If the first draft is meant to be fun, the second should double the fun. --Homer, translated from ancient Greek by Mark Budman

Blue sky vs other social media. BS.

You have probably seen “human vs. AI” recognition tests. The question: can a human reader tell a story written by a fellow human writer from a story written by AI? Please make a selection in the poll below and comment as well. And make history. markbudman.com/human-vs-ai-...

Be honest. Do you cut on m-dashes lest be accused of using AI?

What is going on here? Wrong answers only.

Honestly, do you know this? An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce. My story, which is a tribute to this, keeps garnering rejections. I began to suspect magazines first readers don't know it, and are scared by the unconventional structure.

This stunning YA book cover image was made by Grok today. It's a 14-year-old boy wizard and a 14-year-old girl psychic. There is an evil soldier in the background. I'm not making it up. AI is our future.

Why would the mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna be a two-story building? Wrong answers only.

What is your gut feeling, does the number of people who try to prey on writers on social media exceed the number of writers, or is it the other way around?

Black cat or tabby cat?

After sulking for a hundred years inside a glass coffin in his Red Square Mausoleum, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin comes back to life, immigrates to the US, and runs for POTUS, the Constitution notwithstanding.

My newest book.

In this dark comedy, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin is resurrected in modern Russia, gets upset with Putin, immigrates to America, bypasses the "natural born Citizen" Constitutional clause with help from a billionaire, and runs a big, beautiful campaign for President. www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2GM99MS

Some languages have accusative cases. The AI luddites try to drag them into English. This is AI! If you used an AI image for your cover, that must mean you used generative AI for your writing, too.

I have 6,600 followers on Facebook and 7,500 followers on X. It does almost nothing for me for writing acceptance or sales. When I sold my first book to Counterpoint, there was almost no social media. Go figure.

Will you date a woman like that every day (if you are into women) or only on Día de los Muertos?

An interview with yours truly about Vladimir Lenin. deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/q-wi...

A big, beautiful gift for July 4th. Vladimir Lenin comes back to life, immigrates to America and runs for POTUS. Released today. nat1publishing.com/books/lenin/...

Lives and Deaths of Vladimir Lenin is nearing publication. After sulking for 100 years inside his Mausoleum, Vladimir Lenin comes back to life, immigrates to the US, and runs for POTUS, the Constitution notwithstanding. Download your ARC copies here: booksirens.com/book/FXRXZIY...

Good news. My books are probably to be translated into Farsi in Iran.

Finish the sentence: I sit on a bench by Charles River, between a discarded condom (not mine) and two duck shit pellets smelling of oolong tea.

I try to ignore Butlerian jihad fatwas against the “you know what” image generation, but I can’t hold myself when I see posts like this: “It tells me the author has and will take shortcuts—possibly with the writing as well.” The official name of this fallacy is “affirming the consequent."

Tremendous news like never before. Lenin is alive and running for POTUS. LIVES AND DEATHS OF VLADIMIR LENIN, coming out of Nat 1 Publishing, revives Lenin in a modern world, blending humor and political jabs.   www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2GM99MS

What do you think about the promotional poster for my novel "Lives and Deaths of Vladimir Lenin?"? Tremendous news like never before. Lenin is alive and running for POTUS.

Tremendous news like never before. Lenin is alive and running for POTUS. #LeninforPotus amazon.com/dp/B0F2GM99MS

My daughter gave me a book about positivity on Father's Day. When I finish reading it, she will run a positivity test, and she hopes I will test positive.

A reply to my query requesting the full manuscript from a publisher. No, I don't have to pay anything.

Hi. That was the extent of my creative writing today. How about you!

When someone accuses you of a double entendre, do you double down or say that your French is rusty and you thought that "entendre" means "penetration?"

AI is here to stay unless a version of the Butlerian jihad is coming. BTW, I hate generative AI. I call it degenerative. One day it will be good, though. How in the world will we humans be able to compete?

A riddle. Samantha is driving, and Madison is unbuckled to apply makeup. A cop stopped them. What would the cop say? 1. Do you know how fast you are driving? 2. Seat belts save lives. 3. Which of Mark Budman's books will you buy today?

"I" am a "human" "author" and "not" a bot. Who or what are you?

Do you think that the AI will eventually: 1. Supplement us, writers, and we have to stop it before too late by all means necessary, including blocking people who claim answer 2 below? 2. Make our works better? 3. The AI in arts is just a fad and it will go way?

Pretty please with a cherry on top. My children's book is free for the next couple of days. Do me (and your kids) a favor and "buy" it. Thank you, Mark amazon.com/dp/B0DLJ99213

My children's book is free for the next couple of days. Do me (and your kids) a favor and "buy" it. Thank you, Mark amazon.com/dp/B0DLJ99213

What do dead people do at the cemetery? They can decompose only for a couple of decades. Haunting living can't be fun forever. Resurrection and reincarnation seem the only options. What are your plans for eternity?

What is your favorite punctuation mark? As for me, I am the question Mark.

Shakespeare is rereading my book The Armor Thieves. What's good for him, is good for you.

A short story acceptance from a highly rated Eckleburg Review.

Would you buy a book with an AI-generated cover assuming you know the text is human-generated? A partially AI-generated cover?

Advice from my would-be agent. We read your sample pages with interest, but don't give up. Love is subjective, don't drink and drive , don't exceed the speed limit by more than 50 miles/h, a penny saved is better than 2 under the sofa, and keep writing until you stop, but better yet, before that.

Lost 3 lbs on a calorie-restricted diet. 1600 calories a day of fewer. Just need to make sure I have enough protein. Devoured the neighbor's cat yesterday.

I interpreted for a patient from the Republic of Georgia, and he invited me to visit him at his Georgia home. Except he forgot to give me the address.

BS was painted as a haven for the x refugees. But it look dead do me. What do you think?

A group of cats is a clowder. A group of dogs is a pack. A group people is a crowd. What is a group of writers?

My new story in Antipodean SF, Frankenstein’s Mirrors. My mom taught me that every man has to leave a mark on this world, something that posterity would remember him by. I listened. Her wisdom and my obedience brought me nothing but trouble. antisf.com/the-stories/...

I’m humbled and excited to share the news of my novel The Lives and Deaths of Vladimir Lenin upcoming in July of 2025 from Nat 1 Publishing. www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2GM99MS You can request the ARC to write a review by replying to this email. Thank you, Mark Budman markbudman.com/lives-and-de...

Would you submit to this friendly and generous magazine? Fee: $5 | Pay: Per piece: $1–$2 Does not accept simultaneous submissions. Accepts some reprints. Acceptance rate of 20% (reported by editors).

This tool checks if your writing has been plagiarized. www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

What term would you use for an immortal who can be killed?