AI-Powered Content Writing: How To Do It Mindfully And Wisely?
My take on AI x Content Writing…
Are you that person who toggles the “Auto-Correction” button “off”, to shut down all the AI suggestions while typing on your mobile?
If yes, you are not alone!
It just doesn’t sit right with me when an AI tries to finish something I am about to think, process, and then type.
This is exactly what I will share and discuss in this post. It focuses on my thoughts on AI-powered writing, How I think it should be used Mindfully, and How I am doing it right now.
Let’s dive in…
I am sure most of you know various AI-powered free or paid online tools used to exploit the technology at different stages of Content Creation. Be it in any form — Audio, Video, or Text.
When it comes to writing, I personally feel that you own your content only if you write it word by word, A to Z.
Recently, there has been a surge of AI in many fields. I think the maximum penetration is in the creative field of Content Writing. Writers blogging with AI finish writing in 30% less time than before. 66% of them write “How to” blogs using AI help! (But not this post..haha…)
To give you a broad picture of what most people follow for creating blogs, I have outlined the below steps and the corresponding popular AI tool
- HubSpot — to brainstorm blog topic ideas
- ChatGPT — Create draft / Outline / Full-length sample blog
- Perhaps, manually fill the containers of the draft outline (or again outsource it to Gemini)
- Grammarly — Proofread
- Dall E 3— Add relevant images
Ta Da…done and dusted with “creating” a blog.
The apps/tools may vary, but the purpose and flow mostly remain the same for organizations or writers who only want to generate more content.
But real content writing is not this.
The process of “writing” a blog is more time-consuming, research-oriented, and laborsome than “creating” it like a jigsaw puzzle putting together various pieces.
Writing adds that unique voice of the writer and humanizes the content blended with the writer’s creativity. This value addition is irreplaceable.
Does it mean you should not use AI tools at all?
No, that is not what I am saying. You should rather efficiently use them to produce competitive and reliable content. But you have to use it mindfully and judiciously. Using AI to reduce human efforts and quicken lame, routine steps is fine, but converting hard work to smart work should not outsmart you!
AI-assisted writing is different from AI-enabled writing. We must draw the line between what can and cannot be done with AI tools irrespective of their ability.
Practically, AI tools can do almost everything a writer does, so it is our responsibility to consciously bring the boundaries of where and how deep these AI tools can be allowed to interfere.
But even now, experience-based writing, humanizing content with creativity, and sharing life stories/lessons/philosophies learned are something that AIs perhaps still lack.
How to Mindfully use AI tools for Writing ?
I highly recommend using AI tools only for refining, validating, and checking the content rather than using it for generating ideas, gathering information, or doing research.
Do not start any step afresh with AI, especially in the initial stages of your writing journey. If you develop this habit of directly using an AI, your brain may lose its ability to think. And, it might be a bad example for budding writers.
Below is my AI-assisted writing regime, illustrating the detailed steps I follow for composing a blog/post. I am not arguing that this is the ultimate guide or the only correct way. It is just my way of doing it. Glance it and you will understand what I am getting at.
Step 1: Brainstorming
The first and foremost step is to decide the topic you want to write on. I come from the old school of thought and hence don’t believe that machines can suggest topics that my mind wants/knows to write.
Yes, when you are blank, or too overdrained you can always use an external help or AI tool, but without doing any homework on your own, without scratching your head even once, if you directly want a tool to give you a dump of topics, I am quite not for it!
And, till now I have never outsourced this step to any tool, for record. I am not bragging nor looking down upon those who rely on these tools to generate topics.
My point is, first do some home work on your own. If it doesn’t take you anywhere, then seek help.
Step 2: Drafting & Outlining
Once I decide on the topic, the basic outline and important points to cover/discuss will naturally pop up in my mind. But if I am writing a completely unknown topic, I research.
Google, discuss with relevant people and look for all possible resources to gather information. Based on what you learned, heard, and researched, you will be able to come up with an outline.
Sometimes, as you write, you will feel it more sensible or appropriate to add, reorder, or remove certain subtopics.
I have not used any tool to draft/outline my content. Drafting is the skeleton on which you build your blog structure. This is the first step when you actually ink your thoughts and hence I wouldn’t afford to outsource it to an AI.
Step 3: Writing Vs Typing
Writing and Typing were more or less the same until the advent of AI.
I prefer writing on Word Document, Medium, or my mobile “Notes” where there is no auto-correction / AI suggestion that will complete my sentence before I do.
It feels like I am competing with the machine as I type the string of words that strike my mind.
Personally, it curbs my flow of thoughts if I write on platforms that offer such features.
Step 4: Reviewing and Editing
Again, this is an iterative step as I go back and forth in writing the post and make necessary changes I feel are apt.
I use ChatGPT or Perplexity after doing my research to compare and contrast anything I might have missed or misconceived. Then I incorporate the required changes.
Step 5: Proofreading
Here is where I use Grammarly, Google Docs, or other suitable AI tools for assistance.
If you want to rephrase the sentences or improvize, you can use AI tools like Quillbot, Frase, etc.
Step 6: Formatting, Re-Titling and Adding Images
Although the main subject matter and content are decided and framed, it is vital to title the post effectively to enhance visibility and attract more clicks. So, I use CoSchedule, MonsterInsights, and All in One SEO to check the title score and modify it accordingly.
Adding external links, and internal links to cite necessary sources is not only a good SEO practice but also provides quality content for the readers.
Now, the final touch-up! Adding visual elements like images to make it more readable and formatting the post for better appeal.
You can pick and place images from royalty-free sites like Unsplash or Pixabay. Otherwise, you can create your image/graphic using designing tools like Canva, Pixlr, and ImagineAI. You can also get inspiration from Pinterest to create attractive images.
I am not generalizing or compelling anyone to follow my template. I am just sharing my way of utilizing AI tools for writing. As long as you know to use them judiciously, that is all I want to recommend and reiterate.
Conclusion
Ideally, I use AI tools only in the later part of my writing journey. I prefer keeping it that way because I believe that if we involve AI from the very beginning, it affects and alters our flow of thoughts and treatment towards writing.
What to write, How to write, Where to write — If I let AI decide all these for me, I see no point in writing itself!
I use AI mainly for validating the facts, and points presented, checking for grammar errors, and suggesting suitable alternatives, especially for the choice of words or keyword-rich titles.
Therefore, allow calculative penetration of AI towards the later stages of your writing journey and use them mindfully. This helps you enhance your content. Whereas, using AI in the primitive stages might influence your original and natural writing flow.
