Ask the Author: Jose Manic
Answered Questions (6)
Jose Manic
The book comes from a theory developed from research into artificial intelligence. The theory came from an argument I was having with a communist colleague. I was making the traditional point that planned economies like communism, will fail to find and make the things people want and need because you need free-competition to evolve those solutions (they do have to evolve, there are mathematical reasons for that). His response was “Are you sure it’s as simple as that?” And of course, as a researcher in evolutionary processes I knew full well it was not as simple as that. So this led to the only sensible question for me - What would the system look like that actually does evolve the right things for society in an effectively and just way and how could it come about?
Jose Manic
I want to communicate something I think is important. That’s it.
Jose Manic
An article and the serious thesis for the theory in the book as was suggested to me by an economist much smarter than me. There is some necessary detail that is not in the current book.
Jose Manic
I read someone’s advice which I took to heart about where most would-be writers go wrong (I'm afraid I can’t remember who said it). There are three steps. 1. Write (that’s the first place where most writers go wrong) 2. Show it to people to get better (again, often omitted). 3. Keep repeating 1 and 2. It’s glib, I know, but perhaps all you need.
Jose Manic
For the journey it’s in your head. I imagine real writers have a wonderful internal existence, even if tapping away at the kitchen table in your pajamas at five in the morning isn’t the most exciting lifestyle. For the end of that journey it’s just knowing the thing exists. Like all creative output for people who get a kick out of creating, it’s the only thing that really satisfies.
Jose Manic
As a non-fiction writer who includes some fiction and does not even write full time, this is not really a problem. Any time I get to write, when I am not ‘computing’, is a real pleasure. But for fiction parts everyone has tactics I suppose.
For me there is the old one about stopping while you are still going well. Meaning don’t force your way through it when you don’t feel it. That’s the time to do your rewriting or check grammar or go to the pub or whatever.
Then there are the tricks for staying creative which involve refreshing your stock of experiences. For example, I have struggled with female characters, probably because I haven’t known many women. Having said that, in the book the main female character is the one people seem to like best. Perhaps because she is your average interesting person with a touch of the heroic. But I have certainly never met anyone like her. So maybe that’s another useful trick - accept that probably someone or something can spring out of nowhere to help you.
For me there is the old one about stopping while you are still going well. Meaning don’t force your way through it when you don’t feel it. That’s the time to do your rewriting or check grammar or go to the pub or whatever.
Then there are the tricks for staying creative which involve refreshing your stock of experiences. For example, I have struggled with female characters, probably because I haven’t known many women. Having said that, in the book the main female character is the one people seem to like best. Perhaps because she is your average interesting person with a touch of the heroic. But I have certainly never met anyone like her. So maybe that’s another useful trick - accept that probably someone or something can spring out of nowhere to help you.
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