Well, I'm not sure what happened, but I did not receive the email about this weeks SPAWN but at least I know where it lives.
Its been a bit hectic week here as I am ramping up for the annual Princess cruises 3 Day Sale, so there is lots of conversations to have. And in case you are curious, not all the best deals are on sale. I just booked a fantastic cruise from Vancouver to Auckland next year and we are looking forward to staying with our son after the cruise for a week or so. (He's moving to Auckland in November).
Anyway, on to the questions:
1. Amazing food - where do I even begin? My mom's strawberry-rhubarb pie and apple crisp. Decadent pear-shaped cheesecake in Ponta Delagada, Black forest cake in Germany, hot dogs in Iceland, (Yes, really), and various seafood and steak in Australia. In Scotland, it has to be whiskey, now that I found one I like!
2. I haven't really thought of having my books talk back to me but I do know it is a challenge to get those conversations out of my head and onto the paper without loosing the words or flow. I guess that's what multiple edits are for.
3. Reply rules - I guess that would imply that you get enough comments to warrant categorizing them 🤣
In other news, my husband is almost fully healed from his bike accident and has started some physio and I am still plugging away at edits/adding stuff for my travel memoir.
Hi Laura!!! Well spotted! I didn’t email it out this week as I had two challenges back to back and thought everyone knows we’re here on Thursdays. Thought I’d give your inbox a break. Sorry to hear about your husband’s bike accident and glad he’s on the mend.
Rhubarb and strawberry pie? Am in the middle of rhubarb jam making so am very keen to hear about this rhubarb pie. Rhubarb fascinated me. Can’t explain it.
Only 4 stops on a cruise from Vancouver to Auckland? Hawaii would have to be one of them, yeah? Is the ship too big to stop at some of the island chains?
I can't wait. But my husband is not much of a cruiser. He says he doesn't like the whole excursion thing—too rushed, too many people, etc. So hopefully this longer one will be better for him. Only 4 ports.
Yeah I noticed too the lack of an email this week. I'm so used to seeing the SPAWN email come in like clockwork on Thursday. It's a nice way to mark the passage of time. Anyways, I thank you for restacking the post, so I can see the prompts.
I imagine the cruise from Vancouver to Auckland will be nice. Have you been to New Zealand before?
Sorry for missing the Late Night train… it didn’t click that I missed this until this morning and I’m like wait, where is it? Only a day behind I guess. The collaboration is still open if anyone wants to participate in it (and happens to see this, given I’m a day late to the party). Many thanks to both Chris and Writer Pilgrim for writing something!
Onto the questions:
1). A memory of an amazing food you’ve eaten and the taste is still vivid in your mind. It could be your grandma’s apple pie, or mum’s meatballs, or a tarte de citron you had in Paris. Share where, what and who with.
This morning, I am missing the 49ers pancakes from The House of Pancakes chain in Southern California. Very simple thing crepe like things, to which you spread on butter and let it swim in real maple syrup. Soo good.
2). Have you thought of treating your book or the writing project you’re on as an entity that has it’s own soul, mind and someone you can converse with? If so, how does that convo go. If not, is this too much woo-woo or will you try it out and let us know how that’s working out for your writing?
I think about my book a lot … but I get “niggles” if something is on the wrong track, but Panawr from “Obsidian and Flame” actually started berating me for the original ending. It ballooned from 7 parts to 20 parts as a result and I need to have another season of it to wrap up their story.
3). Have you used the Reply Rules Substack has set up? What do you make of it?
I need to go check to see if it’s activated, because I did report Emma Horsedick (was anyone else here affected by that?) for spam last year and apparently once you report spam in a comment or note, it’s turned on. But given that was so long ago, I doubt that it is. There are also some exceptions to the rule as well, so it’s worth giving the support article a peek. I’m entering my fourth year in this long serial fiction story, and so far, aside from Ms. Emma, I have not had any issues. I do block and mute people on Notes, however. I think it’ll help prevent some of the abuse I’ve heard about happening to people here, although as it doesn’t seem to cover DMs, perhaps not entirely.
Ahh, Emma Horsedick. I somehow missed all that going on, but I've heard a lot about it. Speaking of spam and bots, though, I remember getting very excited about a year ago when I discovered I'd gained about 30 subscribers overnight. Sadly, it was all bots and they got removed shortly afterwards! Haha... 😎
The second was a quick bit of Flash Fiction, featuring some pirates, for the 'Upon Our Seas, In Our Skies' project being run by regular SPAWN participant, Leanne. You can find that here: https://chrisjfranklin.substack.com/p/the-gifted
Anyway, on to the questions... What's the most amazing food you've ever tasted? Probably my grandmother's cakes, for sure. But outside of that, I think you're right, Paris is definitely the one for culinary experiences. Especially an authentic pain au chocolat fresh from the boulangerie. They're absolutely delicious!
Have you thought of treating your book or other projects like an entity you can converse with? That's definitely a great way to ensure the dialogue is authentic. It needs to work spoken aloud. So interacting with the characters, or perhaps more accurately inhabiting them, can help you get a feel for who they are, and how they'd respond to the world around them. But I think every project does have its own soul, for sure, and its own unique personality, that it slowly reveals during the writing process.
Have you used the Reply Rules system yet? I just saw that Post today, yes. I think the word 'rules' can be off-putting to people, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel stifled or like they can't express themselves the way they want to. I'm not really having any issues with things I need to take down or block, and from what I've seen across the site in general, most people aren't being offensive on here and just want to enjoy writing, and the content of other writers. So there doesn't really seem to be any need to impose rules. For now. Haha! 😎
I was wondering just now if the reply rules are a way for ai to anticipate the future responses and have them ready. Interaction is one of the key elements of Substack. I hope my prediction is wrong.
Tell us more details about your grandma’s cakes. Flavours, layers and occasions she’d make them.
It’s been too long but I got you a star themed haiku. So glad to hear you contributed to Leanne’s challenge.
AI is a key part of it, for sure. I did notice it said you can turn on 'automation' based on the rules and let it deal with things on its own. I guess that means hiding things, or deleting them, or possibly answering on your behalf. I definitely wouldn't want it making decisions for me, and I don't think most people would on here. Although, I guess very large accounts who are getting lots of spam and self-promotion may find it useful as an automatic filter to save time. My grandmother's cakes made an appearance at most family occasions. Usually on Sundays, when we all met for lunch, and of course, at Christmas. I think I mentioned before she had to start weeks in advance to make the festive cakes and puddings, so everything could mature and so on. But she was pretty much always making something. And it was all fantastic. And yes, I really enjoyed putting something together for the 'Upon Our Seas, In Our Skies' project. It's always fun to explore new prompts, and see where they'll end up taking you. And thanks for your contribution to this week's 'House of Haiku'... 😎
Hello Everyone,
Well, I'm not sure what happened, but I did not receive the email about this weeks SPAWN but at least I know where it lives.
Its been a bit hectic week here as I am ramping up for the annual Princess cruises 3 Day Sale, so there is lots of conversations to have. And in case you are curious, not all the best deals are on sale. I just booked a fantastic cruise from Vancouver to Auckland next year and we are looking forward to staying with our son after the cruise for a week or so. (He's moving to Auckland in November).
Anyway, on to the questions:
1. Amazing food - where do I even begin? My mom's strawberry-rhubarb pie and apple crisp. Decadent pear-shaped cheesecake in Ponta Delagada, Black forest cake in Germany, hot dogs in Iceland, (Yes, really), and various seafood and steak in Australia. In Scotland, it has to be whiskey, now that I found one I like!
2. I haven't really thought of having my books talk back to me but I do know it is a challenge to get those conversations out of my head and onto the paper without loosing the words or flow. I guess that's what multiple edits are for.
3. Reply rules - I guess that would imply that you get enough comments to warrant categorizing them 🤣
In other news, my husband is almost fully healed from his bike accident and has started some physio and I am still plugging away at edits/adding stuff for my travel memoir.
I look forward to reading the other comments.
Hi Laura!!! Well spotted! I didn’t email it out this week as I had two challenges back to back and thought everyone knows we’re here on Thursdays. Thought I’d give your inbox a break. Sorry to hear about your husband’s bike accident and glad he’s on the mend.
Rhubarb and strawberry pie? Am in the middle of rhubarb jam making so am very keen to hear about this rhubarb pie. Rhubarb fascinated me. Can’t explain it.
Yeah, I love rhubarb, but only after it is cut young. Once it goes to seed, I'm done and won't touch it. It just creeps me out at that point!
Only 4 stops on a cruise from Vancouver to Auckland? Hawaii would have to be one of them, yeah? Is the ship too big to stop at some of the island chains?
LA, Honolulu, Kona, Tahiti, Mo'rea OK 5 stops. Lots of sea days.
Lots and lots of sea days! 30 days at sea?
24 days total, about 18 sea days, with longest stretch being 7 days.
My hubby and I did 34 days from San Diego to Sydney. More ports which is probably why it took us longer. It didn’t feel rushed at all!
Yeah, it should be fun and relaxed. We chose to go as an alternative to get to Auckland. In the future, we will take tge "cheaper" flights.
At least you spotted it faster than I did, Laura! I came back to look for it this morning!
Ahh, that sounds lovely. Cruises are such a relaxing way to travel... 😎👍
I can't wait. But my husband is not much of a cruiser. He says he doesn't like the whole excursion thing—too rushed, too many people, etc. So hopefully this longer one will be better for him. Only 4 ports.
Hello Laura!
Yeah I noticed too the lack of an email this week. I'm so used to seeing the SPAWN email come in like clockwork on Thursday. It's a nice way to mark the passage of time. Anyways, I thank you for restacking the post, so I can see the prompts.
I imagine the cruise from Vancouver to Auckland will be nice. Have you been to New Zealand before?
Yes, I have been to NZ before—but its been 40 years. I suspect with my son moving there, the visits will be more frequent.
Sorry for missing the Late Night train… it didn’t click that I missed this until this morning and I’m like wait, where is it? Only a day behind I guess. The collaboration is still open if anyone wants to participate in it (and happens to see this, given I’m a day late to the party). Many thanks to both Chris and Writer Pilgrim for writing something!
Onto the questions:
1). A memory of an amazing food you’ve eaten and the taste is still vivid in your mind. It could be your grandma’s apple pie, or mum’s meatballs, or a tarte de citron you had in Paris. Share where, what and who with.
This morning, I am missing the 49ers pancakes from The House of Pancakes chain in Southern California. Very simple thing crepe like things, to which you spread on butter and let it swim in real maple syrup. Soo good.
2). Have you thought of treating your book or the writing project you’re on as an entity that has it’s own soul, mind and someone you can converse with? If so, how does that convo go. If not, is this too much woo-woo or will you try it out and let us know how that’s working out for your writing?
I think about my book a lot … but I get “niggles” if something is on the wrong track, but Panawr from “Obsidian and Flame” actually started berating me for the original ending. It ballooned from 7 parts to 20 parts as a result and I need to have another season of it to wrap up their story.
3). Have you used the Reply Rules Substack has set up? What do you make of it?
I need to go check to see if it’s activated, because I did report Emma Horsedick (was anyone else here affected by that?) for spam last year and apparently once you report spam in a comment or note, it’s turned on. But given that was so long ago, I doubt that it is. There are also some exceptions to the rule as well, so it’s worth giving the support article a peek. I’m entering my fourth year in this long serial fiction story, and so far, aside from Ms. Emma, I have not had any issues. I do block and mute people on Notes, however. I think it’ll help prevent some of the abuse I’ve heard about happening to people here, although as it doesn’t seem to cover DMs, perhaps not entirely.
Ahh, Emma Horsedick. I somehow missed all that going on, but I've heard a lot about it. Speaking of spam and bots, though, I remember getting very excited about a year ago when I discovered I'd gained about 30 subscribers overnight. Sadly, it was all bots and they got removed shortly afterwards! Haha... 😎
Hi everyone!
Happy Thursday to you all!
So this week, over at 'Tales of the Zeitgeist', I managed to get a Post up three days in a row! Yay!
The first was the May edition of 'Haiku Highlights', showcasing some of the contributions that were submitted to the 'House of Haiku' last month. You can find that here: https://chrisjfranklin.substack.com/p/haiku-highlights-may-2026
The second was a quick bit of Flash Fiction, featuring some pirates, for the 'Upon Our Seas, In Our Skies' project being run by regular SPAWN participant, Leanne. You can find that here: https://chrisjfranklin.substack.com/p/the-gifted
And the third was, of course, this week's new Haiku Prompt, which is all about 'stars'. You can find that here: https://chrisjfranklin.substack.com/p/house-of-haiku-prompt-stars
Anyway, on to the questions... What's the most amazing food you've ever tasted? Probably my grandmother's cakes, for sure. But outside of that, I think you're right, Paris is definitely the one for culinary experiences. Especially an authentic pain au chocolat fresh from the boulangerie. They're absolutely delicious!
Have you thought of treating your book or other projects like an entity you can converse with? That's definitely a great way to ensure the dialogue is authentic. It needs to work spoken aloud. So interacting with the characters, or perhaps more accurately inhabiting them, can help you get a feel for who they are, and how they'd respond to the world around them. But I think every project does have its own soul, for sure, and its own unique personality, that it slowly reveals during the writing process.
Have you used the Reply Rules system yet? I just saw that Post today, yes. I think the word 'rules' can be off-putting to people, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel stifled or like they can't express themselves the way they want to. I'm not really having any issues with things I need to take down or block, and from what I've seen across the site in general, most people aren't being offensive on here and just want to enjoy writing, and the content of other writers. So there doesn't really seem to be any need to impose rules. For now. Haha! 😎
I was wondering just now if the reply rules are a way for ai to anticipate the future responses and have them ready. Interaction is one of the key elements of Substack. I hope my prediction is wrong.
Tell us more details about your grandma’s cakes. Flavours, layers and occasions she’d make them.
It’s been too long but I got you a star themed haiku. So glad to hear you contributed to Leanne’s challenge.
AI is a key part of it, for sure. I did notice it said you can turn on 'automation' based on the rules and let it deal with things on its own. I guess that means hiding things, or deleting them, or possibly answering on your behalf. I definitely wouldn't want it making decisions for me, and I don't think most people would on here. Although, I guess very large accounts who are getting lots of spam and self-promotion may find it useful as an automatic filter to save time. My grandmother's cakes made an appearance at most family occasions. Usually on Sundays, when we all met for lunch, and of course, at Christmas. I think I mentioned before she had to start weeks in advance to make the festive cakes and puddings, so everything could mature and so on. But she was pretty much always making something. And it was all fantastic. And yes, I really enjoyed putting something together for the 'Upon Our Seas, In Our Skies' project. It's always fun to explore new prompts, and see where they'll end up taking you. And thanks for your contribution to this week's 'House of Haiku'... 😎
It's time once again for... 'Late Night SPAWN'! 🕺😎🕺