I'm still getting used to the idea that I work on the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, and now there's an editorial with my name on it 😮 journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

How do you work out which generative AI is best for your needs?

Delighted to be given permission to share this testimonial 🎉

I’ve just been in a fantastic sustainability-themed networking session thanks to Small Business Britain and I now have so many websites open and sooooo many ideas bouncing around my head!

'Copyright is not a barrier [to AI development] any more than the need to pay for other essential supplies such as data farms and energy.' authorsguild.org/news/ag-urge... @authorsguild.org

I've just received the CPD certificate for Small Business Britain's Green Growth Programme, so I've been looking back over my notes from the classes. It was inspiring to learn from other service providers about ways of cutting costs and attracting customers while doing good. Thank you all.

It's that time of year – just go with the vibe. blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...

I started this in January. Finally, I declare construction complete 🎉 It’s very wobbly but I managed to make space for it on a bookshelf. Hooray!

From Saturday’s opening ceremony

Delighted with this new testimonial, from a repeat client 🎉

Just finished Philippa Gregory’s ‘Boleyn Traitor’. Stunning read, as ever. All the usual great writing that creates tension and suspense even when you know the outcome, with timely comment on tyranny and cruelty. #BoleynTraitor

‘Stop waiting. Just do your best – to put something into the world that wasn’t there yesterday. Forget just right, and try right now instead. You don’t have to know what you’re doing or how it will turn out. Just start.’ Maggie Smith, ‘Dear Writer’, on waiting to be ready to write

It's been another big month, including my first time volunteering at Wimbledon BookFest, which I loved. I also worked on a variety of books and finished a CPD course with Small Business Britain. November contains a history book and more CPD. I'm looking forward to it!

‘She can’t remember signing any bottoms, she says later, “but it sounds like the sort of thing I might do”.’ – another of the reasons we love Margaret Atwood

Fascinating story, though like other commenters I wish Cathy O’Neill got more recognition in the article.

Interesting explanations, even though as others have pointed out the current issue has been going on for some time.

I’m volunteering at @wimbookfest.bsky.social this year. I’ve done my first two shifts this weekend and had huge fun, and discovered that it takes a lot of work to start an event half an hour after the previous one ended. And that having a roving microphone is fun but also kind of scary!

Many thanks to @lisarandisi.bsky.social for a wonderful day at the Petrie Museum in London. First, a handling session, looking at ephemera – eg newspaper used to wrap an item during excavation. Then I worked in the university library for a few hours. Then more ephemera this evening.

Marvellous unexpected treat to sit outside for today’s green marketing session from Small Business Britain 🌞

Editors will know why this has got me excited. Can you see it?

Editor's Christmas wishlist: for a numbered list in Word to need styling only once... #AmEditing

'We recognize the desire to have good indexes quickly and cheaply. However, AI is not currently capable of producing even adequate indexes. Quality indexes that meet reader needs and expectations still require fine-grained human judgment.' asindexing.org/ai-news/stat... @asindexing.bsky.social

authorsguild.org/event/anthro... @authorsguild.org

Have someone check everything before you sign it off to print – even small items can have embarrassing typos… www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

FYI - @authorsguild.org has an upcoming webinar for authors & illustrators. "Anthropic Settlement: What Authors Should Know" looks very worthwhile for those whose books were involved. authorsguild.org/event/anthro...

What a month! Two editing conferences (lots of learning and immense fun catching up with #edibuddies) and a bunch of archaeology texts. October's looking just as busy, but in different ways. 😃

Info for authors who may be affected by the Anthropic settlement.

Two weeks ago, I'd just done the first day of @acesediting.bsky.social #VCon25. I went from that straight to Milton Keynes for @the-ciep.bsky.social #CIEP2025. And then, because I wasn't tired enough, I went into London three times in four days – Starlight Express with Mum 🎉 Wonderful two weeks!

I recognise many more of the words and phrases in this update: premium.oxforddictionaries.com/words/summer...

I definitely enjoy deskfast a few times a week, and my mailbox does occasionally induce a moment of desk rage. A very bingeable update from the Oxford English Dictionary. www.oed.com/discover/new...

Thanks to everyone at @acesediting.bsky.social for a fantastic #VCon25. Oh yes these dates for 2026 have gone straight in the diary 🎉 Hope you all get a good rest this weekend.

Spacial Chat – wow! Yes, I know in this pic I'm on my own – it didn't really seem fair to screen grab other people! You walk around rooms or gardens and when you go near people you can talk to them – actually talk, not type in chat. It's a way of recreating coffee break chat online. #ACESVCon25

We're ready with a yellow toy to bat around the room and a fun frame to make us smile while we learn 😻 #ACESVCon25 @acesediting.bsky.social

Thanks, Zoom – I might not have noticed I'd joined my own call otherwise! 😂 #ACESVCon

I’ve been looking forward to this one! #ACESVCon

I'm loving this example in Small Business Britain's Green Growth webinar this morning 😍

So interesting listening to Anna Jo Bratton of @apnews.com style on keeping up with language evolution and the complex discussions around potential changes – keeping in mind not just what's going on in the US, but also how other countries are affected (as with eg place names). #ACESVCon25

Excellent session on accessibility, with useful links for more information – pointers on key things to check to make sure your website is accessible as well as tips on writing alt text and captioning videos. @disabilitybelongs.bsky.social @acesediting.bsky.social #ACESVCon25

Editors are getting excited... 🎉 #ACESVCon25 @acesediting.bsky.social

I’m in back-to-back editing conferences for the next week – I’ll be spending a lot of time on Zoom with the cats, and little time in my mailbox. So please forgive me if I’m slower than usual replying to email. Kicking off tomorrow with @acesediting.bsky.social #VCon25

'Whether there's a solution to the problem remains a hotly debated subject, with some experts arguing that hallucinations are intrinsic to the tech itself. In other words, large language models may be a dead end in our quest to develop AIs with a reliable grasp on factual claims.'

Whova: no 😉😂 Two editing conferences back to back this week. Two highlights of the editing year. We’ve been looking forward to this week for aaaages. And it’s suddenly popped up to take us by surprise 😆 No, I’m not ready. Must remember to buy snacks tomorrow… @acesediting.bsky.social #ACESVCon25

I accidentally met both protest marches on my walk across London yesterday. Horrifying to see so many people opening chanting racist slogans – it felt unsafe for me to be there, and I look like them so I can’t even imagine how others must feel.

Helping out at @theees.bsky.social open day this morning 🎉 JEA = Journal of Egyptian Archaeology

ALLi's 2025 author income survey: if you've self-published at least one book in English, you're eligible to take part. @indieauthoralli.bsky.social www.surveymonkey.com/r/F6NT5MD

It’s editing conference season 🎉 The app for #ACESVCon25 has gone live, so #edibuddies are excitedly checking the schedule, starting chats and answering ice-breaker questions. Hurrah! @acesediting.bsky.social

I'm updating my portfolio and realised this book published today. It was such an interesting copy-edit – I learned a lot. www.routledge.com/Human-Alteri...

Loop the loop! I’ve been watching generations of these moth caterpillars all summer. Endlessly fascinating – especially when they walk 😍 #StetWalk

Excellent lunchtime Egyptology with @lisarandisi.bsky.social and @theees.bsky.social – looking at ephemera. The random bits and bobs in museum collections that initially had no value, such as food containers reused to transport artefacts, which give a snapshot of life on that excavation.