My Thought on A.I.

 Before I get into it, yes, I know it’s actually a LLM, basically just a very sophisticated predictive text.

As an author, I’ve been dealing with A.I. for years. Long before ChatGPT even existed, there were programs you could pay for that would write anything you wanted in whatever style you liked. They started using them to write news articles and clickbait (sorry but “Groom upset that Bride asked her ex to walk her down the aisle” is not real).

But AI has done more than that. I used to freelance. I wrote websites and other content in exchange for money. But I had to stop. Once those programs came out, I couldn’t keep up. “Why not use them yourself?” you ask? Ethics and integrity aside, it’s not that simple. If I went to a freelance writing site, I’d find a handful of people from third-world countries applying to every single job. They then used AI to do the work for them. But they could afford to ask for a pittance. I could not afford to work for those prices, even if I did use AI, because I have a higher cost of living in the US. Now it’s even worse because the jobs themselves are drying up (why pay someone when I can get chatGPT to think for me?)

So I’ve been pretty vehemently anti-AI for a while.

I get the appeal, or at least some of it. AI can make cover art. It can edit (kinda). It can help you brainstorm (kinda). It can make rough drafts. Hell, it can just make the book. Now, I have artist friends, so I know how terrible it’s been for them. That’s why I will always pay an artist to make my covers. And I’m also better at editing and writing and plotting than any AI. They are trained on a lot and end up becoming an average.

But what I don’t get is why you would bother. A fellow writer recently defended it, saying most of the authors in the Con scene are using AI in some capacity. I hope to GOD she’s wrong. Because if you don’t enjoy it… stop. Trust me, we know when there’s no passion for it. The industry is now flooded with slop. And AI is now training on slop. It’s just going to get worse. But not in the way you might think.

If you are using AI for even something as benign as asking the capital of Rwanda, you are outsourcing your thinking, your critical thinking skills. They did a study recently of people who have used ChatGPT for 4 months and already found significant loss of cerebral function. Let me reiterate that for.

Generative AI literally makes you stupid.

I kills critical thinking, it kills imagination, it kills the ability to determine quality.

Seriously, if you want a story, GO GET A BOOK. I guarantee you there’s one already like it. If you want to write, WRITE IT YOURSELF. The act of writing it makes it so much better. And it makes me better. If you are a student, GET OFF CHATGPT because it may well be causing permanent, long-term damage to your future.

We all want product now. Capitalism has won. We’ve forgotten that the act of creating is the point.

Authors

Being an author is not easy, especially if you're new. There aren't a whole lot of classes to teach you what you're doing wrong and how to do things right. Keeping up with social media is something I am terrible at, partly because I'd rather be writing and partly because I don't really want to be on social media any longer.

This is why it's great having other authors to talk to, especially successful ones. I have been doing that for years, gleaning bits of wisdom here and there, but recently I've become much more involved. I joined SFWA, I've met with SFWA authors, I shared a table with Chris Schmitz (and will do so again in August), and I've shared the stage with Cat Rambo. And, honestly, I feel like I've found my peeps.

When Cat Rambo, Aja Ellington, and I were being interviewed on the radio, whenever one of us was answering a question, the other two were vehemently nodding in agreement. I'm looking forward to more conventions so I can meet more authors. To me, it's just as important as making sales and talking with fans.

I am part of a local author group that meets to discuss what we're doing, what's working, where isn't, etc. I'm hoping to continue helping Dr. Curtis put together more local author events. I'm going to start looking for anthologies I can submit pieces to. I want to be an asset to my fellow authors.

So maybe looking up?

I recently put together a newsletter where I listed all the upcoming events I will be involved in.

• I got contacted by Pan-O-Ply, the Michiana literary magazine, and they are going to feature my novel in their next edition!
• I will have a table at PopiCon in South Bend on January 31st and February 1st.
• I was contacted by a podcast, Author's Alcove about an interview. It is now set up for February 18th from 12:30 - 1:30. There will likely be a giveaway as well.
• I am putting together a local author event on May 1st at the Granada (lower level of the Morris Performing Arts Center). This will also be the release of my second book.
• I will have a booth at PopCon from June 27th through June 29th at the Indianapolis Convention Center
• I will be sharing a table at FanExpo Chicago later this summer

There's more. my brother and I are working on a number of animation projects and I think we're finally getting serious with them. with any luck, we'll have some out relatively soon!

Honestly, I am thrilled! This is a lot more than I was expecting! It leaves me time to write while also helping to get the word out and build my fan base. And I'm going to keep adding to this.

I plan on the Michiana Ren Faire, but I will keep researching. Keeping up a schedule like this is also going to force me to keep going forward. This is some very welcome news.

Now, to get back to finishing this audiobook!