Why I Write: A Response to an AI Accusation
Good afternoon, friends and amazing readers!
Recently, I received a comment accusing me of using AI to write my books. It wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this accusation leveled against authors, and I know it won’t be the last. But it stings every time. Not because I cannot handle criticism—I welcome it, in fact—but because the accusation strikes at the very core of why I write, and the life I’ve built around storytelling.
I want to take a moment to address this openly, not just for myself, but for authors everywhere who are facing the same scrutiny.
A Life Devoted to Words
My love affair with writing began when I was a child. Long before algorithms and prompts, there were spiral notebooks filled with half-finished stories, doodles in the margins, and characters who lived rent-free in my imagination. Writing was—and still is—my outlet, my obsession, and my joy. In fact, my first story was written when I was four, about a baby chili pepper and his family of chili peppers. The world was created while helping my grandparents garden, with each section of the garden being a different section of this world.
Over the years, I devoted myself not only to storytelling but also to education. I hold two PhDs, and while they are not in “creative writing” specifically, the discipline, rigor, and years of study have sharpened my ability to fine-tune my craft. Writing, for me, has always been more than just stringing words together—it’s about research, structure, nuance, and creating emotional resonance.
I don’t write because it’s easy. I write because it’s hard. Because it demands all of me—my time, my focus, my heart, and sometimes even my sanity.
The Myth of the “AI Author”
Here’s the reality: yes, AI can produce text. It can mash together patterns, mimic phrasing, and spit out something that looks like a story. But it cannot tell one. Not truly. AI doesn’t sit up at 3 a.m. with tears in its eyes because a character just did something unexpected. It doesn’t wrestle with plot holes for weeks. It doesn’t cut entire chapters because they don’t feel right.
And yet, accusations fly. “This sounds too polished—it must be AI.” Or, “This book is trope-filled—surely it was generated.” But here’s the truth: tropes are not the invention of AI. They’re the backbone of storytelling itself, woven through myths, legends, and literature since the dawn of human expression. To accuse an author of using AI simply because they write in popular or recognizable genres is to misunderstand both the creative process and the purpose of storytelling.
The Negative Impacts of AI on Creative Spaces
I’ve spoken out many times about the harms of AI in creative industries, and I will continue to do so. Here are just a few:
Creative theft: AI models are trained on the works of real authors, without consent, compensation, or even acknowledgment. Our blood, sweat, and tears fuel an algorithm that can then be used to compete against us.
Devaluation of craft: When readers assume a polished book must be AI, it undermines the years an author spends honing their voice. It suggests that the work of human creators is indistinguishable from machine output—and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Environmental costs: Training AI requires massive amounts of energy, contributing to the climate crisis in ways few readers realize. Every “instant story” comes with a hidden environmental price tag.
Reader trust: The more AI-generated work floods the market, the harder it becomes for readers to trust that what they’re buying is the product of human passion and care.
These impacts don’t just threaten authors—they threaten the very soul of literature itself.
Proof of the Human Behind the Page
I understand that trust is fragile. Which is why I go out of my way to show readers that my work is mine. I write most of my books live on TikTok, interacting with readers in real time as the words take shape. I keep notebooks full of outlines, character sheets, and messy drafts. My team of editors, alpha readers, beta readers, and ARC reviewers all walk with me through the process. I spend hours marketing, proofreading, and revising—because that’s what it takes to create something lasting.
So yes, I will always defend myself and other authors against these accusations. Not because my ego is wounded, but because my humanity is being questioned.
Why I’ll Keep Writing
At the end of the day, I don’t claim to be the best author. I claim only to be one who shows up. Every morning, every late night, every draft. I show up for my characters, for my stories, and for the readers who believe in me.
And that’s something AI will never replicate.
So if you’ve ever loved one of my books, if you’ve ever smiled, cried, or stayed up too late turning just one more page—know this: you weren’t reading the output of a machine. You were holding a piece of me.
Thank you so much!
Jeanette Clarke
PSA—some of my books do have meaty chapters, some do need continuity editing, some do break the fourth wall (on purpose), and some do have a crap-ton of em-dashs, but that does not mean it's written by AI.
Recently, I received a comment accusing me of using AI to write my books. It wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this accusation leveled against authors, and I know it won’t be the last. But it stings every time. Not because I cannot handle criticism—I welcome it, in fact—but because the accusation strikes at the very core of why I write, and the life I’ve built around storytelling.
I want to take a moment to address this openly, not just for myself, but for authors everywhere who are facing the same scrutiny.
A Life Devoted to Words
My love affair with writing began when I was a child. Long before algorithms and prompts, there were spiral notebooks filled with half-finished stories, doodles in the margins, and characters who lived rent-free in my imagination. Writing was—and still is—my outlet, my obsession, and my joy. In fact, my first story was written when I was four, about a baby chili pepper and his family of chili peppers. The world was created while helping my grandparents garden, with each section of the garden being a different section of this world.
Over the years, I devoted myself not only to storytelling but also to education. I hold two PhDs, and while they are not in “creative writing” specifically, the discipline, rigor, and years of study have sharpened my ability to fine-tune my craft. Writing, for me, has always been more than just stringing words together—it’s about research, structure, nuance, and creating emotional resonance.
I don’t write because it’s easy. I write because it’s hard. Because it demands all of me—my time, my focus, my heart, and sometimes even my sanity.
The Myth of the “AI Author”
Here’s the reality: yes, AI can produce text. It can mash together patterns, mimic phrasing, and spit out something that looks like a story. But it cannot tell one. Not truly. AI doesn’t sit up at 3 a.m. with tears in its eyes because a character just did something unexpected. It doesn’t wrestle with plot holes for weeks. It doesn’t cut entire chapters because they don’t feel right.
And yet, accusations fly. “This sounds too polished—it must be AI.” Or, “This book is trope-filled—surely it was generated.” But here’s the truth: tropes are not the invention of AI. They’re the backbone of storytelling itself, woven through myths, legends, and literature since the dawn of human expression. To accuse an author of using AI simply because they write in popular or recognizable genres is to misunderstand both the creative process and the purpose of storytelling.
The Negative Impacts of AI on Creative Spaces
I’ve spoken out many times about the harms of AI in creative industries, and I will continue to do so. Here are just a few:
Creative theft: AI models are trained on the works of real authors, without consent, compensation, or even acknowledgment. Our blood, sweat, and tears fuel an algorithm that can then be used to compete against us.
Devaluation of craft: When readers assume a polished book must be AI, it undermines the years an author spends honing their voice. It suggests that the work of human creators is indistinguishable from machine output—and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Environmental costs: Training AI requires massive amounts of energy, contributing to the climate crisis in ways few readers realize. Every “instant story” comes with a hidden environmental price tag.
Reader trust: The more AI-generated work floods the market, the harder it becomes for readers to trust that what they’re buying is the product of human passion and care.
These impacts don’t just threaten authors—they threaten the very soul of literature itself.
Proof of the Human Behind the Page
I understand that trust is fragile. Which is why I go out of my way to show readers that my work is mine. I write most of my books live on TikTok, interacting with readers in real time as the words take shape. I keep notebooks full of outlines, character sheets, and messy drafts. My team of editors, alpha readers, beta readers, and ARC reviewers all walk with me through the process. I spend hours marketing, proofreading, and revising—because that’s what it takes to create something lasting.
So yes, I will always defend myself and other authors against these accusations. Not because my ego is wounded, but because my humanity is being questioned.
Why I’ll Keep Writing
At the end of the day, I don’t claim to be the best author. I claim only to be one who shows up. Every morning, every late night, every draft. I show up for my characters, for my stories, and for the readers who believe in me.
And that’s something AI will never replicate.
So if you’ve ever loved one of my books, if you’ve ever smiled, cried, or stayed up too late turning just one more page—know this: you weren’t reading the output of a machine. You were holding a piece of me.
Thank you so much!
Jeanette Clarke
PSA—some of my books do have meaty chapters, some do need continuity editing, some do break the fourth wall (on purpose), and some do have a crap-ton of em-dashs, but that does not mean it's written by AI.
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It hurts to be told that my work, my work of 13 years, is claimed to be written by AI.
Don't they know where we got the rules that we followed in writing? Then now compare it to where Ai got this as well.
It's so heartbreaking.
Hope that everyone who encounters a review that says or claims that the work is AI will look pass it and will actually take the time to read it.