mini-update: more like a mini rant, and to anyone reading this and thinking this is about them ... well ...
I understand being a novice / new writer means you're flexing a few muscles you didn't know you had. Even as a "returning" writer, you'll run into roadblocks looking back at works buried under files and folders. But please - please - for the love of all things holy, stop going to ChatGPT for your prompts.
Stop using AI to suggest chapter ideas, character 'arcs', ending possibilities ... stop! That takes the fun out of writing! That atrophies your muscles! "I'm running out of ideas" NO YOU AREN'T! You haven't flexed that muscle in a long time without a cramp, and now you're faced with it again - flex and cramp, or don't flex and lose it! The cramps are worth it, I promise, please!
I don't know to explain to new writers coming into the hobby that having unfinished projects is okay! Having ideas, but not being able to flesh them out more than a few sentences is okay! Ideas will come and go, passion for fandoms or origonal words will ebb and flow as all things do, and that's okay! Do not let the numbers trap you! Don't jobify your hobby!
I know this won't resonate with too many people but I'm just an old writer looking out at the crop of newbies coming in. You don't need AI. You don't need to feed a non-existent machine. You are an untapped well that has no end. You will find the words. You will find the ideas. You just need to trust in yourself - and stop stepping on your own toes in the meantime.
