Unless you’ve been living in a cave these last few years, you’re probably pretty familiar with the rise of all things AI. Like it or not, it’s here to stay. Do I think it’s going to take over my job? No. Do I think it’s going to help me do a better job? Yes. It already is!
In this post I’ll be diving into the world of generative AI and will share some tried-and-tested tips to help you make the most of this new technology.
First thing’s first: what is generative AI?
Put (very) simply, generative AI tools (like ChatGPT) are a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content—think text, images, or music—based on patterns it has learned from vast amounts of data. These models are trained to generate content by “understanding” and responding to a given prompt and its surrounding context.
Will AI replace content writing?
We’ve all heard the scare stories. My personal opinion is that no, AI will not replace content writing. Not if you want to create good content, anyway! I’ve tried it, of course. But when I ask AI to create full paragraphs and blog content the results have been somewhat dubious. More often than not, I’ve ended the experiment by throwing my arms up in exasperation and writing it myself.
Why? Because AI-generated text is formulaic and bland, and my attempts to get it to adopt a particular persona or tone have proven comical. Maybe my prompts aren’t up to scratch. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s that as an experienced writer, I bring an innate and nuanced understanding of language and style that artificial tools are yet to replicate.
Six ways you can use AI to become a better writer
Of course, this doesn’t mean there isn’t space for AI in my life. I love it — and I use it on an almost daily basis. Just not to generate text. My tool of choice is ChatGPT, although I’ve dabbled with a couple of others, including writing assistants like Grammarly and Hemmingway. But still, I find myself going back time to the original classic.
So here they are: six tried-and-tested tips to help you use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools to level-up your content writing.
Streamline your background research
To write about something well, you need to understand it. As ChatGPT has wiggled its way into my working life, I’ve found it a great tool for conducting background research. Remember the days when you had to put your query into Google and then check individual websites? That’s so passé. Put your question to ChatGPT and it will go away, do the research for you, and synthesise the answer.
Of course, it’s no substitute for deep, fact-checked research, and I will always, always (always!) cross-check the information and find verified online sources. But when it comes to background research, ChatGPT has proven itself to be a helpful and solid starting point.
Generate content ideas
It’s also a great tool for generating content ideas, or checking that you’ve covered your bases. Let’s say I’m writing a blog on how to use AI to become a better writer. I’ve got my own ideas, but I will also ask ChatGPT for a list of bullet-point content ideas — just to check I haven’t missed anything! I did it for this post, and while I didn’t use the results to add anything new, it was reassuring to know I’d got the foundations in place.
Use it for creative inspiration
I’m a content writer, not a copywriter. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of short-form content, but I can struggle when it comes to creating titles, headers and taglines. In cases like this, I treat ChatGPT like a brainstorming partner.
“What are 10 idioms for XXXX?”
“Give me 20 well-known sayings and phrases around XXXX?”
“Here is a title I have drafted. Give me 10 creative alternatives.”
The aim here isn’t to get ChatGPT to give me the answer. It’s to get my brain thinking more creatively. By asking generative AI to come up with different words, phrases and options, I might just find that spark that lights up a shiny new idea.
Break your own bad habits
If LinkedIn is to be believed, then using the Em-dash is a sure-fire indicator of AI-generated content. I’m here to tell you now, that isn’t true. I’m a HUGE fan of the Em-dash, and I ask ChatGPT for one I can copy and paste almost every day (I can never remember the keyboard shortcut).
That said, I know I use them too much. I also know I can be prone to long and complex sentences. If my brain is stuck, prompts like “Write this without using an Em-dash, give me five options” or “Can you split this into two sentences” are a great way to break my own bad habits. Again, it’s rare that ChatGPT will give me exactly what I need. But there’s been more than one occasion when a word or phrase has helped me find a new and better solution.
Say it in Plain English
As a writer, I specialise in health. It is a hugely varied and interesting area, but it can also be a very complex one — too much at times, for my creative and not-especially-scientific brain. AI really helps me out here.
First of all, it’s a great way to decode the jargon. If I’ve come across a sentence, context or procedure I don’t understand, “Explain this simply, and in lay terms” or “What does this mean?” is a great way to help boost my own understanding of complex topics.
I have also been known to get stuck in my own sector-specific jargon, and assuming a level of background knowledge that some readers simply will not have. When this happens, “Write this in Plain English” is a great way to test the waters and see if there’s another, more accessible route that my narrative can take. Again, chances are, I won’t use the exact output — but sometimes an AI-generated word or phrase is just enough to help me find the answer.
Proof yourself happy
Being a professional writer makes me think about words and sentence construction in a way I never have before. In the old days, I used to call my dad — a full-on encyclopaedia of grammatical knowledge. But I’m a big girl, so now I use ChatGPT to double-check some of the more fiddly grammatical points.
I can also be a devil for missing out words, and so I’ve started using ChatGPT to proof chunks of content (“Are there any typos in this? List the error, don’t edit"). Of course, I’m always careful when I do this. I will never feed AI information or content that is sensitive or confidential. But I did get it to proof this blog!
Is it ethical to use AI to improve your writing?
Good question. My personal opinion is that “yes”, it is — but that opinion comes with a word (or several words of caution). AI is a powerful tool, but it also one that can be misused, intentionally and unintentionally.
As a professional writer, I would feel like a fraud if I used AI to shape my outlines, review my work or draft my content. So I don’t. But even if you’re using AI as support tool, like I am, you need to be aware of the risks:
AI doesn’t know everything. Never assume, always fact check the information.
AI-generated text comes with the risk of plagiarism. Always edit your content!
AI doesn’t always use inclusive, accessible language. That, my friend, is up to you.
And of course, because AI is trained using vast amounts of available data, you need to be careful about what you’re feeding it. I always have the memory turned off, delete my conversations daily, and never, ever feed it content that is sensitive or confidential.
Maybe I’m over-cautious. But I’d rather be that, than take an unnecessary risk. Because I am the one in control. I am the writer. It is my job to create good content. AI is a tool that can help me get there, and I treat it, and work with it, as exactly that.
Like what you read? I'm Jen, a copywriter and long-form content creator helping health and social impact organisations make a difference. Get in touch to find out how I can help you create quality content that turns hard-won clicks into deep, trusting relationships.
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