Creative Writing Meets AI: Help Shape the Research
Exploring How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Writing Process and How You Can Be Part of the Journey
Later this month, I’ll be re-starting my Master’s in Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
My MFA Journey
This journey began four years ago when I signed up for a creative writing workshop on Ossabaw Island—a secluded, boat-access-only island off the coast of Georgia, preserved for cultural and scientific study in perpetuity by the last private owner - Sandy West - when she sold the island to the State of Georgia in the late 1970’s. There, I had the privilege of working with Beverly D’Onofrio, author of Riding in Cars with Boys. Beverly encouraged me to apply for the MFA program, and I was thrilled to be accepted.
To make this dream a reality, I turned down Vanderbilt University’s Master’s in Independent School Leadership Program. At the time, everyone told me I was crazy—choosing creative writing over a better-paved career path in education administration that promised increased financial security. But I couldn’t ignore the pull of storytelling.
Fast forward to September 2023. I was sitting at my desk, listening to Jules White discuss prompt engineering during a Coursera module. He said something that immediately resonated with me: “Prompting is more like creative writing than anything else.” Jules’ words connected the dots for me. I realized the skills I was honing—creative writing and prompt engineering—could intertwine nicely with my work in AI and education.
By January 2024, I had earned my M.A. in Creative Writing after working with Jeff Talarigo. I paused the program to focus on developing my ideas about AI literacy in the classroom, writing on Substack, and improving my speaking skills through conference workshops and even a TEDx acceptance. This focus culminated in the launch of my professional development company in June 2024 (currently undergoing a rebrand).
Now, a year later, I’m diving back in, this time guided by Ken Liu, who will be my mentor. For those unfamiliar, Ken is one of the most accomplished writers in modern science fiction, with Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards to his name, as well as a former computer scientist and lawyer. He has also worked with some of Silicon Valley's leading AI companies to move AI development in a helpful direction for artists. This multifaceted expertise and connection to LLM development has me feeling confident that I am in good hands.
The Research Project
With Ken’s encouragement, I’m embarking on a research project to explore AI’s role in the creative writing process. Here’s the plan:
Manuscript Revision: I’ll take a fiction manuscript I wrote in 2023 and revise various sections in two ways: once with AI, and once without AI.
Testing and Analysis: Using these revisions, I’ll test various strategies and save the receipts for analysis. The goal is to determine what “works”—or if anything definitive can even be determined.
Contributions to the Field: My hope is to offer insights into what works, what doesn’t work, and how creative writers might think about using (or not using) AI in the writing process.
How You Can Help
This is where you come in. I’ll need your help—a lot. Here’s how you can contribute:
A/B Tests:
One key part of my research involves comparing writing samples revised with AI and without AI. Much like the McLuhan Test, I’ll present these samples and ask readers to evaluate which version works better and why. Your insights will be invaluable in shaping this exploration.
Want to get involved? I’m assembling a team of collaborators to evaluate these samples and share their insights. If you’re curious about the intersection of AI and storytelling, sign up via the survey link below!
Crowdsourcing Feedback:
I’ll periodically post questions and ideas for discussion. Your expertise and perspectives are invaluable to shaping this research.
Reading List Feedback:
Below is my initial reading list, developed with Ken’s guidance. I’d love your suggestions to ensure it’s as comprehensive as possible.
The Reading List
Here are the resources I’ll be exploring over the next year:
AI and Writing by Sidney I. Dobrin
Attention is All You Need by Ashish Vaswani, et al.
What Is ChatGPT Doing … and Why Does It Work? by Stephen Wolfram
Write with AI: Conquer Writer’s Block, Unleash Your Creativity, and Write Your Book Using Artificial Intelligence by Rob Kosberg
Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI: A Universal Design for Learning Approach by Randy Laist
Death of an Author by Stephen Marche
Write with AI: Guide for Fiction and Nonfiction Authors by Rachelle Ayala
Artificial Intelligence by Melanie Mitchell
What am I missing? Have a favorite resource I should read? Share your recommendations and vote for your favorites in this short survey:
Final Thoughts
This project is deeply personal yet widely relevant. By participating, you’re not just helping me; you’re contributing to the broader conversation about how AI and creativity intersect. Let’s shape this journey together.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the reading list and beyond. Share your feedback in the comments, or feel free to email me directly. And feel free to share this article with others in your network who may be interested in following along!
Great reading list!
I couldn't be more excited.