The past two blogs have talked about choosing character and circumstances wisely. You want readers engaged from the very first page, and for that engagement to continue until the end. Word choice is just as important—for both reader engagement, and for our craft as writers. In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) threatens to take the jobs of copy writers, editors, and eventually authors, it’s important to consider this closely. More bluntly put, should we outsource any of our precious words to AI? And if so, what might that mean for the future?
God created with words
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. – Genesis 1:3
God spoke to create. He used words before he used his hands. We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and we have the power to create with words, too. For example, when we speak, we create emotions in other people. The same is true when we carefully use our words in our writing. Our words can uplift or destroy. Our words can edify or corrupt. Whatever we write reveals our own character and values—what’s important to us. We have an imperative to choose our words carefully. As Paul writes to the Ephesians: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29). The same applies to our written words.
This principle has been on my mind in discussions amongst my writers groups and as I read draft AI policy statements from writers associations. How much (if at all) should we trust our precious words to the mechanisation of AI tools? Here are snippets from two position statements:
Romance Writers of New Zealand:
“RWNZ does not support the use of AI to generate actual story writing. Stories generated by AI are not considered original works and pose a threat to the authenticity and authorship of human writers. This is distinctly different from using AI as a tool to generate ideas or assist in brainstorming and planning, which we do support—provided the core writing remains the work of the author.“
“RWAus does not support the use of AI to generate story content. While using AI tools to assist with brainstorming or planning may be appropriate, the actual writing must come from the author to be considered original. Romance fiction relies on emotional truth, human connection, and voice—qualities that cannot be replicated by machines.“
These are secular organisations, but amongst the nuance, there remains a general consensus from writers is that story creation by AI is not desirable.
Are we creating our own words?
It’s always been true that the world of publishing impacts the words we’re putting on the page. For example, some self-published authors self-publish primarily so that their words remain their own. They get the final say in all decisions, which is certainly not the case in traditional publishing. There’s something to that—as a traditionally published author, I find there are always compromises to be made. However, any loss of control to other humans in the publishing industry pales in comparison to the possibilities AI presents.
With the advent of AI, our words can be influenced in many ways. While I’ve written previously about the limitations of AI, technology is developing rapidly. The inadequate AI authorship of a year ago isn’t the same as the adequate authorship today, let alone the possibility of brilliant authorship in the future. It is also creating many problems for writers and editors. That said, AI is already being used by writers during the writing process. For example:
- editorial programs like ProWriting Aid and Grammarly,
- AI idea generator software that can do everything from generate plot ideas to creating character profiles,
- AI writing tools that will draft everything from dialogue to entire chapters.
And that’s just the beginning! While traditional publishers are beginning to include clauses in contracts that prohibit the use of AI in author works, there are more reasons than just legalities and ethics to think carefully about the consequences of using these tools.
Losing more than we gain?
Many writers credit AI with making their lives easier and more efficient. I’m sure that this is true. I have experimented with AI a little, to see how it will behave. But at this point the closest I get to AI use as a writer is the (often hilariously inaccurate) MS Word spellchecker. Is this an extreme view? Probably. There are plenty of biblically sound reasons to use AI with discernment. But here are my personal reasons for not using AI in my writing. I’m sure there are more, and I’d love to hear your thoughts whether you agree with me or not.
1. I don’t want my skills to atrophy.
If I relied on an editing program to tell me to reword sentences, I would start to rely on an AI tool rather than my own skills. I worked for decades to develop my writing style. I don’t want an AI tool to rob me of that. The same can be said for any use of AI tools. Plotting, synopsis writing, outlines, overcoming writer’s block, you name it. These are important skills that writers must master. If we don’t use them, we lose them.
2. I don’t want to hand over my original thoughts and ideas for a commercial AI to copy.
That includes the way I think and reason, which becomes transparent to the AI tool as you spend more time using it. There’s more than one lawsuit alleging that AI has been trained with the intellectual property of thousands of authors. The AI companies did not ask permission, or pay a cent. But you may be giving up your IP for free, too. Did you know that when you put information into an AI tool, you’re teaching that tool? Without any compensation.
3. I don’t want to lose my author voice.
I have written in the past about character voice and author voice. Both take time and imagination to develop. Using an AI tool as a substitute isn’t your voice. It’s an AI’s voice—the amalgamation of other authors’ voices. Some might argue that this is the same as absorbing the masters and then reflecting them by standing on their shoulders. In my view, it’s not the same. It’s a shortcut, at best. Looking at it another way: are you willing to use AI editing programs that are designed to make your writing sound the same as someone/everyone else’s?
4. Readers don’t want AI generated work. Yet.
At present, there’s something not quite right about AI generated artwork, and I’m just not talking about the woman with two knees or the really really weird “kittens” you sometimes see on Pinterest. Something made by an algorithm is about as authentic as vegan “cheeze”. It may taste amazing, but it just isn’t the same as the real thing. But that’s changing. As AI improves, readers are struggling to spot the difference between AI generated short fiction and human created. Do writers really want to contribute to that? Maybe you do—you could probably make a lot of money if you became good at generating AI story prompts. But the more you use AI in your work, the more you train your readers into being totally fine with it. And sooner or later you’ll be out of a job.
5. AI is not an image bearer of God.
As mentioned earlier, each of us were created in God’s image—knitted together in our mother’s wombs (Psalm 139). In human-created works of art, there is something of God within. Any artificial replica, no matter how wonderful or realistic, is a counterfeit. If we use AI to create stories, we risk further desensitising the reader to discerning real from counterfeit. That is not something we should take lightly. Still not convinced? Think about this. Could you imagine a world where Tolkien used an AI world building tool to “get started”? Or where Charles Dickens let AI write dialogue for his characters? There’s something deeply sad about what we could lose if we submit ourselves to AI writing tools.
Ultimately the choice in using AI in your writing is a personal one, and as the industry position statements provide, there is nuance involved. I have Christian and non-Christian writer friends who believe it enhances their writing. Others use it as a tool of convenience. My hope is that authors will check their heart, use their discernment, and seek God’s wisdom when considering or using AI in their work.
Want to start a discussion? Find me on X via @MeganShortAU.