technology

To Bot or Not

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Yesterday morning, I actually got an email message from a BOT. The purpose of the email was to entice me to enter a writing contest. I wondered what a Bot is capable of doing and if Ai and Bot are the same, or different.

I was surprised that there were lots of articles on this subject online! Here’s what I found:

Even though the media often uses these two terms interchangeably, they really are different. 

Bots (short for robots) are software applications designed to automate tasks and perform specific functions without human intervention. They are programmed to interact with users or other software systems to carry out predefined tasks.

For instance, chatbots are used to simulate conversation with users. Social media bots can “like” posts and “follow” users.

So, while Bots excel at repetitive tasks, that leaves Ai (which possesses intelligence) to deal with situations regarding thought and learning. They can analyze data, problem-solve, and make decisions.

Bots and Ai can manipulate discussions and influence public opinion. They’ve even been known to spread misinformation. 

Even though we’ve been told that AI systems are designed to assist and enhance human productivity, not replace humans, I think we’d be prudent to interact cautiously with them.

While writing this blog post, one of these has tried to rewrite what they “thought” to be typos and suggest endings to various sentences.  Over and over again, I had to “insist” on the wording I wanted.

I don’t want this kind of “interference” in my daily work. How about you???

Do Authors Need A Website?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Part of being an author is developing a relationship with your readership. So, I won’t beat around the bush. You DO need a website.

You’ll want to include pictures of yourself, a biography, book covers and a short synopsis of each. Underneath each one, you’ll want a link to wherever readers can order copies.

You’ll need a little bit of art work for the header of your website, perhaps a logo, a tagline, and a contact page. If you write a blog or have a Facebook page, you’ll want to have links to those, also.

Originally, I put up my own webpage, which I used for several years. I am not the best at technology, so about a year ago when I felt I needed to “step-up” my web presence, I hired a company to accomplish what I could not do on my own.

Website construction is costly. And so is web-hosting. Even the name of your website has a yearly fee. So, just do what you can as you’re able to afford it. Before you know it, you’ll be up and running.

There are many companies that are able to make a website for you that you will be proud of. Later, if you want to add another book, update a photo, or anything of that kind, you can either do it yourself or re-contact them for that service.

I invite you to see what mine looks like, here is the link: www.brendapoulosauthor.com    

The Winds of Change

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Tablets and smartphones are becoming the preferred method of reading around the world. This means that in the future, authors need to produce text that looks good on the small screens of smartphones and tablets.

Space between lines of type.

Lots of white space.

Short sentences and phrases.

Large type face.

Writing styles that are easily and quickly understood.

Authors, how can our books compete with videos, games, and news blurbs?  I thinks we will need to incorporate color, illustrations, even animation. How about interactive books???

E-books sell twice as often on Amazon. Don’t think this is because of the lower price point. It is actually about the popularity of this technology. 

So, welcome to the future, fiction writers—a fast-paced, illustrated, shorter, and plot driven future.

Ready to Make a Few Changes?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

A few months ago, I told a new acquaintance about my struggles in marketing. (We had been talking about her daughter who is graduating from high school this year and her need for a part-time income. I told her mother that it was amazing to me that “young people” find technology so easy to use.)

So I saw this meeting as an opportunity to make some changes.

I’m hiring this eighteen-year-old to put a fresh face on my Facebook pages and my Amazon advertising—and earmark some of my marketing dollars toward a new “look” for my online presence.

Will my marketing dollars be well spent?

I hope so. 

Because the story about the guy who never saw any changes in outcome because he kept trying the same strategies time after time is really my story.

Is it yours, too?

Maybe it’s time for you to change where you write—or when. Perhaps you need to read a few books on the craft of writing or attend a conference.

Whatever you need to change, there’s no time like the present to make that commitment—to yourself and your readers!