Tech analyst, AI & the web
I founded the tech blog ReadWriteWeb in April 2003 and ran it until October 2012. During my time running the business, it was well known for its cutting edge content (“What’s next on the Web”) and its influential global audience. At its peak, RWW was ranked among the top ten blogs in the world by Technorati.
This category contains all of the articles I personally wrote for RWW, now archived on ricmac.org for easier browsing and search. If you’d like to explore the original context, you can also view a year-by-year archive with links to the Wayback Machine
I’ve released the 0.9 version of my Nanowrimo novel, which I wrote in 27 days during November 2003. Apparently there were 3680 people all over the world crazy enough to successfully complete the Nanowrimo contest in 2003. So here’s my effort: Dirtside to Spaceside (PDF – 344KB) Shortly I will begin to write some thoughts … Read more
I’ve published my Nanowrimo novel on Read/Write Web as an HTML file. The PDF version will have to wait till Monday. I tried to use the Adobe Online Conversion service, but I couldn’t get the file size under 600KB for some reason (which is odd because the Word file is only 350KB). So I’ll use … Read more
50,060 words. Completed in 27 days. The new name of my novel is: Dirt-side to Space-side. This is a NASA term for the Interplanetary Internet. I’ll post a PDF version of my novel in the next day or two (once I correct the spelling mistakes). Looks like I’m the second Nanowrimo winner from Wellington, New … Read more
The penultimate day. 48,011 words (ch. 54 onwards). One more night’s writing to go. I think I’m bringing together all the threads in time. I can’t wait to finish now, although I’ll probably miss it once I am finished. But I won’t miss the late nights and early mornings. It’s 1am as I write this. … Read more
November 25, 2003 46,253 words. Here’s the latest (chapter 49 onwards). Two more nights to go and I’ll be finished. Yesterday was quite difficult and I wasn’t satisfied with my writing. I couldn’t get in The Zone. No flow mojo. Thankfully today was easier and I was back in rhythm. I even went back and … Read more
42,448 words – nearly 85% done. The end of chapter 46 is here, then I started a new page for chapter 47 onwards. While walking in the local park today, feeding the ducks on a lovely sunny breezy Sunday with my wife and two-year old daughter, I had some ideas for the ending of my … Read more
Saturday morning as I write this. I will have more words to contribute later this weekend, but for now I’m at 39,564 words. Here’s the latest (ch. 44 onwards). Originally published on ReadWriteWeb (archived copy)
36,119 words. Here’s the latest (ch.42 onwards). I’d be interested to know if anyone is reading this and if so, what are your thoughts. I don’t have much time to respond to your comments, but I do appreciate them. Originally published on ReadWriteWeb (archived copy)
34,094 words. The latest is here. Yesterday and today was spent writing a long chapter 41, where the main character Declan is inserted into a virtual world as an avatar. I surprised myself with some William Burroughs-like imagery to descibe the virtual world. It’s likely to need some tidying up when I finally get a … Read more
30,125 words. Chapter 37 onwards. Two weeks to go, at 10,000 words per week. I feel I’m on the home straight! Originally published on ReadWriteWeb (archived copy)
November 15, 2003 27,563 words. Here’s the latest (ch. 34 onwards). I’m hoping to reach the 30,000 mark by end of tomorrow. That will give me a nice round figure to aim for of 10,000 words per week for the final two weeks. I’m enjoying having two storylines intertwining now. On the one hand, Declan … Read more
24,662 words – virtually 50% finished. Tonight’s words are chapter 32 onwards. Today was quite productive. The new storyline has energized me and is taking the overall story in an interesting direction. I’ll be taking a day off tomorrow. Fridays have been declared rest days by my wife, which is fair enough. Originally published on … Read more
22,009 words – hanging in there (see ch. 31 onwards). Decided to introduce a sub-plot, to liven things up. It’s about a Silicon Valley graphics designer named Dave Darwin, who has just started a social software company. The themes of avatars and social software which I’m introducing here will eventually merge with Declan Atomz’s world … Read more
Man *what* a struggle, 20,059 words – here they are (ch. 28 onwards for today). But I’m not that happy with tonight’s words. I think the quality is not great. I had to interupt my writing a couple of times. Bah! Hopefully tomorrow is better. Well, later today – as it’s now after 12am. Need … Read more
18,297 words, here’s the latest. I’ve also added it to the menu. Still on track, but I didn’t get much done in the weekend. I was zonked out with the flu on Friday and Sat, watched the rugby on Saterday night (ABs through to semi against aussie), then went to The Matrix Revolutions on Sunday … Read more