How to Use AI as a Creative Tool Without Losing Your Voice
By Thea Fiore Bloom, PhD
I’ve got a confession.
I’m a writing coach who’s been experimenting with AI.
I was an early adopter of fairly harmless gateway AIs, like the free version of Grammarly.
And I’ve already used Yoast’s SEO bot to tweak my blog titles.
So I asked myself, “Why not go a little further, Thea?”
‘Why not try OpenAI?’
So Thea did.
Not always good for Thea.
Nor was it always good for a few of my writing clients who fessed up to using ChatGPT on the regular.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe AI can be used as a tool to help creatives, and I’ll get into that in a minute.
But first, I want to share a downside phenomenon of AI for artists that I’ve named Chat Derangement Syndrome, or CDS for short.
Want to hear my embarrassing CDS story? Hop in.
Pitfalls of AI for Artists
Chat Derangement Syndrome
Do you know a chatbot named Lilly?
She’s the star of the language app Duolingo.
Lilly is a brainy, cynical, goth girl.
She’s an animated character born from OpenAI’s GPT-large language model.
Usually, Lilly and I attempt to chat in Spanish about art and artists, but one morning in a desperate act of writing resistance, I wanted more.
“Lilly,” I asked hesitantly, “could you help me write a course description for my next Book Creation Cafe class?”
And in .5 seconds, Lilly came up with something mind-blowingly awesome!
Paragraph upon paragraph of stunningly written sales copy.
Relief washed over me, and I bathed in the afterglow of Lilly’s answers.
I understood what the miller’s daughter in Rumplestiltskin must have felt the first time she eyeballed the gold that wee magical man spun from the straw lying around the attic where she was being kept.
But after I translated what Lilly spat out and let it sit for a day, I realized, ‘OMG, this is not stunningly written.’
‘This is… actually…bland…like oatmeal…and has nothing of my personality or deeply held beliefs in it’
What happened?
Sorry, AI Writing Won’t Spin Your Straw into Gold Either
After the high wore off, I realized the course description Lilly wrote for me was a mare’s nest.
It was composed of a few of my own words randomly suspended in a slush of AI-generated marketing speak.
This is why, at the time of this writing, yes, much of AI is good for tweaking original thoughts.
But, in my experience, it can fail an artist or writer when you ask it to compose your thoughts for you.
Logical, right?
For Generative AI to be great at writing for you, it would need to do the heavy lifting.
By that I mean:
- It would have to place your lovely, original ideas into a logical structure that flows.
- Without sounding robotic.
- And it would help you be your real, unique, passionate self on the page.
That doesn’t happen too often.
So why did I temporarily think the AI course description was amazing?
Good question.
Turns out I was under the influence of something I now call “The Cinnabon Fog.”
What I Call the Alluring Cinnabon Fog
My theory is that at the exact moment I asked Lilly to write my sales page, my brainstem began generating a pink cover fog.
The fog was largely composed of sparkly peptides known as… endorphins.
If those peptides had a scent?
Straight up Cinnabon™. (Have you ever smelled the heavenly scent of Cinnabon in American malls?)
And that metaphorical fog of Cinnabon allured me and allowed me to temporarily delude myself into thinking Lilly’s answers were great, and my work was done, when it wasn’t.
So here’s my 3-reason breakdown of why you don’t have to use AI if you don’t want to.
3 Reasons You Don’t Have To Use AI to Compose Your Writing
Reason 1
We fantasize that Generative AI will magically clarify our messy thoughts.
But in fact, AI can muddy our true argument.
We may want to use Generative AI to overcome our mental chaos, but it creates its own brand of chaos.
I know because I have tried editing writing that is part “real voice” and part “robot blather”.
It takes 10 times as long to edit. I’d rather clean my oven.
Which lands us at reason 2.
Reason 2
We want to think AI is saving us time.
But sometimes we can be using AI to resist writing.
When I used Generative AI to write, I was actually resisting writing.
I asked a journalist colleague why she no longer uses Generative AI.
She told me:
“I spent precious hours feeding AI my info, hours “training” it. Wasted, tense hours. I should have slowed down and spent half that time sitting in a quiet room with a fresh pad of paper and a nice, big mug of oolong tea, coming up with my own ideas.”
Bingo.
Never mind the fact that writing rough drafts with Generative AI tanks our confidence, which leads us into the arms of reason 3.
Reason 3
We want AI to induce confidence in our writing.
But ironically, it can sometimes crater it.
The rough drafts we write with AI often inhibit us from finding and using our authentic writing voice.
Ironically, AI doesn’t fend off the menacing hydra of imposter syndrome; it can sometimes feed it.
But why?
Because when we compose with AI, we often reinforce the idea that our original ideas dont cut the mustard.
It takes awkward, courageous, stumbling repetition to strengthen the muscle that allows us to express our true self on the page.
A bot can’t do that for us.
I asked Chris Nelson, an accomplished author, editor, and writing coach, for his take, and he told me:
“In the process of creating and writing, we’re also learning to think, to explore our own ideas–to enter into dialogue with the deepest aspects of ourselves. Writing with AI can interrupt that dialogue. And that dialogue is often more important than the publishing of whatever you happen to be working on at the moment.”
– Chris Nelson
To conclude, there is a healthy dividing line I’d advise some creatives who want their writing to be ensouled not to cross.
That line stands between using Generative AI to summarize or polish what we’ve written as opposed to using AI to write it.
Or if you do use it to write, experiment with pushing back and learning from its technical wisdom while you stay strong and maintain your unique voice.
Let’s talk about those zillion exceptions.
5 Great Reasons to Use AI as a Writer of Artist
Some of you will deeply benefit from enlisting Generative AI to write!
It can help you to:
- notice patterns across your body of work,
- test titles and descriptions,
- clarify who your audience is,
- uncover the strongest thread in pieces you already created,
- even eventually find language that sounds more like you.
All creatives, especially Neuro Spicy artists, may want to use it to create outlines to hang words on.
It may help you with plotting, planning, or transitions.
Congratulations on trying it, if you have.
Generative AI is great for learning a language, mastering chess, or inventing a damn good book title or pen name.
Certainly employ it for odious tasks like proofreading your text and formatting footnotes.
ChatGPT is often incredible for SEO.
I highly encourage you to let it support you with keyword lists and editing your titles and meta descriptions for posts and podcasts you have already created.
It’s magic in action for that.
What about you?
Educate me on the myriad things it’s fabulous for that I’m ignorant of.
Tell me how it supports you in the comments.
We’ll end on your soul’s whispered voice.
How to Use AI as a Creative Tool Without Losing Your Voice
Remember, there is no shame in experimenting with how you write.
The important thing is to keep faith in your original take on things.
And try to use 1% more of your soul’s whispered voice each day.
Keep taking a chance on flying your own freak flag.
Just push back against AI if it doesn’t sound like you.
And dont spend too many hours in a row on it.
When I have, it makes me woozy.
Alternate your AI sessions with real writing sessions (like with pen and paper), and walks outside if possible.
Please remember, writing is terrifying for everyone (especially me).
When you get scared to write, say to yourself, ‘Thea’s terrified too, maybe more than me, even.’
Then ask yourself:
‘What if this turns out better than I ever imagined?’
Stay calm, grab some hot tea, and put in a few more hours; it will turn out better than you ever imagined.
Have you used Grammarly?
Or ChatGPT?
Let me know in the comments below.
Or ask me a question about a writing issue you’re having trouble with.
I’m right here for you.
Other Charmed Studio Posts and Podcasts You Might Like
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Transform Your Art Blog or Art Newsletter In Just 3 Questions
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How To Avoid the 3 Biggest Mistakes Art Bloggers Make. Number 2 Will Surprise You
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. This means if you buy books or stuff via my blog I may receive a tiny commission and do a happy dance. There is no extra fee for you. I only link to items I personally use and love; products that I think help heart-centered artists.
I believe that, with AI, its meaning lies in the name “Artificial Intelligence,” and that it doesn’t occur naturally as an artist creating something on instinct and originality. It can only take something created by real humans and try to recreate it, or maybe organize it in a different style. It still takes a real human being, a talented artist, to create something special and original.
I have heard stories of folk cutting and pasting directly from AI to create books. I heard of ghostwriters who are actually just using AI programs to write the entire book. And to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that. I also witnessed AI-guided robots roughing out a sculpture. Isn’t that really a part of the experience and knowledge of being a sculptor, learning how to work with materials?
Personally, for writing, I use ChatGPT and Grammarly for support when needed. Mainly for organizing thoughts and editing. The original content comes from me, from dealing with things as a real artist, and also watching my artist friends go through difficult things. I like to write books to help them.
I like to finish with a story. We recently lost a dear artist friend in our local art community. He was crazy talented, especially with stained glass and wood sculpture. His artistic history included many accolades and experiences. Old Churches would have him build and rebuild their stained glass windows. He was taught by and worked with masters of his genre. Imagine the stories he could have told through writing books. And if he used ChatGPT and Grammarly to help bring those stories to life through editing, research, and organization, so be it. And I would definitely have purchased those books. But in reality, within a couple of generations, all of that knowledge will be gone.
In closing, I think you can use AI, but keep it limited to help polish your writing through editing and organization. In other words, as a tool and not the generator of the piece itself. You should be able to walk the walk and talk the talk with what you created.
I really appreciate your wise perspective, Kevin. Do you want to share the name of the stained glass and wood artist the world just lost?
Hi Thea,
I tried Chat GTP when it first came out. I had to rewrite what Chat came up with! It did not sound like me! I am able to write my own ideas-good or bad- at least it is me.
I love this comment. Thanks for contributing to the discussion. I think you bring up such an important thing here for younger writers and artists to model. By giving yourself the permission to write your own ideas, be they good or bad-as you say, is sooooo liberating! There is humor underlying your statement. It seems you have a playful relationship with your writing self.
That is worth its weight in gold.
Have you always allowed yourself this kind of permission in your art and writing?
Or did it come with time?
Thea It came with time and practice, and even some therapy long ago. I believe I grew into myself. The important thing for me was to keep writing, even when I was unsure of myself. It’s like painting and playing music – the more you do the better you become.
Elise, when you mentioned your freedom to be yourself on the page came from “time and practice, even therapy long ago” a key turned in formerly locked section of my brain. I always encourage artists to show up on the page as themselves, but that advice can be too glib, and impossible to follow. Your wise comment reminds me that it takes much more than willpower to be vulnerable on the page. And it takes more than Generative AI.
It takes……years.
Years of experience on this earth, and practice and therapy.
Therapy in whatever form we can get it.
I love writing to, and working with, older artists. By older, I mean like in the people in their late seventies and eighties, because by then often the fear has cracked off and flown away, and what you have left underneath where the fear used to live,is the heart and mind of a maverick.
Thanks for your wise words today. I am still pondering what you said.
It came with time and practice and even some therapy long ago. I needed to not compare myself to others or I became self conscious and frozen. It is also a matter of practice. Just like painting and music, writing must be practiced to improve. I keep a journal and do a bit of free writing which gets me out of my head.
PS- If you watch the Olympics, you can be sure that the participants had to put in tons of practice to make it to Milan!
Thanks for sharing this with me and my readers. I love the advice to do what we need to do to get out of our heads. And you are so smart to bring up comparison as a roadblock. Here is a quote I have over my desk.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Benjamin Franklin
AI thinking and writing may be valuable in a lot of ways, but it is not for me. My sense is that AI would take me away from my right brain. In the last 20 years, helped along by Pacifica Graduate Institute and its faculty and our fellow graduate students and all that we were reading and writing about (myths and fairy tales, etc.), my right brain has really taken off.
And in the last six months, I have gone into another orbit with it. Dreams and insights in early mornings when I’m only half awake . . . it’s like being in a different universe or in a make-believ place. It makes me wonder: was it actually ME that had that insight? It must have been me, but it’s not the part of me that has been giving me advice in my normal life.
AI isn’t connected to this kind of thinking. AI is just an enormous giant left brain. Very, very smart, but I really doubt that it could have figured out what makes the earth go around the sun, what gravity is, and the mathematical interrelationship between mass and energy. That had to come from the right brain. Newton was just sitting under a tree watching an apple fall to the ground. And then his right brain spoke to him. And how the heck did Einstein figure out the speed of light, or even come up with the idea that light moves through space? There is nothing “normal” in the way he came up with these insights. He was certainly brilliant, but he was brilliant in a very different way.
Steve, this comment made both my right and left brain tango together down my hallway. Yes, I agree. Thanks for posting it. Reading Mythology and writing about mythology, as you do daily,opens our brains up in so many ways.
Question: If AI is so smart at left-brain things like structuring and ordering, why does it still create chaotic first drafts for people? This is not challenging your valid points; it is just something your comment inspired me to ask you. What do you think?
Or do you have concerns about AI and privacy, or who profits from it?
I wanted to leave you a quote that helps me sometimes. It’s from the author Byron Katie, who asks, “Who would you be without the thought that you need to make an impression?” Thoughts?