I use AI in my writing for precisely the purposes you listed. It's purely an assistant, not a *writer*.
With one small exception: when I hit writer's block, I'll give it a description of what I'm trying to say, and let it generate some prose (based on what I've already written so far). I don't *use* that prose, but it will get me unstuck, because once I have words on the page, I have something to disagree with, and it spurs me on.
I refuse to give up using em- and en-dashes where appropriate, because they are useful and valid elements of punctuation, along with semicolons, ellipses (…), even interrobangs (‽), and the Oxford comma. Just because AI is better at punctuation than most humans doesn't mean there *aren't* some humans who know how punctuation works… 😉
The main problem I have is I love using em dashes and groups of three, especially when writing non fiction (that's how I was taught in all my persuasive writing classes) and I don't doubt I have lots of over used words lol. I guess that makes me an ai bot 🤣
Recently I've used it to tell me what a word is on the tip of my tongue that I can't think of (it's fantastic at that and Google sucks at it). I've also given it a character profile and asked what enneagram it would suit and why, and that was really helpful too rather than me reading through pages of description only to dismiss as not applicable.
And there's a reason why it uses em dashes and groups of three — because they work so well and we love to use them. It was, after all, trained by studying writing by people who do it very well.
To me, the main thing is the overused terms and the way it combines them all the time. That's the first sign. Then, I look for the rest.
Oh dear-no I can’t use my beloved emdash again. A shame.
Interesting post. I don’t use AI for writing, but I use words like „linger“. Maybe I should improve my vocabulary so I don’t sound like ChatGPT.
Didn’t think about asking „from a psychologists view“. On the other hand I thought maybe it should be only my view that counts. Interesting to see the variations of how ai can help. Guess I will need to look at it from this angle at some point. But not today.
The only AI I rely on is either Grammerly or Word Spell Checker. Everything else comes from my tiny little brain. I can search for synonyms, definitions, and everything else without using it. I guess I am one of the hardcore old-timers who hate the new technology.
As a non-native English writer, I use it to find alternatives, check spelling and grammar in small scale; only as one of many tools, and filtering everything through my flawed human brain. For everything else it’s just as you said—lame. An subpar
Interesting take on AI’s role in writing. It has a place as a tool to enhance efficiency and support the writing process, though I agree that, as writers, we need to maintain personal artistic integrity.
So do I. Or, should we choose to use the legitimate tool at our disposal to help us write the actual novel, I believe it would be fair practice to state that, just like you'd be obliged to do for an AI-generated photo.
Really appreciate this post. I think the creative community can get overzealous in some ways with the pushback against AI. Obviously it's understandable, and we should never tolerate AI writing creative copy FOR writers, but I agree that we should remain open to how AI can help us improve workflows and facilitate our ability to create more and better things or even just offload the admin side of the business. I've used it in some of the ways you've described and also some simple image gen stuff to generate unique thumbnails for social media posts that I otherwise wouldn't be able to create/afford. Probably my favorite usage so far has been as an on-demand feedback machine, asking it to act as a writing critic and point out the good and bad of passages that I'm struggling with sorting my feelings out about. It's no replacement for a real writing community, but the instantaneous feedback can be extremely helpful in some circumstances.
I will admit I used CoPilot for the first time this month, basic research for background of my Centaur self. I asked:
"How old would 66 be in horse years?"
The reply was:
When comparing horse age to human age, it's often said that one horse year is roughly equivalent to 2.5 human years. So, a horse that is 66 years old would be equivalent to 66 * 2.5 = 165 human years!
But hold on a second! Most horses don't live that long. A horse reaching 66 years of age would be truly extraordinary. Typically, horses live to be around 25-30 years old. The oldest recorded horse lived to be 62 years old!
So, while it's fun to calculate, a horse actually reaching 66 would be quite the legend! 🐴
Got any more interesting questions or thoughts?
You see it thinks that I'm asking that if the horse is 66 years old, how old would that be in human years, which is not what I asked.
I told CoPilot as an author it was research on how a Centaur would age.
However it did have some interesting insights:
That sounds fascinating! The concept of centaurs—half-human, half-horse beings—has long captivated the imagination. Considering their hybrid nature, let's explore how they might age.
### Centaur Aging Hypothesis
1. **Physical Development:**
- **Horse Half:** Given that horses age faster, it's likely that the equine half would show signs of aging first. By 20-30 years, a centaur's horse half might exhibit similar signs of aging as a typical horse: graying hair, reduced stamina, and joint issues.
- **Human Half:** The human half might follow the typical human aging process, so by age 50-60, it might show signs like wrinkles, reduced muscle mass, and a slower metabolism.
2. **Health Considerations:**
- **Nutrition and Care:** Proper care, including a balanced diet tailored to both human and equine nutritional needs, would be essential. Regular exercise and medical check-ups for both halves would also contribute to longevity.
- **Joint Health:** Given the extra weight carried by their horse half, joint health would be a crucial focus. Supplements and treatments to maintain joint flexibility and strength would be vital.
3. **Life Expectancy:**
- If we consider an average horse's lifespan (25-30 years) and a human's lifespan (70-80 years), a centaur might have a blended lifespan. It could be reasonable to speculate that a centaur's average lifespan might fall somewhere between 40-50 years, assuming they receive excellent care.
4. **Achieving Old Age:**
- **Holistic Approach:** Achieving old age would likely require a holistic approach to health, combining equine and human medical knowledge.
- **Environmental Factors:** Living in a safe, supportive environment with minimal stress and ample space to roam would also contribute to longevity.
It's a unique and imaginative area of research! Anything specific you want to explore further about centaurs or mythical beings?
It then gave me some ideas:
That's exciting! Writing science fantasy gives you the freedom to blend the wonders of science fiction with the magic of fantasy. With centaurs in your story, you can create a fascinating world where biology, technology, and mythology intertwine.
### Ideas for Your Science Fantasy Story
1. **Centaur Society:**
- **Advanced Technology:** How do centaurs integrate technology into their lives? Perhaps they have specialized tools and devices designed for their unique anatomy.
- **Cultural Practices:** Explore the customs, traditions, and rituals of centaur communities. How do they celebrate milestones, like coming of age or achieving old age?
2. **Science Meets Mythology:**
- **Genetic Engineering:** Maybe centaurs are the result of advanced genetic engineering experiments. What ethical dilemmas arise from their creation?
- **Medical Innovations:** Discovering ways to prolong the life of centaurs could involve cutting-edge medical research, blending human and equine medicine.
3. **Epic Quests:**
- **Journey for Longevity:** Perhaps your centaur protagonist embarks on an epic quest to find a mythical artifact or elixir that grants them a longer, healthier life.
- **Inter-species Relations:** How do centaurs interact with other beings, both human and mythical? Explore alliances, conflicts, and collaborations.
4. **Environmental Harmony:**
- **Symbiotic Ecosystems:** In a world where centaurs thrive, how do they maintain balance with nature? Maybe they have a deep connection to the land, using both technological and magical means to protect their environment.
5. **Character Development:**
- **Hybrid Identity:** Dive into the internal struggles of a centaur character navigating their dual nature. How do they reconcile their human intellect with their equine instincts?
- **Aging and Wisdom:** As your centaur character grows older, how do their experiences shape their wisdom and leadership within their community?
I hope these ideas spark your imagination! If you need more inspiration or want to explore a specific aspect of your story, just let me know. Happy writing! 📚✨
So I'm in two minds, because my Microsoft 365 account is being upgraded to include CoPilot. My monthly bill goes up from £5.99 to £8.99, I have found out that it is possible to cancel my subscription and select 365 without CoPilot. That's something they don't tell you in the e-mail, but is in their Cancel Subscription blurb.
I'm not familiar with CoPilot. I actually used to write everything in Word, but have written my last novel in Ulysses, and now decided to switch to Scrivener. It's a bit of a learning curve, but I love love love how it functions as a folder for everything concerning the project.
Ooh I’ve been using AI to a similar extent as you suggested (some basic research, translations of phrases from foreign languages, etc), but man I also naturally write with lots of em-dashes and sets of threes 😂 Definitely something to tidy up in editing lest I get accused of using ChatGPT to write?
You won't be accused of using ChatGTP just because you use em-dashes or sets of three 🙃
It's about a combination of things.
Anyone who uses compound sentences will use em-dashes, and sets of three are the natural way to go in writing and painting. Our mind prefers this, which is why the creators of AI chose this approach. The problem is that ChatGPT overdoes both to the extent that it's become recognizable.
Usually, the first thing I'll notice is the overused terms and the sentence structure. If there are also too many em-dashes, it's a red flag. The novel I mentioned in several comments doesn't use em-dashes, but it's the language that gives it away. I can't imagine myself using "delves" or "intricate" ever again in fiction or on Substack.
I must confess that when I saw the headline my first thought was 'oh no, not again!' For some reason, I click on articles like this, mainly because I'm terrified of AI and probably just want to make myself feel worse for being such a Luddite.
Anyway, I'm glad I read this, it was so comforting and enlightening - one of the most positive and constructive AI-related posts I've seen. I was worried that you'd be talking about using AI itself to write, but those prompts and other tasks are really useful.
Part of my fear with AI is the unknown aspect of it. Also, I don't really know how to use it and I'm worried about all these ChatGPT written novels as you mentioned. I can and can't believe (at the same time) that there are tutorials on this.
I was talking to a friend the other day, he's a huge fan of ChatGPT, basically surviving on it, but thankfully he's not a writer (nor is he much of a reader). But when he started inputting stuff for my future novels, what it produced was, in all honesty, so funny that it got me thinking 'no wonder people are using this to write books!' I think he used prompts that were meant to mimic my style, but still - it's eerie what it can produce. It's bound to get even better.
So, for now, I shall continue to write the old-fashioned way (yay!) but I will definitely be re-thinking it for these practical tasks - thank you! ☺️
Thank you for your thoughtful comments! AI is scary indeed, and I believe there should be limitations on it, especially when it comes to producing false videos and photos of real people.
I’m currently reading a book that’s a worldwide sensation right now. It’s part of a series, and I don’t have a single doubt in my mind that it was written with the help of ChatGPT. I recognize all the overused terms and the way they’re overused: people constantly shifting their weight, sensations or thoughts being ETCHED on their faces and in their minds, people and things being PERCHED, the scent of damp earth, and other stuff that I can’t remember right now but that repeats over and over again. I don’t know how much help the author got with the plotting, which is interesting and I do want to see what happens, but I know it wasn’t written by a human. So, as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t qualify as literature, and its success as a piece of literature saddens me. Cheating is lame.
Here's the real kicker with using AI to write for you: you might be in violation of someone else's copyright.
AI output is not eligible for copyright protections. (Simply writing a prompt does not count.)
Technically, if you edit the output a bit you can get it copyrighted as now it counts as human writing.
HOWEVER, if AI pulls from other copyrighted work, the original owner of that work is still protected under their copyright. What this means is that if you ask AI to write you a story and it pulls from an existing book (even if you don't realize it), and you use it, the owner of that book can sue you for violating their copyright.
We all use sets of threes because our brain likes them and looks for them. I also like dashes.
But here, it’s mainly a matter of overused words combined with dashes and combined with unnatural sets of three. It’s a pattern that you will start to notice as soon as you’ve realized what to look for. It’s everywhere.
Today, I read a Goodreads review about The God of Small Things (hence the idea for that example), and many people were praising it for how well it was articulated. It was 100% ChatGPT 😊
I really believe it’s an excellent tool when used in the right way. But I also believe it is still very far from being able to pull off what our imagination can.
I use AI in my writing for precisely the purposes you listed. It's purely an assistant, not a *writer*.
With one small exception: when I hit writer's block, I'll give it a description of what I'm trying to say, and let it generate some prose (based on what I've already written so far). I don't *use* that prose, but it will get me unstuck, because once I have words on the page, I have something to disagree with, and it spurs me on.
I refuse to give up using em- and en-dashes where appropriate, because they are useful and valid elements of punctuation, along with semicolons, ellipses (…), even interrobangs (‽), and the Oxford comma. Just because AI is better at punctuation than most humans doesn't mean there *aren't* some humans who know how punctuation works… 😉
The main problem I have is I love using em dashes and groups of three, especially when writing non fiction (that's how I was taught in all my persuasive writing classes) and I don't doubt I have lots of over used words lol. I guess that makes me an ai bot 🤣
Recently I've used it to tell me what a word is on the tip of my tongue that I can't think of (it's fantastic at that and Google sucks at it). I've also given it a character profile and asked what enneagram it would suit and why, and that was really helpful too rather than me reading through pages of description only to dismiss as not applicable.
It's a phenomenal tool.
And there's a reason why it uses em dashes and groups of three — because they work so well and we love to use them. It was, after all, trained by studying writing by people who do it very well.
To me, the main thing is the overused terms and the way it combines them all the time. That's the first sign. Then, I look for the rest.
Oh dear-no I can’t use my beloved emdash again. A shame.
Interesting post. I don’t use AI for writing, but I use words like „linger“. Maybe I should improve my vocabulary so I don’t sound like ChatGPT.
Didn’t think about asking „from a psychologists view“. On the other hand I thought maybe it should be only my view that counts. Interesting to see the variations of how ai can help. Guess I will need to look at it from this angle at some point. But not today.
The only AI I rely on is either Grammerly or Word Spell Checker. Everything else comes from my tiny little brain. I can search for synonyms, definitions, and everything else without using it. I guess I am one of the hardcore old-timers who hate the new technology.
Makes sense :)
I can really only agree about using AI for basic research. Anything else feels cold and unfeeling.
As a non-native English writer, I use it to find alternatives, check spelling and grammar in small scale; only as one of many tools, and filtering everything through my flawed human brain. For everything else it’s just as you said—lame. An subpar
CoPilot is to be included in the upgrade to Microsoft 365, my monthly payment is increasing from £5.99 to £8.99.
Interesting take on AI’s role in writing. It has a place as a tool to enhance efficiency and support the writing process, though I agree that, as writers, we need to maintain personal artistic integrity.
So do I. Or, should we choose to use the legitimate tool at our disposal to help us write the actual novel, I believe it would be fair practice to state that, just like you'd be obliged to do for an AI-generated photo.
Really appreciate this post. I think the creative community can get overzealous in some ways with the pushback against AI. Obviously it's understandable, and we should never tolerate AI writing creative copy FOR writers, but I agree that we should remain open to how AI can help us improve workflows and facilitate our ability to create more and better things or even just offload the admin side of the business. I've used it in some of the ways you've described and also some simple image gen stuff to generate unique thumbnails for social media posts that I otherwise wouldn't be able to create/afford. Probably my favorite usage so far has been as an on-demand feedback machine, asking it to act as a writing critic and point out the good and bad of passages that I'm struggling with sorting my feelings out about. It's no replacement for a real writing community, but the instantaneous feedback can be extremely helpful in some circumstances.
Thank you for your comment.
I actually intend to write my next article on using ai for feedback 😊
I will admit I used CoPilot for the first time this month, basic research for background of my Centaur self. I asked:
"How old would 66 be in horse years?"
The reply was:
When comparing horse age to human age, it's often said that one horse year is roughly equivalent to 2.5 human years. So, a horse that is 66 years old would be equivalent to 66 * 2.5 = 165 human years!
But hold on a second! Most horses don't live that long. A horse reaching 66 years of age would be truly extraordinary. Typically, horses live to be around 25-30 years old. The oldest recorded horse lived to be 62 years old!
So, while it's fun to calculate, a horse actually reaching 66 would be quite the legend! 🐴
Got any more interesting questions or thoughts?
You see it thinks that I'm asking that if the horse is 66 years old, how old would that be in human years, which is not what I asked.
I told CoPilot as an author it was research on how a Centaur would age.
However it did have some interesting insights:
That sounds fascinating! The concept of centaurs—half-human, half-horse beings—has long captivated the imagination. Considering their hybrid nature, let's explore how they might age.
### Centaur Aging Hypothesis
1. **Physical Development:**
- **Horse Half:** Given that horses age faster, it's likely that the equine half would show signs of aging first. By 20-30 years, a centaur's horse half might exhibit similar signs of aging as a typical horse: graying hair, reduced stamina, and joint issues.
- **Human Half:** The human half might follow the typical human aging process, so by age 50-60, it might show signs like wrinkles, reduced muscle mass, and a slower metabolism.
2. **Health Considerations:**
- **Nutrition and Care:** Proper care, including a balanced diet tailored to both human and equine nutritional needs, would be essential. Regular exercise and medical check-ups for both halves would also contribute to longevity.
- **Joint Health:** Given the extra weight carried by their horse half, joint health would be a crucial focus. Supplements and treatments to maintain joint flexibility and strength would be vital.
3. **Life Expectancy:**
- If we consider an average horse's lifespan (25-30 years) and a human's lifespan (70-80 years), a centaur might have a blended lifespan. It could be reasonable to speculate that a centaur's average lifespan might fall somewhere between 40-50 years, assuming they receive excellent care.
4. **Achieving Old Age:**
- **Holistic Approach:** Achieving old age would likely require a holistic approach to health, combining equine and human medical knowledge.
- **Environmental Factors:** Living in a safe, supportive environment with minimal stress and ample space to roam would also contribute to longevity.
It's a unique and imaginative area of research! Anything specific you want to explore further about centaurs or mythical beings?
It then gave me some ideas:
That's exciting! Writing science fantasy gives you the freedom to blend the wonders of science fiction with the magic of fantasy. With centaurs in your story, you can create a fascinating world where biology, technology, and mythology intertwine.
### Ideas for Your Science Fantasy Story
1. **Centaur Society:**
- **Advanced Technology:** How do centaurs integrate technology into their lives? Perhaps they have specialized tools and devices designed for their unique anatomy.
- **Cultural Practices:** Explore the customs, traditions, and rituals of centaur communities. How do they celebrate milestones, like coming of age or achieving old age?
2. **Science Meets Mythology:**
- **Genetic Engineering:** Maybe centaurs are the result of advanced genetic engineering experiments. What ethical dilemmas arise from their creation?
- **Medical Innovations:** Discovering ways to prolong the life of centaurs could involve cutting-edge medical research, blending human and equine medicine.
3. **Epic Quests:**
- **Journey for Longevity:** Perhaps your centaur protagonist embarks on an epic quest to find a mythical artifact or elixir that grants them a longer, healthier life.
- **Inter-species Relations:** How do centaurs interact with other beings, both human and mythical? Explore alliances, conflicts, and collaborations.
4. **Environmental Harmony:**
- **Symbiotic Ecosystems:** In a world where centaurs thrive, how do they maintain balance with nature? Maybe they have a deep connection to the land, using both technological and magical means to protect their environment.
5. **Character Development:**
- **Hybrid Identity:** Dive into the internal struggles of a centaur character navigating their dual nature. How do they reconcile their human intellect with their equine instincts?
- **Aging and Wisdom:** As your centaur character grows older, how do their experiences shape their wisdom and leadership within their community?
I hope these ideas spark your imagination! If you need more inspiration or want to explore a specific aspect of your story, just let me know. Happy writing! 📚✨
So I'm in two minds, because my Microsoft 365 account is being upgraded to include CoPilot. My monthly bill goes up from £5.99 to £8.99, I have found out that it is possible to cancel my subscription and select 365 without CoPilot. That's something they don't tell you in the e-mail, but is in their Cancel Subscription blurb.
I'm not familiar with CoPilot. I actually used to write everything in Word, but have written my last novel in Ulysses, and now decided to switch to Scrivener. It's a bit of a learning curve, but I love love love how it functions as a folder for everything concerning the project.
Ooh I’ve been using AI to a similar extent as you suggested (some basic research, translations of phrases from foreign languages, etc), but man I also naturally write with lots of em-dashes and sets of threes 😂 Definitely something to tidy up in editing lest I get accused of using ChatGPT to write?
You won't be accused of using ChatGTP just because you use em-dashes or sets of three 🙃
It's about a combination of things.
Anyone who uses compound sentences will use em-dashes, and sets of three are the natural way to go in writing and painting. Our mind prefers this, which is why the creators of AI chose this approach. The problem is that ChatGPT overdoes both to the extent that it's become recognizable.
Usually, the first thing I'll notice is the overused terms and the sentence structure. If there are also too many em-dashes, it's a red flag. The novel I mentioned in several comments doesn't use em-dashes, but it's the language that gives it away. I can't imagine myself using "delves" or "intricate" ever again in fiction or on Substack.
Got it. Thank you for the explanation!
Thank you for being here and commenting :)
I must confess that when I saw the headline my first thought was 'oh no, not again!' For some reason, I click on articles like this, mainly because I'm terrified of AI and probably just want to make myself feel worse for being such a Luddite.
Anyway, I'm glad I read this, it was so comforting and enlightening - one of the most positive and constructive AI-related posts I've seen. I was worried that you'd be talking about using AI itself to write, but those prompts and other tasks are really useful.
Part of my fear with AI is the unknown aspect of it. Also, I don't really know how to use it and I'm worried about all these ChatGPT written novels as you mentioned. I can and can't believe (at the same time) that there are tutorials on this.
I was talking to a friend the other day, he's a huge fan of ChatGPT, basically surviving on it, but thankfully he's not a writer (nor is he much of a reader). But when he started inputting stuff for my future novels, what it produced was, in all honesty, so funny that it got me thinking 'no wonder people are using this to write books!' I think he used prompts that were meant to mimic my style, but still - it's eerie what it can produce. It's bound to get even better.
So, for now, I shall continue to write the old-fashioned way (yay!) but I will definitely be re-thinking it for these practical tasks - thank you! ☺️
Thank you for your thoughtful comments! AI is scary indeed, and I believe there should be limitations on it, especially when it comes to producing false videos and photos of real people.
I’m currently reading a book that’s a worldwide sensation right now. It’s part of a series, and I don’t have a single doubt in my mind that it was written with the help of ChatGPT. I recognize all the overused terms and the way they’re overused: people constantly shifting their weight, sensations or thoughts being ETCHED on their faces and in their minds, people and things being PERCHED, the scent of damp earth, and other stuff that I can’t remember right now but that repeats over and over again. I don’t know how much help the author got with the plotting, which is interesting and I do want to see what happens, but I know it wasn’t written by a human. So, as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t qualify as literature, and its success as a piece of literature saddens me. Cheating is lame.
Ooh, I’m curious about that book - can you mention what it is, or would that be too provocative?
Sent you a DM 😊
Here's the real kicker with using AI to write for you: you might be in violation of someone else's copyright.
AI output is not eligible for copyright protections. (Simply writing a prompt does not count.)
Technically, if you edit the output a bit you can get it copyrighted as now it counts as human writing.
HOWEVER, if AI pulls from other copyrighted work, the original owner of that work is still protected under their copyright. What this means is that if you ask AI to write you a story and it pulls from an existing book (even if you don't realize it), and you use it, the owner of that book can sue you for violating their copyright.
As it should be!
Thanks, Ksenia,
I can sense the value of AI, but I've struggled to think in prompts that could help. The examples you provided moved me ahead considerably.
BTW, I use a lot of three-item series and em dashes in my fiction. I hope I won't be confused with AI.
Hi Bob. Thank you for reading!
We all use sets of threes because our brain likes them and looks for them. I also like dashes.
But here, it’s mainly a matter of overused words combined with dashes and combined with unnatural sets of three. It’s a pattern that you will start to notice as soon as you’ve realized what to look for. It’s everywhere.
Today, I read a Goodreads review about The God of Small Things (hence the idea for that example), and many people were praising it for how well it was articulated. It was 100% ChatGPT 😊
I really believe it’s an excellent tool when used in the right way. But I also believe it is still very far from being able to pull off what our imagination can.
Warmly,
K.
A very good slap on the hands and a reminder of where the real value lies!
Hey, you got me going with ChatGPT, and now I call myself an expert.
Then you got me going with Substack, and now it's all I'm thinking about.
I'm wondering whether to ask you to keep proposing new things or to stop! 😂