This AI Has Got Me and My Fictional Work Figured Out — To Some Extent
As noted in a previous blog post, I've been working with and exploring the power of Perplexity.ai. It's much better than Bing's co-pilot, or Google's Gemini AI, at least as far as results dealing with my fictional writing. This is definitely worth understanding because that’s how you’ll be perceived, parsed and packaged in the eyes of your readers. It’s something that we writers will have to get used to. More and more, these powerful AI’s will rule in shaping perceptions of individual work and defining who we are and what we write about. No value judgments passed here. Just the given circumstances of life in an AI-enhanced world.
For example, here's how it assembled, if that's the word, results from my question about Metal Heads, a novel I wrote some years ago.
Metal Heads by Tom Maremaa is a novel set in a California hospital for veterans with severe head trauma, known as "metal heads." The story is narrated by Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy "Spoon" Witherspoon, who is dealing with life-changing injuries and the psychological aftermath of war. The hospital environment is depicted as Kafkaesque, with patients facing mysterious deaths and possible experimentation. Spoon confronts his past, including a cover-up of a war crime, while dealing with threats from a private contractor named Skank. The novel explores themes of trauma, survival, and the blurred line between reality and delusion.
What about his latest novel, I, Michelangelo?
Based on the information provided, I can tell you more about Tom Maremaa's novel "I, Michelangelo":
Plot and Structure: "I, Michelangelo" is a work of postmodern fiction that features parallel storylines set in different time periods:
1. One storyline follows the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo in 16th century Italy, depicting his struggles with family and Pope Julius II while creating iconic works like the statue of David and the Sistine Chapel frescoes[1].
2. The other storyline is set in 21st century New York City and focuses on a modern-day character also named Michelangelo, who is an artist and enforcer for a criminal enterprise[1].
The novel is told from over a dozen different points of view, exploring themes of justice, crime, and the dark side of the early internet era[1].
Writing Process: Maremaa wrote the novel spontaneously, without an outline or notes, allowing the characters and story to develop organically. He completed the book in about six months, having started it around a year and a half ago[1].
Inspiration: The idea for the book came to Maremaa unexpectedly while he was working on another novel. He felt compelled to give voice to the characters and story that suddenly emerged in his mind[1].
Characters: While the Renaissance Michelangelo is based on historical accounts, the modern Michelangelo character is a composite inspired by people Maremaa grew up with and learned from[1].
Target Audience: Maremaa envisions the book appealing to readers of all ages, particularly those familiar with New York and Florence, Italy[1].
The novel blends historical fiction with contemporary crime drama, exploring parallel lives across centuries through an innovative narrative structure.
Citations:
[1] https://www.theindieview.com/2024/09/15/bookview-with-tom-marernaa-author-of-i-michelangelo/
[2] https://awesomegang.com/tom-maremaa-2/
[3] https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/irving-jean-eds-stone/i-michelangelo-sculptor-an-autobiography-throug/
[4] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2231820.I_Michelangelo_Sculptor
[5] https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2231820.I_Michelangelo_Sculptor
[6] https://holdthatthought.wustl.edu/news/many-lives-michelangelo
[7] https://compulsivereader.com/2020/12/12/an-interview-with-tom-maremaa-author-of-man-on-the-isle-of-jura/
[8] https://compulsivereader.com/2022/12/08/an-interview-with-tom-maremaa-2/
What literary techniques does Tom Maremaa employ in his fictional work?
Tom Maremaa uses various literary techniques to convey the emotions of his characters. He employs concrete actions and behavior, allowing characters' choices and actions to reflect their emotional states. Body language and facial expressions are also crucial, providing non-verbal cues about characters' feelings. Maremaa often uses multiple points of view to explore different emotional perspectives, enriching the narrative with diverse emotional insights. These techniques help create a vivid emotional landscape, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters' experiences.
Who is Tom Maremaa, the novelist?
Tom Maremaa is a novelist and software engineer living in Silicon Valley, California. Here are some key details about him as a novelist:
Background and Career:
- He has authored 18 novels and novellas, as well as some non-fiction technical works and plays[1].
- He wrote his first novel at age 14 as a middle school assignment[1].
- In addition to writing, he works full-time as a software engineer and technical writer in Silicon Valley[1].
Writing Style and Influences:
- His writing spans both technical and creative realms, which he describes as using both the "right-brain" and "left-brain"[1].
- Major literary influences include Orhan Pamuk, Roberto Bolaño, J.M. Coetzee, James Joyce, Thomas Pynchon, Vladimir Nabokov, John Barth, and Ken Kesey[1].
- He says he cannot write genre fiction, preferring to let his characters drive original stories[2].
Notable Works:
- His latest novel is titled "I, Michelangelo"[1].
- Other works include "Man on the Isle of Jura", "Of Gods, Royals and Superman", "Metal Heads", and "Reykjavik"[2][3].
- "Man on the Isle of Jura" features George Orwell as a character and explores themes related to Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four"[2].
Writing Philosophy:
- He advises new authors to "Read madly when you have a chance all the works of the masters" but then to "let go of those masters" and "Write to discover"[1].
- Maremaa believes in allowing characters to propel stories forward and make their own choices[2].
- He states that "Passion always dictates form" when it comes to his writing process[2].
Tom Maremaa combines his technical background with creative storytelling, producing literary fiction that often explores political and social themes through imaginative narratives.
Citations:
[1] https://awesomegang.com/tom-maremaa-2/
[2] https://compulsivereader.com/2020/12/12/an-interview-with-tom-maremaa-author-of-man-on-the-isle-of-jura/
[3] https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/652947.Tom_Maremaa
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-maremaa-0b417017b
[5] https://www.tommaremaa.com/about-1
[6] https://compulsivereader.com/2022/12/08/an-interview-with-tom-maremaa-2/
[7] https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002BLR27U/about
[8] https://www.theindieview.com/2024/09/15/bookview-with-tom-marernaa-author-of-i-michelangelo/
This is how I'm defined by perplexity.ai, which has tapped into these sources and recombined the information:
Tom Maremaa is a writer, coder, and storyteller based in Silicon Valley, California. He has authored 18 novels and novellas, along with non-fiction works and plays[1][3]. Maremaa began writing at a young age and has a diverse career that includes journalism and software development[1]. His notable works include "I, Michelangelo" and "Metal Heads," the latter of which was nominated by the American Library Association as a Notable Book of 2009[3]. Maremaa also works as a software engineer and technical writer, producing documentation for major tech companies[4].
Sources
[1] Tom Maremaa - Awesome Gang https://awesomegang.com/tom-maremaa-2/
[2] Tom Maremaa - Awesome Gang https://awesomegang.com/tom-maremaa/
[3] Tom Maremaa https://www.tommaremaa.com
[4] Tom Maremaa - Principal Technical Writer - Cardlytics | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-maremaa-0b417017b
[5] Bookview with Tom Marernaa, author of I, Michelangelo | https://www.theindieview.com/2024/09/15/bookview-with-tom-marernaa-author-of-i-michelangelo/
[6] About - Blog - Tom Maremaa https://www.tommaremaa.com/about-1
[7] Tom Maremaa on LinkedIn: Chrome and Punishment|eBook https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tom-maremaa-0b417017b_chrome-and-punishmentebook-activity-6984288915499229184-Oto_
[8] Blog - Tom Maremaa https://heptagon-jellyfish-nsab.squarespace.com/new-page-1