While it would, of course, been amazing to participate in person, in Ireland, it was my honor to be part of the virtual proceedings for this year’s International Dublin Writers’ Festival. (More about this event and its founder, Laurence O’Bryan, here.)
My conversation revolved around the broad but ever-pertinent topic of technology and writing. Whether we’re talking AI or the available innovations many writers can—and should—be taking advantage of, this intersection between creativity and digital realities is crucial. Of course, I approach these matters from a variety of angles: as a writer with skin (or ink) in the game, as a former tech analyst who spent years comparing and contrasting how different industries were being impacted (helped, hindered, and everything in between) by Tech-with-a-capital-T, and as a non-profit founder whose primary goal is to connect storytellers and use every available tool to create community. I know enough to be painfully aware that I’m no expert, but I also know a thing or two.
I’ll make a quick note, which I’ve done before, to suggest that writers of or near my age (old school Gen X) have a unique perspective: we came up in an almost entirely analog world, then watched it gradually go digital, with everything from word processors to video games, compact discs and DVDs, the internet (duh) and email, blogs and online journals, social media and self-publishing. Point being, whether you care one bit about art or artists (or how artists make art), you are both aware of and necessarily invested in the state of things, culturally, financially, and personally speaking.
Spoiler alert: I’m very bullish on the notion of embracing every possible advantage or tool, because the “bad guys” are already doing so (think everyone from Elon Musk to the anonymous cretins who are spamming or else trying to scam you 24/7). Put simply, one reason I lean into the myriad capabilities of technology is that they do more to assist creatives than impede them. As I’m fond of repeating, as ostensibly uncomplicated as things were back in “the day” (think 20th Century), the ugly fact is, if you couldn’t get past the (largely white male dominated) gatekeeping mechanisms, your excellent writing would not, could not, be published. That alone is reason to celebrate the messy info-overload of digital Everything: at least now the proverbial playing field has been leveled, and most writers have a fighting chance to find an audience. Whether or not you have any appetite to “build your brand” everything we do, circa 2025, is an exercise in PR: unless you’ve cultivated an entirely offline existence (which speaks to certain privileges), you are telling (selling?) your story all day, every day.
Some excerpted clips, below, followed by a link to the complete conversation.
Full conversation with Laurence O’Bryan, via link below.
