Why AI Can't Replace Writing Groups

"I don't need a writing group. I forked out for GPT-4."

That's what an author said to me about why he left his writing group. Huh?

Don't get me wrong, AI is awesome for authors, and can help us. I know because I use AI. For example, I'm working on a historical mystery, and I've used AI to brainstorm and get unstuck when I'm having a hard time moving forward on my story, as well as to conduct research on Victorian fashion and plants native to the Catskills in New York. And on the writing business-side, AI is incredibly helpful, too, with tools to support a variety of tasks, such as grammar checking and social media scheduling. Sometimes, I even use AI to suggest images for my blog posts. (Fun fact, I used Image Creator from Bing for this post.)

So, I see a lot of AI benefits for authors, and recommend writers explore AI tools to find what’s useful to them and their processes. But I also want to make the case that the human element in our writing remains indispensable, and one way to tap into that human element is through a writing group.

Human writing groups remain essential for nurturing your development. Whether we influence each other’s creative spirit, foster personal growth, or provide opportunities to achieve professional milestones, we humans offer the invaluable human touch that is at the core of great writer achievements.

Besides, on a very basic level, whatever you're writing or whatever author-related project you're working on, you're aiming at a human audience, right? So, you need to ensure that your work reaches its human mark. A writing group can serve as your checkpoint to make sure you're on target.

Use AI tools to stretch yourself and make your tasks easier and know that AI does not replace a human being. A circle of other writers, whatever type, will help to ensure that your writing, or any task associated with your writing work, gets done and engages readers. AI can help with steps along the way, but people will help you reach people.

BTW, if you want to stay current with AI tools for authors, I recommend you check out Brave New Bookshelf. It's a terrific podcast, where hosts, Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite, and a variety of author guests, explore all kinds of AI uses for writers.

For more tips about writing circles, my book, The Write Group, is available for pre-order.