I'm also wondering if there will be fake authors created, with names, fictional bios, AI-generated avatar pics, and social media accounts run by AI bots. I mean, who knows where this could end?

Came across Sam Altman claiming they've developed a creative writing AI model. He posted a metafictional example. I wasn't impressed, but he says they'll be launching the model at some point. I wonder how much the book market will be drowning in this stuff.

#WritingCommunity Your first 10,000 words developmentally edited and back to you within a week! Adult SF/F/H, historical, literary, and thriller. Extensive report and margin comments. More info at the link. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/op...

#WritingCommunity #BookSky These are books from two of the series I've worked on as a developmental editor. The first is by Hamish Hudson, a thriller writer. The second is by S.A. Thomas, a romance author. Looking for a developmental edit or a manuscript critique? indiecateditorial.com

#WritingCommunity What's the difference between a manuscript critique and a developmental edit? indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity The story spine is a storytelling structure attributed to Pixar or to writer/director Brian McDonald. The eight-step structure is a great road map for storytelling and one worth keeping in your back pocket. Here is how it breaks down: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

Looking forward to warmer days in the garden. It looks lovely this morning, but it's not unusual for it to start with clear blue skies and then cloud over. Painting by J.W. Waterhouse.

#WritingCommunity William Faulkner's advice on first drafts:

#WritingCommunity Are you writing a historical novel? This post digs into various ways to research, whether it be location or social customs, etc. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity #BookSky These are books from two of the series I've worked on as a developmental editor. The first is by Hamish Hudson, a thriller writer. The second is by S.A. Thomas, a romance author. Looking for a developmental edit or a manuscript critique? indiecateditorial.com

#amediting #writingcommunity Just woke up to an email from a client. I was supposed to be working on her manuscript already. But she's delayed and won't be able to deliver until May. So I have immediate openings in my developmental editing schedule. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain is a story that explores the social and historical context of its two main characters, Ennis and Jack. It was inspired by an older man Proulx once saw in a bar. It got her wondering... More here: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity In this post I examine the history and development of the Gothic novel, and look at the common tropes and ingredients found in this fiction. Great for those working on Gothic short stories or novels! indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity 🧵 When Daphne du Maurier was writing Rebecca, she was stationed abroad with her husband and felt isolated and out of place. She fantasized about Menabilly in Cornwall, the house that would inspire Manderley. Her experience abroad fed into her narrator's isolation in Rebecca. 1/

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Image below from Ann Radcliffe's 1794 Gothic novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho. She was hugely influential in the 1790s. In the post below, I dig into the history of Gothic fiction & examine its common tropes: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Are you writing your memoir? This post tackles some of the issues associated with memoir as a genre, including truth versus memory, emotional vulnerability, fear of judgement and more. Link below: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Reacting to Trimalchio, the first draft of The Great Gatsby, editor Maxwell Perkins pointed out that “Gatsby is somewhat vague. The reader’s eyes can never quite focus upon him, his outlines are dim.” 1/

#WritingCommunity When Daphne du Maurier was writing Rebecca, she was stationed abroad with her husband and felt isolated and out of place. She fantasized about Menabilly in Cornwall, the house that would inspire Manderley. Her experience abroad fed into her narrator's isolation in Rebecca.

#WritingCommunity #BookSky This post looks at editor Maxwell Perkins and the developmental editing advice he gave to Fitzgerald after reading an early draft of The Great Gatsby. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

Article on the development of Anne Rice’s first published novel, including the developmental advice she received from her editor. This advice caused her to radically alter parts of her novel, turning it into a classic of the vampire & Gothic genres. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity #HistFic Are you writing a historical novel? Is the location not only distant in time, but maybe in place too? In this post, I address how to research historical locations using historical travel guides, old maps, and more. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity “Nowhere in this great continent of ours can be found a more desirable residence than Black River Falls…” Never mind all the weird crimes and occurrences going on there in the nineteenth century! Welcome to Wisconsin Death Trip: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Are you writing your memoir? This post tackles some of the issues associated with memoir as a genre, including truth versus memory, emotional vulnerability, fear of judgement and more. Link below: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Image below from Ann Radcliffe's 1794 Gothic novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho. She was hugely influential in the 1790s. In the post below, I dig into the history of Gothic fiction & examine its common tropes: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain is a story that explores the social and historical context of its two main characters, Ennis and Jack. It was inspired by an older man Proulx once saw in a bar. It got her wondering... More here: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

❄️ Writers, it’s time! Submit your winter-inspired short stories to our global anthology. From gothic chills to speculative twists—show us what winter means to you. Info: shorturl.at/e3Qwr #SootAndBoots #Festive #ShortFiction #SubmissionWindow

The 17th century was a time of revolutionary change and women were at the forefront. In honour of Women's History Month, here's an article on these women #history

Listen to the Advisory Clinic’s ‘Roll Up & Read All About It’ which delves into commissions, Walter Besant & … the passage of time. With thanks to contributors @jamesmcconnachie.bsky.social Nicholas Rankin & sponsor @alcs-uk.bsky.social Listen here - authr.uk/pods4e1

#WritingCommunity #BookSky Hilary Mantel's French Revolution novel, A Place of Greater Safety, won Sunday Express Book of the Year. In reality, this was a rejected first novel, written when she was in her 20s and only published when she was 40ish. More here: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Writing a novel set in eighteenth century Europe? Or maybe you just love historical costume? This book focuses more on specific details of male and female dress. The beautiful finishings and embroidery, the elegance of a sleeve, etc.

#BookSky #WritingCommunity Old travel guides are very useful when your novel is set in a historical location. Researching the 20th century is likely easier, and there will be more travel guides, but there are earlier guides, and also personal diaries and accounts of travelling that can be useful.

#WritingCommunity #HistFic Are you writing a historical novel? Is the location not only distant in time, but maybe in place too? In this post, I address how to research historical locations using historical travel guides, old maps, and more. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity #BookSky My A-Z of Regency London. Useful if I ever time travel back there. Also useful for historical research. Do you have a historical novel in need of developmental feedback or a manuscript critique? I'm a specialist dev editor. Check out my website: indiecateditorial.com

This painting is by JW Waterhouse and is called A Tale from the Decameron. To me it perfectly represents the spellbinding nature of storytelling and stories.

Love the costumes and sets in Crimson Peak. Reminds me of Victorian paintings.

#WritingCommunity NEW: Writers who start later in life... or why it's never too late to become a writer. Unless you kick the bucket first, in which case it definitely is too late. I may tweak this post tomorrow, but in the meantime here it is. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

Years ago, I came across a cheeky person dissing indie authors: "It’s not real publishing and there are no bragging rights because anyone with a few dollars can do it. It’s like being a child and making your own little newspaper..." I wrote this in response: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

Finally bought this book this week. It's gorgeous! 😍

Had a lovely day out yesterday at the bird sanctuary at Lochwinnoch. Blue skies, blue loch, though not so many birds around. Got a good dose of fresh air and a long walk. Really felt like an early spring day.

Why join the British Fantasy Society? Says author @stephellis.bsky.social: "I left the BFS a few years back as it did not feel a place to be for a dark fiction or horror writer. Rejoining last year, I discovered this had changed & those on the dark side–like myself-are positively welcomed... (1/2)

Picnic at Hanging Rock is presented as a true historical event, but was it? Joan Lindsay was 71 when her masterpiece was published. How did a series of dreams influence the novel? And what did she think of the casting of Miranda in the film adaptation? Link: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Did you know that Ira Levin, author of The Stepford Wives, didn't write more than one draft of his book? Yet the narrative is so tight, it functions like clockwork. Every scene counts. So why one draft? He rewrote as he went along! More here: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Maxwell Perkins was a famous 20th century editor who worked with the likes of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the post below I look at the influence of his advice on Fitzgerald's first draft of The Great Gatsby: indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors Are you looking for affordable but detailed feedback on your novel? I have a special developmental editing package that focuses on the first 10,000 words of your manuscript. The opening scenes of your novel are vital if you want to hook readers. More in thread: 1/

#WritingCommunity Client testimonial for developmental editing of fiction. If you are looking for a manuscript critique or a developmental edit, you can find me at IndieCat Editorial. indiecateditorial.com

White pine and Japanese Peony paper flowers. Made from the book Paper to Petal by Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrell

#WritingCommunity I’ve written past posts on how to research your novel locations online, and also how to avoid certain location problems in your fiction. In this post I wanted to address the specific topic of researching historical locations for your novel... indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity Copywork is an old method of learning how to write, used by writers like Benjamin Franklin, Jack London, and Hunter S. Thompson. In this post I discuss how this technique teaches style, word choice, grammar and punctuation. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity In this post I examine the history and development of the Gothic novel, and look at the common tropes and ingredients found in this fiction. Great for those working on Gothic short stories or novels! indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...

#WritingCommunity I've updated my Master List of IndieCat Blog Posts - the index of blogs on my developmental editing website. Over five years of posts. I think there's the odd one I haven't added. But most are indexed here. indiecateditorial.com/index.php/20...