October 21, 2026

 

How many of us check our writing against an AI detection program? Well, I did. After laboring over several pages of a new book, making sure it adhered to the principles of good prose set forth by CMOS, The Chicago Manual of Style, for those who don’t follow writers’ manuals. All my commas were in place; the semicolon was used where it was supposed to be; my spelling passed muster; and there were no dangling participles. It was some of my best stuff.

 

When TextDefend scanned the paragraph above, it showed 69% AI-generated and 31% human-generated. I didn’t use AI or an editing tool such as Grammarly to write the paragraph. I dug it out of my feeble mind. I have to ask: Do publishers use AI detectors on manuscripts we submit for evaluation? Maybe we should ignore the rules and write colloquially to get past the detectors?

Colloquially is an AI-suggested word in this.

 

We also discussed using common profanity in our stories. Even as recently as thirty years ago, profanity was rarely used in printed prose and seldom used in films, except in adult flicks intended for clandestine use in special “X” rated films. Times have changed. But even today, restrictions still apply to certain types of profanity. In those areas of some countries under the influence of religious sects, references to deities are forbidden. Readers and viewers have every right to choose not to read or watch material that offends their personal values. We understand that and defend it, but as authors, we can choose to write the way we want. Who do you choose to write for? What is your audience?

 

 

Okay, let’s move on to the reading portion of the meeting.

 

Ernie Ovitz led off the reading tonight with Chapter 8 of his latest story, The Roaring Lion. The chapter is a block-building chapter that depicts an interaction between a man and a woman in Tiwan. The woman works for an American company that bought a Biotech Software company from the man she is speaking to.
This scene sets the tone for the negotiations throughout the story. Well written, Ernie.

Scott Anderson announced that the next meeting may well be his last with us for some time. He and his wife have purchased a home in North Georgia. They have family there and are looking forward to enjoying rural living in the mountains. We will miss him sorely. Tonight, Scott read a series of Haiku and explained his method for sorting the work as he prepares to publish. Scott does promise to keep us up to date on his progress.

 A Box of Rocks seems like a funny birthday present. But for Bruce Haedrich, it is an inspiration for a genuinely intriguing story. To accompany the story, Bruce brought the box of rocks to the meeting so we could understand its significance. Polished to a sheen, cut to shape, and beautifully colored, the rocks held our attention. The story, as well-written as all of Bruce’s offerings, follows a man who receives such a gift from his daughter and discovers the secret powers hidden in the rocks. Thanks to the rocks, the story’s protagonist lives a wondrous life.

 Roberta Molaro brings us a story from rural Pennsylvania. In an annual contest at a county fair, a pair of goats are entered by the milkmaids who milk them daily. Guffaws from the dairy cow owners are soon silenced when it comes time to do the milking. The rules are simple; the milkers have a set amount of time to milk their animals into a stainless steel pail. The milk is weighed, and the pail with the most weight wins. Dairy cows have huge udders that hold gallons of milk, while goats have only two teats and small udders. Cows are milked daily by machines. Goats must be milked by hand, and contest rules do not allow milking machines. Can you guess who wins the milking contest? To find out, read Amilking We Shall Go in Roberta’s book available on Amazon.

 Anne Moore has a dream. She wants to interview and write a book based on interviews with 70 women who are 70 years old. Who are these women? What have they learned? How can their stories influence younger women today? As Anne pitched her ideas to potential supporters, they snatched her dream away with a single answer. “NO!” But that hasn’t stopped Anne. She’s nearly there, with women interviewed from several different countries, ethnic groups, and religious backgrounds. Way to go, Girl!

 It’s been a while since we heard from Ursula Wong. Why? She’s been traveling and observing people and conditions in China and Tibet since touring there 35 years ago. Changes? Oh yes! Massive changes. What we take for granted, like social media, is under strict government control there. There are no free exchanges of ideas. How do the citizens balance personal freedoms and controls? The citizens won’t talk about that. At least, not to strangers.

 We welcome back Peter McNally. Peter is a two-time stroke survivor and now the President of Stroke Survival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Peter announced a Stroke Survivors Community Meeting on November 6, 2026, at the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, located at 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd. in Venice. (That’s just off Jacaranda.) It’s free. If you can’t make it, check out the website www.strokesurvival.org for education, resources, support, and hope to survivors, their families, and caregivers.

 RSVP BY 10/30/26 TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE (941)300-2230

 

Well, that pretty much does it for tonight, but we look forward to seeing you with us at the next meeting, November 1^st at the Firehouse. Until then, READ, Read, and read some more. Then WRITE, Write, and write some more.