Speeding through Summer #IWSG
Happy First Wednesday, All! Summer has passed in a flash, and we’re already gearing up for school here at the Town’s End. It starts in a week. Neither kiddo is really looking forward to it. My daughter is excited about moving to the next stage of education, but she is dreading waking up for the early High School start times. My son doesn’t like school work, nor does he enjoy class. He is ramping up to play four square with his friends and hanging out with his Roblox bud in person after a summer of gaming with him online. At least he naturally wakes up prior to his school start time still.
I didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to with the kids this summer. Normally I plan something for every other week, but this summer, I think the vacation kind of sapped all my do-stuff motivation. There wasn’t any swimming, no roller skating, no park visiting–though, the lack of outdoor activity was largely due to the terrible air quality, constant smoke, and triple digit temperatures. I hope to at least hit the arcade this weekend, but some events will have to wait until after school starts. Things like the Fair, a couple trips to the go-kart racing place, and maybe using a coupon to visit the local water park. Maybe.
A lot like my summer plans, my writing has also been doing a lot less than I had hoped. I’m on chapter 5 of book 1. Out of what will probably be 60, given my current preference to make deeper chapters with fewer scenes. *hangs head* My local critique group is getting punished with multiple resubmissions as I find I get a burst of motivation when I get feedback. Currently, I find it most effective to submit the unedited chapter, get feedback, then submit the edited one for the next meeting. Doing it this way, however, would mean this taking four years because we only meet every other week. I don’t think I want to spend another decade just trying to finish another book. *sigh*
Book 2 is looking pretty good, though. I’ve implemented big-picture feedback from a couple of betas, and I’m still going through Critique Circle for the individual chapter reactions. It should run its course by the end of October.
IWSG Question of the Month – Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?
I use the grammar suggestions from Pro-Writing Aid in my writing, usually for correcting spelling or fixing commas. Sometimes I accept suggestions for tightening sections, but not always. I do use TTS (text-to-speech) frequently, as I absorb information better when I hear it. I catch missing words or wrong words in my writing, or hear when the flow of words doesn’t quite land right. I’ve tried generative AI once, and I couldn’t get it to produce something I liked. I guess I’m just too picky. I research, so a touch of AI is unavoidable, but I don’t chat with the engines to get answers.
I’m not pro-AI, nor am I fighting against it. I don’t like unethically sourced data, but as a programmer, I appreciate tools that make people more effective and efficient. I don’t begrudge people who find value there. I just don’t feel some aspects apply to my goals, so I dismiss them. Like I said, I’m picky.
How was your summer? Do you use AI? How are your writing goals coming along?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
