On using LLMs in writing

[Mad Swede]

I wonder how much this depends on why you want to write?

Those of us with a compulsion to write, for whatever reason, need no help getting words on the page. What we have to learn is the craft of writing and then apply our own voices to that craft. For us, it's all about writing, not about selling loads of books and making money. Yes, I know my books sell quite well and make me money, but that isn't why I write nor is it why I started writiing.

But if you're just doing it to say you've written a novel, or of you're one of these pulp authors who aim to produce and self-publish a novel every six weeks (like so many romance writers seem to do) then you may need a tool like Sudowrite. And at that point you won't care very much what people like us think, simply because we have such different reasons for writing. The fact that we and the critics don't think you're a real writer won't make any difference to you or to those who read what you write. We're simply worlds apart.

 

[pmmg]

I wonder if a new term is needed.

In the way that photographs are not paintings, one taking photo's is not pretending to be a painter. And by use of the word Photo, we know there is a strong gap between the process.

Perhaps AI users should not be called writers, then they can be in their own little world and no one will mistake them for such.

Maybe WrAIter, and not writer...

 

[Finchbearer]

Sudowrite looks crap actually.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

If you want to write a novel- write it. What's the point in in having AI do it? So you get a good grade from the writing god?

Big Brain experiment, ask an AI to write a novel about an AI Writing a novel about an AI and watch it implode.

 

[skip.knox]

I am glad you have said so. I dont want to have to think you have joined the dark side, but, I do think you are playing with fire. I want us all to be good at this think called writing.

Heck, pardner, I ain't playin'.

 

[Prince of Spires]

If you want to write a novel- write it. What's the point in in having AI do it? So you get a good grade from the writing god?

Many people want to have written a novel. Not because they enjoy writing or because they thikn it will be some literary masterpiece. But just to have written it and to be able to say they've done it. A lot of people I tell I've written a bunch of novels will tell me they'd like to do that to, they just never get round to it. This is their ticket to that novel.

As a side note, many people also think the writing part is the easy part. They've got a great idea, and getting that is the hardest thing. After that it's just words on the page. For them, AI then is just a tool that gets them those easy words on the page. No reason to practice that...

Sudowrite and its ilk could destroy a generation of potential writers. Always keep your eye on the devil.

This is my fear as well. If all those starting to write start with AI and never learn the craft because of it, then they'll all be average. No one would stand above the crowd because they wouldn't be doing the hard work of actually learning writing.

 

[Fyri]

Hey, guys! It's been a while, but I'm back! I'm so bad at keeping up with various communities, but nice to see you're all still around.

I wanted to say, it's hard for me to think about acceptable uses of AI in art when I'm first blocked by "Any use of LLMs and GenAI is bad bad for the environment" but if that were not a problem...

I think it would be okayish to talk to AI for brainstorming or perhaps bounce ideas off. It's similar to asking a friend "give me feedback on this" or "give me a random sound to help me name this goblin." Half the time when I "phone a friend" I'm still really picky about their answer and I'm just stealing ideas from my environment. But, as pmmg said, it is playing with fire to engage with any chatbot/LLM. Even just asking AI to "give me feedback on this" is eliminating a human touch where I would find more value in feedback seeking. Who are you seeking feedback for? To make it better for humans or computers to read?

Art, especially writing, should, I believe, be about the human condition. Using AI for art in any way deviates from expressing art to following a formula/instructions, because that's all LLMs are doing. Are you telling a story or working in a factory? Would you prefer a store bought meal or a homemade one? Believe in yourself! Your imperfection is your unique touch and that is more valuable than a thousand computer generated stories.

 

[Fyri]

I wonder if a new term is needed.

In the way that photographs are not paintings, one taking photo's is not pretending to be a painter. And by use of the word Photo, we know there is a strong gap between the process.

Perhaps AI users should not be called writers, then they can be in their own little world and no one will mistake them for such.

Maybe WrAIter, and not writer...

WrAIter is too similar and easily confused. Painting and photograph are completely different!

I think Prompter is better. A Prompter and their...hmm. This would apply to both stories and images. A prompter and their GenAI.

 

[pmmg]

WrAIter is too similar and easily confused. Painting and photograph are completely different!

I think Prompter is better. A Prompter and their...hmm. This would apply to both stories and images. A prompter and their GenAI.

I will accept this if the rest of the world will.

 

[skip.knox]

>Sudowrite and its ilk could destroy a generation of potential writers
My hope and expectation is that people who are actually writers will write. As any number of us here have said, it's not like we know how to stop. People will always paint, make music, etc. Some will choose to go thoroughly analog. I have a close relative (ok, he's my son) who very consciously chooses to make only analog music, even though he uses electronic means to record and to master. (I'm not sure mastering was ever entirely analog) This was a conscious artistic choice on his part, after having become pretty familiar with sampling and effects and using tools like Ableton. I'm sure there are multitudes of other examples in every artistic field.

So, I think there is some justification for my hope and, equally, good reason not to despair, at least on that front. There are plenty of good reasons for despair on other fronts!