So when I read your article two days ago, I was having a hard time figuring out what to say that wasn’t already said by the other commenters.
I think after some thought- I’ve come down to this.
I agree with you on not getting the point of putting my ideas through an AI to write them for me.
I experimented with it in the past a bit over a year and a half ago, and found ways for it to break writers block that any human can replicate by simply writing the dumbest shit they can think of again and again until they figure out the right sentence they want.
But after I became more educated how these models learned and worked to begin with, I cut it out from creative use because like you, it wasn't about cash and fame. Do I think I'd like those things in the future- yeah. But ever since I was little kid, writing is first and foremost an avenue of self-expression and art for me.
I don't want to get to the big leagues on the use of a tech that had to steal from others and has a mass environmental impact. The ending rarely mattered to me, the journey did. Getting it on shelves is the dream; and the work makes it possible.
So I keep sitting with my pages app open, rubbing my temples, and trying to figure out how to break a silly writer's block because nothing feels right as I type it out. But once I do, it feels like something slips into place.
The flow state as you describe it for me is a journey that hits the right markers and then settles, lets me be satisfied with the work I've done and the story I've told.
Anyways, thanks for writing this piece and giving a voice to what many of us in the creative side are trying to say in a way that's comprehensible and hits for a general audience. I appreciate you coming out of your break to share with the rest of us your thoughts.
welcome back Ian!! Was so happy to see your name. I'm conflicted about the AI use because I use it to brainstorm ideas. I cannot however imagine ever asking it to write a plot, create something for me or allow it to take over my writing. when using it's mostly about, does this make sense, did I repeat myself. Some people see it as 'cheating' I guess but I feel it makes my own writing better.
I don't know about editing with AI and at what point it becomes "cheating". Grammar and spelling are one thing, but when it offers to rewrite a part to make it sound more natural... I guess that's when the problems start ... It's difficult.
I so enjoyed this! I want my writing to be my writing! But there is a new world on the horizon and I’m sure it will take many away on its magic carpet ride. I don’t want to lose my creativity but I won’t lie there are times when I’ve been so stuck I may or may not have asked for help. 😳
I guess I’m just so obsessed about doing it myself that I wouldn’t want to ask AI “where should I take my story from here?” because it defeats the purpose of the creative process, for me!
No I agree! I don’t use it to write for me. But I have used it as an editor. I am writing a memoir so even if I’m stuck, it’s my story so I can’t really see asking for it to write it. When I say I may ask for help, it may be with a word I can’t quite find or editorial help. But I 100% agree with your entire premise. I fear for the future of creativity as more and more find it just easier to go the AI route. What happens if we just let go of what’s inside us and let a machine write our thoughts and what we have inside of us? Everything goes flat. All the sentences sound the same. Overuse of the same words. It’s like taking the color away. I pray that never happens.
Oh got you! Like I wrote in the post, I absolutely use it to replace (or speed up) a google search or research. I feel like that's a clear line though: there's nothing creative about that. *That's* the tool.
So when I read your article two days ago, I was having a hard time figuring out what to say that wasn’t already said by the other commenters.
I think after some thought- I’ve come down to this.
I agree with you on not getting the point of putting my ideas through an AI to write them for me.
I experimented with it in the past a bit over a year and a half ago, and found ways for it to break writers block that any human can replicate by simply writing the dumbest shit they can think of again and again until they figure out the right sentence they want.
But after I became more educated how these models learned and worked to begin with, I cut it out from creative use because like you, it wasn't about cash and fame. Do I think I'd like those things in the future- yeah. But ever since I was little kid, writing is first and foremost an avenue of self-expression and art for me.
I don't want to get to the big leagues on the use of a tech that had to steal from others and has a mass environmental impact. The ending rarely mattered to me, the journey did. Getting it on shelves is the dream; and the work makes it possible.
So I keep sitting with my pages app open, rubbing my temples, and trying to figure out how to break a silly writer's block because nothing feels right as I type it out. But once I do, it feels like something slips into place.
The flow state as you describe it for me is a journey that hits the right markers and then settles, lets me be satisfied with the work I've done and the story I've told.
Anyways, thanks for writing this piece and giving a voice to what many of us in the creative side are trying to say in a way that's comprehensible and hits for a general audience. I appreciate you coming out of your break to share with the rest of us your thoughts.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing all of that! Loved reading it and really appreciate you putting in so much thought into something I wrote 💓
welcome back Ian!! Was so happy to see your name. I'm conflicted about the AI use because I use it to brainstorm ideas. I cannot however imagine ever asking it to write a plot, create something for me or allow it to take over my writing. when using it's mostly about, does this make sense, did I repeat myself. Some people see it as 'cheating' I guess but I feel it makes my own writing better.
Heeey!! Thank you!! 💓
I don't know about editing with AI and at what point it becomes "cheating". Grammar and spelling are one thing, but when it offers to rewrite a part to make it sound more natural... I guess that's when the problems start ... It's difficult.
I so enjoyed this! I want my writing to be my writing! But there is a new world on the horizon and I’m sure it will take many away on its magic carpet ride. I don’t want to lose my creativity but I won’t lie there are times when I’ve been so stuck I may or may not have asked for help. 😳
Hey, you do you!!!
I guess I’m just so obsessed about doing it myself that I wouldn’t want to ask AI “where should I take my story from here?” because it defeats the purpose of the creative process, for me!
No I agree! I don’t use it to write for me. But I have used it as an editor. I am writing a memoir so even if I’m stuck, it’s my story so I can’t really see asking for it to write it. When I say I may ask for help, it may be with a word I can’t quite find or editorial help. But I 100% agree with your entire premise. I fear for the future of creativity as more and more find it just easier to go the AI route. What happens if we just let go of what’s inside us and let a machine write our thoughts and what we have inside of us? Everything goes flat. All the sentences sound the same. Overuse of the same words. It’s like taking the color away. I pray that never happens.
Oh got you! Like I wrote in the post, I absolutely use it to replace (or speed up) a google search or research. I feel like that's a clear line though: there's nothing creative about that. *That's* the tool.
Yes! Exactly! 😃. I’m holding on to my voice tightly! 😊
Writing is fun because we're using our imagination to make shit up! Why else do it.
So true. If people need AI for ideas, for plots, for anything significant, than maybe writing isn't the profession for them.
Exactly. The time spent in the flow state is life.
There really is nothing like it.