The Authors Guild is rolling out a "Human Authored" stamp for $10 that authors can use inside their book or on the cover.
First, I'm not knocking the intent.
Despite being quite AI-forward myself, I know there's a growing sect of readers who genuinely want to know a human was behind the stories they read, not a robot.
A totally valid concern.
But here's where this gets sticky:
(and potentially strays close to grifting)
Anyone with a rusty can to rattle on the street corner can afford a $10 digital stamp.
Even if they charged $50, $100, hell, $1,000 for it…
How in Mordor is that proof that a real, breathing human was behind the book?
There’s no screening, no proof required. Nothing of the sort.
Just:
"Pay $10, and you're a human author."
Sorry, Chucks, but that doesn't wash with me or any scribe who possesses two brain cells for a mad scientist to rub together.
Reminds me of that saying we all know:
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck…
IT'S PROBABLY A DUCK.
Such is the case here.
Anywho, on the topic of AI and $10, did you know you can listen to all five heart-thumping hours of Exiled for just $9.99?
Before you turn up your nose, note the following:
• I wrote Exiled with my brain and calloused fingers (I know, rare these days)
• I painstakingly produced this audiobook myself, having paid handsomely to license the voice from a real professional narrator
• Nearly 200,000 people have listened to and lauded it on YouTube alone
But if you don't want to suffer through ads and you'd like to own the audiobook forever, and listen to it on ANY device for half of what a traditional audiobook costs…
Here's where to go:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/exiled
Have a great weekend, Legionnaire.
Stay classy.
DJJW