Saved for Later #3

AI's latest snack? Your favorite author's hard work...

That book you're reading?

Someone might have stolen it to feed an AI model.

I know…not exactly a light Monday conversation to kick off your week. 🥴

But as publishing evolves in unsettling ways, I’ve been diving into the illegal pirating of books to train AI systems.

This isn't just about downloading free PDFs. It's about entire libraries of authors' work being scraped without permission to make AI models more "knowledgeable"—with creators receiving zero compensation or recognition.

As someone who's watched photographer friends have their work repurposed without consent for years, seeing this happen to authors feels like watching the same troubling story unfold on a new stage.

So for this edition, I've gathered some essential reading below to help you understand what's happening.

Aaannddd…on a brighter note, mark your calendars: On Monday 4/14, I'm hosting a Substack Live with Dana Miranda, author of You Don't Need a Budget.

Dana's been a personal finance journalist for a decade. Back in 2017, she was a full-time writer with The Penny Hoarder, one of my favorite personal finance blogs of its time.

Her path to publishing shows how meaningful online writing can lead to broader opportunities.

In 2021, Dana launched her Substack, The Healthy Rich (money talk for misfits😉), exploring our complicated relationship with money. When culture writer Anne Helen Petersen put out a call for essays in her insanely popular Culture Study newsletter, Dana answered with Budget Culture and the Dave Ramseyfication of Money.

The essay struck a nerve, went viral, and caught the attention of a literary agent and an editor.

Fast forward to 2024, and Little Brown published You Don't Need a Budget—the book that grew from that single essay.

What makes Dana's perspective so refreshing?

She boldly challenges the personal finance industry's creation and messaging of a restrictive budget culture, comparing it to diet culture but for your money. Think about it: that constant mindset of restriction, shame, and hoarding we've all been taught is "responsible."

Dana unpacks how these approaches actually damage our relationship with money and distort what "earning a living" even means.

I'll ask Dana about the behind-the-scenes reality of turning newsletter success into a book deal, how much marketing she's still doing months after launch, and the symbiotic relationship between her newsletter and published work.

If you've ever wondered about the real path from writing your Substack to holding your book in your hands—or if you're just tired of the shame-based budget culture that makes you feel guilty about every dollar spent—this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

🤔 When?

Monday, April 14th at 3:30 pm CST for 30 minutes, with time for your questions.

Here’s the link in advance.

You’ll also receive a reminder email on the day.

Can't make it? A transcript and recording will magically land in your inbox that day.

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For anyone new here: Welcome to my monthly Saved for Later roundup—a curated collection of books, links, and thoughtful finds I’d share with you if we were friends meeting up for a chai.

Let’s get to it!

Quick check-in to make sure you’re enjoying these specially curated recs.

Publishing & Promotion ✍️

Revealed: The Authors Whose Books are Powering Generative AI - The Atlantic

An eye-opening read about Meta’s Massive AI Training Book Heist: What Authors Need to Know - The Author’s Guild

The Unbelievable Scale of Meta’s Pirated Book Problem - The Atlantic (paywall)

Here’s how to Search Lib Gen the Books Database - The Atlantic

Daisy Buchanan writes My Books Have Been Stolen - Creative Confidence Club

Lisa Weinert asks Why is Publishing Making Authors So Sick? - TueNight*

Julie Vick shares what worked for her in How I Got Publicity for My Book - Humor Me

Can Simon & Schuster become the A24 of Books? - The Cut

Brooke Warner examines The Case Against Hardcovers - Writerly Things

How Trump’s executive orders are affecting What’s Next for America’s Largest Creative-Writing Conference - The Atlantic (paywall)

Browsing

Faith Hill wrote a piece I wish I had written about The New Singlehood Stigma - The Atlantic (paywall)

A balanced take about 12 Women on Living Alone - Cup of Jo

An interesting read about The Gen X Career Meltdown - New York Times (paywall)

Jonthan Small’s perspective on the NYT article with What the New York Times Got Wrong About Gen X - Small Talk

Having a second passport is the topic du jour, so Americans are Buying an Escape Plan - The Atlantic (paywall)

Emma Gannon talks about the tug of war between Creative Human or Content Machine - The Hypen (paywall)

Hannah Ash wonders how different writers set up their creative spaces (featuring me!) - Chez Hanny

The New Substack Universe - New York Mag Intelligencer

The Guardian looks at how Gen Z is rediscovering the public library - Alaina Demopoulos

Katherine May has 10 ideas for coaxing a difficult book into life - The Clearing

A burning question I’ve always had is What's the Difference Between a $30 pair of Jeans and a $300 pair? - The Strategist

I’m trying a wild experimental diet where I restrict my working hours to certain times of the day - Mc Sweeney

Books Keeping Me Company

Matt Haig thoroughly entertained me with his story about seeing how different choices would play out in our lives in his novel The Midnight Library (So good!)

The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton has taken my freewriting practice deeper (Her Substack is Soul Stack)

In Her Boots by KJ Dell'Antonia is a fun read about creating an author alter ego and the mishaps that happen when a character writes a novel under a pseudonym (Check out one of her Subtack’s Am Reading)

✍️ Community Support:

Rhythms of the Village: Lost musical instruments, handmade art, and a vital community hub that’s rebuilding after the LA fires.

U-Go invests in young women in low-income countries have the opportunity to pursue higher education, whatever barriers they face. Check out this Substack Live I did with Jodi Morris who’s paid subscriptions are going to this incredible organization.

Let me know by hitting reply or using the poll to let me know how I can improve these for you.

Have a great week,

P.S. Next Monday is a live chat with Dana Miranda at 3:30 pm CT.