“Are you worried you’re going to be replaced by AI?”
That’s the question buzzing around us writers lately. Ever since AI gatecrashed our literary luncheon and started catering content like hors d’oeuvres, we’ve all been a bit on edge. It’s a fair question though. Is our fate sealed? Are we about to be kicked to the curb by our own digital Frankenstein monsters?
Feelings are all over the map on this one. But here’s where I land. It’s undeniable that AI is shaking things up in the writing world, but not in the apocalyptic fashion some prophets of doom would have us believe. Instead of fearing AI, I see it as an opportunity to breathe new life into our work, to take our writing and make it even better.
Is AI a Threat to Writing Jobs?
In every writer’s circle, there are whispered fears wondering if AI is quietly lurking to render us all jobless with a few well placed keystrokes. It’s the kind of talk that probably inspires those Black Mirror-esque stories of dystopian futures where robots pen the next Pulitzer winners.
These fears are understandable considering how recent findings suggest they are grounded in some stark realities. A Goldman Sachs report estimates that AI could disrupt up to 300 million jobs globally. The impact is further validated by one CEO who tweeted about replacing 90% of his support staff with an AI chatbot. Additionally, platforms like ChatGPT are starting to encroach on freelancer roles, especially those in the writing territory. Learning this gives many of us the impression that there’s much to be worried about. And sure, AI’s capabilities are nothing to sneeze at, but we still might be giving these platforms too much credit, and us humans not nearly enough.
These tools can crank out content at a pace that would leave even the most caffeinated writer in the dust. But can they replicate the depth of human emotion or the sheer unpredictability that comes with human creativity? That remains to be seen. They might be able to spit out a decent informational blog post, but they’re not likely to tell you a story that makes you laugh, cry, or want to call your mom just to tell her “I love you.” And that’s where we come in. Our role isn’t becoming obsolete, it’s evolving.
Mastering Prompting as a New Writer Skill
While digging into AI for my own writing, I learned that prompting was the secret sauce in creating the ideal outcome. Like many rookies, my prompts were vague in the beginning, so the results were mid at best. But once I learned how to be specific in terms of messaging, tone, length, and style – I was unstoppable.
Let’s say you run a fitness coaching service known for it’s direct, no-nonsense advice. You want to publish a blog post on your website debunking common fitness myths that are misleading and unproductive. A novice might instruct a program like ChatGPT with a simple request like “write a blog post about common fitness myths.” This approach will likely get you a generic output. But to truly nail your brand’s essence, you could say:
“I need a concise, engaging 500 word blog post in a bold, no-bs tone that debunks the top five fitness myths holding people back from their goals. Use clear examples and actionable advice to empower readers to make informed decisions.”
These two prompts mean the difference between “meh” content and pieces that stand out for clarity, relevance, and alignment with your brand’s voice. Finessing your language in this way is going to up your chances to echo the persona your audience has come to trust and respect.
Blending Human Creativity in Storytelling
To be honest, AI kinda stinks at capturing the unique insight and personal experience that we humans pour into our work. After all, our emotions and experiences are what turn bodies of text into living stories that our readers connect with and relate to. Still, we gotta hand it to these tools though as they are good at taking the legwork out of researching and initial drafts. This is great since it frees us the time to go deeper into our own creativity. Essentially, it’s a partnership of strengths. AI can help us break through writer’s block and lay the blueprint for our ideas. But then we can go back and focus more on adding depth and emotion for a more compelling piece.
For instance, when the fitness coach gets an first draft for the myths article, she could then support what’s there with a story on a time she fell for one of these myths and the emotional impact it had on her progress. This will take a B article to A+ as it shows readers that this woman really knows what she’s talking about, because she’s been there (and so have we). Talk about relatable! We can’t let ourselves forget that it’s our humanity that truly make our stories leap off the page. AI is there to merely support us through the process, not to serve as the main event.
Ethics and Responsible Use in AI Writing
When it comes to ethics, there are very few objective rules of what to do and what not to do. That will likely change, but until then, we’re generally guided by a sense of right and wrong. It’s important to be honest about how much artificial systems influences our work. We can’t just pass off fully AI-generated content as purely our own without calling our ethics into question. With that said, staying true to our own voice is key. These tools may have the ability to generate content at lightning speed, it’s still on us to make sure our work sounds like us. It might be tempting to cut a bunch of corners for the sake of time, but a big part of what builds trust with our audience is authenticity. If we lose that, then we might as well toss our credibility right out the window.
So how can we use these programs without selling our souls? Well, we can start by getting clear on what role artificial intelligence in our creative process. Is it going to be our muse our our editor. A mere fact checker? Drawing these lines can help our human essence shine through. And when it comes to inspiring new ideas, we can look to these tools without leaning too hard. Brainstorm your own ideas first. If you feel something is missing, then hit up AI to catch any blindspots.
AI for Collaboration, Not Competition
If there’s anything to takeaway here, it’s that we’ve got to put the fearmongering behind us. AI isn’t the enemy. Is it changing the game? Definitely. Is it going to end our careers as we know it? Not if we’re good storytellers working with clients that value the humanness in content writing. We’re talking about mere tools that, when used mindfully, can raise the bar in our creative genius. Instead of viewing it as a looming threat, let’s understand it as an ally for exploring our potential.
My advice? Play around with different programs. Experiment with how it can take the grunt work off your plate. Watch how it can inspire new ways of thinking. Use it to free up space for what you do best… telling stories with emotion and insight that only you as a human can. At the end of the day, the soul of our writing, the truths we explore, the emotions we posses, and the connections we build remain forever human. And that’s something no algorithm is taking away from us.
Ready to Learn More About Your Project?
We hope you will give us the opportunity to work with you and watch your online success grow. Contact us today for a consultation and quote.