Generative AI is here to stay. And while it may replace some workers, its greater impact is on how much more people can get done with its assistance.
Even writers.
A lot of people who write for a living have felt threatened by this new technology that has taken the world by storm.
Suddenly a computer program was able to write as good as – and sometimes better than – writers themselves.
Several companies began considering if they could downsize their expensive human staff in favor of this technology taking over writing duty.
However, many realized that the technology is only as good as the prompt engineer guiding it.
This means writers, especially those already skilled in their craft, are still needed. We just need to learn a couple of new skill sets.
Such as how to create effective prompts that generate the kind of output that needs little editing. And how to put the final polish on pieces that AI has helped to create.
Of course, writing is only one of many things this tech makes easier and faster. Many writers love the writing process itself but don’t particularly like the ideation, outlining, researching, and/or proofreading tasks required to create a piece of writing.
Generative AI can do all of these things. It does them remarkably well. And much more quickly than a human writer.
So even people who genuinely enjoy all of these aspects of writing have found they can be much more productive with the help of AI.
How I Use Generative AI in My Writing
I’ve been fascinated by this tech since I started tinkering with it in March of 2023. I pretty quickly realized its potential to revolutionize how I can get things done, including (maybe, especially) writing.
Of course, a significant chunk of my personal identity is that: I’m a writer.
And yet, for almost two years after my Mom died in 2021, I struggled to get words out on the page. I inherited my love of writing from her and my grief at her passing almost completely interfered with my ability to engage in this activity she and I enjoyed so much.
But when ChatGPT came out and I started playing with it, especially tinkering with fiction stories, my passion and creativity reignited. Suddenly writing was fun again! All the parts that I enjoy most I could now do with another partner.
Though let me be perfectly, crystal clear here – AI is NOT in any way, shape, or form a replacement for my mother. Or for any human.
What I am saying is that it served a function in my brain that I desperately needed at that time. I bounced ideas off of it. I delighted in giving it the synopsis of my book and asking it to help me figure out my plot issues…and it often came up with ideas that I would never have dreamed up.
Beyond just giving me ideas, it sparked my own creative juices. A couple of its suggestions would be intriguing enough for me to consider, but then I found myself just using those as inspiration for my own ideas. The process of ideating and iterating with this technology jumpstarted my muse, long dormant.
Then I started experimenting with my professional writing. I am still fascinated at what I can get out of this app, though sometimes the journey to get to that amazing output is long and circuitous. However, the process helps me refine my prompts so the next time I need it to do something similar, it goes much more smoothly.
A Pro & and a Con of AI-Assisted Writing
Aside from the possible copyright issues (which is beyond the scope of this piece), the biggest issue people seem to have with ChatGPT’s writing is that they say it lacks soul or heart or emotionality. But that isn’t my experience.
I can include tone of voice, emotional sentiment, and even writing style in my prompt, which helps the software to create emotionally evocative writing. Sometimes it goes overboard, of course, but as an editor, I also enjoy the clean-up process to take good output to excellent.
To me, the biggest thing it lacks is the ability to experience things directly and reflect on those experiences.
So I’ve discovered that I can use ChatGPT’s help for almost every stage of the writing process until I get to the point where interweaving personal stories is what’s needed in a piece.
But even there, I can have ChatGPT (with my deep and comprehensive guidance) write the pieces of a blog post or a sales letter that speak directly to a prospect’s needs, including the features and benefits. And then I write the connective tissue that includes personal stories and reflections and then edit ChatGPT’s output to match so it all flows seamlessly.
We are a synergistic team. I prompt AI, it inspires my creativity, and together we create something compelling, unique, emotionally evocative, and filled with my own (or my client’s) perspective.
As a Business Owner, How Do You Feel about Generative AI?
If a client would prefer that I not use AI to develop their copy or content, I’m perfectly willing to create something completely human-made. However, that will now cost more as it takes me much more time and mental effort to do the research, brainstorming, and actual writing.
Many clients simply need a vast amount of writing completed regularly. Business owners need to:
- Publish SEO-powered blog posts
- Nurture a warm mailing list with regular newsletters and other emails
- Convert prospects into buyers through effective launch emails, landing pages, and pop-ups
- Update website copy to make sure it is as high-performing and accurate as possible
- Publish ebooks and other lead magnets to keep attracting new leads
- Post to social media several times a day on multiple platforms
- Create case studies, white papers, and more!
With the help of generative AI, writers like myself can bring their expertise to the table to generate all of this writing in a fraction of the time it used to take. This shortens the return on investment and leads to better SEO, more leads, higher conversions, and ultimately, more revenue.
There is a place for both human-only writing and AI-assisted writing, and both have pros and cons. As a business owner, you need to be clear about what is most important to you:
Are you more concerned with whether AI is used to produce the writing you need?
Or do you care more about whether the writing is achieving your goals, regardless of who (or what) wrote it?
Either way, I’d love to discuss your writing needs and how I can help lighten your load. My love-based approach blends AI (with client permission) with EI (which stands for Emotional Intelligence) so your heart-centered message shines through clearly and you attract your ideal prospects.
