I've been hearing a lot of buzz lately about a growing concern in writing circles - the fear that AI tools, like ChatGPT, might end our future as creative writers. 

I can see why people are worrying about this, but remember, every writing tool in the past, whether it was the printing press or a computer has been met with skepticism, even fear. 

So I’d like to focus this blog post on what AI means for us as writers, how we can benefit from it, and how to use it to get ahead of writers who resist those benefits.

But first, let's unpack the question everyone is really asking: Can AI replace writers? 

No. It can’t.

While AI is an advanced tool that uses large language datasets to do what it does, it lacks the human qualities necessary for creative writing – empathy, personal experiences, and the ability to deeply connect with human emotions on a nuanced level.

So, What Can’t AI Do?

AI can’t create original ideas. 

AI can’t feel anything. Ever. 

Only we can!

So, What Can AI Do For Us? 

AI is the highest-powered tool you can possibly have in your writing toolkit. It can help us refine and expand upon our creative ideas at lightning speed. 

In other words, what could take us a week to puzzle out at our own speed we can figure out in minutes and move on to where that answer leads (and explore that in a matter of seconds!)

Even better, there are no limits using AI except the ones we place on our imagination. We point, it follows. That’s creative power.

This is huge for writers. We have learned to be constrained by what we can achieve with our own efforts. And now, with AI, those limits have been obliterated.

We have never been more free to create, or to explore the richest parts of our imagination and craft stories we could only once dream of.

Did you know that AI can easily…

• Assist with all sorts of boring research and save us a ton a of time (like trying to figure out how much a pineapple would have cost Lord Surbiton to show off at his 18th century dinner party - you can now find out in seconds that he paid between £5-£10 in 1795 London - which would be $5,000 to $10,000 in today’s money!).

• Provide suggestions for plot twists, help with language, accents, and cultural nuances, and even stimulate creative thinking when you hit a writer's block (hello endless writing prompts!)

• Handle the mundane tasks like writing your social media captions, so you have more space to focus on the creative aspects that make your writing uniquely yours.

By using AI, we're not selling out on our craft - we're unlocking more doors to creativity.

But don’t let me just tell you, let me show you what you can try for yourself the next time you are working on your writing.

These are actual prompts I fed into ChatGPT that can help writers like us have more fun and flexibility of our creative process. 

This little dude 🤖 gave these answers in seconds. Check it out...

Character Creation:

🙋:  "Create a character profile for a female detective." 

🤖: Character Profile: Detective Isabella Torres

Name: Isabella "Izzy" Torres

Age: 32

Appearance: Isabella is of Hispanic descent, standing at 5'7" with an athletic build. She has shoulder-length, wavy black hair often tied up in a practical bun, and sharp, dark brown eyes that miss little. Her facial expression is usually serious, reflecting her focused personality. She typically dresses in smart, functional clothing appropriate for her role as a detective, favoring dark jeans, comfortable boots, and tailored jackets.

Background: Born and raised in a bustling city, Isabella grew up in a close-knit family with a strong sense of justice, influenced by her father, who was a retired police officer. She excelled academically and was always curious, showing an early interest in puzzles and mysteries. After completing her degree in criminal justice, she joined the police force and quickly rose through the ranks to become a detective.

Personality: Isabella is highly intelligent, observant, and methodical in her approach to solving crimes. She's known for her tenacity and determination, often going the extra mile to solve complex cases. Despite her serious demeanor, she has a dry sense of humor and is fiercely loyal to those she cares about. Isabella is also empathetic, able to connect with victims and witnesses to get to the truth.

Skills: An excellent investigator, Isabella is skilled in forensic analysis, interrogation techniques, and criminal profiling. She's also fluent in both English and Spanish, a skill that often proves useful in her line of work. Isabella is trained in self-defense and proficient in the use of firearms.

Notable Achievements: Isabella has a reputation for solving some of the most challenging cases in her department. She's been instrumental in breaking open several high-profile cases, including a notorious serial crime spree that had stumped her colleagues for months.

Personal Life: Outside of work, Isabella is an avid reader, especially of classic detective novels. She enjoys running as a way to clear her mind and stay fit. Her personal life is kept quite private, but she's known to have a close circle of friends and a supportive family.

Career Goal: Isabella's main goal is to continue rising within the police department, potentially moving into a leadership role where she can influence policy and mentor younger detectives. She's also interested in specializing further in forensic psychology to enhance her profiling skills.

👉 What do you think? Would you use this for your next character creation project?

Deliver Dialogue:

🙋: "Write a conversation between an astronaut and an alien about cats and make it humorous." 

🤖: Alien: "Commander, I came across a reference to a 'cat' in your Earth data. What is this creature?"

Astronaut: "Oh, a cat? It's a small, furry Earthling. Loves to nap and mysteriously vanishes when you need it most."

Alien: "Fascinating. Does it have any special abilities?"

Astronaut: "Well, it always lands on its feet, can stare at a wall for hours, and has a strange power over humans."

Alien: "Power over humans? How so?"

Astronaut: "They make this sound, a 'purr,' and suddenly humans become willing servants. It's quite the phenomenon."

Alien: "Intriguing. Do they assist in your daily tasks?"

Astronaut: "Assist? More like supervise. They'll sit on your keyboard or book until you pay attention to them."

Alien: "So, they are in command?"

Astronaut: "Absolutely! We like to think we've explored space, but really, we're just trying to understand our cats."

Clean Up Content:

🙋: Improve this sentence: "The cat sat on the mat, which was very fluffy and it was sunny." 

🤖: "The cat lounged on the fluffy mat, basking in the sunny glow." 

Generate Titles:

🙋: Generate three possible titles for a mystery novel about a vanished heirloom for a Young Adult audience.

🤖: 1. "Legacy of the Lost Locket"

2. "The Disappearance of the Dynasty Diamond"

3. "Heirloom of Shadows: A Forgotten Mystery"

Beat Writer’s Block:

🙋: How can I resolve a conflict between two characters stranded on an island with a plot twist?

🤖: Introduce an unexpected element that forces them to unite. For example, they could discover a hidden threat on the island (like a dangerous animal or hostile inhabitants) or stumble upon a mysterious artifact with perplexing properties. This twist should shift their focus from their personal conflict to addressing the new, more pressing challenge, fostering cooperation and a shared sense of purpose.

ChatGPT isn't just a tool; it's a creative partner you can use to enhance your craft and help you conserve your energy for writing…

…instead of thinking, solving, and falling into a hundred-and-one rabbit holes searching for ideas or answers. 

I recommend you give at least one of these examples a whirl in your next writing session just to see the magic happen for yourself.

Also, did you know that you can use ChatGPT 3.5 for free? You really have nothing to lose!

Remember, our writing skills grow with experimentation and exploration. With a tool like ChatGPT, the possibilities are endless!

And finally…

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." — Charles Darwin