Anne Janzer’s Post

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Nonfiction book coach | Author | Writing coach

Here's a metaphor that helps me think about when and how to use AI in my writing process: Goats! 🐐 In California, fire protection often means goats. They can access hard-to-reach places like river canyons and steep hillsides that big equipment cannot reach They don't accidentally spark fires themselves (which tractors sometimes do). And, seeing them at work makes me happy. Given guidance and boundaries, natural process work pretty well. Writing, for me, is like herding goats. I let my thought processes wander around an area and tuck into hard-to-reach places. But I use tools (including AI) to keep me on course: - Pointing me to fruitful areas for research - Helping unblock me if I'm stuck (especially in coming up with titles) - Culling insights from interviews or academic studies Tech, for me, is like the electric fences around the goats. But it doesn't replace the grazing. If we let AI write for us, then who's going to get into those interesting places? What is lost if we simply flatten out everything with machines? Ann Handley, the GOAT of marketing writing, suggests you avoid using AI for outlining and drafting if you, as the writer, are important to the result. And I'll add this: make sure you don't lose out on the joy of grazing. How are you using AI in your writing? #AIinWriting #CreativeProcess #WritingCommunity

  • woman herding goats on a dry hilltop
Liz Willis

Co-author of “Game Plan: An Insider’s Guide to Effective Career Assessment” | Writer/Editor | Lifelong Learner

1w

Anne Janzer, thank you for this interesting post, and also for pointing out Ann Handley's advice on limiting the use of AI when we, as writers, are important to the result. As we engage in the AI/writing debate, it's important to consider what kind of writing we're actually talking about.

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