Katie, why do you still write if Ai can write for you?
Besides, the writing process is horrible.
No one likes it. Even many authors don’t “like” it. Stephen King relies on his daily 2,000 word count to return to the “terror of the blank page,” and Anne Lamott has said plainly “I can honestly tell you that I never feel like writing…”
No one wants to read any more.
We say that websites need less copy, with:
Bullet lists
Scannable text
Visual cues
If we don’t add those design elements then no one will take the time to read a paragraph-style text block like this, because attention spans are too low.
Everyone uses Ai, right?
Generative Ai helps people get results, fast.
Many people use Ai for grant writing, presentations, I even recommend them to start your marketing plans on the cheap.
Writing this article (without Ai) clarified my own thoughts.
I enjoy writing, because it clarifies my thoughts.
While I’m stuck in the whirlpool of my own mind, writing forces my brain to make choices.
And, before hitting the “publish” button, I review what I write. I swim through the stew of my past self, and delightfully, toss out the gross bits.*
Writing lets us figure out the answer for ourselves
When we write, we learn how to fuse thoughts into words, arguments, and stories.
I worry that we’ll lose the discipline of figuring things out.
I worry that we’ll stop because it’ll feel too hard.
I worry that we’ll forget how to learn.
…Maybe I need to write more about that later. For now, let’s not worry so much.
How about you. Are you still writing?
Let me know. (Truly).
*Anne Lamott calls this the “child draft,” because we are under the false childlike pretense that all our thoughts matter. She also calls this simply, “the shitty first draft.” If you’re someone who still likes reading and writing, I’ve re-read her book Bird by Bird many times and highly recommend it.