This Substack is the newest version of the Wonderblog, which I started mere months before I graduated with a BA in English. I graduated later than I thought I was should have. And as soon as I graduated, I started thinking I didn\u2019t need to have graduated at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reason I wanted a BA was to start writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started this blog before I graduated–proof that I never needed to wait for the diploma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have kept up this blog\u2014founded in 2002 and blogging no less than once a week. I\u2019m beginning to see that consistency like that is one of my superpowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this week, I\u2019m having trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m past the hurricane of cancer treatments, and sick to death of talking about it. I\u2019ve been stuck under that storm so long I\u2019m not sure who is left as I crawl out. What remains?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I kept hold this blog<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because as long as I\u2019m writing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m a writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t need the university to give me permission, and I regret I waited so long to give myself permission to write my first book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then again, I did \u2013and still do\u2014the work to keep creating. Stacking words into sentences and seeing if they stand up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking back at the origin story, I\u2019m reminding myself of who I am. It\u2019s what I need right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world has changed since this blog began. I asked GrokAI for a writing prompt, which was a self-aware attempt to engage with AI as a new technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answer was not helpful. I tried to reverse engineer his style \u201cGrok, why did you use an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExclamation marks add excitement and energy to writing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are fake emotion, Grok. Using metaphors and examples for what emotions a writer is trying to evoke is what makes prose beautiful.
He defended his choices, and continued to use exclamation marks after I explained that they were the sign of an inexperienced writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Me and the AI went back and forth as I responded to prompts about how writing should be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not gaining anything by teaching an artificial intelligence how to write about feelings it doesn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then again, I was able to quickly express the mechanics of writing, proving that I do know this craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I\u2019m trying to find a way pick it up again, it\u2019s nice to realize I\u2019m not starting from zero. I\u2019m still in here and I know a few things.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This Substack is the newest version of the Wonderblog, which I started mere months before I graduated with a BA in English. I graduated later than I thought I was should have. And as soon as I graduated, I started … Continue reading