Recent content by Stuart Dren

  1. Stuart Dren

    Things AI can do

    The first half made me snicker, but it's the end clause gave me a lethal laugh. It critically undermined its own mere unit-based misinterpretation of the question before it even finished the sentence.
  2. Stuart Dren

    Today I learned...

    Well I draw the line at calling people shonks. That's just too far. Renewable energy source?
  3. Stuart Dren

    Can you tell AI writing from human writing?

    Oh, interesting. That potentially hurts her case, especially if the 'editor' had been adding entire passages.
  4. Stuart Dren

    Things AI can do

    What about an everlasting big grin beneath wide eyes? Smiling means friendly.
  5. Stuart Dren

    Things You Recently Bought or Got, Redux

    It's nice to hear a good insurance story every now and then for a change. I'm glad they pulled through.
  6. Stuart Dren

    When I was a child, I thought . . .

    I rolled up my sleeves to jump in and defend a children's book I've never read, but after checking it out online, I see what you mean. These messages are nonsensical: Bearing one's natural beauty, and not giving it to others, is greed and will make you unhappy. Giving people things because...
  7. Stuart Dren

    What are you reading?

    Big meh on The Stars Are Legion. It's been a while since I've been so thoroughly dissatisfied with a novel. It has all the ingredients to be interesting yet the blandest execution: like someone who's jacket has twenty zippers on it, but you talk to him and quickly realise a bowl of chickpeas...
  8. Stuart Dren

    Physical Transformation

    No sign of the Southern Reach fans yet. The guy getting cut in half lost a lot of weight quickly. Actually that touched on something for me. I've read a series where one character loses a few fingers as early as book 2. Impairment is significant and no less thematically heavy. If it's sci fi or...
  9. Stuart Dren

    Physical Transformation

    I think a character's physical transformation is almost always figuratively significant. Could be anything. Becoming a statue, merging with a body horror hive mind, transforming into a fly, or simply gaining some muscle, or something extreme like shaving one's head. It could be a temporary...
  10. Stuart Dren

    First thing that comes to your head

    bell pepper
  11. Stuart Dren

    Movies, Movies, Movies!

    Man I wish a tight 88 was more common in the world today It's all 2.5 hours this, three hours that.
  12. Stuart Dren

    How to Get Solid Feedback: The One Paragraph Shred

    Another option, if sheltering the Big WiP, is writing a short story just for the workshop. Honestly, I'm against posting the nubile first chapter of a WiP novel for critique. I think it can mess up the artist thing if the first draft isn't completed. Mileage varies of course. Cover art and...
  13. Stuart Dren

    What made me happy today?

    And successful people are still people too. There are lots of touching stories about surprisingly reciprocated interactions. I know Terry Pratchett, in his late ailing years, contacted a mere video game mod creator with compliments and some suggestions. She did not contact him first, but this...
  14. Stuart Dren

    How to Get Solid Feedback: The One Paragraph Shred

    Well, the cover and blurb play some role in the promises. Hey hold up. What's unlikeable about Bruce Willis' character? :( He loves his girlfriend, treats her well, and wants to run away with her after screwing over some gangsters. He jeopardizes this move to go back and get his father's watch...
  15. Stuart Dren

    Are Success Odds Always Diminishing?

    I've had that thought for a while. It's moved more towards being critical of the marketing or lack-of than quality, though. Shadow of the Conqueror "Book 1 of 1" by a Youtuber is ...well decide for yourself on the quality. But look at that review score! And with than many reviews, imagine how...
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