Free Republic

I've crafted two versions of the same Flash Fiction story. I'm going to present them both here, and YOU GUYS (and gals) will decide which one I use.Story OneTHE ARGUMENT“See, I told you, you should believe in climate change.” “Sure, I believe in that. But manmade climate change? No way.” “Look at all the evidence.” Sal showed a computer screen with articles, facts, and figures dancing across the glass surface. “You’ve shown me this a million times, and I’m still not convinced. When are you going to show me something new?” replied Pat dismissively. “Why should I have to? Everything...

This is a work in progress for a trilogy that is 60% written. I would very much value any questions, feedback, or criticism as I craft it! ---------------------------------- Prologue A light breeze brought Rhora awake. She was lying in her bed in rich chambers in what used to be Pernil Manor, with a window cracked open to provide fresh, cool air. As she lay there, another breeze, sweet with the aroma of spring, wafted inside. “Rhora.” It was only the slightest whisper on the wind, so faint that she thought she imagined it. “Rhora,” a woman’s whisper repeated. Her eyes...

CHAPTER ONE: The Fight “Have you lost your f****g mind?!” Mark drew his wrist across his mouth and quickly looked at the smear of blood on his shirt sleeve. He watched, warily, he and Jason slowly circled one another. Jason was utterly expressionless, Mark noticed, as they both prepared to continue their fight. Jason said nothing in response, but instead lunged forward again with another attack. Mark was not a large man, not like Jason, but he had taken martial arts classes and was skilled enough to ward off Jason’s punches. Mark refused to attack – Jason was his best...

How do you get past Writer's Block?

I've returned to writing my novel, tentatively titled "Dimensions of Essence". I've gotten somewhat deep into the first act, and I find that my word count is surprisingly low. I tend to be extremely concise. I need to do the opposite of what many authors do... instead of ruthless editing, I need to be more wordy. I asked ChatGPT what the size of the typical sci-fi novel is, and it replied: Science fiction novels typically range between 90,000 and 120,000 words. This length allows for the extensive world-building and complex narratives characteristic of the genre. However, some sci-fi novels can...

Merry Christmas, all! I'm finding that the act of writing a novel is very hard work. My writing style tends to be very concise. I can pack a lot of thoughts and ideas into a small number of sentences. This does not work well with my current project. Various sources tell me that 90,000 to 100,000 words is the typical count for a given novel. I'm only at 15,900 words. I have quite a few chapters to go, but it's a struggle to flesh out this work to the right size. I have a first draft manuscript, and if anyone...

"Reasoning", semi-intelligent (and maybe fully-intelligent) Artificial Intelligence is right around the corner.What is Artificial General Intelligence?According to Dr. Nivash Jeevanandam, who writes in a paper titled Reasoning in AI: Can AI Actually Think and Reason Like Humans?", it should show the following capabilities: Artificial intelligence (AI) uses algorithms to analyze data, identify patterns, and make decisions based on those patterns. AI reasoning can involve deductive, inductive, and other types of reasoning. Deductive reasoning Uses known information to draw specific conclusions. For example, if \(a=b\) and \(b=c\), then \(a=c\). Inductive reasoning Uses specific facts to draw general conclusions. For example, if...

Hey folks. Some time back I submitted the first few chapters of a book I'm writing (with an idea initially created by a friend). I had a few reviews, but the one that I found most useful was a private email, outside of Free Republic, that started: "I made it to page 28. Not gonna sugar coat this... it was a slog. " ...and, frankly, it was. When I re-read it, it was almost horrible. No real conflict to speak of. Chapters that simply made NO sense to the overall arc. So I re-wrote it. I punched it up quite...

When I finished and published my first novel, it became apparent to me that an Author’s Website was important. I set about creating mine. What are the benefits of an Author’s Website? It shows professionalism and dedication to prospective agents, publishers, event coordinators, journalists, and your readers. An agent or a publisher is far more likely to become interested in your novel if you demonstrate that you are dedicated to your craft. A website will confirm your dedication. You have full control over your brand and the presentation of your work. Even if social media or retail outlets remove or...

You are the proud owner of a GeoPort™ Teleporter! This manual will get you up to speed on its operation.USER GUIDE: SURETRANSIT GEOPORT™ TELEPORTATION DEVICETHANK YOU for purchasing the SureTransit GEO-PORT™ teleportation device! Proper use of this device will ensure years of service, allowing your customers quick and efficient travel at a very low cost. This high-quality teleportation product is built to exacting standards, but if you should experience a problem not covered in TROUBLESHOOTING, please visit our website at www.geoport-teleporters.com for additional information or to submit a request for technical help. If you still need assistance, call us at...

This is (possibly, depending on the feedback I get) going to be the first chapter of the sequel for my first novel. This will be in the "Dimensions" universe. Critiques and reviews welcome! SpritesSprites, they called them. Cute name for them, but they were very dangerous. Martini adjusted his exosuit for an excursion onto the surface of Europa. This was the Jovian moon that had long fascinated Earth’s scientists. Those scientists were intrigued by the possibility of life under the kilometers of ice, in the oceans beneath. Pedro Martini didn’t care about any of that. He was here to find...

Hello everyone! I recently released my very first science-fiction, political-thriller novel on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. I've been told that the work seems to embody the writing style of a Tom Clancy or a Michael Crichton, blended with an Isaac Asimov. While this is high praise, indeed, I want to go to the next level. Enter an analysis of a very quiet, very low-action scene in the first season of Game of Thrones. That analysis is here.The analysis is stellar. The writing is stellar. The analysis talks about how: Robert Baratheon was not a lecherous drunkard, but actually a very...

Using AI to help write? The short answer is, I don't. There is a person, Tim Boucher, who has used AI to write at least 97 books. That's impressive, but I would wager that if I got into reading one of them, it would be an intolerable slog that I wouldn't be able to get through. That is because of my observations when getting AI to experimentally generate some fiction. Everything it writes is very hackneyed, very trite material. Everything always ends up positive, everyone is happy, there is little conflict or conflict resolution, and every character has the exact...

Lazamataz started a Writer's Guild awhile back and last week he shared some of his thoughts about the novel he's writing. In the spirit of the endeavor, and because I'm really eager to hear what others think about it, I'm posting the opening of the memoir (actually more of a full autobiography) that I finished the first draft of last month.Please feel free to post your honest thoughts and opinions about it, no matter how brutal. It's the only way I'm going to improve. Bit of context: this is how the entire book starts. It's in first person just this...

Hello everyone! I am forming a ping list/community here, on Free Republic, that is intended to support, encourage, and mentor upcoming writers and connect them with professionals. Please contact me here and ask to be part of this community and its related ping list. WELCOME TO THE

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America picket lines in New York City on Monday, encouraging workers to keep fighting and taking aim at executives such as Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and their “insatiable greed.” “While this is a fight against AI, more than AI, this is a fight against greed,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “How many private jets does David Zaslav need? For real. How many private jets do the CEOs need? It is insatiable. It is unacceptable. I do not know how any person can say, ‘I need another $100 million before another person...

The Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Late Night and The Daily Show are all expected to pivot to re-runs. Colbert was set to have Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Chita Rivera on Tuesday’s show, with Chris Hayes, Zach Cherry, Michael J. Fox and Shonda Rhimes lined up for later in the week. Fallon was set with Ken Jeong and Emma Chamberlain on Tuesday, with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, JJ Watt, Elle Fanning and Bowen Yang among guests for later in the week. Kimmel was welcoming Dr. Phil, Gina Rodriguez and The Pixies on Tuesday, with Melissa McCarthy,...

Former CNN host Reza Aslan joined several other verified Twitter accounts in threatening violence if Senate Republicans attempt to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “Over our dead bodies. Literally,” Aslan wrote in response to a tweet saying Sen. Mitch McConnell intends to fill Ginsberg's seat, shortly after it was announced Friday that she had died at the age of 87. https://twitter.com/rezaaslan/status/1307133898154020864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1307133898154020864%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fover-our-dead-bodies-liberals-threatens-to-burn-it-all-down-if-gop-replace-ginsburg-before-election-day Aslan also tweeted, “If they even TRY to replace RBG we burn the entire f---ing thing down.” “If McConnell jams someone through, which he will, there will be riots,” Washington Post and...

The Writers Guild of America says it has instructed its 13,000 members to fire their talent agents at midnight on Saturday, unless their agents sign a new "Code of Conduct" agreement that promises they will do away with packaging fees and their stakes in production companies. The bottom line: Most of the Guild's writers agree with the Code of Conduct, but most of the agents who represent them don't. The hope was that the 2 sides would come up with a compromise before the current negotiations expired on Friday. Without a deal, Hollywood is stuck in a messy limbo that...

David Simon is urging the Writers Guild of America to file a lawsuit against the four biggest Hollywood talent agencies and the Association of Talent Agents over the practice of packaging. “I’m for filing a civil suit against the ATA and the Big Four for an overt and organized breach of fiduciary duty in which they have effectively pretended to represent clients while taking bribes from studios to keep those clients’ salaries and benefits lowered across the board,” he said in a lengthy blog post. “Looking not merely at civil law, but at the federal statutes against extortion and bribery,...