Category Archives: Writings about Writing

Thoughts and tips about the craft

AI Books: Are Writers Going Extinct?

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Let me start off by saying that if you want to know all the latest news (good or bad) about AI in the writing world, or the creative/art world in general, there are tons of resources out there. One of my favorites is Writer Beware, which specializes in scams and other threats to writers, and she often covers AI related news. You can also check out author Kristen Lamb’s blog—she recently wrote a post about AI. So this post is primarily my personal opinion, as well as my personal habits as a writer in a rapidly-changing world.

I do not use AI in my writing. I do not collaborate with AI to generate ideas, write text, or even polish and edit my work. (If spell-check is now considered AI then I guess I do use that, but I have never used anything more advanced than that). My books, blogs, social media posts, and newsletters are all fully and completely written by me—and all em-dashes and semi colons are my own, fully organic work, thank you very much! 😉

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My Writing Space

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Almost eight years ago, just a year after I’d moved across the country to a city I’d never been to before, I posted on my blog about my writing space. I’ve never been a lover of desks and traditional chairs, and I quickly adapted to using the sofa in my living room as my writing spot.

Now eight years later, I’ve moved again (still the same city and state, just a few miles away from where I’d been). I have a new house and a new couch, and still dislike desks and chairs, so here’s my new writing space:

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When Creativity is a Struggle

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This past year has not been a very productive one for me, as far as producing books goes. At this time last year, I’d hoped to have the second book in The Light-Whisperers of Kalevala trilogy published, or at the very least in the final stages of editing and formatting. As it stands now, I’m still wading through the first draft. 

Book writing, and creativity in general, has been a challenge for me this year. The day after Christmas last year, my family moved my elderly father into a nursing home. His Alzheimer’s made it unsafe – for him and my mom – to care for him at home. While dealing with that transition, several other members of my family had various unrelated health challenges during the first part of the year. Then in the summer I put my house up for sale. Autumn brought more changes as my father passed away and I moved into a new place that, while safe and comfortable, wasn’t quite move-in ready and thus required some time-consuming work. Other smaller things also happened this year that were surprising drains on mental energy. 

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Giving Thanks for Books

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While it’s good to practice thankfulness all the time, every day, during the month of November many people think of gratitude in a special way. It’s great to take time to focus on specific things you’re thankful for.

I have a lot to be thankful for. And in particular I’m very thankful for books.

Thankful for Books

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Book Selling

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Writing books may be the hardest part of being an author, but actually selling books is even harder. I have links to all my books right here on my website, and other places online. Earlier this month, some friends and I got together to try selling our books in person at a live event. 

My sci-fi and fantasy books on display, next to my friend’s cozy historical mysteries.

Some months ago my critique group (me and three other women who have been meeting regularly for over eight years now) decided to formalize our group with a name and a theme. We’ve always supported each other in our writing, brainstorming, and editing processes, and we decided to expand that support to the marketing side of things. None of us are marketers (we’re authors, gosh darn it, not sales people), but we went with the idea that four are better than one. 

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