AI: My Trusty Writing Sidekick, but Never the Lead Actor

I use AI every day as a writer. Yet, I never let it write for me.

Huh?

4 AI prompts I actually use as a writer

Generative AI has made creating content easier. You can type in a prompt and away it goes with a full essay or article.

Because of this, people often ask if I think AI will make writers and storytellers irrelevant.

My answer is absolutely not.

Just like recorded tracks didn’t eliminate live music — the heart, soul, and personality of writing don’t come from a machine.

Tools like ChatGPT make us faster and better at the craft.

I use AI in the same way I would use a 2nd-year analyst: someone who knows enough to carry out my requests and even add some of their own input.

I ask questions and it eagerly returns with an answer.

It produces a lot, quickly. It also needs a lot of direction to be an effective tool.

4 prompts I actually use

On a given day, I might ask for help with any of these things:

Gathering facts (which I verify)

Prompt: write a summary for each of these LinkedIn automation tools. Include what they do, what their limitations are, and why someone would choose to use them [insert tools to research]

Writing headlines and hooks

Prompt: write 5 potential titles for this workshop, and make them funny: [insert copy]

Generating concepts for visuals

Prompt: come up with three ideas for a one-page visual to accompany this article. Provide the headline for the single slide and a description of what should go on the page in the form of a simple graphic and text [insert article]

Smoothing out clunky language

Prompt: make this article better, but keep the tone conversational [insert copy]

AI can’t replace your voice

While I find tremendous value in AI tools, they can’t do everything.

What AI can’t replicate today:

  • The ability to synthesize and find novel insights — AI aggregates insights that others have already published

  • My unique voice, word choices, and style — what it writes doesn’t sound ‘like me’

  • A nuanced sense of humor — AI jokes are pretty corny

  • The pattern of my writing — I like to use breaks and bullets, AI tends toward prose

If you aren’t already playing with AI tools — test them out, see how they can make your work better, easier, and faster.

At the same time, keep an eye on the humanness you add to the process that can’t be replicated!