Austin Gragg
@austingragg.bsky.social
Writer | Tabletop Gamer | Fencer | Keeper of Geckos & freshwater frens | Dad | 2ndGen 🇩🇪 German American🇺🇸 | 🏳️🌈 (they/them) 🏳️⚧️ | Agent: @ngrosenzweig.bsky.social @ Triangle House | https://linktr.ee/austingragg
Reposted by Austin Gragg
I want to point this out not necc because it's so clearly generated by LLM with light human editing, but because as my eyes skimmed over the classicly bland, milquetoast word salad, it reminded me of how critical having a unique voice is in this business. It's the one ownable thing we have.
Not only does this have the sing-songy rhetorical stylings of an LLM text itself, nothing about it appears to be true. Contracts are a 4000-year-old social practice; how did they become incomprehensible to the unaided human mind last year?
Erin Underwood: Open Letter to the Science Fiction Writers Association and Community
Hi Friends, Erin Underwood After writing the letter below, I thought rather than sending it to SFWA only, I’d share it with Mike at File 770 along with a note that read: “Am I crazy? Will this blow…
file770.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I want to point this out not necc because it's so clearly generated by LLM with light human editing, but because as my eyes skimmed over the classicly bland, milquetoast word salad, it reminded me of how critical having a unique voice is in this business. It's the one ownable thing we have.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
This message hits hard.
December 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This message hits hard.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
Whatever will we do if billionaires start trying to figure out ways to avoid paying taxes, we should definitely not anger them so that they will continue their long track record of willingly paying their fair share
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Whatever will we do if billionaires start trying to figure out ways to avoid paying taxes, we should definitely not anger them so that they will continue their long track record of willingly paying their fair share
Reposted by Austin Gragg
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
French publishing house Harlequin decided to use AI translation instead of human translations.
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
December 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
We are living in a dystopian hellscape stop yucking other people's yums about inconsequential shit like music or movies. Maybe they need that happy moment to get through the day. Just. Let people feel good about something.
December 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We are living in a dystopian hellscape stop yucking other people's yums about inconsequential shit like music or movies. Maybe they need that happy moment to get through the day. Just. Let people feel good about something.
New short story coming to the Patreon Dec 15th! A death positive #darkfantasy — a bittersweet escape. Ebooks and audio for members!
December 5, 2025 at 2:48 AM
New short story coming to the Patreon Dec 15th! A death positive #darkfantasy — a bittersweet escape. Ebooks and audio for members!
LONG-LIVE BLUEBERRY DAVE
The strike on our account has been lifted! Blueberry Dave lives once again. A Thanksgiving miracle.
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
LONG-LIVE BLUEBERRY DAVE
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Weight loss drugs are now available through Medicare.
November 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Weight loss drugs are now available through Medicare.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
please just get into mini painting
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
please just get into mini painting
Reposted by Austin Gragg
Unlike most apps these days, Scrivener does not use AI in any way. However, if you’re on a Mac, you may see an AI prompt.
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
November 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Unlike most apps these days, Scrivener does not use AI in any way. However, if you’re on a Mac, you may see an AI prompt.
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
.
Here’s why, and what you can do if you want to remove this: buff.ly/MlAq0rL
Reposted by Austin Gragg
The stakes are too high to wait: we need to impeach Trump now.
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The stakes are too high to wait: we need to impeach Trump now.
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
There has not been, nor will there ever be, a greater story warning us of the dangers accompanying the power of artificial intelligence. “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” should be taught in schools again. #AI
November 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
There has not been, nor will there ever be, a greater story warning us of the dangers accompanying the power of artificial intelligence. “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” should be taught in schools again. #AI
Reposted by Austin Gragg
People who dismiss e-books or audiobooks as being somehow less worthy or less meaningful than physical books are missing the point of books. Books are not ink and paper, just as human beings are not defined by their physicality. Books are connections; emotions; ideas; just like their creators.
November 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
People who dismiss e-books or audiobooks as being somehow less worthy or less meaningful than physical books are missing the point of books. Books are not ink and paper, just as human beings are not defined by their physicality. Books are connections; emotions; ideas; just like their creators.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
I write the things I would want to read but I write for others; I can't write only for myself because I already know what I'm thinking and typing it out is just inefficient. Also I'm an ego monster and want an audience.
Been pondering the "write for yourself / no, write for an audience" convos I've seen going around. This obviously varies for everyone, but for me it's "write for myself, edit for an audience." I can't finish a project unless I retreat into a bubble and pretend nobody will ever read it--
November 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I write the things I would want to read but I write for others; I can't write only for myself because I already know what I'm thinking and typing it out is just inefficient. Also I'm an ego monster and want an audience.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
This. The only thing librarians care about as much as the Freedom to Read statement and accessibility, is your privacy. 💕📚
My post that went semi-viral yesterday made me realize that we librarians do not do a good job educating the public on just how much of our time, energy, and focus has to do with maintaining patron anonymity and protecting your identity, data, and borrowing history.
November 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
This. The only thing librarians care about as much as the Freedom to Read statement and accessibility, is your privacy. 💕📚
Reposted by Austin Gragg
Absolutely egregious from the people who bought the three oldest magazines in SFF and are attempting to convert them into a giant funnel of monetizable IP
This postscript is so telling of what trying to negotiate with MRM is like. Massive respect for Scott in sticking to his principles and not allowing them to bully or gaslight him into signing. I'm disgusted that this is still happening to authors. No market is worth this.
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
November 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Absolutely egregious from the people who bought the three oldest magazines in SFF and are attempting to convert them into a giant funnel of monetizable IP
Wild, or just the new normal we’ve been at since 2015? 🤨
It’s kinda wild the President is openly corrupt, Nazi sympathizing, and very likely a pedophile—and most Republicans in Congress are still willing to ignore the Constitution whenever he asks.
November 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Wild, or just the new normal we’ve been at since 2015? 🤨
This makes me even more excited to see the @linusmediagroup.com collaboration. He’s no mere man. He THE man.
November 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
This makes me even more excited to see the @linusmediagroup.com collaboration. He’s no mere man. He THE man.
Reposted by Austin Gragg
They really tried, the whole coastal community, but the whale is being humanely euthanized right now. Such a tragedy, completely due to crab lines left out. It is such a failure that we trash the world so hard we kill so much because of it.
A whale caught in crab nets is fighting for her life on the Oregon Coast near Yachats, with so many people rushing there before official help arrives at dawn. The whale is vocalizing distress, asking for help. It's devastating. We have to find a way to stop entanglements. Unconscionable.
November 17, 2025 at 7:18 PM
They really tried, the whole coastal community, but the whale is being humanely euthanized right now. Such a tragedy, completely due to crab lines left out. It is such a failure that we trash the world so hard we kill so much because of it.
wtf even is media literacy? 😭
We gotta stop letting tech bros (and adjacents) watch movies
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
wtf even is media literacy? 😭
Reposted by Austin Gragg
we don't all have to pass around the shitty excerpts
November 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
we don't all have to pass around the shitty excerpts
This
i have so much contempt for even just the concept of "live action remake" let alone in relation to any of the properties it gets attempted on
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This