What Do You Think of this AI Generated Story? An Editorial Opinion
What do you think of this AI generated story I asked ChatGPT to write as part of my research for an upcoming blog post and video on AI in the publishing industry? The blog post (titled ‘Will AI Replace Writers Editors and Cover Designers?’) will be published on Monday the 19th of August on the Alkira Publishing blog, and the video is scheduled to appear on the Alkira Publishing YouTube channel on the same day. Subscribe to both the blog and YouTube channel to not miss this important discussion. The blog post complements the video and visa versa. Below is the story followed by my editorial analysis. My prompt for ChatGPT for the story below was ‘write a first person, present tense short story about a woman with social anxiety having to attend a wedding. It has a happy ending.’ The Wedding I stare at my reflection in the bathroom…
Worldbuilding Fiction with AI Art
Have you considered worldbuilding fiction with AI art? If you’re a visually inspired person like me, I suggest you give it a go. Creating a visual representation of your characters and their world using AI art is very useful for your social media posts, of course, but the process of generating them also helps you to imagine them clearly and so refine them – in your mind if not in the art generator’s results. And an AI art generated character could even be the inspiration for a whole story, one that develops as part of the process of visual worldbuilding. That’s how the story of my AI generated short film ‘Rosara’s Wedding’ came about. Yes, it’s a romance! And look at the priest! I started with a few characters, then decided I wanted to put them in a world with its own landscape and culture. I imagined a backdrop for…
Mastering Character Development through Inner and Outer Journeys
Mastering character development is vital for anyone who wants to write a compelling story because the characters in your story are the driving force behind your narrative. They are the ones who connect with your readers and keep them engaged throughout the journey. Crafting unforgettable characters takes time, effort, and a deep understanding of the human psyche, but as with anything, the more we study it, the better we get at it. What is it and why is it important? Character development refers to the process of creating dynamic, multidimensional characters that evolve throughout the story. It involves developing the character’s backstory, personality traits, motivations, and goals. The goal of character development is to create a character that is relatable, engaging, and memorable. The importance of character development in storytelling cannot be overstated. Characters are the heart of any story, and without them, your narrative will fall flat. A well-developed…
YAY! My Audio-Visual Webbook is Finished
What, you may wonder is an audio-visual webbook? A webbook is a book published on the web, rather than traditionally as a ebook or printed book. This book can’t be published that way because it’s audio-visual in nature, so it’s on a website. The style of it brings my art and writing together, and though it is a video, it’s also a book, a book that I narrate over the video with spaces for you to enjoy the music and visuals. Psychemagination: Journey into the Psyche is an illustrated hero’s journey (more on that in my next blog post) kind of video-art story and a psychological and spiritual memoir written by me and set to original music by my talented husband, Kris Newland. A combination of art, video, music, and transpersonal psychology in mythic story style, it tells the story of a late-diagnosed autistic woman’s dive into her psyche to reflect on her life…
Rebranding: Why My Publishing Company Needed a New Name
The last month has been a rebranding exercies for me in terms of the publishing arm of my business. I have changed the name of my hybrid publisher AIA Publishing to Alkira Publishing. Why? Because someone stole our name and has used our good reputation to gain legitimacy for a business that doesn’t appear to share our integrity or care for our authors. Here’s the story of how I got to the point of having to make such a radical rebranding move as to change the business name. The problem The first I knew that someone else had started using the name AIA Publishing was when I received an email via the contact form on my website from a person I’d never heard of who was asking for their money back. This person wasn’t one of my authors. I had never worked with them in any capacity, nor had I…
Intentional Daydreaming: Can it Boost Your Focus and Creativity?
As an author, you know how important it is to be focused and creative. You need to be able to immerse yourself in your writing, generate original and engaging ideas, and overcome writer’s block and other challenges. But how can you achieve these goals? One possible answer is intentional daydreaming. What is intentional daydreaming? Intentional daydreaming is a type of mind-wandering that is voluntary, goal-directed, and positive. It involves using your imagination to explore different scenarios, possibilities, and solutions, as well as to reflect on your personal values, goals, and aspirations. Intentional daydreaming can be contrasted with unintentional daydreaming, which is involuntary, distracting, and often negative. Unintentional daydreaming can impair your attention, memory, and performance, while intentional daydreaming can enhance them1. How does this kind of daydreaming benefit you as an author? According to various studies and sources, intentional daydreaming can have various benefits for your cognitive, emotional, and social…
Meditation for Creativity: Unlocking the Power of Imagination
Would you use meditation for creativity? Meditation has been recognized for its numerous benefits, including stress reduction and improved focus. Recent research, however, sheds light on the profound impact of meditation on creative abilities and its potential to unlock the creative potential of authors. I’ve always found that my best ideas come during meditation. The Connection Between Meditation and Creativity Shifting Brainwaves and Alpha State When we engage in meditation, we enter a state of heightened awareness, known as the alpha state. This state is associated with increased creativity and the generation of new ideas. By quieting the mind, meditation provides a conducive environment for creative thoughts to emerge, flourishing without the constraints of inner criticism and self-doubt. Focus and Attention Span Meditation enhances focus and attention span, essential elements for the creative process. By training the mind to stay present, authors can delve deeply into their projects, explore complex…
When to Consider Revising a Book You’ve Already Published
Revising a book that you’ve already published isn’t just fixing typos; that’s a proofread. Revising a book is a complete re-evaluation of the material, which may result in some sections changing, some remaining the same or perhaps a line edit if the prose in general needs improving. Revising a book you’ve already published can be a huge job and it’s probably not a particularly inspiring task. I’m inspired by new ideas, not old ones, so I wouldn’t revise a book unless I considered it truly necessary. When to consider revising: Factors that affect your decision How much change makes it a new edition? The key thing here is the word ‘substantial’. A comprehensive line edit wouldn’t be a new edition, for instance, even with a couple of chapter deletions, because the material itself isn’t being changed, just the prose improved. A new cover isn’t a new edition, neither are changes…
AI Writing Software: Should Authors Use It?
AI writing software is a type of technology that can generate text based on a given topic, keyword, or prompt. The rap is that it can help you write faster, easier, and better, by providing you with content ideas, research, summaries, outlines, and drafts. It can also help you optimize your content for SEO, readability, and engagement, by using keywords, headings, bullet points, and other elements. But does it really do all that? Not in my experience, at least not all of it and not all the time. I have no doubt that others will find it does, and I think your evaluation will depend a lot on your purpose. And should people who call themselves authors use it? AI is not perfect, and it has its limitations and drawbacks. It can also pose some ethical and legal issues, such as plagiarism, bias, and misinformation. In this blog post, I’ll…
The Crucial Role of the Inciting Incident in Story Development: Setting the Stage for Success
The inciting incident is one key element that plays a crucial role in story development. As a writer, I have always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. Whether it’s a gripping novel, a captivating movie, or an engaging TV series, a well-crafted story has the ability to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impact. But have you ever wondered what makes a story truly compelling? A well-crafted inciting incident is one of the important elements for achieving that goal. I remembered this and wrote this article when I realised that I’d forgotten this very important point in my latest project. What is the Inciting Incident? The inciting incident is the event or situation that sets the story in motion. It is the catalyst that disrupts the protagonist’s ordinary world and forces them to embark on a journey of change and growth. This pivotal moment…