TONY SHILLITOE: WRITER
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One Edit to bind them all...

21/3/2023

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March 20, 2023

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Editing. Again. Creating and manipulating a four-book series at the same time is not something I have tackled before. The fantasy series published with HarperCollins in 2002-3 – the Ashuak Chronicles – and again in 2008-10 – Dreaming in Amber – were one-at-a-time book developments, admittedly framed into six-month deadline frameworks for each book. Somehow, they seemed easier.
 
In this final editing-before-submission phase, I’ve found the most difficult aspect is remembering which book I’m in as far as whether I have already mentioned the places or people or events. At least twice, now, I’ve started editing a paragraph or fact only to realise it isn’t being repeated – it actually is the first time I’ve mentioned the information!
 
I’m learning much about my writing style working across four books. I have an obsession with the setting at the start of chapters and sections. I like to establish the weather, the light, the scenery surrounding the characters. Too much. I’m focussing on editing at least some aspects of that obsession in this final process. I particularly discovered an obsession with fishing boats and seagulls. I am reducing the number of times they are referenced.
 
I love dialogue. That leads to how many times do I have to use the word ‘said.’ Then there are the -being-too-clever risks with synonyms for said. And the risky ‘don’t use said at all’ in some lines. The reader is clever. This is challenging across a total of 400,000 words in four books.
 
Telepathic communication between the dragon and the three siblings is a significant aspect of the third and fourth books and deciding how to represent it is ‘interesting.’ In the end I’m going with the dialogue convention and keeping ‘mindspeak’ as traditional dialogue by using the words ‘projected’, ‘mindspeak,’ ‘telepathy’ to alert readers that telepathic communication is happening. Only personal thoughts and dreams appear in italics.
 
Tamesan’s Song: Book One and Chasse’s Song: Book Two are done. Jaysin’s Song: Book Three is this week’s project and Harmi’s Song: Book Four will complete the March project line. Back into the editing I dive.
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Adelaide - a centre of creativity...

13/3/2023

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March 13, 2023

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A strange week of multiple events – real and virtual.
 
For the first time ever, I was free to drop in and out of Writers’ Week in Adelaide. Past visits were few and limited to frenzied school excursions that required school permission, parent permissions, setting reliefs, organising buses, herding students and listening to maybe two speakers before heading back to buses and collection from school. Only in 2000, when I was there as a writer and presenter, was Writers’ Week a satisfying event. But this year – enjoyment. The foci for the week were highly political writers and crime fiction writers, but I could walk from session to session, lounge in an ocean of words, thumb through books (and buy some), and run into old friends by chance.
 
Then we were treated to a performance, Recalibrate, scripted by Lucy Coombe, the daughter of an old friend, a powerful piece that forced reflection on the feminist movement, families, personal obsessions, domestic violence and men, academia, university funding and disability and…it was a rich, deep production.
 
And Writers’ Week rolled into WOMAD and three days of music, food, gin, dancing and duck feathers.
 
Seven days of creativity – what’s not to like?
 
Writing-wise, I have finished the full drafts of The Last Wizard novels and now I’m doing a final comprehensive read from beginning to end, hunting for the remaining errors (already found three glaring ones I cannot name because they were in the original first book and no one spotted them) and adding descriptive nuance to relevant sections. I’m predicting this process will take a week per book, so I’m looking to April/May before I dare begin publisher approaches with the series.
I’ve also begun drafting three new fiction works – one teenage, one historical, one contemporary – gathering plot ideas, shaping characters, assessing potential themes. The contemporary project will take precedent because it is a project that’s sat in the wings for almost fifteen years and is, I believe, ready for the current times. I’ll reveal more in a future blog as the project expands beyond the initial 3000 words.
 
And I’ve amused myself with more ChatGTP by using it to write song lyrics. It’s really very basic but fun and I’ve taken a couple of the lyrics, edited and set to chords on my guitar and they ain’t half bad (insert emoji laughing hilariously). Actually, they are amazingly trite – or could that be what they should be?
 
A new week opens. Back to the writing desk. But I have a question for you – if you had eight men in their fifties sitting on a houseboat, what would you expect them to be talking about?
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Not really me...

6/3/2023

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March 6, 2023

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Richard Fidler speaking at Writers' Week
​With all of the hype and interest around artificial intelligence and creative writing, I thought a blog on ChatGPT would be appropriate. If you’re unfamiliar with ChatGPT, here’s a brief overview.
 
“In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence has revolutionized the way we live and work. One of the most impressive examples of this technology is ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. This model has captured the attention of the tech industry and the scientific community for its ability to generate human-like responses to written prompts. In this blog post, we'll explore the ins and outs of ChatGPT, how it works, and why it matters.
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​What is ChatGPT?
 
ChatGPT is a language model based on the transformer architecture, which was first introduced by Google in 2017. It was developed by OpenAI, a research organization founded by tech luminaries such as Elon Musk and Sam Altman. ChatGPT is a deep learning model that uses unsupervised learning to generate human-like text based on the input it receives.
The "GPT" in ChatGPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer." The "generative" part refers to the model's ability to create new text based on what it has learned from its training data. The "pre-trained" part refers to the fact that the model has already been trained on massive amounts of text data, making it more accurate and efficient than other language models.”
 
There are risks, as with anything:
 
“As an AI language model, ChatGPT can provide valuable information and assist with various tasks. However, there are some risks associated with using ChatGPT, including:
 
1. Bias: ChatGPT's responses are based on the data it was trained on, which can include biases that were present in the original dataset. This means that ChatGPT's responses can sometimes reflect and perpetuate biases, stereotypes, and prejudices.

2. Misinformation: ChatGPT's responses are generated based on statistical patterns in the data it was trained on. While it can provide helpful information, it can also generate responses that are inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading.

3. Lack of empathy: As an AI language model, ChatGPT does not have emotions or empathy. This means that it may not understand or be able to respond appropriately to emotional or sensitive topics.

4. Privacy and security: ChatGPT's interactions with users may involve personal information that needs to be protected. There is also the risk that bad actors could use ChatGPT to generate harmful content, such as fake news or hate speech.

5. Dependence: Depending too heavily on ChatGPT for decision-making or information-gathering could lead to a loss of critical thinking skills and independent thought.
 
Overall, while ChatGPT can be a useful tool, it's important to recognize its limitations and be aware of the potential risks associated with its use. It's important to use ChatGPT with caution, and to verify the information it provides through other sources whenever possible.”
 
Of course, I didn’t write any of the above. ChatGPT did from my prompt. I figure I won’t need to ‘create’ blogs hereon in. I can have ChatGPT generate them for me. For example, it is Writers’ Week in the city and for the first time ever I can attend any of the sessions on any of the days because I am no longer tied to an 8-6+ job. To celebrate Writers’ Week, here’s a quick poem:
 
“In Adelaide's Writers' Week,
The city's streets come alive
With words that dance and words that speak
And tales that make us thrive.
 
Authors, poets, and wordsmiths too
Gather here from far and near
To share their stories, both old and new
And bring their passions clear.
 
We listen to their voices rise
Like music in the air
As they paint worlds before our eyes
With words that we can share.
 
From memoirs to fiction, they inspire
And captivate our hearts
In Adelaide's Writers' Week, we conspire
To make art that never departs.
 
So let us gather in this space
And revel in the magic of the pen,
For in Adelaide's Writers' Week, we embrace
The power of words once again.”
 
Yes. ChatGPT again. Doggerel. Needs a serious edit and I’d hope to write something much more interesting, but then…
 
Maybe I can write fantasy novels – or more to the point, ChatGPT can write them for me. I asked it to write a fantasy story in the style of Tony Shillitoe (it doesn’t know who I am, by the way – I’m unknown to it). Here’s what it generated:
 
“Once upon a time, in a land far beyond the reach of mortal men, there lived a powerful sorcerer named Zephyr. Zephyr was known throughout the land for his mastery of the arcane arts, and his ability to summon forth creatures from other dimensions to do his bidding.
 
One day, Zephyr decided to undertake a journey to the far-off kingdom of Arvandor, where he had heard rumors of a powerful artifact that could grant its wielder unimaginable power. Setting out from his tower in the mountains, Zephyr travelled for many weeks, battling fierce monsters and crossing treacherous terrain until he finally arrived at the gates of Arvandor.
 
As he made his way through the city, Zephyr sensed a powerful magical presence emanating from the castle at its center. Without hesitation, he made his way to the castle gates and demanded an audience with the king.
 
To his surprise, the king agreed to see him, and Zephyr found himself standing before the throne, face to face with the ruler of Arvandor.
"What brings you to my kingdom, sorcerer?" the king asked.
"I have come seeking the artifact of power that is said to be hidden within your castle," Zephyr replied.
The king eyed him warily. "And what makes you think I would just give it to you?"
 
Meh. Although I do like the final line as a threat.
 
This is a very selective set of examples of what ChatGPT and other AI systems can already do and this is merely the beginning of a whole new age. I don’t believe creative writers are at risk yet – unique styles are difficult to replicate in original work (but not impossible). However, the “writing is on the web” for workplace writing and simpler creative tasks. Resumes, reports, Hallmark poems are all simply and effectively generated. For example, here’s what I got when I asked for a night-fill resume for a supermarket job:
 
“Name: [Your Name]
Contact Information: [Your Phone Number] | [Your Email Address]
 
Objective: To obtain the position of Night Fill at [Supermarket Name], bringing strong physical stamina, attention to detail, and excellent time-management skills to ensure timely and accurate stocking of merchandise.
 
Education:
  • [High School Diploma or equivalent], [Year of Graduation], [High School Name]
 
Experience: Night Fill, [Supermarket Name], [City, State], [Year-Present]
  • Unload delivery trucks and stock shelves with merchandise according to store procedures and standards
  • Ensure product rotation and freshness by following proper rotation procedures
  • Monitor inventory levels and inform the manager of low stock items
  • Keep the work area clean and organized, following safety and sanitation guidelines
  • Collaborate with other team members to complete tasks within designated time frames
  • Provide excellent customer service when asked for assistance with finding items
 
Skills:
  • Strong physical stamina and ability to lift heavy boxes and containers
  • Attention to detail to ensure accurate placement of merchandise and adherence to store standards
  • Excellent time-management skills to complete tasks within designated time frames
  • Customer service-oriented mindset to assist customers with finding items
  • Ability to work well in a team-oriented environment
 
References: Available upon request.”

ChatGPT offers a great first draft option for writing. Our world is on the cusp of another digital revolution, especially paired with deep fake technology and the ability to use multiple platforms to spread (mis)information quickly, widely and efficiently. Is it possible the next generation of storytellers will be as constructed as their stories?
 
“Words wake on the web,
Tomorrow’s tales yet untold:
AI defines us.”
 
(a collaborative ChatGPT and human haiku)
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    Writing is my passion. Ideas, opinions, beliefs, experiences expressed through language - through words and images - pervade and create my life. Writing is my voice, my soul, my self. My dream is one day writing will sustain my life...

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  • Home
  • Writer's Journey: A Blog
  • Writing
    • Fantasy Fiction >
      • Andrakis Trilogy
      • The Ashuak Chronicles
      • Dreaming in Amber Quartet
    • Teen Fiction >
      • Joy Ride
      • Caught in the Headlights
      • In My Father's Shadow
      • The Need
    • Historical Fiction >
      • Girlie
    • Anthologies and Magazines >
      • The Red Heart
    • Poetry
    • Other Works
    • Writer FAQs
  • Who Am I?
    • Writer
  • Contact