My controversial take on using AI to write

Some writers and creators love using AI to write and create content. Others hate it. One newsletter reader even wrote in to tell me she hit the unsubscribe button because of my “blatant support of AI.”

The last time I checked, OpenAI didn’t invite me into their seed round. That said, here’s my take:

AI isn’t going anywhere, so I could pretend it doesn’t exist and get left behind or start using it for my business.

I develop ideas for my content without AI and write what AI can’t generate. That’s usually authentic, personal stories. I use AI if I still need a writing assistant. I don’t pay attention to everything it says or recommends, but it can help me in several ways.

AI helps with editing and proofreading.

Between 2006–2010, I worked as a freelance sub-editor for various Irish newspapers. I spent hours printing newspaper article drafts and marking errors with a red pen. I’d have killed for an AI tool back then. Grammarly wasn’t around when I was a sub-editor.

Now, I regularly use AI tools like Grammarly. Alongside the usual grammar and spelling fixes, it proposes full-sentence rewrites. I can accept or reject at a click. That’s faster than sending an article to an editor or proofreader for feedback.

However… I also ignore some of Grammarly’s suggestions if it breaks the tone of my work. And I’d still commission an editor or proofreader for longer works like, say, a book.

AI is great for creating outlines.

I outlined a book using index cards and blue markers a few years ago. I laid these cards out on the kitchen table one morning. Each one represented a book chapter. I moved the cards around until I found a book outline I was happy with.

I outlined another book using outliner software (Workflowy). I created bullet point outlines for the book and each chapter, and I moved these around until I was happy.

I’d still use analog and digital tools for a future book, but I’d also ask AI to evaluate my outline and identify gaps.

AI helps with writer’s block.

The easiest way to overcome writer’s block? Capture interesting ideas and write every day. You’ll quickly build up a writing muscle and bank of ideas.

But…

Not every day goes to plan.

I sometimes ask AI to prepare a 31-day content plan for emails, launches (pictured), and content for my social channels. I tell Claude or GPT who I write for and why. I don’t use everything in AI suggests, but I can usually extract a few ideas. That’s a much easier way of working than staring at a flashing cursor.

AI will get you off the content hamster wheel.
​I enjoy writing for an hour or so most mornings. I work on book chapters, articles, blog posts, and newsletters.

I don’t enjoy taking that piece of content and reworking it for half a dozen social media channels. Frankly, spending hours on the content hamster wheel trying to go viral is a low-paying job. I can earn more or enjoy my day by coming up with offers, working with clients or taking the afternoon off to hit the gym.

Using AI can turn parts of my emails or articles into social media content much faster and easier.

AI can act as your gym spotter, helping you lift heavier writing loads safely. Don’t let it dictate what you want to do. Simply tell it where you need help.

To do that, I trained a Claude project on my writing style and preferences for my social channels. It’s a lengthy prompt that took me a few hours to refine, but it’s saved me hours. That Claude project generates a few different versions that I can use. I pick the best one, clean it up, and press publish.

I still come up with personal stories, ideas, and angles, but AI helps me refine them into something I can publish faster.

Discover the AI-driven templates that top creators use to scale their writing using the AI Writer’s Toolkit. It can help you build a content creation engine. Reply with the word “AI” to learn more.