I didn't follow CO:E33 when it came out, so I totally missed this. It feels like nowadays you really have to research everything for hints of GenAI. Even if it seems like the people behind it wouldn't use it.
I am glad that I found out before buying it, though. Surely won't do that anymore. Thanks!

Still creating, learning those things is what brings me happiness nowadays. The happiness that was lost in the last few years in the professional world.
Basically, just keep creating for yourself, no matter how bad things look. Rant over/9

Besides that, I am also working on an indie game with some friends. There is a bit of hope there that it might help me break out from the bad side of the industry. But the chances of that happening are low. /8

Recently, I picked up drawing again and have been practicing every day, with the goal to one day learn just one more skill to express my world and, in turn, myself better. That brings me joy. Seeing the work of others brings me joy. /7

Even though I am not that good at writing, it is one of the rare things nowadays that brings me joy. Immersing myself in worldbuilding brings me joy. /6

So I put up with it. I don't think I am alone in this. I am sure many others are going through the same issues, feelings. The only thing that stops the despair that is growing within me is creating. By myself, for myself. /5

I don't understand how an artist can go against everything that art stands for. It's tiring, exhausting. If I want to keep doing what I like and get paid for it, I have to accept these things. Looking for a new job in this industry? Might as well declare bankruptcy immediately. /4

At first, I thought that if we were forced to use it, it would come from above. From the producers who don't understand it. No, I was wrong. Where I work, the art lead is the one who decided to integrate that wretched technology. /3

Creative freedom? Unless you manage to break into the indie market, that is almost nowhere to be found. Publishers just use you. They don't work with you. But as if that wasn't enough, generative AI shows up. /2

The famed coffee of ascension!

That is how I started too ^^ Until a friend told me to try writing an outline. But sometimes I still skip that part and just write, which doesn't always work well, and then I go back to writing an outline. 😅

What helped me was writing an outline before starting with chapters. But even that can easily get out of hand. Oh, there is going to be a new location, let's do some worldbuilding for that! New character gets introduced, needs a background story, a new country, and everything is derailed 😅

Completely with you there, only half a decade after working on my setting, I started writing a long-form story for it. And even now it still feels difficult.