Editing Novels Faster – Episode 1: How to Choose your AI Tools

an artist s illustration of artificial intelligence ai this piece explores the prediction method used in large language models it was created by artist wes cockx as part of the visuali

Introduction

This post is part of Editing Novels Faster, a series documenting an experiment in using AI as an editorial aid rather than a writing tool. The aim is not automated prose generation, but reducing the cognitive drag of large-scale revision, especially the structural and developmental work that becomes difficult once a manuscript outgrows working memory.

This episode is about preparing the tools, and explaining why each is a necessary part of the process. What follows is not an optimal workflow. It is the workflow I actually built, as a novice programmer and tool user, with the explicit intention of learning where it breaks and how it might be improved.

This series documents what I did, not what is ideal. One of its goals is to expose the friction points clearly enough that they can be improved, either by me over time or by others approaching the same problem with deeper technical skill. If this process feels manual in places, that is because it was.

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Designing the New Logo for Plot and Theme

As Plot and Theme will be devoting more time to forms of storytelling other than movies, the need for a fresh logo arose, one that could aptly represent this expanded scope. Simplicity was the guiding principle in designing the logo. A clean, uncluttered design is not only visually appealing but also communicates the core values … Read more

Plot and Theme’s Top Ten Films of 2022

People love lists, and none more than ones subjectively ranking assorted items (preferably related somehow). It is in that spirit that I have compiled my Top Ten Films released in 2022, especially now that I have seen some of the prestige films released near the end of the year. There are still quite a few … Read more

The Ignominious Return of My Questionable Opinions

This will be a short entry, but at least it will be one. Almost one year. That is how long it has been since I have posted an idea to Plot and Theme. The reasons I could list are all pretty banal: I had less time to write, it got less fun to write, and … Read more

State of the Blog – The First Quarter of 2018

The first quarter of 2018 is squarely in the books, and a State of the Blog post here on Plot and Theme is long overdue. If you do not recall from earlier, I decided to move these from a monthly basis towards a quarterly basis, which basically just means that there’s way more to talk … Read more

State of the Blog – End of Year 2017

It’s update time here at Plot and Theme, and I plan to run through a whole heap of news and plans going forward. Those of you who read the blog regularly have certainly noticed the reduction of posts over the past few months, as well as a few things that I am behind on delivering. … Read more

State of the Blog – September 2017

Move to a new state, start a new job, and your movie blogging suffers. July was something of a testament to that, but I still got to see some cool movies. August was brutal, with only a couple of worthwhile releases, both of which I missed (but hope to get to soon). Anyway, Life Things™ are starting to get sorted, September will certainly be better than August with regards to releases, and thanks to my laziness, there’s a plethora of good content on the way.

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The Ten Best Films of 2017 (Halfway Edition)

The prime-numbered year of 2017 has been a divisive one, which is at least a little ironic.  Now that the glass is half of something, it is time to broadcast my 100% correct and 99% meaningless opinions on the Ten Best Films of 2017.  I’ve done a few of these Top Ten lists here on … Read more

State of the Blog – July 2017

The summer is in full swing, and it is time to update you with the goings-on here at Plot and Theme.  The standard formula will apply to this State of the Blog post:  we’ll look at the past month, talk a tad about the new movies that are on the horizon, and make outlandish promises … Read more

State of the Blog – June 2017

As we inch towards the halfway point of the year, blockbuster season is now in full swing.  Here at Plot and Theme, things are going swimmingly, and I’ve got a lot of cool things going on, plus neat flicks and pieces on the blog to look forward to.  But, we’ll start by looking back on … Read more