W. B. Aubrey
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w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
W. B. Aubrey
@w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
11 followers 47 following 14 posts
I seriously write silly stories.

My new novel, A Period of Optimisation, will be available in 2026.

Sign up for my newsletter here: https://w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter
Posts Replies Media Videos
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
This evening, I finished the first draft of a lovely little short story called ‘Author and Subject’. I have tucked it away to let it settle and will return to polish it in 2026. #amwriting #booksky #shortstories
December 28, 2025 at 8:43 PM
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
My first monthly newsletter is scheduled to send tomorrow and I’d be delighted if you’d give it five minutes of your time. I have nothing to sell, just thoughts to share. #writingcommunity #booksky #indielit #amwriting
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social W. B. Aubrey @w-b-aubrey.bsky.social · 10d
Just scheduled my first newsletter, which will include the section below. Sign up here to read the rest and stay in touch with my work: w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter

I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
A segment of the newsletter reads: Writing as Resistance against Generative AI In my day job as an academic, I have increasingly been required to deal with the outputs of large language models, so-called AI, for a couple of years now, and it has been dispiriting to see people giving up on the quintessentially human act of putting our thoughts into words. In my academic writing, I have spoken about how this robs students of the joy of learning, but it is even worse than that, as catastrophic as that is. By accepting that the world can and should be narrated by soulless, humourless, eight-ball machines, we are robbing future generations of the gift of ourselves. I am sure that a large language machine could produce writing that some people prefer to mine. It can certainly do so much more quickly and with considerably better punctuation. But I don't want to write for those people. I want to tell my silly little stories with serious themes to people who will recognise and enjoy them for their humanity. It was earlier this year, when reading a draft of my friend A.J. O'Toole's wonderful novel 'Half A Lie', that I realised my complacency in assuming that I would one day get around to putting pen to paper on the story I had been carrying around with me since the turn of the century. Raging (in polite academic terms) against the pollution of our world by plagiarised, decontextualised, soulless slop was all very well and good, but what was I doing? I was complaining and waiting for others to carry the fight on my behalf. And I would rather do that for myself, with my own words and thoughts and fears and inspirations. I hope you will enjoy them.
December 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
jonathancoe.bsky.social
After their excellent piece on Penda's Fen a few weeks ago, @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social turns its attention to the Midlands' other great slice of celluloid history. Time for another showing, @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social?
The bizarre ode to brutalist Birmingham that killed Cliff Richard’s film career
The Peter Pan of Pop’s final big-screen role is a prize piece of Brummie pop culture. Just maybe not in the way he intended…
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 10:17 AM
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
Today, I am 22 years sober. An interesting aspect of this experience is that the role of alcohol in Hemingway’s writing takes on a whole new meaning. It is a recurring character, a false prophet.
December 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
Just scheduled my first newsletter, which will include the section below. Sign up here to read the rest and stay in touch with my work: w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter

I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
A segment of the newsletter reads: Writing as Resistance against Generative AI In my day job as an academic, I have increasingly been required to deal with the outputs of large language models, so-called AI, for a couple of years now, and it has been dispiriting to see people giving up on the quintessentially human act of putting our thoughts into words. In my academic writing, I have spoken about how this robs students of the joy of learning, but it is even worse than that, as catastrophic as that is. By accepting that the world can and should be narrated by soulless, humourless, eight-ball machines, we are robbing future generations of the gift of ourselves. I am sure that a large language machine could produce writing that some people prefer to mine. It can certainly do so much more quickly and with considerably better punctuation. But I don't want to write for those people. I want to tell my silly little stories with serious themes to people who will recognise and enjoy them for their humanity. It was earlier this year, when reading a draft of my friend A.J. O'Toole's wonderful novel 'Half A Lie', that I realised my complacency in assuming that I would one day get around to putting pen to paper on the story I had been carrying around with me since the turn of the century. Raging (in polite academic terms) against the pollution of our world by plagiarised, decontextualised, soulless slop was all very well and good, but what was I doing? I was complaining and waiting for others to carry the fight on my behalf. And I would rather do that for myself, with my own words and thoughts and fears and inspirations. I hope you will enjoy them.
December 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
bertsbooks.bsky.social
Giveaway!

I’m giving one lucky person the chance to pick one shelf of books from our Bertvent bookcase.

Follow and repost by midday on Saturday 27th and I’ll pick someone at random! Which shelf will you choose?

(UK only)
The Bertvent books
December 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
Today’s one of those frustrating days where I’m writing just to move the plot forward knowing that whatever lands on the page today will need a comprehensive rewrite next time round.

#amwriting
December 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
On Friday, I wrote a passage of dialogue that was so bad I haven’t wanted to open my laptop for two days. I was going to write a joke about it here, but the joke is so good that it fixes all the problems with the passage, so I’ve saved it.
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
scribblerotoole.bsky.social
I endorse this message... WB's kind words and helpful critiques of various drafts really helped me this year. Let's create a community of artists and look out for each other.
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social W. B. Aubrey @w-b-aubrey.bsky.social · 10d
Just scheduled my first newsletter, which will include the section below. Sign up here to read the rest and stay in touch with my work: w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter

I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
A segment of the newsletter reads: Writing as Resistance against Generative AI In my day job as an academic, I have increasingly been required to deal with the outputs of large language models, so-called AI, for a couple of years now, and it has been dispiriting to see people giving up on the quintessentially human act of putting our thoughts into words. In my academic writing, I have spoken about how this robs students of the joy of learning, but it is even worse than that, as catastrophic as that is. By accepting that the world can and should be narrated by soulless, humourless, eight-ball machines, we are robbing future generations of the gift of ourselves. I am sure that a large language machine could produce writing that some people prefer to mine. It can certainly do so much more quickly and with considerably better punctuation. But I don't want to write for those people. I want to tell my silly little stories with serious themes to people who will recognise and enjoy them for their humanity. It was earlier this year, when reading a draft of my friend A.J. O'Toole's wonderful novel 'Half A Lie', that I realised my complacency in assuming that I would one day get around to putting pen to paper on the story I had been carrying around with me since the turn of the century. Raging (in polite academic terms) against the pollution of our world by plagiarised, decontextualised, soulless slop was all very well and good, but what was I doing? I was complaining and waiting for others to carry the fight on my behalf. And I would rather do that for myself, with my own words and thoughts and fears and inspirations. I hope you will enjoy them.
December 20, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
kieranstories.bsky.social
Just found out I won’t have a job come January. As well as starting the regular job hunt, I thought I’d reach out here to see if anyone knew of any proofreading/editing/compliance opportunities. Or just opportunities! Apologies if this is gauche, but if you don’t shoot your shot, as the kids say 🎄
December 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by W. B. Aubrey
scribblerotoole.bsky.social
For the day that's in it... and if you're about to knock off work and head for a couple of drinks on Black Eye Friday.
#amwriting #indielit
December 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
w-b-aubrey.bsky.social
Just scheduled my first newsletter, which will include the section below. Sign up here to read the rest and stay in touch with my work: w-b-aubrey.eo.page/newsletter

I don't care for hashtags, but I love meeting writers and readers, so
#writingcommunity #booksky #blueskywriters #indielit #amwriting
A segment of the newsletter reads: Writing as Resistance against Generative AI In my day job as an academic, I have increasingly been required to deal with the outputs of large language models, so-called AI, for a couple of years now, and it has been dispiriting to see people giving up on the quintessentially human act of putting our thoughts into words. In my academic writing, I have spoken about how this robs students of the joy of learning, but it is even worse than that, as catastrophic as that is. By accepting that the world can and should be narrated by soulless, humourless, eight-ball machines, we are robbing future generations of the gift of ourselves. I am sure that a large language machine could produce writing that some people prefer to mine. It can certainly do so much more quickly and with considerably better punctuation. But I don't want to write for those people. I want to tell my silly little stories with serious themes to people who will recognise and enjoy them for their humanity. It was earlier this year, when reading a draft of my friend A.J. O'Toole's wonderful novel 'Half A Lie', that I realised my complacency in assuming that I would one day get around to putting pen to paper on the story I had been carrying around with me since the turn of the century. Raging (in polite academic terms) against the pollution of our world by plagiarised, decontextualised, soulless slop was all very well and good, but what was I doing? I was complaining and waiting for others to carry the fight on my behalf. And I would rather do that for myself, with my own words and thoughts and fears and inspirations. I hope you will enjoy them.
December 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM