Read And Revel

In The Algorithm We Trust just came out! How does it feel? 

Ecstatic and sick to my stomach. I have been working on this novel since late 2019. It has taken on a half dozen different forms. I have dedicated years of my life, thousands of hours, and thousands of dollars. In many ways, this book has evolved with me over the last half-decade.

How did you decide on your title?  

The title is an easy play on ‘in God we trust,’ as in many ways the Algorithm has become their god.

Can you tell me a secret about In The Algorithm We Trust that no one else knows? 

The first iteration of In the Algorithm We Trust is night and day from what it has now become. There is a short story in my collection, The Crumbling of a Nation and Other Stories called A Million Times Over Again. It is about two souls who make up a soulmate. After being torn apart and abandoned on Earth, human beings evolved into existence, and souls would latch onto human beings, using them to reunite with their mates. 

In the original writing of In the Algorithm We Trust, we travel with these soulmates throughout history. As society and technology continue to advance, it becomes harder for the souls to reunite. Algorithmic Times, as it is called in the book, becomes their most difficult challenge yet.

That is no longer what the book is about.

How did you know that you wanted to write in this genre?

I’ve always loved dystopian literature. Even as a high school student, 1984 was my favorite book. I didn’t start writing in dystopian literature, however, until I started working on this book. When the world is on fire, dystopian literature feels obvious.

How would you describe this book in 3 words?

We are fucked.

Walk us through your process:

First idea: Do you remember the exact moment that you knew you wanted to write this story?

I cannot remember the initial moment that I wanted to write the story. However, when that moment came, I wrote down a single line in a word document that I did not revisit for another two years. That line, though I can’t remember it exactly, mentioned both the Algorithm and the Love Finder Device (which has since become the Data Gathering Device). Originally, the story was going to be about how the Algorithm helps to find Perfect Matches, but how those “Perfect Matches” actually prevented you from finding your real perfect match. But as the world grew darker, as did my mind, as did my story.

Do you start with the character or plot first?

I am very much world first when it comes to writing. I create the world, then search for the characters that best help to tell the story I want to tell. When it comes to In the Algorithm we Trust, I cycled through at least three main characters that I can think of before landing on Hugo. 

What is your method to outlining? 

I am not much of an outliner. I typically spend A LOT of time just thinking about the story and running scenarios around in my mind. I am trying to teach myself to outline for my next novel. It is not going well.

The Process: What is your writing routine?

I usually spend an hour or two in my office each day after working, trying to write. It doesn’t always go well. Sometimes I just sit and stare.

What tech do you like to use? How do you set your environment up for writing?

It’s just me, my laptop, and Scrivener. I prefer to write in my office, surrounded by shelves of books. Sometimes I’ll put music on in the background, depending on my mood. Lately, I’ve been playing a lot of Jim Croce.

Did you pull inspiration for your book from any real life experiences? 

It depends on what I am writing. If I bring real-life experiences into books, I like to be extra meta about it. 

Write what you know – what does that mean to you?

For me, it means more so write about the things that you care about, the things you are passionate about. When I was younger, I thought it was much more literal–so all I wrote about were depressed, failed writers.

What do you think your readers will take from your writing?

I have been wrestling with this a lot lately. I think a lot of my work so far just states over and over again that the world is a fucked up place. At this point, a lot of people are already aware of this. I want my next work to really focus on how to get out of this.

What motivates you to keep writing?

The possibility of being a part of making the world a  better place. I’m aware of my skillsets, my abilities, etc., and therefore I know I am not going to be the one to make the needed changes of this world—but maybe my writing, my stories can help to inspire the person whose skillsets are more suitable. 

Post writing: Why did you decided to go this way in publishing vs another?

I decided to self-publish this book because I felt like it was important to get into the world today, rather than in a year or two, which would be more reasonable with traditional publishing. The biggest warning my book provides is that of the way algorithms can be used to manipulate and indoctrinate. Today, this administration is showing they are more than willing to do exactly this. Palantir is growing more and more influential, especially with JD Vance being in Peter Thiel’s back pocket. TikTok has been completely influenced by this administration, along with Instagram and so many others. It felt like waiting another year or two would be too late.

What has been community (or online community) involvement in publishing and promoting?

I am constantly promoting my book online–annoyingly so. Sometimes I feel like a spammer–”Hey have you heard of my book yet?” But we live in a time where it has never been easier to reach millions.

What comes next for you?

Hopefully, another book. And then another. And then another. And so on and so forth, until I die or run out of ideas.

About your writing life: 

How many book have you written, including those that weren’t published (or haven’t been yet)?

Oh, gosh. I have self-published five collections of poems, short stories, essays, etc. This will be my first novel to be published. I have written three unpublished novels and an unpublished memoir. I also wrote a screenplay. So…a lot.

Why do you write?

I started writing as therapy, then I fell in love with the art.

When did you realize you wanted to become an author?

I knew I loved writing when I was in high school, but I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to write. I didn’t start writing fiction seriously until I was 22.

What is the secret to being an author?

Being okay with nobody ever reading anything you ever write. Readers are just a bonus.

What is the hardest part about being an author?

Same answer as before.

What would you tell a brand new writer?

If you think you could live your life just fine without ever writing again, then do that. If you’d still be writing if nobody ever read a word just because you love writing that much, then you’ve already got everything you need. Just keep writing, submitting, sharing, etc. And remember: readers are just a bonus.

How do you tackle diversity and inclusion in your work?

I believe diversity and inclusion are seamless parts of the world, and they should be seamless in your work, as well. For that reason, I don’t necessarily make it obvious that the diversity is even there. For example, in In the Algorithm We Trust, Hugo Rodríguez is Mexican and Lamar T. Haddington is black; there are gay characters throughout, but I don’t necessarily point that out. There are clues in their descriptions, but I don’t think it is necessary to describe them as such.

Are books still relevant in the modern world?

With social media muddying the waters of reality and fiction, I believe books are more important than ever before. 

What is your favorite quote from another author?

“So it goes.” –Kurt Vonnegut.

What authors or books have inspired your writing journey?

George Orwell, Kurt Vonnegut, Ray Bradbury. Also: Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, William Saroyan, and John Steinbeck.

What book made you fall in love with reading?

As a young kid, I read every baseball book written by Matt Christopher and the (Baseball Players) & Me series by Dan Gutman.

What are you reading at the moment?

My brain has been broken for years, making it hard to focus on one book at a time. So with that being said, I am currently reading The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman, and a few short story collections.

If you could have coffee with any author dead or alive who would it be?

It would probably be George Orwell or James Baldwin. I would love to figure out more about the accusations against Orwell that really murk his name–I find them very difficult to believe in comparison to the person he appears to be through his writing. As for Baldwin, he is a genius and would love to pick his mind not only about the Civil Rights Movement, but how he would go about these similar issues in modern day America.

What’s something you’ve learned from researching for this book?

How deep the algorithmic influence is already on humanity, and how much the rise in artificial intelligence has the potential to make it much, much worse. 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to Google for a book?

God, so many things. Unfortunately, none of those weird things are coming to mind right now. 

If you could spend a month writing anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Galway, Ireland. GOALS.

Something you really want to write about is?

The Great Library of Alexandria.I am fascinated by the idea of this library in ancient times that aspired to hold every book in existence. A singular building where all of the world’s greatest minds studied and philosophized. 

Reality vs fiction – is art really crazier than life?

Nah, reality is pretty fucking weird. Like, you’re really about to vote for that rapist…again? You’re okay with a genocide because they’re…brown? What is wrong with you people?

Cats or dogs? 

Dogs.

Coffee or tea? 

Coffee.

Physical book or e-book? 

Physical.

Thank you to Ryan David Ginsberg for the opportunity to interview you!

If you’re interested in getting a copy of In the Algorithm we Trust or any of his other work you can find it here. You can find Ginsberg on TikTok and Instagram @ryandavidginsberg

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