Sally the Scribe

Write Smarter: How to Use AI Tools Like ChatGPT to Improve Your Writing

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by

Sally Eubanks
in ,

If you write for a living—or just for the love of it—you’ve probably seen the dramatic headlines.

“AI can write a novel in five minutes flat!”
“ChatGPT is taking over!”
“Creative writing is dead!”

Deep breath. No need to rage-tweet or torch your drafts just yet.

Here’s the deal: AI isn’t writing’s grim reaper. It’s more like the espresso shot your creative brain didn’t know it needed.

Whether you’re penning your first screenplay, plotting the next great novel, or just getting really into journaling, AI can help. But only if you’re still the one steering the ship. Think of it less like handing over the wheel—and more like upgrading from a paddleboat to a speedboat.

Let’s break down how tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and others can support your writing—from that first messy idea to your final, polished piece—without selling out your voice.

1. AI as Your Nerdy Research Assistant (Not a Ghostwriter)

Ever fallen into a black hole of tabs? One minute you’re researching 18th-century funerals, the next you’re three videos deep into “Creepiest Victorian Mourning Dolls.”

(Yes, they’re deeply unsettling. And yes, you watched the whole thing.)

Cue AI—your over-caffeinated librarian friend who can actually stay on topic.

Prompt it right, and tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity can hand you:

  • Quick historical summaries
  • Cultural comparisons
  • Obscure factoids for worldbuilding

🛠 Pro Move:
“Pretend you’re a historian with a PhD. Give me a 300-word summary of France’s political climate in the 1780s. Make it usable for historical fiction.”

Why it works: It’s clear. It’s specific. AI eats that up like deadline pizza.

⚠️ Just remember: AI can sound confident and be totally wrong. Always fact-check—it’s not a substitute for actual sources.

2. Outlining With AI: From Brain Fog to Framework

Let’s be honest: outlining isn’t always fun. It’s like flossing—you know it’s good for you, but you’d rather skip it.

AI can help you lay the groundwork without dictating your entire plot.

Use ChatGPT or Copilot to generate:

  • Major plot beats
  • Chapter structures
  • Subplot threads
  • Character arc timelines

💡 Try This Prompt:
“Help me create a 12-chapter outline for a YA fantasy where the main character discovers she can bend time—but every use ages her by 10 years.”

Take what inspires you, remix the rest, and build your own scaffolding.

✍️ Reminder: The first draft AI gives you? It’s just raw material. You’re the one making art.

3. Using AI for Historical Dialogue (Without the Cringe)

Nothing knocks a reader out of a period piece faster than awkward dialogue.

“Yo, sire. Got them dragons ready?”
(Please… no.)

AI can help you craft dialogue that feels era-appropriate and immersive, not like a Ren Faire improv session gone wrong.

Prompt ideas:

  • “Reword this line in 16th-century English, noblewoman-style.”
  • “Turn this modern gangster slang into 1930s speakeasy lingo.”
  • “Highlight anachronisms in this 1850s London street scene.”

Use AI like a time-traveling thesaurus—and keep your reader anchored in the story.

4. AI-Enhanced Editing: Clean Up Without Selling Out

Editing is where the magic happens—and AI can be your silent co-editor.

With tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ChatGPT, you can:

  • Eliminate clunky phrasing
  • Cut passive voice
  • Reshape pacing and structure
  • Smooth transitions

🎯 Try This Prompt:
“Act like a professional editor. Point out awkward or unclear sentences in this paragraph. Suggest fixes, but keep my laid-back tone.”

You’re still in control. AI offers suggestions—you keep the voice.

5. Beat Writer’s Block With Clever Prompts

Writer’s block isn’t about laziness. It’s often mental overload.

Instead of staring at a blinking cursor, prompt AI for:

  • Character body language cues
  • Descriptive settings
  • Unique metaphors

Examples:

  • “List three subtle ways to show jealousy in a character.”
  • “Describe a city at night with streetlamps that flicker like dying stars.”
  • “Suggest metaphors for grief—no water imagery.”

These aren’t shortcuts—they’re creative warm-ups to get your gears turning.

6. Copilot for Worldbuilding & Continuity

GitHub Copilot isn’t just for coders. If you organize your story in markdown, it’s a worldbuilding powerhouse.

Use it (and ChatGPT) to:

  • Auto-fill names and terms
  • Keep headers and formatting consistent
  • Create wikis for your fictional universe

Prompt example:

“Turn my notes on the kingdom of Kaelveth into a cheat sheet my characters would use.”

Even if your readers never see the cheat sheet, they’ll feel the depth and consistency it brings.

7. Low-Stakes Feedback Without the Stress

Beta readers are valuable—but sometimes, you want feedback without the vulnerability hangover.

Ask AI things like:

  • “What’s the emotional arc in this chapter?”
  • “Does this section drag? How can I fix the pacing?”
  • “What themes pop out in this monologue?”
  • “Pretend you’re a 17-year-old who loves romance novels. How would you react to this scene?”

It’s not a replacement for human feedback—but it’s a judgment-free first pass.

8. Let AI Keep You on Track (and Slightly Sane)

AI can moonlight as your:

  • Productivity coach
  • Accountability buddy
  • Cheerleader

Try using it to:

  • Build realistic writing schedules
  • Set reminders or “fake deadlines”
  • Send you motivational notes on bad days

When you’re in a slump:

“I didn’t write today and I feel like a soggy sock. Pretend you’re my supportive writer bestie and cheer me up.”

You might hear:

“Hey soggy sock, every author has off days. But tomorrow? You’re gonna burn up that keyboard with brilliance. Now go drink water.”

Weirdly comforting. Surprisingly effective.

Final Take: AI Doesn’t Replace Writers—It Reminds Us Why We Write

Here’s the truth:

AI isn’t coming for your job unless your job is pumping out lifeless, soulless content.

Real writers—you—bring:

  • Soul
  • Weirdness
  • Wonder
  • Pain
  • Joy

The things that make people cry in public or laugh at 2 a.m. under the covers.

AI doesn’t kill the craft. It kills the excuses.

Used right, AI helps you:

✅ Get unstuck faster
✅ Edit cleaner
✅ Think bigger
✅ Focus better
✅ Sound more like yourself
✅ Spend less time doubting, more time doing

The pen is still in your hand.
AI just makes sure the ink never runs dry.

Want to Try It? Start With These Tools:

Ready to write smarter—not lazier?

Tell the AI what you need.
Don’t hand over the wheel—just let it tune the engine.

You’re still the writer.
Now you’ve just got cheat codes.

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