You Should Use AI to Write Your Book (sort of)

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Should writers use AI to write their books? My answer is yes—but probably not in the way you think. I don’t use AI to write the actual prose of my novels. That’s the part I love. But while working on a research-heavy historical novel, I’ve found some incredibly useful ways to make AI part of my writing process without handing over the creative work. In this episode, I break down how I’m using AI as a research assistant, organizational tool, outlining partner, fact-checking aid, and even a way to immerse myself in the story before I sit down to write. I’ll show you how I’ve used tools like ChatGPT, Google’s NotebookLM, Plaud, and Castmagic to organize years of history, build timelines, process interviews, create story overviews, and keep an entire novel fresh in my head. The key is simple: Let AI help you do the work. Don’t let it replace the work that makes you a writer. If you’re a writer trying to figure out where AI fits into your creative process—or whether it belongs there at all—this one’s for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 You should use AI to write your book… sort of 00:41 Why I don’t use AI to write my prose 02:17 How I’m using AI on a historical novel 02:59 Managing massive amounts of research 03:48 Using ChatGPT to build and update timelines 04:35 Turning research into a workable novel outline 05:49 Using NotebookLM to turn research into podcasts 06:55 Listening to your own story over and over 07:41 Using AI-generated video overviews 08:30 Learning modalities and why they matter for writers 09:30 Using audio while traveling through story locations 10:18 Plaud, transcription, interviews, and Castmagic 10:59 AI as an assistant—not the author 11:42 My rules for writers using AI 12:28 Using AI for editing, continuity, and research 13:07 Why you still need to verify everything 14:04 Use AI to support the way you learn 14:50 How are YOU using AI as a writer? 15:35 Writers helping writers If you’re serious about becoming a better writer, building a publishing career, and navigating the constantly changing world of books and creativity, subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is where writers come for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creativity, and building a sustainable career around their work. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.