I am a little shocked at the lack of solidarity I see between artists working in different mediums wrt genAI.

Musicians who would never use it to make music use it to make cover art

Graphic artists reach for it to make music over their videos

Writers use it to illustrate their articles

And, considering software development an art, many use it to create web sites or apps to host their art.

None of this is necessary. All of this is harmful to the other artists.

Collaborate ffs.

Stop it.

Dahlia days of summer
#photography #nature #Bloomscrolling

#Spotted at RED Art Gallery & Café in Whakatū Nelson, New Zealand::

A woman (80s?) excitedly talking to a friend: "Did I tell you my granddaughter's doing burlesque now? I'm biased but I think she'll be the most wonderful pole vaulter."
Her friend laughs: "Don't you mean pole DANCER?"

A man (20s?) has just ordered a take-away coffee.
There's a print on his hoodie that says: "You are more loved than you will ever know."
Ambling along in the sun.
Eating a pie with all signs of enjoyment, tomato sauce on his fingers.

A waitress is smiling quietly to herself as she spoons the batter for muffins into a tray.
The place is packed, people are talking excitedly but she appears lost in concentration.
Muffins are where it's at.

A small human (2?) is waddling through a cafe.
He's been given a chocolate chip cookie and is offering everyone a bite.
Numerous strangers are saying: "Thank you!" and feigning taking a bite with generous "Num num num" noises.
Small human is a benevolent prince in his cookie kingdom.

Any typos spotted in this post are rather sad today to learn that their favourite cafe is closing in a month. If typos are spotted in this post, they'll be popping down to give the owner a hug. She's had a rough year.

*These are from RED cafe from 2 years ago. I've edited, proofed and written work there. It's where my lovely partner, Tony's written so much of his upcoming sci fi series. It's where we've made close friends. They'll be genuinely missed. ❤️

How messed up is it that today my company is having an Employee Appreciation Brunch that we’re forced to go to? And, they’re serving food that I’m allergic to? And, I told my boss, and requested I work from home, and my boss said, “No, you’ll need to use a sick day.” The levels of messed up are incredible. I feel SO APPRECIATED as an employee. 🙄
#work #bosses

DuckDuckGo is selling "normal fucking sunglasses" and they already sold out https://www.techspot.com/news/113357-duckduckgo-made-sunglasses-do-absolutely-nothing-they-sold.html

Welcome to the August #WordWeavers questions!
Written by @BranwenOShea and me, you’ll find the month’s questions pinned to our profiles on the 1st. All are welcome to join in.
Participate with a WIP or an already published book.
As always, play the days you want, skip the others. Please use CW as necessary. Looking forward to seeing your answers & meeting new friends.
#amwriting #writing #authors

#WordWeavers: If your villain had to spend a day with your hero, what would happen?

My heroine, Marissa, would be very nervous that she could die any moment, but my villain would actually be trying to get her to talk, because he’s super curious about how her mind works. Probably by the end of the day they’d be playing 20 Questions, because she’d figure she might as well learn some interesting things before she dies.

#WordWeavers 8/4. Which supporting character keeps trying to steal the spotlight?

It happens all the time in my Wolf series.

The first to do this was Connor. He kept subtly helping Nick in Wolves 3, and when I was done writing A Wolf's Honor, he sort of sidled into my head and asked to have his story told.

So he wasn't trying to steal the limelight as such, but definitely volunteered for the next hero position. And now there are more of them. So many more.

#WritingCommunity
#WolfShifter

#WordWeavers 5 Aug
What object in your story has more significance than readers realize?

The fake "treasure map" that Marco forges to pique the young Celandine's interest enough to earn a prestigious visit to her museum.

It's fake, but accidentally not as fake as he thinks.

(However, you could say something is only significant in as much as it's significant to the reader)

she doesn't always climb into the cave but she does it regularly

#wordWeavers: Which supporting character kneels trying to steal the spotlight?

For WCAP, that would definitely be my morally grey vampire, Sunny. 😎 He’s been full of surprises since day one, grown his scenes quite a lot, and I’ve now promised him his own side novella or novel because his is too funny and his backstory fascinates me and won’t fit in the planned books.😂

#WordWeavers Aug. 4
Which supporting character keeps trying to steal the spotlight?

As a general rule, almost any character with more than an incidental line. I'm trying to challenge the Great Man History narrative by showing that you should probably think of everyone as not just having a complex inner life as rich as your own, but also that *all* the forces matter with regard to history.

Starting another new Spanish course today. I’ve tried so many. Yes, the problem is probably me, lol. But at least I’m motivated to learn!😂
#Endlesslylearning #Spanish

#Capybara #Capibara #Carpincho 520

#WordWeavers:which character would make the best tour guide and where would they take us.

This month, I’m focusing on Werewolves, Chocolate, & Pigeons (WCAP).
The best tour guide, though not necessarily the most FUN tour guide, would be Silvia. Being a 2-thousand-year-old elf who knows multiple languages, she could get you in and safely out of anywhere. She is, however, a bit of a stickler for protocols and might bore you with historical facts. But she’d keep you safe and knows way too much.😂

27. Which character would win a trivia contest? 28. What's one question you're still trying to answer about your story? 29. What writing accomplishment are you quietly proud of? 30. If you could interview one of your characters over coffee, what would be the first question you asked? 31. What's one thing you hope readers remember long after they finish your story? Created by @AlyseSteves & @BranwenOShea

20. If your story had a tagline, what would it be? 21. What's a trope you enjoy writing, even if it's unpopular? 22. Which character would make the worst roommate? 23. What's one writing "rule" you've happily ignored? 24. Which chapter or scene took the longest to get right? 25. If readers could keep one item from your story as a souvenir, what would it be? 26. What weather best matches your current work in progress?

14. Which fictional setting of yours would you most like to visit? 15. What's one writing habit you've developed that genuinely helps? 16.If one of your characters could ask you a question, what would they ask? 17. Which scene made you laugh while writing it? 18. What's your favorite line you've written this year? 19. Which character has changed the most since your first draft?

7. What part of your world-building came together almost effortlessly? 8. Which character would survive a zombie apocalypse, and why? 9. What's the smallest detail you've researched for a story? 10. Does your writing playlist change depending on the scene you're writing? 11. Which shelved project are you itching to get back to? 12. If your main character had a comfort food, what would it be? 13. What's the most unexpected source of inspiration you've ever had?

August 2026 #WordWeavers 1. Which of your characters would make the best tour guide, & where would they take us? 2. What's one scene you cut that you still think about? 3. If your protagonist had a signature scent, what would it be? 4. Which supporting character keeps trying to steal the spotlight? 5. What object in your story has more significance than readers realize? 6. If your villain had to spend a day with your hero, what would happen?