Time for a controversial topic! We've had this discussion on the forum before, but this is for the benefit of the new forum and new readers.
Let me first give you the golden rule.
DON'T USE AI TO DO THE WRITING
I repeat.
DON'T USE AI TO DO THE WRITING
That means, don't get it to generate any of the words, or even ideas. You do that, and you'll be persona non grata at almost all publishers, as well as on this board. WF.org does not condone using AI to generate posts, let alone writing. Certain other boards do, this one doesn't.
Use a spellchecker or grammar checker by all means, but that doesn't require AI. Don't use machine suggestions for grammar corrections, AI or not. Computers misunderstand intent, and using an AI grammar checker risks losing your own voice.
So how CAN you use it?
AI can be a useful tool for research. It can cross reference sources and come up with the information you need faster than just searching Google. But DOUBLE-CHECK everything it tells you. It's quite easy for AI to get itself into a hallucination, and give you completely the wrong info.
Secondly, use it to help you identify areas of your writing that may need attention. For example, in pacing, in immersion, in things like sentence lengths. Be very wary of advice it gives you - make sure you understand WHY it is suggesting something, and more importantly, if you agree with it. It is not "right", and particularly when you're using a very distinctive writing style, you risk losing it and degenerating into a generic voice that loses personality. AI can help identify when a story may need to quicken in pace, or where your rhythm loses engagement because the sentences all have the same length. It can do things like identify where your sentence construction is monotonous, like "A does B". And it can also help you spot repetitions. But you have to tell it specifically what you want it to concentrate on, and do several passes, in small chunks. It's not going to scan a 6000 word story and churn out a big list of everything for you to fix in one go.
It can also help with localisation (e.g. switching from Americanese to British English for vice versa) and nothing where sentences don't sound natural, but again, don't use its rewritten suggestions. Tell it not to give you suggestions for rewritten text. Instead, if you agree with what it says, rewrite it yourself, in your own words.
In other words, use AI like a poor man's editor.
And it can help with brainstorming. Don't use it to generate plots. The ones it does come up with are bland and unimaginative. Instead, come up with your own plots and ask the AI for feedback. Ask it if the plot makes narrative sense, or is believable. Use what it comes back with to spark further ideas. Don't use its suggestions for plots, these will have the same issue as asking it to generate plots. AI might spot some flaws in your idea, but it's up to you to fix them. Take everything it says with a tablespoon of sodium chloride.
AI can also be a good analytical tool to map out plot beats or count instances of things in your story. It can also summarise your story into bullet points, which is useful for when you come to review your work.
I use AI extensively for the above things. It helps fan a creative spark. Sometimes, your creativity will stir just from having someone (something) to talk to about your idea. But every word, every sentence, every idea is mine.
And never, ever, even think about submitting work written wholly or partially by AI. If you do, and it's spotted, you could end up being blacklisted by a publisher or an agent, gain a reputation, and have doors slammed in your face. Editors talk to each other. You don't want them talking about you for the wrong reasons.
There is a very, very small set of instances of people with certain disabilities who might have legitimate reasons for using AI to generate their text. In my opinion, most people don't have those reasons. If you're a writer, write.
AI can be useful for generating cover art though.
Let me first give you the golden rule.
DON'T USE AI TO DO THE WRITING
I repeat.
DON'T USE AI TO DO THE WRITING
That means, don't get it to generate any of the words, or even ideas. You do that, and you'll be persona non grata at almost all publishers, as well as on this board. WF.org does not condone using AI to generate posts, let alone writing. Certain other boards do, this one doesn't.
Use a spellchecker or grammar checker by all means, but that doesn't require AI. Don't use machine suggestions for grammar corrections, AI or not. Computers misunderstand intent, and using an AI grammar checker risks losing your own voice.
So how CAN you use it?
AI can be a useful tool for research. It can cross reference sources and come up with the information you need faster than just searching Google. But DOUBLE-CHECK everything it tells you. It's quite easy for AI to get itself into a hallucination, and give you completely the wrong info.
Secondly, use it to help you identify areas of your writing that may need attention. For example, in pacing, in immersion, in things like sentence lengths. Be very wary of advice it gives you - make sure you understand WHY it is suggesting something, and more importantly, if you agree with it. It is not "right", and particularly when you're using a very distinctive writing style, you risk losing it and degenerating into a generic voice that loses personality. AI can help identify when a story may need to quicken in pace, or where your rhythm loses engagement because the sentences all have the same length. It can do things like identify where your sentence construction is monotonous, like "A does B". And it can also help you spot repetitions. But you have to tell it specifically what you want it to concentrate on, and do several passes, in small chunks. It's not going to scan a 6000 word story and churn out a big list of everything for you to fix in one go.
It can also help with localisation (e.g. switching from Americanese to British English for vice versa) and nothing where sentences don't sound natural, but again, don't use its rewritten suggestions. Tell it not to give you suggestions for rewritten text. Instead, if you agree with what it says, rewrite it yourself, in your own words.
In other words, use AI like a poor man's editor.
And it can help with brainstorming. Don't use it to generate plots. The ones it does come up with are bland and unimaginative. Instead, come up with your own plots and ask the AI for feedback. Ask it if the plot makes narrative sense, or is believable. Use what it comes back with to spark further ideas. Don't use its suggestions for plots, these will have the same issue as asking it to generate plots. AI might spot some flaws in your idea, but it's up to you to fix them. Take everything it says with a tablespoon of sodium chloride.
AI can also be a good analytical tool to map out plot beats or count instances of things in your story. It can also summarise your story into bullet points, which is useful for when you come to review your work.
I use AI extensively for the above things. It helps fan a creative spark. Sometimes, your creativity will stir just from having someone (something) to talk to about your idea. But every word, every sentence, every idea is mine.
And never, ever, even think about submitting work written wholly or partially by AI. If you do, and it's spotted, you could end up being blacklisted by a publisher or an agent, gain a reputation, and have doors slammed in your face. Editors talk to each other. You don't want them talking about you for the wrong reasons.
There is a very, very small set of instances of people with certain disabilities who might have legitimate reasons for using AI to generate their text. In my opinion, most people don't have those reasons. If you're a writer, write.
AI can be useful for generating cover art though.
