Tuesday 20 December 2022

Are you a writer when you're not actually writing?

Yes.

Here's why.

When someone asks "is there a doctor in the house?", the answer is never "well, that depends. I mean, if you're just enquiring casually then no, I'm not doing any surgery at the moment. But if you actually need a medical professional, yes, I'll become a doctor as soon as I start work."

If you phone the plumber and say to the person who answers "is that the plumber?", they're unlikely to respond "no, I did some plumbing this morning and I'll be doing some more tomorrow but right now I'm talking on the phone."

Friday 9 December 2022

Why aspiring authors should start writing their novel now before AI takes over

Aspiring authors often face the challenge of finding the time and motivation to start writing their novel. However, it is important for them to start writing now because soon, artificial intelligence (AI) may be able to write novels.

AI has come a long way in recent years, and it is becoming increasingly capable of performing tasks that were once thought to be exclusive to humans, such as writing. AI can analyze large amounts of data and generate text that is coherent and even imaginative. In fact, AI has already been used to write poetry, news articles, and even screenplays.

This may sound alarming to aspiring authors, but it is important to remember that while AI may be able to write a novel, it cannot replace the unique perspective and creativity that only a human can bring. AI may be able to generate text based on certain parameters, but it cannot tap into the rich inner world of a human author.

Furthermore, writing is more than just stringing words together. It is a form of self-expression and personal growth. Writing a novel allows an author to explore their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and to share them with others in a meaningful way. This is something that AI cannot replicate.

So, for aspiring authors, the time to start writing is now. Don't let the fear of AI replacing human writers stop you from pursuing your passion. Trust in your own unique voice and start putting words on the page. The more you write, the better you will become, and the more prepared you will be for the future of writing, whether it involves AI or not.

[Mark Bridge generated this article text by using GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model.] 

Tuesday 28 June 2022

Always have a product that's not just 'you'

...you should always have a product that's not just 'you'. An actress should count up her plays and movies and a model should count up her photographs and a writer should count up his words and an artist should count up his pictures so you always know exactly what you're worth, and you don't get stuck thinking your product is you and your fame, and your aura.
Andy Warhol, Fame

Tuesday 21 June 2022

Always find the 'why'

It’s only a few months ago that [poker player] Phil Galfond reminded me to always find the why behind every move, every decision, every action. And here’s one thing I know for sure: no matter the decision, the why shouldn’t ever be for the simple glory of saying you’ve done something. At least to me, right now, that’s not good enough.