I find that my own "personal cliches" -- words and phrases I have used in previous poems -- are my nemesis. In one of my prepublication chapbooks, I found the word "tangled" nearly a dozen time. Each time was in a different context, but it was repetitive enough to notice. Culprit? Curly hair!
Thanks, Frances. Boy, that's all of us, that's for sure. I think it was Hemingway that said we're all trying to master a field that has no masters, but could be wrong about who said it. Truth, regardless who :)
There are shades of gray when it comes to the use of AI in writing. Everything depends on how it’s used. Anybody who uses a grammar or spell checker is using AI. It doesn’t change the writer’s voice. Using search engines to do research is using AI. It doesn’t do the writing. Is anyone going to return to library card catalogues to do research? Is it really better than digital research? One still must cross validate.
On the other hand, anybody who uses AI to wholly generate a poem or a story cannot claim to be a writer. Writing is about craft. Writers must own their voices and their stories. I think there is a lot of knee jerking out there.
I love what you said here, Anne. I use AI for research, to give me points to research. But I agree. When it generates a poem or story, that's not writing. Writing is about craft, for sure
Linda, I want to start by saying how much I admire your writing and your commitment to the craft. You have inspired me more than once. Your clarity and conviction come through in every piece, and it’s clear how much care you put into the work. This piece is no exception.
I also appreciate Anne’s comment, and your response adds thoughtful nuance. This is a conversation I think more writers should be having, honestly, and without fear.
I use AI in many aspects of my life. I use it for research, to consider new concepts, to test ideas. I also use it to review my writing and look for things I may have missed. It helps me think more clearly. Sometimes, it helps me see patterns in my thinking I didn’t realize were there. It engages in a kind of dialogue that helps surface deeper meaning, especially when I’m trying to express something that doesn’t come easily at first.
That said, AI can absolutely be misused. It can be a shortcut. It can trade rigor for speed, depth for convenience. And when that’s the case, the writing suffers. But that’s not about the tool itself. It’s about the attention we bring to the process. What matters, I believe, is how present we are to the work. How willing we are to question, reflect, and refine. No tool can replace that. But some, when used well, can support it.
Every era of creative change brings tension. The same fears surfaced with the typewriter, the camera, the computer, even digital publishing. But art doesn’t vanish with new tools, it adapts. It evolves. And, I’d argue, it enriches because of them. The real challenge isn’t whether we’re for or against AI. It’s whether we’re willing to stay attentive and intentional in how we use it.
I’m committed to the craft. To the voice. To the hours. And I believe those of us who care deeply about writing can hold that standard while still being open to what new tools might help us see more clearly.
Thanks for opening this door. These are the conversations that move us forward.
I agree with this, there is a place for AI, but it's to support us to do more, not replace the human in art. The more technology steps in, the more we seek real connection and creativity.
So much in the world is, indeed, cast in shades of gray. AI has, as you say, its place and a valuable place it is. But the writing, the writing, that's the point. The telling of unique, yet universal, stories in unique, yet profoundly human voices, nourishes, the reader, the listener, and the writer.
That said, using AI to generate a poem...that's so far towards the Dark Side I can no longer see the gray. 🙂
If I take a suggestion on word arrangement from Grammarly, does that mean I've gone over to the dark side of using AI? I take more than 50% of its suggestions; the ones that don't change the sentence's meaning, and it does that more often than I like. Thanks for the thoughts.
Great article, Linda! I’m just getting started on Substack. I look forward to reading more as a I continue to hone my writing craft. And, I wholeheartedly agree with you on AI. I use it a lot as a research assistant but not in writing my stories.
It took you five years. I don't have five years. But I'll keep plugging along to find out what I'm thinking, but even more so, to connect and share my humanity with other real humans. Thank you for this Linda.
Excellent comments! I’m astonished at how many hyped trad published novels (crime fiction genre) break all the five rules of good writing you discuss. Tons of meaningless adverbs, meandering pace, cliches everywhere. What is going on? Have the gatekeepers in publishing lost discernment? Is US education failing? .
It's a good question, and I have no clue either. I do think education is struggling, but it sure doesn't explain what's happening in publishing. All I know is thank goodness for previews because it's kept me from buying books that sounded good in the description. lol
Your point on failing education has merit! As an educator, I believe our biggest problem is getting students to read. If you are not a reader, your writing will suffer.
Agreed. While many parents do actively read with their children, many do not. And of those parents that do read with their children, it does not always last past early childhood. I love my grands, but last summer I offered them huge prizes that I knew they would want in a cool summer reading program. None of them earned a prize because they were more interested in their electronics. How do we fight that lure of the easy entertainment?
My sons were born in the same time frame as your children. Two of them are avid readers (as adults - not so much in high school). Most of my grands don't care much for reading, breaking my Mimi heart, of course. The one who does love to read will enroll in college this fall as an education major.
Happy to hear your daughter (daughter-in-law?) reads to your grandson. It's just the best chance they have!
It's a fairly well known secret that most publishing houses laid off their editorial staff en masse about six years ago, which explains a lot about how the quality of most books have deteriorated. Ironically, it's now self-published writers who are working super hard to turn out excellent books, while many published books are bloated and badly edited.
It's really not that hard if you can learn to separate your creative writer's hat from your hard-nosed editor's cap. And yes, you can even use AI within reason -- to help tell you where grammar should go or point out clunky sentences. But even if I were accepted by a major publisher at this point, I would still shell out some big bucks for a developmental edit from a human being and then a line edit.
This resonated for me, today. I spent over a decade amassing thousands of followers for my Facebook page. You know what all of that algorithm chasing got me?
Precisely nothing.
When I published a 13-part short story on Facebook, fewer than 1% of my followers read every installment.
So, I'm starting-over. I'm writing on Substack and if the tiny crew who've followed me over here want to pay for my work that's an extra coffee or two a month. I'm going to write my stories--in my voice--and revel in each like and share. Even if the like is just from my Mom, at least I know I've made an impression on at least one person.
I have started copying and pasting Substack nuggets into the Notes app on my phone ( which is where I read SS). Your PP quote is there now. Perhaps I should print it out and pin it above my desk for motivation:
‘Philip Pullman said after food, shelter and companionship, stories are what we need most in the world.’
I dread a world in which all art is dismissed as AI. I fear a future in which technology fundamentally changes how we make and interact with art and how artists are treated, which already has a poor precedent, historically speaking. I appreciate your glimmer of hope that people long for real human stories and that will prevail.
Oh god, Bailey I hear you. There's this artist who writes on his profile that abhors AI in the field of art and will never use it. So I license a lot of his work. And people sometimes say omg, why are you using AI images. And my heart cries every time, because they don't know human from AI anymore.
I’d like one on cliche but all of these look interesting x
That's actually a really fun one, and one I had to really watch for because I didn't realize how often I was doing that until I read his book. lol
I find that my own "personal cliches" -- words and phrases I have used in previous poems -- are my nemesis. In one of my prepublication chapbooks, I found the word "tangled" nearly a dozen time. Each time was in a different context, but it was repetitive enough to notice. Culprit? Curly hair!
I second that. I bet I’m doing it without even realising. Will be watching my writing like a hawk for it now. Thanks Linda!
Ha! "like a hawk." Got it.
Ah dang!! You got me!
Thank you for this, Linda. Very thoughtful article. I'm learning more all the time.
Frances
Thanks, Frances. Boy, that's all of us, that's for sure. I think it was Hemingway that said we're all trying to master a field that has no masters, but could be wrong about who said it. Truth, regardless who :)
Yes, indeed!
Thank you, Linda. Openings! I’ve lost count of the # of versions for my finished novel. Lol!
I read a post by a guy who shared 15 different openings he'd written for his. It was a fantastic read, really fun to see writers shape words
I think I’ve done at least 18!!! Ha Ha
That first chapter. I don’t know how many times I’ve rewritten it.
Same here! I check it for hooks, inciting incidents, tension, interiority and so much more. You?
Since I’ve written a nonfiction book, it’s mostly about the hook, the message, the promise, and the structure.
Thank you very much for sharing your heartfelt post
There are shades of gray when it comes to the use of AI in writing. Everything depends on how it’s used. Anybody who uses a grammar or spell checker is using AI. It doesn’t change the writer’s voice. Using search engines to do research is using AI. It doesn’t do the writing. Is anyone going to return to library card catalogues to do research? Is it really better than digital research? One still must cross validate.
On the other hand, anybody who uses AI to wholly generate a poem or a story cannot claim to be a writer. Writing is about craft. Writers must own their voices and their stories. I think there is a lot of knee jerking out there.
I love what you said here, Anne. I use AI for research, to give me points to research. But I agree. When it generates a poem or story, that's not writing. Writing is about craft, for sure
Linda, I want to start by saying how much I admire your writing and your commitment to the craft. You have inspired me more than once. Your clarity and conviction come through in every piece, and it’s clear how much care you put into the work. This piece is no exception.
I also appreciate Anne’s comment, and your response adds thoughtful nuance. This is a conversation I think more writers should be having, honestly, and without fear.
I use AI in many aspects of my life. I use it for research, to consider new concepts, to test ideas. I also use it to review my writing and look for things I may have missed. It helps me think more clearly. Sometimes, it helps me see patterns in my thinking I didn’t realize were there. It engages in a kind of dialogue that helps surface deeper meaning, especially when I’m trying to express something that doesn’t come easily at first.
That said, AI can absolutely be misused. It can be a shortcut. It can trade rigor for speed, depth for convenience. And when that’s the case, the writing suffers. But that’s not about the tool itself. It’s about the attention we bring to the process. What matters, I believe, is how present we are to the work. How willing we are to question, reflect, and refine. No tool can replace that. But some, when used well, can support it.
Every era of creative change brings tension. The same fears surfaced with the typewriter, the camera, the computer, even digital publishing. But art doesn’t vanish with new tools, it adapts. It evolves. And, I’d argue, it enriches because of them. The real challenge isn’t whether we’re for or against AI. It’s whether we’re willing to stay attentive and intentional in how we use it.
I’m committed to the craft. To the voice. To the hours. And I believe those of us who care deeply about writing can hold that standard while still being open to what new tools might help us see more clearly.
Thanks for opening this door. These are the conversations that move us forward.
I agree with this, there is a place for AI, but it's to support us to do more, not replace the human in art. The more technology steps in, the more we seek real connection and creativity.
AI in general, not just in writing, should be there “to support us to do more.”
Yes. I think AI is a marvelous tool for project organization. It's version of art - not a fan.
So much in the world is, indeed, cast in shades of gray. AI has, as you say, its place and a valuable place it is. But the writing, the writing, that's the point. The telling of unique, yet universal, stories in unique, yet profoundly human voices, nourishes, the reader, the listener, and the writer.
That said, using AI to generate a poem...that's so far towards the Dark Side I can no longer see the gray. 🙂
If I take a suggestion on word arrangement from Grammarly, does that mean I've gone over to the dark side of using AI? I take more than 50% of its suggestions; the ones that don't change the sentence's meaning, and it does that more often than I like. Thanks for the thoughts.
Great article, Linda! I’m just getting started on Substack. I look forward to reading more as a I continue to hone my writing craft. And, I wholeheartedly agree with you on AI. I use it a lot as a research assistant but not in writing my stories.
Using AI for composition is like swiping a twenty off the bar to pay your own tab.
Interesting point
Interesting point
It took you five years. I don't have five years. But I'll keep plugging along to find out what I'm thinking, but even more so, to connect and share my humanity with other real humans. Thank you for this Linda.
You inspire me Patricia. I hope I'm still writing in my eighties. And I'm glad you are!
Excellent comments! I’m astonished at how many hyped trad published novels (crime fiction genre) break all the five rules of good writing you discuss. Tons of meaningless adverbs, meandering pace, cliches everywhere. What is going on? Have the gatekeepers in publishing lost discernment? Is US education failing? .
It's a good question, and I have no clue either. I do think education is struggling, but it sure doesn't explain what's happening in publishing. All I know is thank goodness for previews because it's kept me from buying books that sounded good in the description. lol
Do you wonder if it’s self-publishing?
In what sense, Nikki?
I’ve found a lot of self-published authors don’t spend a lot of time editing and polishing their work.
Your point on failing education has merit! As an educator, I believe our biggest problem is getting students to read. If you are not a reader, your writing will suffer.
Young readers start with their parents. You have to read to them every day. That’s how they start to see the words you say as the words on the page.
Agreed. While many parents do actively read with their children, many do not. And of those parents that do read with their children, it does not always last past early childhood. I love my grands, but last summer I offered them huge prizes that I knew they would want in a cool summer reading program. None of them earned a prize because they were more interested in their electronics. How do we fight that lure of the easy entertainment?
I got lucky. My kids were born in the 1980s. We read together until they were about eight or nine.
But my three-year-old grandson? That’s a different story. Still his mom reads to him every night now.
My sons were born in the same time frame as your children. Two of them are avid readers (as adults - not so much in high school). Most of my grands don't care much for reading, breaking my Mimi heart, of course. The one who does love to read will enroll in college this fall as an education major.
Happy to hear your daughter (daughter-in-law?) reads to your grandson. It's just the best chance they have!
It's a fairly well known secret that most publishing houses laid off their editorial staff en masse about six years ago, which explains a lot about how the quality of most books have deteriorated. Ironically, it's now self-published writers who are working super hard to turn out excellent books, while many published books are bloated and badly edited.
I heard of one woman who, not satisfied with the results of the editing process, did most of her own with help.
It's really not that hard if you can learn to separate your creative writer's hat from your hard-nosed editor's cap. And yes, you can even use AI within reason -- to help tell you where grammar should go or point out clunky sentences. But even if I were accepted by a major publisher at this point, I would still shell out some big bucks for a developmental edit from a human being and then a line edit.
I certainly did with my book.
I loved this, thank you. There is something strange about 'finding your voice', it's not tangible, but magically indescribable changes happen!
Thank you! Helpful!And your voice seems clear and strong to me.👍
This resonated for me, today. I spent over a decade amassing thousands of followers for my Facebook page. You know what all of that algorithm chasing got me?
Precisely nothing.
When I published a 13-part short story on Facebook, fewer than 1% of my followers read every installment.
So, I'm starting-over. I'm writing on Substack and if the tiny crew who've followed me over here want to pay for my work that's an extra coffee or two a month. I'm going to write my stories--in my voice--and revel in each like and share. Even if the like is just from my Mom, at least I know I've made an impression on at least one person.
Ordering that book now—thank you for the recommendation!
You are so welcome. I had to read it bits. It's pretty intense. But I learned a lot. Hope you enjoy it!
Fuck all AI. Thank you for this post.
Frederick, you made me laugh. I needed that!! Thank you
Oh, good. I'm glad someone is laughing.
This is why I came to Substack, to continue with practice. Would love a save button at this moment 💕
I know, right? So often I read things, wish there was a way to save them, too.
I have started copying and pasting Substack nuggets into the Notes app on my phone ( which is where I read SS). Your PP quote is there now. Perhaps I should print it out and pin it above my desk for motivation:
‘Philip Pullman said after food, shelter and companionship, stories are what we need most in the world.’
Me thinks ye protesters too much , losing some of the inspiration I got from read
I dread a world in which all art is dismissed as AI. I fear a future in which technology fundamentally changes how we make and interact with art and how artists are treated, which already has a poor precedent, historically speaking. I appreciate your glimmer of hope that people long for real human stories and that will prevail.
Oh god, Bailey I hear you. There's this artist who writes on his profile that abhors AI in the field of art and will never use it. So I license a lot of his work. And people sometimes say omg, why are you using AI images. And my heart cries every time, because they don't know human from AI anymore.
There was much more
you touched a chord
then all of a sudden
I shifted gears for was unable to operate a car with automatic gears.
Some of the young students I have engaged with do not share the same
goals or interests. Being able to fully engage multi generational & cultural and now in nether gender has more often been
a gift disguised as obtuse at best.
Notable artist david em exhibited in collaboration work over the past ten years
on this AI oxymoron just as communicating in the digital age has thrown many in tailspin thinking.
There’s this person who keeps saying
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
at first it was annoying as if brain washed
then why not? We change our clothes
If we are fortunate to have a change of clothes.
Did you ever hear someone say:
I want your undivided attention on this matter. It is crucial for survival.?