Blog Archives

Don't Be Afraid to Write Different Types of Stories

11/26/2016

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.

A month ago, I received an email from Wattpad issuing a challenge to all writers who wanted to write a short horror story 1,000 to 10,000 words. There was no entry fee it was judged by a variety of Wattpad personnel.

I took up the challenge and wrote FLOODS OF TERROR. Here is the link if you would care to read the story, and I honestly would love to see comments.

Floods of Terror

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.

(Just for giggles, imagine if Artificial Intelligence has taken over the world and there is a group of 150 humans surviving and hiding underground. They saw it coming and have eluded detection. However, they need to leave Earth, because they will not survive if they remain.

So I thought, do I have an underground rocket ship that they can escape in or do I have the idea of a spaceship 100 miles away, and the story is about the group attempting to traverse the distance without being detected by the machines? Will they make it or will they not?

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

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WRITING'S ONLY FRIEND-ROUTINE

11/24/2016

The desire to become the person one dreams of becoming requires sacrifice. Often when people hear that statement it by itself stops many in their tracks.
"No I want to be this, or I want to do this, but I'm not serious about it, I don't want to change who I am."

Congratulations, they have found themselves a hobby.

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.

As days became weeks, which soon became months. Eventually, a year had passed. I looked back and had written three books, published 2, had written five short stories of which I also published 2.

When it was all said and done, I had written over 300,000 words. This from someone who had not written half that many words in a lifetime.

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.

Writing is a lonely voyage, fraught with many personal roadblocks along the way. I have found for me that every morning around 6 a.m., I'm a morning person, I get on my stationary bike and pedal for about 20-25 minutes.

While on my bike, I listen on YouTube to a young man named Eddie Pinero who has compiled a series of, let's call them motivational musings,
that are better than most. https://www.yourworldwithin.com/

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.

#routine#Hemingway#YourWorldWithin#writingroutine#MichaelCrichton#writeeveryday#novelist#imagination#nevergiveup

If writing is drudgery, as it once was for me, then it is not one's time to be a writer.

In a daily routine, one writes with passion and the love of creating a story out of thin air.

In the writer's mind, he has met a stranger which begins with Once Upon a Time, who soon becomes a friend which the author shares an adventure with and is sad to see go when the last two words are written.
The End.

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The Second Novel-Not the Last

11/20/2016

Last week, someone asked how I felt about self-publishing the second book, and of course, my answer was "great!" However, answering the next question required more than a simple one or two-word response.

"How was the experience of writing a second book different from the first?"

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.

I find one of the most enjoyable parts of writing is not knowing what is going to happen until it does. Sure I have ideas which might be the impetus to move the story forward, but there are times when I sit down and ask the characters, "where do you want to go?"

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.

Looking back over the past 13 months the number one lesson I learned from all of this. JUST WRITE, and do not stop. It had taken years of living and self-doubt before I tossed out the notion that one has to be perfect before one can challenge themselves.

I was wrong then and would tell anyone that they are wrong to think that way. Write because you have the desire to do so.

Everyone has a story inside of them and if it is screaming to come out and needs to be told then sit down and write. Don't worry if it is fair at best it will improve with time and several re-writes.

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

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#SATURDAY

11/18/2016

If you like SciFi and and stories about Artificial Intelligence this is just a reminder that my second novel, They Try to Think Like US, is available through Saturday November 19 for free on Amazon.

The button below will take you to the link. Please be my guest.

Thanks everyone, talk to you soon!

#theytrytothinklikeus,#artificialintelligence,#stephenhawking,#cyborg,#Westworld,#FutureWorld,
#terminator,#StarWars,#StarTrek,#AI,#computerscience,#machine,#man,#robertstephen,#mars

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#THANK YOU

11/16/2016

I will try to keep this short.

I just want to write "thank you" to everyone who downloaded my second novel, They Try to Think Like US.

Being a writer is a long, arduous uphill climb, but with each step, I continue forward.

In the journey as a writer, you build an audience and a following one reader at a time.

Thank you for the support.

#thank you,#appreciation,#gratitude,#audience,
#novelist,#writer,#onemansjourney,#entertain,
#grateful,#never quit

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INVITATION-They Try to Think Like Us

11/15/2016

Today's post is an invitation. Until Saturday November 19th, if you hit the button at the bottom of this post it will take you to Amazon Kindle e-books. I invite you to download a free copy of my second novel They Try to Think Like Us.

The CEO of TechnoSunland, the nation 4th largest corporation has implemented a formula, which will accelerate humankind demise. In his plan, he will leave the Country intact, its streets, its buildings, and its parks. Everything that man has built he desires for his new order, there is only one element purposely missing in his vision, man.

Lee, Larry, and Steve, three recent college graduates innocently accept job offers at TS and find themselves in the center of this monster diabolical plan.

In my research about Artificial Intelligence it is fascinating to have met Scientists that see the development of smart machines could be man's demise.

Be my guest and download a copy and as always I cannot forget to say Thank You to everyone who have been so supportive and encouraging.

#artificial intelligence,#computer science,#free book,#WestWorld,#robot,#robotics,#machine,#intelligent machine,#android,#cyborg,#man versus machine,

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My Second Novel-the journey continues

11/13/2016

Just over twelve months ago, I sat down one day and began to write. Twelve months later, I'm still writing. In that period, I published two short stories and two novels. The first, MY DIARY MY LOVE, released late June of this year and the second, They Try to Think Like Us, just published and will be available for Free on Tuesday, November 15th.

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

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THEY TRY TO THINK LIKE US

11/12/2016

The CEO of TechnoSunland, the nation's 4th largest corporation has implemented a formula, which will accelerate humankind's demise. In his plan, he will leave the Country intact, its streets, its buildings, and its parks. Everything that man has built he desires for his new order, there is only one element purposely missing in his vision, man.

Lee, Larry, and Steve, three recent college graduates innocently accept job offers at TS and find themselves in the center of this monster's diabolical plan.

Scientists argue that machines would automatically know and care about human values, which would not pose a threat to man's well-being.
Others argue vehemently that Artificial Intelligence will want to wipe out the human race, either out of revenge or out of the core desire for survival.

It will begin with the loss of jobs, man is being replaced by machine. In time, man will be unable to keep up with the machines by designing himself out of existence. Soon afterward man will discover it is not the arrogance of the machine, as much as it is the ambivalence of man himself,...which will destroy man.

#science fiction,#writing a book,
#android,#robot,#future,
#Armageddon,#artificial intelligence,#tomorrow

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AI Part 2-#Artificial Intelligence-Us or Them

11/3/2016

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.

If we met, an extraterrestrial who was biological creature and who has grown through the evolutionary process could we not expect an intelligent social species, which might also have motivations related to cooperation and competition.

Like us, it might show in-group loyalty, resentment of free riders, perhaps even a vain concern with reputation and appearance.

Human beings tend to seek to acquire resources sufficient to meet their basic biological needs.

Except people usually seek to acquire resources far beyond this minimum level. In doing so, they may be partially driven by minor biological conveniences (such as housing that offers slightly better temperature control or more comfortable furniture).

A great deal of resource accumulation is motivated by social concerns—gaining status, mates, friends, and influence, through wealth accumulation and conspicuous consumption.

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.

Some scientists and inventors have said, Once machines can match human intelligence, it will be a simple matter of copying intelligent agent software, which is capable of programming an artificial mind, from one computer to the next to create more workers for the economy.

Whereas the economy doubled every thousand years after the agricultural revolution, and every 15 years after the industrial revolution, a post-singularity economy could double every month, then week. That blistering pace of economic growth could be so fast that humans couldn't keep up.

As robots get smarter, humans just won't be able to keep up. While simpler tasks may be outsourced to robots at first, by 2045 Ray Kurzweil predicts that machines will be billions of times smarter than un-augmented human beings.

Robots have already replaced factory workers, and self-driving cars are just around the corner. Still other computer-science technologies, such as the ultrafast stock trading programs that cause "flash crashes," are being developed without considering how they could damage people or put them out of work, said Bill Hibbard, a computer scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"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

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Author

Robert Stephen.
What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny?

My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring. Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in.

Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure!

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