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Recently retired, after a 40-plus-year career as a writer, she now writes fictional characters who make a difference. Her debut novel, Always Think of Me is a contemporary love story that delves into the themes of our purpose in life, second chances, and the encounters we experience throughout life. Join us as Lori shares why she wrote this compelling novel and why the messages it conveys is so dear to her heart.
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FEATURED BOOK: Kentucky to Missouri
AUTHOR: Joyce Crawford
PUBLISHER: Self-published
GENRE: Christian historical fiction
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Series
TARGET AGE: 18 to 65+
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR JOYCE CRAWFORD TO PATTI’S PORCH. JOYCE TALKS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AS AN AUTHOR WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGECE
AI AND ME
by
Joyce Crawford
As a new indie author over the age of 70, I meet new challenges every time I write. I started writing in 2014 with a children's book called The Adventures of Thelma Thistle and Her Friends. That book developed into a series of seven chapter books. Two years later, I changed my genre to Christian historical fiction.
I have a personal goal that I don’t tell anyone except my husband; it drives me to improve my writing. I perpetually search for that elusive nugget of wisdom that could elevate my writing to greater heights. If anyone possesses such a treasure trove of knowledge, please share it with our community.
One “gem” I recently found myself drawn to was the world of AI writing. Now, to be sure, I do not use AI as a substitute for authentic writing but as an editing tool. So far, I have not been disappointed.
My editor frequently reprimanded me for the use of purple prose. Even a well-intended reader commented, “There is a lot of purple in there.” Sheepishly, I turned to Mr. Webster to ask, “What exactly is purple prose?”
When I opened ChatGPT, I shared the blurb for my book, Kentucky to Missouri, and asked, “Is this purple prose?”
By the dark of the moon, canoes slide sliendly over a black river. Leading this contingency of braves, Chief Opitchapam and his son, Na-ta’a-em, protect their precious cargo: Englishman Richard Burton, his young Powhatan wife, and John Running Stream Burton, the chief’s infant grandson, as they escape danger. Fleeing the tumult of Jamestown, this brave band seeks refuge among the welcoming Shawnee people in Henricopolis, a sanctuary amidst the turmoil of colonial Virginia.
Years of unsettling violence of the French-Indian wars, the British press for more land, and the Iroquois’ greed for more fertile hunting grounds forced the family to leave their Henricopolis home in 1641. The Burton family forge across the Alleghanies to a land where blue grass grows abundant and sweet, and peace enfolds them. Richard Burton and his family make a new home in the Indian territory of Kentucky.
In the heart of the untamed wilderness, the Burton family's journey unfolds—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unyielding power of love. As they forge ahead into the unknown, they carry with them the hope of a brighter tomorrow, guided by the promise of a land where peace, prosperity, and the blessings of God await.
ChatGPT replied, “The excerpt has a rich descriptive quality, but it's not overly purple. However, there are a few areas where the language could be tightened or enhanced for clarity and impact. Here are some suggestions for improvement …”
I was elated with this feedback. So, I continued copying and pasting 400-word excerpts at a time and asked for correct grammar and feedback on each. The process was quick and gave me validation and confidence.
I do not always agree with ChatGPT, but I take AI’s advice back to my original manuscript to make it better.
My next experiment is to see if AI will do my email marketing. Whoo Boy. Now, that might be pushing the envelope a bit too far.
Joyce Crawford is a gifted author whose childhood memories have become an integral part of her books.
Despite struggling with reading since the fourth grade and being diagnosed with a brain imbalance in her later years, Joyce never allowed her handicap to deter her. In fact, she believes that her vivid imagination and desire to learn and achieve were gifts from God.
One of Joyce's primary strengths is her ability to transform something simple into its most extraordinary potential by revealing its cryptic meaning. With a passion for living and a love of life and God, Joyce is in her best element in this genre.