Category: 4theWriters

Why You Liked… Editing with AI (and how to avoid alcoholism)

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Editing is like flossing—necessary, infuriating, and occasionally involving bloodletting. Enter AI editing tools like Claude and ChatGPT: the MVPs of catching rogue commas or the worst gaslighters you’ll ever meet? Check out my break down of when these tools shine, when they hallucinate (can trebuchets launch that far?), and how to stop them from rewriting your emotional gut punches. If you’ve ever wondered whether AI is your new best friend or an overenthusiastic intern, this is for you. Spoiler: they hate your love for em dashes. Read More …

AI Tech Bros: Please Stop Attacking Creatives

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AI innovations are expanding into creative areas without addressing urgent societal needs, sometimes creating solutions for non-existent problems with quality not yet matching human capability. A shift in tech financing questions the sustainability of free AI business models. There’s a critique of AI’s high energy consumption and inefficiency compared to the human brain, as well as concerns over misuse and regulation, particularly in the corporate sector where decision-making based on AI can lead to significant errors, exemplified by Air Canada’s blunder. Ultimately, the piece emphasises the need for AI to focus on solving challenging and painful tasks, providing real value, not trivialising creativity, and avoiding becoming a low-level tax on humanity. Read More …

Author Interview: Wayne Turmel 🐺

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Wayne, a Canadian ex-standup comedian turned writer, talks about his transition to authorship and his Werewolf PI Series set in urban landscapes like Chicago and Las Vegas. His characters navigate a world of supernatural beings, facing off against rival werewolves, occult dangers, and a multitude of paranormal threats. With two books out and a third releasing May 2024, he shares advice on writing and editing, while admitting fiction’s challenges. Wayne can be found online through his Amazon author page and social media. Read More …

The Little Synology that Wasn’t

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Recently I did an inventory of the tech that powers the writing empire. You’ll probably notice a change of the site URL to parrydox.com, because I got tired of trying to convince people that .co was a valid domain (.co.nz and .com being most people’s mental search/replace). As a part of this process I ensured I was using the best tools for the job. In my writer’s stable I need: A good suite of writing software (currently Scrivener + Vellum, but likely to move to Atticus – to be covered in another post once I’ve thoroughly kicked the tyres); A website (you’re probably looking at it – props to FastComet, who offer excellent service – they actually respond to support tickets!) that showcases my books and how to get in touch with me; Some kind of mailing list provider; and Read More …

On Existential Angst

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Steph over at Bookshine allowed me to sully her blog with a topic near and dear to me after editing The Splintered Land. You can find it here: [Writer Angst 101: Continuity] If you like what you see on this site, maybe join my mailing list or become a patron!

How to Find an Editor

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I’ve had a few people ask recently for how to get an editor. I don’t know why I’m getting these questions – I figure it’s either because: My editing is so pro people want a slice o’ that ass, or They’re trying to drop a subtle hint that I should look into getting an editor. Let’s go with column A. I typed out a long-ish response to a query yesterday, so replicated it (mostly) below. It’s timely, as I’ve just started editing 377,000 words of The Splintered Land – so, reminders are always good, hey? Requests for editors circle around three issues. How to find one. What a good one looks like. Getting one at a fair price. The short answer is Tiffany is amazing and you can find her and ask for a quote here: https://writenowcreative.com/. Now, the longer version. Read More …

Amazing Covers with Rebekah Haskell

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My internet homegirl was interviewed on the SPA Girls Podcast. It’s worth a listen if you’re: an author, and have an interest in covers, how to work with a designer, and/or how to start doing your own without fucking everything up. [SPA Girls Podcast – EP224 – Amazing Covers with Rebekah Haskell] Side note: excellent use of non-North American accents in here. It was wonderful to hear the Queen’s English spoken by professionals. Like this post? Check out my mailing list for shit that’s off the chain. Or, at least, mildly amusing.

The Pursuit of Readers 📚

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I’ve been thinking: how do you find your ideal reader? There’s a lot of advice on this, most of which is using personas. This is an old trick I learned in IT Land™️ Way Back When™️. The idea is you work out who uses your product, and/or who you want to, and design services around those people. If you’re writing a mobile banking app for retirees to check their account balances, you damn Skippy better make sure you take into account their tech familiarity and ability mismatch scenarios, or it’ll crash and burn (…and/or no one will use it). My deep, introspective* thoughts suggests there are two interlinked parts: Who you write for, and Who you market to (or, perhaps, how you market to them). * In the shower last Tuesday. A friend and I talked about the different types Read More …