Let The AI Cook

A list of 8 things worth talking about.

1.

TWO NOVELS (NEWS)

I’ve been half-insane with the writing lately.

I’m about 2,000 words from the end of a manuscript — which is a place where almost no one could/would stop, but I’m also editing the manuscript at the same time (which is a whole other thing with me, involving software, listening to audio and regular old re-reading).

The book is a sequel to The Strip, released next January. For a few months, later this year, I’ll have two novels in pre-publication at once, which is wild, but this is how the game is played.

I’m trying to go legit. And ‘legit’ for a crime novelist this century is a book a year, until you break out. It’s not mandatory, but a book a year is as much as you can do to widen the surface area of luck.

I’m a fairly robust craftsperson —I’ve got my processes down— but let me tell you: writing a 75,000 word crime novel to the standards of traditional publishing, in a single calendar year, is not chill at all.

Exhilarating, sure.

But there’s no way I could’ve done this at any previous stage of life.

2.

THE PROWLER (FILM)

I’m blackpilled on TV at the moment. Nothing hits right. Even the highly salacious Boys spin-off Gen V kinda lost me.

To cleanse the palate, I’ve been watching old noir films on YouTube. 1951’s The Prowler is a nasty piece of work. As per usual, it’s chaste on the surface —in keeping with the times— but the subtext is an abyss of bad energy, end to end.

3.

THE BETHS (MUSIC)

Is there anything more Gen X than discovering a new band from the Bret Easton Ellis Show? Probably not, but Bret mentioned this New Zealand power-pop band, and I’m ashamed to say I’d never heard of them.

Been playing them ever since.

4.

LANA LOHAN (ACADEMIA)

In my day job, I’m doing some work on David Lynch’s 1997 neo-noir Lost Highway. It’s co-authored work with Lexi Kannas (author of Deep Red from Columbia University Press). My contribution focuses on the mid-90s pop industrial moment —which features heavily in the soundtrack— but we’re mapping out all sorts of stuff.

It’s also really got me thinking about doppelgängers:

iainryanauthour

A post shared by @iainryanauthour

5.

MARK DAWSON ON AI (PODCAST)

I have fairly heterodox views on AI and writing. In short, my stance is: let it cook. If an AI can absorb my back catalogue and write new Iain Ryan novels, then have at it. I look forward to reading them.

But this podcast episode by mega-bestselling, self-published author Mark Dawson is more moderate, and gives a great overview of how and where he’s using the technology, as well as how Amazon is dealing with it.

6.

PLAYING BILLY CORGAN (MUSIC)

I’m learning a few Smashing Pumpkins songs on the guitar. Having played some of this stuff now, I have to say I’m low key shocked at how aggressive Billy Corgan’s playing is.

The Siamese Dream-era material may sound somewhat dreamy and shoegaze-inspired, but he is playing it like speed metal. I mean, listen to ‘Cherub Rock’ with the guitar soloed:

7.

THE NOIR CORPUS (LIST)

I put together a corpus of noir crime novels and road-tested it on Twitter. Not to blow my own trumpet, but this was a solid pass imho:

8.

BLOW TORCH (STORY)

Got a few nice messages about last week’s story.

I’ll say this: I have the correct audience. Because the message is pretty loud and clear.

You like the darker ones.

— IAIN

PS: Read my public-facing thoughts Twitter and see how I live my life on Instagram.

PPS: This newsletter is brought to you by Vee Vee by Archers of Loaf.

PPPS: Buy my books direct here.