Gigi Vernon
@gigivernon.bsky.social
Crime thriller writer based in Finger Lakes region of New York State. Historian. Librarian. ITW short story finalist. Odyssey Workshop '16. UEA crime fiction. Repped by @helenheller.
Pinned
Gigi Vernon
@gigivernon.bsky.social
· Jan 20
Winners: Great Flash Fiction Festival Day, October 2024
We’re delighted to announce the winners of the Great Festival Flash Off Day which took place on October 26th. For the ‘Signature’ challenge, Jude set the prompt and asked people t…
www.flashfictionfestival.com
Slight correction: For those in the mood for guillotines (Vive la révolution!)--
My historical flash, "Let them wear cake," is a "signature challenge" runner up for Great Flash Fiction Festival Day.
My first ever online publication!
www.flashfictionfestival.com/winners-grea...
My historical flash, "Let them wear cake," is a "signature challenge" runner up for Great Flash Fiction Festival Day.
My first ever online publication!
www.flashfictionfestival.com/winners-grea...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Once you start thinking of AI as a war on humanity, on human thought, on human inquiry, on human labor, on nuance and critical thinking, it slots in pretty seamlessly with the right wing ideological project, oligarchical political projects, big tech's political projects, etc
November 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Once you start thinking of AI as a war on humanity, on human thought, on human inquiry, on human labor, on nuance and critical thinking, it slots in pretty seamlessly with the right wing ideological project, oligarchical political projects, big tech's political projects, etc
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
If you're looking for a way to wind down from the week, I hear my warlock letter exchange story in Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a fun one!
In BCS #443 "My Sincere Apologies For the Demon" @adrianwardwrites.bsky.social "Regarding the banishing of Erimodius, you shall, I expect, be most pleased to hear that he has been returned to the Realm of Flame and additional seals placed on the gate." www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/my-s...
Beneath Ceaseless Skies - My Sincere Apologies For the Demon by Adrian Ward
Regarding the banishing of Erimodius, you shall, I expect, be most pleased to hear that he has been returned to the Realm of Flame. With the aid of the Parthiet Warlock Gentlemen’s Circle, additional ...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
If you're looking for a way to wind down from the week, I hear my warlock letter exchange story in Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a fun one!
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
For those who want to know more: radix.coop/product/sign...
Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural
Dark lore, myths, creatures of the night, and storied whispers come alive in this tantalizing anthology of fiction from the Philippines.
radix.coop
October 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
For those who want to know more: radix.coop/product/sign...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Harvard FAS Cuts Ph.D. Seats By More Than Half Across Next Two Admissions Cycles | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences slashed the number of Ph.D. student admissions slots for the Science division by more than 75 percent and for the Arts & Humanities division by about 60 percent for th...
www.thecrimson.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
My first book as my alter ego Eva Macrae is out in January 26. Thank you @stevenfeldman.bsky.social for the lovely review 👍🏼#adeathinglasgow
A Death in Glasgow
A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae is an impressive debut and a standout addition to the growing wave of Scottish crime fiction. Atmospheric, unsettling, and emotionally charged, it introduces Sergeant May Mackay — a character who feels instantly real and deeply human. May is…
A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae is an impressive debut and a standout addition to the growing wave of Scottish crime fiction. Atmospheric, unsettling, and emotionally charged, it introduces Sergeant May Mackay — a character who feels instantly real and deeply human. May is…
A Death in Glasgow
A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae is an impressive debut and a standout addition to the growing wave of Scottish crime fiction. Atmospheric, unsettling, and emotionally charged, it introduces Sergeant May Mackay — a character who feels instantly real and deeply human. May is tough, sharp, and driven by a strong moral compass, yet Macrae never shies away from showing her vulnerabilities.
agoodread.feldman.org.uk
October 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
My first book as my alter ego Eva Macrae is out in January 26. Thank you @stevenfeldman.bsky.social for the lovely review 👍🏼#adeathinglasgow
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
God, this makes me furious! This is insulting to both performers and the audience. I’d say I have no words, but in fact I have 5011 words about how I feel about this linked below. Not to mention the 1343 words of the author spotlight that ran along with it. www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/thro...
There are HUNDREDS (if not, THOUSANDS) of ACTUAL ACTORS who'd trade a limb for an AUDITION. WTF IS THIS!?!?! WHY??? 😒
Talent Agents Circle AI Actress Tilly Norwood As Studios Quietly Embrace AI Technology – Zurich Summit
AI Actress Tilly Norwood Creators In Talks To Sign Her With Talent Agent For Representation As Studios Quietly Embrace Technology
deadline.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
God, this makes me furious! This is insulting to both performers and the audience. I’d say I have no words, but in fact I have 5011 words about how I feel about this linked below. Not to mention the 1343 words of the author spotlight that ran along with it. www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/thro...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
adding - don't assume that because your book came out with a major publisher, that they actually filed the copyright... take a moment to make sure.
authors - this is a good time to check and see if your books were registered for copyright.
publicrecords.copyright.gov
keep in mind that the responsibility varies by contract, sometimes the expectation is passed to the author.
if you pub in different names, it could be under a different name....
publicrecords.copyright.gov
keep in mind that the responsibility varies by contract, sometimes the expectation is passed to the author.
if you pub in different names, it could be under a different name....
publicrecords.copyright.gov
October 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
adding - don't assume that because your book came out with a major publisher, that they actually filed the copyright... take a moment to make sure.
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
A student on TikTok has been documenting her journey with a professor who “wrote” the anatomy textbook and it’s all a bunch of AI hallucinations.
She’s saying that, understandably, the students are doing super poorly!
Behold what we’re teaching the healthcare professionals of tomorrow:
She’s saying that, understandably, the students are doing super poorly!
Behold what we’re teaching the healthcare professionals of tomorrow:
October 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A student on TikTok has been documenting her journey with a professor who “wrote” the anatomy textbook and it’s all a bunch of AI hallucinations.
She’s saying that, understandably, the students are doing super poorly!
Behold what we’re teaching the healthcare professionals of tomorrow:
She’s saying that, understandably, the students are doing super poorly!
Behold what we’re teaching the healthcare professionals of tomorrow:
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
“Generative AI content is, by definition, a great averaging of what's in the world. An embrace of this output is a kind of capitulation to the machine, rather than staying true to our nature as creatures." (p. 256) #AI #goodread
bookshop.org/p/books/more...
bookshop.org/p/books/more...
August 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
“Generative AI content is, by definition, a great averaging of what's in the world. An embrace of this output is a kind of capitulation to the machine, rather than staying true to our nature as creatures." (p. 256) #AI #goodread
bookshop.org/p/books/more...
bookshop.org/p/books/more...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
I saw a thing the other day that basically said “no matter what prompt you give it, the question an LLM is answering is ‘what would a plausible response to this prompt look like?’”
September 9, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I saw a thing the other day that basically said “no matter what prompt you give it, the question an LLM is answering is ‘what would a plausible response to this prompt look like?’”
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Huge congrats to all the writers in the #NFFR family whose stories were selected for the WIGLEAF TOP 50!
@kazbarwrites.bsky.social
@patriciaqbidar.bsky.social
@jamesmontgomery.bsky.social
@pamelapainter.bsky.social
@mandirapattnaik.bsky.social
@crobertswriter.bsky.social
wigleaf.com
@kazbarwrites.bsky.social
@patriciaqbidar.bsky.social
@jamesmontgomery.bsky.social
@pamelapainter.bsky.social
@mandirapattnaik.bsky.social
@crobertswriter.bsky.social
wigleaf.com
new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )
June 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Huge congrats to all the writers in the #NFFR family whose stories were selected for the WIGLEAF TOP 50!
@kazbarwrites.bsky.social
@patriciaqbidar.bsky.social
@jamesmontgomery.bsky.social
@pamelapainter.bsky.social
@mandirapattnaik.bsky.social
@crobertswriter.bsky.social
wigleaf.com
@kazbarwrites.bsky.social
@patriciaqbidar.bsky.social
@jamesmontgomery.bsky.social
@pamelapainter.bsky.social
@mandirapattnaik.bsky.social
@crobertswriter.bsky.social
wigleaf.com
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Many congratulations to all 5 of our 30th Award winners— 1st Alison Powell, 2nd Joseph Randolph, 3rd Sharon Telfer & highly commended Michelle Wright & Christine H Chen selected by judge Marie Gethins, bathflashfictionaward.com
a congratulations sign with hearts and stars
ALT: a congratulations sign with hearts and stars
media.tenor.com
June 29, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Many congratulations to all 5 of our 30th Award winners— 1st Alison Powell, 2nd Joseph Randolph, 3rd Sharon Telfer & highly commended Michelle Wright & Christine H Chen selected by judge Marie Gethins, bathflashfictionaward.com
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
We are thrilled for our own @lumchanmfa.bsky.social, @jenwithwords.bsky.social, and @pleomorphic2.bsky.social for making it to the Wigleaf Top 50 long and shortlist! Celebration time at the Lit Namjooning staff room 😁
two men in suits and ties are waving their hands in a room .
ALT: two men in suits and ties are waving their hands in a room .
media.tenor.com
June 29, 2025 at 4:59 AM
We are thrilled for our own @lumchanmfa.bsky.social, @jenwithwords.bsky.social, and @pleomorphic2.bsky.social for making it to the Wigleaf Top 50 long and shortlist! Celebration time at the Lit Namjooning staff room 😁
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Paperboy by @callummcsorley.bsky.social - an 'energetic novel from a rising star of crime, full of black comedy, gore, slapstick and street slang', the perfect summer read @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
80 best books to take on holiday this summer — chosen by the experts
From political thrillers and modern love stories to provocative memoirs and world history — we pick our favourite summer reads
www.thetimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Paperboy by @callummcsorley.bsky.social - an 'energetic novel from a rising star of crime, full of black comedy, gore, slapstick and street slang', the perfect summer read @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Most of the ideas mentioned in this article—higher minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges, higher taxes on the rich—are not only popular now but were realities in the past, including in NYC, during the booming postwar years, when America was “great.”/1
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
Zohran Mamdani Says He’s a Democratic Socialist. What Does That Mean?
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Most of the ideas mentioned in this article—higher minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges, higher taxes on the rich—are not only popular now but were realities in the past, including in NYC, during the booming postwar years, when America was “great.”/1
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
You absolutely can lie via data & math & everything about how you present data is an argument for how to interpret/understand it
Everything we know is founded on best guesses & analogies
All technoscience is enmeshed with human values
You absolutely can lie via data & math & everything about how you present data is an argument for how to interpret/understand it
Everything we know is founded on best guesses & analogies
All technoscience is enmeshed with human values
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
In general, it takes about 1000 years to form 1cm of new soil.
In general, it takes about 1000 years to form 1cm of new soil.
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
We’re not clear on what *information* is, at all
We’re not clear on what *information* is, at all
June 17, 2025 at 6:01 AM
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
You absolutely can lie via data & math & everything about how you present data is an argument for how to interpret/understand it
Everything we know is founded on best guesses & analogies
All technoscience is enmeshed with human values
You absolutely can lie via data & math & everything about how you present data is an argument for how to interpret/understand it
Everything we know is founded on best guesses & analogies
All technoscience is enmeshed with human values
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
This is a good watch.
Tbh, the greatest platonic male love I experienced was in the military. We called each other brother, hugged, checked on each other, had deep conversations, didn't say we loved each other, but told the team/squad we loved them, etc. Bunch of grunts showing positive masculinity
Tbh, the greatest platonic male love I experienced was in the military. We called each other brother, hugged, checked on each other, had deep conversations, didn't say we loved each other, but told the team/squad we loved them, etc. Bunch of grunts showing positive masculinity
I've watched pretty much everything Josh Johnson has posted to youtube and this new video he just put up might be my favorite
This TikTok Prank is Accidentally Healing Men
YouTube video by Josh Johnson
www.youtube.com
June 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This is a good watch.
Tbh, the greatest platonic male love I experienced was in the military. We called each other brother, hugged, checked on each other, had deep conversations, didn't say we loved each other, but told the team/squad we loved them, etc. Bunch of grunts showing positive masculinity
Tbh, the greatest platonic male love I experienced was in the military. We called each other brother, hugged, checked on each other, had deep conversations, didn't say we loved each other, but told the team/squad we loved them, etc. Bunch of grunts showing positive masculinity
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Graphic artists in China push back on AI and its averaging effect
Graphic artists in China push back on AI and its averaging effect
Copycats, unrealistic expectations, and budget cuts are AI’s gifts to graphic artists.
buff.ly
June 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Graphic artists in China push back on AI and its averaging effect
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
June 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Not history. Word salad.
"Something without a brain scrabbled around and found stuff that looks like content but isn’t, because it wasn’t chosen, analyzed, and written by a person. Frankenstein’s monster copy-paste jobs from a bunch of different places? That’s not a summary. That’s word salad."
"Something without a brain scrabbled around and found stuff that looks like content but isn’t, because it wasn’t chosen, analyzed, and written by a person. Frankenstein’s monster copy-paste jobs from a bunch of different places? That’s not a summary. That’s word salad."
Basement adventures showed me why ChatGPT can only ever be garbage.
In The British Library. Photo by Surekha Davies. Hallo readers, First, a news flash: Join me for a virtual book launch for HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY...
buttondown.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Not history. Word salad.
"Something without a brain scrabbled around and found stuff that looks like content but isn’t, because it wasn’t chosen, analyzed, and written by a person. Frankenstein’s monster copy-paste jobs from a bunch of different places? That’s not a summary. That’s word salad."
"Something without a brain scrabbled around and found stuff that looks like content but isn’t, because it wasn’t chosen, analyzed, and written by a person. Frankenstein’s monster copy-paste jobs from a bunch of different places? That’s not a summary. That’s word salad."
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
Lots of commentary on this piece already, all of which I agree with.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
A.I. Is Poised to Rewrite History. Literally.
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Lots of commentary on this piece already, all of which I agree with.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
FYI: New study from Cornell Uni shows that the more you use ChatGPT, the stupider you get - cognitive debt accumulates. "Over four months, LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels." arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed thr...
arxiv.org
June 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
FYI: New study from Cornell Uni shows that the more you use ChatGPT, the stupider you get - cognitive debt accumulates. "Over four months, LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels." arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Reposted by Gigi Vernon
In the American Revolution, British satirists used elaborate French hairstyles to mock the rebel colonists, who got support from France against their mutual enemy. Fascinating to see this imagery come full circle with a very different meaning. #NoKings
June 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
In the American Revolution, British satirists used elaborate French hairstyles to mock the rebel colonists, who got support from France against their mutual enemy. Fascinating to see this imagery come full circle with a very different meaning. #NoKings