#its not working: troubleshooting for writers

[nanowrimo]

How Finding the Right Writing Community Can Support You as a Writer

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Novlr, a 2023 NaNoWriMo sponsor, is the world’s first writer-owned creative writing platform, built by writers, for writers. Today, professional writer and Novlr Community Lead Pamela Koehne-Drube shares some of the benefits a writing community can provide:

I’ve been a storyteller since I first learned to speak and a writer since I first held a pen. The writing journey is an emotional roller coaster, and no single day is ever the same. 

There are moments of delight, like when a scene I’ve struggled with finally comes together, or the satisfaction of building a character who comes to life on the page. There’s the sense of accomplishment when my first draft is finished and I get to read my completed story, and the nerves of putting those same words in front of readers for the very first time.

There are lots of silent rooms, the soft tapping of keys, or the scribble of a pen. Sometimes the isolation gets too much, and that’s when I grapple with writer’s block, wrestle with stubborn plot holes, or have to slog through edits I’m just not in the mood for.

In my years as a working writer, the most important thing I’ve learned is that while only I can do the writing, I don’t have to go on the journey alone. A writing community can make all the difference in keeping me motivated. 

What is a writing community?

Writing communities are as diverse as the writers who are part of them. Every writer will have a different need from their community, but what they do share is giving writers the opportunity to interact, share knowledge, and provide mutual support.

Some communities come ready-made. NaNoWriMo is a prime example, where diverse writers all rally together to achieve a common goal and support each other along the way. It has been one of my biggest encouragements over the years. And at Novlr, we’ve built an entire writing workspace around the idea of community, not only offering a virtual space for writers to come together and share their wins, struggles, ideas, and techniques but also giving our writer-owners a real say and influence in how our platform grows and develops.

Why are writing communities important?

Writing communities are a lifeline for many of us, offering a nurturing environment where we can learn, grow, and find kinship. Whether it's seeking feedback, gaining inspiration, or just breaking the isolation often associated with writing, they play an invaluable role in any writer's journey.

Encouragement

Sometimes, as a writer, all you need is someone telling you you’re doing a good job. Positive affirmations and encouragement can make all the difference, not only to your confidence but also to motivate you to stick with it. Being able to share ideas, troubleshoot plot holes, and celebrate even the small victories with people who get it is the perfect motivation.

Accountability

Being part of a writing community that openly shares its goals and commitments is a surefire way to motivate you to follow through. Again, NaNoWriMo is a perfect example of this; announcing your intention to the world and to the wider NaNo community makes your 50,000-word draft more than just an idea you have. It makes it real.

This accountability works for smaller goals too. Just sharing them with people makes them a tangible thing to work toward, keeping you accountable and on track to achieve your writing goals.

Become a better writer

Writing groups offer the perfect opportunity to get real-time feedback on your work and expose yourself to diverse and unique perspectives from fellow writers. Not only can they learn from you and your experiences, but you can learn from theirs by championing supportive and constructive criticism.

Rediscover the joy of writing!

There’s something truly special about the collective joy and camaraderie of sharing your writing journey. Writing groups help foster friendships where you can celebrate your shared successes. The challenges of writing become less daunting and more like puzzles to be solved together, and if you involve group activities, like writing prompts or collaborative projects, the process of writing becomes much more vibrant and enjoyable. 

What types of writing communities are there?

Writing events

Writing events foster writing communities where each member shares a single goal or focus. NaNoWriMo is, of course, the biggest and most well-known goal-focused event in the creative writing space. I have lifelong writing pals I’ve met over NaNoWriMo, and we still regularly get together for critiques. Last year, I even did a 24-hour novel challenge where we took the NaNo goal of 50,000 words but tried to fit it into a single 24-hour period. It was one of the toughest writing challenges I’ve ever done, but the community that came from it is amazing.

Similarly, online communities, like our Discord, that host regular writing sprints, often attract goal-focused individuals who enjoy the thrill of time-bound writing challenges. 

In-person writing groups

In-person writing groups meet at a dedicated time and place, like a local coffee shop, library, or someone's home. I host a writing group at my local pub on one of their quieter afternoons, and there’s a handful of us who get together, exchange ideas, play writing games, provide real-time feedback, and just generally share our work in the spirit of improving our craft. 

The value of personal contact can't be underestimated, as it does allow for more nuanced discussions about works in progress and provides a structure that many writers, myself included, find beneficial.

Critique groups

Critique groups, as the name suggests, focus primarily on providing constructive feedback on members' work. These groups are all about sharing drafts and receiving detailed criticism about your writing — anything from accuracy to style and accessibility.

Peer critiques can offer a variety of perspectives on your writing. It’s a great way to find plot holes, character inconsistencies, or stylistic improvements that you might have overlooked early on. Furthermore, by critiquing others' work, you learn to sharpen your own editing skills and gain fresh insights into the writing process.

Writing retreats

Writing retreats are designed to provide writers with a break from their everyday environment and immerse them in a space dedicated to their writing. These retreats can range from weekend getaways to month-long residencies and are often situated in inspiring locations, from country houses to beachfront cabins.

The tranquil and focused atmosphere of a retreat is designed to spark creativity and reduce distractions, allowing writers to concentrate solely on their craft.

Online writing communities

Not everyone lives near other writers or is comfortable seeking out strangers in person. Online writing communities offer a digital space for writers to interact and learn from each other, extending the possibility of collaboration regardless of geographical location.

Platforms like Reddit, Discord, and the NaNoWriMo forums are popular for hosting vibrant writing communities, providing a dynamically interactive space that keeps writers connected, inspired, and motivated in their writing journey, even if they can’t be with other writers in person.

Social media

Social media channels offer various ways for writers to connect, exchange ideas, and foster communities. On Twitter and Tumblr, writers can follow trending hashtags like #writingcommunity, #amwriting, #writeblr, #writingtips, or #NaNoWriMo to engage in conversations, share inspiration, or get advice. TikTok has also recently emerged as another hub for writers, with the #BookTok and #WritingTok trends really taking off. 

To sum up

Writing communities come in many forms and serve different purposes, but each offers unique benefits to support and enrich your writing journey. They provide the encouragement, accountability, feedback, and camaraderie needed to navigate the often solitary path of writing. It may be your journey, but you don’t have to take it alone.

As you seek to join or create a writing community, consider what you want from the experience and explore various options that align with your needs, preferences, and schedule. Remember, writing doesn't have to be a lonely endeavour. In the company of fellow writers, the journey becomes a shared experience, making the process less daunting and far more rewarding. Happy writing!

Novlr is free to use. However, for those who need the extra bits, there’s a 40% discount on Novlr Pro for 12 months for NaNoWriMo writers. Simply add the NANO23 coupon code when subscribing at Novlr.org. Offer expires December 31st, 2023.

Pamela Koehne-Drube is all about building creative writing communities where imagination thrives and writers achieve their goals. As a professional ghostwriter and editor, Pamela has first-hand experience in the book trade, from supporting fledgeling writers all the way through to working with the Big Five publishers. She’s an expert on all things writing. In her role as Writer Development & Community Lead at Novlr, you'll find her organising challenges and chatting about writing in Novlr’s Discord and building a repository of amazing writing, editing, publishing, and marketing resources for the Reading Room.

Top photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash.

[kaq3yma]

𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐘 featuring yoru jin

syn: what if its you that met with a suspicious guy instead of alma?

⸻ cw: brief mention of calamity/maga

qeena's brief note: my first time writing for my autistic baby yoru yaeyyyy ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´- buttt im sorry, it's pretty short i dont have any idea atm so i thought i'll just feed u guys with some drabble lmaooo any gokurakugai readers or writers here??!! lets be mootsies kekekeke 🤭 that's all thank you, i love you, reblogs and comments are very much appreciated and happy reading xoxo 🩷💚🍡

You are supposedly with Alma right now but the half-maga half-human kid is nowhere to be found after he got his savory taiyaki. You tried calling for him a few times on the street, hoping he's somewhere but all to no avail.

You past by the shrine you invaded earlier that evening to notice a man waiting by the entrance. You quirk your brows in a confused manner and stride behind him silently "What're you doing?" He panicked, hands covering both sides of his head "I'm not a suspicious guy, I swear I was just looking at the blue sheet covering the-" His voice trails, noticing you in front of him "You... Do I look suspicious to you?" You mindlessly shake your head at him. You turn briefly to face the abandoned shrine, sighing "You should leave, it's not good for people to wonder around the streets at night, especially people like you." He didn't quite get what you meant by people like him but he didn't ask.

"What about you?" You look at him, popping one candy you have inside your mouth "I'm working for a troubleshooter agency, I can kick any calamity asses." He secretly shudder at the thought, taking mental notes not to accidentally mumble the truth to you. You look like a troublesome agent to kill.

"I... I don't know where to go! I'm lost!" The dishevelled hair man spewed out, tears bridge beneath his eyes that causes you to almost freak out in bewilderment "Hey, don't cry. What are you, a five year old?" He sniff back his stray tear, shaking his eyes.

You look at him, disbelief and surprised "... I got chocolate. You like chocolate?" He immediately nod his head, thanking you quietly when you give him a piece of your chocolate bar.

"Right, you shouldn't cry anymore. That chocolate supposedly block your sad emotions." You bluffed, a grin make its way to your face. Yoru's eyes widen and they gleam under the bright moon light "They do?!" Well, you didn't expect him to actually believe you but...

"I- I have to go now, good bye." He let you drag his hand forward to give him the rest of the chocolate bar before you leave him alone at the shrine. Yoru got a bright on his face and he stand there still, thoughts lingering of you.

Yomi have to hear about this!

𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓 is open. all rights reserved goes to @kaq3yma on tumblr.

[dawnfelagund]

How to Block AI Bots from Scraping Your Website

The Silmarillion Writers' Guild just recently opened its draft AI policy for comment, and one thing people wanted was for us, if possible, to block AI bots from scraping the SWG website. Twelve hours ago, I had no idea if it was possible! But I spent a few hours today researching the subject, and the SWG site is now much more locked down against AI bots than it was this time yesterday.

I know I am not the only person with a website or blog or portfolio online that doesn't want their content being used to train AI. So I thought I'd put together what I learned today in hopes that it might help others.

First, two important points:

I am not an IT professional. I am a middle-school humanities teacher with degrees in psychology, teaching, and humanities. I'm self-taught where building and maintaining websites is concerned. In other words, I'm not an expert but simply passing on what I learned during my research today.

On that note, I can't help with troubleshooting on your own site or project. I wouldn't even have been able to do everything here on my own for the SWG, but thankfully my co-admin Russandol has much more tech knowledge than me and picked up where I got lost.

Step 1: Block AI Bots Using Robots.txt

If you don't even know what this is, start here:

About /robots.txt

How to write and submit a robots.txt file

If you know how to find (or create) the robots.txt file for your website, you're going to add the following lines of code to the file. (Source: DataDome, How ChatGPT & OpenAI Might Use Your Content, Now & in the Future)

User-agent: CCBot Disallow: /

AND

User-agent: ChatGPT-User Disallow: /

Step Two: Add HTTPS Headers/Meta Tags

Unfortunately, not all bots respond to robots.txt. Img2dataset is one that recently gained some notoriety when a site owner posted in its issue queue after the bot brought his site down, asking that the bot be opt-in or at least respect robots.txt. He received a rather rude reply from the img2dataset developer. It's covered in Vice's An AI Scraping Tool Is Overwhelming Websites with Traffic.

Img2dataset requires a header tag to keep it away. (Not surprisingly, this is often a more complicated task than updating a robots.txt file. I don't think that's accidental. This is where I got stuck today in working on my Drupal site.) The header tags are "noai" and "noimageai." These function like the more familiar "noindex" and "nofollow" meta tags. When Russa and I were researching this today, we did not find a lot of information on "noai" or "noimageai," so I suspect they are very new. We used the procedure for adding "noindex" or "nofollow" and swapped in "noai" and "noimageai," and it worked for us.

Header meta tags are the same strategy DeviantArt is using to allow artists to opt out of AI scraping; artist Aimee Cozza has more in What Is DeviantArt's New "noai" and "noimageai" Meta Tag and How to Install It. Aimee's blog also has directions for how to use this strategy on WordPress, SquareSpace, Weebly, and Wix sites.

In my research today, I discovered that some webhosts provide tools for adding this code to your header through a form on the site. Check your host's knowledge base to see if you have that option.

You can also use .htaccess or add the tag directly into the HTML in the <head> section. .htaccess makes sense if you want to use the "noai" and "noimageai" tag across your entire site. The HTML solution makes sense if you want to exclude AI crawlers from specific pages.

Here are some resources on how to do this for "noindex" and "nofollow"; just swap in "noai" and "noimageai":

HubSpot, Using Noindex, Nofollow HTML Metatags: How to Tell Google Not to Index a Page in Search (very comprehensive and covers both the .htaccess and HTML solutions)

Google Search Documentation, Block Search Indexing with noindex (both .htaccess and HTML)

AngryStudio, Add noindex and nofollow to Whole Website Using htaccess

Perficient, How to Implement a NoIndex Tag (HTML)

Finally, all of this is contingent on web scrapers following the rules and etiquette of the web. As we know, many do not. Sprinkled amid the many articles I read today on blocking AI scrapers were articles on how to override blocks when scraping the web.

This will also, I suspect, be something of a game of whack-a-mole. As the img2dataset case illustrates, the previous etiquette around robots.txt was ignored in favor of a more complicated opt-out, one that many site owners either won't be aware of or won't have time/skill to implement. I would not be surprised, as the "noai" and "noimageai" tags gain traction, to see bots demanding that site owners jump through a new, different, higher, and possibly fiery hoop in order to protect the content on their sites from AI scraping. These folks serve to make a lot of money off this, which doesn't inspire me with confidence that withholding our work from their grubby hands will be an endeavor that they make easy for us.

[writingquestionsanswered]

First off, thank you so much for all of your writing advice! You're an invaluable resource when it comes to new writers, and I wanted to thank you for doing what you do!

I am not new to writing, but in the past few months, I've decided to seriously pursue completing my WIPs. I am running into a problem when revisiting my old work, specifically finding motivation to complete them. Most of my WIPs are fully fleshed out with planning docs, outlines, etc., which should make the writing process all that easier. My problem is that once the outline is completed, I am no longer interested in writing the story. I usually try to freestyle my writing, meaning no outline, but I've found that when I freestyle, I often have issues creating a coherent plot. So I've recently turned to creating loose outlines to keep myself on track, but once the outline is finished, I'm no longer interested in the story. I still want to write it, but when I try to use the outline, I find myself getting stuck. Its almost like my brain feels like the story is done and no further development is needed.

So my question is, how do you keep writing once the outline is completed? Is there a way to rekindle the passion for the narratives I've created?

Losing Motivation After Outlining

It does sound like that's what's happening... like after you finish outlining, your brain is saying, "Well, this story is done! Off to the next one!"

I have a lot of ideas for things to try to rekindle your interest in your story. I'll link them all below, and hopefully one will work for you! ♥ Motivational Exercises:

Guide: How to Rekindle Your Motivation to Write Getting Unstuck: Motivation Beyond Mood Boards & Playlists Getting Excited About Your Story Again

Troubleshooting:

5 Reasons You Lost Interest in Your WIP, Plus Fixes!Have Plot, Can’t WriteFeeling Unmotivated with WIPGuide: Dealing with Self-Doubt & Impostor SyndromeWriting and Depression

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

Learn more about WQA

See my ask policies

Visit my Master List of Top Posts

Go to ko-fi.com/wqa to buy me coffee or see my commissions

[rjalker]

[ID: Twenty two screenshot from the show Beauty and the Beast (1987), showing Catherine Chandler and Jace Walker talking in his office.

As they stand in front of one wall covered in martial weapons, Jace is saying with a smile, "Besides, the guys in the white hats always win."

Catherine, smiling back, asks, "Do they?"

"Well, at least in fairy tales." Jace says, picking up a chair for her.

She sits, and he leans on the desk besides her while she looks at him as he says, "You know, the city has its own myths. We're all so rational, so sophisticated and cynical, but we still need our gods and demons, our heroes and villains."

He straights and starts to walk to the other side of the desk, continuing, "I knew a man, used to work the IRT. He swore he saw a monster down there once, when he was troubleshooting some track.

"You hear the street people talk about it too, some terrible, fierce creature who haunts the dark places. Some thing with the face of a demon and the soul of an angel."

Catherine smiles in disbelief, saying, "You can't possibly believe that, can you?"

"They believe it. Don't you see?" Jace replies, "Because they need to believe. Inside, we're all children, scared of the dark, wishing there really was a Batman."

Catherine leans forward, joking, "But Batman was never half as formidable as you, was he?"

"I can take care of myself." Jace replies, before crossing his arms over his chest, still smiling, "But I tell you, all the fighting techniques in the world don't equal what I learned from Isaac Stubbs in one afternoon. You remember his first rule?"

"On the street, there are no rules." Catherine responds.

The camera focuses on Jace's face as he says, "That's the problem with doing things your way. You believe in rules. The predators don't."

Catherine demands, "So we throw away the rules? Then what's the difference? The color of our hats?"

"I don't have to tell you the difference." Jace responds, "You know it already, or you wouldn't be here."

End ID.]

He's right.

Unfortunately the writers are racist cowards and he dies at the end of the episode.

Beauty and the Beast season 1 episode 2: Terrible Savior.

[coldresolve]

"criticism" is a neutral word to me, but the internet seems to use it in a way that's inherently negatively loaded. but i can criticise the lord of the rings and come to the conclusion that its an incredibly well-crafted story. it's just making an informed judgement based on literary devices used. that's it

but as a result of this knee-jerk aversion upfront, sometimes i feel like people get so caught up in the idea that criticising anything a person does for fun is inherently wrong, and being completely honest, as someone who doesn't view underdevelopped skill or a lapse in judgement as indicative of personal failure, it kinda baffles me. it gets so bad that people are reluctant to criticise your writing even if you explicitly ask them to. why?

with writing especially, i get that a lot of people are in it casually, and that's perfectly fair, that should be respected. but its as if people forget that consuming other peoples stories as a writer seeking to develop their own skills, and criticising them on a technical basis, isn't something you can only do to well-crafted, published stories. if you want to know how to do something right, sometimes you have to see what it looks like when you do it wrong, what sort of pitfalls you risk falling into when you stray from industry standards, so to speak. it's a good skill to have, being able to recognize what bad writing looks like, and picking apart what makes it bad, because being familiar with that process makes you better at troubleshooting when something in your own work feels off. you know?

and im not telling you to write a detailed essay in the comments of every mediocre smut fic on ao3 breaking down all the ways it fell flat, obviously some writers aren't there for that. it's not something you verbalize to creators directly, unless you know they're cool with it. im just saying that making that criticism in and of itself isn't morally wrong of you. it's just another form of learning

[k00299393]

Time-lapse Experiment

With the mold I made from the toddler shoes I decided instead of making a candle to melt I decided to freeze some form of liquid, do a time-lapse and have it melt in front of the fire. the idea was that I would set it up with my phone on a tripod, plug my phone in to a power source so as not to worry about my battery wasting during the process. In theory that way I would be able to hit record and not worry about it until the shoes had fully melted. This was not the case.

The Set Up

Materials and reasons for using:

I started by creating the scene, taking a box and painting it red. Originally I painted it red because Pantones colour of the year for 2023 is viva magenta. Then I put a layer of gloss finish modge podge over it in the hopes of helping it to not soak up any liquid too quickly.

For lighting I wanted the colours of the flames from the fire to flicker through the video. During set up I realized the light from the fire wasn't very strong so I used the light from a battery operated candle.

I decided to use milk as the liquid as this is what we are reared on from infant to childhood.

To create drama I wanted to put a contrasting coloured liquid in the base. After much thought I decided to use red wine not only for its contrasting colour but the fact that it has to be matured over time and we are adults before we are allowed to consume it. It also would work well with the red of the box. I hoped the milk entering the wine would create a dramatic white cloud.

Lastly I wanted the shoes to be elevated out of the wine so as not to have the shoes melt too quickly. I used two thin cut logs, I liked the roughness but also the natural texture.

I sat the box into an oven tray for any spillage.

For audio I had planned to have a sound effect of a fire but as the video ended up being over two minutes long I decided to go with music, specifically an instrumental song so I chose a song by Carter Burwell called Bella's Lullaby included on the Twilight Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Which is kind of sentimental to me and I named my eldest daughter Bella.

Outcome

The time-lapse took about 4 hours, I underestimated how long it would take the milky shoes to melt. But there were a number of complications. You'll notice the camera get jumpy a number of times as a result of this.

1st- Turns out the battery operated candle was made of real candle wax on the outer shell, this melted all over the fireplace. So I lost most of the effect of the flames early in the video.

2nd-Never considered how the heat of the fire would affect my phone which was set up to record the time-lapse. The phone overheated and turned off. I had to remove it from the tripod and wait for it to cool down. I also had to then block the heat from the fire completely losing the flame effect and slowing down the melting process.

3rd-Set phone back up again. Noticed my battery was at 9%. After much troubleshooting I discovered the extension lead was not working. So again I had to move the set up closer to an outlet. This changed the lighting again.

4th-The dramatic effect that I had hoped for doesn't happen until about 1 minute and 30 seconds which is about 3/4s of the way in, for two reasons. The first was the length of time it took for the frozen milk to melt and secondly when the milk did finally melt into the wine, I had the wine too deep and the milk sunk to the bottom before finally coming back to the surface.

The finished Video. 'Changes over time'

''Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have of them.'' Marcel Proust.

I think this quote from Marcel Proust is very fitting for this video. Marcel Proust is an early 20th century French writer responsible for the longest novel in the world: 'A la recherche du temps' which has 1,267,069 words. I think I'll stick with the time-lapse videos.

Overall I enjoyed the making of this time-lapse, however stressful it was at times. I have decided that I would like to re visit this idea in the future with the knowledge gained from my mistakes and recreate how I imagined it would go.

[bestworstcase]

Is it ever difficult for you to know when you're describing too much for a scene or when you need to stop?

hmm you know, not anymore? which feels weird to say because that used to be something i would AGONIZE about, but on reflection with like bitter snow (which, sidebar, creative drought notwithstanding i am still working on) it… really hasn’t been. like the question itself of if something is too much or too little these days is more on the level of fiddling with sentence structure or word choice in that it’s something i do in revision, and making the decision to pare back or lengthen has become fairly intuitive and painless.

and i think that’s probably just down to practice. i’m 29. i started writing novel-length fiction when i was 14 and have been writing basically all the time since then; even when stalled out on long term WIPs (like now) i write a lot, in the form of scraps of scenes or dialogue or character studies or fictional lore and so forth. so i am, i think, at a point where certain things are starting to gel because i’ve got a pretty solid grasp of what i like and how i want my prose to feel and also the skill to Make That Happen.

pacing—fundamentally description that is too long or not long enough is a pacing concern—depends a lot on tone and style. for example: pratchett. the discworld series takes a very minimalistic, snappy approach to description (a LOT of scenes are almost pure dialogue!) but still feels vivid and grounded in its setting because the descriptive voice is so strong; it’s awesome and a joy to read and also a style that absolutely does not work for me because i HATE writing it. (mimicking the styles of other writers is a valuable exercise for the same reason that doing studies is a valuable exercise for artists.)

i think that’s a crucial thing to realize. the right answer for one writer—even a writer whose stories you really like and whose craft you really admire—might be the wrong answer for you, and to a certain extent figuring this stuff out is about developing your own style and having confidence in that. and i also think that if you find yourself getting hung up on questions like “is this too much?” and “where do i stop?” on a regular basis, it might be helpful to start picking apart WHEN and WHY those questions occur, because it might be that you’ve hit the natural end point of a passage or scene and the doubts are happening because you’re second-guessing yourself and trying to keep writing beyond that point. or maybe it’s arising from insecurity and you’re trying to pump the brakes too early because you don’t trust yourself to know when enough is enough. or maybe it’s more granular, like a habit of repeating the same idea in different ways or letting scenes just kind of trail off instead of ending. when something feels like it isn’t working the best thing you can do for yourself as a writer is to pin down WHY, because from there it’s just troubleshooting.

[em-dash-press]

-Short version. I need help with chapter specific plotting, structure, composistion(?) and general problem solving help? Any help will be much appreciated!

-Long version. Ok so I have been stuck on this chapter for a couple of months now if not longer. I have written, rewritten, tried outlining but what makes sense in outline does not fit whats on the page, and am just stuck and don't know how to solve it. Every time i think i have a break through, i end up at square one again but with a thousand extra words in a jumbled mess.

I know where my charater is coming from, I know where hes going and I have plenty of barriers. Probably verging on too many. Its an interigation scene with high stakes and conflict and reaching a point where my charater is resisting but also breaking down a misbelief. There are also a lot of other things going on with other characters that although not included in this chapter, may affect the eventual outcome and following scenes/ chapters.

I am at a point where I don't know what I am missing or need to cut out. I feel like the interigation is a nessisary but its just not quite right. I might break it in to 2 interigations as it feels like too much for 1 chapter.

Again, any help appreciated.

Hey there! First: I think talking about being stuck in your manuscript is always helpful. Putting your creative struggles to words can help your brain sift through them. So thanks for reaching out and I hope this process helps you!

Second: The best way to help yourself with the challenges presented in the first version of your question is probably to scroll through writeblr blogs and use the search bar on their blog or their tags to find posts specific to what you’re working through.

You can always use the search bar to find posts on my blog about developing plot, characters, and general troubleshooting! You could also do deep dives on any blogs that I reblog from. If you want a place to start, I especially love Fix Your Writing Habits (they have a “Tags” section that has great resources) and The 960 Writers (she also has awesome tags and regularly reblogs super helpful posts).

Third: I love the details you gave about your story! It sounds incredible. It doesn’t seem like the misbelief is the issue. Breaking down the structure of the scene could definitely help. Interrogations often have follow-ups if the police don’t get the information they need (or want). You could have the scene end with everyone in the room struggling to communicate, especially if your characters are confused.

People also get called back in for interviews when new information about the case comes to light. Further evidence of the potentially committed crime could become known to the police or become public knowledge and require another conversation.

You could also free-write a different type of scene to flex your creative muscles before returning to your WIP. Write a different character interrogating your protagonist or change the setting. Change the interrogator’s motivation or see what happens if your protagonist takes their struggles/question to a confidant. 

I also like brainstorming a random plot point after the place where I’m stuck. Let’s say your protagonist leaves that interrogation confused. Maybe your current plot outline has them going home to confront someone possibly involved in the crime/main event. Instead of having them do that, you could write a scene where your character goes to the local news station because they double-down on their understanding of the misbelief/want to draw public attention to their case so they don’t get interrogated again without the world watching.

Ultimately, you may still feel stuck. That’s okay too! You could try restructuring your outline or writing without it to see where your story naturally takes you.

Looking up resources from helpful blogs is also great because the various posts may put words to something you’re feeling or struggling with that’s hard to get specific about.

Good luck pushing through this point in your story’s journey and learning from the experience! 

[ear-worthy]

Podcaster Profiles: Aileen Merciel & Glenda Pacanins -- Surfing Corporate Podcast

Podcaster Profiles has a simple goal: highlight, spotlight, focus on: the indie podcasters who are the heart and soul of podcasting.

Indie podcasters wear more hats than any network-supported podcaster. They are creator, writer, producer, sound engineer, I.T. troubleshooter, researcher, host, distribution pro, marketing guru, public relations professional, and, most important of all, financial backer for the podcast.

In each article, we'll ask the person being profiled why they became involved in podcasting, how did they become skilled, review their public bio, ask them to tell us something not in their public bio, any passions other than podcasting, and their future plans in podcasting.

We are starting with one of the best in independent podcasting. A superb podcast about corporate life called Surfing Corporate. In September 2021, Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins started the Surfing Corporate podcast.   Aileen and Glenda define success and hard work. These two women rose to become senior vice presidents in major corporations in an era where corporate life wasn't exactly female friendly. I'm not sure if the workplace has miraculously been remade into a safe and accepting place for women. However, women like Aileen and Glenda have made it better.

 Their podcast's elevator pitch is: "Hosted by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins, former media executives who have experienced first-hand what really goes on behind fancy corporate doors (and have a slightly evil sense of humor), this podcast aims to entertain as well as provide practical advice to employees who are currently navigating turbulent corporate waters."

The show lives up to its promise. It's engaging, has a sense of humor, describes the incongruities of corporate life, and offers solutions. 

These two former Senior VPs wanted to start and sustain an independent podcast about managing life in a corporate environment.

Aileen A. Merciel (AM) was a Senior Vice President, Marketing & Creative – NBC Universal, Telemundo Enterprise.

Merciel is a Venezuelan-American media executive who started out in Sony Pictures Entertainment Networks Latin America Venezuela as an On-Air Promotions Producer. She held corporate positions in Venezuela, Mexico, and the U.S. On the podcast's website, it says: "Coming from a creative background, Aileen was not blessed with a nose for office politics."

Glenda Pacanins (GP) was a Senior Vice President, Programming and Content Strategy NBC Universal, Telemundo Enterprises.

After working in corporate for over 20 years, Glenda Pacanins is a self-described “recovering suit,” although she still can’t stop wearing heels to podcast recordings and PTA meetings. 

Unlike Aileen, Glenda somehow managed to surf corporate relatively well. Again, the podcast's website says: "She is fluent in English, Spanish, and most importantly, corporate bullsh*t." Aileen gives us an insight into starting the podcast: "I began developing Surfing Corporate as I was recovering from a life-threatening surgery due to ––surprise!–– work-related stress. [CUE DRAMATIC SOUND EFFECT]. After years of working intense 16-hour days, I was forced to hit the pause button, sit in great discomfort with myself and my life choices, and ask myself the hard questions I never 'had time' to ask before: 'Why had I allowed work to jeopardize my physical and mental health? Why didn’t I set boundaries? Why hadn’t I been able to handle the stress better?' and, 'Why is Ryan Reynolds so dreamy?'"

Glenda chimes in and observes: "From the moment Aileen spoke to me about Surfing Corporate, I knew it was the kind of content that corporate beings like me needed to have." Glenda continues: "At that point, I had been reading Harvard Business Review and Fast Company for years, but I had always wished there was business/career-related content that was insightful, but also honest, relatable, and, in a perfect world, entertaining, and there was Aileen telling me all about her vision for Surfing Corporate! Clearly, I had to become a big cheerleader for her to put it out into the world!" When you listen to the podcast, you will hear the bond between these two successful women. 

Glenda says: "I had no doubt that, sooner or later, Surfing Corporate was going to get traction and start gaining a following because I absolutely believed in Aileen and in her vision for what she wanted to do with the brand. I didn’t have Aileen’s perspective of questioning things and finding absurdity in both the mundane and extreme parts of working in Corporate America. So when she asked me to join her in hosting the podcast, I thought she was nuts because I couldn’t wrap my head around what could I possibly add to the equation." Glenda then admits what many of us are loath to ignore: "I am hardwired to fear failure, so putting myself out there like that was a huge risk. Needless to say, I am incredibly grateful that Aileen somehow saw something in me and knew that I could and should do it, and didn’t give up on trying to convince me."

Aileen discusses their backgrounds: "Glenda and I both come from legacy media, so we knew how to create, develop, and market a TV show, but we knew nothing about podcasts. We had no idea how podcasting worked or what it took to produce, edit, or market a podcast." Aileen continues: "So I did what I always do in situations like this: I went down a rabbit hole of research, listening to multiple podcast shows and formats, and taking note of everything: Why did I gravitate towards certain hosts and not others? What type of co-host dynamics kept me hooked? What formats are more appealing to me and why? What existing podcasts could serve as an inspiration for Surfing Corporate?" 

Glenda remembers the first episode they recorded: "Expanding my list of go-to podcasts was really important because up until then, I mainly listened to podcasts from NPR and The New York Times. That’s why for the very first episode we ever recorded, Aileen had a moment of panic when I started recording because I was inadvertently channeling a news host. I was not at all being myself, and it was not at all the tone we needed for Surfing Corporate." "After a few takes of Aileen politely telling me to record the intro again and again, she basically had to ask me point-blank to actually try to speak like I wasn’t dead inside. Thankfully, that was all before our big VP guest joined us in the studio, so I was definitely more comfortable and more myself by the time the interview portion was recorded."

Glenda recounts the dream that all independent podcasters have. 

"I truly believed that if you poured your heart into making great content, the audience would somehow find you. We really underestimated how difficult discoverability is in the podcast space, especially when you have no marketing budget. Luckily, Aileen devoted herself 110% to building the Instagram account while also working full-time on the podcast, so we could try to get some traction going. She even rolled out a Surfing Corporate newsletter to get another touchpoint established for the brand and our fans." Aileen thanks the fans of the podcast for their positive feedback.

"What kept us going was receiving DMs from people across the globe telling us how much they loved the show, how much they were learning from us, and that we made them laugh. And it was all word of mouth: someone who listened by chance and recommended our pod to their colleagues or friends. After decades of working so hard to hit ratings numbers for a show premiere, this felt so much more meaningful." Aileen and Glenda have received recognition for their outstanding work, being nominated for the Ambies and winning Best Workplace podcast for the Ear Worthy Independent podcast Awards. Surfing Corporate debuts a new season on September 18th, and since I was fortunate enough to get a sneak preview, I must say it is their best season so far, with some unique episodes. 

In one episode, Aileen and Glenda challenge the traditional view of categorizing bosses as either good or bad, focusing instead on those who embody both traits. Leaders who can be inspiring and brilliant, but also mean and volatile. Join them as they explore the psychology behind these unpredictable corporate characters.

So, what are Aileen and Glenda doing now? Recording their new season, of course. For indie podcasters, a day should have more than 24 hours because they need so much time to put together the show. Unlike celebrities on Spotify or iHeart who have "people," Aileen and Glenda are their "people." 

It's the whole "buck stops with"... thing.

Finally, Aileen wanted readers to know that she enjoys tormenting her 12-year-old daughter by using middle-school slang in front of her friends. #Skibbidy #Rizz #Sigma

Check out Surfing Corporate, which debuts a new season on September 18th. In this new season, Aileen and Glenda certainly "Left No Crumbs" which is tween slang for someone who did something so well..."

[towardswithai]

What is the Best AI for Writing a Book?

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides, particularly in the realm of writing. For authors, the idea of an AI that can assist in writing a book is both intriguing and promising. The question that arises is: What is the best AI for writing a book? This article delves into various AI writing tools, their capabilities, and how they can benefit authors in crafting their next masterpiece.

The Evolution of AI in Writing

AI writing tools have come a long way from simple grammar checkers to sophisticated systems capable of generating entire chapters of text. Early iterations, such as spell checkers and basic grammar tools, laid the foundation. Today, advanced AI can assist with brainstorming, drafting, editing, and even enhancing creativity. The advent of neural networks and machine learning algorithms has enabled AI to understand context, style, and nuance, making them invaluable to writers.

Criteria for Choosing the Best AI Writing Tool

Selecting the best AI for writing a book depends on various factors:

Accuracy: The AI should produce grammatically correct and contextually appropriate text.

Creativity: It should aid in generating unique ideas and creative content.

Ease of Use: The tool should have an intuitive interface.

Customization: Authors should be able to tailor the AI's style and tone to match their voice.

Support: Access to customer support and resources is crucial for troubleshooting.

Top AI Writing Tools for Authors

Several AI writing tools stand out in the market today. Here are some of the best options:

1. GPT-4 by OpenAI

GPT-4, the latest iteration by OpenAI, is a highly advanced language model renowned for its versatility and creativity. It excels in generating coherent and contextually relevant text, making it a top choice for authors. GPT-4 can assist in brainstorming ideas, drafting chapters, and even providing stylistic suggestions. Its ability to understand and mimic different writing styles ensures that the output aligns with the author's voice.

2. Jasper AI

Jasper AI is designed specifically for content creators, including authors. It offers various templates for different writing needs, from blog posts to full-length books. Jasper AI's strength lies in its ease of use and the ability to generate high-quality content quickly. Its "Boss Mode" allows for more detailed and in-depth writing, making it suitable for complex book projects.

3. Sudowrite

Sudowrite is tailored for fiction writers, providing tools to enhance creativity and overcome writer's block. It offers features like "Twist" for plot suggestions and "Describe" for vivid descriptions. Sudowrite’s interactive nature and focus on storytelling make it an excellent companion for novelists looking to refine their narratives.

4. Grammarly

While Grammarly is primarily known as a grammar and style checker, its premium version offers advanced writing assistance that can be invaluable for book writing. It provides suggestions for improving clarity, tone, and engagement. Grammarly ensures that the manuscript is polished and free of errors, enhancing the overall quality of the writing.

5. Scrivener with AI Integration

Scrivener is a popular writing tool among authors for its organizational features. When integrated with AI tools like GPT-4 or Jasper AI, it becomes a powerful platform for writing books. Authors can outline, draft, and edit their work within Scrivener, while the AI assists with content generation and refinement.

Benefits of Using AI for Writing a Book

1. Enhanced Productivity

AI writing tools can significantly speed up the writing process by generating content quickly. This allows authors to focus on higher-level aspects of their work, such as plot development and character arcs.

2. Overcoming Writer's Block

One of the most significant challenges authors face is writer's block. AI tools provide a steady stream of ideas and prompts, helping writers overcome creative roadblocks.

3. Improved Quality

AI tools offer suggestions for improving grammar, style, and structure. This ensures that the final manuscript is polished and professional, reducing the need for extensive revisions.

4. Consistency

Maintaining a consistent tone and style throughout a book can be challenging. AI tools help ensure uniformity, especially when writing lengthy manuscripts.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI writing tools offer numerous benefits, there are challenges to consider:

1. Dependence on Technology

Over-reliance on AI can stifle an author’s creativity. It’s essential to use these tools as assistants rather than replacements for human ingenuity.

2. Quality of Output

AI-generated text may lack the depth and emotional resonance of human writing. Authors should review and refine the content to ensure it meets their standards.

3. Ethical Concerns

The use of AI in creative writing raises ethical questions about authorship and originality. It's crucial to strike a balance between AI assistance and personal input.

Conclusion

The What is The best Ai For Writing A Book ultimately depends on an author’s specific needs and preferences. GPT-4, Jasper AI, Sudowrite, Grammarly, and Scrivener with AI integration are all excellent options, each offering unique features that can enhance the writing process. By leveraging these tools, authors can boost their productivity, overcome creative challenges, and produce high-quality manuscripts. As AI technology continues to evolve, it promises to become an even more integral part of the writing landscape, empowering authors to bring their stories to life in new and exciting ways.

[charcherry-weekly]

Charcherry Weekly - Issue 206

Hello everyone! Mage of Light Nick Card here! Let's get this show on the road!

Its Tough Being a Gamer

On thursday, your dear newsletter writer joined a number of skilled volunteers to the game room in the Region of Immersion and Entertainment, on the Land of DownLoadable Content and Challenges. Together, we proceeded to play a number of scrambled games in order to return the misplaced data to the correct places, for the sake of repairing the pokedex database. In addition to yours truly, who played A Short Hike, there was also Rogue of Heart Charles who played Pokemon Emerald and Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters: WCT 2006, Witch of Heart Cyrus who played two different rhythm games, Muse Dash and Project Diva Megamix+, Seer of Space K who played Undertale, Ceda Cedovich, who played Super Mario 64 and DOOM II, and a few others, who had Paper Mario, Duke Nukem 3D, and SMZ3 to tackle.

As it turned out, the health risks of quick swapping between games are apparently minimal, with only the average effects of playing games for extended periods of time. Your dear newsletter writer however, spent much of the day yesterday trying to configure the setup for their game, which as it turned out, just needed to have up to date fresh files for it to connect properly. At one point I left the facility to blow off some steam and ended up fighting some underlings for grist and booncoins in the adjacent Region of Tile Sliding and Memory. I managed to locate a tile that had a minimart located on it, so I bought a handful of snacks before making my way back to the game room.

After watching the progress of some of the other participants who had their external screens on, I resumed troubleshooting for my own. It was only after spending a tender moment with someone dear to me that I was able to get the game fixed and connected enough to play. Perhaps love is more important than I thought it was before... After a few hours of playing my assigned game, I spent more quality time with them, eventually returning home.

Overall, despite everything, it was a good day to get out of the house. Its likely that the archipelago protocol will continue for at least a week or two, depending upon how long it takes for us to clear our games together.

Samm is back!

The other day, Page of Mind Samm received an emergency surgery that required a skilled heart player and a few magical containment artifacts. Further details of this operation will not be published for the sake of patient confidentiality, but what can be said is that the surgery was a success and Samm and has returned home with her loving husband, Page of Rage Jovin. It is unknown when she will resume work on Grass 3 or her occasional noodle stand, but that will need to be her own decision.

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This week’s known market stands in Desertia Town:

DTA train ticket stand

Katie’s potion stand (Not available to plitlanders due to regulations, available to all others however)

shinyjiggly pokesnacks stand

Brae's produce stall: - Potted vegetables - Jarred vegetables - Various jams - Hisuian herbs (medicinal leek, pep-up plant, king's leaf)

Novelty Frog Figurine Stand

Traditional Shop: - Rope, Silk (50 feet) (10 gp) - Lamp (10 gp) - String or twine (50 ft.) (1 cp) - Hammock (1 sp) - Compass (10 gp)

I think that does it. The issue that Charles found in the train tunnel the other week still needs to be investigated (though much slower manual construction is continuing there), and the weather's been calming down a little, though its still relatively hot at peak hours in Unity. Meanwhile, between lending my hand in the game room and my library work, I've begun working on a short flash animation slated to be shorter than a minute. Here's to hoping it can be finished soon! https://letssosl.boards.net/thread/443/charcherry-weekly-issue-206

[govindhtech]

Introducing the ChatGPT Desktop App: Future of Work is Here

With AI-driven apps and digital assistants, ChatGPT from OpenAI is a natural language processing powerhouse. TalkGPT was initially a cloud-based service accessible via mobile and web browsers. However, it has now increased its reach by releasing a desktop application. This change is a major improvement in terms of usability, accessibility, and functionality.

Recognising the ChatGPT Desktop Application

The goal of the ChatGPT desktop application is to give people an easy-to-use and effective way to communicate with the AI model right from their PCs. The application provides various benefits over its web-based equivalent by utilising the processing capacity and capabilities of desktop systems.

Improved Reactivity and Performance

The improved performance of the ChatGPT desktop software is one of its main advantages. In contrast to the web version, which depends on server response times and internet connectivity, the desktop application can take advantage of local computing capacity to minimise latency and provide faster results. This is especially apparent while working on complex tasks or managing big amounts of data, where local execution comes in handy.

In-App Features

The desktop application’s offline functionality is yet another noteworthy feature. The desktop programme enables users to communicate with ChatGPT even when they are not online, but the web version needs a continuous internet connection to operate. By keeping a component of the AI model locally on the user’s device, this capability allows basic replies and functionalities without requiring an online connection. This offline mode improves privacy by minimising data transmission to external servers and guarantees continuing usability in situations with erratic internet connectivity.

Individualization and Tailoring

Additionally, additional user-customizable settings are introduced in the ChatGPT desktop app. Users can customise responses, integrate the app with other apps or services, and retain discussion history, among other things, through the app’s settings. These capabilities enable users to customise their ChatGPT interactions to meet unique needs, be they professional, educational, or personal productivity-related.

Privacy and Security

The ChatGPT desktop app places a high priority on protecting user data in light of the growing concerns over data security and privacy. The app reduces the danger of data breaches or unauthorised access by restricting data transmission to external servers and minimising dependency on continuous internet connectivity. Users can also choose local storage options that suit their privacy needs and have more control over their data retention rules.

Useful Applications and Situations for Users

The ChatGPT desktop application’s adaptability encompasses a broad range of practical uses beyond personal use cases:

Professional Support: ChatGPT is a useful tool for professionals working in customer service, healthcare, and education. It may be used for rapid information retrieval, language translation, and data analysis jobs.

Educational Tool: Because ChatGPT may offer explanations and information that are contextually appropriate, educators and students can use it for language learning activities, research support, and tutoring.

Help for Creative Writing: Through interactive conversation and prompt-based answers, writers, bloggers, and content producers can use ChatGPT to build content outlines, brainstorm ideas, and get past creative blockages.

Technical Support: Without requiring constant internet connectivity, the desktop application offers customers step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting advice, and real-time assistance in order to effectively troubleshoot technical issues.

Prospective Advancements and Growth

Forward-looking, OpenAI is still dedicated to improving the ChatGPT desktop programme with regular updates and enhancements. Potential future developments could be:

Integration with External Platforms: Improved interoperability to provide smooth communication and workflow integration with messaging apps, smart devices, and productivity applications.

Advanced AI Capabilities: To accommodate a range of user demands and preferences, advanced AI functionalities including multi-modal (text, image, and voice) capabilities and real-time collaborative features are implemented.

User Feedback Integration: AI replies are improved, performance is maximised, and feature development is prioritised based on user demand and usability studies by incorporating user feedback methods.

In summary

The release of the ChatGPT desktop programme, which offers improved performance, offline functionality, customisation choices, and strong security features, marks a substantial advancement in AI-driven apps. Users can connect with AI in a more secure, efficient, and intuitive way with the help of the desktop software, whether for commercial applications, personal productivity, or educational enrichment. The ChatGPT desktop software is at the vanguard of innovation in the ever-evolving digital landscape, ready to alter user experiences and expectations.

FAQs

1. What is the ChatGPT Desktop App?

Using the ChatGPT Desktop App, you may communicate with OpenAI’s ChatGPT language model right from your desktop. It offers a practical approach to produce writing, acquire replies, and get help with different activities.

2. How do I install the ChatGPT Desktop App?

Installing the ChatGPT Desktop App requires downloading the installer from the official website and following the given installation guidelines.

3. What platforms are supported by the ChatGPT Desktop App?

The Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems can all run the ChatGPT desktop application.

4. Do I need an internet connection to use the ChatGPT Desktop App?

Indeed, in order for the ChatGPT Desktop App to execute your inquiries and connect to OpenAI’s servers, you must have an active internet connection.

5. Is there a cost associated with using the ChatGPT Desktop App?

The ChatGPT Desktop App’s basic version can be used for free. For more sophisticated functionality, there can be paid features or membership options available.

6. How do I update the ChatGPT Desktop App?

Although updates are usually distributed automatically, you can manually check the app’s settings to see if there are any updates available.

7. How is my privacy protected while using the ChatGPT Desktop App?

OpenAI is concerned about privacy. Your supplied data is only utilised to improve the service and produce responses. For more specific details, see the Privacy Policy.

8. Can I customize the ChatGPT Desktop App’s settings?

Yes, to improve your user experience, the app includes a number of customisation choices, including as themes, notification settings, and response types.

9. What kind of questions can I ask ChatGPT?

You can ask anything and everything, from general information and trivia to specialised guidance and ideas for creative writing. Avoid divulging sensitive personal information, though, and make sure you constantly double-check important information from trustworthy sources.

10. How do I report a bug or provide feedback about the ChatGPT Desktop App?

The app’s support area and the support team’s official website are the places where you may file bug reports and offer comments.

11. What should I do if the ChatGPT Desktop App isn’t working properly?

Start by making sure your internet connection is steady. Try restarting the application or reinstalling it if the problem still occurs. If issues persist, get help by contacting customer support.

12. Can I use the ChatGPT Desktop App for professional or business purposes?

It is possible to use the ChatGPT Desktop App for both work and personal use. To comprehend any restrictions or standards, though, be sure to read the terms of service.

Read more on govindhtech.com

[x----tine]

Wet Paint in the Wild: Cristine Brache Hosts a Late-Night Jell-O Wrestling Performance

The artist takes us through a week in her life.

Cristine Brache June 3, 2024 

Welcome to Wet Paint in the Wild, the freewheeling—and free!—spinoff of Artnet News Pro’s beloved Wet Paint gossip column, where we give art-world insiders a disposable camera to chronicle their lives on the circuit. To read the latest Wet Paint column, click here (members only).

A couple of weeks ago, artist Cristine Brache hosted a live performance of her piece Goodnight Sweet Thing (created with fellow artist Sigrid Lauren) in Chinatown at 42n Studios, and it was the talk of the town. It was technically a theatrical adaption of her recent book of poetry as interpreted by female wrestlers duking it out in a pit of Jell-O.  For those of you who missed the performance, I asked the artist to chronicle the week surrounding the opening. Take it away, Cristine… —Annie Armstrong

Every morning my day starts with this cutie—my Russian Blue cat named Cherry, and my husband, artist and writer Brad Phillips (not pictured).

The very next thing I see after waking up is this painting Brad made me for my birthday a couple of years ago. I love it. It so playfully encapsulates our relationship which, by the way, reaches its 10-year mark this week. What a romantic Wet Paint in the Wild this has become!

The week begins just as previous Wet Paint in the Wild contributor Whitney Mallett’s ends. Here is the style icon herself standing next to one of my paintings. I think this was my first outing after having had COVID for the first time ever. It was terrible. I was so worried I might miss rehearsals for the centerpiece of this photo essay—my and Sigrid Lauren’s performance art piece: Goodnight Sweet Thing (an adaptation of my new book of poems of the same name) produced by Metalabel and Olivia West Lloyd in partnership with anonymous gallery and Blade Study. But my infection was forgiving and resolved itself in a timely fashion.

Sigrid at one of our rehearsals—I find her to be one of the most compelling performance artists around. I loved working with her. Naturally, she is an Aquarius—one of my favorite signs (I’m a Sagttarius sun, Leo rising, and Libra moon). 

I love the secret chandelier bar in Tribeca when I’m feeling maxed out because no one goes there. Sometimes a girl just needs to get a drink in solitude. Writer Gideon Jacobs loves the chandelier bar too. Look, he’s so cozy he’s taking a nap. This was right before dress rehearsals, two days till showtime (hence the drink). Eek!

But—before dress rehearsals I had to make the Jello Wrestling Ring…

…which required some troubleshooting.

Dress rehearsals with the stars of the show: Betsey Brown, Emily Allan, and Joshua Weidenmiller. The entire project felt like high school for me (when I was a teen I used to direct my friends in video art works and this experience felt just as possessed, subconscious, and carefree).

It’s finally showtime—Brooke Nicholas and Ian Glover (of Blade Study) doing god’s work selling my book at the show.

Meanwhile backstage, our fashion director—artist and stylist Bunny Lampert (another icon) making up actor and writer-director Emily Allan’s face.

Sound designer, musician, and composer Ryan Woodhall is ready on stage.

The directors just as doors opened.

I didn’t take any pictures during the show but it was a wild and special thing. I am so proud of everyone involved and so moved by their talents and vulnerability. Here are some more dress rehearsal photos to sate you. 

The star of the show, actor and writer-director Betsey Brown plays Nothing Girl, a melancholic underdog.

Our prom queen and Jello wrestling champion, Mary Magdalene a.k.a. Emily with an unwelcome surprise.

Prom Boy a.k.a. dancer and actor Joshua Weidenmiller moves effortlessly as he prepares to sing one of my poems nostalgically, like a tender 1950s bee-bop tune. 

More Jello wrestling except Nothing Girl and Mary Magdalene move and speak in poems.

Between shows we had to reset the Jello ring. The fake Jello was so tenacious and hard to get rid of. Also, I’ve had this vintage slip in my closet since I was 17 years old and this was the first time I wore it.

Our diligent and talented producer, writer-director Olivia West Lloyd quickly vacuuming fake Jello prior to the reception. I regret not getting a picture of our other (stellar) producers, Yancey Strickler and Gina Pham of Metalabel who made this all possible.

Here we have the one-of-a-kind Joseph Ian Henrikson (owner of anonymous gallery—my gallery) with Tobi Maier, Chief Curator at Amant.

Another angel caught on camera: artist and director of anonymous gallery, K.O. Nnamdie.

I finally found some time to go to the gym. This is my usual view when I’m working on my upper body.

Time to relax. Brad and I love stopping at CANDY GROCERY BEER for snacks on Essex prior to going to our favorite guilty pleasure movie theater: Regal Essex.

Back to the chandelier bar! This time with Amant’s associate curator Patti (Patricia Margarita Hernandez), one of my oldest friends from Miami. I met her in front of Churchill’s Pub when I was twenty-two. She had punk-short hair and told me she was in a band called “Patti and the Clits.” Patti was the first person to ever buy an artwork from me.

Later that night—a drag show (also in Tribeca) with Jed Moch (who I adore), founder and director of Amity. The drag queens looked so chic, like a perfect mix of 90s supermodels and Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne Stone in Gus van Sant’s To Die For (1995).

Jed next to this obscene wheel of delicious cheese. 

Oh no my first day of acting class! I had to recite my first monologue, GOD I was SO nervous I wanted to BARF. I’m not trying to formally become an actor. Just preparing to direct my first feature length film—though I would definitely do a cute cameo for a friend 😉

Ugh so much to do this week. Brad and I are also moving to a new studio in Chelsea. We are all packed up in front of our old Tribeca studio.

And that’s a wrap… party for cast and crew—Emily Allan, me, Betsey Brown, Joshua Weidenmiller, Sigrid Lauren, Ryan Woodhall, Cole Durkee a.k.a. Destroyer of Worlds, Bunny Lampert, and Atinka Anderson—at Dim Sum Go Go.

[jakesealorwo]

Jake Seal - 5 Key Responsibilities Every Film Producer Should Master

The role of a film producer is multifaceted and demanding, requiring a unique blend of creative vision, organizational prowess, and leadership skills. According to industry veteran Jake Seal, mastering key responsibilities is crucial for any producer aiming to succeed in the competitive world of filmmaking. Here are five essential responsibilities every film producer should master.

1. Development and Pre-production

The first phase of filmmaking begins with development and pre-production. Producers must identify compelling scripts, secure rights, and collaborate with writers to refine the story. They assemble the core team, including the director, cast, and crew. Budgeting, scheduling, and planning are critical during this stage to set a solid foundation for the project.

2. Financing and Budget Management

Securing financing is a crucial responsibility for producers. They need to pitch the project to investors, studios, or other funding sources, and secure the necessary funds to bring the film to life. Budget management is equally important; producers must allocate funds efficiently, track expenses, and ensure the project remains financially viable throughout production.

3. Overseeing Production

During production, producers oversee the day-to-day operations on set. This involves coordinating between departments, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring the production stays on schedule. They must also manage the logistics of shooting, from location management to equipment rentals, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

4. Post-production Supervision

Once filming wraps, the focus shifts to post-production. Producers work closely with editors, sound designers, and visual effects teams to shape the final product. They ensure that the film adheres to the director's vision while maintaining a coherent and engaging narrative. Producers also oversee completing tasks such as scoring, color correction, and special effects.

5. Marketing and Distribution

A film's success depends significantly on its marketing and distribution strategy. Producers develop and implement marketing plans to generate buzz and attract audiences. They negotiate distribution deals to ensure the film reaches theaters, streaming platforms, or other outlets. Effective marketing and strategic distribution are key to maximizing a film’s reach and profitability.

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Best Tumblr Pages for Electrician Content

The Best Tumblr Pages for Electricians

Tumblr is not just a platform for artists and writers; it also serves as a rich resource for professionals like electricians seeking to expand their knowledge and reach in the industry. With a variety of Tumblr pages dedicated to electrical work, finding the best ones can be a daunting task. In this blog post, we highlight six standout Tumblr pages that are perfect for electricians looking for inspiration, technical knowledge, and marketing tips.

Electrician Marketing on Tumblr

For electricians eager to boost their business visibility and attract more clients, Electrician Marketing on Tumblr is a treasure trove of resources. This page offers a wealth of marketing tips and strategies specifically tailored to the electrical industry.

What Sets It Apart?

Targeted Marketing Strategies: This blog zeroes in on techniques specifically useful for electricians, ensuring relevancy and applicability.

Social Media Tips: It provides valuable insights on using social platforms like Facebook and Instagram effectively to draw new business.

This Tumblr page is particularly beneficial for electricians aiming to enhance their marketing efforts and grow their customer base with practical, actionable advice.

Circuit Breaker Collective

Circuit Breaker Collective is a vibrant Tumblr page that brings together a community of electrical professionals and hobbyists. The page features discussions on the latest tools, technology, and safety protocols in the electrical industry.

Why Visit?

Community Interaction: Engage with other electricians, share experiences, and receive feedback on challenging projects.

Educational Content: Regular posts about new technology and innovative methods in electrical work.

This page is ideal for those who value a sense of community and learning through interaction and shared experiences.

DIY Electrician Hub

DIY Electrician Hub is the go-to spot for home electricians and professionals interested in DIY projects. This Tumblr offers step-by-step guides, troubleshooting tips, and creative ideas for handling electrical installations and repairs at home.

Features to Explore:

DIY Guides: Comprehensive tutorials that help both newbies and seasoned pros tackle their home electrical projects with confidence.

Troubleshooting Tips: Practical advice on diagnosing and fixing common electrical issues.

Perfect for the hands-on electrician, this page empowers readers with the knowledge to safely and effectively manage their electrical tasks.

Green Energy Electricians

Green Energy Electricians focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly electrical solutions. It's an excellent resource for those interested in the latest trends in green technology and how they can be applied in everyday electrical work.

Unique Aspects:

Sustainability Tips: Learn how to incorporate energy-efficient solutions into your projects.

Innovative Technologies: Updates on the newest advancements in green electrical technology.

This Tumblr is essential for electricians who prioritize sustainability and want to stay ahead of the curve in green technology. For more on green technology and its impact, check out the insightful articles on Energy.gov.

Electrician’s Toolbox

Electrician’s Toolbox is a Tumblr page designed as a virtual toolkit for electricians at any stage of their career. It features reviews of tools, gear recommendations, and safety equipment advice to ensure electricians are prepared for any job.

Why It's Useful:

Tool Reviews: In-depth analysis of the latest tools on the market.

Safety First: Tips on the best practices and gear to keep safe on the job.

For those interested in the latest in electrical safety and equipment, visiting OSHA’s Electrical page can provide additional authoritative guidelines and safety measures.

Tech-Savvy Electrician

Tech-Savvy Electrician is dedicated to the intersection of technology and electrical work. It discusses software, apps, and tech tools that can improve efficiency and accuracy in electrical tasks.

Key Features:

Technology Integration: Guidance on integrating tech solutions into your electrical projects.

App Reviews: Reviews of apps and software that can enhance productivity and project management.

This Tumblr is perfect for the electrician eager to embrace technology to streamline their workflow and increase efficiency.

By following these Tumblr pages, electricians can gain access to a wide range of information and resources that will help them stay updated, improve their skills, and make their work easier and safer. Whether you’re looking to enhance your technical knowledge, learn about the latest tools, or step up your marketing game, these Tumblr pages have something valuable to offer.