A guide offering three simple ways to use AI to improve your writing without losing your voice. Embrace the power of AI without compromising your creativity and authenticity 😊
Introduction
In this digital age, it sometimes feels as though our minds and senses are overwhelmed with an excess of information and new technologies. The prospect of this AI beast can smell bad, a space invader, for those of us with a creative bone or two in our bodies.
I’ve been riding that rollercoaster in my mind, but… last night I had a “nightstorm”. Here is my brand-new word’s definition:
Nightstorm (noun)
- /ˈnītˌstôrm/
Definition: A solo brainstorming session characterised by the quiet of the night that fuels the chaos of ideas, often leading to unexpected bursts of creativity and insight.
Example: After hours of tossing and turning, she experienced a nightstorm that led to the outline of her novel.
Don’t panic
Remember the tune “Video Killed the Radio Star”? Radio lives on. Teenagers love vintage vinyl and dusty old books made of paper.
So… DON’T PANIC.
Like the usefulness of a towel in intergalactic travel in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (a classic read), AI will be your most useful companion from now onwards… if you remember to pack it and use it properly. Then your creativity, your love of words, your adventurous spirit is what will shine through.
What are Large Language Models and Why Should You Care?
If you don’t know what an LLM is, don’t worry. A year ago, I didn’t either. Read on. I want to talk to you about my experience with using Large Language Models (LLMs) to help create content, without any knowledge of coding. In fact, the only Python I know is a jelly snake.
LLMs, like ChatGPT and Claude, are systems that can generate natural language text based on a given input. They are trained on massive amounts of text data from various sources, such as books, websites, social media, and news articles. They learn the patterns and rules of language, such as grammar, syntax, vocabulary and style from these data sources. They can then use this knowledge to produce new text that is coherent, relevant, and sometimes even creative.
Why should you care? Because LLMs can help you with many aspects of your writing process, such as brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, editing and proofreading. They can save you time, energy and frustration. They can also inspire you, challenge you and surprise you. Think of them as collaborators.
A Taste of AI-Powered Creativity
A few days ago, I was curious to see what an LLM could do to help me with a simple problem. I wanted to prepare a flavourful stir-fry for my partner, who can’t eat spicy food. Usually, I’d be scratching my head, resigning to a bland meal. Instead, I turned to claude.ai. Minutes later (after a little chat with Claude), I had a recipe for Zing-a-ling Veggie Noodle Stir-fry. It was delicious!
Here is the initial prompt I used:
Hello! My partner gets a reaction to onion, garlic, chilli, curry and strong spices, so he can’t eat that. Too much pepper is also no good for him. I want to make a stir-fry dish that is still flavourful without these ingredients, but I don’t want to use too many ingredients as it would spoil the dish. I have the following key ingredients: 250g superfood fresh sliced vegetables, 300 chicken breast and 450g fresh Hokkien noodles, 200g sliced mushrooms, and the following sauces: Fish, Hoisin, Oyster, Soy, Worcester, Tomato .Also in my pantry: olive oil and all the most commonly found ingredients in an Australian household. Ask me any questions you need to, then suggest a recipe with a list of ingredients, instructions and a catchy name for the recipe. Go!
The above is an example of a Vision (Multimodal) prompt using the following techniques:
- Context Establishment: Providing background information and specific constraints to shape the response.
- Detailed Instructions: Clear directives on what the response should include.
- Constraints/Delimiters: Limitations that define the boundaries of the acceptable response.
- Outcome Specification: Stating the desired outcome and expectations from the response.
- Socratic Questioning: Inviting the model to ask questions if more information is needed.
PS You can find the recipe here.
Three Simple Ways to Use AI to Enhance Your Writing Without Losing Your Voice
This isn’t just about recipes; it’s a glimpse into how AI can spice up our writing without overpowering our unique flavours.
What I learned from many hours of study is that LLMs are not perfect, but they are powerful. They can help you generate ideas, find information and write faster. But they can also make errors, miss nuances and lack originality.
They can’t replace your voice, your style, your personality, your emotions, your values, your opinions, your experiences, your stories. They can’t replace you.
So, how can you use AI to enhance your writing without losing your voice? Here are three simple ways to use AI to improve your writing without losing your voice:
- Use LLMs as tools, not as masters. Don’t let them dictate what you write, how you write, or why you write. Use them to assist you, not to replace you. In future posts, I’ll share how we can phrase prompts as a tool to best augment your text.
Tailored prompt engineering is the key! - Use LLMs as sources, not as authorities. Don’t blindly trust what they generate; check their facts, their logic, their tone, their ethics. Use them to inform you, not to deceive you.
My next post will explore this topic and the ways we can implement an ethical approach in our writing and content creation. - Use LLMs as partners, not as rivals. Don’t fear them, embrace them. Don’t compete with them, collaborate with them. Use them to inspire you, not to intimidate you. Future posts will look at ways we can channel AI for creativity.
As a first step, try CoPilot’s designer (see the next section)!
Explain your image by starting with: Please design a high-resolution digital image of… [e.g. a hippopotamus riding a bicycle on a beach at sunset, holding a sign that says, “Don’t Panic!”]. Be polite, detailed and specific. Trust me on the “polite” angle; the models are trained on human data. Be nice.
Go!
Embrace the Change
Change can be intimidating, but it’s also a gateway to growth. In this series of posts, I’ll share tools, terminology and techniques to help you start, or get more effective, with AI-assisted writing. And I’ll offer advice as practical as a towel in intergalactic travel (thanks, Douglas Adams!).
Try it!
If you haven’t yet, sign up for ChatGPT. Here’s a simple guide:
- Visit chat.openai.com.
- Click “Sign Up” and create an account with your email or use Google/Microsoft for quick access.
- Verify your email and choose between free or paid plans.
- Start using ChatGPT by entering prompts in the chat window.
And/or… try a free trial of Microsoft Copilot.
Add Value
There is no value in regurgitation; any astute reader knows that if you “embark on a journey” or “navigate your course”, this is likely a trip arranged by AI. You want to retain your authentic voice. So do I.
I wrote this blog post from scratch, then got some help with headings, prompted for images and asked for feedback. Around 15% of this post was edited and rewritten as a result.
Conclusion
Stay tuned, and don’t panic. You are the writer; you have the power. You have the voice. Check in over the next few weeks to learn more about prompt engineering and the terminology of the day, along with practical tips to use this, important words about ethics and pitfalls, and more.
Share your thoughts and curiosities about AI in writing. Your insights will help shape the content of this blog.
Let’s Do This. Remember, in the vast universe of AI writing, don’t panic. And take a towel.
Yours in Zen and AI,
Annie.
If you need to meditate after this, I’ve got your back too. Head to YouTube.
Resources
LinkedIn Learning courses:
- Generative AI: The Evolution of Thoughtful Online Search
- Ethics in the Age of Generative AI
- Streamlining Your Work with Copilot (formerly Bing Chat/Bing Chat Enterprise)
- Career Essentials in Generative AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn
Work with Me
Are you looking to harness the power of AI for your business, or would you like me to prompt for you? Whether you need compelling blog posts, engaging content for your business, or polished PowerPoint presentations, I’m here to help. With expertise in AI-assisted writing and content creation, I can provide tailored solutions that meet your needs.
Let’s Collaborate!
If you’d like to learn more, have a look at my workshop on Non-technical AI Basics and Prompt Engineering Training. Contact me via this website or LinkedIn for a quote or check out my services and rates. Let’s discuss how we can work together to bring your ideas to life with creativity and precision.
Looking forward to creating something amazing with you!
Ascension Editing 