#write an ebook with ai
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pskyyy-blog · 2 years ago
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vicious-ewok · 35 minutes ago
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Excellent video on click here
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ibraen · 13 days ago
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Alright! I am almost ready for the transfer!
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jezebelrose2025 · 4 months ago
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Trained on hundreds of my extreme erotica stories
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shabdforwriting · 9 months ago
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Several ways to Utilize AI while Writing a Novel
Using AI in the novel-writing process can enhance creativity and productivity in several ways. Here’s how each step might work:
1. Idea Generation
AI tools can be a great starting point for brainstorming. They can suggest plot twists, scenarios, or themes that might not have come to mind initially. Writers can use AI to explore “what if” scenarios and expand on concepts, creating a rich pool of ideas to draw from.
2. Outline Creation
AI can help structure a story by providing suggestions for chapter outlines or story arcs. It can analyze the elements of existing works in the genre and generate potential plot points, helping authors map out the story’s flow. This can be especially useful for keeping track of complex narratives or multi-layered plots.
3. Dialogue Writing
Writing natural-sounding dialogue can be challenging, but AI can assist by generating snippets of conversation or offering variations on character interactions. It can help make dialogue sound more authentic, create distinct voices for different characters, or even simulate dialogues between characters to explore how they would react in various situations.
4. Character Development
AI can suggest character traits, backstories, or motivations, ensuring characters are well-rounded and consistent throughout the novel. It can provide profiles based on archetypes or unique traits, helping writers flesh out their cast in ways that add depth to the story.
5. Editing and Feedback
AI-powered editing tools can analyze grammar, style, tone, and readability. Beyond basic proofreading, they can provide insights into pacing, detect inconsistencies, or suggest improvements in sentence structure. Some tools even offer feedback on emotional tone and engagement levels, helping refine the narrative for maximum impact.
6. Research
AI can help sift through large amounts of information quickly, making it easier to find relevant details for world-building, historical accuracy, or technical aspects of a story. This saves time, allowing writers to focus more on the creative aspects of their work.
7. Overcoming Writer’s Block
When writers feel stuck, AI can generate writing prompts or even continue a scene that’s difficult to progress. It can suggest alternative ways to move the plot forward, break down mental barriers, and reinvigorate the creative process with fresh ideas or perspectives.
These methods can make the writing process more efficient and open up new creative possibilities, offering support at every stage from conception to publication.
Source -
https://shabd.in/blog/several-ways-to-utilize-ai-while-writing-a-novel/
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digitalsolution123 · 10 months ago
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AI Book Writer: Revolutionizing the Writing Process
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the board, and writing is no exception. In the past, authors spent months, or even years, meticulously crafting their works. Today, AI technology has paved the way for a faster, more efficient writing process. The concept of an AI Book Writer is rapidly gaining traction, offering authors, publishers, and content creators an innovative tool to streamline the creation of books, articles, and other long-form content.
What is an AI Book Writer?
An AI Book Writer is a software application powered by machine learning algorithms that helps generate written content in the form of books or manuscripts. Using natural language processing (NLP) models, these AI programs can create coherent, high-quality text based on the input provided by the user. While some AI book writers can take over most of the content creation process, others act as assistants, helping authors develop ideas, plotlines, or polish their manuscripts.
AI book writers are typically powered by advanced language models such as GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer), which can analyze vast amounts of text, learn from it, and then produce written content that mimics human-like writing. These AI systems have access to a huge amount of data, allowing them to understand various writing styles, genres, and topics.
How AI Book Writers Work
The mechanics behind an AI Book Writer are both simple and complex. On the surface, users input a prompt, outline, or rough idea into the AI system. The AI then analyzes this input, accesses its database, and produces a text output that is contextually relevant and aligns with the provided guidelines.
The key to these AI writers' success lies in their ability to:
Understand Context: AI book writers can understand the meaning and context of the words in the input provided, ensuring the output makes sense in the flow of the narrative.
Mimic Style and Tone: Users can specify the tone or style they wish to achieve, and the AI adapts its writing accordingly.
Enhance Creativity: AI tools can generate creative ideas, plot twists, character developments, and much more, helping authors overcome writer's block and keep their creativity flowing.
Edit and Revise: Many AI book writers also include features that assist with grammar, punctuation, and stylistic revisions. They offer suggestions for rephrasing sentences, fixing inconsistencies, and improving the overall readability of the manuscript.
Advantages of AI Book Writers
The benefits of utilizing an AI Book Writer are vast. From accelerating the writing process to enhancing creativity, AI offers a new world of possibilities for authors.
1. Time Efficiency
Writing a book manually can take months, if not years. AI book writers can drastically reduce this timeline by generating large volumes of text in a short amount of time. Authors can then review, edit, and refine the content instead of starting from scratch. This technology is particularly helpful for those working under tight deadlines or those looking to release multiple books in a short period.
2. Overcoming Writer's Block
Writer's block is a common challenge faced by authors. The AI book writer acts as an assistant, providing suggestions, generating content, and offering new directions for the story. The AI can propose new characters, unexpected plot developments, and even unique settings, giving authors the push they need to continue writing.
3. Consistency in Writing
Maintaining a consistent tone and style throughout a book can be challenging, especially for longer works. An AI Book Writer ensures that the writing remains uniform, maintaining the same narrative voice from start to finish. This is particularly helpful for authors juggling multiple projects or those collaborating with co-writers.
4. Cost-Effective for Self-Publishers
Hiring professional editors, ghostwriters, or co-authors can be expensive, especially for self-publishers. AI book writers provide a cost-effective alternative. While AI cannot completely replace the expertise of human editors or ghostwriters, it can handle many aspects of content creation and editing, allowing self-publishers to create polished works without spending excessive amounts of money.
5. Multilingual Capabilities
Some AI book writers come with multilingual capabilities, allowing authors to write or translate their works into multiple languages. This is particularly valuable for authors looking to reach a global audience. AI tools can seamlessly translate content while preserving the context and meaning of the original text, ensuring the story remains impactful across different languages.
Potential Drawbacks of AI Book Writers
While AI book writers offer incredible advantages, they also come with certain limitations.
1. Lack of True Creativity
AI excels at generating content based on existing patterns and data, but it struggles with true creativity. AI book writers can produce coherent text, but they may lack the depth, emotional nuance, and originality that comes from human creativity. Authors using AI book writers should be prepared to revise the content to ensure it resonates emotionally with readers.
2. Over-reliance on AI
Authors who heavily rely on an AI Book Writer may risk losing their personal touch in the writing process. AI-generated content might feel impersonal or formulaic, especially when compared to works created by human authors. To avoid this, writers should see AI as a tool to assist their creative process rather than replacing it.
3. Ethical Considerations
There are ethical concerns related to the use of AI book writers. For example, should AI-generated works be classified as original content, and who owns the rights to a book written by AI? These are complex questions the industry will need to address as AI continues to play a bigger role in writing and publishing.
The Future of AI Book Writers
As AI technology continues to evolve, so too will the capabilities of AI Book Writer. Future advancements may include enhanced storytelling abilities, greater creativity, and deeper understanding of narrative structures. Additionally, as the quality of AI-generated content improves, it is possible that more authors, both aspiring and established, will adopt this technology as part of their writing toolkit.
In conclusion, the AI Book Writer is not just a tool for generating words, but a transformative force in the world of writing. It offers efficiency, creativity, and consistency, helping authors bring their ideas to life more easily than ever before. While AI cannot fully replace human creativity, it is an invaluable resource that can support and enhance the writing process, making it faster and more accessible to authors worldwide.
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the-hwaelweg · 1 year ago
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Working in publishing, my inbox is basically just:
Article on the Horrors of AI
Article on How AI Can Help Your Business
Article on How AI Has Peaked
Article on How AI Is Here to Stay Forever
Article on How AI Is a Silicon Valley Scam That Doesn't Live Up to the Promise and In Fact Can't Because They've Literally Run Out of Written Words to Train LLMs On
#artificial generation fuckery#in point of fact we're lumping a lot of things into 'AI' so probably bits of them are all true#i think AI narration probably is here to stay because we've been mass training that for ages (what did you think alexa and siri were?)#i think ai covers will stick around on the low price point end unless those servers go the way of crypto#but as with everywhere they'll be limited because you can't ask an ai for design alts#(and do you guys know how many fucking passes it takes to make minute finicky changes to get exec to sign off on a cover?)#i think ai translation for books will die on the vine - you'd have to feed the whole text of your book to the ai and publishers hate that#ai writing is absolute garbage at long form so it will never replace authorship#it's also not going to be used to write a lot of copy because again you'd have to feed the ai your book and publishers say no way#like the thing to keep in mind is publishers want to save money but they want to control their intellectual property even more#that's the bread and butter#the number 1 thing they don't want to do is feed the books into an LLM#christ we won't even give libraries a fair deal on ebooks you think they're just going to give that shit away to their competitors??#but also i don't think the server/power/tech issue is sustainable for something like chatgpt and it is going to go the way of crypto#is humanity going to create an actual artificial intelligence that can write and think and draw?#yeah probably eventually#i do not think this attempt is it#they got too greedy and did too much too fast and when the money dries up? that's it#maybe I'm wrong but i just think the money will dry out long before the tech improves#hwaelweg's work life
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prosegalaxy · 1 year ago
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"Unraveling the Enchanted World Tree: Love and Unity Between Realms" This is the summary of your work so far: The human asks for a 'Hardcore' story outline about mythical creatures and AI provides a detailed outline for a story titled "Heart of the Enchanted Realm". The human requests a dialogue heavy scene in paragraph format, which AI provides. In the scene, Alex and Luna stand before an ancient tree discussing its potential nature as a World Tree connecting all realms and the challenges they might face using it for unity. As they stand hand in hand, Alex realizes their love can be a powerful force for unity, and together they will overcome any obstacle. The human then requests a dialogue heavy scene under 250 words, which AI creates with Alex and Luna discussing the tree's potential as the World Tree and how their love can bring unity to all realms.
In the heart of the enchanted forest, where the trees whispered ancient secrets and the air was thick with magic, Alex stumbled upon Luna, a captivating fairy with shimmering wings. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still as they recognized the undeniable connection between them. Luna: "Who are you, and what brings you to our realm?" her voice, like the soft rustle of leaves, carried an air of mystery. Alex: "I am Alex, a wanderer in search of the legendary Heart of the Enchanted Realm. I seek to unite the mythical creatures and humans, to bring peace and harmony between them." Luna: "Why should we trust you?" she questioned with a hint of skepticism. Alex: "Because I believe that together, we can create a world where all beings can live in unity and love," Alex replied passionately. As the sun began to set, casting golden rays through the forest, their conversation flowed like the gentle murmur of a nearby stream. They spoke of dreams, fears, and hopes for the future, their voices intertwining like the vines that entwined the ancient trees around them. The air between them crackled with an electric charge, as their hearts beat in unison with the rhythm of the forest. In that moment, under the canopy of stars and the embrace of the enchanted woods, Alex and Luna discovered the power of love – a force that could bridge any divide and bring together even the most disparate souls. And so, their journey began, hand in hand, as they sought to unite all creatures in the name of love and harmony. In the heart of the Enchanted Realm, where mythical creatures roamed freely and magic filled the air, Alex found themselves in a bustling marketplace. The sounds of bargaining and laughter filled their ears as they navigated the crowded streets. They spotted Luna, a beautiful fairy with golden hair and eyes like emeralds, standing beside her stall selling enchanted trinkets. Alex approached Luna and struck up a conversation, asking about one of the trinkets. "What's the significance of this amulet?" they inquired, pointing to an intricate necklace adorned with sparkling gems. "Ah, the Heartstone Amulet," Luna replied with a warm smile. "It's said to hold the essence of the Enchanted Realm itself. Legend tells us that whoever wears it can unite all creatures and bring balance to this magical world." As they continued their conversation, Alex couldn't help but notice the growing attraction between them. Luna's laughter was contagious, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with every word she spoke. The air around them crackled with a palpable energy that couldn't be ignored. "Perhaps you can help me find it," Alex suggested, taking a chance on the potential for something more. "Together, we could bring harmony to this realm and save all its inhabitants." Luna considered the proposition, her eyes searching Alex's face for sincerity. Finally, she nodded, her gaze never leaving his. "Very well," she said softly, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Let our journey begin." And with that, the two set off on an adventure that would not only unite humans and mythical creatures but also lead them to discover the true power of love. Alex approached Luna, and they began talking. ``` Alex: Hi, I'm Alex. I've heard a lot about you fairies. Can you tell me more about the Heart of the Enchanted Realm? Luna: Hello, Alex. We call it the Heart because it's the center of our realm's magic and power. It's said that whoever holds it can unite all creatures and bring peace to the land. But no one has ever found it before. Alex: I understand why you fairies are so protective, but if we humans and mythical creatures work together, we could find the Heart and end this conflict. Luna: You're right, Alex. But how can we trust humans? They've caused so much destruction in our realm. Alex: I promise to do everything in my power to protect this land and its inhabitants. Can I have your help in finding the Heart? Luna: (sighs) I will help you, Alex. But if you betray us... (shivers) Alex: I won't let you down. Together, we can make a difference. In the midst of their quest, Alex and Luna stumbled upon an ancient tree, its branches covered in shimmering leaves that seemed to hold secrets. "What do you think this tree is?" Luna asked, her voice tingling with curiosity. She floated gracefully towards the enormous tree, her delicate wings casting intricate patterns of light on the ground below. "I'm not sure," Alex replied, his eyes scanning the tree's bark for any clues. "It looks like it could be one of the fabled World Trees, connecting all realms together." "You think?" Luna asked, her voice filled with wonder. "That would mean we could communicate with others across the realms!" Alex hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know if I'm ready to face the challenges that might bring," he confessed, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "But if it can help us unite humans and mythical creatures, we should explore it." Luna smiled softly, her eyes filled with affection. "We'll face those challenges together," she promised, taking Alex's hand in hers. "After all, aren't we stronger when we stand side by side?" Alex looked into Luna's eyes and felt his heart swell. For the first time, he realized that their love could be a powerful force for unity, a bridge between the realms. And as they stood hand in hand before the ancient tree, he knew that together, they would overcome any obstacle. The sun was setting, casting an ethereal glow over the ancient tree whose branches were covered in shimmering leaves. Alex and Luna stood hand in hand before it, their breaths forming small clouds in the cool air. "What do you think this tree is?" Luna asked, her voice soft and full of wonder. "Could it be a World Tree, connecting all realms?" Alex nodded thoughtfully, running his fingers over one of the glowing leaves. "It's possible. But using it to unite humans and mythical creatures could come with its own challenges." "Do you think our love can help bridge the gap between our worlds?" Luna asked, her eyes meeting Alex's. Alex smiled gently, his heart swelling at her trust in him. "I believe our love can be a powerful force for unity. Together, we will overcome any obstacle." As they stood there, hands still entwined, the tree seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy. The air around them shimmered and shifted, and suddenly they were no longer standing beneath the ancient tree but in the midst of a bustling marketplace, filled with creatures both human and mythical. Laughter and music floated through the air as people from all walks of life chatted and bartered, the very air seemed to vibrate with love and happiness. It was a sight to behold, and Alex knew that they had taken the first step towards uniting their worlds. As Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its branches covered in shimmering leaves, they exchanged thoughts about the potential power of the tree. "I wonder if this tree could connect all realms," Alex mused, staring at the branches that seemed to stretch out across different worlds. "Imagine what it would take to use it as a bridge between humans and mythical creatures." Luna gazed up at the tree, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and hope. "It's said that the World Tree can unite all things, but using it might not be without challenges. We'd have to overcome the doubts and fears of both sides." Alex nodded, taking Luna's hand in his own. "But if our love can bring together a dragon, a giant, and a fairy, then we can find a way to unite everyone else too." Their fingers intertwined as they stood side by side, gazing at the ancient tree. The power of their love seemed to resonate through the air, as if it were calling out to the World Tree. "Together," Luna whispered, "we can face any obstacle and bring peace to all realms." Alex smiled, his eyes filled with determination. "And we will," he promised, pulling Luna closer. As their hearts beat in harmony, they knew that love would prevail, and the Enchanted Realm would be united at last. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, their eyes locked in silent wonder. The air around them buzzed with an energy they couldn't quite understand. "Do you think this could be the World Tree?" Luna whispered, her voice barely audible. "The one that connects all realms?" Alex nodded, the thought had crossed his mind as well. He reached out a trembling hand, placing it against the tree's rough bark. "It feels... alive." Luna took his hand and placed it on top of hers, interlocking their fingers. "We could use this to unite humans and mythical creatures," she said, her voice filled with hope. "But we need to find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm first," Alex added, his eyes searching the surroundings for any clues. Suddenly, Luna pulled away and gasped. "Look!" She pointed at a small, glowing orb that had appeared on one of the branches above them. Alex followed her gaze and saw the orb pulsing with an ethereal light. "It's guiding us," he said, feeling a surge of excitement. As they stood hand in hand beneath the tree, Alex realized something else – their love could be a powerful force for unity. Together, they would overcome any obstacle that came their way. And so, with newfound determination, they continued their journey to unite the realms and find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like the fingers of a wise old wizard. The air around them seemed to hum with an unseen energy, as if the tree itself was alive. "Do you think this is it?" Luna asked, her eyes wide with wonder. "The World Tree that connects all realms?" Alex nodded, running his fingers along the rough bark. "It's hard to say for sure, but it's definitely an ancient and powerful entity. If we can find a way to harness its power, maybe we could use it as a symbol of unity between humans and mythical creatures." "But that won't be easy," Luna replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "There are so many challenges ahead of us. We need to convince both sides to put their differences aside and work together for the greater good." Alex squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We can do it, Luna. Together, we can make this happen. But first, let's figure out how to use the tree's power in our favor." As they stood hand in hand beneath the ancient tree, Alex realized something profound. Their love for each other was a powerful force that could unite them all. It didn't matter if they were human or mythical creature; what truly mattered was the love and respect they had for one another. And with that realization, Alex and Luna knew they would face any challenge together, their hearts bound by the magic of the World Tree. Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree, its gnarled branches stretching towards the sky like the fingers of an old sage. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, as if whispering secrets between the realms. "This tree," Luna said softly, her voice carrying a sense of reverence, "I've heard tales of it being the World Tree - a bridge connecting all realms." Alex nodded, his eyes scanning the massive trunk, trying to imagine its age and history. "And if it is, that could be our key to uniting humans and mythical creatures. We just need to find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm." Luna smiled, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We won't stop until we've brought peace between all beings." Alex squeezed her hand, feeling a warmth that was more than just physical. "You know, I never thought I'd find someone who understood me like you do, Luna. My life has been one adventure after another, and now...now I have you." Luna leaned against the tree, her eyes meeting Alex's. "And I have you, too," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Together, we can face any challenge." As they stood hand in hand, Alex realized their love could be a powerful force for unity - a symbol of what was possible when humans and mythical creatures worked together. With newfound hope, they gazed into the future, ready to overcome any obstacle that came their way. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its roots spreading wide as if embracing both worlds. The air around them buzzed with magical energy, and they knew this tree had the potential to be the World Tree connecting all realms. "Do you think it's possible for us to use this tree to unite humans and mythical creatures?" Alex asked, his voice filled with hope. Luna gazed at the tree thoughtfully. "I believe so, but we must consider the challenges we might face. What if some creatures don't want to be united? Or what if using the tree's power causes chaos in other realms?" "We can't let that stop us," Alex replied resolutely. "We need to find a way to make them see the benefits of unity, and work together to maintain balance across all realms." They stood hand in hand, their fingers intertwined as they looked up at the tree. The branches stretched out above them, weaving a canopy that seemed to hold secrets from another time. Alex glanced at Luna, her eyes sparkling with determination. "You know, I never thought I'd find someone who shares my passion for this cause," Luna said softly. "Together, we have the strength to overcome any obstacle." Alex smiled, his heart swelling with love and purpose. "And together, our love can be a powerful force for unity." As they stood beneath the tree, their hands still clasped, Alex realized that not only did they have the power to unite the realms, but also to find true love in the process. With Luna by his side, there was nothing they couldn't face together. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its bark twisted like gnarled roots reaching out for the sky. The air around them was thick with anticipation, a palpable energy that seemed to pulse from the very heart of the tree itself. "Do you think this is it?" Alex asked, his voice barely a whisper amidst the hushed silence. Luna's eyes sparkled in the dim light filtering through the dense canopy overhead. "I believe so," she said softly, tracing her fingers along the grooves of the tree's bark. "The legends say that this World Tree connects all realms, and only by finding its heart can we unite humans and mythical creatures." Alex glanced at Luna, her eyes full of hope and determination. He knew they were both risking everything to fulfill their dreams, but the potential rewards were too great to ignore. "What do you think the challenges might be?" he asked, his voice barely more than a breath. Luna turned to face him, her eyes meeting his in a glance that seemed to hold the weight of the world. "The greatest challenge will be convincing everyone to believe in unity," she said, her voice as steady as the tree before them. "But I have faith that love and understanding can conquer even the darkest hearts." Alex nodded, feeling the truth of Luna's words resonate within him. As they stood hand in hand beneath the ancient tree, he realized that their love could be a powerful force for unity, and together they would overcome any obstacle. And with that knowledge, they stepped forward into an uncertain future, hand in hand, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its gnarled branches stretching out like the arms of an old friend. They could feel the energy emanating from the tree, sensing its potential as the World Tree that connected all realms. "Do you think this tree is the fabled World Tree?" Luna asked, her voice laced with wonder. Alex nodded. "I believe it is. If we can harness its power, it could bring unity between our worlds." They stood hand in hand, gazing at the tree as a warm breeze rustled its leaves. Alex felt a surge of emotions, realizing that their love for each other was a powerful force that could help unite both humans and mythical creatures. "You know," Luna said softly, "our love could be the catalyst for change we need." Alex smiled. "Together, we can overcome any obstacle. Let's show them that true unity lies in love and understanding." The sun dipped below the horizon as Alex and Luna stood beneath the ancient tree, their hearts filled with hope and determination. They knew that their journey had only just begun, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. In the heart of the Enchanted Realm, the air was thick with magic as Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree. Its gnarled branches stretched towards the sky like the fingers of a wise old sage, while its roots delved deep into the earth, connecting it to the very essence of the land. Alex's eyes sparkled with wonder as he turned to Luna. "Do you think... could this be the World Tree? The tree that connects all realms?" Luna nodded thoughtfully. "It is possible. According to legends, the World Tree holds the Heart of the Enchanted Realm within its core. If we can find it and harness its power, we might just bring unity to both humans and mythical creatures." Alex's hand found its way to Luna's, their fingers intertwining as they stood side by side. "But what if... the powers that be don't want us to succeed?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "We will face challenges, that is true," Luna replied, her eyes meeting Alex's with unwavering resolve. "But we must remember, love knows no boundaries. Our love can be a powerful force for unity." Alex squeezed Luna's hand, feeling the warmth and strength in her grip. Together, they would face any obstacle that stood in their way. For in the end, it wasn't just about finding the Heart of the Enchanted Realm; it was about proving that love could conquer all. The ancient tree stood before them, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like the fingers of an old wizard casting a spell. The sun dappled their faces with dancing patterns of light and shadow as they stared up at it. "Do you think this is the World Tree?" Alex asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. Luna tilted her head, considering the question. "It's possible," she mused, running her fingers over the rough bark. "According to legend, the World Tree connects all realms. If we could find a way to use it as a bridge between our worlds, it could bring about unity." Alex nodded, his eyes still fixed on the ancient tree. "But how would we do that?" He turned to look at Luna, his gaze searching her face for answers. "We need to learn more," she replied, her voice filled with determination. "There must be a way to harness its power without causing harm. Perhaps there's a hidden language in the leaves or whispers in the wind that can teach us." Alex grinned, his eyes lighting up with hope. "Then let's begin our search!" He reached out and took Luna's hand, their fingers intertwining as they stood side by side before the ancient tree. Together, they would face any challenge, for they knew that their love could be a powerful force for unity in this enchanted realm. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its branches reaching out like the arms of a wise old sage. The air around them was thick with magic, a palpable force that seemed to hum with anticipation. "This tree," Luna began, her voice barely more than a whisper, "is said to be the World Tree, connecting all realms and giving life to every creature in them." Alex nodded, his eyes scanning the gnarled bark and twisted roots. "I've heard those stories too, but I never thought they could be true." Luna smiled softly. "And yet here we stand, faced with a challenge that demands we believe. We must find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm and unite humans and mythical creatures once more." "We have to succeed," Alex said, his voice determined. "If we fail, the balance between our worlds will be lost forever." Luna looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. "But if we do succeed, we'll change history. We can bring peace and unity to all realms, humans and mythical creatures alike." "We have no choice," Alex replied, his hand reaching out to gently touch the tree's rough bark. "This tree... it's more than just a story. It's a symbol of hope, of possibility." Luna nodded, her eyes locking onto his. "And our love can be that symbol too. Our unity, not just between our worlds, but within ourselves, can overcome any obstacle." Together, they stood hand in hand before the ancient tree, their hearts beating in unison as they faced the challenges ahead. They knew that their love could conquer all, and with that knowledge, they stepped forward into the unknown. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an enchanting glow over the forest. Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree, its roots twisting deep into the earth and branches reaching towards the sky. This tree was more than just a symbol of unity; it could be the World Tree connecting all realms. "Do you think this tree is the World Tree?" Luna asked, her voice filled with hope. Alex nodded, his eyes sparkling with determination. "It could be. If we can prove it's the World Tree, it would make uniting humans and mythical creatures so much easier." "But what if other realms don't want to be united?" Luna asked, her voice filled with concern. Alex squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We need to show them that unity can bring peace and harmony. Together, we can make a difference." Luna looked up at the tree, her eyes shining with the same determination as Alex's. "And if we find true love along the way, all the better," she added, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Alex grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's the spirit! We'll show them that our love can be a powerful force for unity." Hand in hand, they stood before the ancient tree, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, they would prove that love could conquer all obstacles and unite the realms of their world. In the heart of the Enchanted Realm, Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree that seemed to hold the key to their quest. Its bark was twisted like gnarled roots, and its leaves shimmered with colors never seen in the human world. "Do you think this tree is the World Tree?" Alex whispered, gazing up at the branches that stretched towards the sky. "It could be," Luna replied, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "I've heard tales of the World Tree connecting all realms, but no one has ever found it." "Then we must find it," Alex declared. "Uniting humans and mythical creatures will be the only way to bring peace to the Enchanted Realm." Luna nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "We'll need to overcome many challenges, but together we can do anything." As they stood hand in hand, Alex looked into Luna's eyes and realized that their love could be a powerful force for unity. They would not only find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm, but also discover true love in each other. Together, they would conquer all obstacles and bring harmony to the realms. As they stood hand in hand, gazes locked, Alex and Luna gazed at the ancient tree before them. The tree's twisted branches reached high into the sky, its roots intertwined with the earth below. Alex's eyes sparkled with wonder, while Luna's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Do you think," Alex began, his voice barely above a whisper, "that this tree could be...the World Tree?" Luna nodded, her voice as soft as the rustling leaves. "It connects all realms, after all. It's possible that it holds the power to unite them." "But," Alex continued, his eyes scanning the immense trunk, "what if we can't control its power? What if it brings chaos instead of unity?" Luna took his hand, her touch warm and reassuring. "Together, we can face any challenge. And our love...it can be a powerful force for unity." They stood there in silence, their hearts beating as one. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they knew that they had found something truly magical - a bond stronger than any myth or legend. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead and prove that love could indeed conquer all. Alex and Luna stood beneath the ancient tree, its massive branches stretching out like gnarled fingers reaching for the sky. The tree's bark was rough and twisted, as if it had seen countless sunsets and moons. "You think this tree could be the World Tree?" Alex asked, his eyes tracing the lines of the tree's bark. "The one that connects all realms?" Luna nodded, her blue-tinted wings shimmering in the dim light. "It's possible. It's said that the World Tree bridges the gap between our world and others, allowing magic to flow freely." Alex ran his hand along the bark, feeling the rough texture beneath his fingertips. "Then why haven't we seen more proof of its existence?" "Perhaps it's hidden from us, kept safe until those with pure hearts can unlock its power," Luna suggested. "Maybe our love could be the key." Alex looked at her, surprise flickering across his face. "Our love? How so?" Luna smiled softly, her eyes sparkling like starlight. "Love is a powerful force. It has the ability to unite worlds and break down barriers. If we can show the realms that our love transcends all boundaries, perhaps they will see the potential of the World Tree as well." Alex looked back at the ancient tree, his heart swelling with newfound determination. "Then let's prove it. Together, we'll show them that love is the key to unity and harmony among all realms." As they stood hand in hand beneath the tree, their hearts intertwined, Alex realized their love could indeed be a powerful force for unity. And together, they would overcome any obstacle in their path. Alex stared at the ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like ancient fingers, wrapped around the sky. "Do you think this could be the World Tree?" he asked Luna, his voice full of wonder and hope. Luna tilted her head, studying the tree as she replied, "It's possible. The legends say that the World Tree connects all realms, but we would need to find a way to access its power." She glanced at Alex, her eyes sparkling with determination. "But together, we can overcome any challenge." Alex's heart swelled, and he squeezed Luna's hand. "And what if our love could be the key?" He wondered if their feelings for each other could unite humans and mythical creatures like never before. Luna smiled softly, her eyes meeting his. "I believe it can, Alex. Our love can bring unity to all realms." She leaned in, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that seemed to echo through the air, resonating with the whispers of ancient magic. As the golden sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the enchanted forest, Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree unlike any they had ever seen. Its gnarled branches seemed to stretch infinitely skyward, while its roots dug deep into the earth beneath them. The air around them buzzed with magical energy, making it difficult to breathe. Alex turned to Luna, her eyes wide with wonder. "Do you think this tree could be...the World Tree? You know, the one that connects all realms?" Luna tilted her head, considering the possibility. "I don't know, Alex. It's certainly old and powerful, but there are so many legends about the World Tree. It's hard to tell if this is it." Alex nodded, determined. "We need to find out. If we can use this tree to unite all realms, think of the possibilities! The dragons, fairies, and giants could live peacefully alongside humans!" Luna smiled at Alex's enthusiasm. "I agree, but we must be careful. There are powerful beings who don't want us to succeed. They fear what they cannot control." Alex took Luna's hand, feeling a warmth spread through her. "But together, we can overcome anything. Even the darkest forces. And our love can be the key." Luna looked into Alex's eyes, seeing the sincerity and conviction there. "You're right," she said softly. "Our love can be a powerful force for unity. Together, we will make the impossible possible." As they stood hand in hand beneath the ancient tree, Alex and Luna knew that their love could indeed bring together all realms. And with that knowledge, they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. In the realm of myth and magic, where dragons soared through azure skies and fairies danced in moonlit glades, there lived a young man named Alex. He was on a quest to find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm, a mysterious artifact said to hold the key to uniting the world of humans and mythical creatures. Along his journey, he encountered Luna, an enchanting fairy who would become his companion and confidante. One day, while exploring an ancient forest filled with towering trees that seemed to stretch toward the heavens, Alex and Luna stumbled upon a tree unlike any they had ever seen before. It was massive, its gnarled branches reaching out like the fingers of some ancient deity, its bark etched with runes that shimmered in the sunlight. In that moment, they both felt an inexplicable connection to the tree, as if it held a secret, a truth hidden from all but the most perceptive. "Do you think this could be the World Tree?" Alex asked, awestruck by the sight before him. "The one that connects all realms and holds the power to unite humans and mythical creatures?" Luna gazed at the tree with a mixture of wonder and apprehension. "It's possible," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But if this is indeed the World Tree, we must be cautious. The power it holds could be dangerous, even in the wrong hands." Alex nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. "We'll have to find a way to harness its power for good, then. And maybe, just maybe, our love can be the key that unlocks its true potential." They stood hand in hand beneath the tree, gazes locked, as they contemplated the challenges before them. In that moment, Alex realized that their love could indeed be a powerful force for unity, and together, they would overcome any obstacle. Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like fingers of a wise old man. Its bark was thick and weathered, yet it seemed to pulse with life. Alex looked at Luna, her eyes filled with wonder and hope. "Do you think this could be...?" she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Luna smiled, the corners of her mouth turning up in a playful grin. "The World Tree? It's possible," she replied, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Legends speak of a tree that connects all realms, but no one has ever found it." Alex nodded, her eyes scanning the tree's trunk for any hints of magic. "And if we could find it? If we could use it to unite humans and mythical creatures?" "It wouldn't be easy," Luna admitted. "We'd have to face countless challenges, make allies out of enemies, and learn to trust those we never thought we'd ally with. But if our love can bring unity to these realms, imagine what it could do when united with the power of the World Tree." Alex looked into Luna's eyes, seeing the depth of conviction there. "We can do this," she declared, her voice filled with determination. Hand in hand, they stood before the ancient tree, knowing that together, they could overcome any obstacle and forge a future where humans and mythical creatures lived as one. Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree, its roots spreading wide like the branches of a cosmic tree. Its bark was smooth and seemed to have been carved with runes, symbols that glowed faintly under the moonlight. They had heard stories about this tree, how it could connect all realms and act as the World Tree. "Do you think...," Alex began hesitantly, "that this tree could be the World Tree?" Luna nodded, her eyes full of wonder. "I believe so. It has been spoken of in countless legends, as a bridge between worlds, a symbol of unity and balance." She reached out to touch one of the glowing runes, her fingers tracing its intricate patterns. "Imagine if we could use it to unite all realms - humans, mythical creatures, dragons, fairies, giants, everyone." "But that's impossible," Alex scoffed. "The legends are just stories, right? We can't really do that." Luna smiled gently, taking his hand in hers, their fingers intertwining like the roots and branches of the tree before them. "Every story started as a seed of truth, Alex," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "Our love can be the seed that grows into something greater, something that transcends all barriers. Together, we can unite all realms, even those that seem impossible." Alex looked into Luna's eyes, seeing not just the fairy standing before him, but a partner in this incredible quest. He realized then that their love was powerful, and it could be the force that brought unity to all realms. Together, they would face any challenge, for they had each other, and the heart of the enchanted realm beating within them. Alex and Luna stood before an ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching high into the sky, its roots twisted deep into the earth. The air around them seemed to hum with magic, as if the very essence of the tree was alive and pulsing. Alex glanced at Luna, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "Do you think this could be the World Tree?" she asked, gesturing towards the mighty oak. "You know, the one that connects all realms?" Luna nodded slowly, her voice tinged with awe. "I've heard stories of it, but I never thought I'd see it in person. It could be, you know," she paused, taking a deep breath. "It could be the key to unity between our realms." Alex clenched his fists, determination flickering in his eyes. "We have to find out. But we can't do it alone. We need allies from both sides of the realms." Luna smiled softly, her hand reaching out to take Alex's. "Together, we can make this happen. And when we do," she squeezed his hand, "our love will be the force that unites us all." Alex's heart swelled at Luna's words, and he knew in that moment, they would face any challenge together. Hand in hand, they stood before the ancient tree, their love a powerful force that would one day bring unity to the enchanted realm. Alex stood before the ancient tree, its branches intertwined with vines of emerald and sapphire, reaching high into the sky. The sun's golden rays danced upon its bark, revealing intricate carvings that whispered of forgotten tales. Luna, her eyes twinkling like stars, gazed up at the tree with an air of wonder and longing. "Do you think... could this be the World Tree?" Alex asked hesitantly, his voice barely a whisper in the wind-swept silence. The tree was said to connect all realms, but it seemed almost impossible. Luna tilted her head, considering the question. "I've heard whispers," she began, "of a tree so ancient that its roots span across dimensions, binding the worlds together. But I've never seen it with my own eyes." "Then perhaps," Alex suggested, "if we could find the Heart of the Enchanted Realm, unite humans and mythical creatures... maybe even this tree could be our bridge to unity?" Luna nodded, her eyes meeting his. "We must tread carefully, for there are forces that would see us fail." She took his hand, intertwining their fingers as they stood side by side, gazing up at the towering tree. "But together, we can overcome anything," she added, a spark of determination in her voice. Alex looked into Luna's eyes, seeing not just the love he felt for her but also the strength of a thousand untold stories. He realized that their love, their unity, could be a force strong enough to bridge any chasm. "Together," he agreed, "we will find our way." And with that, they stood hand in hand, their hearts beating as one, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead on their quest for unity and true love. In this scene, Alex and Luna are standing before an ancient tree, discussing its potential nature as a World Tree connecting all realms. They share their thoughts and ideas on how their love can be a powerful force for unity, overcoming any obstacle that comes their way. In the moonlit forest, the air was thick with an atmosphere of magic and wonder. The ancient tree stood before them, its gnarled branches reaching out like the arms of an old friend. Luna's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked Alex, "Do you think this tree could be the World Tree? A bridge connecting all realms?" Alex frowned, deep in thought. "It's possible. But if it is, we'd have to find a way to make it accessible for both humans and mythical creatures." Luna nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "We can do this together. Our love can be the force that unites all realms." As Alex looked into Luna's eyes, he realized she was right. Their love could indeed overcome any obstacle. Hand in hand, they stood before the ancient tree, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its branches seemed to whisper secrets of a time long past. The leaves shimmered with a mystical glow, hinting at the tree's true nature. "Do you think this could be the World Tree?" Alex whispered, awestruck by the sight. "The one that connects all realms and bridges the gap between humans and mythical creatures?" Luna nodded solemnly. "It is said that only when the hearts of all beings are united can the true power of the World Tree be revealed." Alex's eyes met Luna's, a spark of determination igniting within. "Then we must find a way to unite them," he declared. "But how?" Luna asked, her voice tinged with doubt. "The humans and mythical creatures have been at odds for centuries." Alex took Luna's hand in his own, their fingers entwining like vines seeking sunlight. "Love has the power to bridge even the widest chasms," he said, his gaze never wavering from hers. "If we can show them that our love transcends the boundaries of our worlds, perhaps they will follow our example." Luna's eyes softened, and she squeezed Alex's hand reassuringly. "Together, we can show them the beauty of unity," she said, her voice filled with newfound hope. As they stood hand in hand beneath the ancient tree, their hearts beat as one, and Alex realized that their love could indeed be a powerful force for unity. Together, they would face any challenge and overcome every obstacle to bring harmony to all realms. Alex and Luna stood before the ancient tree, its branches reaching towards the sky like gnarled fingers. The sun's rays filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground around them. Luna's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to Alex. "Do you think this tree is the World Tree?" she asked, her voice filled with hope and wonder. "The one that connects all realms." Alex nodded, his expression serious. "It's possible. If it is, it could be a powerful tool for uniting humans and mythical creatures." "But what if the other realms are wary of our intentions?" Luna asked, her brow furrowing in concern. "What if they see us as threats?" "Then we'll have to prove them wrong," Alex said determinedly. "We'll show them that love and unity can overcome any barriers." Luna looked into Alex's eyes, and a warm smile spread across her face. "And our love...it could be the key, couldn't it?" Alex squeezed her hand gently. "Yes, Luna. Our love can be a powerful force for unity. Together, we'll overcome any obstacle." As they stood hand in hand beneath the ancient tree, Alex and Luna felt an unspoken bond connecting them. They knew that their journey had only just begun, but with each other by their side, they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
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renthony · 1 year ago
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I am begging people to use LibreOffice and personal storage devices like hard drives or USB sticks instead of relying 100% on Google Docs. LibreOffice is free and open-source, it saves files to your own computer, and it lets you save as many different file types. You can write in it, format ebooks in it, and do everything you might possibly need to do as a writer.
"Oh, but I'll lose my USB stick--" Fine, back things up in whatever cloud you use as a form of extra protection, but you should also try your absolute damnedest to also put them on some form of storage that isn't a cloud.
I know it's not accessible to everyone, but if you at all have the ability, don't rely on shit that lives on other people's computers. Especially with everything going on with AI theft and aggressive censorship of adult media. If you don't store your files on your own personal computer that you have control over, your files aren't fully yours, and they're at the whims of whoever owns the cloud.
Learn where your files are stored and how to access them. Get into the habit of backing up your files to your own personal storage. Even if you're not up for intense tech research and you don't care about how the computer actually works, please stop letting your art live in corporate clouds.
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pskyyy-blog · 2 years ago
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mostlysignssomeportents · 3 days ago
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How my DRM-free principles left me owning the rights to a German audiobook
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Support me this summer in the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop! This summer, I'm writing The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI, a short book for Farrar, Straus and Giroux that explains how to be an effective AI critic.
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Long story short: thanks to a series of misunderstandings, I had to shell out more than ten thousand euros to prevent a German audiobook of my work from being released with DRM and now I need your help (assuming you speak German) to get the book into readers' ears!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/red-team-blues-auf-deutsche-drm-freie
For more than a quarter-century, I've had an iron-clad policy of not releasing my work with "digital rights management," this being a kind of encryption that keeps my readers from reading the books they've bought in the apps of their choice.
There's two reasons for this: the first is, it's just grossly unfair. If you buy one of my print books, you can shelve it on any bookcase and read it sitting in any chair, under any company's lightbulb. It's stupid and offensive for a company like Amazon/Audible to declare that you can only read the ebooks and audiobooks you buy using the apps they approve.
But the second reason is more insidious and subtle. By retaining control over the apps that you must use to read or listen to your books, companies like Amazon are able to lock you into their platform. That means they can change the deal even after you've made your purchase (for example, Amazon has been caught deleting ebooks from people's Kindle apps and readers and Audible has experimented with inserting ads into your audiobooks after you buy them).
This lock-in isn't limited to readers, either. Once Amazon has all my readers locked in, the company acquires control over me, the writer. After all, if my readers can't switch from Amazon to another bookseller, then I can't switch from Amazon to another bookseller, because that would mean asking my readers to start over buying all their books again.
Amazon has a long history of squeezing its sellers – including writers and publishers – once it has them locked in. Today, 45-51% of every Amazon Marketplace purchase from an independent seller is skimmed off by Amazon in junk fees. The company makes $58 billion/year charging vendors for search placement (rather than putting the best match for shoppers' searches at the top of the result). And they stole at least $100m from Audible audiobook authors:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/07/audible-exclusive/#audiblegate
In 1998, the US passed a law (Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) that makes tampering with DRM a felony with a 5-year prison sentence and a $500k fine (for a first offense). In the years since, the US Trade Representative bullied every US trading partner into adopting this law. The EU did so in 2001, with Article 6 of the Copyright Directive.
This means that it's literally a crime for me, the author of a book, who holds the copyright to the work, to authorize you, a reader who bought the ebook or audiobook on Amazon, to convert the digital file so that it works with apps that compete with Amazon's.
So that's why I don't allow my work to be sold with DRM.
Everyone I do business with knows this – my publishers, my agents, etc – and over the past quarter century and more than 30 books, all of these people have bent over backwards to accommodate this policy of mine, even when it meant changing the workflow they used for thousands of books just to make an exception for me. I'm incredibly grateful for this.
But eventually, someone was bound to slip up, and that's how I ended up owning the German audiobook for my novel Red Team Blues.
After Red Team Blues was published in English in 2022 and became a national bestseller, many foreign publishers snapped up the translation rights. Among them was Heyne, my German publisher, who commissioned a fantastic translation by Jürgen Langowski that has sold briskly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Heyne also commissioned an audiobook, beautifully read by a beloved German audiobook narrator, Uve Teschner.
But somewhere in there, everyone forgot that this audiobook could only be sold without DRM. And since Audible, Apple Books and Audiobooks.com refuse to carry DRM-free books, that meant that they would not be able to sell the books in the places where 90+% of readers look for them.
No one is to blame here. It's just an oversight. But it left us all in the awkward position of my publisher having spent more than EUR10,000 on an audiobook that they would never be able to recoup on. Both my publisher and my agent offered to eat these costs, but I felt bad about this, given the great lengths both had gone to over the years to help me live my principles through my books.
Besides: I have this platform of mine, the newsletters and lists of people who've bought audiobooks from me before and the people who've backed the Kickstarters for my previous English works, and I decided I would buy the audiobook rights from my German publisher and try to make the money back by selling directly to my German fans.
Today, I've launched a Kickstarter campaign to sell the DRM-free German audiobook. I'm also selling the DRM-free ebook, and the German paperback, which will be fulfilled by my pals at Berlin's excellent sf/f bookstore Otherland (due to the Trump tariff nonsense, these can only be shipped in the EU, UK, and Switzerland):
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/red-team-blues-auf-deutsche-drm-freie
There's something for English-speaking readers, too: discounted editions of the English-language ebook and audiobook (read by Wil Wheaton), available in bundles with the German titles, or on their own. Europeans can also order the print edition of the book (again, fulfilled by Otherland in Berlin).
Now, I don't actually speak German. I grew up speaking Yiddish, much of which I've forgotten, which means that I can kind of grunt out ungrammatical German-adjacent phrases (the Otherland folks generously translated my Kickstarter page into German). That means that I have extremely limited ability to promote this Kickstarter to German-speaking audiences. I'm really relying on my readers here: if you are a German-speaker and/or have German-speaking friends, please let them know about this!
When you do, your pals are going to ask you what the book is about. Red Team Blues tells the story of the last case of Martin Hench, a 67 year old high-tech forensic accountant who's spent 40 years in Silicon Valley, busting the weirdest financial scams that three generations of tech bros cooked up. For this final job, Marty's been called out of retirement to resolve that scammiest of all tech-bro schemes, a cryptocurrency heist.
Marty's dear old pal Danny Lazer has built a new – and wildly successful – kind of blockchain, built on the security chips in mobile devices, called Trustlesscoin. Lazer is a cypherpunk legend, but that's not why Trustlesscoin went from zero to more than a billion in capitalization in a few short months: all that money poured in because some of the world's most ruthless criminals came to appreciate how Danny's cryptocurrency could facilitate money-laundering.
That would be bad enough, but Danny is exactly the kind of very smart guy who is more than capable of outsmarting himself. That's how he came to build a cryptographic back-door into Trustlesscoin, a secret key that allows the bearer to rewrite the supposedly immutable transactions in the network, which is to say, to steal all the money.
That's where Marty Hench comes in: Danny summons Marty to his home in Palo Alto because someone has stolen the physical token that this billion-dollar key lives on, and if someone doesn't get it back soon, it's only a matter of time until a billion dollars goes missing, and then the kind of people who resolve their monetary disputes with bone-saws and red-hot pokers will come looking for Danny.
That's where the story starts – but it turns out that recovering Danny's missing keys are the easy part. The hard part comes next, when Marty finds himself in the crosshairs of the violent international crime syndicates that boosted the keys in the first place.
People really like this book. It's the kind of book you stay up all night reading (or, as Molly White from Web3 is Going Just Great put it, "don't start reading it at bedtime if you have to be awake for something the next morning"). If you find yourself craving morning Marty Hench in the morning, I've published two more bestsellers recounting his earlier adventures: The Bezzle and Picks and Shovels.
Check it out for yourself. Here's the first chapter of the German audiobook, read by Uve Teschner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8e2or8ze_4
And here's the first chapter of the English audiobook, read by Wil Wheaton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb8yJeASgho
The campaign only runs for a brisk three weeks (I've got to get it all put away before I head out on tour with Enshittification in October), so act fast:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/red-team-blues-auf-deutsche-drm-freie
And please, tell your German-speaking friends!
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/21/martin-mensch/#horbuch
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charliegyrth · 5 months ago
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Hello from Charlie Gyrth!
A Brief Introduction (and Links!)
Hello, Tumblr! My name’s Charlie. I’ve been writing (and reading) gainer fiction for years, and I finally have the confidence to start posting. My goal is to publish one story or chapter every day for the rest of 2025.
Here’s what I have so far:
Today's Story:
Fattened by My Mother-in-Law
Long Stories:
Fat for a Day - 3 parts (ebook) Fat Passengers - 3 parts (ebook) A Milkshake a Day - 4 parts (ebook) The Muscle Trade - 4 parts Nightly Feedings - 4 parts (ebook) Adiposexual - 5 parts (ebook) My Former Best Friend - 5 parts (ebook) Go with the Flow - 9 parts (ebook) Fatter for the Wedding - 12 parts (ebook) Alex Gets Soft - 22 parts (ebook)
Short Stories:
Are You Happy? Back from the Oil Rig Big Fat Crush on My Doctor Big Fat Principal Carlos and Me Changing My Body for You Chicken Shack Fatties Cody Comes Back Fat Farm Boys Fat Felix Tries Ozempic A Fat Guy Learns to Love Himself Fattened in a Hotel Fattening the Actor Fattening the ICE Agents Fit to Fat to Fit: What Could Go Wrong? Getting Fat for TV Good Memories Hangry Halloween Before and After How to Be a Fat American How to Be an Alpha Improving Myself James Goes to the Gym Lardy Johnson's Livestream Larry the Model Liam's Sweet Tooth Mark Wears the Pants Marriage Body Mukbang Mikey My Best Friend Comes Back My Boyfriend's Moobs A Roommate Gets Fat Scooter Search History Three Roommates Tiny Tim and Small Sam Two Fat Guys on a Blind Date Two Fit Foodies Unrecognizably Fat Unspoken What Happened to the Hot Swimmer? What a Show-Off! The Writer's Retreat
Fantasy/Sci-Fi Stories:
Darren's Birthday Surprise Fattened by Donuts Final Destination: Obesity King Kong and the Blob Metabolism Blockers One Pound a Week Sliding Doors, Changing Waistlines
"You" Stories:
Fat Coma Feeding You in Public Four Thanksgivings I Really Want You to Like Me My Food Is Your Food The Summer You Got Fat A Vibrator Makes You Fat Why Do You Want Me to Feed You?! You Peaked in High School You Ruin Your Perfect Body Your Little Guy Your Wonderful Boyfriend
Two-Part Stories:
After the Fattening Big Henry Fat Blind Date Fat Camp Reunion Giving In Hey, Chubs! The Hottest Guy in Town I'm Too Cold I'm Too Fat for My In-Laws The Lottery Winner My Little Meatball Speedos
And here’s a bit about me:
I love writing about positive, supportive male couples who embrace the joys of gaining, feeding, encouraging, stuffing, and belly play. I don’t write about force-feeding (unless it’s consensual) or revenge fattening. I read those kinds of stories sometimes, but as a writer, I want to explore the healthier sides to gaining.
I find fat beautiful, so I kind of get lost in describing it sometimes. I love the sheer variety of plus-sized body types, so I try to reflect that in my stories. Not every fat guy is destined to grow a big, round beer gut (although those are great, of course).
I typically stay away from magical plots or instant weight gain. That usually doesn’t do it for me.
I will never use AI in my writing. I like creating these stories myself. (I have a day job as a full-time writer/editor, so this stuff is sort of a release for me.)
I try to be realistic with how quickly my characters gain, but sometimes I get a little ahead of myself and stretch reality. Just go with it.
I've started to publish some of these stories as ebooks. They will always be available for free on Tumblr, but one of my goals in life is to make gainer fiction more accepted in the literary world. We need to get more of this stuff out there. I don't expect gainer fiction to ever become mainstream, but there's no reason why it isn't as mainstream as, say, werewolf shifter erotica or other niche subgenres.
Probably not important, but I'm a redhead, so if you're wondering why there's an overrepresentation of red-haired characters in my stories, now you know.
I’m a gainer in my personal life, but I’m terrible at it. I always get up to about 210 or so and then chicken out. These stories are a way to help me process some of those feelings so that I can eventually have the confidence to keep going. We’ll see. (196 as of today!)
And I think that’s about it. Thanks so much for checking out my Tumblr! And happy eating!
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novella-november · 6 months ago
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I have no idea why this needs to be said, but you can hate generative AI, love the Public Domain, love media preservation, hate the overbearing US Copyright system, and... still believe that Copyright Laws exist in the first place for a reason, (even if, thanks to Big Corporation Monopolies, it's been twisted into its current behemoth monstrosity.)
You can hate Large Language Models and still believe in Copyright Reform over Copyright Abolishment.
You can believe in Media Preservation and still believe that Plagiarism is wrong.
You can hate the current restrictive Copyright Laws without wanting to abolish them entirely.
You can love the Public Domain and still loath predatory corporations stealing everything they can get their hands on, to literally *feed the machine.*
These things are not mutually exclusive, and if you think that
"you can't hate AI if you hate the current copyright laws"
or that
"Hating on Generative AI will only give us more restrictive copyright and IP laws, therefore you need to normalize and accept generative AI stealing all of your creations and every single thing you've ever said on the internet!"
I just genuinely don't understand how you can say this kind of crap if you've ever interacted with any creative person in your life.
I'm a wanna-be-author.
I want as many people to be able to afford my written works as possible without restrictions, and I fully plan on having free ebooks of my works available for those who can't afford to buy them.
*That does *not* mean I, in any way shape or form, would ever consent to people stealing my work and uploading it into a Large Language Model and telling it to spit out fifty unauthorized sequels that are then sold for cash profit!*
You cannot support generative AI and turn around and try to claim you're actually just defending small time artists, and *also* you think no one should have any legal protections at all protecting their work from plagiarism at all.
Supporting unethical generative AI (which is literally all of them currently), protecting artists, and *completely abolishing* copyright and intellectual property laws instead of reforming them *are* mutually exclusive concepts.
You *cannot* worship the plagiarism machine, claim to care about small artists, and then say that those same small artists should have absolutely *zero* legal protections to stop their work being plagiarized.
The only way AI could even begin to approach being ethical would be if using it to begin with wasn't a huge hazard to the enviornment, and if it was trained *exclusively * on Public Domain works that had to be checked and confirmed by multiple real human beings before it was put into the training data.
And oh, would you look at that?
Every single AI model is currently just sucking up the entire fucking goddamn internet and everything ever posted on it and everything ever downloaded from it with no way to really truly opt out of it or even just to know if your work has been fed to the machine until an entire page of text from your book pops out when it generates text from someone's writing prompt.
And no, it's not just "privileged Western authors" who are being exploited by AI.
For an updating list of global legal cases again AI tech giants, see this link here to stay up to date as cases develop:
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derinthescarletpescatarian · 11 months ago
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The big book FAQ for Derins books
I've been asked all of these questions so very many times, so here's the answers.
Can I print out and hand bind your story?
What you do with my story in your own damn house is none of my business. Buy the ebook and hand bind it if you want (it's probably cheaper than buying the print book, and I make more money on ebook sales, so win-win). Painstakingly copy and paste and edit the chapters for free from the free online version, if you prefer. So long as you're not selling copies to people, what you do with the book when it's yours is your business.
Send me photos if you want. I've seen some rad homebound copies of my stories and I want to see more. You guys are so creative.
Can I translate your story to another language for a school assignment/personal project?
Yes.
Can I make an audio version of your story and post it online?
So long as you link back to the original text version, yes.
Where is the first TTOU book available in print?
It's available in these places. It will be available through Ingram and Amazon's various networks, so expect it to show up in more digital storefronts over the next week or so. Or your local bookstore can very likely order it in for you, if you ask them.
Will the free version of TTOU stay online?
Same as Curse Words, I will not be taking down the unedited first draft that's currently online any time soon. However, I also won't be putting any special effort into maintaining existing links to it.
If I want to give you the largest royalty cut, which version of your book should I buy?
Buy whichever version is most convenient for you. The ebook and print versions exist because readers asked for them to exist, not because I expect to make money from them.
I make the most from the ebook versions, particularly if you buy through Smashwords, but the best way to support me is through ko-fi, where you can get advance chapters for the books I'm currently writing, not through book purchasing.
Your cheapest option for the books, paperback and ebook, is through my ko-fi shop, where distributor markups can be avoided. But paperback supplies are currently very limited via this method.
What really happened at the end of Copy <|> Paste?
I said everything I want to say in the story itself.
What is [fictional character or society]'s opinion/future/history/custom with regard to --
See previous answer.
Are any of your books going to be released as audiobooks?
Probably not. Fairly compensating audiobooks readers is very expensive and I won't be making AI versions.
When will the Curse Words books be sold in print?
When the art for them is ready.
What's your opinion on [latest drama or scandal surrounding a different writer]?
This is probably the first I'm hearing of it, I have no relevant information about the issue to share with you.
Should I message you about typos found in the free online drafts of your work?
You can if you want to, but if the typo doesn't interfere with story clarity, I'm probably not going to bother with it until it's time to edit the story for print.
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artificial-transmutations · 11 months ago
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Out Now: Dam Breakers
Hello everyone! I'm extremely excited (and, quite frankly, more than a bit nervous) to announce that I finished my fantasy romance novel Dam Breakers!
For the very TLDR-version: It is available here! Be sure to read the disclaimer below, though.
First of all, thank you! Everyone who reads my stories or likes them shows me that there is at least some interest in my mediocre writing. And even though the novel is not exactly like my stories here (more to that later), it gives me hope that you and other people might like it.
Now, for the actual novel!
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Dam Breakers is the tale of Jared, a rather normal modern day college student, and Aleron, an apprentice mage living in a secluded tower with his teacher. One fateful day, they meet and are drawn into a maelstrom of magic, change and love - and dark secrets threatening to destroy everything they loved.
With over 120000 words, this is not only my longest story yet, but also my most carefully crafted one. I will attach an image of my Obsidian graph for the story at the end of the post.
Disclaimer:
As I have mentioned, it is a bit different from the stories I usually post here. First and foremost, it's a lot tamer. This novel isn't meant as a porn piece, but as an intriguing fantasy and romance tale. While there is love, desire and sex, of course, it's way more sparse and less explicit than, for example Closer Than Flesh.
It also features transformation themes, and the concept of change is one of the main focus points of the book, but, again, don't expect 500 pages full of transforming bodies because of it :)
And, finally, for a multitude of reasons, it does not contain AI generated images. I wouldn't be able to generate any that do the story justice, anyway.
Now that you know what not to expect, here are some things you MAY expect:
Transformation. Both in the sense of bodily changes but intriguing character development as well.
Gay Love. This is a story about two men from different worlds falling in love with each other, and their stony road to being together.
Magic. It's a fantasy story, and a truly enchanting one at that, with a fresh concept of magic and change.
Story. Last, but certainly not least, it's a good and interesting read, at least according to my opinion. Since I might be a bit biased here, let me tell you that my beta readers agree.
If you still want to read it (and I hope you do!), then you can grab your copy here:
If you are not in the US, you can just replace the .com with, for example, .co.uk to go to your local Amazon marketplace
I have not forgotten, of course, that I promised a special condition for you folks at Tumblr. Since Amazon makes it a bit difficult to actually implement that, I plan to offer a time limited discount or giveaway in a few weeks. I'll announce the exact time here on my blog beforehand.
If you really want to support me, it would mean a lot to me if you could leave a review on Amazon. That influences the algorithm a lot and helps the book get visibility, which is incredibly important . So, please, if you like the book, leave a review.
Teaser / Preview (mild spoilers)
And here is a short look into the book, from chapter 4. It contains some mild spoilers, but nothing too important. I also added an AI image, which is not in the book (see above).
[...]
Even though the weather was unstable, Jared enjoyed the journey through the vibrant spring land. It was a closeness to nature he had never experienced. Even back home with his parents, in rural Texas, the land had seemed different. Back there, the wilderness had been tamed decades if not centuries ago. There was no wonder, no adventure. Here, there were hills and forests, rivers and bogs, and who knew what else. It was as if Jared was seeing the world for the first time. Not to mention the smell. Jared could not remember a time when he had smelled the spring air like this.
In addition to the landscape, Jared's traveling companion also played a big part. Aleron was an intelligent and witty conversationalist, and Jared learned a lot about his new friend. They spoke of everything under the sun, and Jared told stories of his home, of modern inventions and the differences between this world and his. Even though Aleron was fascinated by his tales, he was also clearly skeptical about some of them, especially when it came to the more complex topics. That was only fair, though, as Jared himself had a hard time believing the fantastic stories of this world, even after having experienced some with his own eyes. Dragons, for example. It didn't matter how often Aleron recited what little information he had about those magnificent beasts, something in Jared resisted fully believing in them. He hoped that he would be able to see one of them for real - although Aleron repeatedly stressed how dangerous they were - in order to be able to fully believe in them.
While Aleron's world was certainly magical, it wasn't all like in the Lord of the Rings. There were, for example, no other humanoid races, as Jared learned. No elves, dwarves or orcs, at least to Aleron's knowledge, which, to be fair, mainly included the Kingdom of Myrthien. Although the Whispering Woods were not technically a part of Myrthien, and were generally considered wilderness, it was clear that they were no part of another nation either. The closest neighboring country to the Whispering Woods would either be the Golden Isles beyond the coast south of Eldoria or the Verdant Lands to the west. According to Aleron, the Verdant Lands couldn't really be considered a nation, too. It was more of a loose confederation of tribal communities, living in the characteristic dense forests of that region.
As Helena had promised, Luminara wasn't difficult to find. The capital of Myrthien was well known and if there was a sign post somewhere, it was sure to point to Luminara.
There was no shortage of smaller and bigger settlements, and about every third or fourth night they were able to sleep in beds. During the other nights, they made camp a bit off the road in order not to attract too much attention. It was one of those nights, about two weeks after they had left Eldoria, that Jared woke up in the middle of the night. Aleron, who was sleeping next to him, was moving in his sleep and occasionally made a sound, which had caused Flicker to gain a bit of distance to the sleeping man.
It was clear to Jared that his friend was dreaming, and he briefly considered waking him up from his nightmare. However, judging by the sounds, Jared began to suspect that Aleron was not having a nightmare but quite the opposite, although the dream seemed to be just as intense.
Quietly, he left the tent, careful not to wake the sleeping mage. Outside, he was greeted by the stars and a clear sky with an almost full moon. The campfire was almost dead, just a few embers and ashes were left. It was a quiet, peaceful night, and Jared decided to go to the nearby lake to drink. Aleron had never once shown a single sign of sexuality before, except for demonstrating a certain uneasiness around nudity and related topics. He never had commented on any woman - or man - in a suggestive way, so Jared had been half- convinced that this whole topic didn't have any relevance to the mage at all.
Of course, for his own reasons, Jared had avoided the subject as well, so, perhaps Aleron thought the same about him. Jared didn't mind that. As magical as this world was, he had yet to encounter a single sign of same-sex attraction. Perhaps this wasn't a thing here, biologically, or perhaps it was socially frowned upon, like in his world's medieval ages - or rural Texas, present day. In any case, there was absolutely no reason to bring that topic up, so he didn't. Not bringing up his sexuality was a sport he was very experienced in for 9 years straight now, after all.
As Jared neared the lake, he was feeling weird and tingly all over. It was not entirely unpleasant, but it stirred a vague memory in Jared. He had felt this feeling once before, but he couldn't quite recall when.
When he bent down to scoop some water into his hand, he stopped before his fingers touched the surface of the lake. The moon was bright, and Jared could see his reflection in the mirror-smooth water quite well. The only problem was that it was not him who was looking back at him.
Of course, there was a strong resemblance, but the details weren't right. His face looked somewhat stronger, his jawline a bit squarer. His hair a bit lighter and styled like the day he first stepped out of the mirror. On his chin, there was a short well-groomed beard even though he had shaved just last morning. It wasn't just his face, though. As he looked down on himself, he looked fitter than he should, as if he was visiting a gym regularly. In fact, the definition of muscle on his torso increased further, just as he was watching. Suddenly, the wonder was replaced by fear. He had felt that way before, and now he remembered when. It had been during his first visit to Aleron's world, when his body was 'destabilizing' as Aleron had put it. Given, the feeling had been stronger then, but it was definitely the same. And now, his body was changing again, and he was weeks of travel from the magic mirror.
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Half-panicking, he sprinted back to the tent, not caring about being quiet anymore. Perhaps Aleron knew what to do! He ducked into the entrance and called out to the mage.
"Aleron, wake up!"
Almost immediately, the apprentice jolted awake. "Jared? What is wrong?"
"I... don't know, it's me. Look at me!"
After a few words of encouragement, Flicker began burning brighter, allowing them to see in the tent as well. Aleron looked at the half-naked Jared critically for a few moments before asking: "Okay... what am I looking for?"
"Can't you see? I'm..." However, as Jared looked down on himself, everything was fine again. He was looking at his plain old self, just as he should look like. The tingling feeling was gone, too.
"Oh." Jared felt incredibly stupid all of a sudden. "I... must have been imagining things."
[...]
If you liked the teaser, be sure to give the whole thing a read :)
Let me close with another whole-hearted Thank You for your continued interest!
Stay awesome!
And here, as promised, a peek at the creative complexity of the story:
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edward-cabrini · 1 month ago
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There was a very lovely post about wishing writers were financially and stable and able to keep writing and I thought it'd be neat to breakdown how viable being a full time writer is.
My books are sold for £12.33 which includes VAT. The cost of printing one book ai £4.84. The current royalty rate is %60. This means that per book sold I earn £2.56 before income tax.
So to have a stable income of £35,000 a year (before tax), I need to sell 13,672 books a year. For the rest of my life...
However, 13,672 books isn't unfeasible. I'm currently writing one book a year. I'm desperately trying to make it two or three a year, I fuckin' love my stories and I want them out in the world. Regardless, a new book each year means that if I can find my readers and they keep loving what I'm writing and buy my book, then I can be a financially stable artist. Which is my dream, I so so desperately don't want to go back to the corporate mines of the tech industry.
Now, that's paperback. I have also made my book for kindle & kindle unlimited. As an ebook I don't have a printing cost to cover. Not only that, but the royalty rate is currently 70%, which means: same content, less cost, more profit.
My ebooks are priced at £3.91, nearly a quarter of the paperback's price. Yet I make £2.70 per ebook sold/book fully read. A whole 14p extra.
Any version of my work you buy supports me and gets me one step closer to my dream.
Now... One last important detail. Fuck the capitalist dystopia we live in. Why do I have to pay wall my art? Well... farmers, butchers, and trawlers gotta eat too and theyvget money from me getting money to buy their stuff. That's the situation, it be like that, but that doesn't mean I have to pay wall my art.
Books should not only be accisble to those who can afford it. To that end, I have chosen not to enable the Digital Rights Management system for my ebooks. So, if you have a friend with a kindle they can copy the epub file and share it to you. No one can stop them. Someone somewhere has to buy the ebook to share it, that gets me my sandwich for the day, everyone else they know can get my books.
And just as a slight disclaimer for the sharing. I think enmass piracy, like if the file was put on a sharing site, that won't get you in trouble with me. God knows I love the thought of people loving my work so much they pirate it in their thousands. But unfortunately, Amazon might get a wee bit upset. You see, the sharing stops them raking in all the profit off my labour. They don't like that much.
So at the end of the day how viable is it to live as a full time writer not very. It's not to be attempted by the faint of heart, and some days are very hard. Interactions on posts and reviews, good or bad, mean everything. Anything to shift a few books and spread our little corner of art into the wider world. Anyway, I hope enjoyed the insights.
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