The AI Conversation: A Collaboration in Writing
For me, using AI isn’t about letting a machine do the thinking, and it is certainly not about clicking a button to generate generic text. I look at the process as an “AI Conversation” — a dynamic back-and-forth where the technology brings the raw horsepower and I bring the editorial judgment.
I know the wider world has its reservations about these tools, and I expect some pushback for integrating them into the creative process. But I believe it is important to be completely open about how I use them. For me, the value is practical: I like seeing my thinking expanded on the page, and I value the opportunity to have that thinking challenged and refined.
My process breaks down into a distinct partnership:
The Architecture: I handle the structure, the bones, and the core truth of the project. I spend the energy pinning down the outline so the foundation is completely solid from the start.
The Staff Writer: I treat the AI like a capable staff writer. I hand over the framework and let it do the initial heavy lifting of expanding the points, throwing options at the wall, and adding muscle to the layout.
The Editorial Pushback: The real value happens in the friction. Seeing what doesn’t fit or what feels slightly off-target allows me to push back, refine the boundaries, and strip away the fluff. It forces clarity, helping me shape the material until it is lean, precise, and accurate to the intent.
Ultimately, I stay firmly in the driver’s seat. My goal isn’t to chase manufactured drama or produce fluff; it is to create sound, grounded content that has a distinct utility and can actually help people. That standard of straightforward utility might not be what everyone desires out of writing, but it satisfies me. The AI provides the speed and the options, but I provide the taste, the curation, and the final judgment.
