#WritersCoffeeClub (Sep) 1: Intro: Shameless Self Promotion.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 1: April Fool’s Day! Do you include in-jokes, hidden messages, or “Easter eggs” in your writing?
Only in ways that will enhance a reader's enjoyment if they get it, but not bother them if they don't get it. Not things that will make people feel excluded because they can see that there's a reference that they're not getting.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: International Children’s Book Day! What makes for a good book for children?
Heck if I know. I'm not writing books for children, and have no plans to in the near future.
[Edit: But lots of other people are giving excellent answers today!]
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 2: International Children’s Book Day! What makes for a good book for children?
Heck if I know. I'm not writing books for children, and have no plans to in the near future.
[Edit: But lots of other people are giving excellent answers today!]
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: How do you navigate scenes with many characters?
By describing people's actions and reporting their dialogue. The way I'd navigate any other kind of scene.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 3: How do you navigate scenes with many characters?
By describing people's actions and reporting their dialogue. The way I'd navigate any other kind of scene.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: What are some tips and tricks you use to convey strong emotions?
So far, the main "strong emotion" I've depicted has been ecstatic joy. Some of that is already public, in https://wandering.shop/@kagan/114201094504049029.
In many ways, it works like the usual advice about "clenched fists" for anger: much of emotion is rooted in the body. Even if it's also in other places, or happens in subtler ways, describing it in somatic terms helps readers *experience it*... 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 4: What are some tips and tricks you use to convey strong emotions?
So far, the main "strong emotion" I've depicted has been ecstatic joy. Some of that is already public, in https://wandering.shop/@kagan/114201094504049029.
In many ways, it works like the usual advice about "clenched fists" for anger: much of emotion is rooted in the body. Even if it's also in other places, or happens in subtler ways, describing it in somatic terms helps readers *experience it*... 1/2
...rather than simply reading about it and trying to reconstruct it in their minds. It helps them feel it, just like the character does. 2/2
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...rather than simply reading about it and trying to reconstruct it in their minds. It helps them feel it, just like the character does. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 5: Sum up your current WIP in five words.
Wild how this one is similar to a recent WordWeavers prompt that wanted 5 *nouns*! But this is looser, so I'm going to have a little fun... "Magical hijinks in San Francisco."
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 5: Sum up your current WIP in five words.
Wild how this one is similar to a recent WordWeavers prompt that wanted 5 *nouns*! But this is looser, so I'm going to have a little fun... "Magical hijinks in San Francisco."
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: Do you edit while writing, or go wild and fix it later?
Somewhere in between. Sometimes while I'm writing, I'll go back and improve something immediately. I've been trying to get better about just dropping notes for myself like "find better word later", or just trusting that Later Me will see the problem and fix it.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 6: Do you edit while writing, or go wild and fix it later?
Somewhere in between. Sometimes while I'm writing, I'll go back and improve something immediately. I've been trying to get better about just dropping notes for myself like "find better word later", or just trusting that Later Me will see the problem and fix it.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: World Health Day! What’s your take on the “suffer for art” argument?
I'm a little unclear on what, exactly, the argument is. That one must have suffered in one's life before one can create art? (Or sometimes only "great" art, which sounds like a No True Scotsman fallacy.)
Or is it that one must suffer *while* creating the art? 1/4
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 7: World Health Day! What’s your take on the “suffer for art” argument?
I'm a little unclear on what, exactly, the argument is. That one must have suffered in one's life before one can create art? (Or sometimes only "great" art, which sounds like a No True Scotsman fallacy.)
Or is it that one must suffer *while* creating the art? 1/4
Anyway, they both sound deeply sus to me. For the latter, even the most positive interpretation of it would be that in order to create something, you have to put the time into it, and that is time that you can't be spending on other "more enjoyable" activities. Like, if I'm writing, I can't be playing video games or getting a massage or something. 2/4
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Anyway, they both sound deeply sus to me. For the latter, even the most positive interpretation of it would be that in order to create something, you have to put the time into it, and that is time that you can't be spending on other "more enjoyable" activities. Like, if I'm writing, I can't be playing video games or getting a massage or something. 2/4
But the act of creation itself is also enjoyable! (This is why I have a fair amount of side-eye for writers who constantly moan about how painful writing always is. Come on, if it's such an ordeal all the time, just stop doing it! *And* stop complaining!) Similarly, dancing is fun to do just on its own, knitting is a fun activity that feels good in the hands (or that's the impression I get from knitters), and so on. 3/4
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But the act of creation itself is also enjoyable! (This is why I have a fair amount of side-eye for writers who constantly moan about how painful writing always is. Come on, if it's such an ordeal all the time, just stop doing it! *And* stop complaining!) Similarly, dancing is fun to do just on its own, knitting is a fun activity that feels good in the hands (or that's the impression I get from knitters), and so on. 3/4
For the first one, I think there can be a kernel of truth in there: some people have taken the pain they experienced and used it to create things that were amazing. Sometimes even things that helped them, or others, deal with or heal from things. But I'm really wary of saying it's necessary. 4/4
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For the first one, I think there can be a kernel of truth in there: some people have taken the pain they experienced and used it to create things that were amazing. Sometimes even things that helped them, or others, deal with or heal from things. But I'm really wary of saying it's necessary. 4/4
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: Share a simile or metaphor that stuck with you.
"The [Vogon constructor fleet's] ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." From the inimitable Douglas Adams' classic _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_.
I love how it conveys a clear image by specifying its opposite. (I'm honestly full of admiration for this trick!)
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 8: Share a simile or metaphor that stuck with you.
"The [Vogon constructor fleet's] ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." From the inimitable Douglas Adams' classic _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_.
I love how it conveys a clear image by specifying its opposite. (I'm honestly full of admiration for this trick!)
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: How much room for the fantastical is there in your work?
Well, it's an urban *fantasy*, so...
No, seriously, I'm trying to make sure that the magic system doesn't get too hard (in the sense of hard vs. soft systems, not difficulty), specifically because I want to leave room for a sense of wonder and mystery. 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 9: How much room for the fantastical is there in your work?
Well, it's an urban *fantasy*, so...
No, seriously, I'm trying to make sure that the magic system doesn't get too hard (in the sense of hard vs. soft systems, not difficulty), specifically because I want to leave room for a sense of wonder and mystery. 1/2
(This is slightly complicated by the fact that I need it to be at least hard enough for wizards to be able to look at, or receive a description of, a magic item and make educated guesses about what it might do based on its visible characteristics. So it's a bit of a tightrope.) 2/2
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(This is slightly complicated by the fact that I need it to be at least hard enough for wizards to be able to look at, or receive a description of, a magic item and make educated guesses about what it might do based on its visible characteristics. So it's a bit of a tightrope.) 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: How comfortable are you with wordplay?
Moderately so, I guess? I'm not sure how to answer the question; we don't really have a standard scale of comfort with wordplay.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 10: How comfortable are you with wordplay?
Moderately so, I guess? I'm not sure how to answer the question; we don't really have a standard scale of comfort with wordplay.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: Share a favorite line of prose.
Maybe a bit long for "a line", but it's a single, logical unit of thought. (See next toot.) 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 11: Share a favorite line of prose.
Maybe a bit long for "a line", but it's a single, logical unit of thought. (See next toot.) 1/2
From J.R.R. Tolkien's _The Silmarillion_, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age":
"It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received, for in that land the Noldor desired ever to increase the skill and subtlety of their works. Moreover they were not at peace in their hearts, since they had refused to return into the West, and they desired both to stay in Middle-earth, which indeed they loved, and yet to enjoy the bliss of those that had departed." 2/2
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From J.R.R. Tolkien's _The Silmarillion_, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age":
"It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received, for in that land the Noldor desired ever to increase the skill and subtlety of their works. Moreover they were not at peace in their hearts, since they had refused to return into the West, and they desired both to stay in Middle-earth, which indeed they loved, and yet to enjoy the bliss of those that had departed." 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: How would you write a story with a cast of one? Could you?
I don't know if I "couldn't", but I'm pretty sure I *wouldn't*. As it is, I don't even want to write stories with single main characters; I prefer ensemble pieces.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 12: How would you write a story with a cast of one? Could you?
I don't know if I "couldn't", but I'm pretty sure I *wouldn't*. As it is, I don't even want to write stories with single main characters; I prefer ensemble pieces.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: When is it best to be terse? Flowery?
I'm sure I'll refine this in my head as I write more, but for now:
Being flowery cues the reader that this is something important. Maybe not "an important detail", like something that will help them predict the plot or solve a mystery or anything, but maybe more like something that relates to the underlying theme or message of your work. 1/2
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#WritersCoffeeClub Day 13: When is it best to be terse? Flowery?
I'm sure I'll refine this in my head as I write more, but for now:
Being flowery cues the reader that this is something important. Maybe not "an important detail", like something that will help them predict the plot or solve a mystery or anything, but maybe more like something that relates to the underlying theme or message of your work. 1/2
Also, just plain "things that are magical, or ornate". So, y'know, it can be flexible.
Terseness works well when people are in a hurry, or not looking hard at things (or maybe they *want to avoid* looking at the thing much). It can help hurry things along in an action scene. And it's nice for eliding humdrum details that don't require much attention. 2/2
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Also, just plain "things that are magical, or ornate". So, y'know, it can be flexible.
Terseness works well when people are in a hurry, or not looking hard at things (or maybe they *want to avoid* looking at the thing much). It can help hurry things along in an action scene. And it's nice for eliding humdrum details that don't require much attention. 2/2
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 14: International Moment of Laughter Day! What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever written? Read?
I haven't really been trying to write any funny moments, yet. They'll come, but they're going to be organic moments within the book, not something I'm planning ahead of time.
The funniest thing I've ever read? 🤔 I recall the first time I read the script to the "Who's on First?" routine, it had me on the floor laughing... and I hadn't even seen it performed yet!
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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Tranquillo è morto malissimo! 😉
Questo alberello pesa 170 kgQuesto andrebbe a mangiare i "carichi accidentali" che x un balcone son 400/mq...
Sembran tanti ma si mangiano in fretta, e son permanenti, che senza dilungarmi son diversi dagli accidentali.Un pò come avere decimi di febbre una settimana o averli sempre.
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Fucking lmao.
There is no longer an all-hands@(dayjob).com email alias, after somebody's "AI" agent emailed a bunch of customer medical data to it.
The llm revolution is going *awesome*.
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@tatmius@vivaldi.net はい、政府のデータベースに電算化されて記録されます。住民登録証にも漢字表記が出ますし。
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@DarioZanette ma l'italia non ci arriverà mai a capirlo, può aumentare quanto vuoi, ma il rinnovabile rimane per pochi e rimarremo fossilizzati sul fossile
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Parrot il text‑to‑speech AI offline e privato
linuxeasy.org/parrot-il-text-t…
Parrot è un TTS AI gratuito, offline e privato che legge testi selezionati in qualsiasi app, direttamente sul tuo dispositivo.
L'articolo Parrot il text‑to‑speech AI offline e privato proviene da Linux Easy.
E' vietato riprodurre questo articolo senza
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@Paoblog @devol @internet se mi dai il tuo indirizzo provo a invitarti nelle nuove stanze, ne abbiamo raggrupate molte e ora hanno centinaia di persone attive, certo, magari non ci sono tuoi conoscenti ma molte persone le vedi tutti i giorni qui su mastodon :)
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Don't use LLM generated code in your projects yet! If for no other reason than that the legal case law is NOT ESTABLISHED YET.
I know there was the "copyright laundering" thing that went around a lot, but we actually don't know.
You'll see commenters everywhere on the internet say that "the US Supreme Court ruled that AI generated output is in the public domain". That's misinfo: they *declined to take on* a case from a lower court coming to that conclusion. The US Supreme Court hasn't yet ruled.
And this hasn't shaken out in an international setting yet either.
You may be surprised to hear: I actually think it's more dangerous and empowers centralized AI companies even more if it *isn't* the case that AI output is in the public domain (I'll follow up about that), but regardless, right now we just don't know.
But despite that, I'm STILL saying that you're putting yourself in legally dubious territory right now if you include LLM generated code, for now. We don't know yet.
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@czimm_economist
I know what you're saying. On the other side, #arXiv has 27 full-time staffers and a budget of $6 million/year.
