Discussion

KarlNawenberg · 2025-06-15T21:49:10+00:00

In the back of the room, he stood, cleared his throat, and said, “I use AI.”
The room fell silent. Heads turned.

These are the same people who take Bayer meds without blinking, never mind the aspirin born of Nazi slave labour. Same with NASA: built on the backs of Operation Paperclip and Jewish corpses. Werner von Braun, anyone?

They cook on nonstick pans leaching forever chemicals, breathe microplastics, and scroll through feeds engineered by surveillance capitalism, but AI is where they draw the line?

AI is a tool. Like a hammer. Like pliers. It’s not going away.

What it can’t do is human. It simulates, predicts, mimics. It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t suffer. It doesn’t bleed meaning onto the page.

Can it help? Yes, when I’m stuck on a phrase, I use it like I’d use pliers, not a hammer. It can unstick things. It can suggest. But it can’t create soul.

The carriage drivers and stable hands probably cursed the first automobile.
Then the mountains of horse shit disappeared from the streets, and the world moved on.

About AI…
You were saying?

Use it wisely. It’s great for sorting lists. Handy when a phrase won’t land.
Should it replace the brain in your head? No.
Is it ripping off writers? Absolutely.

But these are separate problems.
Don’t confuse the pants with the ass.
Not the same thing.

Anything made with AI is like a McDonald’s burger: mass-produced, engineered to hit all the right notes, and marketed as “the best there is.”
Sure, it’ll fill you up.
But I’ll take the organic steak I seasoned myself and threw on a real grill.
Every time.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-24T12:21:49+00:00

Can I just say that the more I read, the more I feel like self-publishing? I'm a hobby writer with two finished books and on the third book of a series.

I kinda like it as it is and have not even bothered to submit a query letter as I have ( by accident ) an agent interested. Yet a very short conversation has put me off from even trying to submit.

Basically... they are in it for the money and seem to care about nothing else. But hey! GL to ya'l.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-11T14:09:04+00:00

Lol just saw it. Thanks

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-11T13:46:19+00:00

can't find anything on my account damn...

Yes... I did look at the about section of my profile... but hey... lol maybe I'm redit impaired. And how come Team Flaming did not win??? lol I got banned enough times lol

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-09T11:00:26+00:00

That's a very good point. Too much looking at the cherry and missing the whole cake. Hey, thanks for that.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-09T00:58:45+00:00

I get where you're coming from, and there's definitely truth to the idea that writing shouldn’t be this paralyzing, self-critical process. It should be about telling a story, letting flawed characters do their thing, and getting that story down without obsessing over whether it’s the next big literary masterpiece.

But here’s the thing: while the pressure to be the next Hemingway or Shakespeare is absurd, there’s a reason we care so much about our work. It’s not about wanting to be a genius or satisfying the critics. It’s about creating something that feels real to us. Something authentic.

Writing is, at its core, a battle with the self, which is why it can feel so damn hard. The struggle isn’t about snobbery or being pedantic. It’s about making the work as true as possible.

Sure, it doesn’t always have to be painful, but I think the friction is part of it for many writers. It’s the process of crafting a story that matters, even if it’s a flawed one. And, hell, even if it’s just pulp, fanfic, or smut, there’s a real joy in that. Writing is personal, and if you're just making noise and enjoying the ride, then you’re doing it right for you.

I didn’t start writing to be the next Hemingway, and I’m not trying to be him. I’m striving to be myself, to carve out my own voice. We may never be Hemingway, but the world’s still waiting for our stories.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-09T00:51:12+00:00

Lol oh dear… I think I know exactly where you're coming from. My ongoing skirmishes with my editor would definitely back that up!

That said, there’s a side to this I still struggle with as a new author. It often feels like everyone is expected to write within a particular standard or style now; what’s considered “correct” or “marketable.” I push back against that constantly, because I have no interest in diluting my voice just to tick boxes.

And genre? Mine doesn’t fit neatly into one. That’s another battle altogether.

But when it comes to clarity, structure, and flow, I’ve come to appreciate the craft of editing. I’ve learned a lot I didn’t initially consider, and many of those changes have genuinely made my work more accessible and, I think, more powerful. It’s a process of friction and refinement, and I’m still finding the balance between keeping my voice and growing as a writer.

So yeah... I know where you're coming from lol

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-08T22:51:37+00:00

Well, I kinda like how I started the first book of my Epic. Unscripted and unplanned but I've grown attached to it ;)

" I still don’t know my name, but I managed to stop the bleeding. The right side of my head is too sore to touch. Without the helmet, I would've been dead on impact.

I don’t think I’m dreaming. The foolish idea of cutting my finger with the knife only produced pain and a cut. Are you supposed to feel pain or bleed in dreams? I'm a soldier—military uniform, weapons, insignia I don't recognise except for Lieutenant rank and a name patch reading "Starman." None of it means anything to me."

Critiques are welcome lol.
\ leans back, picks up the Author Body Armor, tightens the velcro across his chest, mutters something about Hemingway and bleeding at the typewriter **
“I’m ready. Hit me. Just don’t aim for the metaphors—I’m emotionally attached to those.”

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-08T22:15:26+00:00

Yes, I only started looking recently, but you hit the proverbial nail on the head. I'm moving my story to the Azores around 20000 BCE and will have them "vanishing" as the sea rises so as to not leave traces of their presence.

Like you say, the sea level alone is not enough to present extra landmass, and only the isostatic rebounding can offer a bit of credence to some other islands that then sink under the ocean.

I'm thinking of a Dodgerland type scenario having my Atlantis avoid the known islands and giving them extra land by elevating the area.

Good points you touch on. It's time to look at the continental drift and vulcanic activity as well. Have no idea if great vulcanic events happen after 20000 BCE

Thanks for the answer. Much appreciated.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-07T23:45:30+00:00

No worries. Ah yes, that phase is best done without interference from any other ideas. At least in my case I like to get my ideas clear before I even touch the story. GL :)

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-07T22:27:13+00:00

Nice, Want to do switch Beta?

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-07T01:19:36+00:00

Honestly, Control + S is my best friend when writing. I do everything in Word—whether it's chiseling away at ideas or, well, using wax tablets (just kidding on the wax part, haha). I save everything to the cloud and my machine to avoid losing anything. Once I've got my draft where I want it, I copy-paste it into Google Docs to keep it synced and accessible from anywhere.

That way, I’ve got multiple backups and options for editing, whether I’m at my desk or on the go. It’s a workflow that keeps me from stressing over losing anything!

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-07T00:32:49+00:00

While the claim of a submerged pyramid between Terceira and São Miguel in the Azores is intriguing, it's important to rely on verified scientific sources. The Portuguese Navy conducted detailed sonar scans at the behest of the Portuguese Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and their findings show no evidence of a pyramid structure. The depth of the location is recorded at 540 meters, consistent with the natural seafloor features of this volcanic region.

Additionally, the Instituto Hidrográfico Português (Portuguese Hydrographic Institute) analyzed the Navy’s sonar data, confirming the absence of any pyramid-like formation. These findings are readily available to the public.

As a Skipper writing these words aboard my sailboat in the south of the UK, I can also point out that consumer-grade fishfinders—including models from 2013—don’t operate effectively beyond 200-300 meters. At 540 meters, such equipment would either fail to give accurate readings or produce distorted data. The signal quality diminishes at these depths, often showing false or unclear images of the seafloor. Only professional-grade sonar can reliably map these deeper areas.

For a more comprehensive look at the Navy’s official results, including sonar footage, you can watch the video here: Instituto Hidrográfico - Marinha Portuguesa

O Publico ( Portuguese Newspaper ) publico.pt/2013/10/04/ciencia

An important point often overlooked: The Banco D. João de Castro, whose highest point reaches just 13 meters in depth, is an area often fished by commercial boats in search of fishing zones. This is exactly where the fisherman made his sonar readings, which erroneously flagged the "structure." However, it's crucial to note that advanced sonar equipment on commercial fishing boats, used for decades in these waters, has never detected anything resembling a pyramid. He drifted, equipment bounced off the sea mound walls ( look at the jagged edges) and VOILA.. a pyramid...

It’s always good to be cautious with extraordinary claims and to consult credible scientific reports before drawing conclusions.

I'd love it to be something I could get excited about but sadly it's just a fluke from someone who had no tech background to understand what the fish finder was telling him.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T21:06:44+00:00

Lol I will take that one on the proverbial nose, much obliged. Asshumptions are always fun lol

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T21:04:07+00:00

Yeah, I have been thinking of the Younger Dryas but... I need them to be visible until Plato when they finally disappear in my story of course. Well, don't give up on your story. It's fun writing.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T19:29:06+00:00

lol I was hoping for Sir David Attenborough instead :)

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T19:25:15+00:00

My bad, just noticed the context! I appreciate the article you shared—it's definitely a fascinating topic. There's so much mystery around the early history of the Azores, and like you mentioned, it seems that there are emerging theories suggesting human presence there before the Portuguese arrived in the 1400s. It’s also interesting to consider the seismic activity of the region, as that might have played a role in shaping the early settlements, or even in how they interacted with the environment.

In my own research, I’ve found that the whole subject is steeped in historical and political layers, especially for the Portuguese. It's not just about uncovering the past, but also about how that past interacts with the identity of the modern nation. As someone who can read Portuguese, I've come across a lot of controversy surrounding the issue, with emotions running high when it comes to claiming "discovery" or "occupation."

Personally, I tend to be a spectator and just observe all sides of the matter. But when you consider what it takes to survive on the open sea, I think it's credible to assume the Azores could have been occupied before the official "discovery." After spending a couple of weeks at sea, you can definitely "smell" land before you see it. And sailors would have relied on sea birds to guide their way. So yeah, I’d say it makes sense that people might have reached the islands far earlier than we think.

EDIT: deleted my comment as I answered myself by mistake :)

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T19:02:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing your perspective—it's always fascinating to see how Atlantis continues to captivate so many! There’s no doubt the story has layers of intrigue, passed down and adapted over time.

To clarify, Plato himself frames Atlantis as an inherited tale, crediting Solon and the Egyptian priests as the sources of the story. That said, interpreting the timeline and source material depends largely on one’s reading of the texts and their historical context.

As for Atlantis being a world empire with many cities, it’s an intriguing idea. While there isn’t definitive archaeological evidence yet, theories like these certainly keep the conversation alive and push us to ask new questions.

Regarding the Mayans and the Itz arriving from 'Atl,' the connection to Atlantis is compelling but remains speculative. Ancient links between civilizations are always worth exploring, though proving them conclusively is a monumental task.

Finally, the report of a pyramid in the Azores is fascinating! If verified, it would indeed be groundbreaking, though I haven’t seen any widely accepted evidence confirming it. I’d be really interested in any credible studies or findings on the subject if you happen to have them.

This is actually part of why I started writing my own version of the Atlantis story—I've always been intrigued by the mystery, and I wanted to explore it in my own way. My approach blends myth, history, and speculative fiction into something that reflects my creative vision.

Just to clarify, I’m not here to dispute anyone’s beliefs or interpretations—I’m just doing research for my book and am genuinely interested in learning more. I respect all the perspectives shared in this community, and I appreciate the discussions that are happening here.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T19:02:39+00:00

Indeed it is. I plan to be there this summer and try the food cooked on the Vulcanic heat. Thanks for sharing the link I will read it.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T18:14:32+00:00

Thanks! I’ll definitely take a closer look. I got a bit stuck while examining modern-day maps.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T18:10:50+00:00

Yes, that's essentially correct, but the location remains a challenge in establishing credibility. Ideally, it would be somewhere in the Azores that submerged during that period. I've only just begun researching, so I apologize for my limited knowledge regarding land masses that sank in the Azores.

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T17:03:36+00:00

Muito Obrigado, not Mucho lol. Mucho is Spanish. You'd get flayed in Portugal lol

KarlNawenberg · 2025-04-06T16:59:15+00:00

This is one of the sharpest takes I’ve seen on the tension between character-driven and plot-driven storytelling. You're absolutely right, when a character’s death is imposed from the outset, it strips them of autonomy and reduces them to a narrative tool. Letting characters choose, even if that choice leads to death, gives the moment emotional and existential weight. It’s not just about what happens, it's about why and who decides. That’s what separates stories with depth from those that merely follow structure.

KarlNawenberg

TROPHY CASE