AI as a Writing Tool

by Nicole Klunder

AI technology? Is that the newest thing out there now? Really?

I was skeptical when I started to hear about this new technology, probably like most. I thought, oh not another app.

Why can't we just write and use all the other resources that we have at our fingertips?

Writing craft books? Check!

There is nothing like a fresh-scented book on my bookshelf or in my hands! I have about two rows of these books and thesauruses. And I love every single one of them!

Between character development, plot creation, romance thesaurus, the dummies series, specific thesauruses such as emotions, body parts, conflict, internal/external issues, publishing books, and so much more!

The list is endless for our resources.

Let's not forget about our websites, writing critique groups, writing community apps, workshops available, meetup app meetings, writing craft classes, writing conferences and retreats, and blogs to read when signing up with your favorite author. 

I love it all! I find I get so much out of each and every one of these resources.

We do have a lot out there to help us and be grateful for.

Fast forward to being a new writer (this year marks four and half years for me) and possibly getting stuck on a project. Or hired for paid content that at a glance looks easy and the topic is up your alley, but you have never even dipped your toes into anything like this type of writing before. I mean, you're getting paid for it ,so I wanted to knock their socks off!

Maybe, you could use a little help. Having that feeling of, I don’t know where to begin, doesn’t always feel the best as a writer. Sure, start an outline and start highlighting key words and map it all out on your own way. Start small. 

Here is where AI came in for me the past month.

I like to think of it as a backup plan. Deciding to not depend on it but having it a part of our writer's toolbox. I dropped it in and told myself I could pull it out later when I needed it most. 

Benefits:

A fast approach to the below topics:

Plot: Getting a summary of the basic plot will help your vision of the conflict at hand to create what needs to be written.

Detail Summary: Summarize in your own words or summarize something else and request a detailed summary of what you entered into the APP. This can provide keywords that you never even thought of or you can look up different words that it suggests in place of the ones given.

Romance story covers: This was more inspiring for me in creating my world and placing keywords in for what my vision is for the characters, story world, and setting. The colors are helpful for the mood and tone you're trying to create.

Character appearance: This goes along with the cover as you want to imagine your character features, clothing, style and so on.

Conflict: Summarizing conflict is extremely helpful for helping you develop it since this is one of the most important parts of your story.

Character Development & Internal/External Feelings: I find this to be the most challenging aside from plot and conflict. As they are all very important to your story world, this can gain perspective on the internal and external feelings these characters can have. 

Content writing of any kind or subject: Summarizing something I had written to make better was the best approach for this. This was helpful although I still had many drafts to sift through and rewrite.

This quick reference kind of “convenience” so to speak gave me a different reason to use this technology.

This ultimately brought me into a different perspective. Don't hate it. Don't despise it.

I pulled it out of my toolbox and said, Ok , I need to use something to help me out a little.

Just a crutch, nothing more.

I did just that! 

Try it out!