That is such a true statement. A good editor can improve your book and help make readers want to buy not only that book but also others you have written.
For the last six months, I’ve played with the idea of using AI to edit my books. I’m not talking about having AI write my books. I’m talking about using it to edit what I have written.
Last year, my daughter attended a class about editing at the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference. On the way home, we had a long conversation about the techniques discussed in the class.
Here are some things I’ve learned about using AI to improve a book, email, newsletter, blog, or Facebook post.
- Tell AI exactly what you want it to do. Be specific! I list everything I want it to pay attention to, including spelling, punctuation, grammar, continuity, and style.
- Ask for “no hallucinations.” This reminds AI not to invent facts or add details that are not in your original work. However, AI can still make mistakes, so you must check its suggestions carefully.
- Sometimes you have to tell AI it is wrong. One of my edited chapters came back with several colons and semicolons. I prefer not to use them in my fiction, so I reminded AI of my style choice. It agreed that they should be used sparingly and removed them.
- AI can check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. My eyesight prevents me from easily distinguishing between a comma and a period. For that reason alone, I love having AI help with my editing.
- Speak up when AI makes a change you do not like. We know our stories and our characters better than anyone else. Sometimes AI will add or change something that does not belong in the book.
- Watch for repeated words. AI sometimes relies on the same words too often. I tend to overuse “that,” and sure enough, AI sometimes does the same thing. I still have to read through the work and remove unnecessary words.
AI has improved my work in progress. Now I feel as though the book sounds like it was written by an adult instead of an eight-year-old! When I finish this book, I plan to have AI help me edit and update some of my earlier books.
When I finish writing this blog, I will run it through AI. I know the revised version will sound much better—and that is the version you are reading now.
If you would like to see my original draft, leave a comment and ask for it. I’ll be glad to share it with you.
Blessings,
Kathy Cretsinger, Author