Month: August 2023

A lot of reflecting lately. One may begin to wonder if reflecting is what I do when I cannot dredge up anything to say. I do often leave that to some thoughts… but that is more so having something to say, but not a lot to say about it. No reflections have been engrained in my mind because this lovely summer of freedom is ending for me, and I will be shortly returning to shackles of the work life. I am in my office come Monday. I’m looking forward to the twenty or so minutes where I update the interior based on my recent travels, but beyond that I haven’t felt the vibe of the place for many years. I don’t know that the old vibe is ever coming back. Some of that is my fault and, well me changing as a person.

I am growing up. Perhaps even growing old. I play (slightly) fewer video games and spend more time at the desk working. I am aware of my age, which is still sub 50 but approaching that epoch makes me feel old. Like seriously old. Like I ought to be recognizing I am not young anymore old. Fortunately, there is a 12 year old boy largely in possession of my brain function, so I get to fall back into young on occasion.

In truth, I believe the difference between being old and being young comes down to the imagination. Don’t get me wrong, the physical stuff matters–me on the beach is not the same as it was once upon a time. Yet the mental is where it impacts me the most. I don’t want to ever think old, because thinking old is a vacancy of the imagination. The young believe in possibility, so I want to stay with that feeling so long as I can still draw breath.

Building these fall classes I’m coming around to a way of thinking about writing that is inclusive of the ChatGPT and all the other tools students are already using to complete work. These tools are not evil. Spell check isn’t evil. We used to have spelling tests in classes beyond spelling bee age. Now it seems to be a bit extra because we know we have tools to get that right for us, so we teach students more of the fundamental understanding of how and why words are spelled a certain way and hope they can advance that forward to knowing how to maybe recognize mistakes on their own. ChatGPT is clearly different, but it is progress. We cannot stand in the way of progress. We grow with it. Thus brings me to the Unified Theory of Writing.

I am attempting to join together what I know about communication, persuasion, and sociology into a unified theory of writing. Written communication is far from dead. In fact, we communicate far more with less words (tweets, texts, instagram descriptions, hashtags, short emails, blurbs, memes, etc.). In the limited amount of characters we have there is so much to accomplish. We need to create a written persona. We need to manage context (especially in memes), we need to persuade, we need to insure understanding. These things are the tenets of any good writing, thus they are the things I must be teaching moving forward. This semester I shall do exactly that.

Some Thoughts:

1. Often the reason writers go back for the MFA is to be more employable in higher education. I think, should I return, It will be for this reason. I didn’t finish the MFA and I should have.

I am shifting into the teaching mode–or should I say the Teacher mode. I am trying to develop a new freshman comp sequence reflective of the new needs and modes of student learning and writing. Yes, that includes ChatGPT and other (bing?) AI manifestations. The situation with AI usage for student learning is not going to decrease, so I need to be offering them a reason to be in the space and active in their learning. Already I am getting students submitting writing that the AI wrote. Some is more obvious than others, as some students are lazier than others. I cannot stop them from doing this. I don’t want to. This is where the future is headed, so my job is to provide them with the tools to understand writing enough that they get the core concepts and can translate those concepts into whatever needs they have. Teaching this way means they will become better users of the future tech and not just dummies who write the topic question and turn in whatever the machine spits out without understanding anything that is happening between.

Some Thoughts:

1. One of the most underrated writers I’ve read is Kathryn Simmonds. Her story The Handover Notes continues to resonate with me. Unfortunately, I cannot find that story anywhere online.

I want to chalk this up as a limited effort day. I spent about four hours in front of the screen and did maybe twenty minutes of hard work. It didn’t hit today. There are going to be days like that. When they happen, you gotta be a goldfish–forget it and start over tomorrow. So, I’m going to do just that and offer up…

Some Thoughts:

1. Group collaboration is hard. Feelings get involved. Friends protect friends. Things get testy. I’ve been writing collaboratively off and on for decades. This has been an interesting run the last few months. Everyone has an opinion and an agenda. I have one too, so it isn’t like I’m entirely above the squabble. Honestly, I’m feeling like I’ve done what I came to do and that is an extremely pleasant way to feel. Take the skin out of the game and you can enjoy playing.
2. Internet connection has been a bit wobbly today. We’re drawing a lot more power this summer. I don’t know if it is because we are all here or if there is a larger city issue, but when we draw hard, the internet stutters. Something flickers somewhere and the connection may go unstable.
3. School started for two more kids today–two of the college ones. Doesn’t mean I have the house back. That is never going to happen. Schedules suggest there will be roughly a two hour window once a week where the kids may all be gone. That is a disappointment.
4. On the other hand, looks like I’ll be traveling more! Gotta get out and into the world to have some peace and space.
5. I’ve been growing increasingly negative over the past few months/years… I am trying to be more aware of that and the root causes. I need to clean that up.

No, the algorithm is not writing this one. However, of all the things algorithms are good at, predicting player performance is high up there. I want to talk QBs today. I want to start with the acknowledgement that I watched the first episode of Hard Knocks: New York Jets, and the hype is real. These guys are looking at Rodger’s like ‘this dude is different’ and they ought to be. Let’s be honest, they haven’t seen legit talent for a while, and the people who play against them divisionally are not on the Rodgers level. So, what do I think is going to happen with the Jets? They will win a lot of games this year. Does that mean I want Rodgers as my QB1? Actually, yeah. He is reunited with the coordinator that gets the best out of him, so I’m thinking he has all the tools to have an MVP season. What’s that? Josh Allen was 4th in voting and Rodgers didn’t even rank last year? I don’t buy the Allen hype. He’s good, but he’s not a guy who delivers a ball the way Rodgers does. Beyond that, his top weapon is moody as hell. Diggs is a problem waiting.

So, who are the guys? Well, let’s list my top ten in no specific order, because I am not that exact.

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. Joe Burrow*
4. Justin Fields
5. Jalen Hurts
6. Jarod Goff
7. Tua Tagovailoa*
8. Trevor Lawrence
9. Dak Prescott
10. Lamar Jackson

No, Allen isn’t in it. He’s in the top 15 though. You can’t go wrong with 8 of these ten. The other two have legit injury concerns. I think Burrow is going to be alright, but Tua had some serious concussions last year and I really worry about this man’s safety. He is going to be blitzed relentlessly and eventually those hits will once again take a toll. Until that happens, ‘Reek and Co are going off.

Title: Navigating the Writer’s Odyssey: Competing with AI for Writing Opportunities

Introduction

The digital era has brought about incredible advancements in technology, leading to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various industries, including writing. As AI’s capabilities in generating content continue to evolve, writers find themselves in a unique position: competing with machines for writing opportunities. This blog explores the emotions and experiences that arise when human creativity faces off against AI in the realm of writing.

1. The Intriguing Allure of AI

The allure of AI lies in its ability to churn out content at lightning speed. It can generate vast amounts of text on a wide range of topics with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. As a writer, witnessing AI produce content that mimics human writing can be both awe-inspiring and intimidating.

2. The Uncertainty of Identity

Competing with AI can evoke a sense of existential uncertainty. Writers may question their value and identity when they see algorithms creating content that closely resembles their own style. This internal struggle prompts introspection: What sets human creativity apart? What makes our work uniquely valuable?

3. The Emotional Rollercoaster

The process of competing with AI is often an emotional rollercoaster. One moment, you might feel invigorated by your creative powers, only to be plunged into self-doubt when AI generates content that seems indistinguishable from your own. Coping with this emotional flux becomes an essential part of the journey.

4. The Battle for Originality

One of the key advantages humans have over AI is the ability to infuse their writing with authentic emotions, unique perspectives, and genuine experiences. AI can mimic patterns, but it often struggles to replicate the depth and authenticity that human writers bring to their work. Embracing your capacity for originality becomes a potent weapon in this competition.

5. Collaborating, not Competing

A shift in perspective can transform the competition into a collaboration. Writers can leverage AI tools to enhance their creative process. AI can provide inspiration, generate ideas, and even help with tedious tasks like grammar and style correction. Embracing AI as a partner rather than an adversary can lead to synergistic outcomes.

6. The Evolution of the Craft

Just as writers adapt to new mediums and changing reader preferences, the emergence of AI adds a new layer of evolution to the craft. The writing landscape is evolving, and adapting to these changes is an opportunity to grow, learn, and expand your skill set. Embrace the challenge as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

7. Embracing the Essence of Humanity

At its core, writing is a deeply human endeavor. It’s an art form that weaves together thoughts, emotions, and experiences into narratives that resonate with readers. AI might excel at generating text, but it can’t replicate the nuanced tapestry of humanity that human writers bring to their work.

Conclusion

The competition between human writers and AI is not a binary struggle, but a complex interplay between technology and creativity. While AI’s rise may pose challenges, it’s also an opportunity for writers to redefine their craft, amplify their skills, and discover new dimensions of creativity. Remember, the essence of writing lies in the human experience, and no algorithm can replicate the depths of the human soul poured onto the page. So, embrace the journey, learn from AI’s strengths, and continue to harness the power of your unique voice in the ever-evolving landscape of writing.

I didn’t write all that. I let Chat GPT do it.

I wanted this to be a turnback about the time before AI started writing the work we writers struggled to get done, and here we go…

If you look at the work above you can see there are distinctions between what I do and what the bot does. It is focused, for one. It is organized by headers and numbered points, as the free version of CHatGPT is wont to do. Of course, if you made it this far into the blog that suggests that it was either readable, or you TLDR’d the situation until something felt genuine. I think that last bit is the last standing difference between us and the machines: What we write feels genuine. This is true of fiction and non fiction. Take for example the following passage about losing a loved one:

Losing someone you love is like having a piece of your heart torn away, leaving an ache that resonates in the deepest corners of your being. The world seems muted, as if colors have faded and the air has grown heavy. Every corner holds a memory, every familiar scent a bittersweet reminder. Waves of grief wash over you, unpredictable and unrelenting, as you navigate the paradox of yearning to hold onto the past while slowly learning to let go. It’s a journey through a landscape of emotions where sorrow and cherished moments intertwine, reminding you of the profound impact that person had on your life.

That is a passage about los from an AI. it doesn’t suck but it does sound distant, as if it is writing about the concept of losing someone but hasn’t experienced that visceral moment of loss. Loss is no journey through a landscape. It is a chasm of darkness from which you have no desire to ever emerge. It takes loss to see that. Machines don’t feel. Instead they capture a conglomeration of feelings in print and distill that into a new form. This is not to say they aren’t good at some things. This character below was created by an AI in 4 seconds:

Name: Kassandra “Silhouette”

Metatype: Human

Role: Infiltrator/Decker

Physical Attributes:

• Body: 3
• Agility: 5
• Reaction: 4
• Strength: 2

Mental Attributes:

• Logic: 6
• Intuition: 5
• Willpower: 3
• Charisma: 3

Essence: 5.0

Initiative: 9 + 1d6

Skills:

• Stealth: 6 (8 Urban)
• Pistols: 4
• Hacking (Decking): 6 (8)
• Locksmith: 5
• Perception: 4
• Electronics: 3
• Gymnastics: 3
• Unarmed Combat: 2

Knowledge Skills:

• Shadow Community: 4
• Corporate Security: 3
• Matrix Architecture: 3
• Urban Legends: 2

Languages:

• English (N)
• Japanese (2)

Qualities:

• Code of Honor (Professional): Kassandra operates with a strict set of ethical guidelines that include avoiding collateral damage and not causing unnecessary harm to innocents.
• Perfect Time: Kassandra has a natural sense of timing, granting a +2 bonus on any tests involving timing or synchronization.
• Dependent (Contacts): Kassandra has a network of contacts in the shadow community that she feels responsible for protecting.

Gear:

• Cyberdeck: Sleek, custom-made deck with top-notch hacking capabilities.
• Stealth Suit: Advanced urban camouflage suit providing enhanced protection and increased mobility.
• Qi Focus: Enhances Kassandra’s ability to manipulate electronics and hack into systems.
• Streetline Special (Light Pistol): A discreet sidearm, easily concealed and surprisingly accurate.
• Lockpick Set: A set of specialized tools for bypassing locks and security systems.
• Maglock Passkey: Allows Kassandra to interface with electronic locks.
• Grapple Gun: Useful for reaching high or hard-to-reach places quickly and quietly.

Augmentations:

• Datajack: Neural interface for direct interaction with electronics and the Matrix.
• Skilljack: Allows instant learning of new skills.

Contacts:

• Fixer (Mr. Johnson): A well-connected middleman who feeds Kassandra shadowruns.
• Street Doc (Doc Wren): A streetwise doctor who provides medical assistance and augmentations discreetly.
• Decker (Cipher): A fellow hacker who trades information and tech tips.

Background: Kassandra “Silhouette” is a seasoned professional in the shadows, skilled in both physical infiltration and electronic manipulation. With a background in corporate security, she knows the ins and outs of the systems she targets. Guided by her code of honor, she takes on jobs that align with her principles. She’s haunted by a personal tragedy that fuels her dedication to safeguarding the innocent and seeking justice against the powerful. In a world of uncertainty, Kassandra remains a shadowrunner who balances her digital prowess and physical finesse to navigate the treacherous urban sprawl.

I legitimately cannot even type up a character that fast. Yet, again, it lacks a visceralness that is common to someone who is channeling self into the shadowrun experience. The same can be said of the D&D character below:

Name: Thalia Moonshadow
Race: Elf
Class: Rogue (Swashbuckler)
Background: Charlatan
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Ability Scores:

• Strength: 10
• Dexterity: 16
• Constitution: 12
• Intelligence: 14
• Wisdom: 10
• Charisma: 16

Class Features:

• Sneak Attack (3d6): Thalia deals extra damage when she has advantage on the attack roll or when an ally is within 5 feet of her target.
• Fancy Footwork: After making a melee attack against a creature, Thalia doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn.
• Cunning Action: As a bonus action, Thalia can Dash, Disengage, or Hide.

Background Feature:

• False Identity: Thalia has a second identity that includes documentation, established acquaintances, and disguises.

Skills:

• Acrobatics: +5
• Deception: +5
• Perception: +2
• Persuasion: +5
• Sleight of Hand: +5
• Stealth: +7

Languages:

• Common
• Elvish
• Thieves’ Cant

Equipment:

• Rapier
• Shortbow with 20 arrows
• Leather Armor
• Burglar’s Pack
• Thieves’ Tools
• Disguise Kit
• Forgery Kit
• Set of Fine Clothes
• Signet Ring
• Scroll of Pedigree (False documentation for Thalia’s false identity)
• 40 gold pieces

Backstory: Thalia Moonshadow, an elf with an insatiable curiosity and a knack for trickery, grew up in a world of secrets and hidden motives. Her background as a charlatan taught her the art of deception and allowed her to create false identities with ease. Tired of the mundane, Thalia set out to explore the world and seek treasures that could only be unlocked by her unique skills. Drawn to the allure of adventure, she embraced the life of a swashbuckling rogue, using her dexterity and charisma to outwit her foes. With her rapier at her side and a smile on her lips, Thalia Moonshadow dances through life, always ready for the next challenge or scheme that comes her way.

The more I experience AI, the more I recognize that it is a tool that is going to change the way writing happens and force me and everyone else to step up our game.

I am trying a new approach to ‘chunking’ work. Instead of having a go at 2500 words in one sitting, I am chunking it down to 250 or even 100. This is not the best approach for every project, but it can be helpful on projects that require multiple entries, perspectives, or have just become too difficult to lock in on. Always remember what Steinbeck said: “When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages a sick sense of failure falls on me and I know I can never do it. Then gradually, I write one page and then another. One day’s work is all I can permit myself to contemplate.”

Man wasn’t wrong there. The cut takes a similar approach. 500 words a day is not very much, but it can seem like more than is ever possible. So, I suggest another approach: Chunking. Write the 100. Write the 250 if that is where your heart takes you. Set aside a chunk of time to do a chunk of words and let it happen. It is alright if the words are bad. Most first drafts are terrible, in spite of how wonderful we want them to be and how good it feels to get that draft done. If you didn’t TLDR my link, think about what Rebecca Schuman had to offer on the subject.

The general rule here is to find a safe number and write to that. Find a natural break or chunk that you can work through, and build from that chunk. In fact, I’m going to go put my words into practice right now.

Some Thoughts:

1. When I do finally sift through this blog and turn it into a banger of a book on writing (don’t worry, I’ll expand posts), I’ll start the process with a brief search of how many posts I called ‘On Writing’. My love for Stephen King is strong, obviously.
2. I must be getting old. I feel old–especially in this household or in other places where I am surrounded by the young.

The things designed to keep you in place also hinder your creativity–to a point. For me that point comes about a week before the project is due and I find myself scrambling to get everything done. I tend to start any new writing project slowly. I ease into it with the research, bathing myself in the knowledge of the world and the space and the characters until I feel like I know enough to project things forward. Next I outline. Then comes the draft. Then comes the redraft and so on. The final week winds up being a matter of finishing the little bits and pieces I was never comfortable with in the beginning–the stuff I didn’t care to write. So, in theory, being so immersed in the work by then I should be able to easily handle those nasty little tidbits. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Instead I find myself slowed to an absolute crawl as I am forced to ‘eat my vegetables’ as it were. I’ve yet to come up with a better system, so I keep on doing the same thing over and over again, hoping the outcome will be different. This, it turns out, is the definition of insanity.

Some Thoughts:

1. Went for a morning walk in the sweltering desert. The movement matters. It got me to the desk faster and ready to work. I ought to keep the exercise first and foremost.
2. Haven’t taken any time to reflect on the fact that school begins in 8 days–six days after my deadline for a project. That gives me a six day ‘vacation’ to figure out what I intend to do for that job…
3. A lot to look forward to in the next few weeks. Ought to be an exciting time..

Back with another 10 minutes of fantasy football… and it isn’t even Wednesday! Tonight’s post is about the defensive options. I don’t play leagues with individual D positions, so I won’t speak about players–just units. The pundits will have you believing your top five choices are as follows:

1. San Fransico
2. Philly
3. Buffalo
4. Dallas
5. New England

I don’t buy the hype. Take New England for example: They play the Jets twice, Dolphins twice, Dallas, KC, and Philly. All of those squads are known to be built to run it up this season. NE will be giving up points. Instead I like to approach things holistically–not just from a who you play perspective, but also a ‘how much is it worth to you?’ point of view. I look at defenses who have players about to cash in on a new contract and players who play in schemes that generate turnovers and offenses that cannot generate a safe amount of points. This is why I think the Seahawks, Giants, and Commanders are going to have solid defensive performances this season. They fall into my top 5 alongside San Fransisco and…wait for it.. Jacksonville. I do not want to believe in the Jaguars’ QB, but I do believe the D will create opportunities and surprise people.

There are enough other solid D’s that I respect not prioritizing defense as draft pick. Most of the teams I mentioned can be grabbed week to week until the opposition catches on to your scheme. However, if you are picking just one, pick San Fran. They can be trusted to generate points each week.

If I had to define my downfall it would be that I’m easily knocked off my game. I am great when in the zone but once that zone is broken it is hard to find my way back. Breaking the zone is about emotional distress. If I let the world (specifically the home and the relationships therein) leak in, then I’m done. I might not write well that day. I might not write at all. I got knocked out the zone this morning and now I am trying to figure a way back in. There is much to be done, and even more that I want to do with my writing today, but I cannot even complete a sentence without an error every third word at least. It is difficult to be in this headspace and understand how to break back into a more positive one. Instead I linger on all the problems of home and all of the anger and stress and insecurity that this space creates for me. Sometimes leaving works, but that comes with a price tag of its own. Sooner or later you need to account for what you are running away from.

If it feels like more and more of these posts are about the difficult home space, they are. This is at the forefront of my thinking more and more and I still lack a viable solution. I’ll figure it out one day and that too will go in the book on writing.