Lena Brassard
@lenabrassard.bsky.social
I used to write.
Website: lenabrassard.com
Occasional long reviews of books I love: youtube.com/@lenabrassard
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/lenabrassard
Website: lenabrassard.com
Occasional long reviews of books I love: youtube.com/@lenabrassard
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/lenabrassard
Pinned
Lena Brassard
@lenabrassard.bsky.social
· Jul 12
Inaugural "I Am Not a Creep (Depending on Your Definition of 'Creep')" Post:
I've been off social media since April 2022. Highly recommend. Updates about people's books and pets are the only things I've missed about it. If I've followed you, that's probably why.
Tortie loaf tax:
I've been off social media since April 2022. Highly recommend. Updates about people's books and pets are the only things I've missed about it. If I've followed you, that's probably why.
Tortie loaf tax:
Reposted by Lena Brassard
Big overlap in the "I don't care enough to be thoughtful" crowd and the "I want to make you see things against your will" crowd.
October 11, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Big overlap in the "I don't care enough to be thoughtful" crowd and the "I want to make you see things against your will" crowd.
I went through my blog to clean up personal stuff and no-longer-relevant announcements, and skimming through a decade of industry decline condensed into an hour made me nauseated and shaky.
I don't read my spreadsheet when adding the latest fuckery to the bottom row. It hits hard all at once!
I don't read my spreadsheet when adding the latest fuckery to the bottom row. It hits hard all at once!
October 10, 2026 at 11:46 PM
I went through my blog to clean up personal stuff and no-longer-relevant announcements, and skimming through a decade of industry decline condensed into an hour made me nauseated and shaky.
I don't read my spreadsheet when adding the latest fuckery to the bottom row. It hits hard all at once!
I don't read my spreadsheet when adding the latest fuckery to the bottom row. It hits hard all at once!
The thing I most vividly remember about my 10-book Pulitzer challenge is the character who was unhappy when served fried potatoes.
Serial killer shit.
Serial killer shit.
I don’t think we, as a society, are appropriately grateful for and enthused about potatoes.
October 10, 2026 at 2:12 PM
The thing I most vividly remember about my 10-book Pulitzer challenge is the character who was unhappy when served fried potatoes.
Serial killer shit.
Serial killer shit.
Reposted by Lena Brassard
they’re also getting pr & marketing value out of it. From us. As we type and post
have you heard about the marketing campaign that created the concept ‘jaywalking is bad’ ? when cars were new and people objected to being run over?
this ‘ai morality’ schtick isn’t trivial
have you heard about the marketing campaign that created the concept ‘jaywalking is bad’ ? when cars were new and people objected to being run over?
this ‘ai morality’ schtick isn’t trivial
October 9, 2026 at 4:44 PM
they’re also getting pr & marketing value out of it. From us. As we type and post
have you heard about the marketing campaign that created the concept ‘jaywalking is bad’ ? when cars were new and people objected to being run over?
this ‘ai morality’ schtick isn’t trivial
have you heard about the marketing campaign that created the concept ‘jaywalking is bad’ ? when cars were new and people objected to being run over?
this ‘ai morality’ schtick isn’t trivial
The only reason I can think of that an illustrator would get an "adaptation copyright" would be in adapting text to a graphic novel.
An art brief for a single piece of art containing keywords from a story is not an adaptation of the story. This entire statement is nonsense.
An art brief for a single piece of art containing keywords from a story is not an adaptation of the story. This entire statement is nonsense.
October 9, 2026 at 7:24 PM
The only reason I can think of that an illustrator would get an "adaptation copyright" would be in adapting text to a graphic novel.
An art brief for a single piece of art containing keywords from a story is not an adaptation of the story. This entire statement is nonsense.
An art brief for a single piece of art containing keywords from a story is not an adaptation of the story. This entire statement is nonsense.
Stories have the power to make you think about and care about things that don't center you, which is antithetical to the narcissist way of life.
maybe i'm old fashion but the coolest thing about video games is being taken to new worlds that i hadn't thought up and experiencing something exciting that the artists behind the game want to show me
October 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Stories have the power to make you think about and care about things that don't center you, which is antithetical to the narcissist way of life.
I just saw a "Learn how to write because AI sucks!" book list that was entirely the pep-talk genre (Bird by Bird et al.) and absolutely nothing that will teach you HOW TO WRITE, and my first thought was "Did you ask AI for this list?"
October 7, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I just saw a "Learn how to write because AI sucks!" book list that was entirely the pep-talk genre (Bird by Bird et al.) and absolutely nothing that will teach you HOW TO WRITE, and my first thought was "Did you ask AI for this list?"
Reposted by Lena Brassard
The AI project has as its explicit goal the reduction of your standard of living. AI companies have been telling you to your face that this is what they want to do to you and you're experiencing it happen in real time. LLMs went mainstream 4 years ago. Where are the glorious fruits of their labors?
October 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
The AI project has as its explicit goal the reduction of your standard of living. AI companies have been telling you to your face that this is what they want to do to you and you're experiencing it happen in real time. LLMs went mainstream 4 years ago. Where are the glorious fruits of their labors?
Reposted by Lena Brassard
Huh. That complicated branching-narrative project unfurls more easily if I plan the trunk like a novel. WHO'DA THUNK?
October 7, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Huh. That complicated branching-narrative project unfurls more easily if I plan the trunk like a novel. WHO'DA THUNK?
Reposted by Lena Brassard
"Oh, well, AI is already here so—"
"Asbestos."
"Well, I mean—"
"CFCs. Leaded fuel."
"—but—"
"Portable baby cages."
"—okay, I—"
"Radium. Agent Orange. DDT..."
"Asbestos."
"Well, I mean—"
"CFCs. Leaded fuel."
"—but—"
"Portable baby cages."
"—okay, I—"
"Radium. Agent Orange. DDT..."
October 5, 2026 at 10:36 PM
"Oh, well, AI is already here so—"
"Asbestos."
"Well, I mean—"
"CFCs. Leaded fuel."
"—but—"
"Portable baby cages."
"—okay, I—"
"Radium. Agent Orange. DDT..."
"Asbestos."
"Well, I mean—"
"CFCs. Leaded fuel."
"—but—"
"Portable baby cages."
"—okay, I—"
"Radium. Agent Orange. DDT..."
Reposted by Lena Brassard
Genies go back in bottles ALL THE TIME.
October 5, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Genies go back in bottles ALL THE TIME.
"You don't have to see someone's face to find them attractive. I find Pyramid Head attractive. It is what it is."
Thank you, random booktuber, for injecting some levity into an otherwise shit day.
Thank you, random booktuber, for injecting some levity into an otherwise shit day.
October 5, 2026 at 8:03 PM
"You don't have to see someone's face to find them attractive. I find Pyramid Head attractive. It is what it is."
Thank you, random booktuber, for injecting some levity into an otherwise shit day.
Thank you, random booktuber, for injecting some levity into an otherwise shit day.
I found 5 unused mini legal pads while excavating Mount Reference and reacted like I won the lottery.
I've been settling for inferior forms of bundled paper for too long.
I've been settling for inferior forms of bundled paper for too long.
October 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I found 5 unused mini legal pads while excavating Mount Reference and reacted like I won the lottery.
I've been settling for inferior forms of bundled paper for too long.
I've been settling for inferior forms of bundled paper for too long.
Reposted by Lena Brassard
It is bizarre to watch people use the words "restorative justice" to center the need of someone who assaulted someone else.
You simply cannot talk about restorative justice in this context without centering his victim.
You simply cannot talk about restorative justice in this context without centering his victim.
October 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
It is bizarre to watch people use the words "restorative justice" to center the need of someone who assaulted someone else.
You simply cannot talk about restorative justice in this context without centering his victim.
You simply cannot talk about restorative justice in this context without centering his victim.
Charlie Bucket broke the rules just as much as the other children and prevailed only because he had the sense not to transgress in front of witnesses, as secrecy is the only skill required in Wonka's empire of slavery and industrial espionage. In this essay I will
October 3, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Charlie Bucket broke the rules just as much as the other children and prevailed only because he had the sense not to transgress in front of witnesses, as secrecy is the only skill required in Wonka's empire of slavery and industrial espionage. In this essay I will
I'm not good at drawing. My brain doesn't deal in images, so "here's a blank page/screen, make an image on it" is... bleauuuugh???
I put on art videos and doodle in a notebook anyway because it exercises part of my brain that doesn't otherwise get used, which benefits other mental work I do daily.
I put on art videos and doodle in a notebook anyway because it exercises part of my brain that doesn't otherwise get used, which benefits other mental work I do daily.
October 2, 2026 at 5:46 PM
I'm not good at drawing. My brain doesn't deal in images, so "here's a blank page/screen, make an image on it" is... bleauuuugh???
I put on art videos and doodle in a notebook anyway because it exercises part of my brain that doesn't otherwise get used, which benefits other mental work I do daily.
I put on art videos and doodle in a notebook anyway because it exercises part of my brain that doesn't otherwise get used, which benefits other mental work I do daily.
Video games: Fuck optimization! We don't have to fit onto discs anymore, so users can just buy endless storage to deal with our bloat!
Ebooks: *take notes*
There isn't even a map in this novel. How is it 8+ MB?
Ebooks: *take notes*
There isn't even a map in this novel. How is it 8+ MB?
October 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Video games: Fuck optimization! We don't have to fit onto discs anymore, so users can just buy endless storage to deal with our bloat!
Ebooks: *take notes*
There isn't even a map in this novel. How is it 8+ MB?
Ebooks: *take notes*
There isn't even a map in this novel. How is it 8+ MB?
Reposted by Lena Brassard
wow u turned in manuscript when gas was $3.08/gal and it won't be published until gas is $30.80/gal
September 29, 2026 at 5:17 PM
wow u turned in manuscript when gas was $3.08/gal and it won't be published until gas is $30.80/gal
Reposted by Lena Brassard
It feels genuinely ridiculous having to say this, but the point of art is to connect with another human. Someone thought of that painting or melodic line or scene or paragraph that is suddenly making you weep, and that means that they saw you and understood you without even meeting you.
They quoted me in this New Yorker piece about AI today.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
September 30, 2026 at 3:57 PM
It feels genuinely ridiculous having to say this, but the point of art is to connect with another human. Someone thought of that painting or melodic line or scene or paragraph that is suddenly making you weep, and that means that they saw you and understood you without even meeting you.
My Soulless Corporate Writing Gig is tie-ins for a target audience of 10-year-olds. There's little creative leeway. There's a ton of writing and reference to draw from. It is the IDEAL sandbox for extruded text.
When corporate tried it, they were ruthlessly mocked by a focus group of 5th graders.
When corporate tried it, they were ruthlessly mocked by a focus group of 5th graders.
This is Joyce Carol Oates throwing romance authors under the bus of AI
September 30, 2026 at 4:10 PM
My Soulless Corporate Writing Gig is tie-ins for a target audience of 10-year-olds. There's little creative leeway. There's a ton of writing and reference to draw from. It is the IDEAL sandbox for extruded text.
When corporate tried it, they were ruthlessly mocked by a focus group of 5th graders.
When corporate tried it, they were ruthlessly mocked by a focus group of 5th graders.
Reposted by Lena Brassard
anyway i'm not sure i like how quickly "you just don't get it, it's handy" turns into some new evangelical worldview within a short number of weeks
September 8, 2026 at 1:46 PM
anyway i'm not sure i like how quickly "you just don't get it, it's handy" turns into some new evangelical worldview within a short number of weeks
Reposted by Lena Brassard
PEOPLE WITH LIBERAL ARTS DEGREES: so while i see there is utility to the system, i’m more or less morally opposed to their current constructs and have big concerns over the business structure and environmental impact
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
September 8, 2026 at 12:23 PM
PEOPLE WITH LIBERAL ARTS DEGREES: so while i see there is utility to the system, i’m more or less morally opposed to their current constructs and have big concerns over the business structure and environmental impact
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
Reposted by Lena Brassard
I'm categorized as an AI subscriber, because I'm subscribed to the 3 TB tier of Google Drive and and they literally just changed the name of the plan to "Google AI Plus."
Those "AI subscriber" numbers are 100 percent juiced and phony, and you're a sucker if you believe otherwise.
Those "AI subscriber" numbers are 100 percent juiced and phony, and you're a sucker if you believe otherwise.
I dont usually do this but everybody should block this asshole.
September 29, 2026 at 8:11 PM
I'm categorized as an AI subscriber, because I'm subscribed to the 3 TB tier of Google Drive and and they literally just changed the name of the plan to "Google AI Plus."
Those "AI subscriber" numbers are 100 percent juiced and phony, and you're a sucker if you believe otherwise.
Those "AI subscriber" numbers are 100 percent juiced and phony, and you're a sucker if you believe otherwise.
Reposted by Lena Brassard
I believe that Dr. Ellora Derenoncourt is the first Black woman economist EVER to be named a MacArthur Genius.
My heart is bursting. I am OVERJOYED.
My heart is bursting. I am OVERJOYED.
September 29, 2026 at 10:52 PM
I believe that Dr. Ellora Derenoncourt is the first Black woman economist EVER to be named a MacArthur Genius.
My heart is bursting. I am OVERJOYED.
My heart is bursting. I am OVERJOYED.