A Writer’s Reflections on AI-Assisted Creative Processes

As a Writer, Editor, and Publisher, I have been exploring how AI tools can be incorporated into my line of work.

When I was writing my current novel, Pieces of Time, I got stuck somewhere along the way because I felt the story lost its punch even before climaxing! This became starkly clear after I had finished the novel.

I then turned to AI and we started discussing the book. AI can write a whole novel for you, yes! But from my observations, it often doesn’t go beyond the novella. In my case, I am a long form writer, having produced novels between 200 and 300 pages.

AI can draft a novella for you, maybe between 50 and 70 pages at most, which I feel isn’t quite compelling

Another observation is that AI has a particular way of writing, often starting with weather and landscape descriptions and, chapter after chapter, these can feel quite monotonous.

This means AI can inspire and draft, but a writer worth the name would then build on that to develop a novel that doesn’t sound stilted and hurried, enriching it with their own writing, weaving it together with what AI would have provided.

The bottom line is that, as a writer, you must remain in charge of your story. You don’t have to become passive and let AI run the show, no. You discuss your ideas, and perhaps enquire how best to incorporate them into the story line.

In writing my forthcoming novel, Pieces of Time, I discussed several ideas and thematic concerns with AI.

In some instances, I totally rejected its drafts or suggestions, and in others, I embraced them or refined them to suit my vision for the book. Overall, I am happy with how the story is now shaping up.

By the way, I also incorporated AI reworking the cover concept. A question of concern is: is it professional or ethical for AI to write, say, a novel or short story, for you?

This can be looked at in light of the widespread discourse in music where several musicians have incorporated the use of AI in their productions.

But what is certain is that AI is here to stay! And those who embrace it now will own the future! However, like I indicated earlier, having AI write a book for you and you go ahead to publish it as yours without the requisite attribution would be immoral.

I don’t think any bona fide, self-respecting writer, would do that! But there are ways that we, as writers, can immensely benefit from this new technology in our line of work.

AI, for instance, can help you to package your ideas and fine-tune your processes as you work on your book.

The ethics of AI-assisted writing isn’t about whether it can be done (clearly, it can), but about how it’s done, how it’s used, and how credit is represented.

1. Creative Assistance vs. Replacement

From my personal experience, AI can help the writer generate ideas, suggest plot points, dialogue, or description as well as provide editing and polishing.

What I can emphasize is that AI should never replace your creative vision. You remain the author, the one deciding plot, character, theme, and emotional tone.

This means using AI as a tool is similar to using a writing coach, editor, or software that helps with style.

2. Attribution

An important thing to consider is that where you use AI to generate work (be it a book, academic paper, online submission etc.) it is only ethical to make the necessary attribution.

Generally, publishers, journals, or competitions have rules about AI usage.

Most professional writers treat AI as a tool, not a co-author. Your story’s soul comes from you. This means AI just helps with scaffolding, inspiration, or efficiency.

3. Reader Experience

There is a compelling argument that AI-generated content might lack deep human experience.

The first time I experimented with AI, it produced a novella for me — complete with storyline, characters, plot and well-defined themes and chapter by chapter narration.

This was after I had sought its assistance. I was reading the script of a novel I had just completed, and I felt the story unhinged even before it got midway.

In seeking AI’s help, I dared it to go ahead and produce the book. As I read, it felt detached, and I said to myself, “This is not me!”

So, I realised this can happen if you let AI run free. But when you guide it with your own insights, memory, and emotion (as I’ve done with Pieces of Time), it becomes a collaborative instrument, amplifying your voice without replacing it.

So, in essence, it is ethical when you use AI as a tool and remain the creative author. What is unethical claiming full authorship for a work that’s mostly AI-generated. AI can be your scribe, brainstorm partner, editor, or sounding board — but the story is yours.

I did a lot of back-and-forth interactions during my writing process, testing ideas, seeking advice when I got stuck, and having AI draft certain portions of the story (which I, however, fine-tuned, trimmed or beefed up in line with my creative vision).

In a nutshell, AI is a tool that, like anything else meant for good, can be abused. So, let us use AI responsibly.

Your Writing Coach.