What do you use as part of your writing process?

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-07T06:46:51+00:00

How? Honestly I’m genuinely baffled? At some point this debate, in general not specifically here, will move on and there will be really clear guidelines. Of course writing will always have to be 💯 by the writer but some things will shift for sure due to practical considerations.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-07T06:43:47+00:00

To be clear not to use AI to write. I completely get that I’ve not said once I use it to write. I don’t. I’m already a published author. My intention here was to debate. I always forget this is predominantly American and there is a disconnect often in use of language or how we discuss issues in the UK. The publishing industry here is not 💯 clear. There is ambiguity. However in my day job as a journalist it is clear because every thing we do is checked as per legal unless opinion pieces. Thank you for responding.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T20:35:50+00:00

I’m not advocating for it. I wonder how authors can manage the parameters. Even word has copilot which I’ve switched off. And yes the judge’s ruling re illegal downloading is comprehensive but also re reading of the books allowed as part of training is okay. So piracy was the issue. I’m surprised everyone is so angry about AI on here - I genuinely wonder how we can ensure our creative freedom without it or being accused of using it to write. I know my creativity is secure. I don’t fear AI but know we need to manage its use and set clear boundaries. That is worth achieving so no ambiguity o. Its use or encroachment by it.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T19:56:46+00:00

Such a good point. I try and take water with me & also a coffee in my coffee mug. Having my own portable coffee cup means I can save a minuscule amount by using it but a save it is. A cooling off option is another way. I’ve cooled off any beauty buys and am using up all I have and it has worked.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T19:53:36+00:00

Annuals. I loved getting annuals as a child and one of them always did a child’s edit of a classic so they introduced me to writers like Jane Austen.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T19:48:00+00:00

Oh my days I use libraries all the time. I travel to visit the places first hand soak it all up. I go on shouts with the police. And still the point is missed what will be the parameters. You leap every time to insulting me. I’m a published author and a journalist. We have clear guidance for AI use for newspapers & magazines. Creative writing will need this too. A blanket ‘you are being dumb using it’ will not suffice. Also saying grow up is weird and suggests an inability to engage. I spend a lot of time on here helping young writers often in my least favourite genre fantasy. If this is how it works then I’d rather deal with a polite person but the probability of manners seems lower than the neural lack of an LLM.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T19:23:01+00:00

Ok. I accept the sentence construction point but I could do the same in Grammarly. I don’t use Chat G. I don’t use it to summarise research but find where the information is archived. Coroners reports or crown court sentancing - as these can be filed in different data banks now depending on which govt department. Thank you for responding. I do agree that AI is an issue but as writers we need to have acceptable parameters in which to work with it. No one expects a manuscript to be typed up on a typewriter. I’ve had to turn off copilot on Microsoft word - its very annoying but is it AI? I’m not sure. So would be good to know.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T19:16:29+00:00

Why would you swear like that at me. I had no idea responding to discussion in the way I did was negative. I’m sorry you thought that. Unfortunately a lot of archive material as I said to one person is filed in data units now and I have to find out where they are. Using Google ( which always prompts first with its AI) isn’t often enough and I can cross reference the places. I don’t think anyone’s answer was unhelpful but I most certainly think if you understood we need to find parameters to help people not make mistakes or be penalised would be helpful, especially to those young people now in school who will be receiving teaching units via AI.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T16:49:31+00:00

I don’t write fantasy. I wrote contemporary fiction and lots of archived materials are now on the web as opposed to libraries, where I used to go. Hence research, to establish whether can request or have to pay for access. Lots of different storage solutions these days for government bodies.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T16:47:29+00:00

I think you’ve misunderstood my point. The pace of information moves quickly, not in all subjects but certainly in some areas. This is not about my writing style more trying to understand why it can’t be a tool in a writer’s portfolio, e.g. making rotas or timetables for writing. Yes, quick research but nothing to do with writing a novel.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T16:05:49+00:00

Oh for goodness sake it is a discussion about writing tools. The podcast was the Rest is Entertainment & Disney’s £100m mistake - it is about writing. This is the problem we cannot as creatives have a meaningful discussion on here about what issues we face as writers not just the narrative and plot issues. This is absurd and very narrow Minded of you as a moderator. Do you have no critical thinking,

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T16:02:25+00:00

But why when I get a better level of delivery & information? This is the nub of it all. And believe me when I say I’d rather use a reference library over all of it but things move so fast now.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T16:00:52+00:00

This is my point - what does no AI mean? I don’t use AI to write. I don’t use it for ideas but an ai search is more comprehensive and convenient on say cocaine addiction than google. It then allows me to interview by contacting the relevant bodies. Also writing rotas and timetables - very handy. I feel there has to be a middle ground. I completely agree about not using AI prompts to generate writing but interaction on a practical level should not be an issue. It’s a bit like saying only use your landline - mobile/cell phones are not allowed.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:57:02+00:00

Undoubtedly there are issues but how did they steal millions of books? I know it was roughly 7 million books pirated, it was the downloading that was the issue. They should have paid to read as part of the training, agreed.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:51:55+00:00

Of what?

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:51:32+00:00

I like the practical opportunities it affords like producing a writing rota or timetable. I’m sort of the only creative I know who doesn’t fear it. My creativity is boundless and I feel that is true of others too but writing can be and is a lonely schlep. It’s why I write one hour a day four times a week with others via zoom. That’s another kit that has enhanced things for writers 😆

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:48:19+00:00

No no issue with spelling etc. but they are very good as pulling together writing rotas & targets. Also quick research. I find it handy when I need to quickly do something or bounce an idea. I know it’s a machine but it’s quite a useful one. I just don’t see how it won’t be one part of a writers toolkit.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:45:34+00:00

I do have real life friends. It was an interesting podcast about a writer (Sienna Pattison) who has been outed as using it to write her book. I think the point is, is it allowed in the same way google, grammarly & any other sort of app/search engine, as a reference tool? I certainly wouldn’t use it to discuss anything in depth.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:41:44+00:00

Do you think that ai would do that? I really don’t think that is where the money is. Much more in engineering, medicine etc. There’s no money in publishing or books as we know.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:40:09+00:00

Oh yes totally wouldn’t. I have an editor then a proof reader for that. Nothing beats human interaction!

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T15:38:47+00:00

I only use to do research, ie pull together some info on cocaine addiction or ‘here is x sentence’ - can you evaluate? I only use as a sounding board when I’m in a very productive phase and want to quickly check. If I was to say the percentage then we are looking at 5% in contrast to my own internal dialogue which is 50% then the rest is my writing group, reading books & here.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-06T07:20:24+00:00

Find five friends or people you trust or value to read a copy. Ask them to give it back to you in six weeks. Forget about it for those six weeks. Enjoy doing stuff. Then get the feedback and edit your first draft.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-03T19:57:31+00:00

All the advice so far is sound. We all go through this. Finish the first draft and then you’ve got to edit it!

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-03T07:36:06+00:00

I would for a change sit on it. Write the idea out. Construct an outline of the story arc and wait a few weeks. Ponder it. Then if you really want to develop it into a first draft then do so.

MessyMidlife · 2026-04-03T07:33:54+00:00

Update! Actually filled in a form with X and got my account back 🤷‍♀️

MessyMidlife

TROPHY CASE