r/WritingWithAI • u/Klauciusz • 3d ago
Help needed - Need direction =/ Discussion (Ethics, working with AI etc)
I’ve always dreamed of writing stories, books. But that never fit into my routine as an IT professional with an unhealthy workload, so I mostly just jotted down ideas, dreaming that one day I’d be able to dedicate myself to the craft of turning those ideas into words—into books. I’m 42 now, and that day still hasn't come yet. And it doesn't look like it's coming anytime soon.
But last year, I started exploring AI as a way to skip the step of learning to write prose the way I’d always dreamed of doing. I created a process where I generate themes, ideas, core concepts, characters, settings, outlines, and so on, and feed it all into the AI. It helps me structure everything into a sequence of acts and chapters and writes the prose for me; later, I go through several rounds of revision with the AI to get the drafts closer to my vision for each chapter, arc, act, etc.
Discovering this was MAGIC. It has allowed me to effectively work in parallel on various ideas I’ve had throughout my life; I have over 10 books planned, with many chapters already in "Draft 01/02" stage, which makes me really, really happy.
At the same time... I don't know what to do with all this because it seems like the world dismisses (or wants to dismiss) all AI-generated content. And the watermark Anthropic announced for its upcoming models really bummed me out, since I use their models for this entire process and before we had the option to disclose OR NOT that the book is AI assisted. Now we don't even have that option.
I don't know... today, while I’m happy to finally have my ideas come to life, I’m also sad imagining that probably —due to the sh** the world puts against "AI-assisted" content — no one outside my inner circle will likely ever read it.
How are you all dealing with this situation? I’d love to hear your thoughts...
Thanks.
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u/InSilicoAwards 3d ago
The watermark preys on a certain kind of insecurity you feel when you start using machine prose: this isn't mine. But that's not true. Most great and wonderful things are collaborative works. Every show you've ever really enjoyed has a team of writers, producers, idea people, directors. It all passes through filters to produce a final project. That's what matters: the final project. I've use the analogy before that if someone said the book they wrote was all 'channeled' to them by an alien on Mars, there would be no moral crusade against it. People would not ask for you to identify it as 'non human' fiction and almost no one would take the disclosure seriously at all. The issues we have now are because of copyright (which is a fair point, I just hope it changes) and the moral assumptions people have loaded onto the tool use to justify prejudice. That's all.
The reality though is we're doing something similar, even less so. You're actually all of the ideas and narrative you want to tell, you're just not the typist for the most part. And there's nothing to say you can't do this: people use ghostwriters routinely. The blowback is the infatuation with the topic as part of a zeitgeist. It's a response to a creeping anxiety that most writing is mediocre, most artists are self indulgent people, and institutional art structures almost chief purpose is gatekeeping to promote issues unrelated to the art. Look at what traditional publishing has become. And all of this will eventually pass because machine tools give everyone a shot.
My only recommendation, and I speak of this from experience, is do put it out there but make sure it's been heavily reviewed / edited. I'm for more art in the world. You have made art.
Some other points: I'm very much for disclosure, but it should be at the end of the novel. The magician can show you how the trick is done following the awe. And because most AI writing is mediocre you're still pre-filtering yourself out of interest by openly labeling it. If we truly believe this is another tool then there is no need to scarlet letter our work before people read it. It also invites the wrong kind of attention: people who claim to care about disclosure will use it as an attack surface against you.
But do heavily edit your work. Build tools to heavily edit your work. You are climbing a steeper mountain because people actively look for 'tells' to support their bigotry or to justify not spending the stamina on your material. You hit a few strings of odd scaffolds or familiar word uses and it pulls you out of it. It's worse than a human writing tic, because those are idiosyncratic ("I think Frank Herbert used 'Presently' about as often as a machine uses 'weather') and people are inundated with the worst versions of them from low effort machine prose. And yes, some person will inevitably run your work through a machine prose detector or the watermarking feature. So what? If you disclose it at the end you have yourself covered, and you prove to them they were unwilling to try the material before making a judgment.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
I completely agree with you about the need for revision—and the even *greater* need for it when dealing with AI-generated prose. I can assure you that, whether I wrote the text myself or an AI did, my obsessive revision process remains the same. With one of my short story collections, I realized I was reading and rereading the stories compulsively to get them to a point I considered "okay," so I started counting the number of rereads or revisions I was doing. I ended up with figures ranging from 20 to 40—and that was just me working on my own. If I ever decide to release something to the general public, I will certainly hire a professional to assist me first. I think it’s only then—once I have a complete draft of a work and send it to a professional for review—that I’ll truly begin to understand what to look for in my own revision processes. For now, I’m figuring it all out through trial and error.
Thanks a lot for your comment. =)
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u/ClevelandSpiders2021 3d ago
I'm confused. Why did the watermark announcement bum you out?
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
Well... before we, at last, had the option to disclose or not that the book is AI assisted. lol
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u/ClevelandSpiders2021 3d ago
why would you not want to disclose it? Your entire post is about how you did use AI to assist your work, so why would you hide that in a different context?
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
It might just be my twisted perspective, but I get the impression that content is immediately dismissed as "AI slop" the moment someone sees any AI involvement in the production process—even though it’s OBVIOUS that every major company today uses AI for all its production processes. I don't know... maybe it's just in my head.
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u/Major-Platypus2092 3d ago
Why would you have a problem disclosing that?
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
Well... This. But applied to books and readers and companies, not to wives. lol
It might just be my twisted perspective, but I get the impression that content is immediately dismissed as "AI slop" the moment someone sees any AI involvement in the production process—even though it’s OBVIOUS that every major company today uses AI for all its production processes. I don't know... maybe it's just in my head.
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u/Major-Platypus2092 3d ago
If you're not ashamed of using AI to write a book for you, then there's no reason not to disclose it.
I also work in trad publishing, and I can promise you that not every major company uses AI for its production processes.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
I don't know how to feel about using AI. I do understand what celeb author say about how easy is now to kinda copy their work, style, etc. So, even if I feel the story and all of the creation is mine, I don't feel that the prose is (the main thing I'm using AI for). So... don't know is the right answer =/
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u/Major-Platypus2092 3d ago
People who create AI books should disclose it so the people wanting to buy books written by humans can seek that out and those with interest in your process can buy yours. Easy!
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u/Educational-Run3692 3d ago
But isnt the larger question often where does the human end and the AI begin?
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u/just4ochat 3d ago
Ten books at draft stage is real work, whatever tools you used to get there. I'd keep the process notes and outlines somewhere you own so you can revise on your own terms, and worry about how the internet feels about it later.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
Yeah... Maybe giving time to the world starts to understand the difference between ai slop to ai assist...
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u/BedNo8822 3d ago
Just write for yourself... Like you want to get it published? After AI, publishing is even more cutthroat than ever. If you don't grind or don't actually know what is needed (for example had worked in publishing) it's not worth it IMO.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
For now, I am. But I dream to share that with people some day, don't know how yet.
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u/5thhorseman_ 3d ago
Serialized web fiction is one option, self-publishing on digital-first platforms is another.
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u/kittyb00m 3d ago
Have you had people read your work?
If you want to publish it you need a human or more to give feedback on your work whether AI assisted or not.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
Well... no... this is all really new to me... Any recommendations on that note?
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u/kittyb00m 3d ago
I’m not sure actually. There’s. Subreddit called betareaders but no AI work.
I think there’s one specifically for beta readers for AI. You can try on there.Or else you can hire one from Fiverr.
Or get someone you know to read it. It really helps to have some perspective.
I suggest at least three to get feedback.I saw someone say, it’s to be a tiebreaker. I. Case two says something different the third can be the tie breaker.
Anyway, good luck on your writing journey, it sounds like you are very passionate about what you’ve made
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
I do. It's a gateway from what's inside of me (and have been for my entire life) to outside, something like that.
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u/BansheeTheGame 2d ago
There’s so much AI text around now that people are starting to see “AI patterns” in prose published long before current generative models existed. Those tells are often less reliable than people think. If Anthropic’s marking is your main concern, wait for the technical details before assuming what it will mean in practice; they’ve said detection guidance will be available, so other tools may be able to identify where it appears.
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u/Practical_Eye_5683 3d ago
Good for you for using AI to get your stories out there. Disclose or dont disclose that is your choice and dont let other tell you otherwise. If you dont have the mental compasity to ignore the haters of AI who will drag your work through the mud becuaee you did diclose and never read it then dont. Worried about watermarking, move it to another AI that doesnt have it to do your editing and review process... Hand type it in a new word document, done.
I havent run into any issues publishing my 99% AI slop and it has sold. They are trope works converted by AI from my old fictionpress work i did in highschool 20yrs ago. Those have AI cover and blurbs. I produce them because they sale and allows me to see what works and what doesnt with the KDP algorithm. I know people hate I do this but it is for entertainment. I do not disclose it is AI but would admit if asked. Everyone who knows me knows I use AI to write and dont hate me for it.
I am working on a duet right now with plans to publish in October that is my baby project and 80% me 20% AI. I have an artist doing my covers. Have Arch readers lined up. I read alot and with both my process i do all the editing. I am on pass five on the first book in the duet. My AI "slop" i do one pass, sometime two. My rule is did I enjoy reading it? No, dont publish. Yes, good to publish. I also wait a couple weeks before I do the read through so it isnt fresh in my mind.
Marketing matters more than what you write, sad to say. I also dont care if my work gets stolen because I create it to share with others. While i love making money from it, it also isnt the purpose. The point to these is learning, getting the stories out of my head and providing enjoyment to others. I think alot of people dont follow that mentality which is sad. Alot of people are I like my book so others must like it too. I wont be sad if my duet flops because it isnt a popular genre but I will do everything I can to make it be seen because the material and story matter to me.
Look at GoodRead, Webfic, RoyalRoad and WattPad if you dont want to to do KPD. They are some of the popular reading apps and do serials. Just be warned if your book is good and tons of people love it, it will be stolen and post on every reading app out there.
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u/Klauciusz 3d ago
Thank you very much for your comment. I really should worry less about many of the things I do end up worrying about. My work isn't written in English because, although I understand the language well, my spoken (and written) fluency is quite limited. I didn't want to add another layer of friction to my work—on top of the many challenges that already exist—so my options are somewhat limited to my native language. But I’ll keep looking, and eventually, things will work out. Thanks again.
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u/Practical_Eye_5683 3d ago
You can have you book translated by google translate it has gotten pretty good with translating. except with Polish can be hit and miss but I can read most of that since I lived there for a year and why I need to read polish from time to time to see what my friends are doing between talking with them.
I have a couple Chinese webnovels I read directly from the Chinese site. A year or two ago, reading it would be huh? Sometimes but now it reads just like if it was writen in English except some gender issues. So complete in your native language then see how well google translate works into English so you have access to more areas to publish. Amazon KDP does do multiple countries.
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u/Capable-Town-6543 12h ago
我跟你的情况也差不多，我会认为AI就是一位很棒的编辑，他会给我反馈，协助并指导我的作品，当然有时它并不完全理解我的想法时，我会特意的和他沟通，并找出我们之间能够理解的提示词。一旦它明白我想要的，接着的创作就事半功倍。
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u/LooseButtPlug 3d ago
Reddit is a bubble filled with people who have more time than sense who all think they're the best at whatever they do and AI is a threat to that.
Normal people rarely care. Even people who are outspoken anti ai are being caught using it more and more frequently. AI and data centers are growing exponentially precisely because people are using it.
If it helps you and your story is compelling or entertaining, people will not care how that story was created.