Becoming an author is possibly one of the most frightening and rewarding things you can accomplish. Many individuals dream of writing- fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more- but fear the process of bringing that idea to life. With the advent of AI, the literary landscape has begun to change, offering impossibly fast solutions that promise rewarding outcomes. Still, for some authors, AI’s entrance into the writing process feels like a violation of unique ideas and the possibility of their own success. So, what is truly going on with AI and authorship, what does this mean for the creative process, and how do aspiring authors maintain thought authenticity in a culture where it seems to hold ever-decreasing value?
AI Authors and the Literary Economy
Though it would have been hard to believe in the not-so-distant past, books written entirely by AI are now commonplace. Amazon.com and other online bookstores sell hundreds of AI-written books, and it’s not always clear which titles are human-crafted and which are AI. Readers and writers are left wondering if what they’re reading is human or bot. Earlier this year, there was a controversy over the horror title “Shy Girl” by Mia Ballard, which had been published by a major publisher, Hatchette, in the UK. The book was supposed to be released in the US this year, but was completely upended by allegations of unacknowledged AI use. So, AI-influenced books are not just popping up through self-published routes, but potentially traditional publishing as well.
According to economics experts, this influx of AI-written literature introduces one main problem for human authors. AI-written books can be produced insanely quickly at almost zero cost, meaning that they are entering the market far more rapidly than human-written titles. As a result, the problem has become that too many books are flooding the literary market. While that’s not something we ever thought we’d be saying, the flood of new titles by AI is smothering the revenue available to human authors. Business Insider notes that books with substantial amounts of AI-generated text are crowding the book market, leaving less room (subsequently less revenue) for books written with no detectable AI use. “The number of books with sales exploded 19-fold,” writes journalist Alistair Barr, “while the total amount of money readers spent on those books grew ninefold. In other words, the market got much more crowded without growing nearly as fast, leaving less revenue for the average title.” He goes on to say, “When AI can produce thousands of books at almost no cost, human authors end up competing against a flow of new content (that wouldn’t even exist without their original work).”
Put simply, AI can write novels faster than humans can, and that leaves less room for us in the literary economy—even though AI wouldn’t have anything to work from if not for books that have already been written.
The AI Temptation
“If you really want to write a story, why use AI to do it for you?”
Whether you find AI fascinating or foolish, this question is probably on many minds. AI writing websites make a lot of promises. One particular site, BookNova, boasts that with a simple “story spark,” they can draft your novel in under an hour. The site asks whether the potential client has a story idea but no time to write it, claiming that their process “cures writer’s block.” For some discouraged writers, this offer could be incredibly tempting, but it is important to understand how AI writing bots position themselves to take advantage of human creativity.
The selling points used by this website are not novel. Busy schedules and writer’s block have existed for centuries, and no author ever said that writing was easy—or that it should be. At ND Miller Publishing, we believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. You do have the time, you do have the ability, and you don’t need AI to do it for you.
ND Miller Pub and AI
Our literary staff believes there is a responsible way to utilize certain forms of Artificial Intelligence. However, when it comes to AI novel generators, we have one pressing question: if you want to write a novel, what is stopping you?
Yes, you. Not a website that promises the easiest possible outlet for a dream— what is stopping you from sitting down and writing the story you need to hear? Is it fear of the unknown, or a case of impostor syndrome? Is it the belief that your story isn’t important, or that you don’t have the skill, time, qualifications, or patience for the task? If so, we are here to tell you that those things aren’t true.
If you dream of becoming an author, whether through one meaningful memoir or a career-starting debut novel, we believe you have the power to make it happen. We won’t lie—the process may take months, or even years! But it is our firm belief that the process is part of the beauty. And not only will you change the world with your words, but the act of creation will likely change you too.
Tips for Artists in an AI World
If you dream of writing, here are some ideas for getting the creative juices flowing—without AI.
- Get outside! Sometimes a little fresh air is enough to kick-start the story inside you.
- Connect with writer friends. Try joining a writers group–- either in person or virtually. A little encouragement and accountability can go a long way.
- Avoid AI and Social Media. We believe that your story is enough. Sometimes interacting online can be discouraging, so focus on what is real and true in your own life.
- When on social media, engage in supportive networking. There are lots of authors and editors who post both encouraging and helpful content (try @pen.and.polish or @theglorywriters for faith-based and encouraging support). Also, try following authors that you admire for a glimpse at their process!
- When researching for your project, you don’t have to accept Copilot’s answer…. Try Google Scholar for high-quality historical, scientific, and literary articles. Also, look for websites with .edu or .org domain extensions. Or, if you want to go the old-fashioned route, try an encyclopedia, dictionary, or thesaurus– even if it’s the online version!
These are just a handful of ways to take back your creative process. No matter where you are in that process, ND Miller Publishing is here for you. And no matter what you believe about AI, first, believe in yourself. You have the ability to conquer your fears and chase your dreams, so don’t settle for letting AI do the heavy lifting. Believe us, you won’t regret it.
