Posts Tagged ‘reflections’

The Problem with the AI Revolution

Posted: November 30, 2024 in Reflections
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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

AI is everywhere these days. And unfortunately, it’s making inroads into the creative industries.

In September, the organization behind National Novel Writing Month announced they would allow participants to use AI programs to write their novels for them (you can see my post about that here). Then HarperCollins, following some academic presses, announced it would be offering some of its non-fiction titles to Microsoft for training their language-learning models (LLMs), AKA the same programs that “write” fiction for people, provided the author consents. And earlier this week, Bookseller reported that AI publishing company Spine would be using AI to publish up to 8000 titles a year, while also charging authors $5000 to use their programs to proofread, publish, and distribute books. You can read both articles on this subject here and here.

This is only confirming many creatives’ worst fears about how AI may be used by companies to make money. After all, you don’t have to pay a program for their work, which means the company keeps all the profit. This could potentially make it harder for creatives to make a living or even a side hustle by writing, making art, editing, make music, or a hundred other things. And after the writers and actors guilds fought so hard last year to keep AI from cutting in on their work!

Now, I’m not necessarily against AI. I think AI has plenty of useful applications. For example, Google’s AlphaFold program is apparently predicting proteins and coming up with new ways to treat some of our worst diseases. And I think many people would be happy if AI made certain aspects of life, such as cleaning our homes, easier. (God knows I would love it if a program could clean my bathtub, rather than me.) However, I don’t think AI should be in the entertainment business!

For one thing, there’s the issue that often, the literature and art used to train the programs is used without the creator’s permission. I’ve heard from plenty of creators who found out their work was being used without permission, which they considered theft (and I can’t disagree). And it’s not just authors and artists dealing with this; some voice actors are actually suing a company for using their voices without their permission (you can watch a news report about it here).

Then there’s the problem with AI trying to create literature or art. It doesn’t actually create anything new. Unlike humans, who can learn from other creators and then learn to subvert tropes or play with ideas to try new things, AI programs can only look for patterns and then apply those patterns. It’s essentially paint-by-the-numbers. And it’s hardly perfect. In fact, it rarely is!

I’ve played around with AI (if I’m going to criticize it, I might as well). This includes writing programs. And they’re difficult to keep on track. You’re constantly having to get the writing back on track because the program forgets something it wrote before. And from what I’ve seen, the language is hardly that deep. It’s pretty barebones. No inner monologues about character feelings or philosophical discussions in-text about the nature of good and evil, love, death, etc. It can get the actions and maybe the conversations, but it can’t do anything like Stephen King’s musings on goings-on in the Lot in Salem’s Lot, or the Savage Garden in the Vampire Chronicles.

AI art is worse, including WordPress’s new AI art generator. (Yeah, that’s a thing now.) I played around with it recently, and while it is fun, it’s still problematic. Sometimes, you get some good stuff, like this image of Batman taking a kid trick-or-treating (something I could see happening in the right comic storyline).

But then you get this Spider-Man art I made.

Don’t see the problems? Spider-Man’s spider symbol looks more like a stain on his top, his neck looks like it was twisted around a hundred and eighty degrees, the webbing looks more like chains than webbing (and on the left arm is coming out of the wrong place), and the bus has an extra twenty feet on it that’s being kept up by magic.

And that’s just one example. I did a bunch of ballet-themed pictures because AI-generated ballet art shows the issues with AI programs about fifty percent of the time (and I like ballet). Half the time, the dancers had extra limbs or missing limbs. And sometimes, the program couldn’t properly reproduce something I input into the prompt. Look at this picture of Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Leatherface skipping through a field.

Yeah, that’s not what I was going for. Jason is wearing Michael’s boilersuit, and the other two look like a masked warrior wearing weird make-up holding a sword and…I don’t know. A random guy with a machete? I tried this prompt four different times, and not one got close to what I was looking for.

So, to reiterate, while companies are going all in on AI in the hope that it can make them a profit, they’re working with programs that are flawed, can only copy, and sometimes rely on stealing to get trained. All while threatening the livelihoods of authors and artists.

Well, the good news is, while AI is making leaps and bounds, it may eventually implode. In one scenario, AI will eventually begin to copy itself, flaws and all, leading to the programs producing increasingly subpar creations. In another, such as this video seems to suggest, the facilities needed to store data for AI programs will start to consume tons of water and electricity. Water and electricity that, more often than not, comes from the same sources as regular people’s water and electricity. That competition will eventually move in favor of people unless a compromise or solution presents itself, and may eventually lead to limitations on AI facilities.

Still, it’s a fucking pain that the real creators have to compete with ones and zeros to prove we’re the superior creators. Hell, sometimes we have to go on strike to get the message across! In addition, some creators don’t seem to see the issue. I spoke recently to a creator who didn’t see what the big deal was and even welcomed the challenge from AI. Let me tell you, she was exhausting.

So, what can we do? Well, if you work with publishers, check with them on their AI policies. I asked both the ones I’ve worked with, and one’s already gotten back to me with a definite No. Just simply ask what their policy is on AI-generated material is, so it doesn’t sound accusatory. You can also reach out to your elected representatives and ask them to support legislation that protects creatives over programming.

You should also support creators who don’t use AI. Buy their book and artwork, leave reviews online, and make sure to let people know that those you support don’t use AI. (For the record, no AI beyond spellcheck is used in my work.)

And, as always, make your voices heard. If we aren’t silent, people will notice. And if they notice, they may be swayed to help us.

Looking Back at 2024, Looking Forward to 2025

Posted: November 25, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections
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This feels appropriate for this year.

Every year, I do this post. Every year, you guys seem to like it. I imagine it’s because I make sure to get good graphics for it. Anyway, with only 36 days and a few hours left in 2024 (yeah, where did this year go?), it’s time for my annual assessment of the year and what I hope will happen in the coming year.

And let’s start by being honest: 2024 was a shitty year.

Yeah, I had hoped roaring at it like a tiger would make the year too scared to fuck with me, but I think it either got mad at me or my roar had no effect. Either way, this year sucked. The war in Ukraine continues on, with no sign of an end anytime soon; the war in the Middle East continues, and that’s not likely to end anytime soon soon, either; the 2024 presidential election ended in a way most people in the world feared it would; riots occurred in England in response to a stabbing in Southport; several countries experienced unrests, coups, and God only knows what else; hurricanes pounded the US and other nations mercilessly; prices have continued to rise on necessities like food, gas, and housing; and do I need to go on?

Overall, a rough year.

Granted, there were some nice things that happened this year. From July till earlier this month, I felt intense hope for the future of our nation thanks to a certain leader whom I hope we haven’t seen the last of. And the solar eclipse, as well as the northern lights being seen farther south than usual, was cool (I only saw one of those, but still cool). But all in all, it was a really shitty year.

On a personal level, yeah, 2024 was also quite shitty at times. The return to the office three days a week at my workplace had a ripple effect which caused my office’s workload to triple, leaving us stressed and struggling to stay on top of it. As a result, several times my performance suffered, which has had far-reaching consequences. I was unable to get Hannah and Other Stories into paperback, which was a major goal for me this year, and because of the economy and some other factors, I did not do as well at certain events as I expected. I was diagnosed with diabetes in August, which was a huge upset for me and has required me to make major adjustments to my lifestyle (don’t worry, I’m doing okay, but it still sucks); and it looks like my trip to Israel is in jeopardy because every airline is cancelling flights into the country due to the war (God forbid I get to visit my people’s homeland!).

Yeah, it’s been bad. I had to actually start attending therapy due to the huge amount of crap and stress I’ve been through this year. And I doubt I’m the only one.

Life was rough, but at least I got some good writing done this year.

Still, there were some highlights, and I try to focus on them:

I wrote some of the best stuff I’ve ever written this year, including a new novel, The Shape of Evil, which I plan to pitch at StokerCon next year; my first adaptation, a radio play of “Hannah” from Hannah and Other Stories, was released on Halloween (you can check that out here); my short story, “White Leaves” was released on the same day on the Tales to Terrify podcast (you can listen to that here); and despite underperforming at certain events, I did very well at others, and will probably make a profit this year instead of a loss.

Also, I started work on a new collection, and I plan to put it out in spring next year. More to come on that later.

Outside of writing, my health has improved thanks to all the changes I’ve made in my lifestyle; I’m still in a well-paying job that allows me to cover my expenses (and hopefully I’ll stay in the job or something similar until I’m able to write full time); I was able to do some traveling and even visited a few haunted locations; I had a couple of vacations over the year that were really restful and relaxing; my sister got married, and we got to do a little celebrating with her and the new in-laws; I got two new, really awesome tattoos; and I might still be able to travel to the Holy Land later this year.

So yeah, shit year, but I still have things to be thankful for (and right before Thanksgiving, too).

And what will happen in 2025? Well, like I said, I plan to release another collection and pitch The Shape of Evil to agents and editors at StokerCon (expect me to start editing later this week); hopefully I’ll get some more stories written and published, and maybe even (finally!) get back to writing my mummy novel Crawler; I’ll be seeing some amazing Broadway shows and a few ballets; hopefully I’ll get closer to writing full time; I plan to get another tattoo in the spring; and maybe I’ll do some more traveling. I do want to go back to Vegas or New Orleans again, if I can afford them, or even go abroad.

And I expect I’ll be resisting certain things from our incoming government, but sadly, life can’t be trouble free.

In any case, I hope 2025 comes with the resolution of certain world conflicts, and that any new troubles are mild compared to what they’ve been these past few years.

How was your 2024? And what are you hoping or expecting for 2025? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

One more thing, my Followers of Fear: as you know, the holiday season is upon us. And if you’re looking for some good horror to read, or you’re looking for a gift for that horror-loving friend in your life, why not try some of my books? From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan. I’ll leave a button below so you can check out my bibliography.

Book Links & Excerpts

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online so I know what you thought. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps other readers, as well.

And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Sometimes You Need a Different Perspective

Posted: November 14, 2024 in Reflections, Writing
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I am not a woman. I have never been a woman. And, unless reincarnation is a thing, I probably never will be one.

However, I do write from the point of view of or stories centering around women and girls quite a bit. And while I’ve been told a few times I do the female point of view well, I would never call myself an expert. No matter how often I spend time around the many women in my family (it’s a lot), or how many times I read or watch stories about women (even if they’re by women creators), that’s never going to change.

So, when I’m writing or editing a story, occasionally I’ll think to myself, “Hold up. Could this be problematic or offensive?” This actually happened the other night, with a story focusing on an actress, and I found myself wondering if some of what I was working on might be upsetting to some readers.

In that moment, I’m glad for the existence of sensitivity readers.

If you’re unaware, sensitivity readers are readers who review a work of literature for offensive content, like stereotypes or bias. They’ve been controversial, as some feel that sensitivity readers stifle artistic license or are trying to be moral gatekeepers, and a few have been employed to go over books by Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl, thus changing the books from their original contexts. But in situations like this, where I want to tell a specific kind of story but I don’t want to accidentally offend someone by including something that I may not even realize it’s offensive, sensitivity readers are a godsend.

(I also work in a job where the goal is to foster diversity and inclusion and to combat prejudice, so maybe my views on sensitivity readers, as well as my goals in using their services, are a bit different from other writers.)

So, that story I mentioned earlier? It’s with sensitivity readers now. Two women, both of whom are writers and one of whom is already familiar with my work, agreed to help me make sure this story is as good as it can be. And I’m sure they’re going to give me some excellent feedback once they’re done with it. Feedback which will ensure this story makes it out into the world someday.

And when I finish the second draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the story about the 3D printer from Hell, I’ll employ the services of a sensitivity reader and use their feedback to improve the story before I pitch it to agents and publishers. After all, the main character is non-binary, and while I am in the LGBT community, I am not trans. So, I will need someone from that community, preferably someone who is non-binary, who can look at the story, tell me what I did right, what I got wrong, and what I can do to improve.

After all, I want to deliver the best stories possible, and I’m aware that I have my blind spots. What better way to make sure I do the first part than by having someone who can help me with the second part?

Do you use sensitivity readers? What has your experience been like?

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to bed and to get some rest before the weekend. And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

13 Things to Know About Me

Posted: November 10, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections, Writing
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In recent days and across my social media, as well as on my blog, the number of people following me has grown by leaps and bounds. Why is that? I have my theories, but this post isn’t about theories. Instead, it’s to better introduce myself to my new Followers of Fear, as I like to call the people following me and supporting my writing career.

And since I’m a horror writer, obviously I’m doing thirteen items to get to know me better.

So, without further ado, here’s what will hopefully be a fun introduction to yours truly. And who knows? Perhaps some of my long-time Followers of Fear might learn something that’ll surprise them. It’s happened before!

I’m a writer of horror and dark fantasy with five books under my belt. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and in college, I started self-publishing books. My first book was a collection called The Quiet Game: Five Tales to Chill Your Bones, which came out in 2013. The next year, I published a slasher novel called Snake about a serial killer hunting mobsters in New York City (think John Wick, Taken and Friday the 13th got smashed into a novel). Both did okay, and continue to get readers today.

Five years later, I published my first novel with a publisher. Rose was released by Castrum Press in summer 2019, and followed a young woman turned into a plant/human hybrid (and that’s just the start of her problems). I followed Rose in 2021 with The Pure World Comes, a Victorian Gothic horror novel about a maid who goes to work for a mad scientist. And last year, in 2023, I published my second collection, Hannah and Other Stories, which was released by BSC Publishing Group.

That’s all five of my books out now. I’m proud of all of them and all I’ve managed to do with them over the years. And I plan to put out more in the years to come.

All five of my currently available books. I love them and am so proud of them (and their awesome covers).

I’m Jewish, queer, and have disabilities. Growing up, my life has been an interesting ride, to say the least. Not only did I grow up in a fairly religious Jewish household, but both my father and mother are rabbis. I went to a Jewish day school for most of my youth, learning Hebrew and Judaic subjects for half the day and then learning normal stuff the rest of the day. I also went to synagogue nearly every week, and attended Jewish teen and college groups until I graduated.

To this day, I still practice a lot of the religious practices I grew up with and feel a strong connection with my faith and heritage.

I’m also bisexual. I figured that out in college, and came out about half a year after I came to that realization. Probably took me that long to get comfortable with it because, even surrounded by accepting people and LGBT family members, I still worried about being persecuted. However, I did come out and it was all good, which was reassuring. And then some years later, I realized I was also aromantic (if you’re unfamiliar, it means I can’t feel romantic desire or attraction). Which, looking back, felt pretty obvious, considering I didn’t care about having a relationship all my life. But when I realized it, it was still a bit of a revelation.

And finally, I’m on the spectrum. Have been my whole life. I also have ADHD, a form of albinism, an anxiety disorder, and most recently, diabetes. Yeah, that last one was only diagnosed a couple of months ago, and it sucks! To say the least, it was a shock for me and I miss not being able to eat sweets or have a drink as much as I used to. But, on the bright side, I’ve improved my health by leaps and bounds since finding out, and I plan to keep it that way. Too much to do in my life, after all.

And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made it a goal to increase representation of these three groups, as well as their intersections, in my fiction. So far, I’m meeting that goal, and hope to release some of those stories soon.

My writing influences. My major influence is, without a doubt, Stephen King. I read IT as a preteen and it was a formative moment in my life! That whole summer, I was transported to Derry, Maine and, when I finished that book at summer camp, I knew what kind of books I would write for the rest of my life.

I’m also majorly influenced by the ideas of HP Lovecraft and the subgenre of cosmic horror, as well as Anne Rice and a ton of anime and manga. All those creators and stories have led me to writing some really insane stories, such as Rose, which I mentioned above, or “Fuseli’s Horses,” one of the stories in Hannah, which is about carnivorous horses.

But I’m not complaining. People seem to like my work, after all.

I love going to the movies and to the theater. It’s rare that a month goes by without me going to see a movie. Usually it’s a horror film or a new superhero film, but I sometimes go see comedies, fantasy and sci-fi films, and anime films getting theatrical releases. I just love going to the movies! I didn’t get to go as much as I wanted when I was growing up, so starting in college, I went as often as possible. And I still do.

Most people are surprised to learn I like ballet. Then they see how much it appears in my stories.

And now that I have a decent day job, I also go to the ballet and to touring Broadway shows. My interest in ballet started probably in college, and as a working adult, I got really into it. It’s gotten to the point where I’m kind of obsessed and look for ways to insert ballet and dancers into the stories I write! And as for Broadway shows, I think Disney movies as a kid primed me to be a fan of those, though the breadth and depth of musicals out there is far wider than Disney can think up, as it turns out.

Now, I have subscriptions to both the local ballet company and to touring Broadway shows that stop in Columbus. And I have to say, I think I would be just as psyched for one of my stories to be adapted into a ballet or Broadway show as I would be for a movie. Maybe even more.

I have several tattoos. To be precise, I have a chest tattoo of a tiger with a blue Star of David, a full back tattoo of one of my favorite ideas from the horror genre, a wrist tattoo referencing some of my favorite anime, and a Tarot card on my right leg that’s about halfway done. However, while I have my tattoos, I don’t normally share photos of them. That’s partially because I just don’t feel the need to. My tattoos are for me to express myself and to have my body reflect who I am. So, their existence on my body is enough for me.

Still, they’re awesome. And I plan to get more as time and money allows.

My most popular work is Rose. I’ve been publishing for over a decade now, but none of my work has done as well critically or commercially as Rose. And I think I know why: it’s the unusual story of a woman turned into a plant/human hybrid. Very weird, very Kafkaesque, and very fantasy horror. Add in that it’s a short but twisty read with Japanese folklore and mythology mixed in, and it’s not surprising that that book does so well.

Plus, you gotta love that cover.

Anyway, if you would like to check out Rose, you can check out its page HERE. I hope you like it if you read it.

I go ghost hunting at least once a year. I’ve been lucky to go to several different locations to ghost hunt. From famous places like the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH and the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, MA, to lesser known locations such as the Anchorage Mansion in Marietta, OH and the Bellaire House in Bellaire, OH, with the hope to visit and revisit many, many more.

Also, I try my best to get my investigations on YouTube and upload them to YouTube. So, if you would like to check out my ghost hunting videos, you can check out my channel HERE. They’re spooky good!

I make my own wine. Most people don’t realize that you can brew your own alcohol at home, but it is, and there are plenty of people of doing it, including me. I’ve made a batch of plum wine, and I just finished and bottled a batch of pumpkin wine (yes, pumpkin wine). And I’ve been making my wines based on colors of the rainbow: plum wine is red, and pumpkin is obviously orange. Yellow will be dandelion wine, green will be mint, blue will obviously blueberries, and indigo/violet will be elderberries. And I can’t wait to try them all!

The pumpkin wine I made, all bottled up. Looks good, doesn’t it?

I bought my first home two years ago. For millennials like me, it’s hard to find an affordable home, let alone a non-fixer upper that you don’t have to share with a bunch of other millennials. However, I was lucky enough to find and buy a small condo for myself two years ago, and I’ve been living in the Haunted Condo, as I call it, ever since.

Sadly, it’s not very haunted by anything except me. I don’t know why, I’ve done voodoo rituals and everything else to make the place haunted, but so far, no otherworldly dice. At least I can make one hell of a Halloween display every October and decorate the inside as I like!

My yard is the spookiest in the neighborhood every October.

I’m the chapter coordinator for HWA Ohio. The Horror Writers Association is an international organization that supports horror writers and helps them network and grow. Ohio’s chapter is about six or seven years old, and I’m the guy who runs it! Which was never my intention: some other members organized the chapter, and I volunteered to find a venue. Somehow, I kept arranging locations for us to meet, and that morphed into becoming the chapter coordinator. And after the parent organization set a formal election process for chapter coordinators for all chapters…well, I ran without competition. I guess people think I’m doing a good job or something?

Anyway, HWA Ohio has its own website, which lists our members and puts out news about us. If you would like to check the website out and support us, click HERE.

So proud to have a story from this collection adapted into a radio play.

I recently had my very first story adaptation. Remember my collection Hannah and Other Stories, which I mentioned above? Earlier this year, I became acquainted with a producer for WCBE 90.5, a local NPR station who interviews local creative types. He also runs a yearly Halloween show, where a short story is adapted into a radio play, with the roles played by local high schoolers.

“Hannah,” the lead story in Hannah and Other Stories, was this year’s story. It was my first time having a story adapted, and it was so, so good! The kids did really well in their roles, and it was amazing hearing my story brought to life on the radio.

And if you would like to listen to it, you can! It’s available to stream online, and you can listen to it in full HERE. Let me know what you think if you listen to it. The more people who listen, the better for future shows and future students. Plus, who knows? Maybe another one of my stories will get adapted. It happened once, didn’t it?

I tend to break out in song at any provocation. I kid you not, this is something I did daily in high school, and which I do quite frequently these days. In fact, I’m part of a critique group with some of my fellow Ohio horror writers, and they say it’s not a meeting if I don’t burst out in song at least once!

Too bad I sing badly, but hey, why should I let that stop me?

What I’m working on now. I’m juggling a few projects at the moment. For one, I’m putting together another collection of short stories, and I hope to have more on that in the coming days and weeks. I also recently finished a new novel, The Shape of Evil, which is about a 3D printer from Hell, and I hope to have that ready for pitching to agents and publishers by June next year. Finally, I also have a collection of novellas I plan to work on at some point, and I have a mummy novel I started but put aside for other projects that I plan to get back to.

Plus some short stories to send out to magazines and anthologies here and there. Yeah, I’m a busy guy, aren’t I? But that’s kind of the way I like it.

Anyway, that’s thirteen things you need to know about me. I hope you enjoyed learning about me, because I enjoyed writing it. And if you did, be sure to follow this blog and my other social media to keep up with what I’m doing and when I have new work coming out.

And if you would like to check out any of my other work, I’ll leave a link to my book page down below. You’ll find all my published works and then some there, including free stories. And if you like what you read, I hope you’ll leave a review online so I, as well as other readers, know what you think.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Book Links and Excerpts

A Message for Writers in the Wake of the 2024 Election

Posted: November 7, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections, Writing
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In the wake of many current events, including current events, especially ones that leave us reeling and afraid and horrified by the state of the world, it’s not uncommon for many writers to wonder something: what’s the point? What’s the point in writing a fiction story when there’s so many horrible things happening out in the world today?

I especially hear this regarding horror. Sometimes from horror writers and horror fans, but more often from people who may not be fans. They may ask, “Who needs horror when all this horrible stuff is happening out in the world?”

And I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of that in the weeks and months and years to come. What is the point of writing fiction when everything seems to be spiraling in the real world? And isn’t there enough real horror out there without fictional horrors making their way in there?

My fellow writers, and even those non-writers who may be asking these questions: this is exactly the time we need new fiction stories. Over the next several years, and far beyond, past every bad thing that will happen in our future, we’ll need fiction to get through it. Stories heal us. They offer us an escape from the bad things happening in our world and allow our minds to heal. That way, we can face the world, and whatever might happen to us in our lives, with new strength and determination.

Just look at the pandemic. For many people, streaming new shows and movies, or reading new books, or rewatching the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe up until that point (like I did), gave us the means to deal with our anxieties and loneliness. Sure, it didn’t help with everything, but God, did it give us a much needed boost.

That’s the power of story. It heals. So don’t put down your pen, asking what good your story does. It’s doing more good than you would think possible.

And to the horror writers: your work also heals. I did a whole talk on this subject at the Scary Saturday event the other day (you can watch that video HERE), but to summarize my points, horror can be therapeutic for many people. There’s even been studies on the subject, and those studies show that fictional horrors help heal fans by reminding them of how good their lives can be, as well as how bad.

It’s also true for the writers, who can find horror helpful in dealing with their own anxieties and traumas.

Not to mention fiction is a great lens to help you study, understand, and recontextualize the events of the world, with speculative fiction like horror and science fiction doing this especially well. Maybe that’s because those genres are such present and forward thinking genres that we can’t help but look at the world and put our thoughts into the stories we create in those genres.

So, to summarize: WRITERS! Your work is needed now more than ever. AND HORROR WRITERS! Don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t be filling the world up with fake horrors when there are enough real ones. Instead, let those people know that now is the best time for fictional horrors. Because your fake ones will give somebody the strength to fight the real ones. Whether that be on the national or international stage, or just getting through a very rough day.

Thank you, happy writing, and pleasant nightmares. I look forward to seeing what new stories you all produce.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Posted: November 6, 2024 in Living and Life, Politics and Leadership, Reflections
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(The following post is a rare political post from yours truly. If you disagree with me on my political beliefs, feel free to skip. I do welcome calm, friendly, and constructive dialogue, so if you want to talk, we can talk. But if anyone gets abusive in the comments, you will not only get deleted, but you may end up in a story. And not in a good way.
Not that I expect such a thing. After all, the Followers of Fear are not the type to be abusive online. Not by a long shot.)

I normally don’t get political on my blog. I used to, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve cut back on that. I haven’t even discussed the situation in the Middle East, even though that topic is very near and dear to me. But, as much as I would rather go down a YouTube rabbit hole or something, this is something we need to talk about. This is something I need to talk about.

Right now, many Americans are reeling from the election results, as are many people around the world who are aware of the effect the US (and its leadership) has on the world. Those, like myself, who were rooting for and voted for Kamala Harris are in shock, despair, depression, and yes, grief.

Not to mention we’re also afraid. We’re afraid that our democracy is going to weaken to the point of no return, that our rights are going to get stripped, and that a lot more awful stuff will happen.

And we’re wondering: where do we go from here?

First off, there’s something I want you to know: your feelings are valid and you have every right to feel them. So take your time. There’s still two and a half months till Inauguration Day. Take the time you need to wrap your head around this and accept it.

Because that’s what it means to live in a democratic nation. When we lose an election, we feel the pain, but then we accept and move on. And after we’ve moved on, we prepare for the work.

Yes, there are going to be tough times ahead, and possibly very horrible policies coming from America’s leadership. But that’s exactly why we have to keep fighting. When we see something we don’t like, we protest. We write our elected leaders. We march and campaign and let our voices be heard. If we roll over and let Trump do whatever he wants, then the full Project 2025 playbook goes into effect and everything we value as Americans and patriots is lost.

Again, take your time to process your feelings. Because afterwards, we have to fight to preserve the America we not only love, but want to see: one where everyone is accepted for who they are, where they all enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as citizens, and where those rights and responsibilities are respected and protected. So we may all have our shot at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

And the fight is going to be tough, no doubt about that. And we won’t win every battle. But it’s better to fight and lose, than to never fight and regret doing nothing.

You know, when I got home today, I asked my Tarot cards what I needed to know in light of the election. Here’s the response I got:

Here’s my interpretation for the non-Tarot familiar out there: enjoy what has brought you happiness in the past (Six of Cups, Present Card). The past four years have been a time of hope and healing (The Star, Past Card). Obstacles that we will have to overcome have beset us in the past, they beset us now, and in the future (The Chariot, Cause Card). And yes, there will be strife and conflict for the next four years and maybe beyond, no doubt about that. (Five of Wands, Future Card). But there is still the chance that we will triumph over adversity and create the happy future we wish to see (The World, Potential Card). A new venture for us all awaits (Ace of Wands, Shadow Card).

Sounds a lot like what I’ve been saying above, doesn’t it?

So, one last time: take care of yourself. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and do what you need to do to heal, so long as it isn’t hurtful to your health. Because soon, we’ll have a new fight ahead of us. And while it may not be easy to stand up for what we believe in, it is necessary. And perhaps, someday, we’ll come out of this to a brighter future.

Take care of yourselves, my Followers of Fear. Good night and pleasant dreams.

I’m So Excited for My First Story Adaptation

Posted: October 24, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections, Scary Stuff, short story
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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As I announced in a previous post, my short story “Hannah” is being adapted into a radio play. It will be one of several stories that are being adapted and broadcast Halloween night on WCBE 90.5, a local radio station. And suffice to say, I’m super excited about the whole thing.

After all, it’s the first time I’ve ever had my work adapted into something like this.*

So many authors dream of having their work adapted. Mostly into movies, but also TV shows, comic books and manga, plays, music, video games, and, of course, radio and audio plays. Yet it only happens to so very few, both during and after their lifetimes. So, I feel incredibly honored that one of my stories was chosen to be adapted.

Not to mention, it’s “Hannah,” the titular story of Hannah and Other Stories. I’m really hopeful that this will lead more people to check out the original work.

You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve been approached about adapting one of my stories. I’m not kidding, it almost happened. Last September, an actual production company reached out to me to ask if the film/TV rights for another one of my short stories were free. I won’t say which company, but I will say if I were to name them, you could look them up and find that they’ve been involved in a lot of famous movies and TV shows.

Anyway, I let them know that the film/TV rights for that story were available and sent them a PDF copy. A couple of months later, they let me know that they were going to pass on adapting that story, but thanked me for being willing to work with them. And I thanked them right back, feeling honored to even have one of my stories considered.

And even though it didn’t work out, I felt, given I was approached once about an adaptation, there was a good chance it might happen again. And it did. “Hannah” is going to be in a radio play next week. One week exactly from the time this post is published, at 7 PM EST on Halloween night. And I cannot wait to listen to it live.**

And who knows? Maybe after this, there might be more chances of having my work adapted. After all, it’s happened once. And I’m always happy to work with people to bring my stories to more people. Just send me an email, and we can see about making something happen.

Anyway, speaking of the radio play, I’ll be sure to put out a reminder post on Halloween next week so you guys remember to check it out. In the meantime, you guys can check out both WCBE 90.5 and the interview I did with the radio play’s producer, Doug Dangler, using the buttons below. I hope you’ll check them out.

WCBE 90.5
My Interview with The Craft

Also, if you’d like to familiarize yourself with “Hannah” before the show, or you’re just looking for a spooky collection before Halloween, you can check out Hannah and Other Stories using any of the buttons below. And if you do end up reading it, please consider leaving a review so I know what you thought. They help me and other readers out big time.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Fable
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook

Well, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you’re excited for what’s coming next week as I am. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and…oh shit! Law & Order’s in an hour! Excuse me, but I gotta go!

*Audio books and stories read aloud on podcasts don’t count, that’s reading with your ears. And before you say, “that’s not reading,” if Braille is reading with your fingers, then audio books and podcasted stories can be reading with your ears.

**And don’t worry if you miss it live. It’ll be archived and available to stream later.

On the NaNoWriMo AI Controversy

Posted: September 3, 2024 in Reflections, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The NaNoWriMo logo

It’s a damn shame when something that’s supposed to be pro-writers turns out to be exactly the opposite.

Now, for those of you who don’t know, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, is both an annual event and a non-profit organization. The former takes place in November every year, during which participating authors try to write a fifty-thousand word novel in 30 days (that’s about 1,667 words per day if you’re curious). If you actually manage to write that many words, you get bragging rights and a printable certificate (it’s a self-challenge, so that should be enough. Besides, previous attempts at “prize packages” have not gone well). The non-profit of the same name runs the annual event, as well as connects writers in the same area and other services and programs.

Sounds great, right? And for a while, it was. In fact, I even participated while writing the first draft of my novel Snake, and hoped to do so again someday. However, the organization’s statement on AI writing, which I’ve included as a photo below, has now made that impossible.

So, to summarize, not only is NaNoWriMo going to allow people to use AI to write their novels for them, but they claim that people who condemn use of AI writing are classist and ableist.

Um, excuse me?

I’m going to quickly respond to that last part first, as it’s outrageous. It’s not classist to ask writers, who span the whole range of socioeconomic backgrounds, to write a novel themselves. You know, like they’ve been doing for hundreds of years? Besides, AI use isn’t restricted to any particular class, let alone those living in poverty. If it was, and writing the whole novel yourself was restricted to those above the poverty line, then it would be classist.

And ableist? I have disabilities! I’ve managed to publish five books and write many more stories despite that! And so have many other authors, such as Octavia Butler (dyslexia), Fyodor Dostoyevsky (epilepsy), Flannery O’Connor (Lupus), as well as many writers who I consider not just colleagues, but friends. If anything, saying a disabled person can’t write a novel without the use of AI is what’s ableist!

But let’s get back to the fact that NaNoWriMo is willing to accept AI writing. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: AI writing isn’t even writing! AI writing is a computer program studying hundreds or even thousands of pieces of work, often without the original authors’ permission or even knowledge, looking for patterns, and then putting out something that has patterns like the ones found in the works studied. The results are usually full of contradictions, unimaginative characters, little mystery (because how could a program grasp mystery or secret-keeping for later payoff), and a lack of love.

Because that’s what AI writing really is. A cold calculation by a computer program based on analysis of so-called patterns gleaned from stolen works, rather than a labor of love by an author who wanted to share their stories with people who enjoy similar stories.

And the people calling themselves writers who are using AI, like the guy on Threads who said I was jealous that he was going to reach fifty-thousand words in one day (he’s been blocked)? They’re not writing. At best, they’re checking the finished project to fix the algorithm’s mistake. Other than that, they’re probably playing video games or making sandwiches or otherwise finding other ways to not write!

And that’s the saddest thing about this. NaNoWriMo started out as a fun challenge, and the organization was meant to help authors reach their dreams. Both were to encourage authors to push themselves and see what they could do in a month’s time. In short, it was to encourage writing. For NaNoWriMo to embrace AI writing and enable this laziness, rather than supporting the writers who insist on genuine hard work and practice, is a slap in the face to real writers everywhere.

I’m not saying it all has to be handwritten, but it should actually be, you know, written!

So, what can you do, both as a writer and a reader? Well, I’ve heard some people say they want to form a new organization and event, but whether or not that leads to anything, we’ll have to see. In the meantime, the most popular reaction seems to be people are boycotting both the NaNoWriMo event and the non-profit. Personally, in addition to the boycott, I would encourage authors to continue writing one word at the time. You know, actual writing?*

I would also encourage you to support other authors, especially lesser known ones, who continue to put real effort into writing, and leaving reviews, as well as refusing to support the works of authors who use AI, or the organizations who support them. Together, we can work to ensure writing and storytelling isn’t corrupted by algorithms, piracy, and laziness.

*And it doesn’t need to be fifty-thousand words in a month. Great work takes time, so take all the time you need.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If you would like to help this non-AI using writer, especially with spooky season just starting, I’ll include a button below to lead you to my catalog. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I got something for every horror fan. And if you like what you read, please leave a review so I know what you thought.

And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 58 days till Halloween!

Book Links & Excerpts

Non-Stop

Posted: August 14, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections, Writing
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You have no idea how much this musical has been on my mind lately. Especially the song “Non-Stop.”

I’ve had the soundtrack from Hamilton stuck in my head lately, especially the song Non-Stop (if you haven’t ever heard it, you can check it out here). Now, if you’re unfamiliar, this song is the Act One finale and summarizes Alexander Hamilton’s post-war rise to become the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, while also going over how Hamilton never stops working and writing.

There’s some verses from this song that has really resonated with me lately:

How do you write like you’re running out of time?…
How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write every second you’re alive?

Even if you don’t know me, you probably know I’m a writer, and you can see why these lyrics resonate with me. If you do know me, you might recall I’ve mentioned how my time for writing has seemed to be shaved down this year. So, when I do write, I’m trying to make the most of my time (including as I’m writing this). And when I’m not writing, I feel like I should be.

Sadly, the time I’m not writing is usually spent doing things that are essential for living my life: eating, sleeping, working, etc. If I didn’t, I would not be able to pay my bills and would probably have to move in with one of my parents (and I’m not doing that again!). And while I would like to use my vacation time to spend some time writing again, at the moment, that’s not feasible.

So yeah, it’s a sucky situation. And I don’t know how to fix it. After all, summoning demons to win the lottery has too many drawbacks, though it is tempting.

I guess, while I look for new ways to find more time for writing, I’ll do like Alexander Hamilton did. I’ll write like I’m running out of time. Because time’s a quick bastard, and I need to take advantage of it when I can. Until I eventually get to the point when I can write full time and I (hopefully) don’t have to worry about not having enough time to write.

Going to write like I’m running out of time, like I need it to survive.

In the meantime, write like tomorrow won’t arrive. Write like I need it to survive. Write every second I can find.*

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I have to get ready to spend necessary time sleeping. So, until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 78 days left to Halloween. If you’re not at least thinking of getting ready for spooky season, then what are you doing with your life?

*That last one is not an exact quote, but I think Lin Manuel Miranda and everyone who loves this show will let it slide.

Rami Ungar the Writer Turns 13 Today!!!

Posted: August 2, 2024 in Living and Life, Progress Report, Reflections, Writing
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Happy birthday to the blog,
Happy birthday to the blog.
Happy birthday, Rami Ungar the Writer!
Happy birthday to the blog.

Hard to believe, but today this blog turns (un)lucky 13. And coincidentally, I turned 31 a couple of months ago. Or is that a coincidence? Yes, yes it is. But it’s a weird one.

Anyway, it’s amazing how far this blog has come. Especially considering how short-lived many blogs are, even popular ones. Those who write them don’t get the views they’d hope for, or they face burnout from keeping up demand. Either way, they decide to shut down their blogs, leaving the blogs themselves to disappear from the internet.

And I’ve said it before, but I could have become one of those people. During the first few years of blogging, while I was still in college, my blog barely got one or two views a day, if at all. Growth was slow, and interaction didn’t happen that often. Honestly, a few times I wondered if I should keep blogging, as it didn’t seem to be helping my writing career at all. And helping my writing career was why I created this blog to start with.

However, maybe I like a challenge, or maybe I’m just stubborn. Either way, I kept at it. And all these years later, I’ve written over 2,100 posts and usually gain over two thousand views a month. Sometimes I even get three-thousand, or close to it. And while growth has been slower in recent years, I have over 1,450 followers subscribed to the blog. Many of these followers have been with me for years, and I consider quite a few of them as friends.

And, whenever I let you guys know that I’m working on a story or I’m getting something published, several of you let me know how excited you are and how you can’t wait to read it. (Or in the case of those published in audio format, listen to them.)

So, at this point in the post, I want to say thank you, my Followers of Fear. Thank you for all the support you’ve given me through these thirteen years. All the views, likes, comments, subscriptions, and even buying, reading and reviewing my books, give me energy and keep me going even in my lowest points (which are few and far between, but which still happen). I hope you’ll continue to support me through this coming year. Here’s hoping this year, I’m able to start writing full-time. Or, if not, I’m able to see the path to this start to form in front of me.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m going to work today and then open up a bottle of wine to celebrate (and because it’s Friday). I hope you’ll have a drink with me, wherever you are. If you would like to check out my books, I’ll include a link below. Just remember to leave a review after you’ve read the book so I know what you thought.

And until next time, good night, Shabbat Shalom, and pleasant nightmares.

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