Wendell's Diary

When I first started sharing my ideas with the world, I thought books were the ultimate medium. I wrote twelve of them, pouring my heart, thoughts, and creativity into each one. But after years of frustration and limited reach, I’ve come to realize that blogging is a much more effective and fulfilling way to share knowledge and connect with people. --- The Rigidity of Books Books are inherently rigid. Once they’re written, edited, and published, they’re set in stone. If your ideas evolve or you want to refine your message, there’s little you can do without starting from scratch. Additionally, the burden of constantly advertising and promoting a book can feel exhausting, especially when the audience is hard to reach. For me, this rigidity became a major frustration. My books, many of which were written during a religious phase of my life, no longer reflected who I am or what I believe. I found myself unable to reconcile my growth with the permanence of those works, and they felt like a ...

As someone who transitioned from writing books to writing blog posts, I've found a multitude of benefits in sharing my work online. Here's why I believe authors should consider making the switch. **The Transition to Blogging** My books weren't selling, and nobody was reading them. I wanted my work to be accessible to everyone, so I turned to blogging. This change made my work searchable and available to the entire world. While I'm still not very well-known, my content is public and can help society, unlike books, which remain limited until they become public domain—a long time after the author's death. **Reaching a Wider Audience** Blog posts are part of the Internet, easily accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. Books, on the other hand, take a long time to become part of the Internet. Blogs allow your work to be public to the entire world, instead of being private to whoever decides to buy it. **Overcoming Challenges** Writing books requires sticking to...

With the rapid advancements in AI technology, it's natural to wonder if tools like ChatGPT will render traditional formats like audiobooks obsolete. While AI offers incredible convenience and interactivity, there are several factors to consider about the future of audiobooks. **Narration and Performance** AI is getting remarkably good at generating realistic voices and performances. In the future, AI might fully replace human voice actors by creating character voices that are indistinguishable from, or even better than, human narrations. However, the unique authenticity and emotional connection that human narrators bring might still hold value, as the subtle nuances in a human voice can add depth to the storytelling experience. **Multitasking** Audiobooks are perfect for passive activities like driving, exercising, or doing household chores. However, as AI evolves, we may see a shift towards more interactive and engaging experiences. People might prefer interacting with AI as their...

My journey as a writer began in the most unexpected way. I became homeless and found myself living in the wilderness, with nothing to do and no one to talk to. To pass the time, I started writing. I wrote extensively, pouring my thoughts and feelings onto the page. Eventually, I decided to compile these writings into books. Over a period of ten years, I wrote twelve books. It was a way to make use of my time and express my creativity while grappling with loneliness. However, publishing books was far from rewarding. The main challenges were the formatting requirements. I needed a Windows computer, had to use Word to export PDFs, and ensure everything looked perfect. It was a nightmare, and nothing ever looked exactly right. Over twelve years, I sold about $100 worth of books. The frustration of dealing with these challenges and the lack of reward made writing books a daunting experience. At some point, I got so frustrated with books that I stopped writing completely and focused on makin...