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AI Writing With A Human Touch

Following on from previous posts about how to write and self-publish your memoirs, I have reached the point where it would be remiss of me to not at least touch upon an AI cheat to help you to make a start.

For the purposes of this story, I used ChatGPT, entering the short prompt A Plot For My Memoirs, and this is what I got in a matter of seconds.

Title: Unwritten Chapters: My Journey of Self-Discovery

Concept: This memoir chronicles the life of a person navigating through various stages of personal and professional challenges, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped their identity.

Structure: The memoir is divided into thematic chapters, each representing a key period or lesson in the author’s life.

Chapter Ideas:

1. Roots and Wings

   • Growing up in a close-knit family and the values instilled in childhood. Reflections on formative experiences that shaped early dreams.

2. The First Leap

   • Moving away for college or the first job. The excitement and fear of independence, and the struggle to find one’s place in the world.

3. Love and Loss

   • Navigating first love and heartbreak. How relationships taught important lessons about vulnerability and self-worth.

4. Reinvention

   • A major life change, like a career shift or relocation. The challenges of starting over and the courage required to pursue new passions.

5. Facing Adversity

   • A personal or family crisis that tests resilience. Insights on coping mechanisms and the strength found in community and support.

6. Moments of Clarity

   • Significant experiences, such as travel or mentorship, that provide perspective on life’s complexities and the pursuit of happiness.

7. Embracing Imperfection

   • Learning to accept flaws and failures. How embracing imperfections led to personal growth and deeper connections with others.

8. Finding My Voice

   • The journey of self-expression through writing, art, or activism. Discovering the power of storytelling and its impact on others.

9. Legacy and Hope

   • Reflecting on lessons learned and the desire to inspire future generations. Thoughts on how to live a life of purpose and authenticity.

Themes:

• Resilience and transformation

• The importance of self-reflection

• The interconnectedness of experiences

• Finding joy in the journey, not just the destination

Tone:
Honest, introspective, and hopeful, blending vulnerability with moments of humour and insight.

Conclusion:
A reflection on the ongoing journey of self-discovery, emphasizing that while chapters may end, new ones are always waiting to be written.

Feel free to tweak or expand any sections to fit your personal experiences and voice!

Now although I would not dream of writing my memoirs using only AI, I think using the resource to at least make a start in terms of giving me a basic plan to work from would be very helpful indeed.

AI Fiction

If you were thinking of writing a fictional story, here is what ChatGPT gave me for a love story.

Title: A Canvas of Hearts

Setting: A vibrant, artsy neighbourhood in a bustling city, filled with galleries, street art, and cosy cafés.

Plot:

Act 1: The Encounter
Maya, a passionate but struggling artist, is preparing for her first solo exhibition. She's anxious and uncertain about her work being appreciated. One day, while painting in the park, she meets Leo, a charming photographer with a knack for capturing the beauty in everyday life. He’s drawn to her art and offers to take candid shots of her painting process. They strike up a friendship, bonding over their shared love for creativity and their fears of failure.

Act 2: Growing Closer
As the exhibition approaches, Maya and Leo spend more time together. He encourages her to be bold in her work, while she helps him see the world through a different lens. Their chemistry deepens, and they share intimate moments—late-night talks, gallery visits, and creative collaboration. However, both carry emotional baggage: Maya struggles with self-doubt stemming from past rejections, while Leo hides a recent heartbreak that makes him wary of commitment.

Act 3: Conflict
Just as Maya gains confidence, her exhibition is met with mixed reviews, leaving her devastated. Feeling like a failure, she pushes Leo away, convinced that she doesn’t deserve happiness. Leo, hurt by her withdrawal, tries to respect her space but struggles with his feelings. He begins to question if their connection was real or just a fleeting moment of inspiration.

Act 4: Revelation
A few weeks later, Maya stumbles upon Leo’s photography exhibition, where he showcased his favourite moments of their time together. Touched by his vulnerability and the beauty of his work, she realizes how much he means to her. Inspired, she confronts her fears and reaches out to Leo, admitting her feelings and vulnerabilities.

Act 5: Resolution
They have an open conversation about their pasts and fears, choosing to embrace the uncertainty of love. Maya invites Leo to collaborate on a project that combines their art—an immersive exhibition that captures the essence of their journey. The grand opening was a success, filled with warmth, laughter, and love. They learn that together, they can create something beautiful and face life’s challenges hand in hand.

Themes:
The story explores themes of vulnerability, the power of art as a means of connection, and the idea that love can help us heal and grow. It emphasizes the importance of support, communication, and the courage to be authentic in relationships.

Here is an actual AI story on the same theme.

In a bustling city, tucked between the towering skyscrapers, there was a small, cosy café known for its aromatic coffee and inviting atmosphere. Every morning, Amelia would sit in her favourite corner, lost in the pages of her book, savouring the world outside her window.

Across the café, Ethan would arrive daily, his hands clutching a sketchbook. He would sit at a table near the window, pencil dancing across the pages as he captured the world around him. Unbeknownst to each other, they had developed a routine, their paths crossing in silence, both too shy to speak.

Amelia often stole glances at Ethan, captivated by the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the gentle flick of his wrist as he sketched. She imagined what stories his drawings told and longed to ask him about them, but the words never found their way to her lips.

Ethan, on the other hand, found inspiration in Amelia’s presence. He sketched her more than once, capturing the soft curl of her hair and the way she would smile at the pages of her book. He longed to approach her, to share his admiration, but fear held him back.

The seasons changed as weeks turned into months, and the café transformed with them. In the winter, the windows frosted over, and Amelia would sip her hot chocolate, wishing for a conversation that never came. In spring, the flowers blossomed, and the world outside seemed to bloom with possibilities, yet still, they remained silent.

One rainy afternoon, the café was nearly empty. Amelia was reading when the door swung open, and in rushed Ethan, soaked from the downpour. He spotted her, and for the first time, their eyes locked. In that brief moment, something shifted — a shared understanding that spoke louder than words.

Ethan approached her table, heart racing. “Is this seat taken?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Amelia’s breath caught in her throat. “No, please,” she replied, a smile breaking through her surprise.

As they sat together, the barriers of silence began to crumble. They talked about books, art, and dreams, discovering shared passions and laughter. With every word exchanged, the unspoken love that had lingered between them transformed into something tangible.

By the time the rain had stopped, the café felt warmer, filled with the echoes of their newfound connection. They had crossed the threshold from silence into companionship, each realizing that the love they had quietly nurtured was only the beginning.

As they stepped outside, the sun broke through the clouds, illuminating the world in golden light. Hand in hand, they walked forward, ready to explore the beauty of their shared journey — a love that had finally found its voice.

AI Issues

The first issue is of a legal nature concerning plagiarism. This can come about if the AI platform you use uploaded a book by Stephen King to coach the machine on what to do. Ten thousand established writers came out in protest at their works being used for AI purposes. King expressed other concerns.

“King made it clear that he doesn't currently think AI is capable of creating work on a par with humans – "good at first glance, not so good upon close inspection," was how he described it – but he also seemed resigned to the fact that it might reach that stage one day.”

I totally agree with King about this. AI stories are devoid of anything approaching the personal human element of a real writer.

One more thing to remember about AI publishing is that neither Medium nor Amazon like it. Medium does not allow it and on Amazon, you must declare that your story was written with AI. All that being said, AI does still have its uses, as I illustrated with the AI plan above.

The final point I want to make here is that many writers use AI to write a story and then edit, adding those all-important sentient, human touches. I haven’t done that myself, yet. However, I might try an experiment and publish it on my own website on beehiiv to test the water over the coming days.