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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

@mbaileywriter.bsky.social

4K followers 440 following 11K posts

Independent author (superhero, fantasy, urban fantasy), stage combat director/instructor in the central MA area. Native Cape Codder. Shares a bed with one wife, two dogs, and three cats. He/him/his. https://innsmouthlook.com

innsmouthlook.com

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · Nov 19

Pinning this for folks who might be interested in my writing:

WEBSITE: innsmouthlook.com

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL: www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/a...

You can order print editions through the website. I'll happily sign them, too!

InnsmouthLook.com

Your Home for Quality Snark Fiction by Michael C. Bailey

innsmouthlook.com

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 7h

It's so sweet that even when they're at doggie daycare, they tend to stick together.

Veronica Bailey (she/her) @empheliath.bsky.social · 7h

When Nadja and Tennessee drop their next album, this will be the cover. #dogsofbluesky

A photo of two dogs standing on grass in front of a plastic igloo, taken at daycare. The smaller dig, on the left, is tan with a white chest. One ear stands up, and the other flops over. She is looking right at the camera. The larger dog is reddish brown with a curled tail. She's looking over her shoulder, away from the camera.

Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 7h

Lots of books in today's ebook newsletter that used Amazon's "virtual voice" feature to generate AI audiobooks, which serves as a reminder: authors who choose not to hire a human narrator for their audiobooks should be as shunned as those who use gAI for their text or cover art.

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Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Mike W @gekido.bsky.social · 19h

so Google just added a bunch (more) AI bullshit to Chrome

Go through these steps to disable it:

opus.ing/posts/how-to...

#chrome #aibullshit

How to Remove AI From Your Google Chrome Experience - Opus

Follow these steps to resist the AI-pocalypse in your everyday web browsing.

opus.ing

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Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Mellow Lugosi’s Dead 🧛🏻‍♂️ @flyingtrilobite.com · 19h

Both DC and Marvel have expressed that gen AI has no place in their comic books.

That’s significant.

I hope they go further and enshroud that in contracts if they haven’t already. #CreateDontScrape

DC:
gizmodo.com/dc-comics-ji...

Marvel:
bleedingcool.com/comics/nycc-...

Jim Lee Says DC Comics Will Never Support Generative AI

So long as Lee is president of DC Studios, the company will not have its heroes drawn or written by AI.

gizmodo.com

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

And do not fear that you're losing a potential sale, because these guys NEVER buy books from indie authors. Their self-styled role is that of the wandering sage dispensing advice to eager pupils, not book-buyer. You've lost nothing by brushing him off, but you have held onto your dignity. (9/9)

Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

An actual successful writer with any sense of decorum would ask first if you were open to a suggestion.

Wannabes just charge in thinking they're offering you nuggets of pure gold.

You don't have to stand there and cheerfully indulge him. You don't. Assert your boundaries. (8/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

If I'm to be charitable, it is possible he really believes he's trying to do you a favor, but he's almost certainly not coming from a knowledgeable, experienced, successful place, therefore has no right whatsoever to pretend otherwise.

In any event, unsolicited advice is criticism, always. (7/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

You don't have to be rude about it, but you sure as shit don't have to be nice to this guy. He's not trying to be helpful; he's trying to break you down by making you feel like you're getting everything wrong, so he can make himself feel better about failing as a writer. (6/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

The instant you realize you're getting a lecture, you look him in the eye and say, "I didn't ask for your advice."

He'll naturally become offended and insist he's just trying to help you out, at which point you repeat firmly, "I did not ask for your advice." Repeat as necessary. (5/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

And he's secretly bitter about his rousing lack of success, so now it's his mission to lecture other authors as if he know what the hell he's doing -- which he does not.

"Those who can't do, mansplain."

This is how you handle such people. It's a simple, direct tactic, but it works. (4/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

Oh, he might belong to a local writers' group, have a short story here and there that no one's read, or stuff on his blog that no one's read, or even one lonely novel he released years ago and sold maybe three copies of, but he's not a writer on the same level as you. He's a wannabe. (3/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

He'll look at your display, pick up a book, read the back cover, maybe flip through it quickly, then proceed to tell you all the things you're doing wrong.

Seriously, this happens regularly, especially if you're a woman (shocking, I know).

The rando in question is not himself a #writer. (2/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

I'm seeing that quite a few #authors are at a con of some kind selling their work, so if I might, a bit of advice from someone who's been there... 🧵

It's pretty much a guarantee that at some point, some rando -- almost always an older white dude -- is going to stop in front of your table. (1/)

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

(Immediately adds "Deathstalker" to my TBV list.)

Lazersaurus @robertinks.bsky.social · 16h

If the word "Harryhausen" means anything at all to then you have got to watch the new Deathstalker. What an absolutely stupid-good time.

Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

Two girls reluctantly cosplay their way through their mommy issues.

Quintessa Knight @quietblkgrl.blacksky.app · 14h

Q12: Poorly explain the last story you wrote.

Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 8h

This is seriously rock-solid advice.

I've been to writer gatherings full of aspiring authors who have yet to finish a single project. It's a major hurdle to clear, but an important one if you're serious about making a go of it. Finishing a project is a true achievement to be proud of.

Peter Clines @peterclines.bsky.social · 13h

Finish the thing you're working on. Don't flit away after the next sparkly, sexy idea you have as soon as things get tough--Finish. Your. Stories!

Quintessa Knight @quietblkgrl.blacksky.app · 13h

Q23: What’s one tip you would give your younger self as a writer?

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Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Nikkolas Smith @4nikkolas.bsky.social · 22h

after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 9h

PS, kudos for sneaking in the LotR bookends. I have the same ones.

Alan Baxter @alanbaxter.bsky.social · 10h

Ahead of its worldwide release on Monday 14th October, the preorder of THIS WAY LIES MADNESS has a whopping 30% off its RRP on Amazon US.

Link: www.amazon.com/This-Lies-Ma...

Have a great day!

Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 9h

Report the post for spreading disinformation, then block Jenn for that same reason.

ICE is doing a bang-up job of making themselves look like fascist thugs. There's literally no need whatsoever to fictionalize their behavior. Do not fight disinformation with disinformation.

Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

rowan kaiser @rowan.monster · 1d

I'd really appreciate if writers these days took a look at their characters doing therapyspeak and whether that's appropriate for their work and their world.

By "therapyspeak" I mean speaking like this: "This is the emotion I'm feeling, and feeling that emotion makes me want to act in a way"

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Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 20h

Fuck yeah you should.

Using a swearword in your Google search can stop the AI answer. But should you?

Artificial intelligence is more than Trump deepfakes of Tilly the actor. It’s used in smartphones, customer service, healthcare – even legal cases. Is it possible to avoid?

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Lar deSouza @lartist.bsky.social · 19h

3d: Grumpy Candy Corn revisted. Last year I made this model, printed it in grey and did a hack job painting it. This year I realized I know more about printing & had all the colours necessary to print it. A couple of dots of black paint to do the eyes and frown & it's a much better print!

3d print of a grumpy candy corn who is flipping off the viewer and holding a sign that reads "I hate you too!"

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 19h

Chloe, bein' cuddly.

Reposted by Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author

Aviendha69 - ⊃∪∩⪽ - 🦋 🇨🇦 @aviendha69.bsky.social · 22h

some memes are better than others

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Michael C. Bailey - Indie Author @mbaileywriter.bsky.social · 22h

This came up in my FB memories, from six years ago when I did Inktober for funsies, but I made it my goal to do scenes from horror movies that matched the prompts. This happens to be one of my favorites.