The February 1 Rants and Ramblings included both new and experienced members, including Susan Rocan, Sharon Hamilton and Lori Gaudet. During the event, two issues were discussed that are timely and relevant to today’s writers.
Has the Guild discussed AI and the impact it can have on writers?
- Susan recalled a discussion about AI (and plagiarism) in a R&R session two months ago, where a member who had published a book on assisting family members with cognitive issues (Alzheimer’s, dementia, memory loss) discovered that one of her books had been replicated word for word, most likely using an AI program. The plagiarized version was selling on Amazon alongside her own book. Although Amazon does some rudimentary comparison of books to prevent plagiarism, it only required that the first few hundred words were changed to bypass this protection, and that it took the author considerable effort to have the replicated version removed from Amazon. This is just one example of how AI can be used and why it is a definite concern to legitimate writers.
- During a recent Stephen Colbert show, he and Steven Spielberg discussed how AI programs could affect creative art. Spielberg expressed mixed opinions on the subject, indicating that AI can be highly beneficial to develop creative concepts into complete scripts. But he also had grave concerns about how AI-developed scripts could eventually destroy the motivation for human creativity, something that he felt AI could compete with but never replace. View the discussion.
- Susan mentioned Den Valdron, a lawyer and writer who maintains The Attic YouTube channel, where he discusses writing topics, including AI. Valdron, whose publication credits include The Mermaid’s Tale, will deliver a presentation at Artspace on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
- Red River College recently held presentations to help instructors recognize AI-generated submissions from students, an issue of increasing concern to educational institutions everywhere.
Does the Guild provide resources to assist in getting your work published?
- The Guild periodically offers presentations by established publishers, such as the FriesenPress Zoom meeting two months ago. These events will be posted on the Guild website and in the bi-monthly newsletter.
- We also provide a monthly markets newsletter listing markets/publishers with open calls. These publishers have been vetted via Writer Beware, which lists bad actors, and a treasure trove of articles on publishers, agents, contracts and how to avoid the sharks (Note: MWG notes or omits those with known issues, but members are encouraged to vet calls using Writer Beware and other sources listed in the markets newsletter).
- FriesenPress was mentioned as a legitimate self-publishing agency. However, writers should be careful to avoid self-publishing companies that are considered vanity presses and more interested in exploiting writers financially than assisting them with publishing.
- Susan suggested checking out the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers.
- The Guild’s bi-monthly newsletter includes numerous contests where new writers can submit their work. Subscribe using the Newsletter form at the bottom of this page, or email your request to .