Emotion, Perspective, and Authenticity: The Indispensable Role of People in Writing
Or, an essay on how AI cannot create unlimitlessly
This week, new AI software launched to polarising reactions. The good news first - the new ‘novel writing’ platform is almost identical to a number of creative writing AI platforms already available. They’re poor, repetitive and incapable of creating something that is readable from start to finish. If people are using AI to create fiction and poetry, I have yet to encounter one of these books. Nor do I believe, even for the most capitalist and corporate of publishers, are we likely to see books being commissioned by free writing software with limited capabilities over humans who have poured themselves into their work, writers who have ripped themselves apart to find the right word again and again, writers who have made compromises and difficult choices in the pursuit of their heart. Storytelling is human. Our idiosyncrasies, our beating hearts, our contradictions - none of that can be replicated by AI. The bad news, some people are still going to try. But it’s not going to go well.
But more than even preserving the cultural heritage of writing, culturally and socially, there are very, very few people who do not recognise and want to uphold the irreplaceable role of human authors. It’s one thing to work with AI to prepare a blog outline or generate social media content ideas. In fact, most writers have used AI for years in the form of spellcheck and its more modern counterparts. But to use something to replicate writing will always miss that something else. The something that sparks interest from readers, agents, and publishers. The unknown, unspoken thing that exists in all creative work we love; the thing that makes us feel grounded, connected and changed.
Technological advancements are about convenience and efficiency. But the art of writing is not about those things. It runs so much deeper, to our roots, wound and bound around every person. Without the ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences, AI cannot compete. The nuances of storytelling are deliciously, despairingly, and difficultly human.
We think, therefore we are
The artistry of literature champions the enduring necessity of human creativity, imagination, and intellect. The literary landscape was crafted by the narratives of human experience, regardless of genre. The soul of human emotion lies at the heart of all literature. It is what makes novels, poetry, plays, series and film resonate with readers and audiences on a profound, connected level.
AI algorithms are built on the foundations of data, much of which comes from being fed work already written by people. While they can mimic patterns, they will always lack the depth of emotion and perspective that blooms from liver experience. Even with the best prompt you can muster, AI writing engines cannot draw on the unknown parts of writing. It can put words together that speak of joy, heartache or triumph, but it will not find a way to infuse that with the authenticity of living. And readers will not connect with work that does not contain the depth and complexity of reality.
AI is supposed to make our lives easier. Writing is not supposed to be an effortless pursuit. Governments can’t even agree on how to assign copyright to AI-generated words and images. For the future of publishing this feels like Schrodinger's work - a story and not a story all at once. Writing takes emotional input not just to distil it into a piece that connects person to person, but also an emotional commitment from the writer. Clicking the enter button will not change that.
The power of subjectivity and perspective
Novels often serve as mirrors reflecting the diverse perspectives and experiences of humanity. Each author brings a unique worldview and subjective lens to their storytelling, offering readers an opportunity to explore different cultures, societies, and viewpoints. Human authors possess the power to challenge societal norms, question prevailing ideologies, and shine a light on underrepresented voices. Their nuanced understanding of the human condition allows for a rich exploration of complex themes, generating a dialogue that fosters empathy, understanding, and social progress.
Will AI eventually monkey with typewriter a masterpiece? Probably. But I still have a suspicion that we’ll know something is missing. It’s what we already recognise as ‘missing’ when a book ends up on the did not finish pile.
The nuances of storytelling are a dance
Crafting a compelling narrative involves a delicate interplay of language, style, and pacing that engages those who have parted with money for our work and keeps them transfixed until the final page. Human authors - arguably all humans - possess an inherent instinct for storytelling, capable of infusing their prose with a unique cadence and rhythm that evokes emotions and paints vivid mental landscapes. The nuanced subtleties and intricacies of language are an integral part of literary artistry, and no algorithm can replicate the creative prowess of human minds when it comes to seamlessly blending words, whether it’s gossip with your best friends or a 100,000-word epic fantasy.
The magnificent unpredictable creativity of the human mind
Humans are unpredictable, AI relies on predictability. Creative writing is duality to its very core, order made from chaos and chaos made from order. That unique alchemy is what breathes life into the written word. We can surprise, challenge or inspire through words, often by being unexpected. Our imaginations are boundless but AI is bound by the limits of what imagination it has already gorged upon. This is what allows for the creation of worlds that can transport readers beyond the confines of their own reality, whether we’re in Richmond or Mordor.
Because writing is the deep inhale we take so that we can breathe out slow and considered. Reading is the spark that ignites learning, wonder and growth. AI, while capable of generating text based on predefined parameters, lacks the imaginative spark and free-flowing creativity that is inherently, always human ingenuity.
Preserving the essence of literature
The distinctiveness and beauty of literature is an act of being that arises from the hands and minds, bodies and voices of people. Books are not a factory line product. What is printed on the blank page has already lived; an idea to a first word to a ‘the end’ - and often back again. Stories embody human expression, exploration and artistic vision.
While AI may have a place in assisting authors, it can never replace the immeasurable value of human creativity, morality, intuition or emotional depth.
Storytelling is the brilliance, the history, and the pandemonium of humanity. Of living, thinking, and imagining. It showcases our capacity for empathy, our willingness to challenge, and our ability to connect.
Great writing needs writers. Good, even okay writing, needs writers. Hell, bad writing needs writers too. Stories need the lens of humanity to truly flourish, resonate with readers across generations and leave an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.
Authors are custodians of something more than a beautiful thing that lives unconsciously on a bookshelf. Their stories are what brings us together; anyone, anywhere, from any time.
Submissions are now open for our new monthly miniature magazine. Flint is a petite printed powerhouse of new writing.
Currently accepting writing on the themes:
Temporary
Wish
Riven
We accept short fiction of up to 1,500 words and poems of up to 30 lines. All work must be previously unpublished.
Submissions should be emailed to submissions@erropress.com
Please ensure you use ‘Flint’ and the word prompt you are responding to in the subject line.
Please note, submissions for ‘temporary’ close on May 26 2023.