Victoria Strauss
@victoriastrauss.com
Author of novels fantastical & historical, avid gardener, co-founder of SFWA's pub industry watchdog Writer Beware. Casting a small light in a wilderness of writing scams (plus an occasional cat pic)
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this episode of the Bad Lit Friends #podcast would not have happened without the timely reporting of @victoriastrauss.com, specifically:
writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Thank you!
#WritingCommunity
writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Thank you!
#WritingCommunity
January 2, 2026 at 5:24 PM
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this episode of the Bad Lit Friends #podcast would not have happened without the timely reporting of @victoriastrauss.com, specifically:
writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Thank you!
#WritingCommunity
writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Thank you!
#WritingCommunity
Here's the new judge in the Anthropic case, succeeding Judge Alsup who is retiring (thx to @publisherslunch.bsky.social for the link) cand.uscourts.gov/judges/amo/m...
Martínez-Olguín, Araceli
cand.uscourts.gov
January 2, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Here's the new judge in the Anthropic case, succeeding Judge Alsup who is retiring (thx to @publisherslunch.bsky.social for the link) cand.uscourts.gov/judges/amo/m...
A detailed look at what authors (and publishers) may actually receive from the Anthropic settlement. A lot depends on how many claims are filed; based on what I see in the list of eligible works, my guess is that many works will go unclaimed www.authorsalliance.org/2025/12/19/b...
Back-of-the-Envelope Math on What Payouts We May See in the Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement
Now that the Bartz settlement has passed some initial judicial hurdles and is moving along, with important deadlines approaching (opt-out and objections are due January 15), we thought it was worth…
www.authorsalliance.org
January 1, 2026 at 6:37 PM
A detailed look at what authors (and publishers) may actually receive from the Anthropic settlement. A lot depends on how many claims are filed; based on what I see in the list of eligible works, my guess is that many works will go unclaimed www.authorsalliance.org/2025/12/19/b...
How many publishers made deals with AI companies in 2025? This many! digiday.com/media/a-time...
A timeline of the major deals between publishers and AI tech companies in 2025
Here’s a list of all the major deals signed between publishers and AI tech companies in 2025.
digiday.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:03 PM
How many publishers made deals with AI companies in 2025? This many! digiday.com/media/a-time...
I'm re-re-posting this because it's such a good essay. "...writers should also never forget these two secrets of using LLMs to help your writing:
- First drafts are where the thinking begins.
- If you become dependent upon a tool, that tool can be taken away."
- First drafts are where the thinking begins.
- If you become dependent upon a tool, that tool can be taken away."
My thoughts on the current discussions in the SF/F genre over writers using generative AI (LLMs). In particular, I love the essays shared by @chuckwendig.bsky.social and @fozmeadows.bsky.social. 1/
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
Genre Grapevine on Two Secrets about LLM Usage Every Writer Must Remember | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Get more from Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM
I'm re-re-posting this because it's such a good essay. "...writers should also never forget these two secrets of using LLMs to help your writing:
- First drafts are where the thinking begins.
- If you become dependent upon a tool, that tool can be taken away."
- First drafts are where the thinking begins.
- If you become dependent upon a tool, that tool can be taken away."
It's just another Thursday.
January 1, 2026 at 5:41 PM
It's just another Thursday.
It's Public Domain Day! web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...
Public Domain Day 2026 | Duke University School of Law
January 1, 2026 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1930 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1925! By Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle[1] CC BY 4.0 Please note that this site is only about US l...
web.law.duke.edu
January 1, 2026 at 5:17 PM
It's Public Domain Day! web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
My thoughts on the current discussions in the SF/F genre over writers using generative AI (LLMs). In particular, I love the essays shared by @chuckwendig.bsky.social and @fozmeadows.bsky.social. 1/
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
Genre Grapevine on Two Secrets about LLM Usage Every Writer Must Remember | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Get more from Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My thoughts on the current discussions in the SF/F genre over writers using generative AI (LLMs). In particular, I love the essays shared by @chuckwendig.bsky.social and @fozmeadows.bsky.social. 1/
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
www.patreon.com/posts/147102...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Heads up, the annual year-end free trial period for Publishers Marketplace is live.
Great way to do research for those of you gearing up to query in the New Year. lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/12/a-pm...
Great way to do research for those of you gearing up to query in the New Year. lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/12/a-pm...
December 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Heads up, the annual year-end free trial period for Publishers Marketplace is live.
Great way to do research for those of you gearing up to query in the New Year. lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/12/a-pm...
Great way to do research for those of you gearing up to query in the New Year. lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/12/a-pm...
I've updated my blog post on Amazon's new Ask This Book feature. Possibly in response to concerns from the Authors Guild (not to mention widespread media coverage), Amazon has tweaked the feature to be less expansive writerbeware.blog/2025/12/12/k...
Kindle's New Gen AI-Powered "Ask This Book" Feature Raises Rights Concerns - Writer Beware
In a recent press release, Amazon noted that some new features were coming to Kindle. We’re adding new AI-powered reading features that preserve the magic of reading on Kindle. Story So Far lets you c...
writerbeware.blog
December 30, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I've updated my blog post on Amazon's new Ask This Book feature. Possibly in response to concerns from the Authors Guild (not to mention widespread media coverage), Amazon has tweaked the feature to be less expansive writerbeware.blog/2025/12/12/k...
Pig butchering isn't limited to investment scams: it also exists in the publishing space, and targets writers.
A "pig butchering" scam might open with a simple “Hi” or some good-natured confusion about why your phone number seems to be in the person’s address book.
It's the first step in a process intended to drain your bank account and ruin your life.
(Published Sept. 2022)
It's the first step in a process intended to drain your bank account and ruin your life.
(Published Sept. 2022)
What’s a Pig Butchering Scam? Here’s How to Avoid Falling Victim to One.
Thousands have lost huge sums after being lured into fraudulent online investment schemes by seemingly attractive strangers who strike up online conversations with them. Here’s a guide to spotting the...
www.propublica.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Pig butchering isn't limited to investment scams: it also exists in the publishing space, and targets writers.
A new AI lawsuit filed by 6 authors is focusing on use of pirated datasets for training and using an unorthodox non-class action approach (ClaimsHero, the 3rd party filer that's been soliciting authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement, is involved) www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Authors File New Lawsuit Against AI Companies Seeking More Money
Six authors have filed individual lawsuits against Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Meta, xAI, and Perplexity AI, arguing they are entitled to more than the $3,000 per title proposed by the Anthropic copyri...
www.publishersweekly.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
A new AI lawsuit filed by 6 authors is focusing on use of pirated datasets for training and using an unorthodox non-class action approach (ClaimsHero, the 3rd party filer that's been soliciting authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement, is involved) www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
The news about Harlequin translators getting fired en masse?
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
December 24, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The news about Harlequin translators getting fired en masse?
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
The survey is open to non-members (I am not one) and to readers (who here is not &c.) so I encourage you to share your feelings on the matter. Don't assume that everyone already understands that AI is bad or why! I mean, people *should*, but you could say that about a lot of things.
SFWA members and general SFF community:
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
December 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The survey is open to non-members (I am not one) and to readers (who here is not &c.) so I encourage you to share your feelings on the matter. Don't assume that everyone already understands that AI is bad or why! I mean, people *should*, but you could say that about a lot of things.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
I worked for Sage for 14 years back in the days when it was first getting started (I think I was the third employee). They filled a need at that time. The owners were deeply flawed then, and the company itself is deeply flawed now. I left when I couldn't stand it any longer.
December 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I worked for Sage for 14 years back in the days when it was first getting started (I think I was the third employee). They filled a need at that time. The owners were deeply flawed then, and the company itself is deeply flawed now. I left when I couldn't stand it any longer.
If you're an author with Sage Publishing, and recently received a communication from Sage about filing a claim in the Anthropic class action settlement, be aware that Sage's proposed settlement split (90% to Sage, 10% to author) is being contested chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/12/22/t...
Textbook and Academic Authors Association files motion to intervene in Bartz v. Anthropic over controversy re: Sage Publishing email
The Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAAA) filed a motion to intervene in the Bartz v. Antropic class action and the court’s order of a curative communication related to an email to…
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
If you're an author with Sage Publishing, and recently received a communication from Sage about filing a claim in the Anthropic class action settlement, be aware that Sage's proposed settlement split (90% to Sage, 10% to author) is being contested chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/12/22/t...
For anyone who's following the Anthropic class action lawsuit/settlement, this is the best way (this site is the go-to for keeping up with AI lawsuits in general): chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/category/bar...
Bartz v. Anthropic – Chat GPT Is Eating the World
Posts about Bartz v. Anthropic written by nftjedi
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
For anyone who's following the Anthropic class action lawsuit/settlement, this is the best way (this site is the go-to for keeping up with AI lawsuits in general): chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/category/bar...
It's good that more attention is being paid to the plague of AI-drive scams that is driving writers batty (but please, don't mention Writer Beware, which has been reporting on them since August) www.thebookseller.com/news/authors...
Authors hit with 'deluge' of scam emails from fake marketers offering paid promotion
Authors are being hit with a "deluge" of scam emails, some of which appear to impersonate industry professionals, marketing agencies and famous authors.
www.thebookseller.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
It's good that more attention is being paid to the plague of AI-drive scams that is driving writers batty (but please, don't mention Writer Beware, which has been reporting on them since August) www.thebookseller.com/news/authors...
Another thoughtful, informative post from @jasonsanford.bsky.social
Thanks to @sfwa.org for being so responsive to concerns around the Nebula Awards and LLM use. The Nebula should honor human creativity, as the revised rules now state. However, we also don't want to see writers tripped up on eligibility or hit by witch hunts over minor LLM usage like spell check. 1/
Thoughts on the Nebula Awards, LLM usage, and where we draw the line | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine
Get more from Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Another thoughtful, informative post from @jasonsanford.bsky.social
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
It appears as though SFWA has had a very quick change of heart and is now back on the right side of this. Shouldn't have happened in the first place. New Nebula Awards eligibility rules for generated text are now:
December 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It appears as though SFWA has had a very quick change of heart and is now back on the right side of this. Shouldn't have happened in the first place. New Nebula Awards eligibility rules for generated text are now:
New at #WriterBeware: I go in-depth on the most problematic clauses in that Shadow Light Press contract. This isn't just a publisher "beware": exposing bad contract language helps writers understand not just what they should avoid, but what they should demand. writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Why These Contract Clauses Are Scary - Writer Beware
The clauses I’m going to discuss in this post come from the contract of Shadow Light Press, a publisher of fantasy and science fiction with deep ties to the LitRPG community. The contract stirred cont...
writerbeware.blog
December 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
New at #WriterBeware: I go in-depth on the most problematic clauses in that Shadow Light Press contract. This isn't just a publisher "beware": exposing bad contract language helps writers understand not just what they should avoid, but what they should demand. writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/w...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
NEW: A hacker gained control of 1,100 mobile phones powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok. Then, he shared details of the operation with 404 Media.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
www.404media.co
December 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
NEW: A hacker gained control of 1,100 mobile phones powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok. Then, he shared details of the operation with 404 Media.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
JFC (This is from a press release in the News section of the America First Legal (Stephen Miller's firm) website; don't want to link to it)
![WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 16, 2025
Dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Truth Social
Today, America First Legal (AFL) filed a federal civil rights complaint against Penguin Random House, LLC (PRH) with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), calling for an investigation into apparent race- and sex-based discrimination in its hiring, promotion, and workforce development practices. Despite claiming to support equal opportunity, PRH has seemingly embedded “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) ideology throughout its employment practices, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Penguin Random House — the world’s largest trade publisher — openly prioritizes race and sex in recruitment, leadership development, and promotion. The company is “guided by five core pillars that shape [its] DEI efforts across the business.” PRH publicly tracks and publishes workforce demographics, compares “White versus BIPOC” representation, sets race-focused hiring goals, and holds leadership accountable for achieving DEI outcomes. These are not aspirational statements; they are race-based employment practices that federal law forbids.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uy6mloyr37qtcdml3bq6a6o4/bafkreichu7dxash267xmdeuzmqsdpnrzvvhmnq2p3p3aa6ufb2rbzifqwy@jpeg)
December 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
JFC (This is from a press release in the News section of the America First Legal (Stephen Miller's firm) website; don't want to link to it)
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
You should never pay a literary agent to read your query letter or a publisher to produce it. Traditional publishing is not pay to play. #WritingTip
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
You should never pay a literary agent to read your query letter or a publisher to produce it. Traditional publishing is not pay to play. #WritingTip
Behold, if you will, the...astonishing...contract from Shadow Light Press. A rolling 10-year term...payment on profit (but only after costs are recouped)...appropriation of the author's universe if they can't continue the series...and more www.reddit.com/r/Progressio...
From the ProgressionFantasy community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the ProgressionFantasy community
www.reddit.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Behold, if you will, the...astonishing...contract from Shadow Light Press. A rolling 10-year term...payment on profit (but only after costs are recouped)...appropriation of the author's universe if they can't continue the series...and more www.reddit.com/r/Progressio...