I and AI and the Next New Novel

Since my third novel, Saving Julian, was published in early 2024, AI has learned a lot. For example, on August 8, 2024, Curtis Sittenfeld wrote an article in the NY Times entitled, An Experiment in Lust, Regret, and Kissing (favorite subjects of hers as well as her readers) here. She wrote a 1,000-word short story based on the prompts her readers had supplied. Meanwhile, her editor instructed ChatGPT to use the same prompts to write a 1,000-word beach-read story in the style of Curtis Sittenfeld. Both stories were published within the NYT's article.

Though Sittenfeld took a couple of weeks to write her story and received feedback from family and friends on early drafts, ChatGPT wrote its story in just 17 seconds. Of course, her story is better, but the real news is that ChatGPT's story isn't bad. Curtis acknowledges that ChatGPT's story had some praiseworthy touches.

Did I use AI to help write Saving Julian? I couldn't remember, so I asked my favorite AI source, Perplexity, which prides itself on being a kind of personal assistant, if I did. It said that there was no evidence that I did. Does my spell checker and auto-correct technically qualify?

Since those early days of AI I have used AI for Sula's Sacrifice, (the just published fourth novel in the Dr. Eli Kurz NICU series), in two ways.

Researching Ethiopia

First, the recently published published novel, takes place mostly in Ethiopia, a place I've never visited. Perplexity is useful for finding locations for a mosque and a burial ground in Addis Ababa. It also helps explain some of the country's fascinating history. For example, it details how Emperor Haile Selassie became a god-like figure to the Rastafarians in Jamaica and elsewhere.

Creating Cover Art

The second way AI knocked my socks off: we needed an image for the cover that reflected aspects of the novel. Sadly, Perplexity (so far) was not good at making pictures, so I played with another AI program—forget which one—describing Sula's Sacrifice. Sula, Eli, the three-year-old Julian, Makeda, and a scarf all have roles in the novel. Here's what AI came up with after seeing a short synopsis:

It looks too pulp fictiony for my use, and the child is too young. though the three other characters are somewhat as I imagine them—Eli even looks like a better version of me. But instead, we used the wonderful cover designed by Wheatmark's expert, Lori Conser:

With Sula's Sacrifice just published, I'm 40% of the way into writing the fifth book in the NICU series, entitled Blood Loss. It takes place with Eli Kurz, MD, now in Los Angeles as a professor of International Health. No need for AI yet, but Grammarly may be very useful, as my fellow novelist Mark has suggests. Or should I ask AI to write in the style of Sittenfeld?

The Future of AI in Writing

I realize AI has become a useful tool. The speed and efficiency can enhance the writing process. However as we human author's are wont to say, it cannot replace the unique voice and creativity that a human author brings. AI can assist in research, generate ideas, and even help with editing. Yet, the emotional depth and personal touch of storytelling remain distinctly human. As I continue to explore this balance, I look forward to seeing how AI will evolve in the literary world.

Conclusion

The integration of AI into my writing process has been both enlightening and practical. While I initially questioned its role, I now see it as helpful. As I move forward with my projects, I remain committed to maintaining the authenticity of my voice while leveraging technology to enhance my work. The journey of writing is ever-evolving, and I am excited to see where AI leads us next.