Don’t let tech intimidate you. Just find a young tutor.

Hello Creative Friend,

If you often feel like the tech is whizzing by your brain so fast that you’ll never learn, tell yourself you are wrong! I am immersed in technology daily, and I, too, get frustrated and overwhelmed by the learning curves. Why do programs update right as we finally get comfortable with them? What ARE algorithms? How much do I NOT know? When someone teases, “Jody, did you now know [whatever],” I respond, “There’s no limit to what I don’t know.” Ha!!!

The inconvenient truth is that information and tech exponentially advance and expand. The convenient truth is that while we can’t “know everything,” we can learn anything.

For example, AI, which stands for artificial intelligence, is freaking lots of folks out right now, especially copywriters. Not this gal, though! I admit I couldn’t grasp the concept, originally. 

Here’s my greatest tech tip. Write this down. 

When you don’t know something, and it’s “high tech” and small font, ask a young person for help. 

I taught KidsU Creative Writing Camp, and I asked the students to teach me how to use AI. We had a great time. The #1 thing you need to know is that how you prompt AI to respond is significantly important. There are countless articles and recently published books to guide you. The #2 thing you need to know is that AI (for now) is free, and you can play with it.

I use ChatGPT AI, which you can try here: ChatGPT (openai.com)

For example, I entered, “Write five sentences that include the literary device alliteration.”

ChatGPT AI confirmed what I wrote, then typed out this in under 2 seconds:

The shimmering sun slowly sank below the serene sea, casting a soothing, silvery sheen across the shore.

In the forest, the fragile ferns flourished, forming a lush, green carpet beneath the towering trees.

The mischievous monkey made a mess, munching on mangoes and making merry in the middle of the market.

The mysterious, moonlit night was filled with murmurs and melodies, as the wind whispered secrets through the willow trees.

The brave knight battled the beast with his gleaming sword, their clash echoing through the cavernous castle corridor.

 When you are doing research for your book, ChatGPT can be a fantastic research tool. 

For example, I typed in the prompt box, “List three ways a cat can help someone who lives alone?”

Here’s what ChatGPT spit out: 

Cats can provide companionship and support to individuals who live alone in various ways. Here are three ways:

• Emotional Support: Cats are known for their ability to provide emotional comfort and companionship. Their presence can help reduce feelings of loneliness and provide a sense of purpose and responsibility to their owners. Petting and interacting with a cat can release feel-good hormones like oxytocin, which can improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

• 
  

• Stress Reduction: Spending time with a cat can be a soothing and calming experience. The act of petting a cat can lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels. The rhythmic purring of a contented cat can have a therapeutic effect, helping their owners relax and unwind after a long day.

• 
  

• Routine and Structure: Owning a cat can establish a daily routine and structure for someone who lives alone. Cats require regular feeding, grooming, and playtime, which can help create a sense of purpose and responsibility. This routine can be especially beneficial for individuals who might otherwise struggle with loneliness or a lack of structure in their daily lives.

Give ChatGPT a try, and if you need help, find a teenager. If you can’t find a teenager, contact me. There are THREE in my house. Obviously, the technology is way more complex that what I’ve illustrated here, but my point is to show that it’s simple, too, and that you can use it. I’ve had ChatGPT write out high-protein menus, create lists of routine housework chores, identify a number of plants found in specific locations, and so on.

 I’d like to thank my client Charles Hargis, Professor Emeritus of The University of Tennessee, for helping to advance my knowledge on AI. Watch for Charles’ upcoming book Easy Readers: From Mabel O’Donnell to OpenAI, which is perfect for parents and teachers who are helping students learn to read. Want to word nerd out? Here’s an article Charles shared with me that you will enjoy reading:)

Xoxoxo

Jody

P.S. I talk to my ChatGPT like it’s a human, old-school secretary, so I named “her” Miss Hathaway in honor of one of my favorite childhood TV shows, The Beverly Hillbillies!

Listen to this. I promise it's worth your time, and it may change your life.

Children so often put big issues and ideas into humble perspective, don't they? Last week after picking Scotty (age 13) up from middle school, I tried to explain the practice of meditation to him. I talked to him about chants and how people touch their "regular" fingers to their thumbs, one at a time, and use mantras to clear their minds or focus on one idea, one goal, one feeling, etc. I used our last name and modeled for him, "D - Y - E - R, D - Y - E - R." I then told him different chants that people use and how I often repeat a Bible verse. After a mini-mama-lecture, I said, "Scotty, this meditation stuff can be confusing. It's an ancient practice from foreign cultures. Do you understand?" 

He said, "Yes ma'am."

I said, "Okay. Try one for me."

Scotty closed his eyes, touched his pinky fingers to his thumbs, and calmly, slowly chanted as he released one finger then touched the next to his thumb for each new word, "Easy - peasy - lemon - squeezy." 

I laughed all - the - way - home.

Scotty reminded me to not take myself too seriously, to laugh, to enjoy teachable moments, and to keep LEARNING. A few days later, I heard an AWESOME podcast episode by Mel Robbins, and I was reminded once again that we overthink many things in life, starting with our dreams.

A small step triggers momentum that leads to more small steps that lead to huge results, like DREAMS come true. Too often, we set enormous, wonderful goals and then look only at the result, which can appear impossible to actualize. Oddly, the words "actualization" and "action" start with the root word "act." To actualize a dream, one must first act, then continue with more action. Good news. Acts can be tiny. Results, again, can be huge. 

If you have a dream like oh, I don't know, writing and publishing a book, making your current project more profitable, or starting a new project, and you are having a hard time moving forward, I beg you to gift yourself one hour and listen to this podcast. I can't promise you won't hear a few "bad words." I CAN promise you'll be inspired to take the next small step toward your awesome, huge goal!

After you listen, I double Beagle dog dare you to set a Next Steps Call with me here: Click to schedule a 30-minute call right on my calendar!

Save that link.

Now, go to Mel Robbins Podcast and listen. For you. If You Only Listen to One Podcast Today, Make It This One I The Mel Robbins Podcast

I KNOW YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO:)))

In 2002, my husband and I decided to have another child. Long, act-filled story later, we welcome Scotty through domestic infant adoption in 2010. Had I looked all at once and fretted over the enormity of what we were trying to achieve. My husband was adopted in 1963, so we are very much aware of and respectful toward the complexities of adoption. I would have given up many times, but someone encouraged us to take the first small action, then our social worker taught us the next, and so on. Eight years after failed and heartbreaking fertility treatments and the arduous adoption process, which includes to this day an inspiring and humbling relationship with Scotty's birth family, we became a family of four. Scotty and his birth family taught me that I can do anything, and I hope I share that spirit with you as we work together to reach your goals.

As Scotty says, the next, small acts are "easy - peasy - lemon - squeazy." 

Listen to the podcast.

Set an appointment with me.

 XOXOXO 

 

Scotty and I hike the Forney Ridge Trail to Andrews Bald. He carried a 2-pound box of taffy (I had no idea). Ha! My current HUGE goal is to hike all 157 trails of the Smokies.

In this photo, Scotty and Jeff celebrate their SHARED birthday, May 13. Jeff's huge goal is to take a month-long vacation across the USA.

Scotty's goal is to become a professional golfer. Big brother Houston's goal is to finish college and either coach high school basketball or be professional golfer Scotty Dyer's caddy!

Publish that book, friend! September is a superb time to start writing or take the next step.

Happy back-to-school season from the Crippled Beagle Publishing team. Now that my sons Houston (21) and Scotty (13) will be at college and middle school, respectively, I have more time to focus on YOU:)))

The team is working hard to streamline processes so that we can finish writing, editing, publishing, and marketing projects more efficiently, and we have lots of exciting tools coming your way.

Speaking of tools, I love school supplies, and I encourage you to take advantage of big back-to-school sales. Load up on pens, paper, ink, notebooks, and other items so you can start or keep writing at a bargain. I usually buy 100 spiral-bound notebooks for 15 cents each at Walmart. Plus, Walmart is a perfect place to people-watch and get character behavior ideas.

Did you know that September is almost as popular a time to start a new project as January is? Did you know that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) starts November 1? In other words, NOW is the time to plan and persevere. 

If you don’t know how to get started or how to take the next step, schedule a Next Steps Call with me. When you do, I’ll send you a Next Steps Questionnaire to help you think through your project and identify spots on the path where you need help. When we talk, I’ll answer your questions and help you figure out your next step to publishing success. 

To schedule a call, visit: https://calendly.com/jodydyer/free-first-consultation

Xoxoxo

Jody

Let's find your path to publishing this fall!