Ending the week with this delightfully self-deprecating testimonial from an author whose writing was already in great shape and most definitely already read like a real book. An interesting book and James made the process smooth and enjoyable. Comments like this absolutely made my day, too!

Interesting thoughts on the intersection between business decisions and fear. @thebookseller.com www.thebookseller.com/comment/we-d...

Great suggestions for any academic or non-fiction writing.

Interesting consideration of how generative AI may affect academic citations.

I’m now proofreading some text about Giza and trying to imagine myself away from a grey and rainy England to warmer climes 🌞 (This pic was November 2018.)

Fun things editors ponder... to do the plural as 'fallings-out' or 'falling-outs'? This is what Google Ngram has to say about the use in British English. I'd love to know how that red line has changed since 2022 (which is as recent as Ngram goes). #AmEditing

Lunchtime listening: @ucstonecenter.bsky.social session on editing and AI from last month, with @nadiageageapupa.bsky.social, @ebrenner.bsky.social and others. Great discussion not just about what generative AI can and can’t do editorially, but also other uses and transparency and ethics.

Important reminder that generative AI isn’t always accurate.

Friday afternoon listening: a session on developmental editing from September's @the-ciep.bsky.social conference. This session focused on fiction, but many principles apply to non-fiction, too, so I have many helpful notes. Thank you all! @aimeewalker.bsky.social @sacalfee.bsky.social

Now this type of smart glasses I *would* be interested in, if they were reliable. Varifocals are great for many things, but I'd love to be able to go back to not needing either to move my head or to swap to reading glasses to have both the top and the bottom of a page in focus 👀

I semi-accidentally signed up for an event for primary school children and I had a blast! Katherine Rundell was at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social talking about creating fantasy worlds to explore issues such as love and fear. An excellent hour – so high-energy and inspiring.

Archaeologists discover signs of Roman industrial hub at site in Sunderland

In an industry in constant flux, sticking your neck out to predict what’s coming next may seem reckless. But for the last few years we’ve done just that—and we’re doing it again.  Here are MIT Technology Review's five big AI bets for the next 12 months: www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/05/1...

Interesting round-up and predictions from MIT Technology Review on generative AI in 2026.

I’m easing in to 2026. Not back at work yet, and started this morning in the frost at Bushy Park. Lucky timing with this swan! #Stetwalk

WeTransfer has sent me a 2025 recap. I'm loving this bit: what it would have taken to transfer the year's WeTransfer projects by other means... Of course, this can't include all the files sent by other means, but it's still fun.

May you glide serenely through 2026. But life isn’t a meme and there are bound to be difficulties as well as highs. Remember that everyone is frantically paddling away below the surface, even if they don’t show it – even the swan. Happy New Year.

The last sunset of 2025. Happy New Year! #StetWalk

It exists! 🎉 Working on the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology for @theees.bsky.social was the biggest surprise of 2025. And what an amazing six months it’s been. Thanks and congratulations to everyone involved, including the contributors and peer reviewers.

More on the new Kindle feature. @authorsguild.org authorsguild.org/news/stateme...

‘AI code produced 1.7 times more issues than human code, once again highlighting major weaknesses plaguing generative AI tools. … “AI accelerates output, but it also amplifies certain categories of mistakes.”’

Authors beware – the deluge of scam emails continues.

'the majority of respondents (88%) backed licences being required in all cases where data was being used for AI training. Just 3% of respondents supported the government’s preferred option, which would allow data mining by AI companies and require rights holders to opt-out.'

Interesting. www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Great event last night with Diane Purkiss on the darker stories underlying what we in Europe now call Christmas. Midwinter festivals: a way to combat and overcome the darkness of winter – appease whichever non-human being was responsible for the darkness, and bring a return to light (ie spring).

The 2025 Journal of Egyptian Archaeology went live online today 🎉 Print copies will follow soon... Thanks and congratulations to everyone involved. @theees.bsky.social

EU opens investigation into Google’s use of online content for AI models

The Anthropic class action notices have started going out. Here’s everything you need to know: authorsguild.org/news/anthrop...

A reminder for UK sole traders that digital tax returns are imminent – April 2026 for those earning over £50,000, 2027 for £30,000. www.ipse.co.uk/articles/sol...

I’ve just finished listening to the @acesediting.bsky.social conference sessions on my to-do list and it’s not even the deadline yet 🎉 #edibuddies as ever I thank you all for sharing your knowledge. I learned so much from this conference.

Rage bait – an appropriate word of 2025 from Oxford corp.oup.com/word-of-the-...

Video: Plain language is a term that many use, but few understand completely. At its core, plain language is about understanding your audience and giving them writing that is clear, concise and well-organized. Watch to continue learning: youtu.be/C_8RzU6JGQ0 #PlainLanguage

Plain language isn't dumbing down – it's about ensuring clarity for the intended audience. An interesting post on whether the word 'plain' is part of the problem with resistance to writing clearly.

New survey 'reveals widespread fears over copyright violation, lost income, and the future of the [novel]... Despite this, overall sentiment in UK fiction is not anti-AI, with 80% of respondents agreeing that AI offers benefits to parts of society.' @cam.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk/stories/gene...

That feeling when you spot a friend, then realise you recognise them from TV...

Ooh, this is exciting (for me). After the UK general election last year, editors anticipated years of changing ‘Kier’ to ‘Keir’ (Starmer, our prime minister). I don’t often work on texts that need to mention current politics, but I’ve just found my first Kier 🎉 #AmProofreading

I’m proofreading an article that mentions Roman legionaries. I stopped briefly to look at something my brother sent – he works in legionella testing. Now my poor brain thinks these Romans are misspelled – that was not a helpful juxtaposition, as it turns out 😂 #AmProofreading

Another piece on storytelling, my unplanned theme for today.

This article is largely preaching to the converted, so Monbiot omits the basic problem that makes climate denial propaganda so powerful. For a long time, this was an invisible crisis that required the public to understand scientific theory. Deniers used emotional language first, and used it better.

Interesting idea – I'd love to see this happen.

I find it frustrating that nothing I do can make anywhere near as much difference as those private jets, for example. So I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to have understood the gravity of climate change in the 1960s and had to watch those with power behave as they have.

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