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Megan Tayles

@taylesium.bsky.social
152 followers 337 following 450 posts

Writer and reader--fantasy, sci-fi, horror. Story enthusiast. Occasional engineer. She/her. 🇨🇦

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Reposted by Megan Tayles
Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 19h
🎃Thei did the Mash; thei did the Monstere Mash. The Monstere Mash! Beholde: sepulchral smash! Thei did the Mash, and it kaughte on moost fast - Hark, heare the Mash! Forsooth, the Monstere Mash!🎃
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 13h
I Know What You Did Last Summer for Tax Purposes
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Suzan the chalant goth @sillysyntax.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Simba Kundizeza is owed an apology by the Atlantic. That's at the very least, imo. I am not litigious in any way but this has done damage to his reputation with no evidence other than our AI machine detects AI.
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KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 14/10/2026
Well, I'm out. @societyofauthors.bsky.social
Hello

I am writing as a member about the SoA signing the Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries. 

Your pledge says "By offering ethical standards and a voluntary code for generative AI use, we in no way dismiss or disagree with serious concerns arising from its creation or application, including but not limited to the largescale use of creative work without transparency, permission or payment; the ongoing risk of displacement of creators’ work; the dilution of the market; and the environmental impacts." 


This is meaningless. Offering an "ethical code" to deal with what you acknowledge to be an inherently unethical industry isn't a way of ameliorating harm: it's a fig leaf to protect the people who want to use this tech. 


-   I do not believe it is possible for a publisher to "balance" the benefits of GenAI in terms of reducing staff and creative costs (which, let's face it, is what it's for) against "the environmental, social, societal, economic, democratic and ethical impacts for humans and the planet".
-   I do not believe that any publisher using GenAI is doing so with a view to investing in people's skills or sharing the benefits. Luckily they don't have to do so under your Charter, they only have to be "mindful" about its impact. Thoughts and prayers.
-   As to "Where AI is used, it is used for good: to widen access, inclusion and opportunity and to increase discoverability, helping more creators, from more backgrounds, reach wider audiences, and help to make creative work more accessible to all"...this is meaningless word salad, an array of buzzwords entirely unrelated to what GenAI does or is for. All it does is support the idea that GenAI can be used for good in publishing and have a positive impact on creators, something which reality has, so far, not borne out in the slightest.  

[cont in next skeet]
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
THIS.
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Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 14/10/2026
This is such important work, and the thing to keep in mind is that when AI people tell you that games will be personalized for you, this is the kind of thing they are more likely to mean.
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Neon Hemlock @neonhemlock.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
okay this deadline is in two days, and then we open for novella submissions 😅
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P H Lee 🪬 @p-h-lee.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
she said "you can do anything in fiction as long as the situation afterwards is more interesting that the situation before." since then i have been keeping an eye on character death in fiction. many writers seem to think that character death "raises the stakes" but actually just makes things boring
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samuel mehr @mehr.nz · 10/10/2026
in 2020 my lab quit Microsoft Word and began writing in R Markdown, an open-source document-publishing system that facilitates a clear, permanent link between statements in text (scientific prose) and the code producing analyses and visualizations supporting those statements (scientific analyses)
a preprint generated with R Markdown with the following text

Ecological momentary assessment reveals causal effects
of music enrichment on infant mood
Eun Cho1,∧,∗
, Lidya Yurdum1,2,∧,∗
, Ekanem Ebinne1
, Courtney B. Hilton3
, Estelle Lai3
, Mila Bertolo1,4,5
,
Pip Brown3
, Brooke Milosh6
, Haran Sened7
, Diana I. Tamir7
, and Samuel A. Mehr1,3,∗
1Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
2Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1018WT, Netherlands.
3School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
4Centre for Research in Brain, Language and Music, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3G 2A8, Canada.
5
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada.
6Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA.
7Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
∧These authors contributed equally.
*Corresponding authors. E-mails: eun.cho@yale.edu, lidya.yurdum@yale.edu, sam@auckland.ac.nz
Music appears universally in human infancy with self-evident effects: as many parents know intuitively,
infants love to be sung to. The long-term effects of parental singing remain unclear, however. In an offsetdesign exploratory 10-week randomized trial conducted in 2023 (N = 110 families of infants, Mage =
3.67 months, 53% female, 73% White), the study manipulated the frequency of infant-directed singing
via a music enrichment intervention. Results, measured by smartphone-based ecological momentary
assessment (EMA), show that infant-directed singing causes general post-intervention improvements
to infant mood, but not to caregiver mood. The findings show the feasibility of longitudinal EMA
(retention: 92%; EMA response rate: 74%) of infants and the potential of longer-term and higherintensity music enrichment interventions to improve health in infancy.
Keywords: music, infancy, parenting, infant-directed song, ecological moment…the journal article version of the previous image
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Stelliform Press @stelliform.press · 09/10/2026
Canadian authors, we are looking for a horror novella for 2027. If you have a complete ms in the ~18-40k range that is deliciously creepy, with carefully crafted prose and a strong eco focus, we'd love to read it. See our sub guidelines and submit to submissionsStelliform Press Please share!
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Thread ⬆️
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Claudie @clh2oars.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Every day I find a new AI thing to be infuriated about
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Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 08/10/2026
More concerning info about rights grabs by Must Read magazines, this time for artwork. Side note: looks like they’re still doing the interminable and not necessarily fruitful negotiation process that writers have reported.
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John Picacio @johnpicacio.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
🧵 Attention, Fellow SFF Artists and Authors -- here is my response to Must Read Magazines, after they presented an Asimov's art contract expecting me to waive all Moral Rights and Copyright to my art. And, I would strongly advise the following to my fellow pros…. 1/
John Picacio’s response to Must Read Magazine’s request for his waiver of all Moral Rights and Copyright of his commissioned art for an ASIMOV’S assignment. Short version — Picacio says a resounding NOPE.
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
It's doesn't solve the whole problem, but I think it is a necessary step in the right direction. It establishes the norm that claiming authorship of AI-generated words is fraud. I know at least one person IRL who will probably be shocked and upset about this.
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Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 07/10/2026
Canada is refusing to issue ISBNs to books primarily generated with AI. This illustrates both the urgency of the problem of the growing flood of slop books, and also the toothlessness of addressing it on the honor system without there also being consequences for lying
Use of artificial intelligence
By registering with ISBN Canada, you declare that your book was created by a human author. You may use AI tools only for limited support tasks, such as brainstorming ideas, checking grammar, or formatting your book. You must not use AI to generate the text, create the artwork, or translate the book. ISBN Canada does not issue ISBNs for works whose content is primarily generated by AI. LAC is currently reviewing its policy regarding the use of AI content creation and our guidance is subject to change.
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Annalee @flowerhorne.com · 05/10/2026
Just because someone who is literally selling something makes extraordinary unfounded claims about it doesn't make it true You know this about vacuum cleaners; it's embarrassing that you can't hold it in your heads about computers
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Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
we fucking loved it, even when there was basically nothing on it, and let me tell you something else: we loved it because of human connection, human diversity, human creativity. WE DON'T NEED A SINGLE THING ANY OF THESE COMEMIERDAS HAVE MADE AND TRIED TO SELL US IN ORDER TO HAVE A GREAT INTERNET.
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The Dark Lord of Derkholme, Archer's Goon, and Dogsbody are good isekai-adjacent books by Diana Wynne Jones.
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Candace Harper @foxglovefiction.com · 04/10/2026
Witchmark by C.L. Polk is $2.99! I cannot recommend this entire series more highly!! It's SO GOOD and book 3 is my favorite of them all so go get that far! bookshop.org/a/1382/97807... link.amazon/B02LNJUzg
bookshop.org
Witchmark
WINNER of the 2019 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and a finalist for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Lammy Award!One of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, according to Time Magazi...
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"See you tomorrow!" "Not if I see you first."
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The Deadlands @thedeadlands.com · 03/10/2026
wowwwwwwwwww!!! congrats to @angelaliu.bsky.social well done to editor @nicasio.bsky.social and the whole deadlands team!!! you can read this poem right here: psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
share.google
The Language of Fireflies - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
The streets are lined with glass treesWe weave through their false light             for a taste of a real moon, fold […]
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Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 03/10/2026
More confirmation and details of the deep ties between Alberta separatists and Trump Republicans. They are part of the same far-right populist movement. And the Americans are deeply involved in promoting disunity in Canada. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
theglobeandmail.com
The elephant in the room
Alberta separatists have gone to D.C. offering fresh water and oil in exchange for American support – and Republican operatives have provided tactical assistance inside the province
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I need to share this story with my dad, who still has way, WAY too much faith in Google reviews.
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Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 02/10/2026
Three hours from now!
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Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yeah the biggest human trafficking bust in 21st century US history went down in 2021. Operation Blooming Onion. They took down a $200 million slavery ring in Georgia. 100% H2A visa workers who immigrated legally. This was HUGE NEWS for anyone who was paying attention to farm worker & labor issues.
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Jasmine Mangalaseril 🧁 @cardamomaddict.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Another reason to avoid US produce. exDriscoll’s employee says company tried to cover up millions of kg of fruit exceeding Cdn safety re pesticides and chemicals were shipped to Canada Berries are part of the dirty dozen, but unsurprised CFIA didn’t issue an alert. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Whistleblower alleges millions of Driscoll’s berries sent to Canada with excess chemical levels | CBC News
A whistleblower lawsuit in California is alleging millions of pounds of Driscoll's fruit containing non-compliant levels of pesticides and chemicals crossed the border into Canada, and the company tri...
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sarah l. hawthorn (A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING '26) @slhawthorn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"AI is taking over, it's inevitable-" The only inevitability is the heat death of the universe. Your effort is insignificant, yet you still side with the endless hate machine. "You'll get left behind-" Leave me to the woods, forget my name, and fall into those cold arms alone and unremembered.
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Pookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Reminder that in Canada upon becoming an engineer you get an iron ring made of a collapsed bridge, purposely designed to be uncomfortable, to remind you that your ethics demand you give a fuck even about the boring grudgework of such as double-checking your math. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
en.wikipedia.org
Iron Ring - Wikipedia
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Premee Mohamed @premeemohamed.com · 24/09/2026
Also yes hello I am hosting a LitFest author here in Edmonton #yeg on October 15 at the Citadel! :D We are going to talk DNA and EXCITING NEW TECKNOLOGIES and TURNING PEOPLE INTO DINOSAURS litfestalberta.org/events/decon...
litfestalberta.org
Deconstructing Us: The Secrets of our DNA with Turi King - Litfest Alberta
Join host Premee Mohamed as she talks with featured author Turi King about her book, The Secrets of our DNA.
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Jill Murray @jillmurray.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Canadians: the Writers of Union of Canada has launched a parliamentary petition demanding "radical transparency" around AI www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
ourcommons.ca
Sign this Petition - Petitions
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Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
General reminder, gang: @cartoonist.coop has multiple pages of tutorials on building your own site. Do not sign your productive output over to corporations who consider you acceptable collateral damage in their pursuit of profit. cartoonist.coop/resources/
cartoonist.coop
RESOURCES – CARTOONISTS UNITED
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I think the confusing part was a preexisting issue, but definitely still hilarious. I'm just ECSTATIC we don't have to change the clocks anymore in BC.
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Undertow Publications 🇨🇦 @undertow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Publishers and Editors! I'm taking subs for Vol. 3 of the award-nominated "Best Weird Fiction of the Year" til end of the year. Writers! You'll get a chance to submit your 2026 stories in January. bestspecfic(at)gmail.com


Esteemed Editors and Publishers,

I am now taking submissions of original 2026 short fiction projects — magazines, anthologies, single-author collections — for consideration in The Best Weird Fiction of the Year, Vol. 3. (Publishing Sept. 2027). Vol. 1 is a World fantasy Award Finalist.

I am seeking material first published this year, in 2026. To be clear, only weird fiction FIRST published in 2026 is eligible for inclusion in this volume. I will accept translated work as long as the first English-language publication was 2026.

Stories should be between 500 and 17,499 words. Audio only stories are also ineligible, unless they also appeared as text.

Publishers and editors are encouraged to send electronic or digital copies, via the email address below. (I am not accepting hard copy submissions.) ePubs are preferred, but I will also accept text files (Word), Mobi, or PDF. Please do not cherry-pick selections. Send the entire book, journal, or magazine to:


bestspecfic@gmail.com


Thank you for your time and kind consideration.


Warm Wishes,

Michael
-- 

Michael Kelly / Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
undertowbooks@gmail.com

Undertow Publications
https://undertowpublications.com/
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Cynthia Pelayo @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Today is good day to start writing that novel. There are 101 days until December 31st. If you wrote 500 words every day starting today you would have 50,500 words drafted before the end of the year.
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spooky rachel @introspectre.online · 05/01/2026
i just realized this by the same lady who made this banger
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Kelly Robson @kellyrobson.com · 18/09/2026
Canadians! Sign the official parliament petition for regulating Data Centers in Canada www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
ourcommons.ca
Petition e-7550 - Petitions
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The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 17/09/2026
Here’s your chance to win tickets to see your favourite writers at the Vancouver Writers Fest, running from Oct. 18 to 25. #TyeePresents #Sponsored thetyee.ca/Presents/202...
thetyee.ca
CONTEST: Win Tickets to Vancouver Writers Fest 2026 | The Tyee
Three lucky Tyee readers will receive a pair of tickets to their choice of standard festival events.
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🧵 all the way up
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Adam Morgan @adamm0rgan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
If you work for a book publisher that has introduced AI at any point in the publishing process, I'm working on a story and would like you speak with you, on-record or off-. Same goes if you're an author and you've witnessed your publisher using AI at any point in the publishing process.
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Lambda Literary @lambdaliterary.org · 14/09/2026
The time is NOW, friends. The 2027 Lambda Literary Awards season is officially open. ✨ lambdaliteraryawards.submittable.com/submit #lammys2027
A starry dark background with the Lambda Literary Awards seal and the text “The 2027 Lammy Awards now accepting submissions 9.14.26 - 11.22.26 in the following categories:
Bisexual Fiction
Bisexual Nonfiction
Bisexual Poetry
Gay Fiction
Gay Memoir/Biography
Gay Poetry
Gay Romance
Lesbian Fiction
Lesbian Memoir/Biography
Lesbian Poetry
Lesbian Romance
LGBTQ+ Anthology
LGBTQ+ Children’s Books
LGBTQ+ Comics
LGBTQ+ Drama
LGBTQ+ Middle Grade
LGBTQ+ Mystery
LGBTQ+ Nonfiction
LGBTQ+ Poetry
LGBTQ+ Romance and Erotica
LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction
LGBTQ+ Studies
LGBTQ+ Young Adult
Transgender Fiction
Transgender Nonfiction
Transgender Poetry
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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A pyramid scheme I can wholly endorse. This is fierce and funny, and deserves to be shared. #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #notothenine
youtube.com
5X for Canada: Stop Separation. Crush the 9 Questions. Defeat Danielle Smith.
YouTube video by 5X for Canada
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Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Straight talk time: Doomerism is BORING. It's the same fantasties rehashed over and over again, just louder each time. And with each iteration it seems that new audiences are being reached, and a new group of people needs to be talked down from unnecessary fear. >>
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Cloudy🐈 @hellocloudy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
It's fall, time to draw a cat sitting in a tree
a small black cat sitting in a leafless tree back lit by the sunset
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Megan Tayles @taylesium.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Despite the stereotypes about people who live on islands, we're all perfectly fine here--
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Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 10/09/2026
Loiks like the ebook of my latest novel, Mercutio is on sale, at least in the US and Canada. A good chance to pick it up if you have been wanting to give it a try.
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Martha Crawford @whatashrinkthinks.com · 09/09/2026
Quick clinical note: If you have client who suddenly feels brilliant, overconfident and seems hypomanic without history of significant mood instability OR a client who suddenly out of the blue seems to feel confused, incapable, insecure & everything they do is wrong - ASSESS THEIR AI USE.
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Xero now with 100% more 🎃 @artificer-ind.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Still patiently waiting to be "left behind" by AI rather than it chasing me across every damn space like a slasher in a low budget flick.
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Shirley (Not the Horror Author) Jackson @lioninthetrees.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Tule Fog Beast Totem 🐺🌬️✨ My piece for the upcoming Giant Robot Store Yokai exhibition celebrating folklore and fables! This was inspired by last year's historical Tule Fog. Art will be available online this Saturday, Sept 12th at 11am PT via the GR webstore here: www.giantrobot.com #art #pottery
A large ceramic white wolf with sgraffito details carved along it's body in a stalking pose with it's stomach hollowed out. There are 3D floral ceramic details that surround the cavity, and within said cavity lies a golden crescent moon and sun charm.A 3/4 view of the piece.This photo shows the back and more of the sgraffito'ed fur details.This picture shows a close-up of the interior cavity where the golden crescent moon and star charm hang within. It's naturally shadowed and there are small gold star specks throughout the inside as well.
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