Authors Go Viral on TikTok to Prove Their Writing Is Human, Not AI

Authors Push Back Against AI Use in Writing Through TikTok

Traditional and indie authors are using TikTok’s #WritersTok hashtag to post videos of their writing and editing processes. Their goal? To prove they aren’t relying on generative AI and to push back against accusations that AI is replacing human creativity in writing.

Victoria Aveyard, New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, posted videos showing her editing a 1,000-page manuscript by hand. In one clip, she slams a thick binder on the table, sighing under its weight, and carefully annotates her work. Her captions deliver a strong message: “Using GenAI to write a book doesn’t make you a writer, it makes you a thief.” With over 460,000 TikTok followers, her posts have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, sparking conversations about the role of AI in publishing.

Facing Accusations and Defending the Craft

Writers and readers alike are voicing concerns about AI-generated content sneaking into traditional publishing deals. On platforms like Threads and TikTok, accusations fly when someone suspects AI involvement in the creative process. In response, authors like Aveyard and others livestream or post time-lapse videos of their writing sessions. This transparency aims to show the genuine human effort behind their work.

Aveyard shared her frustration, noting that communities like the r/WritingWithAI subreddit are growing rapidly. “It’s a very depressing thought, to know we may very soon be the minority,” she said. Despite doubts about changing minds, she feels compelled to speak out against what she sees as creative theft.

Challenges in the Publishing Market

The publishing industry is growing, partly fueled by an influx of self-published authors. However, the rise of AI-generated content complicates the search for authentic, human-made stories. Indie authors face what some call an AI-generated “witch hunt,” as they try to prove their originality and defend the time-intensive work behind their books.

For Aveyard, showing a physical manuscript was a way to make the writing process tangible. “Sometimes it’s hard to conceptualize the scope and scale of work that goes into writing a book,” she explained. She uses her platform to emphasize both her stance against AI and the effort behind her craft.

Indie Authors Join the Conversation

Ashley Godschild, an indie fantasy author, agrees that posting “proof” isn’t necessary but appreciates when writers share their process to make clear they’re not using AI. She posted a time-lapse video of herself writing a scene without AI assistance, captioning it, “not a thief” and highlighting the unpredictability of her story’s murderer.

Rachel Menard, another indie author, pointed out that her work requires many drafts—78, in fact—something AI can’t replicate. She said, “Everyone has forgotten what makes a book good, and it’s the work that goes into it.” For her, AI might produce a decent scene here and there, but it can’t create characters with genuine depth and real-life struggles.

Cultural Authenticity and AI Limitations

Quan Millz, known for his street literature titles and a TikTok following of over 830,000, has faced repeated accusations of using AI to write his books. He rejects these claims, emphasizing that AI cannot capture the cultural nuances and varied African American Vernacular English (AAVE) found in his work. His tests with AI writing tools showed that they censor adult content and fail to recreate his unique voice.

Millz has livestreamed his writing process but won’t continue doing so regularly. He finds that engaging with comments during writing disrupts his focus. While social presence is essential in indie publishing, he believes the work itself should stand as proof against AI allegations.

“There’s something else transcendent about the human experience, something mystical that we just don’t know about yet, and you can feel that through the arts,” Millz said. “When you read AI text, even if you do a good job of trying to edit it or make it your own, there’s still something amiss.”

Final Thoughts for Writers

As AI tools become more accessible, the writing community faces new challenges. Authors are taking matters into their own hands by sharing authentic glimpses into their creative process to distinguish their work from AI-generated content.

For writers navigating these waters, transparency and showcasing genuine effort can build trust with readers. While AI can assist in some areas, the human touch remains essential to crafting stories that resonate on a deeper level.