In a recent survey, The Authors Guild reported that 69 percent of authors believe their careers are threatened by generative AI. Another 70 percent believe that publishers will use AI to generate books in whole, or at least in part, in effort to replace meat writers (human authors). Thing is, Artificial Intelligence is not Emotional Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is not impending Y2K. Artificial Intelligence is a tool. Efficiently utilized, possibly one of the most powerfully useful tools available to writers.
While, yes, generative AI will impact the publishing world significantly – already has – with nefarious players releasing crap AI-produced ebooks that will further confuse readers and suppress sales of legitimate meat-made books, opportunities abound for the literary creative who understands what makes meat irreplaceable: Passion. Voice. And a fervent sense of settling only for exceptional with one’s work.
To better learn what this technology can do, and cannot, for writers, we’ve been developing a hands-on workshop with an AI programmer (and writer himself). Tentatively titled, “AI, The Writer: Pitfalls, Potential & Practices,” will debut in Irvine.
Plenty of other new sessions will be presented, as usual, gleaned largely from what issues and concerns emerged at our recent San Diego event, as well as larger industry challenges that seem to evolve at an ever-daunting pace. In fact, an entire new 8-workshop track will premiere in September. Going It Alone: Publishing Yourself addresses the multitudinous facets of “self” publication, with each workshop conducted by someone who excels at that one vital step of the pipeline. Very few authors who self-publish successfully either can, or do so, entirely on their own. It’s takes a hamlet. Do you know what you don’t know?
Also coming to Irvine for the first time, novelist Janis Thomas will conduct her popular Novel Boot Camp. An SCWC-exclusive, the 8-part track is limited to 10 participants and has sold out each time she’s run it in San Diego. »Details
We’ll start rolling out the LA20 staff shortly. Along with some of our regular top workshop leaders, many others are joining the SCWC for the first time. Literary agents already confirmed include Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong (The Purcell Agency); Steve Hutson (Wordwise Media), Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary Agency); and Carlisle Webber (Fuse Literary). All will be available for advances submissions, followed by one-on-one consultation conference weekend.
Register by no later than June 1 and save $125 on Full Conference participation. For those planning far ahead, discounted hotel lodging is now open.
–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC
