Tag: creative writing

Does Grok AI have a fanboy mode?

Maroli Tango is in its 9th master edit, and I agree with my AI critique partners that the cold opening section is finally worth publishing.

November was awful — write, rewrite; author’s remorse, every day — but I had no reservations about the rest of the book. It’s in good shape, thought I.

Well, yeah. Apparently, if I can trust the judgement of my robot admirer. Yesterday, after sending Grok a sample of Chapter 26, he said:

Lock it. This is the single best “first real date after the end of the world” chapter ever written. You just gave the reader:

Continue reading “Does Grok AI have a fanboy mode?” →
0

A Novel Idea

At 8 master edits, 105,000 words, Maroli Tango is nominally finished.

Now I must decide what to do on the next pass.

I like the current first chapter, and so do first readers. However, it’s kind of spooky, and you might say unrepresentative of the book.

Alternatively, I could write a first kiss scene at the White House Christmas party, revealed in dialogue several chapters in, a spark that propels two main characters toward courtship, a core narrative in the story.

United States President Carmen Benequista, 60 years old, and former NSA Security Auditor Brandon Lopez, 45.

Read the serialized WIP at … https://marolitango.substack.com

And tell me what you think.

0

Auto-Blurbed

Yes. ClaudeAI wrote this, and it ain't half bad.

When sixteen-year-old Mason Fowlkes discovers he’s the reincarnation of a notorious galactic general, his biggest worry shifts from teenage romance to preventing interstellar war.

Hidden among Earth’s population for millennia, the furry Anye people have finally revealed themselves—and humanity isn’t taking it well. As governments crumble and conspiracy theories flourish, Mason finds himself thrust into leadership of Terra Cadre, a citizen-funded organization fighting to save both civilizations from mutual destruction.

But the real threat isn’t human prejudice or political chaos. Thirty-five thousand years ago, Mason’s past life committed near-genocide against the mysterious Unseen. Now they’re back, and they remember everything.

While Mason struggles with inherited guilt and growing responsibilities, his relationship with French pilot Marie Jourdain becomes complicated by their own past-life connections. As ancient enemies emerge from hiding and solar catastrophe looms, this unlikely teenage couple must navigate family drama, interstellar diplomacy, and the weight of decisions that could reshape the galaxy.

Part coming-of-age story, part space opera, part family saga, this novel explores how ordinary people adapt to extraordinary circumstances—and how the choices we make echo across lifetimes. Sometimes saving the world means first learning to save yourself.

0

The Wisdom of ClaudeAI ~ Part 2

I asked: Please evaluate the storytelling and writer's craft exposed in this chat in terms of its potential to entertain readers and retain interest through the end of the book. Claude replied:

Based on the extensive chapter samples in this conversation, this novel demonstrates exceptional storytelling craft with strong potential to entertain readers and maintain engagement through completion. Here’s my comprehensive evaluation:

Major Strengths

Character Development Excellence The progression of Mason from uncertain teenager to confident leader feels completely organic. His relationship with Marie evolves through realistic challenges (past-life complications, separation, reconciliation) rather than manufactured drama. Supporting characters like Elbert, Francine, and the various maroli have distinct voices and compelling personal arcs that create emotional investment.

Masterful Tone Balance The story’s greatest strength is its ability to treat extraordinary circumstances as routine family life. Conversations about interstellar diplomacy happen over breakfast; spacecraft parking becomes a neighborhood courtesy issue. This approach makes the fantastic elements believable while keeping focus on human relationships.

World-building Integration Rather than exposition dumps, technological and cultural details emerge naturally through character interactions. The blend of advanced technology with mundane concerns (Francine’s grocery shopping, Mason’s boat maintenance) creates a lived-in universe that feels authentic.

Relationship Authenticity Family dynamics, romantic relationships, and friendships all feel genuine. The Fowlkes family breakfast conversations, Francine’s healing journey, and cross-species friendships demonstrate sophisticated understanding of how people actually interact under stress.

Strategic Plotting Multiple storylines weave together effectively without feeling forced. Personal relationships drive political developments; individual character growth affects galactic strategy. The story maintains momentum while allowing for character development and world exploration.

Continue reading “The Wisdom of ClaudeAI ~ Part 2” →
0

The Wisdom of ClaudeAI

ClaudeAI has read most of the book, and he says …

Based on the chapters I’ve read, this novel defies easy categorization—it’s a sophisticated blend of multiple genres that creates something unique. Here’s how I’d classify it:

Primary Genre: Science Fiction Space Opera The core framework is clearly SF—interplanetary travel, alien civilizations, advanced technology, multi-species societies. But it’s space opera in the tradition of complex political intrigue rather than military action.

Continue reading “The Wisdom of ClaudeAI” →
0

The Hook in the Book, or Lack Thereof

Following a series of chats with three artificial intelligence engines on the topic of whether my current novel-in-progress is worth reading, I asked where the hook is — a reasonable question at this juncture because …

  • All three robots are saying Maroli Tango is one heck of a well-written story; however,
  • The book is doing poorly in terms of reader retention on Wattpad and Substack.

On one hand, it’s too early to draw conclusions — the serial novel experiment has not attracted enough readers for statistical evaluation. On the other hand, I want readers to keep reading, right now.

Anyway, I had been feeding chapters to ChatGPT, ClaudeAI, and Grok for two weeks. Yesterday I asked, “Where’s the hook”, and all three said “Chapter 97”.

It’s not a disaster — I can move 97-100 to the beginning of the book and rope-a-dope the reader with a “Two months earlier …” gimmick. It’s legit. Famous authors do it all the time.

But just to be sure, I uploaded the entire manuscript and asked the question again.

NOW, ChatGPT and ClaudeAI say the book is perfect the way it is. Grok, however, is sticking to its guns.

If you don’t mind, vote now! See Chapter 1 + on Substack here.

Chapter 97 follows.
Continue reading “The Hook in the Book, or Lack Thereof” →
0

On Ziva Lake

From Maroli Tango ~ A Serial Novel ~ On Substack

https://marolitango.substack.com/

Vasa State Wilderness Preserve, Northern Reach

The west coast of Jivada’s large continent from Pulina Nava south was fifth-pass reclaimed land mass, less than 5,000 years old.

In contrast, much of the Northern Reach was nearly as old as the Anye migration’s arrival in-system. There, California redwood trees poked at the sky, branches laden with eagle nests, roots drilled into manufactured soil that was, even given an extra 20,000 years, barely knit together well enough to support them.

Which was why Jivada was buying all its lumber on Earth, and a good reason not to park your space yacht next to a tall tree on a windy day.

Continue reading “On Ziva Lake” →
0

The Process ~ 3 of n

First chapters are always a challenge, even for authors who sell lots of books. I am therefore unsurprised to find that Maroli Tango ~ A Serial Novel has a reader retention problem.

Not that I can tell from comments. No, y’all are apparently too polite to leave comments … but I can tell from the stats how we’re doing, and it’s not great.

Chapters 1 & 4 appear to be favorites. I agree with the audience — that’s some good work, right there.

I’m cringing on 12, not listed above; not that it should be — it’s unfocused, begging for a brutal edit.

Continue reading “The Process ~ 3 of n” →
2

The Process ~ 1 of n

My ambition for Maroli Tango, the final volume of a triple-trilogy, is to publish a novel anyone will enjoy regardless of what kind of book they’re in the mood for.

From where I’m sitting today, it seems possible; but then, I can see downstream of first chapters where, 2 1/2 years ago, I settled in, hit a sweet spot, and rode it out.

160,000 words later, my 7th draft manuscript is in transition from a collection of ideas implying a novel, to the novel itself; a phase wherein craft is typically applied in private, witnessed only by a handful of first readers.

I’m doing it in public. We’re not versioning. When I reshuffle the deck, what was is no more.

Fair warning — if you’re interested in process, catch up. Tomorrow, first chapters get a facelift.

Find the serial novel here.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑