Liz Johnston
@lizjohnston.bsky.social
She/her. Writer, book nerd & editor. https://liz-johnston.ca. THE FALL-DOWN EFFECT coming out from Book*hug Press in 2026. Pre-order here: https://shoplocal.bookmanager.com/isbn/9781771669627
Pinned
Liz Johnston
@lizjohnston.bsky.social
· Jul 16
I absolutely love the cover Ingrid Paulson created for The Fall-Down Effect, out spring 2026 from @bookhugpress.bsky.social: the retro feel and big red letters, the drama of the river crashing through the forest. 😍 I'm so lucky & super grateful! (Pre-order link in bio.)
Reposted by Liz Johnston
UPDATE
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
December 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
UPDATE
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
If we value human-written books—and I believe most readers still do—we must value the work of human translators. This idea of putting a "human touch" on AI outputs is garbage and nothing close to what readers and writers deserve. Certainly translators don't deserve this attack on their livelihoods.
Hard no to this: French publisher Harlequin has told translators that their work will now be done by AI. They can ‘revise’ AI translations at much lower rate. It’s a subsidiary of Harper Collins so treat this as a test for rollout elsewhere
"Bradage de la traduction, plan social invisible : Harlequin passe à l’IA"
Faites tourner, parce qu'il va falloir se battre encore plus. :/
#traduction #IA #Harlequin #ATLF
Faites tourner, parce qu'il va falloir se battre encore plus. :/
#traduction #IA #Harlequin #ATLF
December 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
If we value human-written books—and I believe most readers still do—we must value the work of human translators. This idea of putting a "human touch" on AI outputs is garbage and nothing close to what readers and writers deserve. Certainly translators don't deserve this attack on their livelihoods.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Wait, what? 🫨
Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Poetry
December 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Wait, what? 🫨
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Why *is the Canadian government using British spelling though? Most of the time, to Canadian readers, it just looks unfamiliar. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Linguistic experts urge Carney government to stop using British spellings | CBC News
Promoters of Canadian English say the federal government is sending the wrong message to the world with its recent use of British spelling in official documents, including the 2025 federal budget.
www.cbc.ca
December 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Why *is the Canadian government using British spelling though? Most of the time, to Canadian readers, it just looks unfamiliar. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Liz Johnston
We are currently OPEN until Jan. 31, 2026 for Issue 34 journal submissions!
www.thetemzreview.com/submissions....
www.thetemzreview.com/submissions....
December 1, 2025 at 3:50 AM
We are currently OPEN until Jan. 31, 2026 for Issue 34 journal submissions!
www.thetemzreview.com/submissions....
www.thetemzreview.com/submissions....
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Fiction
December 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Fiction
Reposted by Liz Johnston
You heard it here first: Jacob Elordi tells @beccamford.bsky.social he'd rather kiss on the beach than talk about AI vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/frankenstein-jacob-elordi-euphoria-interview
December 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
You heard it here first: Jacob Elordi tells @beccamford.bsky.social he'd rather kiss on the beach than talk about AI vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/frankenstein-jacob-elordi-euphoria-interview
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Seems like people are condemned to relearn this every day: LLM AIs will always have output errors (“hallucinations“).
That’s just the nature of the beast.
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
That’s just the nature of the beast.
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
December 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Seems like people are condemned to relearn this every day: LLM AIs will always have output errors (“hallucinations“).
That’s just the nature of the beast.
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
That’s just the nature of the beast.
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
Reposted by Liz Johnston
NDP says Ontario report on intimate partner violence partly AI-generated, includes non-existent sources
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
NDP says Ontario report on intimate partner violence partly AI-generated, includes non-existent sources
The 877-page study was introduced into the legislature on Tuesday
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
NDP says Ontario report on intimate partner violence partly AI-generated, includes non-existent sources
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Liz Johnston
"I fell in love with the idea that the mysterious thing you look for your whole life will eventually eat you alive."
- Laurie Anderson explaining her attraction to Moby-Dick
- Laurie Anderson explaining her attraction to Moby-Dick
December 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
"I fell in love with the idea that the mysterious thing you look for your whole life will eventually eat you alive."
- Laurie Anderson explaining her attraction to Moby-Dick
- Laurie Anderson explaining her attraction to Moby-Dick
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Ah, age-based social media bans. The abstinence education of digital literacy.
December 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Ah, age-based social media bans. The abstinence education of digital literacy.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Do we really have guaranteed rights and freedoms in this country if rouge premiers can suspend them at will, multiple times a month even, with, apparently, zero repercussions? www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Alberta legislature passes bill invoking Charter override for fourth time
Members of Premier Danielle Smith's caucus used their majority to pass on third and final reading a bill affecting transgender citizens.
www.thestar.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Do we really have guaranteed rights and freedoms in this country if rouge premiers can suspend them at will, multiple times a month even, with, apparently, zero repercussions? www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Reposted by Liz Johnston
“…six years after leading body camera maker Axon Enterprise, Inc. said police use of facial recognition technology posed serious ethical concerns, the pilot project — switched on last week— is raising alarms far beyond Edmonton, the continent’s northernmost city of more than 1 million people.”
AI-powered police body cameras, once taboo, get tested on Canadian city's 'watch list' of faces
Police in Edmonton, Canada, have started a pilot project using AI-equipped body cameras to detect faces on a "high risk" watch list.
apnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
“…six years after leading body camera maker Axon Enterprise, Inc. said police use of facial recognition technology posed serious ethical concerns, the pilot project — switched on last week— is raising alarms far beyond Edmonton, the continent’s northernmost city of more than 1 million people.”
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Do what you can to end suffering.
December 7, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Do what you can to end suffering.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
I can't stop thinking about the purported drug smugglers being murdered by the US military. The punishment for drug offenses isn't the death penalty. This is just bloodlust and men in suits playing with lives they don't care about. It's truly grotesque and gravely compromises this country.
December 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I can't stop thinking about the purported drug smugglers being murdered by the US military. The punishment for drug offenses isn't the death penalty. This is just bloodlust and men in suits playing with lives they don't care about. It's truly grotesque and gravely compromises this country.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Encouragingly similar to Mike Keller’s closing reflections encouraging deep reading, deep thinking, and deep respect in libraries, archives, and museums even as they engage critically with AI #ff2025
A writing group accountability friend said the way that she is resisting AI is to slow down when reading, and not give into the pressure to continually skim the written word.
I've tried to do the same, and to take more time to read, and reread.
I've tried to do the same, and to take more time to read, and reread.
December 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Encouragingly similar to Mike Keller’s closing reflections encouraging deep reading, deep thinking, and deep respect in libraries, archives, and museums even as they engage critically with AI #ff2025
Reposted by Liz Johnston
I voted, did you?! The work of good lit mags is so underrated.
It’s back 😏
Nominate Your Favorite Lit Mags of 2025 through this form ⬇️
www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag...
Let’s love on some editors, folks. They freakin’ deserve it!
Nominate Your Favorite Lit Mags of 2025 through this form ⬇️
www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag...
Let’s love on some editors, folks. They freakin’ deserve it!
December 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I voted, did you?! The work of good lit mags is so underrated.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
I actually think it’s the perfect choice. It’s a bone bleached by sun, the 500 year old styrofoam still intact on polluted soil, a noxious fume billowing into sky, corporate minimalist interior, a splotch on an x-ray, the afterlives of the present.
Pantone’s 2026 color of the year is technically not a color at all — meet Cloud Dancer, the first-ever white shade to receive the designation from the world’s color authority.
Pantone makes a surprising choice for its 2026 color of the year
We did not see that coming.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I actually think it’s the perfect choice. It’s a bone bleached by sun, the 500 year old styrofoam still intact on polluted soil, a noxious fume billowing into sky, corporate minimalist interior, a splotch on an x-ray, the afterlives of the present.
Reposted by Liz Johnston
that "Their brains worked less, but they 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.” jumped out at me. and just feels like such a capturing of current times. reminds me of watching a movie or TV show while second-screening — you 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 just as engaged, but are probably missing a similar 47%
“When participants used ChatGPT to draft essays, brain scans revealed a 47% drop in neural connectivity across regions associated with memory, language, & critical reasoning.
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
December 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
that "Their brains worked less, but they 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.” jumped out at me. and just feels like such a capturing of current times. reminds me of watching a movie or TV show while second-screening — you 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 just as engaged, but are probably missing a similar 47%
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Oh FFS. This is fucked.
Canadian firm making armoured vehicles for ICE. www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
ICE ordering fleet of 20 armoured vehicles from Canadian firm
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has earmarked millions of dollars for a bulk order for 20 armoured vehicles from Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel that are built to resist bullets and bomb...
www.ctvnews.ca
December 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Oh FFS. This is fucked.
Grateful to Phillip Dwight Morgan and @thegrindto.bsky.social for giving me space to write about AS THE EARTH DREAMS, edited by Terese Pierre; TO PLACE A RABBIT by Madhur Anand; and THE BOOK OF RECORDS by Madeleine Thien. Check out Phill & Jody Chan's recs too!: www.thegrindmag.ca/our-favourit...
Our Favourite Books of 2025
The Grind’s arts and culture editor Phillip Dwight Morgan and writers Liz Johnston and Jody Chan share some of their favourite books of 2025.
www.thegrindmag.ca
December 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Grateful to Phillip Dwight Morgan and @thegrindto.bsky.social for giving me space to write about AS THE EARTH DREAMS, edited by Terese Pierre; TO PLACE A RABBIT by Madhur Anand; and THE BOOK OF RECORDS by Madeleine Thien. Check out Phill & Jody Chan's recs too!: www.thegrindmag.ca/our-favourit...
Reposted by Liz Johnston
’Tis the season to give the gift of Brick! Send the finest in contemporary writing—essays, fiction, interviews, and poetry—for your loved ones to enjoy year-round.
Save $5 on all one- and two-year gift subscriptions with code THEGIFTOFBRICK.
brickmag.com/subscribe/
Save $5 on all one- and two-year gift subscriptions with code THEGIFTOFBRICK.
brickmag.com/subscribe/
November 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
’Tis the season to give the gift of Brick! Send the finest in contemporary writing—essays, fiction, interviews, and poetry—for your loved ones to enjoy year-round.
Save $5 on all one- and two-year gift subscriptions with code THEGIFTOFBRICK.
brickmag.com/subscribe/
Save $5 on all one- and two-year gift subscriptions with code THEGIFTOFBRICK.
brickmag.com/subscribe/
Reposted by Liz Johnston
Subscribe your loved ones to literary magazines for the holidays
December 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Subscribe your loved ones to literary magazines for the holidays
Reposted by Liz Johnston
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Liz Johnston
The Canada-Alberta deal pushes a pipeline AND
- Allows Alberta to delay cutting methane emissions
- Suspends clean energy regulations in Alberta
- Loosens restrictions on tax breaks for clean tech to encourage more oil drilling
- Allows oil tankers on the west coast
thenarwhal.ca/carney-alber...
- Allows Alberta to delay cutting methane emissions
- Suspends clean energy regulations in Alberta
- Loosens restrictions on tax breaks for clean tech to encourage more oil drilling
- Allows oil tankers on the west coast
thenarwhal.ca/carney-alber...
Carney’s Alberta pipeline deal weakens climate policies | The Narwhal
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ‘grand bargain’ isn’t just about an Alberta pipeline —it also proposes rolling back a host of climate policies
thenarwhal.ca
November 28, 2025 at 12:35 AM
The Canada-Alberta deal pushes a pipeline AND
- Allows Alberta to delay cutting methane emissions
- Suspends clean energy regulations in Alberta
- Loosens restrictions on tax breaks for clean tech to encourage more oil drilling
- Allows oil tankers on the west coast
thenarwhal.ca/carney-alber...
- Allows Alberta to delay cutting methane emissions
- Suspends clean energy regulations in Alberta
- Loosens restrictions on tax breaks for clean tech to encourage more oil drilling
- Allows oil tankers on the west coast
thenarwhal.ca/carney-alber...