Beginning
A beginning is a placeholder for what might arise. They may become something longer. They sit here and wait on the muse. They might not ever go further than what is here.
Lately I begin to envision an AI that forms book from scattered human writings.
On my own website I create 'entries'. Not stories. Although I do categorise some of the entries as 'story', some as 'beginning' and some as 'segment', amongst other terms. Many of those entries appear unrelated to each other, but in my own world they are. Probably only myself and one other see how they are all connected.
I'm imagining an AI. I select a set of the entries. 10 of them,100 of them, whatever.
I press the 'Collate as Book' button. Telling the AI to sequence and join those entries in the closest way it can towards 'book'.
The AI asks me: "Shall I accept your categorisation of your entries as definitive?"
On this occasion I tell the AI, "No, treat my categorisation only as suggestive. Form your own path."
The AI asks me: "Shall I alter your text at all to achieve that book?"
On this occasion I tell the AI, "No, do not alter even a single word."
The AI agrees. Then it asks me: "Shall I add my own text as joining passages between your segments?"
On this occasion I tell the AI, "No, do not add your own transitions".
The AI agrees. 1.5 seconds later, the book is on my screen.
I accept it as prototype. It becomes version 1.
Over a year I continue adding entries into what is to become 'book'. The AI creates iteratively more 'book-like' collations of my work.
Eventually I accept a revision as "Viable Deliverable Product".
The AI asks me: "Are you sure?"
I reply: "Yes. Sure."
The AI pings my phone. Enter this token. I enter the token. The AI smiles. Produce cover and blurb?
I tell it yes.
I accept candidate 7 of each.
The AI asks "Deliver?"
I respond, "Yes"
The AI pings my phone again. I enter the token.
I make myself a cup of tea. When I come back, I see my book on all the self-publishing platforms, on my Substack and of course on my own site.
There is a button for the public on my site. "Download as e-book. Pay here."
And another, "Deliver heritage book by drone to your front door. Pay here."
I add another entry.
And then I put my programming hat on, and continue advancing the site towards a multi-user prototype. Beta by invitation to Edge Writers, target date: 2028.
And target for my own book remains as previously announced, "Not before 2035".