THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
a Fictional Book
"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
I believe that most new authors who begin this adventure have no idea where it is going to lead them. I sometimes wonder if several of our favorite authors knew before hand that their first works would lead them to fame and riches. We have all heard the interviews and stories of J.K Rowling and George Martin, but other than Harry Potter or Game of Thrones, how many authors begin the long road before finding an audience. My first book I would call a romantic comedy while my second strolls into the realm of SciFi. However, my third is dark and begins in the early 60's in Hollywood. It is a crime novel and might be my favorite. We'll know in March. In between I have written several short stories which two I have already published, three will be released over the coming months, and one will be illustrated. Where am I going with all of this? Since I do not have a character to generate story after story, you know, Alex Cross, James Bond, Harry Potter, etc. I have the freedom to venture into all sorts of genre. Comedy, Adventure, Crime, SciFi and much more. For writers not familiar with Wattpad may I suggest a visit. Someone coined it, The YouTube for Books. It is a platform where everything is free, you can read millions of books, or you can publish books, stories, poetry, ongoing sagas, and work on building an audience. Go to www.wattpad.com and sign up, it's free to everyone.
I believe that a writer should be able to write several different types of stories. All we have is our imagination, which should never be shackled by self-doubt. Each time I have an idea that eventually becomes a story it always begins with two words that I ask myself. "What if?" As I was reading up on AI, I have become fascinated with the idea of the machine over man. However, I do not know if I have the ability to create an exciting SciFi story, although one is kicking around.
I checked and found that there are over 25 awards for writing Science Fiction. Rather than to list all of them I thought I would post a picture of the Peabody Awards for those of us who dream.
Be my guest, but please if you do write it and it takes you all the way to the top, would you please remember me with a thank you and a percentage. You know, just in case! Robert Stephen #peabody,#sciencefiction,#theytrytothinklikeus,#writer,#novelist,#spaceexploration,#spaceship,#artificialintelligence,#survival, #wattpad,#FloodsofTerror,#persistence,#commitment,#challengeyourself,#neverquit WRITING'S ONLY FRIEND-ROUTINE
11/24/2016
When I began seriously writing, spending countless hours crafting a story I never counted the hours invested I didn't care. When I finished the story, I took a breath and attempted to physically pat myself on the back, saying "good job," because no one else would. Then either I was simultaneously writing another story, or I started all over again at the beginning and began the rewrite.
Every explorer, athlete, actor, artist, doctor, lawyer, firefighter, started with the first step. Except for Royalty, or if you are Harry Potter, we are not born with a stamp on our forehead that says what our lives will be. No for most, it comes with the trial and error of living our lives. That is what our stories are about. Sometimes it is a conscious choice sometimes it's not, but either way to begin the journey is exciting to continue on the journey is tedious, dreary and often difficult.
I don't want to wake up and fight the world, win at all costs, no I want to be reminded that it is up to no one else but me. It helps. Afterward, I get dressed, sit down, and write for about three hours each day. Sometimes six hours, sometimes 1 hour, but now after a year if I do not write every day I feel cheated and that I have wasted a day.
The Second Novel-Not the Last
11/20/2016
AND SO IT BEGINS, slightly over a year ago I began writing My Diary My Love, and two weeks later I had an idea for another story. Working every day in a corporate environment, I started daydreaming different far-fetched scenarios that could take place at work. I wondered what it would be like to come out of college with a degree in hand and then not find a job. My main character Teresa Strausman accepts an offer from TechnoSunland, the 4th largest corporation in the U.S. Unfamiliar with the inner workings of large companies she goes in with her eyes wide open only to discover it is far from what she expected. Page by page the story begins to unfold. The idea of Artificial Intelligence becoming part of the story did not evolve until page 100 or 30,000 + words into the book. It was here that the story changed course. I never intended to write a science fiction book, yet when I completed the first draft, I was satisfied with the result. Since I completed it while simultaneously working on my first book, I put it away and didn't pick it up again until the first project was finished and published. Between the first and second book, I began a third novel, which I completed and currently it is collecting dust until December 10, when I begin the re-write. Release date, March 15 of next year.
Every writer is a story unto himself or herself. Those stories we sometimes read about the latest breakout writer or artist that are overnight sensations are mostly untrue. If fame is the driving force behind any endeavor than be ready for lots of disappointment and miserable days. However, if the engine behind the effort is hard work, determination, getting up when one is knocked down, plus hours of personal commitment, then it is true, one can become an overnight sensation.
#theytrytothinklikeus,#storytelling,#writing,#novelist,#perseverance,#commitment, #becomingawriter,#artist,#williamsansom,#sciencefiction,#writer,#dontgiveup,#imagination,#robertstephen #SATURDAY
11/18/2016
#THANK YOU
11/16/2016
INVITATION-They Try to Think Like Us
11/15/2016
My Second Novel-the journey continues
11/13/2016
When I completed the 2nd novel and looked back over the last year, I realized that that was an amazing personal accomplishment. When I began writing, I did not know how emotional and fulfilling it would be. I promised myself that before this journey is over, I would write 1 million words in the form of novels and short stories. Printed words to date, 183,400. It is one thing to talk about the trials and tribulations of the first novel I think every new author can attest to the amount of time and effort it takes to complete one. However, at the time I wrote the first novel I simultaneously wrote the 2nd, and when it was finished, I turned my back and did not look at it again for five months. The next two novels will be out early next year along with four additional short stories. Over the next several weeks, there are vast amounts of knowledge I have gained, and I am going to share it in the form of several posts. No, I am not selling anything on "How to Write a Novel." I would never be so presumptuous. What I do sell are my books and if they are entertaining and a reader enjoys what I have written, then I have succeeded as a writer. As I post and touch on various subjects, I invite you to ask me questions. There are thousands, no excuse me, hundreds of thousands of individuals who want to write, but for one reason or another have not done so. Is it hard, yes, if one is not committed it is very hard. I can honestly attest to this if one desires to be a writer or any other type of artist and places fame ahead of perfecting his or her craft then that he or she should not begin what most definitely will not be finished. I am not going to go into all of the details of writing because this time right now is a personal gratifying celebration. I published my second novel! If you like science fiction and have any interest in Artificial Intelligence, then please on Tuesday go to Amazon and download They Try to Think Like Us, it will be available for free for just a few days. Thank you Robert Stephen #want to be a writer,#science fiction novel, #writer,#commitment,#Artificial Intelligence,#cyborg,#free book,#success is illusive,#succeed at writing,#artist,#love to write,#never give up,#Westworld THEY TRY TO THINK LIKE US
11/12/2016
In the evolution of man, it can easily be assumed that his number one goal has been to survive. In learning to survive, he has developed natural instincts, foraging and hunting for food, and shelter from the elements. As time continued forward so did man's evolution of survival. He learned about farming, about climate, energy expenditure, disease, sex. Many left the forests, the caves, the villages, the towns, and created cities. He learned to make his life easier, less energy expenditure.
There are numerous documents regarding man's knowledge of survival and his search for longer life WHAT IF while man develops Artificial Intelligence, he, man, programs a goal that AI is to survive well into the future. Then would it not stand to reason that in many scenarios there will be future actions that Artificial Intelligence could perform to increase the probability of achieving its goal.
"The question is, could we evolve ourselves out of existence, being gradually replaced by the machines?" Asked by Joan Slonczewski, a microbiologist at Kenyon college and the author of a science-fiction book called "The Highest Frontier," (Tor Books, 2011).
In the recent discussion over the risks of developing superintelligent machines—that is, machines with general intelligence greater than that of humans—two narratives have emerged. One side argues that if a machine ever achieved advanced intelligence, it would automatically know and care about human values and wouldn’t pose a threat to us. The opposing side argues that artificial intelligence would “want” to wipe humans out, either out of revenge or an intrinsic desire for survival. Which generation will be the last generation that's only function is to turn the switches on while the machines do everything else. #Artificial Intelligence,#AI,#survival,#human being,#evolution,#computer,#Internet,#terminator, #Westworld,#Ray Kurzweil,#Joan Slonczewski,#computer science,#stephen hawking Thank you to all of those scientists, inventors, futurists, Sci-Fi writers, and everyone else interested in Artificial Intelligence. My next fictional novel about AI and Corporate America, "They Try to Think Like Us," will be out soon. excerpts from :Bill Hibbard, Joan Slonczewski, Ray Kurzweil, Nick Bostrom |
AuthorRobert Stephen. Archives
September 2018
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