Blame it on the Rain
or artificial intelligence
I have been struggling with what to write for this week’s newsletter. A week goes by, and I look back on it and can not think of anything interesting to write about. My newest venture is setting up a paid subscription on this site for writers. I will post a short story by A.I. at least once a week. Then, I will go through the story and give my thoughts—the good, the bad, and the ugly. I will then provide my thoughts on how it could be improved. Many people think A.I. is the worst thing to happen to the arts since Milli Vanilli. I beg to differ. A.I. is a tool that artists can use. In this case, why not use it as a learning tool? As the class (subscription) grows, I hope more people will provide their insights, and we can all learn from each other. The cost is $5 a month; the lowest Substack will allow me to charge. If you or someone you know is a writer, I hope you join me there.
The latest episode of the Writing Fiction podcast dives deep into perseverance when trying to get your stories out there - whether through traditional or self-publishing. Regina and I discuss Heinlein’s 5th and final rule of writing. Stick around at the end to hear our tangent on people in Hollywood getting plastic surgery. Available now on your favorite podcast app. Share with a friend.
This past week, I picked up several books at the thrift store. But I am excited about “The Accursed” by Joyce Carol Oates. It is a signed first edition, and the story sounds like I will enjoy it. I am taking the Joyce Carol Oates Masterclass, and I love everything she says about writing. Here is what Stephen King had to say about the book in his New York Times review from 2013.
Some novels are almost impossible to review, either because they’re deeply ambiguous or because they contain big surprises the reviewer doesn’t wish to give away. In the case of “The Accursed,” both strictures apply. What I wish I could say is simply this: “Joyce Carol Oates has written what may be the world’s first postmodern Gothic novel: E. L. Doctorow’s ‘Ragtime’ set in Dracula’s castle. It’s dense, challenging, problematic, horrifying, funny, prolix and full of crazy people. You should read it. I wish I could tell you more.”
George the Cat Collector Card #14
I recently found a carousel full of slides at the thrift store. I immediately paid the $3 and took them home to discover what was on the slides. The slides document a trip someone took to the Holy Land (probably in the 80s, based on the fashion). One of the slides had a cat lounging on a chair. The cat looks a lot like George. So this card is not George but THE CAT FROM TEL AVIV.
Have a great week and Stay Gold,
James