AI and writing - will authors become obsolete?

Oof.

This, is a loaded question.

The truth is that currently AI doesn't have the 'human' factor to create stories. It can tell you how to structure a winning novel, it can tell you what tropes will capture your audience, and how to craft dialogue that sounds natural - but at this stage it cannot do it itself.

The writing comes off as corny, stilted, and just... not quite right. The 'uncanny valley' factor is set off. One factor to consider within this is, it that AI was trained off scientific models. As the programming gets more sophisticated, as will it's ability to branch out into creative areas. Just look at how initial AI generated pictures of humans were all 'wrong' with too many fingers and impossible anatomical suggestions.

Now some of it's artwork is scarily accurate.

Yet, humans still reach for artworks created by humans.

At this stage there are some phenomenal services that help the writing process, but there is always a stage at which humans need to intervene to ensure the product is attractive to humans. I don't know what the future will hold, but I believe that this will always be the case. I think that humans will always favour art created by other humans, and that we can utilise different programs to enhance our writing experience and deliver a better product.

Important Note

Currently the laws around copyright and generative are... fast and loose at best. Many companies and websites will take whatever information you put into them, and sell them to whoever is training the AI's. As such, it is extremely important to look at whatever writing and editing software you're using (even google docs and Microsoft word) and ensure that the appropriate setting is turned off - to ensure your creative work isn't used without your consent.

With that in mind, here is a list of programs I use, and how I use them.

Pro Writing Aid 

Best for fiction writers. You can specify for genre and authors you want your work to sound similar to. It’s a copy edit on speed as compared to word, because it’s not just grammar, it’s also readability, sticky sentences, repeated words…etc. An editing pass through PWA will cut down on the time and cost of future copy edits (which will need to be done by a paid professional), as you can catch the mistakes/learn not to make them again.

Grammarly 

Best for non-fiction, more emails and professional work. It wants to make the writing as streamlined as possible, which isn’t particularly good for creative writing.

Scrivener 

Another project you can write in. It helps with laying out your book as you write it. You can click and drag to rearrange chapters, have an easier overview of your plot/structure. It also has a new feature that provides developmental feedback on each chapter. I don’t find this useful as I would want it for larger pieces of work than it can digest.

Chat GPT 

I use open AI to – Help with blurbs, world building questions (EG 'What systemic issues would a post-revolution society struggle with? How would this affect the common man?'), help with publishing software if there isn’t a you-tube tutorial, structure for copy for advertising, developing a timeline with goals (so that the writing experience has easy markers to achieve and be held accountable to). Honestly, anything to do with the writing process that isn’t specifically my plot. Take care about asking it anything too plot specific (and I wouldn't be caught dead asking it to edit work I intend on publishing) because once you type anything in that magical little search bar - that goes off to train AI. You're giving it permission to take your creative work and use it.