I Used ChatGPT to Write a Book. And I Published it | ChatGPT for Authors | Writing a Novel With AI

Sydney Faith Author
27 Jan 202311:00

TLDRThe video transcript details the author's unique experience of using ChatGPT, an AI language model, to write a fantasy novella titled 'Legends of the Shadow Woods,' which is based on Greek mythology. The author shares their process of generating content with the AI, the challenges faced, such as repetitive content and clumsy sentence structures, and the editing process to make the text readable. They also discuss the potential implications of AI on the future of writing, suggesting that while it may not threaten established authors, it could significantly impact midlist authors and new entrants. The author concludes by mentioning the availability of the novella on Amazon and the potential for changes in the publishing industry due to AI technologies.

Takeaways

  • 📚 The author used ChatGPT to write a novella titled 'Legends of the Shadow Woods', which is available on Amazon.
  • 🤖 ChatGPT is a computer program capable of generating coherent and contextually relevant text based on input and training data.
  • 🎨 The cover for the novella was also created using AI, showcasing the potential of AI in creative fields.
  • 📝 The author chose a fantasy world based on Greek mythology for the novella, believing it would be easier for ChatGPT to generate content from a well-documented source.
  • 🔍 The writing process involved trial and error, with the author working in small chunks and refining prompts to achieve desired outcomes.
  • ✍️ The editing process was extensive, aiming to make the text readable while preserving as much AI-generated content as possible.
  • 🚫 ChatGPT has limitations, including content policies that restrict certain types of content generation and a tendency towards clumsy sentence structures.
  • 🔄 The author found that ChatGPT sometimes repeated phrases and details, requiring careful editing to maintain consistency.
  • 🧐 The author spent an equal amount of time generating and editing the novella, surprising them with the relative ease of editing.
  • 🤔 The implications of AI-generated content for authors are uncertain, with the potential to democratize storytelling but also posing challenges to traditional publishing.
  • 🌐 The author suggests that AI tools like ChatGPT could lower the barrier to entry for writing, much like DallE2 has for art, and may significantly impact the industry.

Q & A

  • What is the title of the book written with the help of ChatGPT?

    -The title of the book is 'Legends of the Shadow Woods'.

  • What is the main theme of the book 'Legends of the Shadow Woods'?

    -The book is a collection of tales based on Greek mythology, following the hero Ajax as he battles sorceresses, monsters, and uncovers ancient artifacts.

  • How much does the author charge for the book on Amazon?

    -The book is available on Amazon for 99 cents.

  • What is ChatGPT and how was it used in creating the book?

    -ChatGPT is a computer program that can understand and respond to written language like a human, generating text that is coherent and contextually relevant. It was used to write the book's content and even the blurb for the book.

  • What was the author's initial intention with the ChatGPT-written content?

    -Initially, the author did not plan on sharing the content. They were merely experimenting with the technology but later decided to publish it as they had invested considerable time and effort.

  • What limitations did the author encounter while using ChatGPT to write the book?

    -The author found that ChatGPT had limitations such as clumsy sentence structure, a tendency to repeat itself, and occasional inconsistencies in details. It also has a content policy that restricts the generation of certain types of content.

  • How did the author approach the editing process for the AI-generated book?

    -The author's goal was to make the book readable while preserving the AI-generated content as much as possible. The editing process involved a rough edit, a detailed pass using editing software, and a final proofread.

  • What was the author's strategy in deciding the format of the book?

    -The author chose to create a collection of short stories instead of a longer novel because the format of using ChatGPT made it difficult to refer to earlier details, especially when regenerating prompts multiple times.

  • What is the author's perspective on the future of authors with the advent of AI technology like ChatGPT?

    -The author believes that while it's uncertain, AI technology could be a game-changer, especially for independent authors and those starting out. It could make the process of storytelling more accessible but also poses potential challenges to traditional writing and publishing norms.

  • What was the first story in the collection called?

    -The first story in the collection is called 'The Golden Feather of Friendship'.

  • How did the author handle the issue of ChatGPT forgetting details?

    -The author had to manually check and adjust the content to ensure consistency, as ChatGPT sometimes changed details like the color of a character's eyes.

  • What is the author's website where readers can find more information about the book and other works?

    -The author's website is sydneyfaith.com.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Using AI to Write a Novella

The speaker reflects on their childhood wish for a robot to do chores and segues into using AI to write a novella. They used ChatGPT to generate text for a fantasy novella based on Greek mythology, which they published on Amazon. The process involved generating text, creating a world, naming stories, and developing an outline. The speaker emphasizes the iterative nature of the process, with much trial and error, and the importance of preserving the AI-generated content for authenticity.

05:03

📚 Editing and Limitations of AI Writing

The speaker discusses the editing process of the AI-generated novella, noting the challenges of merging different text versions and the AI's tendency to be repetitive. They mention the limitations of AI, such as content policy restrictions and clumsy sentence structures. The editing process was time-consuming due to the need to maintain the AI's original text while making it readable. The speaker also talks about the AI's occasional failure to remember previously written details and ponders the implications of AI on the future of authors and the publishing industry.

10:06

🚀 The Future of AI in Creative Industries

The speaker speculates on the potential impact of AI on authors and the publishing industry, drawing parallels with the effects of AI-generated art on artists. They express uncertainty about the future but suggest that AI could be a powerful tool for those who want to tell stories without needing to master the craft over years. The speaker also mentions the possibility of Amazon banning AI-generated content and offers an alternative way to access their novella through their website.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a computer program developed by OpenAI that can understand and respond to written language in a human-like manner. It is capable of generating text that is coherent and contextually relevant by utilizing the input it receives and learning from the examples of text it has been trained on. In the video, the author used ChatGPT to write a Novella, demonstrating its potential use in creative writing.

💡Legends of the Shadow Woods

This is the title of the Novella written with the assistance of ChatGPT. It is a collection of tales based on Greek mythology, following the hero Ajax as he battles various adversaries and uncovers his destiny. The title represents the creative output when using AI in storytelling, and it is available on Amazon, indicating a tangible result of the AI-assisted writing process.

💡Greek mythology

Greek mythology is a collection of stories and legends that originated in ancient Greece. It serves as the basis for the fantasy world created in 'Legends of the Shadow Woods.' The author chose this theme because it provides a rich source of information for ChatGPT to draw upon, and its storytelling style aligns well with the capabilities of the AI.

💡AI-generated content

AI-generated content refers to any material, such as text, art, or music, that is created with the help of artificial intelligence. In the context of the video, the author discusses the process of generating a Novella and a book cover using AI, raising questions about the future of creative work and the role of AI in the process.

💡Editing process

The editing process involves reviewing, revising, and refining the content generated by AI to ensure it is coherent, stylistically consistent, and free of errors. The author describes this process as time-consuming, requiring a balance between preserving the AI's original text and making necessary adjustments to improve readability.

💡Content Policy

Content Policy refers to the guidelines or rules that AI platforms like ChatGPT follow to regulate the type of content that can be generated. The author mentions that generating action fantasy stories can be challenging due to limitations on violence as outlined in the Content Policy.

💡Sentence structure

Sentence structure pertains to the way sentences are constructed in writing, including the order and relationship of words and phrases. The author notes that ChatGPT's sentence structure can be clumsy and requires significant editing, which is a current limitation of the AI's writing capabilities.

💡Repeating phrases

Repeating phrases is a common issue in AI-generated text where certain phrases or sentences are overused, leading to a lack of variety and verbosity. The author had to spend extra time editing these out to maintain the quality of the final text.

💡AI forgetting details

AI forgetting details refers to the phenomenon where an AI, while generating text, may inadvertently change previously established facts or details, such as the color of a character's eyes. This inconsistency can be problematic for maintaining continuity in a story.

💡Future of authors

The future of authors in the context of the video discusses the potential impact of AI on the writing industry. The author speculates about how AI tools could democratize the process of writing, allowing more people to tell their stories, but also expresses concerns about the implications for professional authors, especially those who are not at the top of the bestseller lists.

💡DallE2

DallE2 is an AI model developed by OpenAI that can generate images from textual descriptions. The author mentions using DallE2 to create the cover for the Novella, highlighting how AI can assist not only in writing but also in other creative fields like graphic design.

Highlights

The author used ChatGPT to write a novella titled 'Legends of the Shadow Woods', which is available on Amazon.

ChatGPT is a computer program capable of generating coherent and contextually relevant text based on its training data.

The author chose a fantasy world based on Greek mythology for the novella due to the richness of source material for ChatGPT to draw upon.

The novella's cover was also created using AI, demonstrating the potential of AI in both writing and design.

The author initially used larger chunks of text but found it more effective to work in shorter pieces of three paragraphs or less.

ChatGPT named every story, chapter, and the entire collection, showcasing its ability to generate creative content.

The editing process involved a rough edit, a detailed pass with editing software, and a final proofread.

The author aimed for a readable output rather than perfection, preserving as much generated content as possible.

The final product is just under 25,000 words, with an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 words generated before editing.

ChatGPT's limitations include content policy restrictions, clumsy sentence structures, and a tendency to repeat phrases.

The author spent an equal amount of time generating and editing the novella, surprising them with the efficiency of the process.

The generated content sometimes contradicted itself, such as changing the color of a character's eyes.

The author contemplates the future impact of AI on authors and the publishing industry, suggesting it could democratize storytelling.

The author considers the potential for Amazon to ban AI-generated content in the future and their contingency plan.

The author emphasizes the ease with which non-experts can now create professional-looking content with AI tools.

The novella serves as a showcase for what AI can achieve in creative writing, with the majority of its content written by AI.

The author's experience suggests that AI tools like ChatGPT could significantly change the landscape for independent authors and midlist writers.

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