The Freedom of Flexible AI Usage: Why There's No "Right Way" to Write with AI
Finding your personal approach to AI collaboration instead of following someone else's formula
In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI tools for authors, one of the most liberating realizations I've had is this: there is no single "correct" way to integrate AI into your writing process.
This might seem obvious to some, but in a world filled with courses promising "the perfect AI writing method" and influencers claiming they've discovered the "ultimate prompt formula," it's easy to feel like you're doing it wrong if your approach differs.
Let me put your mind at ease: you're not doing it wrong. You're just doing it your way. And that's exactly as it should be.
The Myth of the "Perfect" AI Writing Process
If there's one misconception I encounter repeatedly in my work at Future Fiction Academy, it's the belief that successful AI authors follow some secret, standardized methodology. The truth couldn't be further from that.
Some of the most prolific and creative AI-assisted authors I know have wildly different approaches:
Some use AI primarily for brainstorming, then write their drafts entirely by hand.
Others outline meticulously themselves, then use AI to help with the first draft.
Many bounce between AI and their own writing, creating a genuinely collaborative piece.
A few use different AI models for different characters or narrative perspectives.
The common thread isn't how they use AI, it's that they've each found an approach that complements their natural writing tendencies rather than fighting against them.
Finding Your AI Sweet Spot
My own journey with AI perfectly illustrates this principle of personalization. I've always been a "pantser" in my writing, i.e. someone who discovers the story as I write rather than planning extensively. My pain point? I dreaded writing first drafts. I much preferred editing existing text over staring at a blank page.
When I began incorporating AI into my process, I didn't follow someone else's formula. Instead, I shifted the discovery phase to the outlining process. Now I "pants" the outline with AI as my brainstorming partner, letting it help me explore possibilities and unexpected directions. Then I use AI to assist with the first draft based on that collaborative outline, leaving me free to focus on my favorite part: editing and refining.
This approach works for me because it addresses my specific pain point while leveraging my natural tendencies.
Temperament Matters
I firmly believe that your personal temperament plays a significant role in determining your ideal AI approach. Are you:
A freeform creative? You might thrive using AI for open-ended brainstorming and riffing on ideas.
A structural thinker? AI could be your perfect partner for generating detailed outlines and scene sequencing.
A dialogue specialist who struggles with description? Use AI to help flesh out your environments while you perfect the character interactions.
A worldbuilder who gets bogged down in plot mechanics? Let AI help structure your narrative while you focus on what you love.
There's no universal prescription because every author has different strengths, different challenges, and different creative priorities.
Working with Genre-Specific Challenges
Even your genre influences how you might best use AI. I've found that different types of stories present unique AI challenges:
Mysteries require careful handling. If you tell the AI who the killer is too early, it tends to telegraph this information or resolve the mystery prematurely. For these projects, I often hold back important details when prompting.
For fantasy or science fiction with complex worldbuilding, the current limitations in AI's attention to detail mean you need to consistently remind it of important world elements with each new prompt.
Romance writers face their own challenges, particularly when writing intimate scenes that some AI models are reluctant to assist with. In these cases, knowing which models have which limitations becomes part of your toolkit.
The point isn't that AI can't handle these genres. It's that you adapt your approach based on the specific needs of your project rather than following a one-size-fits-all method.
Evolution, Not Revolution
One of the most exciting aspects of working with AI is how the relationship evolves over time. My own writing style has shifted through this collaboration, becoming more descriptive and detailed than my previously sparse prose. My readers have responded positively to this evolution, but it happened organically through experimentation rather than following someone else's playbook.
I've also found that AI has surprising strengths that I never would have anticipated. Its capacity for humor, for instance, continues to amaze me. Who would have thought that an AI could craft genuinely funny dialogue or situations? (For fellow comedy enthusiasts, I've found Gemini Pro 2.0 and 2.5 particularly adept at humor, likely due to training on diverse content including video platforms.)
Setting Realistic Expectations
Despite what critics might claim, AI-assisted writing isn't about "clicking a button and getting a book." The most common misconception I encounter from non-AI users is the belief that we simply request "write me a romantic comedy" and magically receive a finished novel.
The reality is far more nuanced. It's a collaborative process of discovery and refinement where my ideas and creative direction remain at the core.
The AI is my assistant, not my replacement.
Working with AI requires judgment, curation, and editing. There is no prompt-copy-paste publishing here. Everything needs to be read, validated, and edited. As the author, you remain in charge of what you create and what you publish.
Adapting to Rapid Evolution
Another aspect of finding your own path with AI is determining how and when to incorporate new models and features. The landscape evolves weekly, if not daily, with new capabilities constantly emerging.
My approach? I test new models between projects rather than switching midstream. I prioritize deadlines and current works over experimenting with the latest release, only incorporating new tools when I have breathing room to properly evaluate them.
This measured approach keeps me from getting caught in the cycle of perpetually chasing the newest shiny AI tool without completing my actual writing projects.
Finding Your Own Path Forward
If you're feeling uncertain about how to integrate AI into your writing life, start by identifying the pain points in your current process. What aspects of writing do you find most challenging or least enjoyable? That's where AI might offer the most meaningful assistance.
Do you struggle with marketing copy? AI can help brainstorm blurbs and ad copy.
Is research a time sink? AI can gather and synthesize information quickly.
Does developmental editing break your budget? AI can provide structural feedback before you pay a human editor.
Are book covers a frustration due to unreliable designers? AI image generation might be worth exploring.
The key is matching the tool to your specific needs rather than forcing yourself into someone else's workflow.
Embracing the Freedom
The beauty of this "no right way" approach is the freedom it provides. Instead of trying to conform to some external standard of "proper" AI usage, you can experiment, adapt, and find the methods that genuinely enhance your creative process.
Some days I use AI extensively; other days barely at all. Some projects benefit from heavy AI involvement; others need a lighter touch. This flexibility isn't a bug; it's a feature.
So if you've been hesitant to explore AI because you're worried about doing it "correctly," I hope this perspective gives you permission to experiment on your own terms. The only truly wrong approach is one that doesn't serve your unique needs as a writer.
After all, we're authors because we value creative expression. Why should our relationship with our tools be any less personal and distinctive than the stories we tell?
Want to learn more about flexible approaches to AI in writing? Check out our interview with prolific author Rachelle Ayala on the Brave New Bookshelf podcast, where we explore different methods for integrating AI into the creative process.
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