Two Reasons Not to Use AI to Write Your Novels

by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt
“Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world.” Brené Brown (1965-), American professor and author
I’m not a fan of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 
Whew! It feels good to say that right up front. 
To be more specific, I’m not a fan of AI when it comes to writing my novels. 
I’ve heard lots of reasons why AI is beneficial to writers for brainstorming, researching, writing back cover copy. I’ve listened in on both virtual and face-to-face conversations where other writers touted the advantages of AI.
Who ya gonna call when you need help? 
AI.
Not this writer. 
May I remind you what those two letters stand for? Artificial Intelligence. 
Artificial: made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural. Synonyms: false, simulated, affected. 
Artificial Intelligence is the “simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.” (Emphasis mine.)
Yes, I googled that definition from techtarget.com, and Google is a form of AI. Call me out, if you will. But it’s one thing to google a definition for a blog post and another thing to have AI brainstorm my novel’s scene for me.
I’ve pondered the issue. A lot. I’ve prayed. A lot. 
AI is not for me—or rather, I’m not for AI.
Why, you ask?
Two Reasons.
Reason #1
Writing, first and foremost, is an act of creativity. Yes, writing takes discipline. It’s a craft you learn and improve on and given time and effort, excel at. But writing requires inspiration and imagination.
AI is not creative because creativity involves the use of imagination and original ideas. AI doesn’t have an imagination. And there’s nothing original about AI. (Doublecheck the previous definitions.)
When I’m working on a new novel idea, I love brainstorming with other writers—other creatives. I toss ideas back and forth with another writer or my mentor or my craft group until things start to gel: my characters, my plot; my Inciting Incident. (I also loved this brainstorming process when I wrote non-fiction.)
But Beth, you say, you can enter questions into ChatGPT and get ideas for your book that can prompt your creativity.
Yes, yes, I can. Read on.
Reason #2
ChatGPT—AI—doesn’t know me. ChatGPT doesn’t know my writing voice. There’s no relationship between me and AI. 
When I brainstorm with another writer, that writer’s creativity and inspiration connect with my creativity and inspiration. This can never happen with a computer program because a computer is a machine—there’s no heart, no soul to connect to. True connection is about relationship, about understanding not only the writing process, but each other. 
AI may be faster than the tried-and-true way of tossing ideas back and forth with other writers, of praying and mulling and as we untangle a scene, but I’m okay with that. Sometimes slower is better. Ideas take time. 
Writing is a process, not a sprint to some artificially enhanced finish line.
TWEETABLETwo Reasons Not to Use AI to Write Your Novels from@BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, released June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.