AI Offered to Write My Book. How Could I Refuse?
A bright popup caught my eye recently: “What’s stopping you from writing your book? Time? Writer’s block? Endless revisions?”
Squibler, an AI writing service, promised a “publish-ready book in minutes” and offered a free trial. That was enough to make me curious.
I gave it a few quick notes for a novel — worried prime minister, global crisis, Canadian space mission in trouble. I added a dog, and oddly, “with asthma.” Then I hit Send.
Seconds later, Squibler delivered a draft titled Moon Shot Mayhem. The result was dark, stormy, and awkward.
Sample Excerpt: AI’s Version of a Political Thriller
“The mahogany desk in Prime Minister Tom Spears’ Ottawa office usually held only the weight of impending legislation and the occasional strategically placed Canadian maple leaf paperweight. Today, however, it groaned under the sheer crushing weight of a global crisis: a hydrazine shortage of apocalyptic proportions. The room itself was a maelstrom of frantic activity. Aides zipped around like caffeinated bumblebees, phones shrieked a symphony of unanswered calls, and the air hung thick with the scent of stale coffee and impending doom.”
Further along:
“Spears, a man whose usual expression resembled a bewildered Labrador, now looked like a Labrador who had just witnessed its favourite squeaky toy spontaneously combust. Disbelief warred with panic in his eyes, the colour draining from his face faster than the hydrazine from Canada’s dwindling reserves. The moon mission, the crowning jewel of his administration… it was all hanging by a thread thinner than a politician’s promise.”
“The Chinese — they’ve cornered the market!” he sputtered…
“His Chief of Staff, a woman whose nerves were as steel-reinforced as her perfectly coiffed bun, merely sighed, a sound like air leaking from a punctured space suit…”
“Just then Buttercup, the Prime Minister’s asthmatic bloodhound — a creature whose respiratory issues were rivalled by his unparalleled sense of smell — let out a series of wheezy gasps, his jowls quivering. He’d located something. Something suspicious.”
“With the grace of a drunken walrus, Buttercup lumbered…”
That’s where my free sample ended. Buttercup finds dog biscuits as comic relief after all the suspense. It’s supposed to be funny, but it felt forced.
The full book costs $192. It has spelling mistakes and is, frankly, unpublishable.
AI’s Speed vs. Quality
This experience made me question AI’s role beyond writing. If it produces such sloppy work so quickly, do I want it influencing critical areas like medical advice or aviation?
Curious if the AI’s poor output was a reaction to my odd input, I tried again with a simple summary from Pride and Prejudice.
The AI recognized Jane Austen and expanded the story, introducing Mr. Collins alongside Mr. Bingley. This result was less absurd but raised a serious issue: plagiarism. The AI lifted content from Austen’s work without credit or payment, then repackaged it for resale.
Implications for Writers
AI’s advantage is speed. It can generate content faster than any human. But the downside is clear: the output can be soulless, unethical, and low quality.
A novelist acquaintance, Linwood Barclay, shared his take: “It is horrible, but kind of amazing. Some undiscriminating readers might gobble it up. That’s the fear. The content doesn’t have to be good, just so long as there’s content.” Flooding the market with junk might actually work.
He also highlighted the legal problem: AI copies work from real authors without compensation. By any standard, that’s theft.
What Writers Should Take Away
- AI can quickly produce content but often lacks depth, originality, and polish.
- Relying on AI-generated work without thorough editing risks publishing low-quality material.
- There are unresolved ethical and legal issues around AI’s use of existing authors’ work.
- Writers should be cautious about using AI tools unchecked, especially for creative projects.
For those interested in exploring AI’s role in writing and learning how to use it responsibly, resources like Complete AI Training offer practical courses tailored for writers.
AI is a tool—fast, yes—but it’s no substitute for human creativity and care. Use it wisely.
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