Catherine Sharp
@csharpwords.bsky.social
Reader, writer, gamer, chill swimmer, rugby fan, SFF geek, conrunner (currently Chair of Octocon); back in Wales after many years in Ireland. She/her
I have been job-hunting for a while and seeing all the AI editing & writing jobs is incredibly frustrating and demoralising.
I can't emphasize how depressing it is seeing so many jobs which are just "train an AI to do your job and then, I guess, fuck off and starve?"
December 30, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I have been job-hunting for a while and seeing all the AI editing & writing jobs is incredibly frustrating and demoralising.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
‘AI is just a tool like Photoshop. Artists who reject it are technophobes.’
I remember when Photoshop came out. We FUCKING LOVED IT. Digitally retouching artwork? Undo? Colour correction? Selections for masking? LAYERS?!
We loved it because it gave us MORE control over the art process, not LESS.
I remember when Photoshop came out. We FUCKING LOVED IT. Digitally retouching artwork? Undo? Colour correction? Selections for masking? LAYERS?!
We loved it because it gave us MORE control over the art process, not LESS.
December 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
‘AI is just a tool like Photoshop. Artists who reject it are technophobes.’
I remember when Photoshop came out. We FUCKING LOVED IT. Digitally retouching artwork? Undo? Colour correction? Selections for masking? LAYERS?!
We loved it because it gave us MORE control over the art process, not LESS.
I remember when Photoshop came out. We FUCKING LOVED IT. Digitally retouching artwork? Undo? Colour correction? Selections for masking? LAYERS?!
We loved it because it gave us MORE control over the art process, not LESS.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and close to finishing the very enjoyable fantasy The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott. What are you reading at the moment?
Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?
Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?
December 28, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and close to finishing the very enjoyable fantasy The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott. What are you reading at the moment?
Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?
Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?
Today's Twixtmas cleaning session is brought to you by loud 00s indie and emo and some new IKEA coat hangers.
December 28, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Today's Twixtmas cleaning session is brought to you by loud 00s indie and emo and some new IKEA coat hangers.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
This thread and the quoted one should be required reading. Just be sound to other people, focus on writing well, and take joy in other people's successes.
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
They have come to the convention hoping to "break in" and then find themselves -- shocker! -- a "nobody in the book world." Yeah no shit! We all are! I have gently told guys like this a million times that it takes most of us *years* of hard work but they do not believe that could be true for them. +
December 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This thread and the quoted one should be required reading. Just be sound to other people, focus on writing well, and take joy in other people's successes.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
Watching THE GREEN KNIGHT again
April 22, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Watching THE GREEN KNIGHT again
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
This here, a proud and upsetting member of His Majesty's Royal Navy, is Pollyanna the reindeer.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
December 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
This here, a proud and upsetting member of His Majesty's Royal Navy, is Pollyanna the reindeer.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
And for the avoidance of doubt, she's the one on the right of the photograph.
Stupid ways I have wrenched my bad shoulder #17: lurching to avoid spilling a dish of roasted carrots and parsnips.
December 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Stupid ways I have wrenched my bad shoulder #17: lurching to avoid spilling a dish of roasted carrots and parsnips.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
I have made a #DuvetKnowItsChristmas bingo card! And done alt text on it (as everyone else should, if they're able).
December 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
"Merry Christmas" implies the existence of "Pippin Christmas"
December 21, 2025 at 6:59 AM
"Merry Christmas" implies the existence of "Pippin Christmas"
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan, George Michael and now Chris Rea have all died at Christmas. If I was Mariah Carey I'd stop leaving the house in December just in case.
December 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan, George Michael and now Chris Rea have all died at Christmas. If I was Mariah Carey I'd stop leaving the house in December just in case.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
RIP Chris Rea, Teeside songwriter of both Driving Home for Christmas and Road to Hell, thus proving himself Laureate of all possible driving moods.
December 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
RIP Chris Rea, Teeside songwriter of both Driving Home for Christmas and Road to Hell, thus proving himself Laureate of all possible driving moods.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
✨ CHICKEN FILLET ROLLS WANTED ✨ Close to completion with my first solo game about chicken fillet rolls!
Full draft of the game done, now all about polish. Still on the hunt for people’s roll pics for the in-game gallery! If you've a pic to contribute / plan on getting a roll 😊 DM me! #gamedev
Full draft of the game done, now all about polish. Still on the hunt for people’s roll pics for the in-game gallery! If you've a pic to contribute / plan on getting a roll 😊 DM me! #gamedev
December 22, 2025 at 9:49 AM
✨ CHICKEN FILLET ROLLS WANTED ✨ Close to completion with my first solo game about chicken fillet rolls!
Full draft of the game done, now all about polish. Still on the hunt for people’s roll pics for the in-game gallery! If you've a pic to contribute / plan on getting a roll 😊 DM me! #gamedev
Full draft of the game done, now all about polish. Still on the hunt for people’s roll pics for the in-game gallery! If you've a pic to contribute / plan on getting a roll 😊 DM me! #gamedev
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
You know how in Murder, She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher is always going to the aid of her niece or school friend’s daughter or whatever in sorts of locations? There should be a modern mystery series where someone is going to the aid of all their internet friends all over the world.
December 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
You know how in Murder, She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher is always going to the aid of her niece or school friend’s daughter or whatever in sorts of locations? There should be a modern mystery series where someone is going to the aid of all their internet friends all over the world.
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you.
Who's coming to save you?
I might survive...
Who's coming to save you?
I might survive...
December 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you.
Who's coming to save you?
I might survive...
Who's coming to save you?
I might survive...
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
This is my most searched video on TikTok, it’s how to use physics to open a chocolate orange without banging it on anything
December 20, 2025 at 12:57 PM
This is my most searched video on TikTok, it’s how to use physics to open a chocolate orange without banging it on anything
Rewatching Hawkeye for the Christmas season, and somehow I had forgotten the Avengers musical and specifically 'I Could Do This All Day'.
December 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Rewatching Hawkeye for the Christmas season, and somehow I had forgotten the Avengers musical and specifically 'I Could Do This All Day'.
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
A Christmas cartoon from my new book of science cartoons PHYSICS FOR CATS. In good bookshops and online now: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2
December 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A Christmas cartoon from my new book of science cartoons PHYSICS FOR CATS. In good bookshops and online now: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2
Reposted by Catherine Sharp
This was truly a work of social media art
Do you remember this?
Back in 2019 *this post* caused quite a stir on social media.
Back in 2019 *this post* caused quite a stir on social media.
December 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This was truly a work of social media art
Flu jab yesterday = horrible headache today.
Worth it though.
Worth it though.
December 17, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Flu jab yesterday = horrible headache today.
Worth it though.
Worth it though.
Excellent set of threads about "Wake Up Dead Man", especially the religious aspects. Contains spoilers.
Alice has now seen “Wake Up Dead Man” which means now I can talk about “Wake Up Dead Man” as approximately one million of you have asked me to do. intermittent live-blog in the quoted thread. gay Catholic musings below:
Alice is finally watching “Wake Up Dead Man” and we are having a great time
December 17, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Excellent set of threads about "Wake Up Dead Man", especially the religious aspects. Contains spoilers.
I would love to have him visit to wash my dishes and replenish my potato stash.
Tonight Pottaskefill (Pot Licker), the 5th of Icelands 13 Yule Lads, will come down from the mountains. He likes to sneak into houses and lick the used pots clean.
Children leave their shoes out in the window, he gives the good ones a small gift, the bad ones get a potato.
Children leave their shoes out in the window, he gives the good ones a small gift, the bad ones get a potato.
December 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I would love to have him visit to wash my dishes and replenish my potato stash.