Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Hugo Awards, inspiration, Worldcon, Writers, writing on October 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »
My timing’s a little off (thanks, International Date Line!), but the 2023 Hugo Awards were announced this weekend at Chengdu Worldcon in China.
Here is the full list with winners highlighted: 2023 Hugo Awards | The Hugo Awards.
If you’re interested in short fiction, here’s the winning short story, by Samantha Mills:
Rabbit Test – Uncanny Magazine
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #blueskysomewhere, creativity, meh, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
In which I share a snapshot from my creative life, acknowledge that progress isn’t always linear and look forward to funner times.
What is it about avoiding a project that causes it to snowball into its own sort of blockade?
I’ve talked about creative friction before, and it’s a bit of a process. (I don’t care who you are, the life of an artist is not all productivity and acclaim. Some days are just slow like molasses.)
It’s not just “the project” itself I’m avoiding now, it’s the increasingly large speed bump that has been growing between me and it. At this point, I’m having trouble even seeing the original idea, just the mountain standing between me and the task that’s been haunting my to do list for lo these many weeks.
Avoidance takes on its own power, not replacing but adding to existing barriers to action.
So much of what paralyzes us when we’re stuck isn’t the act we’re supposed to be doing, but rather the questions that hover above the act like a curious vulture. “Why is this so hard?” “Why am I not making more progress?” “Should I be doing something else instead?” “How much longer do I need to spend on this?”
— Adam Alter, Anatomy of a Breakthrough
The good news is that the opposite also holds true. Action dismantles both types of barriers, or allows you to bypass them altogether.
The other good news is that it helps to remind myself that my key to creative progress has always been to tilt my perspective far enough that “must focus” becomes “must have fun.”
And that I can do.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts on October 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I’m a little stuck on a project idea, but I remain optimistic…
“If life ever seems too complicated, if you think no one can help, sometimes the right person to turn to is an eight-year-old.”
― Richard Osman, The Bullet That Missed
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »
My day job requires a good deal of time immersed in the news, and while I’m ok with that, some days it can be a lot. I find that writing helps.
Today, that means a haiku.
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, inspiration, persistence, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
— Thomas Edison
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, AI, creativity, innovation, technology, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
A little reassurance about AI, from the great Margaret Atwood.
Margaret Atwood Reviews a “Margaret Atwood” Story by AI | The Walrus
Take heart! Not all is gloom! So far, generative AI chatbots don’t seem able to reflect on what they’re saying, though that in itself wouldn’t differentiate them from some actual human beings. Also, they’re bad at verbal texture, and they have a poor grasp of metaphor and sometimes even of punctuation. Well, they’re learning from us, so why wouldn’t that be true?
You’re still worried, young author? You doubt my word? Here are a couple of recent literary attempts by AI chatbots that ought to reassure you.
So we can all sleep well. For now, anyway;)
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Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, AI, creativity, future, genre fiction, Science and Technology, Writers on October 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Had a great chat this morning about AI and creativity with Technology Revolution’s Bonnie D., plus Jason Palmatier, Gene Williams and Glenda Benevides. If you’re interested in a discussion ranging from AI clones to democratized design, check it out.
Technology Revolution: “The Future of Human Creativity and AI: Emotion vs Logic? Part 2
LISTEN Later: On-Demand
WATCH Later: LinkedIn On-Demand and Facebook On-Demand
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, AI, creativity, predictions, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Tomorrow I’ll be taking part in a discussion on AI and creativity. Join me, fellow Writers of the Future alum Jason Palmatier, Gene Williams, Glenda Benevides, and host Bonnie D. Graham as we take a positive look at possible futures.
I’m curious to hear what this varied group of creatives predicts.
Listen in live or check out the full show later, links below:
Technology Revolution: “The Future of Human Creativity and AI: Emotion vs Logic? Part 2
Listen & Watch LIVE Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 8 AM Pacific / 11 AM Eastern
2 Ways to LISTEN LIVE: Technology Revolution Radio and VoiceAmerica Business Channel
2 Ways to WATCH LIVE-Stream Video: Linkedin and Facebook
LISTEN Later: On-Demand *** The live audio does not broadcast at this link
WATCH Later: LinkedIn On-Demand and Facebook On-Demand
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Fiction, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing, writing advice on October 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
You can’t create and critique at the same time. It’s like being pulled in two different directions with equal force. You will just end up spinning your wheels.
— Ilona Andrews
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Posted in Food and..., Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, recipes, Thoughts, writing on October 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday, I had the nice but somewhat complicated experience of having someone ask me for a recipe.
That’s right, my mushroom soup has fans both inside this house and out! And as this site frequently demonstrates, I’m happy to share my recipes.
The problem is that in this case, I don’t actually have a recipe to share.
Like so many of the things I make, be it soup or a story, I tend to start with an idea, triangulate, course correct, confabulate and finally create a whole new version of whatever it is I’m making.
That’s fine for fiction, but more complicated when what I’m trying to share is not just the result of the creative process, but the process itself.
This is a long way of saying that I don’t actually have a mushroom soup recipe, not exactly.
But for this particular person, I’ll figure it out. And if it makes any kind of sense, I’ll share it with you too.
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