The Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
The co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett.
October 7 question - Many people are calling for writers who use AI to disclose it. Most who employ ghostwriters do not admit it - do you think authors who use ghostwriters should have to disclose that, too? (Thanks Melissa Maygrove for the question!)
Great question for the times. It's a question of ethics I would say, but when you toss ghostwriters into the mix then that does put to question any endeavor in which someone claims to do something that they have not done. Paying someone to do our work extends into many realms. It's the way things have worked for a long time. I don't think it's right to say we've done something we really haven't and receive remuneration and accolades for that work. If we've paid then so be it, but that doesn't make it right.
On the other hand there is a lot of writing that is not particularly good and an "author" who fits into that category might need that extra help to tell their story. If it's something akin to having an editor or proofreader or whatever then I don't think it's particularly bad. But if AI not only writes the story, but also comes up with the concept, story, characters, and every other element of the written product, then to me it's like cheating or even stealing.
In the end, it comes down to the reader. If they are entertained or enlightened or whatever the case may be, then maybe it doesn't matter who or what wrote it.
I suppose time will tell....
Extra help is all right but doing it all doesn't seem right.
ReplyDeleteYeah, unless you're Tom Sawyer.
DeleteLee
And time always tells, doesn't it. Makes me wonder.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wonder who this "Anonymous" is.
DeleteLee
AI is okay for research (only). Ghostwriters are modern-day collaborators. Nothing beats human creativity ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere are some editors who rewrite swaths of an author's work. Should they then get a cowriting credit? You're right--these questions can get quite complicated. How much AI is too much, etc.? When it comes to ghostwriters, I think most people know or assume celebrity bios are all ghostwritten. At least, I hope they do!
ReplyDeleteDifferent people have different tolerance levels. There are some authors who are against AI writing, but will use AI art. So many tricky lines to walk.
ReplyDeleteWe should adapt without having AI destroy human creativity... and those authors who need help writing, should probably turn to writing courses to learn to write better before turning to AI to do it for them (nothing wrong with using tools, but where's the fun having someone else do the fishing and then having to turn to them each time you want to eat?).
ReplyDeleteRonel the Mythmaker