley

John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

If you read the extract, it’s a good example of what some people (inc apparently these judges) think constitutes ‘good writing’ - clotted, imagistic, empurpled (rule of three!); multi-coloured throat-clearing, using obscurity as a mask for the lack of anything to say.

6685

Reposted by Sara Crowley

John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Incredible to think that AI can now write as badly as some of our worst human authors. What a time to be alive.

610229

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

My second editor's pick is up @theforge.bsky.social It's an excellent flash by Bethany Holmstrom: We're Not Monsters And so we didn't wish anything terrible on the boy. Only...

forgelitmag.com

We're Not Monsters - The Forge Literary Magazine

We're Not Monsters, a flash fiction by Bethany Holmstrom

142

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Sometimes someone sends you a story that's dark and funny and excellent and you publish it wishing you were that talented. @kdiannerule.bsky.social 🌟

030

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Yes, originally I thought it was unlikely to be a fox but apparently they bury eggs in soft soil and treat it like a snack drawer!

100

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

People should read whatever they like but I do think it’s a shame when someone doesn’t read novels at all. It’s like only watching documentaries and biopics.

10899

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Found a shop bought egg buried in a pot in my front garden. Joked it was a curse. Googled and it can be. Fascinating. (More likely to be a fox but for a moment it all felt very weird.)

Photo of an egg in a flower pot next to a geranium.

230

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Renaming it discomfort eating.

000

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

“Farage is rarely pictured without a pint in his hand. But in his case it is presented as something that makes him ordinary, blokey, closer to voters. A sort of testament to his 'realness'. While, in Rayner's case, it is evidence that she is unreliable, dangerous, and - worst of all - unladylike.”

podcasts.apple.com

Sunday School: The heat is on

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 3 May · 1hr

1923754

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

That’s horrifying. I avoid the films and books but would’ve expected to have heard that before. Grim.

110

Reposted by Sara Crowley

The Forge Literary Magazine @theforge.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Okay, we are signing off now but if you missed us and would like us to answer a question, reply here and we'll get back to you.

032

Reposted by Sara Crowley

The Forge Literary Magazine @theforge.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Alright fabulous writer folks! If you have lit mag questions, we’ll do our best to give you some answers over the next hour! AMA! (That stands for Ask Managing-Editors-Sara-and-Sarah Anything.)

553

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Sarah Starr Murphy @sarahstarrmurphy.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Tonight! To celebrate our tenth year, we want to answer your questions about all things lit mag @theforge.bsky.social ! Join me and @saracrowley.bsky.social and ask away! TONIGHT 7-8 pm EDT (11PM UK).

274

Reposted by Sara Crowley

Sarah Starr Murphy @sarahstarrmurphy.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

We are really excited about this!! With a widespread, international staff we seldom get to do in-person events like AWP. We hope this makes us a little more accessible - swing by on your Friday night scrolling journey and ask us anything!

163

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

As part of @theforge.bsky.social 10 year celebrations you can ask FLM managing editors questions about the submission process, editorial decision-making, and all things lit mag. @sarahstarrmurphy.bsky.social and I will be hosting an AMA tomorrow 7 - 8 pm EDT 11 - 12 GMT. #submissions #LitMags

0115

Reposted by Sara Crowley

The Forge Literary Magazine @theforge.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

We are excited to announce that every piece we publish in 2026 (our 10th anniversary) will be considered for our first annual Forge Editors’ Prize voted by our editors as story of the year. The announcement will be made in December and the prize will be $500.

forgelitmag.com

EDITORS' PRIZE - The Forge Literary Magazine

The Forge Literary Magazine Editors' Prize

1217

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

In the 10th year of The Forge Literary Magazine we are excited to announce our Editor's Prize which will be awarded to a piece published in 2026 and voted for by the editors. Send us your brilliant words! #LitMag #Submissions #Prize #$500 #LiteraryExcellence #ADecadeofFLM

forgelitmag.com

EDITORS' PRIZE - The Forge Literary Magazine

The Forge Literary Magazine Editors' Prize

043

Sara Crowley @saracrowley.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Not sure how many mutual pals we have on FB but is it helpful for me to pop a post up saying you're here and have been booted off for now?

110