Thoughts on Sudowrite’s new Muse 1.5 model

Sudowrite just released their new, updated version of Muse, their in-house generative AI model that’s optimized for writing fiction. It’s very similar to Muse 1.0, where you select a “creativity” setting from 1 to 11, optionally add some prose for it to work from, and then let it go. To allow their subscribers to experiment… Continue reading Thoughts on Sudowrite’s new Muse 1.5 model

Fantasy from A to Z: C is for Conan

Before there was J.R.R. Tolkien, there was Robert E. Howard. And before there was Middle Earth, there was Conan the Barbarian and the Hyborian Age. Robert E. Howard had an amazingly prolific writing career, cut tragically short by his suicide. When I think of all the books and stories we could have had if Howard… Continue reading Fantasy from A to Z: C is for Conan

Thoughts on the Worldcon 2025 AI “scandal”

I’ll just come out and say it: I predict that the world’s last Worldcon will happen before 2034, and that after that, the convention (and possibly the Hugo Awards themselves) will be permanently disbanded. That’s what I think will be the ultimate consequence of the latest “scandal” regarding Seattle Worldcon’s use of ChatGPT, and the… Continue reading Thoughts on the Worldcon 2025 AI “scandal”

In defense of AI art & AI writing

If Andrew Tate wrote a book about how to make your wife or girlfriend into your slave, would he be within his rights to demand that no woman reads that book without his consent? Brandon Sanderson was inspired to become a fantasy writer when, as a child, he read Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. Sanderson is… Continue reading In defense of AI art & AI writing

Should I split my epic fantasy series into two trilogies?

So I’m working on the first book in a new epic fantasy series, called the Soulbound King. It’s basically a fantasy retelling of the life of King David, loosely adapted from the biblical stories about his life. I’ve already outlined the first book and generated a rough AI draft, which came in at 153k words.… Continue reading Should I split my epic fantasy series into two trilogies?

The rough AI draft of The Soulbond and the Sling is complete!

So I just finished the rough AI draft of The Soulbond and the Sling, after nine days of outlining and prewriting, and five days of working with Sudowrite to generate it. The rough draft clocks in at 18 chapters (plus a prologue and an epilogue), 80 scenes, and 153,254 words. I used about 770,000 AI… Continue reading The rough AI draft of The Soulbond and the Sling is complete!

One of the best takes on AI-assisted writing that I’ve seen thus far

Even though I’ve been using AI in my writing process for nearly two years now, I still feel like I have so much to learn. Everything is changing so fast, and these tools are becoming more and more breathtaking with each passing month. Just when you think you’ve got them mastered out, you break through… Continue reading One of the best takes on AI-assisted writing that I’ve seen thus far

Farewell to 2024!

It’s new year’s eve, finally! Another year, another voyage around the M-class dwarf star we call Sol! A lot of other writers and podcasters are doing recaps of their year, highlighting some of their best moments as well as analyzing what they learned and what changed. Generally, though, these people are either single or have… Continue reading Farewell to 2024!

Up and Back from Denver

My uncle just got remarried, after losing his wife of some 40+ years to dimentia. The wedding was Saturday, so I flew up there in the early morning with my two sisters who live here in Utah. And then, because my four year-old daughter had her first primary program in church this Sunday, I flew… Continue reading Up and Back from Denver