Wow, that’s a lot of AI news tucked in there!

Right? I was planning to write a newsletter after the Shy Girl controversy broke, but Andi Bartz did such a great job discussing it in hers that I don’t have anything to add. Check out her comprehensive take here (along with input from some other terrific writers) and then, for laughs, read Ron Charles’ funny, albeit depressing, newsletter here.

Ron Charles is really good at “funny, albeit depressing.”

My God, yes, it’s his jam. Anyway, I barely had time to not write that newsletter when news broke that a NYT reviewer, Alex Preston, was fired for using AI to write his book reviews. I had thoughts and feelings, but then Harlequin was like, hey, you know when would be a good time to announce an AI initiative?

You’re kidding.

Brosef, I am not. That was, like, a few days ago, and then I saw the above paragraph from PW.

What is going on?

What’s going on is normalization.

Some publishers and shitty writers have been warily figuring out how to announce their use of AI without much blowback. And these announcements have been joined by “think-pieces” (term used loosely) about “writers” (term not applicable) who are okay with AI or freely admitting to some form of its use.

Most writers I know don’t like AI (more specifically, okay, LLMs), and have taken very public stances on it. Mostly on social media, but that’s pretty much the platform we got. Publishers have been much more quiet.

Are they using AI?

Yes. I’ve observed this directly. Then again, everybody with a job is being encouraged to use AI - or, gasp, you’ll be left behind, in some yet undefined but terrible manner. Publishing is no different.

But what can I do about it, E.A?

Nothing, really. I hope I’m wrong, but I still believe that we’re the last generation of real writers, meaning the last generation to not employ AI. The alarming stories above probably won’t be alarming a few years from now. The school kids using AI to cheat won’t have the same apprehensions we do. It will probably be seen as a benign tool, and our dwindling generation - bitterly complaining about it on all fronts - will slowly die out.

Well, that sucks.

That does sucks! I was hoping that our writing generation would be known for its array of diverse voices, which sets its apart from previous generation and defines today’s literary movement. I didn’t think we’d be known for being the last generation of writers before a fucking Keurig wrote a novel.

You know what you call a Keurig novel about witches? A podcast.

See? That’s what I’m saying! I’d like AI to come up with that kind of humor. Not possible, too sophisticated. Anyway, listen. I do think there’s one thing we can do.

And that is…

Most of the people I’ve met in publishing are really good people. I know that sounds naive, but that’s been my experience. The editors and marketing people and cover designers and author liaisons and audio narrators and everyone else I’ve met have cared about books and writing and readers as much as us writers do. I don’t think people, who are in publishing right now, got into the game because they wanted AI to do their work for them. I think they like the work they do, and the craft that comes with it. Those are the kind of people I want to work with.

So, if you’re signing a contract, ask for a clause that stipulates you don’t agree to any AI use within the editing, cover, audio version, all elements of the book. I asked on social media about this, and if it was possible, and my pal Michele sent me a blog Scalzi wrote a while back about this same topic. So if you’re basic like me and didn’t know this was a thing, yes, yes it is.

This is also, for those writers wringing their hands about potentially being falsely accused of using AI, a way to safeguard yourself (and to ensure that no one involved with your novel uses it either). And yes, I’m aware of the complications of proving you didn’t use it since AI isn’t foolproof at catching AI (A-sigh), but this is the best defense we currently have. And you don’t want to find out your editor used AI to help incorporate ideas or text.

If you care about writing, this is a hugely important step. The publisher may not agree to this clause, and then you have to decide what’s important to you - we always have to do this as writers, because your same publisher will decide to put out a book by some idiot called Well, Actually Jesus WAS White and now this is your publishing house partner (Happy Easter!).

Like I said, writers don’t have a lot of power, but the least we can do is protect, and respect, our own work.

EA

The Washington Writers Conference is a terrific literary event in the DC area, and I get to take part in it this year! I’ll be moderating a panel with three local’ish writing rockstars - Alma Katsu, Nathan Leslie, and my homie Eliza Nellums on plotting. And there’s still time to register for the conference! Check it out here.

It's giveaway time! The winner of a copy of my Washington Writers Conference panelist Eliza Nellum’s most recent novel, The Bone Cay, is:

stephen________@gmail.com

Congrats, and I'll send you an email soon!