A year ago, we published a post on using AI to write your book. Since then, much has happened with AI. And no, I’m not talking about the warnings that it could delete our civilization, although that’s relevant too. Rather, AI has infiltrated into our daily lives, advising us on everything from physical maladies to how to argue politics. Even those of us inclined not to use it for various reasons may be lured by its ability to interpret our hip MRI results (ask me how I know).
As a book editor, I am seeing AI’s influence in many of the manuscripts I receive. More authors are treating generative AI almost like it’s their own personal ghostwriter.
But here’s the catch: Even if you train your chosen AI entity to write like you, it’s not human. And so far, it’s not tricking editing professionals who can recognize the difference. Like a bank teller who is trained to spot a counterfeit bill, we (as editors and ghostwriters) can usually tell when a book has been heavily influenced by generative AI.
In short, the writing it produces may sound impactful in the micro, but it usually falls short in the macro.
I believe readers, too, are more savvy than authors may think. This is why it’s critical to learn the limitations (and strengths) of using AI in the book-writing process.
Here are some trends to watch out for in AI writing.
Predictable Sentence Structure
I see these patterns regularly in AI-generated writing:
“It’s not x; it’s y.”
This pattern speaks for itself. Almost all AI-generated content uses it on repeat.
“It was dark. Stormy. And not conducive to what needed to happen next.”
AI loves to use sentence fragments for impact. The same goes for very, very short paragraphs on repeat.
“We are all part of the human nature stew. But the algebra has changed.”
This sounds pithy, but it’s a mixed metaphor. And if you really think about it, does it even make sense?
Emotionally Dramatic Writing
The best writers do include dramatic statements to grab their reader’s attention. (They may even use, “It’s not x; it’s y.”) But they don’t keep the same level of intensity in every sentence.
Imagine a siren starts blaring in your neighborhood. At first, you’d go outside to ensure your neighbor is OK. But after you’ve a heard it for an hour (and know your neighbor is fine), it just gets annoying. The intense noise is no longer doing its job, and your brain tunes it out (or convinces you to go to Costco).
AI-generated content is often like that siren. It grabs you and pulls you in, which is why it can be quite effective for short-form writing. But it tends to stay at the same level of intensity, which ultimately makes it monotonous to read in long-form.
Skilled human writing leverages more than one emotion.
Think of the best television shows you’ve seen. Even if you’re watching a comedy, the most moving series typically include moments of drama—and maybe even adventure.
Or consider your favorite musical artists, who tend to bring complexity in their range.
This applies to keynote speaking too. When my husband, Scott, delivers a speech, he leans heavily into humor, but sometimes he shares deeply touching material. Then, right at the moment when someone is about to cry (or become depressed), he drops the perfect line to elicit laughter again—not in an inappropriate way, but to provide a necessary emotional release.
When you’re writing, consider the emotional journey you’re taking someone on. Do not be like the siren going off; be like a music composer who chooses notes intentionally.
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
I cannot understate this. AI-generated content is nearly always repetitive in long-form. It usually begins to recycle the same words and premises. You might not notice it if you only read a few pages. But you don’t want your reader to only read a few pages; you want them to finish your book and then write you a five-star review.
You might think I’m opposed to working with anyone who has used AI on their manuscript. That’s not the case. I appreciate that for some authors, writing is hard. Using AI to start their book may be the only way it will get documented. I respect any method that gets a writer to write. BUT. (See dramatic use of fragment.) Please recognize it for what it is, and hire a professional to convert your writing into the human book your soul really wants to create.
Better yet, back up. Before you produce a book using AI, talk to a writing coach, editor, or ghostwriter. They may be able to guide you in a more efficient method to get your project done. (Believe it or not, some AI-generated content requires more editing than its human counterparts, not less.)
If you want to know what AI can do well in the writing process, I still find it helpful for organizing ideas/content into an outline, conducting research, and providing beta-reader type feedback once you’ve written something. (But only do the latter if your publisher is comfortable with it, and you are OK releasing your creative content into the wild; use caution because copyright and other concerns come into play.) It’s also helpful for refining short-form content, like marketing blurbs and author bios.
Any questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Happy writing!
