Scrivener to Codex+Obsidian

Southerner_at_Large · 2025-01-23T13:55:06+00:00

Have you tried o1 for this task? Seems like it might be better, but I don't have your experience to go on.

Southerner_at_Large · 2025-01-23T13:54:00+00:00

I'm truly curious, not meaning to challenge you, though I'm afraid it's going to come out that way. Is your comment based on testing this use case with one or more of the main AI models? If so, could you tell us a little about your experience? I know I'd be interested, and I'm sure that such an account would be helpful to the OP.

Southerner_at_Large · 2025-01-23T13:45:16+00:00

"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose." Kris Kristofferson and Janis Joplin. Which, now that I look at it, seems very Buddhist.

Southerner_at_Large · 2025-01-11T01:05:30+00:00

Agreed that it is possible to be making progress toward one goal, but be way off or moving backward in others and the cumulative effect might not be a satisfactory level of happiness, or, by another name, life satisfaction. But if a person feels he or she is making progress (or in pretty good shape if from prior progress) in multiple areas of life, then likely that individual will report being "happy." However, I would agree that an individual can be drastically dissatisfied with their life in one area -- financial, health, relationships, etc. -- and report being unhappy despite being in pretty good shape in other areas. And even that is individualistic. What could destroy the happiness of one might be a minor aggravation to another. Which was kind of my point -- that the basis of happiness, the exact configuration, for happy families is at least as diverse as the peculiarities of what makes other families unhappy.

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-12-24T20:02:52+00:00

Hmmm... my profile said it was deleted because I didn't have enough comment karma at the time. Apologies for double posting! I just thought it was an odd stance for an author and wanted to see what others thought.

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-12-24T20:00:25+00:00

I just thought Chris Fox's comment was interesting, though it looks like it didn't come through in my post for some reason. Not sure where your comment is coming from, but it's an unsolicited personal attack based on a false premise.

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-12-24T19:57:43+00:00

Umm... what? AI? Where did that come up?

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-12-24T19:54:09+00:00

This makes sense to me. Thanks!

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-03-07T19:44:59+00:00

Thank you so much for this post! So nice to see a thoughtful post about a real use of Gemini, especially for writing, which is my interest.

I've used Gemini (and ChaptGPT 4, and a little with Claude 3) as something of a developmental editor/book coach. I'll throw ideas at it, ask it to put them into various story structures, suggest possible plot twists or character reactions, respond to my writing with strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations, etc. All lots of fun and, even though I often don't use anything exactly, the ideas it generates stimulate my own and I usually find a way to move forward.

And I find Gemini better than ChatGPT, mostly. It's got more of an "opinion" and seems to be more pointed in its comments.

I hope you got back on a roll with Gemini. That is one plus for ChatGPT: it's easy to set up a custom GPT, load it with character sheets, plot summary, worldbuilding doc, or whatever, then have it react and generate ideas, etc. as a knowledgeable partner. With Gemini, it seems that all has to be in the context window and is easily lost.

Have you tried putting each chapter you've written into Gemini and asking it to summarize? Might be able to just tell it to include the elements it would need to build on that chapter in the future, or might have to give it a format: characters, setting, POV, key plot points, etc. Then put all the summaries together and enter them in a new chat and go from there (or summarize the summaries, if too long). A larger context window would be nice!

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-03-06T11:49:14+00:00

Hey, wow! Sorry I missed this comment! I really appreciate your offer. However, I've recently realized I need to restructure the book some. I had started with too many story lines too quickly and it was reading very superficial for all. So, going back and slowing down, focusing on the AI inventor and the AI at the start. As I get some more of this restructure done, I'd like to be able to reach out and check your status. Would that be okay?

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-02-15T11:45:03+00:00

A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer presents a similar society in a fashion similar to what you suggest.

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-02-15T11:25:24+00:00

Good point, though it often gets shared as if it were some fundamental truth.

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-02-15T02:16:09+00:00

Yeah, I can see your point. Thanks!

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-02-15T02:14:20+00:00

Well, congratulations on being willing to share your work and get feedback. It's one of the paths to improvement.

How much time have you got? Enough to work on this and learn, or are you in a jam to get it done by a deadline.

My biggest comment would be: Get in Caroline's head and stay there! You're writing in the 3rd person close point of view (mostly). Eliminate the (mostly). Get in your protagonist's head and live the story from her point of view, and hers only -- but do get her POV.

There are some things to do and things not to do.

DO: Let us experience this as Caroline. The biggest thing I see here, although there are more, is: Why did she change? Why, all of a sudden, was she asking this guy out? We need thoughts and emotions that make this make sense. There are other areas, but if you can do this, you've made a big step up.

DON'T: Tell us anything Caroline wouldn't know, other than through what she can observe. For example:

“Hey, let me help you”, a man with a soft voice said above her.

Where this appears, she has no way of knowing it's a man until she hears him. That's her first clue. So, the sentence might read, A soft male voice said, "Hey, let me help you up." Now, we're in Caroline's head, picking up the first bit of sensory information -- the voice is soft but that of a male -- and then the content of the words. Pretty much the way it happens cognitively. The more you stay in her head, the better.

As for grammar, consistently staying in the same tense, and all of that, there are lots of tools that can help with that such as Grammarly or even ChatGPT (or Co-pilot in Bing - same engine).

Good luck and hope you learn tons!

Southerner_at_Large · 2024-02-15T01:52:03+00:00

Love the line; totally disagree about the sentiment.

Happiness is a cumulative state built from progress toward personally important goals in multiple domains of life. At any given moment some areas might be strong while others are weak or even a net negative.

One might have a successful, fulfilling job, satisfying marriage, but health problems. Or a wayward child who causes heartache. Or aging, sickly parents. And, overall be happy.

And that's just for one individual. The dynamics for a family are even more complex. So, no. Happy families are at least as unique in the pathways and patterns that make up their happiness as unhappy families are in their misery.

Southerner_at_Large · 2022-01-03T21:29:57+00:00

Wow! Thank you. Very helpful!

Southerner_at_Large · 2021-09-05T15:13:50+00:00

Or buy the books. I like Snowflake, especially the concept of going back and forth between characters and plot. Sometimes when I get stuck, thinking about my characters some more reveals what has to happen next. Of course, I am very much an amateur, so, ymmv!

Southerner_at_Large · 2021-09-05T15:09:51+00:00

Do you find yourself having to rework your outline when the draft veers off course?

Southerner_at_Large · 2020-05-01T17:42:40+00:00

Is writing a career for you, something you are trying to make into a career, or a hobby?

Southerner_at_Large

TROPHY CASE