52 Comments
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T. Ansel's avatar

Enjoyed the imagary of how we all have something like this.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you! And thanks for sharing it!

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T. Ansel's avatar

You’re welcome glad to help! I enjoyed it.

—— It could be a longer form short story. The character wakes up and realizes they are plugged into AI or something like that!!! LOL! …. Were the stories AI generated, or was AI stealing his stories.

Lots of good possibilities. That’s the beauty of short fiction.

Enjoy your evening!

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shara love's avatar

Delightful! It's like watching one of those 7 or 14min short films that draw you in and leave you craving for more because there's so much more to be explored. More please!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I’m already at work expanding it! Not quite sure what it will shape up to be just yet, but I’m enjoying it.

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Roland Denzel's avatar

Heh. That was actually good. 😉

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

You sound surprised!

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The Everyday Solopreneur's avatar

I just listened to your latest Wordslinger podcast. You mentioned that you're considering terminating the podcast at some point.🤷

I’d like to say that I would really, really miss it. I so enjoy and feel inspired by your words and calm demeanor.

If it’s not too much trouble, please keep it going.

Loved the short story by the way 👍

Speak to you soon, mate.🙏

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

This is why I've kept it going all these years, because I know there are people listening, and hopefully getting something out of it! I always toy with ending it, but always end up finding a reason to keep going.

It's not really a burden. Let me ponder and pray over it and we'll see where things go! But I appreciate you offering some encouragement. This work can be a bit lonely feeling, at times, when you don't hear any feedback!

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The Everyday Solopreneur's avatar

Feedback is the one thing we can’t plan for. So, when we get it, we feel validated and supported in some small way.

You're not alone, never alone. You will always be the voice of indie writers to me, at least.🙏

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Theron Mathis's avatar

First, that's a great way to practice dictation. I've always been nervous about trying for fiction, but it has worked well for me in nonfiction.

Second, that made me feel guilty in a good way. All those ideas I've procrastinated on...ugh

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

“Guilty in a Good Way” is now on my list of possible memoir titles.

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Stacey Kowbel's avatar

Love it! It was a fun story! Would love to see more flash fiction. Successful experiment in my opinion!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

It seems to be! I've gotten such a huge response on this, I can't ignore it. So I'm planning more dictation, more flash fiction, and for anything that is well received I'll start expanding it into longer works—short stories, novellas, novels... whatever fits!

Mostly I'm just aiming to make writing fun again. I love my thrillers, but I've really missed speculative fiction.

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The Everyday Solopreneur's avatar

It definitely worked. Maybe you will start dictating your long-form fiction?

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I think I’ll have to work up to it, but it would be a handy skill, for sure.

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Bill Brown's avatar

Too short! But I love it. I'll write more after I check my Castle of Unwritten Comments. 🤣

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

That’s the “flash” in flash fiction for ya! But with the response this is getting, I may have to change that.

And at least it’s not the Underwear Drawer of Underutilized Snarky Comebacks. That bad boy is full to brimming over!

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Ken Schultz's avatar

I do like your experiment. I cannot say that this would or would not make a good short story or a full novel but that is on you, the author. What I can say is that the basic premise of a library of unwritten books is intriguing to me and I can imagine a whole lot of ways to take this forward.

As for dictating rather than actually "writing" whether it be with a computer, typewriter, long hand, etc., well, why the hell not? Experimenting will teach you something. It may be a positive or negative something or even one that is neutral, but it will teach you in a way that will / won't lead somewhere.

Go for it, kid.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Great feedback, Ken. I appreciate it! I’ve had such a positive response to this that I’m now evaluating it for next steps. The story itself is resonating with people (and me), so I think I should work on expanding it. And the dictation thing worked far better than I had expected, so clearly I should add that to my writing repertoire.

Thanks for the nod, sir.

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Paul McGaffey's avatar

This is a poem, Kevin. Like any good poem, Its impact is intrigue.

Thus, it's done.

PaulMcgaffey

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Would a poem written in prose be called “Proetry?”

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Bill Brown's avatar

No, Prosetry. Can't wait for the book. Greetings from Amoy, China.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Love it!

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James Ray's avatar

You definitely got my interest!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

That’s good news!

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Linda Cardillo's avatar

I loved this! Everything about it resonated with me as a writer. Keep going!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you! That is. Wei kind encouragement!

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DAVID GIBSON's avatar

Would like more!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

You may get your wish!

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KATHLEEN SCHOFIELD's avatar

I love it and it makes me wonder what those books would be like that I have within me that I have never written … beautifully done!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

Thank you! I shudder to think how many books in that library would have my name on the spine!

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Betsy's avatar

Great idea. It could be a means for capturing those fleeting stories in our heads that we never seems to write down only later to think I wish I did.

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I do like thinking that somewhere out there, all those ideas is don’t write down are piled up neatly for me to rediscover.

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Sharon's avatar

Spectacular! I'm adopting this unwritten library image as my inspiration. Think of the possibilities!

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J. Kevin Tumlinson's avatar

I just want to find this place!

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