I Wrote an Entire Book with AI. This is What Happened.

The author shares their experience of writing a Gothic fantasy novel titled 'Heirs of Dracula' using AI, with minimal editing required. Contrary to expectations, AI did not save significant time but rather reduced mental effort, helping the author overcome writer's block. They found Claude 2.0 to be the most effective model for fiction writing, though not perfect. The author suggests a hybrid approach for their next book, writing the first 500 words themselves before allowing AI to continue, which should better match their writing style. AI proved useful in enhancing weaker areas of the author's writing while allowing them to focus on their strengths. Unexpectedly, the final manuscript was shorter than anticipated, leading to a second editing pass to ensure completeness. The emotional significance of finishing the book, especially after a period of burnout, was profound for the author, who credits AI for making the process less daunting and more enjoyable.

Takeaways

• 📚 The author completed a book titled 'Heirs of Dracula' using AI, with some personal editing.
• 🎨 The cover art was commissioned and not created by AI, highlighting the use of AI for content rather than visual art.
• ✍️ Despite using AI, the author found that it didn't save much time, but it did save mental effort, which is significant for overcoming writer's block.
• 🤖 Claude 2.0 was identified as the best model for writing fiction at the time, but the author experienced issues with CLA 2.1 and had to revert to Claude 2.0.
• 🔍 The author plans to use a tool like Novel Crafter for the next book, writing the first 500 words manually to better match their style with AI assistance.
• 💡 AI was particularly helpful in enhancing the author's weaker areas, allowing them to focus on their strengths during the editing phase.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The character of Sherlock Holmes was written by AI, and the dialogue was so well-crafted that it required minimal editing.
• 📉 The final story was shorter than expected, leading to reflection on whether additional scenes were needed to flesh it out.
• 🎉 The emotional impact of finishing a book after a period of burnout was profound for the author, crediting AI for making the process more manageable.
• 📈 The author's experience suggests that AI can be a powerful tool for individuals with ADHD, depression, or autism, who find traditional writing processes challenging.
• ✂️ While AI contributed significantly, the final book is heavily edited by the author, ensuring it remains their unique voice and story.

Q & A

What is the title of the book the author completed using AI?

The title of the book is 'Heirs of Dracula'.

What was the genre of the book the author wrote?

The book is a Gothic fantasy.

What was the author's first big takeaway from using AI to write a book?

The author found that using AI did not save a significant amount of time but it did save mental effort and helped overcome writer's block.

Which AI model did the author find to be the best for writing fiction during their experience?

The author found Claude 2.0 to be the best model for writing fiction at the time.

What was the author's strategy for writing chapters with AI?

The author would write the story beats, give them to Claude 2.0, let it write the entire chapter, and then edit the chapter.

What was the author's second biggest takeaway regarding the use of AI in writing?

The author realized that writing a chapter in one go with AI was often difficult and that a tool like Novel Crafter, which writes one section at a time, might be a better approach.

How did the author find AI helpful in editing their work?

AI was helpful in filling in for the author's weaknesses, allowing them to focus on their strengths, such as improving upon areas that needed enhancement and refining dialogue.

Why did the author believe the final story was shorter than expected?

The author believes the story was shorter because it primarily had one viewpoint character, which typically results in a shorter novel length.

What emotional impact did finishing the book have on the author?

Finishing the book was emotional for the author because it had been a long time since they had completed a full-length novel, and it represented overcoming personal burnout.

How does the author plan to use AI for their next book?

The author plans to write the first 500 words of a chapter themselves and then let AI continue from there, hoping for a more seamless match of their writing style.

Will the finished book be available for purchase?

Yes, the book will be commercially available for purchase at regular places like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

What was the author's final takeaway from the experience of writing a book with AI?

The author's final takeaway was the celebration of finishing a book and overcoming the fear of the blank page, with AI helping to alleviate the dread and mental strain associated with writing.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Writing a Book with AI: Experience and Takeaways

The author shares their experience of completing a book titled 'Heirs of Dracula' using AI and their personal editing. Despite the common belief that AI would save significant time, the author found it to be a tool that saved mental effort instead, which was particularly helpful after experiencing burnout. The author emphasizes AI's role in making the writing process easier and overcoming barriers to entry, especially for those with conditions like ADHD, depression, or Autism. They also discuss the best AI model for writing fiction, their process of writing and editing, and the potential of tools like Novel Crafter for a more seamless writing experience.

05:01

🤖 AI's Role in Enhancing Writing Strengths and Covering Weaknesses

The author discusses how AI was instrumental in compensating for their weaknesses in writing while allowing them to focus on their strengths. They found that AI could produce high-quality content in areas where they felt less confident, such as writing dialogue for the character Sherlock Holmes. Conversely, the author was able to improve upon AI-generated content where they felt their personal touch was necessary. This dynamic allowed for a higher baseline of writing quality and a more efficient editing process.

10:02

📉 Unexpected Shortness and Emotional Completion

The author was surprised to find that the final story was shorter than anticipated, despite using a detailed 24-chapter outline. They reflect on whether the story might feel rushed or if additional scenes are needed. The author also shares a personal moment of emotional significance upon completing the book, highlighting the role of AI in helping them overcome burnout and the fear of the blank page, ultimately enabling them to finish a novel after a long hiatus.

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 to assist in writing a novel, demonstrating its utility in creative processes beyond traditional computational tasks. The script illustrates how AI can generate text, storylines, and dialogue, which the author then edits and refines.

Editing

Editing is the process of reviewing and revising written material to enhance its clarity, coherence, and overall quality. In the video, the author emphasizes the importance of editing in the context of AI-generated content. Despite the use of AI, the author still spends a significant amount of time editing the text to ensure it aligns with their intended style and narrative.

Mental Effort

Mental effort refers to the cognitive work or energy required to perform a task. The video discusses how AI can reduce the mental effort involved in writing, particularly for individuals who struggle with conditions like ADHD, depression, or autism. By offloading some of the creative burden to AI, the author was able to focus on refining the story rather than being overwhelmed by the initial act of writing.

Claude 2.0

Claude 2.0 is mentioned as the AI model that the author found most effective for writing fiction during their experience. It represents a specific version or iteration of an AI tool that is capable of generating text based on provided prompts or story beats. The author's experience with Claude 2.0 highlights the iterative nature of AI tools and the need to find the right fit for a particular task.

Novel Crafter

Novel Crafter is an AI tool that the author plans to use for their next book, suggesting it may offer a more effective approach to writing by handling one section at a time rather than entire chapters. This tool is presented as a potential solution to some of the challenges faced when using AI to write fiction, such as maintaining consistency in style and voice throughout the narrative.

Story Beats

Story beats are the key events or turning points in a narrative that outline the structure of a story. The author mentions creating story beats before giving them to the AI to generate the text. This process is crucial as it provides the AI with a roadmap to follow when crafting the narrative, ensuring that the generated content aligns with the author's intended storyline.

Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion often caused by prolonged stress. In the video, the author shares their personal struggle with burnout, which had previously hindered their ability to write. The use of AI in writing is presented as a way to overcome this burnout by reducing the mental and emotional strain associated with the initial stages of writing.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, known for his distinctive voice and analytical skills. In the context of the video, the author discusses the challenge of writing dialogue for such a well-known character. The AI's ability to generate believable and high-quality dialogue for Sherlock Holmes is highlighted as an example of where AI can excel and surpass the author's own writing abilities.

Word Count

Word count refers to the total number of words in a piece of writing. The author had a predetermined expectation for the length of their novel, basing it on a 24-chapter outline and aiming for approximately 3,000 words per chapter. However, the final word count was shorter than expected, leading to a reflection on whether additional scenes or content were needed to flesh out the story.

Blank Page Syndrome

Blank Page Syndrome is a term used to describe the anxiety or fear experienced when faced with the challenge of starting a new piece of writing from scratch. The author shares that AI helped them overcome this fear, as it provided a foundation of text to build upon, eliminating the dread associated with staring at a blank page.

Commercial Availability

Commercial availability refers to the accessibility of a product or service for purchase by the general public. The author mentions that their AI-assisted book will eventually be available for purchase through regular channels such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, indicating the mainstream potential of AI-assisted creative works.

Highlights

Author completed an entire book with AI assistance and personal editing.

The book, titled 'Heirs of Dracula', is a Gothic fantasy set in the author's world.

The author found AI to be a helpful tool but not a significant time-saver.

AI's main benefit was reducing mental effort rather than saving time.

AI helped the author overcome writer's block and return to writing.

Claude 2.0 was identified as the best model for writing fiction at the time.

The author experienced difficulties with the release of CLA 2.1, reverting back to Claude 2.0.

For the next book, the author plans to use tools like Novel Crafter for a more seamless writing process.

AI effectively complements the author's strengths and weaknesses in writing.

The AI-written dialogue for the character Sherlock Holmes was particularly impressive.

The book ended up being shorter than expected at just over 50,000 words.

The author felt emotional upon completing the book, having overcome a period of burnout.

AI helped prevent the 'blank page syndrome' and the feeling of dread associated with writing.

The finished book is heavily edited by the author, making it a personal story and words.

The author plans to make the book commercially available on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The author's experience with AI writing was overall positive, aiding in the completion of a novel.

AI writing tools are seen as a mind saver for individuals with conditions that make writing challenging.