Your post gets me thinking on a couple of issues, Melissa. I regularly use AI (mostly Gemini) with my Substack posts for three purposes: (1) researching my topic (much better than basic search) and (2) to fact and grammar and spell check my draft draft and (3) to invite challenges to the writing. By way of example, that fact check routinely spots dropped words and saved me in my most recent post by pointing out that I must mean 1919 as opposed to 2019. Gemini is also not shy about critiquing my writing. The app asks if I'd like it to draft a better version. I resist that in the interest of staving off the "cognitive surrender" that AI can inflict. But I do find AI to be useful in alerting me to my sometimes obtuse wording.
And I still proofread and copy edit what I write, but I don’t turn to A.I. to assist my writing. You might argue I should, but I prefer to stick with my human foibles. I’m stubborn when it comes to ceding ground on writing. Now a human editor would be just fine. I know it doesn’t make sense but it’s just who I am when writing.
Melissa, So much to think about, thanks to your post. You reminded me of aerograms - THANK YOU! Exchanged many with a friend years ago when she lived in Provence; then I went to her village to house sit for her - and eventually rented my own little house for a few more months. Our friendship was the basis for my adventure but the aerograms played a part, too - and I still have them.
Thank you Melissa for such a touching piece. I felt Maya's pain for the lack of physical evidence of caring. And I know a friend's grandchildren are also cursive-blind. And finally, thank you for recognizing my project. Holding that fountain pen felt like being reacquainted with an old friend.
Just a great, thoughtful post, Melissa. So true, so incredibly true. Letters are so precious. Lovely work. Thanks.
Oh, my goodness. Your kind words have my heart singing.
Your post gets me thinking on a couple of issues, Melissa. I regularly use AI (mostly Gemini) with my Substack posts for three purposes: (1) researching my topic (much better than basic search) and (2) to fact and grammar and spell check my draft draft and (3) to invite challenges to the writing. By way of example, that fact check routinely spots dropped words and saved me in my most recent post by pointing out that I must mean 1919 as opposed to 2019. Gemini is also not shy about critiquing my writing. The app asks if I'd like it to draft a better version. I resist that in the interest of staving off the "cognitive surrender" that AI can inflict. But I do find AI to be useful in alerting me to my sometimes obtuse wording.
And I still proofread and copy edit what I write, but I don’t turn to A.I. to assist my writing. You might argue I should, but I prefer to stick with my human foibles. I’m stubborn when it comes to ceding ground on writing. Now a human editor would be just fine. I know it doesn’t make sense but it’s just who I am when writing.
Melissa, So much to think about, thanks to your post. You reminded me of aerograms - THANK YOU! Exchanged many with a friend years ago when she lived in Provence; then I went to her village to house sit for her - and eventually rented my own little house for a few more months. Our friendship was the basis for my adventure but the aerograms played a part, too - and I still have them.
Thank you Melissa for such a touching piece. I felt Maya's pain for the lack of physical evidence of caring. And I know a friend's grandchildren are also cursive-blind. And finally, thank you for recognizing my project. Holding that fountain pen felt like being reacquainted with an old friend.
Delighted all of the pieces fit together! And that post about the 18th birthday was NOT about Maya. Just a friend’s post on Facebook. Maya is 29!!!!
29 and married.
Yes. And check out her notecards! Think you’ll like them.
I love sending hand written notes!
Email me your home address and I’ll write you a letter! Glad you like this too!
Are you serious?? Done. And, I will write you back. :)
Love it!