I’m playing with a fun new AI tool called “human generator” – it lets you get really detailed in your options, and it feels like creating a character profile in a video game. I was impressed by the realistic quality of the clothing… usually people use Daz3D to make fantasy or scifi characters because there are no great stock photos of people wearing cool fantasy or scifi gear. But Daz3D people look like plastic dolls and need a headswap. They’ve been the best option for years, but things are changing fast… for example I’ve been using midjourney AI for book cover design, or at least character ..read more

In today’s digital era, the proliferation of artificial intelligence in various sectors, including content generation, has prompted a pressing question: How can we differentiate between human-generated content and AI-generated content? This is especially challenging with state-of-the-art models like GPT-4. In this article, we will delve into techniques, indicators, and AI detectors that might help discern AI-produced text. 1. AI Detectors AI detectors are tools designed to identify whether a particular piece of content has been generated by AI or not. Some of the prominent AI detectors include ..read more

This morning when I woke up, Reddit was abuzz about a hearing in the Mexican congress showing alien cadavers. I’m not a true believer, or even an X-files fan, but I’m proud of my imagination and entertaining new possibilities is something I enjoy. If my philosophy degree taught me anything, it was to never assume you know the truth about anything. This might seems like a weird topic to bring up on a blog about creativity, but there’s a lot to it and I have some personal experiences to share. Let’s start by bringing you up to speed. A few weeks ago, there was a US congress hearing about whethe ..read more

In 1637, Descartes argued that machines will never replace humans, because he couldn’t conceive of a machine with levers and buttons for every word and the ability to also put them all into a meaningful order on purpose.* And there are still many – maybe if a majority – of people confidently denying that AI is anything to worry about because it’ll never surpass human creativity; that all AI art and writing is just obviously soulless crap; and that anyone who peddles or promotes such obvious crap should be stopped at once, or at least hated and vilified. But he also admitted, a few sentences la ..read more

So, I’ve spent the last few years bouncing around from cafés in Bali to beach huts in Thailand, all while juggling deadlines. Crazy, right? If someone had told me a few years ago I’d trade my office cubicle for a hammock and my coffee breaks for sunset views, I would’ve laughed. But here I am, living the digital nomad dream, and let me spill the beans on how you can too. What Exactly is a Digital Nomad? Imagine working amidst the historical ruins of Rome one week and the next, typing away in a vibrant Tokyo café. A digital nomad is someone who works remotely, leveraging the magic of the intern ..read more

Today I decided I want to be traditionally published. Even though I like having the control of self-publishing. Even though I know I can earn more self-publishing. Even though my books routinely outrank and outsell traditionally published books. Even though I don’t need any help with editing, book design or book marketing. I want to be traditionally published because I want to be an insider. If I go to conferences and get a table to promote my books, I don’t want to be excluded from the VIP room where all the “real” authors, agents and publicists laugh and chat and make plans to go out to ..read more

I love watching movies about writers and writing, so I binged The Lesson movie one lazy afternoon. It starts with some great quotes on writing and literature. Here’s the setup: a famous writer hires a tutor for his son. So this wannabe writer (with a photographic memory) comes to live with his wife and kid. But secretly, he also wrote this thesis on this famous author’s work. At first the famous author clowns it up. “I know writers who obsess about how do I say something original. Am I saying anything unique, sorry there are no new ideas. Most writers are reconciled to the fact that and if th ..read more

I’m writing this as a plan for me to follow as I’ve decided on a slightly reckless “business” idea and wanted to share it with you. Case studies are always useful, and I know a lot of would-be bloggers or even business websites are thinking “should I use AI to write articles for me?” How to write blog articles with AI Ok it’s stupid simple but there are tools you can use that are free or cheap. I have a big list of Ai writing tools but you don’t need that yet. Stick around to hear my audacious plan (and then read the results!) Most AI writing software is some versions of GPT3, openai’s model ..read more

I taught English for a few years before getting my PhD in Literature. I was pretty awful with younger kids (one 3 year old punched me), but once they got pretty fluent, we could move on to the funner, but weird English stuff. Like all writers, I love a creative metaphor or analogy, but sometimes English just makes no sense – or it’s based on a centuries-old custom or culture, so the answer may not be at all obvious. So I put this quick guide together as a cheatsheet… English is a language rich in idiomatic expressions, often drawing from various historical events, myths, or everyday practices ..read more

Getting more book reviews is a crucial step in the book marketing process for self-published authors. Not only do reviews provide social proof that your book is worth reading, but they can also help improve your book’s visibility on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. Here are the steps and resources to help you get more book reviews: 1. Set Up a Book Launch Team A book launch team, also known as a street team, consists of a group of dedicated readers who are excited about your book and willing to leave reviews. Reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and followers on social media to build ..read more