Find Your Own Voice
Why ChatGPT shouldn’t be writing for you.
If you’re like me, you’re likely experimenting with ChatGPT to ease some of your writing burden. No shame in admitting. I’m non-judgemental like that.
It doesn’t make you any less of a writer if you use Ai to fast track your work.
ChatGPT is a brilliant tool — the likes of which we never had in our arsenal. It can generate, or help you generate content on virtually any topic, from cat memes to quantum mechanics.
I love it and I now use it as my go-to writing sand box. All my research and development and pre-writing experiments are done on ChatGPT now. And once I have gathered all the material I need to start writing, I come back to write on Medium or on MS-Word.
“But why won’t you generate fully fleshed-out stories on ChatGPT?”
— I hear you. Here’s why:
ChatGPT can’t create your voice. It can’t make you unique, witty, or satirical. You have to do that yourself.
Sorry, but that’s the work you need to put in. Cultivating your own writing voice is hard work, and no Ai is going to replace it. ChatGPT can emulate any writer you admire — but then the voice won’t be yours then, innit?
If you want to write something as a homage to your inner Vonnegut or Hemingway, who am I to stop you. But if all of your writing is going to be a copy paste style of someone famous… let’s just drop a hint below.
People who read are pretty damn smart. They can make out when you cheat. And even if they can’t. You will always know. Can you live with that? I know I can’t. May be you can, who knows.
Writers are remembered for their distinctive voices, which ChatGPT may be able to replicate. But it can never write from your unique point of view.
Famous writers found their own style by tapping into their personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives.
They were unapologetically themselves, and that’s what made their writing stand out. Made it uniquely theirs.
If you like your information spoon-fed in a bulleted list, here’s a mini-listicle. Something I used ChatGPT to generate, and then tweak for my voice.
5 Reasons Why ChatGPT Can’t Create Your Voice
- ChatGPT is programmed to mimic existing content, not create original content.
- ChatGPT lacks a personal touch, numero uno requirement in writing.
- ChatGPT can’t tap into your personal experiences or emotions, which are the basis of your unique voice.
- ChatGPT might be able to generate content, but it can’t generate a sense of humor, satire, or irony.
- ChatGPT is a tool like any other. Tools can’t think. You’ll have to do that.
If you’re done scratching your head, here’s the simple truth — it’s all up to you champ. You want to create your distinctive voice? Here are some tips:
- Be unapologetically yourself
- Write from the heart
- Experiment with different styles and techniques
- Take risks
We all know that writing is a journey of self-discovery. It helps you uncobweb your mind. It brings clarity to your thoughts, and more importantly, it uncovers your take on the world.
When you write in your voice, that’s you processing the algorithm of the world around you, not the Ai. Nothing can replicate that.
And while ChatGPT is a brilliant aid to help you with the endeavour that writing always is; you still have to find your own truth, your own perspective, and your very own style.
ChatGPT can’t do that for you. Sorry.
Thanks for reading. Here’s another piece about my experiments with ChatGPT you might want to look at:
