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Generative AI for Fiction Writers & Editors: A blessing or a curse?

Generative AI for Fiction Writers & Editors

In this article we'll consider:

  • What generative AI is

  • The impact of generative AI on the publishing industry

  • AI tools for fiction writers and editors

  • Pros and cons of using generative AI tools

  • My experiences with AI as a professional fiction editor

  • Final thoughts on AI for fiction writers


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On their research blog, IBM defines generative artificial intelligence (AI) as referring to: "deep-learning models that can generate high-quality text, images, and other content based on the data they were trained on." (research.ibm.com/blog/what-is-generative-AI)


Unlike traditional AI that analyzes data and performs specific pre-defined tasks, generative AI is fed large data sets from which it's able to identify patterns and create new material; in other words, it makes decisions based on its "knowledge", similar to how a human does.


The scope and potential benefits are huge. As software solutions provider Deltek explains on their website, generative AI has been used in healthcare to assist in "drug discovery and medical image analysis"; also to enhance customer service experience, with personalized recommendations and human-like chatbots. (deltek.com/en-gb/innovation/ai/traditional-ai-vs-generative-ai)


Other industries are learning how this new technology could help them, and the creative industries are no different; though opinion is wildly divided - love or hate, fear or welcome.


The impact of generative AI on the publishing industry

The initial panic that bots would take over the world and initiate machine-vs-humanity warfare seems for the moment to have died down. Most firms (afraid of being left behind in the station if they don't jump on the AI train) are now wearing their We Heart AI badges with pride, demonstrating their commitment to progress, their finger firmly on the pulse.


But a glance at the big publishers reveals they're more tentative about joining the party. Penguin Random House states on its website their commitment is to the integrity of the author's work and human touch, as well as being open to ways in which AI could be beneficial to areas of their business when used "selectively and responsibly". (penguin.co.uk/articles/2024/08/penguins-approach-to-generative-artificial-intelligence)


Pan Macmillan's statement on their site is along similar lines: "Our job as publishers is to serve and support such creatives [authors, illustrators, narrators] and to champion human voices and their human stories; when we use it, AI must be focused on the same goals." (panmacmillan.com/ai-at-pan-macmillan)


Hachette, in a brief statement, divides their industry into "creative" and "operational", with a hard no on using AI for creative endeavours, but the implication it's not ruled out for the operational side of things. (hachette.co.uk/landing-page/huk-our-position-on-ai/). Take a listen to Joanna Penn's fascinating interview with Thad McIlroy on the topic of AI in publishing, where they question if such a divide can be that straightforward (for example, marketing is as creative as it is operational).


Being an industry that has historically depended on the original, unique, and imaginative qualities and skills of individuals, starkly highlights the thus far unclear ethical proponent of using generative AI in this field. Hence the tiptoeing around the topic by publishers, none of which wants to be landed with a lawsuit but nor do they want to be left behind. AI has come to stay, its feet up on the table; publishers just don't know how to make friends with it yet.

See the following for some examples of AI already kicking up dust in an industry not prepared for it:


As for writers themselves - the ones at the coalface sweating over word counts and reader reviews and promo images - again opinion is mixed; but from what I've observed, there seem to be more writers curious about how generative AI can help them with particular tasks than there are those who want nothing to do with it. The same goes for my editing colleagues.


So where does that leave us? Should we benefit from what AI has to offer? And if so, how can we do it without feeling as if we're selling our soul - and creativity - to the devil?


Generative AI tools for fiction writers and editors

Let's begin with a quick overview of just a small selection of the generative AI tools some fiction writers and editors are, as of August 2024, currently using.


ChatGPT - A free-to-use tool developed by OpenAI to perform conversationally; like a chatbot, ask it a question and it'll give you an answer; the more detailed and nuanced your question or discussion, the more relevant the response.

Writers may use for: Just about anything; research, writing or editing advice, brainstorming characters or plot ideas, outlining your book's structure specific to your genre... The list is endless.

Editors may use for: Business-related tasks, such as ideas for blog content and newsletters, website copy, brand taglines.


Midjourney - A subscription service; creates custom images via an iterative process, using a series of prompts to develop the image you want.

Writers may use for: Book cover design, ad design and promotional images containing their characters or representations of their book's content and genre.

Editors may use for: Website and branding images, including images for social media.


Sudowrite - Paid writing software specifically for fiction authors; assists with brainstorming ideas, writing, rewriting, improving; provides feedback; aids plot planning, character arcs... just about anything related to your narrative.

Writers may use for: Any or all of the above. Authors usually say they use it only for the aspects of writing and editing they struggle with; but it appears it would write the whole book if instructed to.


ProWritingAid - Paid writing and editing software; capable of undertaking a host of editing tasks, including: highlighting passive voice; spelling, grammar and punctuation; identifying repetition of phrases and word echoes; alternative word choices; and loads more. Variations on PWA are Grammarly and Hemingway Editor, which serve similar purposes and also use generative AI.

Writers may use for: Any or all of the above. Used primarily in the editing stages.

Editors may use for: Theoretically, any number of editing tasks. However, I'm not aware of editors who use PWA in a professional capacity; the more popular option for editors is the software PerfectIt, which currently uses no AI technologies, and is useful for identifying technical inconsistencies.


The pros of using generative AI tools

  • Idea generation in early drafts - Generative AI can assist you in the planning and first-draft stages by offering prompts, plot ideas, character suggestions, etc. It offers endless possibilities to kickstart your imagination, and can be useful for breaking through writer's block, or boosting your creativity by pointing your ideas in new directions.


  • Improved consistency and quality during revision - Editing tools powered by AI can help you maintain a consistent tone, style and voice throughout your manuscript. They can identify inconsistencies and suggest improvements, and help you to pinpoint and work on your weaknesses.


  • Marketing assistance - Tools such as ChatGPT and Claude AI could be useful for helping you consider your publishing options, compose a marketing strategy, produce a blurb for your book, develop ideas for your branding such as web copy, blog content or author taglines, or assist with email campaigns, SEO, ad copy, social media, and repurposing content.


    Using tools like Midjourney and DALL-E 3, you can create striking custom-made images for your website, book cover, social media posts, and/or promotional materials.


  • Efficiency in your author business - Aside from speeding up the writing and editing process, generative AI can also help you develop systems to run your author business more efficiently. Such as, project management and workflow optimization, financial management, data-driven decision-making, contract analysis, and even using chatbots to handle reader enquiries on your site.


The cons of using generative AI tools

  • Risk of loss of originality and over-reliance - AI is trained on existing data, which means it can sometimes produce derivative or formulaic content. Using it to produce large swathes of your fiction is likely to result in content that lacks the unique voice and originality that comes from human experience and emotion. Likewise, there's a good chance at some point you'll simply be churning out the same stuff as everyone else.


    Bear in mind, too, that AI makes mistakes, particularly when it comes to fiction. You can't rely on the information it gives you to be relevant, in context, or even correct.


  • Ethical and copyright concerns - Generative AI draws from vast data sets, which can include copyrighted material. This raises ethical concerns about plagiarism and the ownership of AI-generated content. You'll need to be cautious about the sources of the content AI tools are using, and ensure they - and subsequently you - are not inadvertently infringing on someone else’s work.


  • Lack of human touch - Any creative writing, but fiction in particular, is not just about words on a page, it’s about conveying deep emotions, creating immersive narratives, and connecting with readers on a human level. AI, while increasingly sophisticated, still lacks the empathy and understanding that human writers and editors bring to the table. It can’t fully grasp the nuances of human experience that are essential for crafting engaging stories.


  • Potential bias - AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on, and if that data contains biases, those biases can be reflected in the generated content. This could lead to problematic portrayals of characters or themes, requiring careful attention by human editors to ensure the final story is fair and inclusive.


A note on my experiences with AI as a professional fiction editor

When I work on an author's manuscript, I'll use just three macros in Microsoft Word (command prompts; not AI), also ProWritingAid's paid plagiarism checker, and finally, occasionally, their consistency checker to make sure I haven't missed anything. These are timesaving technical processes, for which I'm grateful, but they amount to a very small portion of the work I go on to carry out manually.


Perhaps in time my working processes will change (or need to change); after all, editing a manuscript is an intensive task, covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time, and like my fellow editing colleagues, I want to do the best job I possibly can for my clients. Efficiency and focus are key. However, I can't envisage ever wanting to use generative AI on an author's work other than the ProWritingAid tasks mentioned above. The thought, somewhat ironically, just doesn't compute.


Firstly, fiction (of which I'm passionate) is by its nature human-centric. Readers read for any number of reasons, but one of which is most certainly to feel something; to be moved, find connection, or simply disappear between the pages for a while. Which, secondly, means that when I edit, I need to bring my capacity for human emotion with me too.


Between the writer and me, our job is to ensure a reading experience that's both immersive and meets the emotional quota the reader is seeking. A machine (as yet) can't do that.


Aside from the ethical issues of using technology to carry out work an author pays me as a human to do, I know from using generative AI tools while editing my own fiction that the process is clunky and time-consuming. AI is simply not yet able to understand all the subtle nuances of context and subtext, or the fluidity of spelling, grammar and punctuation in relation to style, voice and rhythm in the fiction format. Perhaps it never will.


Does this mean I'm anti-AI? Not at all. I use generative AI on the operational side of my editing business, specifically for helping generate ideas for useful, relevant content for writers, including outlining articles like this one.


Aided by ChatGPT and my Wix website builder's AI tools, this is an efficiency that reduces blank-screen-staring time, stirring my own thoughts and ideas into life, after which the research, tone, and fleshing out of the content is purely mine - the final result often very different and far more in-depth and nuanced than the AI-generated outline.


Finally...

Just like computers and the internet, AI is revolutionary and here to stay. It has the potential to be transformative in areas such as healthcare, education, finance, manufacturing, and of course our everyday lives, so we may wish to remain open and positive to the possibilities.


For fiction authors and editors, AI offers significant benefits in terms of efficiency, productivity and even creativity, but as it stands, it also presents challenges related to content originality and emotional depth. Therefore, striking a balance is key between utilizing AI technology as a valuable tool for some of your writing, editing, and author business tasks, while preserving the uniqueness of your voice and the stories only you alone can create.


Lastly, whether you use AI in your writing or author business remains a personal choice. I would suggest, though, that fears of authors being put out of business by novel-writing machines are premature, if not entirely unlikely. Yes indeed, the literary and publishing landscape is likely to change, and perhaps too the competition; but that's nothing new. It's an ever-evolving industry, and there's room enough for everyone.


Continue to write and edit with heart, and readers will inevitably find you.



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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.


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