Category: Just Life

Updates April 17-21

Hello,

Thanks for the likes and follows.

Last week was a meh week. I did some writing, but it felt a little forced. I wasn’t waiting for the muse or inspiration, instead, I was looking for the flow state. The definition may be convoluted, and I am not adding it to this entry.  But every creative person knows what it is when it happens to them.  It is something we crave.  It is quite possible that when we complain about being blocked, it is really missing the chance for a flow state, and the disappointment that follows. Something to think about.    I did spend a good amount of my time listening to news commentary and that could be considered a problem for the future. I’m in no position to donate money or go out on the streets to protest. Even though that is something I may want to.

The story that got the most attention this week was the Dark Science Manifesto. There was a deep dive research on far-future corporations in fiction.  Many but not all far future stories have corporations in the background, or they are against the protagonist or the cause of evil.    In the DSM, they are a little of both, in the background and against the protagonist.  Sometimes while I am writing these updates, I become aware of issues with a story.  It completely freezes my brain.  There is something that I have to deal with first before explaining any more of this story.  

This week is going to be interesting.  We are still in the moving stage.  Life in general is getting more complicated.  That is all I have to write for this update.  It is the shortest one I have posted yet.  I hope these words find you all doing well. 

Remember to be kind.

End

Accountable Wednesday 2

It was decided over the weekend that even though I want to start posting reviews next week. It is better for me and the website to put more thought into what will be posted. The idea is to put up the best work possible and hone writing skills. Please be patient and bear with the random thoughts of this post and possibly 3 more.

This is a review space, and this announcement may feel redundant. I apologize. The books, films/tv series, and graphic novels I will most likely be writing about are specualtive fiction, romance, and cozy mystery. Despite having a Book of the Month subscription, not many will debut or new books. This has been stated before the TBR list is long and I need to make headway on it.

The watch list is also long and will probably be quite nostaligic. I used to love to watch movie trailers to plan what I wanted to watch next in the theatres. I have not felt enticed to go to the movies in a long time. I like to watch international films and TV series, dont be surprised if there is a K-drama review or a South American film review. Netflix seemed to have invested in some interesting stories based in African countries. There is one I have to talk about.

I would like to talk about graphic novels and comics, but there is some research I want to do first.

That is all for now.

Updates April 10-14

Hello,

Thank you for the likes and follows.

For authenticity’s sake, I will attempt to be honest about what I did last week. It was an uneventful day-job week. The client was reasonable, but I wanted to get home. I had loosed out my hair and made an appointment with my braider for the weekend. I didn’t think about Easter and my Holy Day is not Sunday and my braider is Muslim, so she didn’t mind either. My daughter has been out of school for 5 years now. The holidays come, go, and still feel like ordinary days. So yes, instead of scrambling to get this post complete on Sunday, I was making myself look pretty. I don’t regret it. Hair care is self-care which equals wellness. Consider this a late edition. 

I am still behind on Connection Lost. I may have written in previous entries that I didn’t see myself using writing AI for any reason.  That bridge was crossed last week, and I probably fell over a little bit.  I signed up to Sudowrite from the recommendation of author and podcaster, Joanna Penn.  A tutor from Sudowrite suggested new users try out their ideas Chat GPT.   I think both AI’s services use the same program.  Disclaimer I may be writing this wrong.   It was a way to refine the wording to get the outcome we most likely want.  I set guidelines for myself.  Joanna Penn and other writers have written up an AI use guideline for Authors, who wonder about the ethical use of machines. I am not sure how other authors use the services but for now I am only using them for outlines and character profiles.  It was interesting because I had to agree with author Leslye Penelope, who also spoke about using AI about two weeks ago on her podcast Imaginary Friends.  They algorithm doesn’t write anything for you or doesn’t take the narrative in the path you want.  It just gives you ideas and other things to consider.  So, I workshopped some ideas, my term for what I was doing, two or three contemporary romances and two speculative fiction stories.  Now I gathered a bit of data and eventually I will have to pick and choose what I want to keep and what I want to toss.  In comparison I like the Chatgpt a little bit better than Sudowrite, Chatgpt is a language AI, it told me this a million times when I asked it what it wanted to do or what it could do.  Whatever I use I plan to add a disclaimer to my stories when I publish them.  I think that would be honest.  Most of the outlines generated were basic.  Something that I should have come up with and most likely thought about but didn’t because I was waiting for a better idea from inspiration.  I am tired of waiting and willing to try other things.  

In reading news, I started to re-listen to Leigh Bardugo Shadow and Bone book 1.  I watched two episodes of the series on Netflix.  I don’t remember when I bought the audiobook.  It is a young adult or new adult series and I have stated my thoughts on those a long time ago.  I did like it and planned to continue with the series I think but life and a budget got in the way.  Netflix gave Shadow and Bone a second season so that is good for the fans that like it.   This was my way to catch up with everything.   Re-listening or rereading a book is always interesting, you are anticipating the parts you loved and find new aspects of the story that you didn’t pay attention to before.  It is always fascinating.  I want to have that skill for my audience. 

The goal for this week is to work on the priority writing projects, Connection Lost and possibly Gothic.  There is a scene playing out in my mind that I want to explore on paper.  This may not have been mentioned as a project for the quarter, but the short story Dark Science Manifesto will also be a writing project for this quarter.   This Wednesday there will not be a review just a random post on my thoughts.  I am on the fence about what to review a single book or a series.  I am open to suggestions.  I will explain more about this subject on Wednesday.  

That is all for now. I hope these words find you all doing well.  Remember to be kind and open to all positive opportunities. 

End.

P.S. For those of you doing Camp Nanowrimo, You can reach your goals.