There is a contentious thing happening in the writing world here in 2026. I’ve touched on it a few times here. It’s all over publishing newsletters and podcasts. And if you happen to be a Draft2Digital user, you know it has caused them to introduce fees for the first time in their history.
AI is taking over publishing.
My stance hasn’t changed. I use AI for brainstorming. To help me with revisions. For many of the behind-the-scenes stuff that would bore you. But never for the actual writing. That’s a very clear line I have drawn in the sand that I will absolutely not cross.
A few years ago, I used Google’s AI-narration to produce an audiobook for Seeing Red*. Then when Findaway Voices (now InAudio) allowed the Google narration on their platform, I uploaded the files there as well.
Last week, as I write this, I uploaded a replacement.
Introducing AI-Darren Blake, a voice clone I created via ElevenLabs using clips from my “Write a Novel in 30 Days” podcast from 2019. Currently available on Spotify and hopefully soon to the other platforms via InAudio, it’s the audio version that is the closest to what would have happened had I allowed human narration for the book. (i.e., the only way it would have gotten a human narrator was if I had narrated it myself.)
(The Google narration will remain on Google Play.)
This has been a fun experience, first the actual creation of the clone and then allowing it to narrate the book. I used Joanna Penn’s Patreon tutorial on using ElevenLabs to “direct” the narration.
I’m used to hearing my own voice. Having done podcasts on and off for four years back in the 2007 era and then doing the daily one in 2019, I don’t get that cringing sensation so many people do when they hear their own voice in a recording. However, I will admit it was a bit surreal hearing words I wrote but didn’t speak aloud coming back to my ears in my voice.
During a Gaming Groupies Writers’ Club session a few weeks ago, I played a sample chapter to the group. (Group of two others.) One knew I had been playing with a voice clone, the other had not. Kalen, whom I had been talking to about it before the other showed up, said there were little tells that told him it wasn’t me. However, the one who had not known thought I was narrating my own book. ElevenLabs is that good.
The audio file embedded/attached to this blog entry is a sample of my voice clone reading an excerpt from last month’s blog entry, if you’d like to hear what it sounds like.
And for a comparison, please feel free to download any episode of the podcast here on this website. (Here’s a link to my favorite if you need a suggestion.)
Then, if you’re interested at all in hearing the updated audiobook and you have access to Spotify Premium (and its included 15 hours of audiobook listens), I have you covered there, too.
WRITING REVISING IN PUBLIC
No major progress on the Best Enemies Forever revision. For some reason I’m resistant to re-reading the original version to find out where the old can be excised and the newer stuff can go in.
I have a very specific issue that I don’t want to detail here (Spoilers, Sweetie) — but is hanging me up on where to go from where I am. The blueprint that my AI editor has given me will be most useful once I’ve figured out how to “unhang” the hang-up.
Wheels are turning, though.
WRAPPING UP
There has also been nothing earth-shaking in our gaming world. We’ve been down a member all month, and last week we remaining three didn’t even play. Just talked. Which isn’t bad… but not conducive to having gaming news.
But what progress has been made in the realm of my writing life has been good progress, I think. To quote the blog entry title from the Google AI announcement… I “got a thing done.”
That’s not too shabby.
I hope you get some things done in your hobbyist life. Things that make you proud. Things that make you happy.
And share them with the world.
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