AI for Authors: From Inspiration to Beyond the Final Edit

Description

A lot has changed in the AI space since generative AI tools such as MidJourney, Dalle, and ChatGPT went mainstream in 2022. The Writers’ Guild of America strike, anti-AI policies at periodicals, and voice actors suing TikTok represent the big societal reactions to these tools. We will touch briefly on legal issues and the outcomes of court challenges still in progress at the time of this writing. Despite the controversies and unresolved copyright issues, generative AI tools offer an advantage to savvy authors. This workshop will help writers use AI tools to write better, more creatively, and with personal artistic flair. We will touch on AI tools for marketing, publishing, editing, brainstorming, researching, and more. Even if every word of your next manuscript is handwritten on paper, there will be takeaways you can use. This workshop cuts through the hype with information and practical instruction. Use it as guide to evaluate how much and how little AI assistance is appropriate to your writing practice.

We will begin with a state-of-the-art introduction to AI tools available to writers right now, work through discussions and hands-on demonstrations, and finish with questions and answers. We will explore both free and paid applications. Generative AI tools will include the current versions of: Midjourney, Sudowrite, ChatGPT (paid version versus free version), specialized chatbots, plus the most prominent new applications. Even more important than tools will be demonstrations and discussions about which tasks not to automate, and how to ensure your writing remains true to your voice and vision. There will be no judgement and plenty of open discussion depending on the needs and interests of workshop participants. Depending on the interests of the participants, we will discuss legal issues related to copyright and the ethics of AI use. The workshop will emphasize hands-on instruction with the best AI tools. Demos will include using AI for feedback on a chapter, chapter resumes, research, brainstorming, outlining, eliminating cliches, exploring new genres, and generating texts in precise styles (legal letter, 19th century love letter, instruction manual, fictional transcripts written “in role” by character personas). The workshop will also focus on AI tools for editing, an area undergoing exponential improvements.

Reserve your spot for this members only workshop.

Date: Thursday, 20 March 2025

Time: 7 – 9 p.m.

Location: Taylor’s Funeral Home, 524 Davis Dr, Newmarket, ON L3Y 2P3