AI is everywhere and you might be using it without even knowing you’re doing so. How? By using the common editing apps Grammarly and ProWriting Aid. They are both now powered by AI.
So, what’s the best way to avoid using any AI in the writing of your novel? Use a human editor. Here are five reasons why:
- Voice: an author’s voice sometimes doesn’t follow the rules of grammar. And sometimes even if what you write is grammatically correct, it may not be “stylistically” correct. For example, if you write really long sentences. An AI grammar checker will flag that as incorrect. It’s not, it just voice.
- Emotion: A machine cannot read emotion. It won’t know if you are conveying what you mean to. A human will read it and feel it (or not, in which case they’ll tell you that it needs to be fixed).
- Historical accuracy: If you are writing a historical novel and using antiquated words, idioms, or slang that is no longer used a human editor will understand it. They’ll know what you’re doing and why and they’ll in all likelihood either be familiar with the words you’re using or be able to glean the meaning from the context. A computer can’t do that.
- Deep understanding: A human editor will be able to understand the meaning in your words beyond how those words are defined in a dictionary. They’ll get irony, of if a character is being facetious. A computer just won’t get that.
- Consistency: The most wonderful thing about working with a live person is when you develop a relationship with them. When you use the same editor for many books, they’ll get to know you and your writing style. They’ll remember that you had particular problems—using the word “that” too often or not including enough description, for example—and they’ll be able to look specifically for the issues they know you work on.
Two examples that AI just doesn’t know what to do with:
Jackson guffawed.
Clara couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t an idiot. What he was was a buffoon, that was all.
What AI said:
—-
“And so I said to him, I said… and I couldn’t believe it, he just stood there—stood there!—and took it and I couldn’t help… I just wanted to hold him and to squeeze him and yell at him and he just stood there!” It all came out in a rush. A cry. “But… but…”
“But what? What? What. Are. You. Going. To. Do?” The end was practically a screech of frustration.
