Today I discovered “Dead Internet Theory.” It’s a conspiracy theory that might open the door for human, authentic writing. That’s worth considering no matter whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction like memoirs.
People believe AI can do anything. For example, an Amazon company is using AI to restore the Orson Welles film The Magificent Ambersons. Or at least cobble up the 43 minutes that the studios hacked out of it when test audiences didn’t like Welles movie. Welles was away in South America working for RKO and a US Government agency making a documentary. You won’t see the AI minutes inside a movie. Amazon doesn’t own Ambersons yet.
I believe Dead Internet might trigger a check-plus for fresh, organic writing. I’d love to think so, anyway. We watched a documentary about Paddy Chayevsky last night. Inspiring, all about his writing. (Network is his capstone; three Oscars.) Dead at 58, he smoked ceaselessly and died of pleuresy. He said, “If I have anything to tell young writers, it’s stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work.”
Because there’s a dignity to “work.” Art doesn’t always have dignity, and there’s no amount of long hair that artists can wear that assures dignity.
Maybe organic, artisanal writing can spark extra response, or more of a fan base for stories. I think a good editor, using a Zoom meeting with an author as a resource, can help anyone’s writing sound organic. Fresh and true to their voice. Authentic. I hope that’s worthwhile.
