How to Write a Book with AI in 2024 (2 Best Methods)

In this informative video, Jason, the 'nerdy novelist,' provides a comprehensive guide on leveraging AI to write a book in 2024. He dispels the myth that AI can write a book at the push of a button, emphasizing the multi-step nature of writing that includes brainstorming, outlining, character development, and editing. Jason advocates using AI for the least favorite step to maximize creative enjoyment and prevent burnout. He introduces the 'fractal technique' for expanding ideas and outlines two primary methods for writing prose with AI: writing one section at a time with continuous editing or using a 'super prompt' for generating entire chapters. Jason also addresses non-fiction writing, stressing the importance of accuracy and personal expertise. He concludes by reinforcing AI as a productivity tool for authors, not a replacement, and highlights the 2023 writer's strike outcome that empowers authors to benefit from AI. The video is a valuable resource for writers seeking to enhance their craft with AI assistance.

Takeaways

• 📚 Writing a book with AI is not as simple as pushing a button; it involves a multi-step process that includes brainstorming, outlining, character development, and more.
• 🤖 AI should be viewed as a tool to assist with the parts of writing you enjoy the least, allowing you to focus more on the creative aspects you love.
• 👨‍💼 Jason, the speaker, recommends using AI for the least enjoyable steps of writing to maximize creative pleasure and prevent burnout.
• 📝 The fractal technique, similar to the snowflake method, involves expanding a small idea into a larger one, eventually creating a full manuscript.
• 💡 AI can help generate ideas, but it's crucial for authors to validate and edit the content to ensure quality and originality.
• 📈 For non-fiction, the fractal technique can also be applied, with careful attention to the accuracy of the information provided.
• 📝 AI can assist with productivity by generating chapter outlines and ideas, but the author must ensure the relevance and accuracy of the topics.
• ✍️ Two primary methods for writing prose with AI are: writing one section at a time with ongoing editing, and using a 'super prompt' to generate entire chapters.
• 🛠️ Tools like Novel Crafter are beneficial for fiction writing, providing a structured approach to generating and editing prose.
• 📉 The super prompt method can be less efficient for prose writing due to the need for multiple iterations but is useful for online articles.
• ✅ AI is a powerful tool for authors, helping them overcome resistance and burnout, and should be used to augment their writing process.

Q & A

What is the general misconception about writing a book with AI?

The general misconception is that one can simply write a book with the push of a button using AI, but the reality is that writing with AI involves a complex, multi-step process.

What is the role of AI in the writing process according to Jason?

AI acts as a productivity tool or a junior writing partner, assisting authors in various steps of the writing process, such as brainstorming, outlining, and editing, rather than replacing the author.

What are the two best methods Jason suggests for writing with AI?

The two best methods Jason suggests are writing one section at a time, editing as you go, and using a 'super prompt' to generate an entire chapter at once.

How does the fractal technique help in writing a book?

The fractal technique involves starting with a small idea and expanding it into a larger concept, continually building upon it until a full manuscript is created.

What is the importance of validating the AI-generated content?

Validating AI-generated content is crucial because AI is not perfect and may produce generic or less creative content. Authors need to ensure the quality and originality of the text.

How does Jason recommend using AI for non-fiction writing?

For non-fiction, Jason suggests starting with a core message or educational topic and using AI to generate chapter ideas and outlines. Authors should then verify the accuracy and relevance of each chapter before writing.

What is the 'super prompt' technique?

The 'super prompt' technique involves creating a very long, detailed prompt with instructions, style, characters, setting, and chapter beats to generate a large amount of text, like an entire chapter, in one go.

Why might authors prefer using a tool like Novel Crafter over a 'super prompt'?

Tools like Novel Crafter allow authors to generate and edit text as they go, which can be more efficient and less prone to derailment compared to the 'super prompt' method, which may require multiple runs to get usable content.

What is the significance of the 2023 writer's strike regarding AI?

The 2023 writer's strike resulted in an agreement that studios would not replace authors with AI. Instead, authors would have the power to use AI to enhance their writing, ensuring they benefit from AI advancements.

How does Jason describe the role of AI in overcoming writer's block?

Jason describes AI as a tool that can help authors overcome writer's block by assisting with brainstorming, outlining, and research, allowing them to move past resistances and continue writing.

What does Jason recommend for authors interested in the tools he uses for writing fiction?

Jason recommends watching a specific video where he walks through his favorite tools for writing fiction, providing insights into the technology that can assist authors in their writing process.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Writing with AI in 2024

Jason, the 'nerdy novelist,' introduces the topic of writing a book with AI in 2024. He addresses the misconception that AI can write a book with a simple command and emphasizes that writing is a complex, multi-step process. He shares his experience as an author and his expertise from working with Kindlepreneur, a leading website on writing and self-publishing. Jason critiques other AI writing tutorials for their lack of practical writing experience and outlines his intention to provide a step-by-step guide on using AI for writing, focusing on the parts of the writing process one might dislike.

05:02

🤖 AI as a Writing Partner, Not a Replacement

Jason discusses the role of AI in the writing process, comparing it to a junior writing partner rather than a replacement for authors. He explains that while AI can assist with brainstorming, outlining, and editing, it is crucial for authors to validate and refine the AI-generated content. He provides an example of how to use AI to brainstorm and develop a synopsis for a hardboiled detective story set in 1920s New York, highlighting the importance of the author's role in adding creativity and authenticity to the AI's output.

10:03

📝 Writing Non-fiction with AI: The Fractal Technique

The video script explains how the fractal technique can be applied to non-fiction writing. It involves starting with a simple idea and expanding it into a full outline with the help of AI. For non-fiction, accuracy is key, and the author must ensure the text is correct. The AI can provide a list of potential chapter ideas, which the author can refine and organize. An example is given for a book on dopamine fasting, where the AI generates a list of topics for a chapter, and the author selects and orders them as needed.

15:04

📖 Two Methods for Writing Prose with AI

Jason presents two methods for writing prose with AI: writing one section at a time with continuous editing, and writing entire chapters at once using a 'super prompt.' He discusses the efficiency and creative aspects of each method, noting that while writing sections sequentially might be more efficient, writing entire chapters can be more fun but requires more advanced prompting. Tools like Novel Crafter are recommended for fiction, and the process is demonstrated using Claude 2.0 for generating text based on scene beats.

20:05

🚀 Using AI to Overcome Writer's Block and Burnout

Jason shares his personal experience with writer's burnout and how AI helped him to get back into writing. He suggests that AI can assist at every stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to research, and can be particularly useful for individuals dealing with neurodivergences or writer's block. He emphasizes that AI is a tool for authors to enhance their productivity and creativity, not replace them. He also mentions the 2023 writer's strike, which resulted in an agreement that studios would not replace authors with AI, ensuring authors have control over the use of AI in their work.

Keywords

AI

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is used as a tool to assist in the writing process, from brainstorming to editing, making it easier and more efficient for authors.

Fractal Technique

The Fractal Technique is a method of expanding a small idea into a larger concept, repeatedly, until a full manuscript is formed. It is similar to the Snowflake Technique and is used in the video to create a structured outline for a book, both for fiction and non-fiction, starting from a simple prompt and building upon it.

Chatbots

Chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate conversation with human users. In the video, chatbots like Claude and Chat GPT are mentioned as tools that can assist with various aspects of writing a book, such as generating ideas, outlining, and even drafting sections of text.

Synopses

A synopses is a brief summary of the plot of a work of fiction or the main points of a non-fiction work. In the video, the creation of a synopses is discussed as part of the process where AI can help flesh out a basic idea into a structured narrative with a three-act structure.

Non-fiction

Non-fiction refers to a genre of writing that is based on factual information and real-life events, as opposed to fiction, which is invented or imagined. The video explains how AI can assist in writing non-fiction by generating chapter ideas, outlining, and providing information on specific topics within the book.

Productivity Tool

A productivity tool is any application or device that helps users to be more efficient and organized in their work. In the context of the video, AI is positioned as a productivity tool for authors, helping them with various steps of the writing process, from brainstorming to final editing.

Super Prompt

A Super Prompt is a long, detailed instruction given to an AI that includes all the necessary information for the AI to generate a large piece of text, such as a chapter or an article. The video demonstrates how a Super Prompt can be used with certain AI models to produce extensive written content in a single operation.

Novel Crafter

Novel Crafter is a tool specifically designed for writing fiction. It allows authors to outline scenes, generate prose based on those scenes, and edit as they go along. The video presents Novel Crafter as an efficient way to write fiction, step by step, integrating with AI to produce and refine text.

SEO Article

An SEO (Search Engine Optimization) article is a piece of content written with the goal of ranking high in search engine results. The video discusses the use of a Super Prompt to generate an extensive SEO article, emphasizing the importance of including keywords and creating a detailed outline to guide the AI.

Burnout

Burnout refers to a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. The video mentions that AI helped the speaker overcome a period of burnout by assisting in the writing process, thereby reducing the stress associated with certain writing tasks.

Mind Saer

A term likely meant to be a playful or incorrect variation of 'mind saver,' which implies something that relieves mental effort or strain. In the video, the speaker describes AI as a 'mind saer' because it helps authors by taking over some of the more tedious aspects of writing, thus preserving their mental energy for more creative tasks.

Highlights

Writing a book with AI in 2024 is not as simple as it seems and requires a multi-step process.

AI can assist in brainstorming, outlining, character development, world-building, and research.

AI is best used for the parts of the writing process you enjoy the least, to maximize creative pleasure.

The fractal technique is a method for expanding a small idea into a full manuscript, similar to the snowflake technique.

AI can generate news stories or prompts to kickstart a fictional narrative.

A full synopsis can be obtained from a simple prompt using AI.

AI-generated content requires validation and editing to ensure quality and creativity.

For non-fiction, the fractal technique can help generate chapter ideas and outlines.

Accuracy of information is crucial in non-fiction, where AI can provide a good rundown of possible chapter types.

AI can assist in generating the first 500 words of a chapter, but it may not be efficient for prose creation.

Two best methods for writing prose with AI are writing one section at a time and writing entire chapters all at once.

Tools like Novel Crafter can help generate prose in a step-by-step fashion, allowing for immediate editing.

Super prompts can generate entire chapters or articles in one go, but may require multiple attempts for a usable result.

AI is a productivity tool for authors, not a replacement, and can help overcome writer's block and burnout.

The 2023 writer's strike resulted in an agreement that studios would not replace authors with AI, but rather empower authors to use AI.

AI is considered a mind saver for authors, helping them to excel beyond their usual capabilities with less effort.

The video provides a guide to the best tools for writing fiction with AI.