AI Novels: How Good is Good Enough?
Fast, Cheap, Good. You can only have two.
I recommend all authors write a complete book with AI. Not to publish it, mind you. Just as an exercise. Once you go through the process, generating and regenerating text again and again, you will be able to absorb the patterns that AI spits out. No matter how good the model is, they all have a similar way of writing. It repeats itself. It tactically ignores instructions you’ve given it. It uses the same turn of phrase.
It loves to “delve deep.” It loves to have the “sun dip low over the horizon, casting shadows across the floor/tree line/ocean.”
And once you see it, you can’t ever unsee it.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t use AI in your writing. But being well-acquainted with it means you use it in the best possible way for you.
It also means you make good purchasing decisions when deciding to hire someone to write content for you.
What Your Money Gets You
We’ve all gotten bad service or substandard bang for our buck. It doesn’t feel good.
But sometimes, the customer isn’t right and what they expected for the money is unreasonable.
Or they ask for something without really understanding what they’re asking for.
I offer two kinds of ghostwriting: one bespoke (No AI, completely customized to the client’s story and preferences), and one AI-assisted. That’s when the client gives me an outline or plot points, I have AI generate the story and then I edit it to make sure those AI-isms aren’t apparent.
It’s a quick and dirty job, one most popular with:
Nonfiction info products to be given away as a lead magnet or part of an email funnel
Short stories or novellas to be used as a lead magnet or gift to Patreon subscribers
One thing no one ever wants from my AI-assisted service? Their debut novel.
Until, of course, one did.
This isn’t some “client drama” story. There was no drama. Be ordered his products on my website, mentioned he was excited, paid for it, and I delivered.
After the fact, he made his displeasure known, but nothing beyond that.
What struck me was that in talking about his displeasure, he asked me: “I’ve read your books and they’re much better. So would you publish this book you delivered to me under your own name? Why is it good enough for me but not for you?”
This person was comparing an AI-assisted novel created and delivered in 2 weeks with my human-written novels, the shortest of which took me TWO YEARS to write.
So I answered his question. It was more politely phrased, but basically, “Hell no I wouldn’t publish this under my own name.” Because I understand what AI is for and what its limitations are.
I also understand that there is a cost to rapid release.
I rapid released one book, using AI for outlining. It was the Prince’s Pawn, and as I’ve mentioned before, I HATED how it turned out. I don’t like the MMC. I don’t like the plot.
But I still released it after pumping it out in a few months, following the tropes… writing to market.
I rushed. I focused on appeasing an audience.
And I hate it. (I’m in the process of rewriting it)
The worst thing an author could do it create a book they won’t be happy with.
If you’re buying a ghostwriting service, ask yourself if you’re focusing on the end product, or exclusively on the budget.
If you’re writing your own novel, ask yourself if you’re doing it in a way that you will be pleased with at the end.
ICYMI
New video this week: I had an eye-opening experience transitioning from an Amazon Kindle to a Kobo e-reader. It became obvious that people like Louis Rossman aren't far off when they warn companies like Amazon are removing the concept of ownership all together. A must watch for ebook lovers
You nailed it! I absolutely loved this article. Someone once asked me how long I thought it would take them to write their first book. I told them it took me around 2 years to write my first one. They laughed and said that they could easily do it in less than half that time. That was over 2 years ago and they never finished chapter 1. Writing takes so much more work than people realize.
I've had writers and readers ask me basically the same thing: Do I, or would I, use AI to assist me in my writing?
My answer is usually something like, "I don't want to cheat my readers, or myself."
I don't write to market. I write stories I think people will enjoy reading.
And one of the secrets of writing, in my opinion is, writers don't just write because we have stories to tell: we also have stories we want to read. And no one but us is going to write those particular stories. 🙂