Bob Hoyng
@bobhoyng.bsky.social
Living the middle way between thinking and being. Founder of Substrate Books. Systems thinker, musician, martial artist, and writer.
First book available now:
https://nothingbecomes.com
First book available now:
https://nothingbecomes.com
Wonderful thread!
As a new author, yes to *all* of this. I'm just now learning how to do all of this for myself, and readers doing this is an enormous help as its all things the author is going to be working on but can't do alone.
Numbers matter.
As a new author, yes to *all* of this. I'm just now learning how to do all of this for myself, and readers doing this is an enormous help as its all things the author is going to be working on but can't do alone.
Numbers matter.
November 12, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Wonderful thread!
As a new author, yes to *all* of this. I'm just now learning how to do all of this for myself, and readers doing this is an enormous help as its all things the author is going to be working on but can't do alone.
Numbers matter.
As a new author, yes to *all* of this. I'm just now learning how to do all of this for myself, and readers doing this is an enormous help as its all things the author is going to be working on but can't do alone.
Numbers matter.
Reposted by Bob Hoyng
9. Summon the old gods in a wooded glade at midnight on the full moon and exhort their favour for your favourite author.
10. When someone says, "Ugh, I don't know what to get X for their birthday!" suggest that book.
And thank you for ANY of this. Readers are awesome and powerful and awesome.
10. When someone says, "Ugh, I don't know what to get X for their birthday!" suggest that book.
And thank you for ANY of this. Readers are awesome and powerful and awesome.
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
9. Summon the old gods in a wooded glade at midnight on the full moon and exhort their favour for your favourite author.
10. When someone says, "Ugh, I don't know what to get X for their birthday!" suggest that book.
And thank you for ANY of this. Readers are awesome and powerful and awesome.
10. When someone says, "Ugh, I don't know what to get X for their birthday!" suggest that book.
And thank you for ANY of this. Readers are awesome and powerful and awesome.
Reposted by Bob Hoyng
7. Share any social posts or newsletter updates to help spread the word. Again, even if you think your following is small, don't underestimate your power. Reaching even one other person really helps.
8. If it's a physical book, read it in public. Let people see that cover and be intrigued!
8. If it's a physical book, read it in public. Let people see that cover and be intrigued!
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
7. Share any social posts or newsletter updates to help spread the word. Again, even if you think your following is small, don't underestimate your power. Reaching even one other person really helps.
8. If it's a physical book, read it in public. Let people see that cover and be intrigued!
8. If it's a physical book, read it in public. Let people see that cover and be intrigued!
Reposted by Bob Hoyng
5. Sign up to the author's newsletter. You'll hear their news, but it also helps the author to know people care about them.
6. Follow the author's social media. As above, it helps them and adds social proof that they're someone worth paying attention to.
cont.
6. Follow the author's social media. As above, it helps them and adds social proof that they're someone worth paying attention to.
cont.
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
5. Sign up to the author's newsletter. You'll hear their news, but it also helps the author to know people care about them.
6. Follow the author's social media. As above, it helps them and adds social proof that they're someone worth paying attention to.
cont.
6. Follow the author's social media. As above, it helps them and adds social proof that they're someone worth paying attention to.
cont.
Reposted by Bob Hoyng
2. cont. any sites you use, like Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, etc. Even just a line or two is massively powerful.
3. Order the book(s) at your local library, which hugely extends the author's reach.
4. Suggest the book at your book club if you're in one and/or recommend it to other clubs.
cont.
3. Order the book(s) at your local library, which hugely extends the author's reach.
4. Suggest the book at your book club if you're in one and/or recommend it to other clubs.
cont.
November 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
2. cont. any sites you use, like Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, etc. Even just a line or two is massively powerful.
3. Order the book(s) at your local library, which hugely extends the author's reach.
4. Suggest the book at your book club if you're in one and/or recommend it to other clubs.
cont.
3. Order the book(s) at your local library, which hugely extends the author's reach.
4. Suggest the book at your book club if you're in one and/or recommend it to other clubs.
cont.
He also facilitated a lot of things that were truly awful as well, which calls the rest of those interactions into question. There will be a lot of people that will have a lot of explaining to do as this unfolds.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
He also facilitated a lot of things that were truly awful as well, which calls the rest of those interactions into question. There will be a lot of people that will have a lot of explaining to do as this unfolds.
And that's not to say there's anything wrong with *that* part of all of this. This is just human psychology. Someone wants to be heard, recognized, and talk about what interests them, and Epstein facilitated that.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
And that's not to say there's anything wrong with *that* part of all of this. This is just human psychology. Someone wants to be heard, recognized, and talk about what interests them, and Epstein facilitated that.
Of course they thought he was brilliant and misunderstood. He listened to their ideas, likely used charm and good looks to push the conversation along, and made them all feel good about themselves.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Of course they thought he was brilliant and misunderstood. He listened to their ideas, likely used charm and good looks to push the conversation along, and made them all feel good about themselves.
Then a rich guy shows up, acts like he understands, and invites them on nice trips where they get to spend time with other very smart people as well.
That's catnip to those people that need that recognition.
That's catnip to those people that need that recognition.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Then a rich guy shows up, acts like he understands, and invites them on nice trips where they get to spend time with other very smart people as well.
That's catnip to those people that need that recognition.
That's catnip to those people that need that recognition.
Some very smart people want people that are outside their bubble to appreciate how smart they are. But in a lot of fields, that's simply not possible, because people outside their bubble don't understand a word they're saying - not through any fault on either side...their subjects are just complex.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Some very smart people want people that are outside their bubble to appreciate how smart they are. But in a lot of fields, that's simply not possible, because people outside their bubble don't understand a word they're saying - not through any fault on either side...their subjects are just complex.
That's wild. At some point, after people get a little less angry at AI writing, I'm gonna try and bring back the emdash. Wonderful, versatile punctuation that feels like a grammar cheat code and works with my brain well...the words don't keep up with the ideas.
November 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
That's wild. At some point, after people get a little less angry at AI writing, I'm gonna try and bring back the emdash. Wonderful, versatile punctuation that feels like a grammar cheat code and works with my brain well...the words don't keep up with the ideas.
I think that's already there - it's just not available to the 99%.
November 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I think that's already there - it's just not available to the 99%.
That's interesting. I wonder where that tendency came from. Did Clippy lean into the emdash? :)
November 12, 2025 at 4:50 PM
That's interesting. I wonder where that tendency came from. Did Clippy lean into the emdash? :)
I mean, yes...that's pretty much a true statement. I don't even think AI companies would dispute that.
November 12, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I mean, yes...that's pretty much a true statement. I don't even think AI companies would dispute that.
No problem, and I know! When I found out about the emdash from a video on spotting AI text, I did a deep dive on what it was. Best punctuation mark ever! It's hard to say you miss something you didn't know existed, but here I am, missing the emdash. :)
November 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
No problem, and I know! When I found out about the emdash from a video on spotting AI text, I did a deep dive on what it was. Best punctuation mark ever! It's hard to say you miss something you didn't know existed, but here I am, missing the emdash. :)
Those are probably the top three. Seeing them isn't a guarantee that something is AI, but if most of the writing is that, there's a good chance.
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Those are probably the top three. Seeing them isn't a guarantee that something is AI, but if most of the writing is that, there's a good chance.
Emdash. This guy —
Honestly, once I learned what it was, I wished AI didn't use it, because it's an awesome punctuation mark. Unfortunately, it's so common in AI writing that it's a dead giveaway.
Metaphors that feel forced.
This structure: The thing wasn't just this, but it was also that.
Honestly, once I learned what it was, I wished AI didn't use it, because it's an awesome punctuation mark. Unfortunately, it's so common in AI writing that it's a dead giveaway.
Metaphors that feel forced.
This structure: The thing wasn't just this, but it was also that.
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Emdash. This guy —
Honestly, once I learned what it was, I wished AI didn't use it, because it's an awesome punctuation mark. Unfortunately, it's so common in AI writing that it's a dead giveaway.
Metaphors that feel forced.
This structure: The thing wasn't just this, but it was also that.
Honestly, once I learned what it was, I wished AI didn't use it, because it's an awesome punctuation mark. Unfortunately, it's so common in AI writing that it's a dead giveaway.
Metaphors that feel forced.
This structure: The thing wasn't just this, but it was also that.
But is it a subprime mortgage derivative of all 50-year mortgages, because if so, I'm in! I'm told those are a great deal, and never default.
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
But is it a subprime mortgage derivative of all 50-year mortgages, because if so, I'm in! I'm told those are a great deal, and never default.
"You're a very special boy, Mr. President, and we're all so proud of you! That field trip to the football field was very scary, and the people were really, really mean to you, but we all love you so much!"
November 11, 2025 at 3:41 PM
"You're a very special boy, Mr. President, and we're all so proud of you! That field trip to the football field was very scary, and the people were really, really mean to you, but we all love you so much!"