Writing Archives - stifflered

The Fifth Voyage

by stifflered September 10, 2023 Leave a Comment

I’ve been reading 1001 Nights, aka The Arabian Nights, and felt inspired to add my own story to the mix. For fun and to learn more how AI LLMs work, I used chatgpt to help me turn a familiar tale into something more sinister….

by stifflered September 10, 2023 Leave a Comment

The Call of Adventure In the sprawling city of Baghdad, where narrow alleys intertwined and bustling markets sang with life, the Tigris River flowed majestically, carrying with it whispers of ancient secrets and bygone eras. The riverbanks bore witness to countless tales of love, loss, and adventure, as merchants, travelers, and dreamers from distant lands converged, weaving a tapestry of stories and memories. Here, amidst the golden sands and azure waters, a young mariner named Jamal found himself. With sun-kissed skin that bore the weathered lines of countless days at sea, eyes filled with dreams that glistened like the ocean’s surface, and a heart yearning for the vastness of the sea, he often stood by the docks, watching ships come and go, each carrying its own tale. The allure of the horizon, the promise of uncharted waters, beckoned him with an irresistible pull, a siren’s call that he could not ignore. Jamal’s life had been shaped by the rhythms of…

Life, Writing

The AI-Driven Pivot: How Technology is Pushing Writers Toward Authentic Human Stories

by stifflered August 28, 2023 Leave a Comment

Exploring the rise of AI in creative writing, this blog post highlights the irreplaceable value of genuine human experiences in storytelling. As AI produces volumes of content, artists are pivoting to real-life narratives, showcasing the authenticity and raw emotion only a human can convey. The future of professional writing lies in telling these true human stories, making them the standout choice in a digitally saturated age.

by stifflered August 28, 2023 Leave a Comment

In the ever-evolving landscape of art and technology, the relationship between AI and human creators has been, to say the least, complicated. A recent advent in this dance of creativity and computation is the use of AI to produce fiction. As machines delve into the realm of crafting stories and creating art, some fear the eventual eclipse of human talent. Yet, in this transformative era, there emerges a powerful reminder of what makes human narratives unique: our lived experiences. The AI Landscape in Fiction Firstly, it’s crucial to acknowledge the genuine feats AI has achieved in the domain of creative writing. Algorithms have been designed to understand, mimic, and generate narratives, poems, and even entire novels. They are capable of churning out immense volumes of content, exploring various themes, styles, and genres. But while these systems can produce work that mimics human creativity, it remains just that – a mimicry. The Inimitable Core of Human Experience Art, in all its…

Short Story, Writing

The evils of Lucy was all around me

by stifflered November 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

“Temptation is just the feeling that you’re the most independent person on planet Earth.” – Kendrick Lamar

by stifflered November 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

I found myself screaming in the hotel room the day the explosions went off. There were three explosions, and none of them were anywhere near me. They were near others. Human beings were lying dead in the street saying goodbye to loved ones who shrugged over them, and I was still the only one screaming. Or maybe I wasn’t the only one screaming. It’s not like it mattered either way. When Lucy took control of people’s emotional center, the only way to resist was through closing up our ears to the noise. If Lucy’s song couldn’t pierce through my 1st Gen R1G5 Headphones, then someone screaming next to me certainly wouldn’t. Shoot, I could barely hear myself. Barely. That would all change when I could finally get my hands on the 2nd Gen. Alan scribbled hurriedly on a piece of paper the first time he saw someone wearing a 2nd Gen set. It was down on Market Street, which we…

Life, Poetry, Writing

Can’t live without it

by stifflered November 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

Sometimes we walk away from the things we were passionate about doing as kids, but that passion never leaves.

by stifflered November 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

Deep inside you can feel the weight of the pit.You’re hacking up your lungs while terrified. You’re trying to spit,but you cannot forget.And you want to but you cannot repentor turn away from all the thoughts and trials you represent. What we believe about ourselves right now is going to serveto read the past aloud but sanctified if you’ve got the nerve.So every wordyou’ve ever uttered, even absurd,goes from your mouth to the people’s. A delightful hors d’oeuvre. Might not be much but the people gather, ready for feasting.They’ll devour your life from childhood while always increasing.They’ll never be ceasing,and even worse, they’ll never be piecingall the clues that point to your built up habits of self-policing. When you were a kid you had some issues, no one denies,but what they ignore is all the good behind all the lies.Good burger with fries.You grew up hoping to impact the livesof those you love, and maybe those you will. But you’re…

Writing

Finding the words

by stifflered November 13, 2022 Leave a Comment

Human beings have a special knack for misunderstanding each other. Is there any hope for fixing that?

by stifflered November 13, 2022 Leave a Comment

Sometimes it can be a real challenge to know what to say. We know what we mean to share, but we don’t know how to say it in a way that makes us understood in precisely the manner we want to be. Why? Is the problem intelligence? Bad habits created by our abuse of social media trends and SMS? Lack of understanding the perspective of our audience? One of the things that’s always frustrated me about social media is that it’s so easy to be misunderstood and to misunderstand others. Is there a way to avoid that problem? “None of us read the same book.” That’s something a teacher told me years ago, and it makes me think there is no avoiding the problem of misunderstandings. If you speak too succinctly, you might lose some of the nuance of your point, but if you speak at too much length, you might leave a lot of room for onlookers to add…