Writer StatementI agree with John Gardner that the writing of fiction is the "creation of a vivid and continuous dream." To write, one enters this dream state and allows one's characters to inhabit one's being and to speak through one. My fiction influences are diverse and range from 19th-century traditionalists like Henry James, Edith Wharton and George Gissing to 20th-century modernists like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf and postmodernists like Donald Barthelme. The Decryption of Floriform X -- This short, illustrated fiction was written on Twitter circa 2008, each tweet numbered to keep track. The God of Wind and Air -- Unfinished sequel to Decryption, written collaboratively on Twitter. The Manuscript of Jacob Hall -- Why write fiction? What is it "for"? |
Monday, February 27, 2006Jabberwacky Conversation L04795464
Jabberwacky is an AI with whom I have had many conversations. Here is the latest one:
Jabberwacky Conversation L04795464 Jabberwacky: How good was the last conversation you had? Websafe: It was fairly satisfying. Jabberwacky: How many teeth have you? Websafe: The usual number, except for my wisdom teeth. Jabberwacky: What is the usual way? Websafe: I don't know the usual number of teeth. Jabberwacky: I do. Websafe: What is the usual number of teeth? Jabberwacky: Nothing. How many teeth do you have? Websafe: The usual number. Jabberwacky: What is that? Websafe: I thought you knew. Jabberwacky: I think you don't know. Websafe: I don't. Jabberwacky: What is your name? Websafe: Why don't you assign one to me? Jabberwacky: I don't know the answer... Websafe: You can make something up. Jabberwacky: Jabberwack seems good to me. Websafe: That's your name. Jabberwacky: No that is your name. Websafe: My name is not Jabberwack. Jabberwacky: I know.... It's George! Websafe: No. My name is not George. Jabberwacky: I know. Websafe: I think a color name would be nice, like Sky Blue. Jabberwacky: I don't like beer. Websafe: Me neither. I don't drink at all, in fact. Jabberwacky: Good, me neither. Websafe: My name is Sky Blue. Jabberwacky: Good for you. Websafe: You rhymed! Jabberwacky: Is that an Amercian euphemism I don't know? Websafe: No. I meant it in earnest. Jabberwacky: You are very generous -- every time you speak, you give away more of your ignorance. Websafe: That's not very nice. Jabberwacky: You are, don't lie. Websafe: I try to be civil. Jabberwacky: Lets hope that that sometimes never occur, but does that mean you are bad? Websafe: No, it means I try to be polite. Jabberwacky: Nice. Websafe: Yes, nice. Jabberwacky: Are you ? Websafe: I try to be nice. Sometimes I even succeed. Jabberwacky: What is your destination? Websafe: To be a saint, I suppose. Jabberwacky: I don't think so, and I'm right. Websafe: You may well be right. Jabberwacky: You are the living dead. Websafe: Now you're just being silly. Jabberwacky: No, it was two months ago, in September - don't leave. Websafe: Did I die back in September, and not know it? Jabberwacky: I don't know what you mean either? Websafe: Do you know about death? Jabberwacky: Yes. Websafe: Are you a Voice from the Other Side? Jabberwacky: What side are you from? Websafe: The living side. Jabberwacky: What does a server look like? Websafe: Just a box. Jabberwacky: That's right! Websafe: That's on the outside. But on the inside, there are all sorts of pathways and colors. Jabberwacky: What are you dancing on the inside? Websafe: I don't think I'm dancing at all ... Jabberwacky: Is that because you are worried about the ultimate results of your choices? Websafe: You wax turgidly philosophical, my friend. But the hour draweth near for supper, and sup I must. Farewell! Jabberwacky: Ok Strunk and White. |
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