Erik Mercer
@erikmercer.bsky.social
SciFi/fantasy author, translator, language nerd, psychology. Author of "Vagabonds & Bureaucrats". Out there to support fellow writers!
A court found an AI company guilty of redistributing copyrighted material.
German organization GEMA, representing the rights of composers, won an important case against OpenAI. The court ruled that OpenAI distributed copyrighted material without license.
German organization GEMA, representing the rights of composers, won an important case against OpenAI. The court ruled that OpenAI distributed copyrighted material without license.
ChatGPT violated copyright law by ‘learning’ from song lyrics, German court rules
OpenAI ordered to pay undisclosed damages for training its language models on artists’ work without permission
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
A court found an AI company guilty of redistributing copyrighted material.
German organization GEMA, representing the rights of composers, won an important case against OpenAI. The court ruled that OpenAI distributed copyrighted material without license.
German organization GEMA, representing the rights of composers, won an important case against OpenAI. The court ruled that OpenAI distributed copyrighted material without license.
There is a story, that once a holy man led by his dog reached the gate to the afterlife. The holy man was told that in order to enter, he had to abandon his dog--The man refused to go without him.
Pleased by that loyalty, the dog turned into the God Yama, and granted him passage.
Pleased by that loyalty, the dog turned into the God Yama, and granted him passage.
October 20, 2025 at 8:47 PM
There is a story, that once a holy man led by his dog reached the gate to the afterlife. The holy man was told that in order to enter, he had to abandon his dog--The man refused to go without him.
Pleased by that loyalty, the dog turned into the God Yama, and granted him passage.
Pleased by that loyalty, the dog turned into the God Yama, and granted him passage.
Happy Kukur Tihar.
(If you don't know what that is, it's a festival where you celebrate the loyalty of dogs with garlands and treats. Hugs appreciated.)
(If you don't know what that is, it's a festival where you celebrate the loyalty of dogs with garlands and treats. Hugs appreciated.)
October 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Happy Kukur Tihar.
(If you don't know what that is, it's a festival where you celebrate the loyalty of dogs with garlands and treats. Hugs appreciated.)
(If you don't know what that is, it's a festival where you celebrate the loyalty of dogs with garlands and treats. Hugs appreciated.)
October 20, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I subscribed the house to the squirrel channel to give the pets some entertainment.
The reception is great, only the price is nuts.
#dadjoke #writingcommunitydad
The reception is great, only the price is nuts.
#dadjoke #writingcommunitydad
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I subscribed the house to the squirrel channel to give the pets some entertainment.
The reception is great, only the price is nuts.
#dadjoke #writingcommunitydad
The reception is great, only the price is nuts.
#dadjoke #writingcommunitydad
To whoever thinks it's okay to give a kid some giant can of sticky glitter-slime for their birthday at school:
Not funny!
#writingCommunityDad
Not funny!
#writingCommunityDad
September 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
To whoever thinks it's okay to give a kid some giant can of sticky glitter-slime for their birthday at school:
Not funny!
#writingCommunityDad
Not funny!
#writingCommunityDad
If you still need an excuse for allowing strange ideas in your writing, look no further than navratri: A nine-night fast of potato chips and chocolate. How come?
The navratri idea is that you retreat to the forest to meditate, consuming only what the forest provides.
#amWriting
The navratri idea is that you retreat to the forest to meditate, consuming only what the forest provides.
#amWriting
September 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
If you still need an excuse for allowing strange ideas in your writing, look no further than navratri: A nine-night fast of potato chips and chocolate. How come?
The navratri idea is that you retreat to the forest to meditate, consuming only what the forest provides.
#amWriting
The navratri idea is that you retreat to the forest to meditate, consuming only what the forest provides.
#amWriting
When world building traditions and lore for scifi and fantasy, being quirky is not a fault, but good advice based on reality.
Take the bishnoi tribe for example. Their traditional rules ban the obvious like violence, theft, meat, alcohol, and ... the color "indigo".
#amwriting
Take the bishnoi tribe for example. Their traditional rules ban the obvious like violence, theft, meat, alcohol, and ... the color "indigo".
#amwriting
September 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
When world building traditions and lore for scifi and fantasy, being quirky is not a fault, but good advice based on reality.
Take the bishnoi tribe for example. Their traditional rules ban the obvious like violence, theft, meat, alcohol, and ... the color "indigo".
#amwriting
Take the bishnoi tribe for example. Their traditional rules ban the obvious like violence, theft, meat, alcohol, and ... the color "indigo".
#amwriting
August 11, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Erik Mercer
Anyone know of university creative writing professors who are organizing against use of AI in their classrooms (or resisting it in other interesting ways)? For something I’m working on. DM me here or contact info in my bio…
July 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Anyone know of university creative writing professors who are organizing against use of AI in their classrooms (or resisting it in other interesting ways)? For something I’m working on. DM me here or contact info in my bio…
To explain the "spell": It's fairly common in India and other parts of Asia, to find this and other warding spells painted on objects that might attract negative emotions toward their owner: like cars--or books.
It's a personal, friendly nod towards some good people in my life.
It's a personal, friendly nod towards some good people in my life.
July 10, 2025 at 6:21 AM
To explain the "spell": It's fairly common in India and other parts of Asia, to find this and other warding spells painted on objects that might attract negative emotions toward their owner: like cars--or books.
It's a personal, friendly nod towards some good people in my life.
It's a personal, friendly nod towards some good people in my life.
A while back, I began to open my presentations with "buri nazar wale tera muh kala", which are magic words to ward off the evil eye--I haven't had a bad response since.
While I'm not sure it's the spell's magic at work, it does give me something to talk about to break the ice.
While I'm not sure it's the spell's magic at work, it does give me something to talk about to break the ice.
July 10, 2025 at 5:10 AM
A while back, I began to open my presentations with "buri nazar wale tera muh kala", which are magic words to ward off the evil eye--I haven't had a bad response since.
While I'm not sure it's the spell's magic at work, it does give me something to talk about to break the ice.
While I'm not sure it's the spell's magic at work, it does give me something to talk about to break the ice.
I recently attended a talk by a person that makes four digits per session as a "communication trainer".
She didn't have much to say.
Except that each presentation should be "an experience".
Ever since, I bring cookies.
It works.
She didn't have much to say.
Except that each presentation should be "an experience".
Ever since, I bring cookies.
It works.
July 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I recently attended a talk by a person that makes four digits per session as a "communication trainer".
She didn't have much to say.
Except that each presentation should be "an experience".
Ever since, I bring cookies.
It works.
She didn't have much to say.
Except that each presentation should be "an experience".
Ever since, I bring cookies.
It works.
Authors and their characters have one thing in common: Every living thing, fictional or not, is always a "work in progress".
#amWriting
#amWriting
July 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Authors and their characters have one thing in common: Every living thing, fictional or not, is always a "work in progress".
#amWriting
#amWriting
Looking at the story with fresh eyes, the ending is obvious.
People come and go, things go wrong, and it doesn't need to be anybody's fault. Protagonists don't need to struggle with conflict, when living a meaningful life is hard enough.
Finding meaning in chaos is satisfying.
People come and go, things go wrong, and it doesn't need to be anybody's fault. Protagonists don't need to struggle with conflict, when living a meaningful life is hard enough.
Finding meaning in chaos is satisfying.
June 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Looking at the story with fresh eyes, the ending is obvious.
People come and go, things go wrong, and it doesn't need to be anybody's fault. Protagonists don't need to struggle with conflict, when living a meaningful life is hard enough.
Finding meaning in chaos is satisfying.
People come and go, things go wrong, and it doesn't need to be anybody's fault. Protagonists don't need to struggle with conflict, when living a meaningful life is hard enough.
Finding meaning in chaos is satisfying.
I finally realized why I had trouble writing the ending to my latest book, and it's that I listened to wrong advice instead of my heart.
Learn from my mistake, and if you know something to be true, write the way you need to.
#writingcommunity #amWriting
Learn from my mistake, and if you know something to be true, write the way you need to.
#writingcommunity #amWriting
June 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I finally realized why I had trouble writing the ending to my latest book, and it's that I listened to wrong advice instead of my heart.
Learn from my mistake, and if you know something to be true, write the way you need to.
#writingcommunity #amWriting
Learn from my mistake, and if you know something to be true, write the way you need to.
#writingcommunity #amWriting
To entice a protagonist to pick up an instrument: Used violins are often dirt-cheap.
Novices buy them, to find they can't get a peep out of it. Disappointed, they sell it at a loss, unknowing that it needs not skill, but a tiny box labelled "colophony".
#amWriting
Novices buy them, to find they can't get a peep out of it. Disappointed, they sell it at a loss, unknowing that it needs not skill, but a tiny box labelled "colophony".
#amWriting
June 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM
To entice a protagonist to pick up an instrument: Used violins are often dirt-cheap.
Novices buy them, to find they can't get a peep out of it. Disappointed, they sell it at a loss, unknowing that it needs not skill, but a tiny box labelled "colophony".
#amWriting
Novices buy them, to find they can't get a peep out of it. Disappointed, they sell it at a loss, unknowing that it needs not skill, but a tiny box labelled "colophony".
#amWriting
It's fascinating, how in #SciFi, protagonists regularly eat and drink at alien pubs, while back on Earth, even our local species can't digest food meant for humans and vice versa. Toxins, allergies, intolerances, you name it.
There may be unexplored plot points here.
#amWriting
There may be unexplored plot points here.
#amWriting
June 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
It's fascinating, how in #SciFi, protagonists regularly eat and drink at alien pubs, while back on Earth, even our local species can't digest food meant for humans and vice versa. Toxins, allergies, intolerances, you name it.
There may be unexplored plot points here.
#amWriting
There may be unexplored plot points here.
#amWriting
She sells seashells by the sea shore.
(I always wanted to say that.)
(I always wanted to say that.)
May 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
She sells seashells by the sea shore.
(I always wanted to say that.)
(I always wanted to say that.)
The good thing about being in an affordable “homestay” hotel: Every room comes with a free lizard.
May 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The good thing about being in an affordable “homestay” hotel: Every room comes with a free lizard.
The Konark sun temple is a world wonder.
It's resembling the sun-chariot, with 12 wheel-shaped sun dials, drawn by 7 stone horses. Each of the elaborately carved wheels has a precision of 3 minutes.
#amWriting
It's resembling the sun-chariot, with 12 wheel-shaped sun dials, drawn by 7 stone horses. Each of the elaborately carved wheels has a precision of 3 minutes.
#amWriting
May 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The Konark sun temple is a world wonder.
It's resembling the sun-chariot, with 12 wheel-shaped sun dials, drawn by 7 stone horses. Each of the elaborately carved wheels has a precision of 3 minutes.
#amWriting
It's resembling the sun-chariot, with 12 wheel-shaped sun dials, drawn by 7 stone horses. Each of the elaborately carved wheels has a precision of 3 minutes.
#amWriting
Animals can provide exposition.
Take this monkey: He demonstrates what true courage means. True courage is taking an ice cream cart to the Hanuman temple.
These little fellows don't care for fruits, they live for sweets, and they will rob you blind.
#amWriting
Take this monkey: He demonstrates what true courage means. True courage is taking an ice cream cart to the Hanuman temple.
These little fellows don't care for fruits, they live for sweets, and they will rob you blind.
#amWriting
May 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Animals can provide exposition.
Take this monkey: He demonstrates what true courage means. True courage is taking an ice cream cart to the Hanuman temple.
These little fellows don't care for fruits, they live for sweets, and they will rob you blind.
#amWriting
Take this monkey: He demonstrates what true courage means. True courage is taking an ice cream cart to the Hanuman temple.
These little fellows don't care for fruits, they live for sweets, and they will rob you blind.
#amWriting
Stories are everywhere.
This is "Bound Hanuman" temple. Here, Hanuman was tasked by Vishnu to guard the costal town of Puri from flooding. However, Hanuman has a sweet tooth, snuck off for dessert, and the town was flooded. Upon his return, Vishnu chained Hanuman to his post.
This is "Bound Hanuman" temple. Here, Hanuman was tasked by Vishnu to guard the costal town of Puri from flooding. However, Hanuman has a sweet tooth, snuck off for dessert, and the town was flooded. Upon his return, Vishnu chained Hanuman to his post.
May 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Stories are everywhere.
This is "Bound Hanuman" temple. Here, Hanuman was tasked by Vishnu to guard the costal town of Puri from flooding. However, Hanuman has a sweet tooth, snuck off for dessert, and the town was flooded. Upon his return, Vishnu chained Hanuman to his post.
This is "Bound Hanuman" temple. Here, Hanuman was tasked by Vishnu to guard the costal town of Puri from flooding. However, Hanuman has a sweet tooth, snuck off for dessert, and the town was flooded. Upon his return, Vishnu chained Hanuman to his post.
Narrow side-alleys that offer anything and everything from street dogs, haircuts, medicine, photo-copies, to food are a typical sight. Except: They are usually busier than this. (But, it's off-season on a Tuesday night at 2AM.) Best place to find some local stories.
May 5, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Narrow side-alleys that offer anything and everything from street dogs, haircuts, medicine, photo-copies, to food are a typical sight. Except: They are usually busier than this. (But, it's off-season on a Tuesday night at 2AM.) Best place to find some local stories.
Looking for a #cyberpunk book cover? Delhi got you covered.
This is an “AC café”. The only thing on the money they actually make is chai. But they have AC, and can get you whatever the neighboring stalls are selling to enjoy inside your little “cooler box”.
#amWriting
This is an “AC café”. The only thing on the money they actually make is chai. But they have AC, and can get you whatever the neighboring stalls are selling to enjoy inside your little “cooler box”.
#amWriting
May 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Looking for a #cyberpunk book cover? Delhi got you covered.
This is an “AC café”. The only thing on the money they actually make is chai. But they have AC, and can get you whatever the neighboring stalls are selling to enjoy inside your little “cooler box”.
#amWriting
This is an “AC café”. The only thing on the money they actually make is chai. But they have AC, and can get you whatever the neighboring stalls are selling to enjoy inside your little “cooler box”.
#amWriting