Writing with AI isn’t a new process. It’s the same as traditional writing but faster…
Alarm bells should ring when you ask someone how they’re going with a document and they tell you they’re half way through it because they’ve written, say, 500 of 1,000 words.
Chances are unless they’re some kind of writing genius – if such a thing exists – their work will be seriously flawed.
That’s because writing doesn’t simply involve writing. Instead, good writing always follows a four step process – and that goes for writing with AI, just as much as it does traditional writing.
If you’re thinking, ‘four steps? I barely have time for one’, don’t worry. This technique will substantially reduce the time it takes to write, rather than adding to it. It also reduces the danger you’ll suffer writer’s block.
Here’s how you do it.
Writing With AI: Step One – The Architect
When you’ve done your research and you’re ready to begin writing, the first hat you should wear when you’re writing with AI is that of the architect.
The architect is essentially a brainstormer: brilliant but sloppy – generating as many ideas as possible on a topic without really giving any consideration to how good each one is.
An ideas machine
If you’re using ChatGPT or another form of AI, the easy way to take advantage of it in this architect phase is to ask it for help with angles or ideas based on your research.
Just remember, though, the architect phase is all about possibilities, not perfection. It’s about coming up with original concepts that cut through the noise and engage your intended audience.
Let go…
So, whatever you do, don’t use your critical mind too much just yet.
Trying to refine your work and thoughts at this early stage is a sure recipe for writer’s block – or worse, it’s a recipe for writing something no one wants to read.
For example, when writing with AI:
Ask something like: “Give me 10 fresh angles for a 600-word blog post on sustainable packaging aimed at food startups”. Explain the pros and cons of each aprpoach. Tell me the two you prefer and why.”
Writing With AI: Step Two – The Engineer
The engineer’s job is to put a structure in place by taking the architect’s ideas and turning them into a compelling narrative.
This is the first analytical step. So unlike the architect phase, it’s all about logical not lateral thinking.
Be the boss
Cast a critical eye over your architect’s work. Figure out which ideas are good and which aren’t, and just bin those that don’t make the grade. Then work out the links between your ideas and group related ideas together. If you’re using ChatGPT you can ask it to do this for you.
Look for patterns
Next up, you’re going to arrange the ideas or groups of ideas you do want to use from most compelling to least compelling. (Always put the most important idea first).
And again, just be conscious not to get caught up on writing well, or even in full sentences. This step is simply about building the framework on which your writing will hang.
Writing With AI: Step Three – The Carpenter
Now it’s time to cut loose. Pow!
This is the time to get words on the page (or screen).
The carpenter’s job is to fill the engineer’s blueprint with words. So ask AI to take each of the ideas you’ve plotted out and turn them into sentences.
Chill out…
Even now, don’t get caught up too much on the way your writing looks or sounds. Just make sure you get it all down.
When you’ve finished, you should have a first draft.
But don’t get too excited, just yet…
TIP: Tell it how you want to write
Always tell Large Language Models like ChatGPT it how you expect them to write BEFORE you enter the carpenter phase. You can do this by feeding it some of your own writing, asking it to copy a particular style (eg ‘Write like The Economist’) or even giving it your own style guide.
Writing With AI: Step Four – The Inspector
Finally, this is where the real action happens: the editing, or inspector phase.
This is when you make sure what you’ve said is said well. It’s also the time to refine your introduction and conclusion and to make your whole piece of writing tight.
Ask questions
Use a critical eye. Ask AI questions like: ‘is it structurally sound’? ‘Am I saying what I want to say in the best possible way?’ and ‘Are there typos or corrections that need to be made?’
Done properly, this fourth and final stage could take at least as long as the first three steps put together. But you probably don’t have that kind of luxury; you have time and cost pressures.
Just Do It.
Still, never, ever skip the inspector phase. Otherwise all you’ll have is a first draft.
And, as Ernest Hemingway put it, ‘the first draft of anything is shit’.
The Takeaway
Following these four simple steps when writing with AI will make sure you get a much better result, and cut down on your time and effort. And that goes for whether you’re writing a report, a memo, an article or a novel.
