The Skeptical Writer's Guide to AI

AI as a writing partner, not a ghostwriter.

Daniel Nest

Jun 13, 2024

∙ Paid

I’ve been writing about AI for close to two years now.

As such, it might surprise you that AI hasn’t ever done any actual writing for me.

This isn’t because I am vehemently against AI writing.1

It’s because I enjoy the process of arranging words into sentences. It’s not something I want to outsource.

At the same time, I fully acknowledge that just as I might use an image model to make up for my lack of artistic talent, others might use a large language model to help them write something that might’ve otherwise gone unwritten.

Yet many writers scoff at the very idea of using “AI” and “writing” in the same sentence as I just did.

Listen, I get it.

You care about the story you want to tell, and you want to tell it in your voice. You don’t need AI and its filthy algorithms sucking the soul out of your narrative.

But there are many ways you as a writer can use AI without having it write a single word of the final text on your behalf.

No author is an island.

In the process of writing and publishing your story, you might have a brainstorming partner, a research assistant, an editor, a few beta readers, and a trained monkey named Fizz who brings you piña coladas upon request.

(Hey, I don’t know your life.)

AI can do a decent job in many of those areas.

So let’s look at a few cases where writers can use AI without giving up creative control.2

🔍1. Research

Let’s pretend I want to write about a 16th-century English detective, but my memories of that time are hazy.

(I was minus 500 years old back then. A mere baby.)

I can ask ChatGPT for help:

In 16th-century England, your protagonist could be referred to as a "Constable" or "Bailiff" if they were in charge of maintaining law and order in a specific area. Another option could be "Watchman," although this role was typically less formal. If your protagonist is more of an investigator, they might be termed a "Pursuivant" or simply an "Officer" of the law. Tools Available to a 16th-Century Detective Written Records and Documents: Town Records: Parish registers, court records, and other municipal documents. Letters and Correspondence: Important for tracing communication between suspects. Witness Testimonies: Interviews: Direct questioning of witnesses and suspects. Community Gossip: Informal information gathered from local inhabitants. Physical Evidence: Examination of Crime Scenes: Looking for clues like footprints, broken locks, or other disturbances. Personal Belongings: Items left behind that could identify a suspect. Basic Forensic Techniques: Observation: Keen attention to detail to notice anything out of the ordinary. Deduction and Logic: Using reasoning to piece together evidence. Weapons: Sword or Dagger: Standard issue for self-defense and enforcement. Staff or Club: Non-lethal tools for maintaining order. Authority and Influence: Royal or Noble Patronage: Support from influential figures to lend authority. Official Badges or Seals: Symbols of their office to command respect and compliance. Travel Aids: Horse: For traveling between towns or jurisdictions. Maps and Local Guides: To navigate unfamiliar territories. Communication Tools: Messengers: To send urgent information quickly. Town Criers: To disseminate information publicly. Surveillance: Spies and Informants: Engaging local people to gather intelligence discreetly. Stakeouts: Observing suspects covertly over time. By weaving these elements into your story, you can create a rich and historically accurate backdrop for your 16th-century detective. — See the **full chat**.

Instantly, I get a wealth of information about possible directions to explore. (See the full chat for details.)

“Daniel, you naive fool! True research takes more effort than skimming a few bullet points from a chatbot.”

I agree, my suspiciously convenient straw man friend.

ChatGPT can’t replace serious research.

But it sure can point you in the right direction.

Taking bullet #5 as my starting point, I dig deeper:

I would like to understand more about the available weapons like daggers and swords. Where can I learn about that? ChatGPT To learn more about the weapons such as daggers and swords available in 16th-century England, you can explore various resources that provide detailed information about historical weaponry. Here are some suggestions: Books "A History of the Sword" by Richard Cohen: This book provides a comprehensive history of swords, including their development, usage, and cultural significance. "Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland" by Richard H. Bezdek: Focuses specifically on British swords and their makers, offering detailed descriptions and historical context. — See the **full chat**.

I now have plenty of new research avenues to pursue.

Note: As with anything an LLM spits out, always double-check every fact.3

If I want to stick to online research for now, I can just ask:

Are there any online articles about the subject? ChatGPT Searched 7 sites To learn more about the weapons such as daggers and swords from 16th-century England, several online resources offer detailed information and historical context: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) provides extensive collections and detailed descriptions of various historical weapons, including European small-swords, hunting swords, and daggers. The Met’s database includes items such as the ballock dagger, notable for its distinct hilt design and association with British culture from the late 16th century (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Warfare History Network discusses various types of daggers, including the stiletto, which became popular in the 16th century. This dagger, known for its ease of concealment and piercing ability, was used both as a weapon and a tool. The article explains how fighting techniques evolved with the use of these weapons, emphasizing the stiletto's design for thrusting and its effectiveness in combat (Warfare History Network). — See the **full chat**.

The very first link takes me directly to this page of The Met:

Ballock Knife with Sheath - The Met page

I went from having a vague idea about my protagonist to looking at a visual of the kind of weapon he might’ve carried.

🤯2. Brainstorming

I’ve now decided that my story will involve a ballock knife-wielding constable who ends up stabbing an innocent person. I might have a general idea of where I’m headed, but I could use a sparring partner.

Armed with the “Ask Me Questions” method, I turn to ChatGPT again:

I'm writing a short story about 16th-century English constable who, in the course of his investigation, ends up stabbing an innocent person. Help me come up with 10 alternative storylines. Before you respond, please ask me any clarifying questions you need to make your reply more complete and relevant. Be as thorough as needed. ChatGPT To provide you with the best possible alternative storylines, here are a few clarifying questions: Setting Specifics: Are there any specific locations within 16th-century England that you want the story to be set in (e.g., a particular city, town, or rural area)? Historical Accuracy: How important is historical accuracy to you? Are you looking for strictly plausible scenarios, or are you open to some creative liberties? Character Depth: Can you provide more details about the constable's background, personality, and motivations? Themes: Are there particular themes or messages you want to explore in these storylines (e.g., justice, guilt, redemption)? Genre: Is there a specific genre you have in mind (e.g., mystery, drama, thriller)? Length: How long is the short story intended to be? This will help determine the complexity of the alternative plots. Tone: What tone are you aiming for? Dark and serious, light and adventurous, or something else? Audience: Who is the target audience for your story? Outcome: Are there certain types of resolutions you prefer (e.g., tragic, hopeful, ambiguous)? Other Characters: Are there any other significant characters or relationships you want included in the alternative storylines? — See the **full chat**.

Two great things come out of this exercise:

ChatGPT’s initial questions force me to think about aspects that might not have even been on my radar. Answering them gives me a better understanding of what I’m after.
I get a list of alternative ideas to consider.

There’s no downside to this.

If some of ChatGPT’s ideas are workable, you can continue your brainstorming session to flesh out the details.
If all of them suck, you can either try again or draw whatever inspiration you can from it and move forward on your own.

You’re still in charge of your story and don’t have to accept anything ChatGPT tells you.

📝3. Outlining

When it comes to fiction, I’m what’s apparently called a “pantser.” This means I tend to wing it and make the plot up as I write.

“Plotters,” on the other hand, create an outline and plan out each scene before writing.

Whichever camp you fall into, AI can help.

For plotters, a ChatGPT outline may offer a solid starting point.

For pantsers, ChatGPT is a good way to anchor themselves a bit.

Say I want my stabby constable to eventually decide to cover up his crime and frame someone for it. (Yeah, he’s a shitty guy.)

Let’s ask ChatGPT for a potential outline:

n this story, I want the constable to accidentally stab a rival. After wrestling with feelings of guilt, he eventually decides to cover up his crime and frame someone for it. Help me create a top-level, scene-by-scene outline. ChatGPT Scene-by-Scene Outline for the Story Scene 1: The Pursuit Setting: A bustling London street, early morning. Action: The constable, named John, is chasing a suspected thief through the crowded streets. He is desperate to make his first big arrest. Conflict: During the chase, John corners the suspect in an alley, but in the confusion, he accidentally stabs another constable, William, who was also chasing the thief but from another direction. Scene 2: Realization and Panic Setting: The same alley, moments later. — See the **full chat**.

You can keep asking ChatGPT to tweak each scene, change their order, add or replace story beats, etc. to end up with your final outline.

At this point, you’re free to start writing.

Why Try AI

The Skeptical Writer's Guide to AI

AI as a writing partner, not a ghostwriter.

🔍1. Research

🤯2. Brainstorming

📝3. Outlining

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