

Supporting the Vulnerable and Marginalized
What would I be doing if I wasn't writing? Wishing I were a writer. I keep an eye out for people and organizations working to address the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized in our communities. Recently, I was introduced to Baker Industries. Supporting the vulnerable and marginalized through work experiences Baker Industries began in 1980 when Charlie and Weezie Baker wanted their son, Justin, to have the pride, independence, belonging, and purpose that come from havin
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AI Has No Gut
Part of my sixtieth birthday celebration was at the Ambassade Hotel in Amsterdam. Just me, early in the morning, in their library. The child on the cover of Donna Tartt’s The Little Friend looked at me expectantly. I took a minute to think of Donna sitting somewhere quiet, working on her craft as she wrote, and I felt a surge of connection to the other writers who were guests at this hotel. Sometimes, I get jealous that their work came before AI. In depressed moments, I think
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Writing Realistic Fiction: start with AI if you must, but finish with human experiences
Sushma Henna Artist Realistic fiction has to be believable. That’s why I spend months, sometimes years, developing a story. It’s how I wrote Still (a story I lived for twelve years) and Mouth Shut Head Down (a story I researched for six years). As I work on the sequel to Mouth Shut Head Down, I dive deep into vast information on the internet, but I follow up with real people. Conversations with professionals in the field clear up confusion, challenge assumptions, and sharpen
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