As the founder of DIYBook, an affordable online writing platform that helps thousands of people craft their life stories, I know the challenges many authors face when organizing a lifetime of memories on the page, first among them getting a life's worth of memories organized and ready to use. It's one of the primary reasons I created that company in the first place! Today, however, we all have access to Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI tools that make it effortless to plug some ideas into a search bar, hit "enter," and less than a minute later, have a draft for something that might have otherwise taken days to prepare.
While these technological advancements propose thrilling possibilities, their existence raises questions about the nature of creativity and that uniquely human trait, authorship. For example, the recent controversy surrounding the creative writing nonprofit NaNoWriMo's stance on AI in writing has fanned the flames surrounding the role of technology in storytelling. NaNoWriMo argues that opposing the use of AI is "classist and ableist" and that seeking assistance from technology democratizes a process that, for many, often feels out of reach. (If writing were so easy, there would be no debate surrounding AI; no one would use it.) For all those who praise AI, just as many fear these technologies devalue human creativity and exploit the hard-earned fruits of other writers' labors.
The NaNoWriMo incident highlights broader tensions surrounding AI in creative fields. In the interest of full disclosure, my father, Nick Basbanes, is a named plaintiff in a lawsuit pending against OpenAi and Microsoft alleging copyright infringement, so I understand how it feels when large corporations steal authors' work without compensating them appropriately. Given how powerful AI is, there must be some accountability to protect the works of those authors whose words helped build this technology and compensate those without whom AI would not be what it has become. However, it would be a mistake to dismiss AI entirely, just as it would have been a mistake to ignore the printing press hundreds of years ago. Technology can make human output more efficient, but that doesn't make it acceptable for those who create the technology to steal from others to make a profit. (And don't kid yourselves, AI is huge business. A recent report estimated that in 2023, the global AI market was valued at $196.63 billion and will continue to grow at a massive rate.)
Should we repudiate the power of this tool? Should we give in to it entirely? At DIYBook, I believe in empowering writers with tools that enhance their natural abilities without replacing their unique voices. AI can be useful, but their authenticity makes life stories remarkable. AI is not and should not be a replacement for original thought.
So, how can you appropriately harness the power of artificial intelligence? One way is during the planning phase of your writing project, and there's plenty you can do without AI. With that in mind, here are six insider tips to help you organize your memories with or without AI:
Create a Timeline: Create a barebones chronological timeline of your life. A timeline will help you identify key periods to focus on. You can do this on a sheet of paper or on a computer program--nobody's going to be looking at this document except you.
Use Memory Motivations: Remembering every little detail from your life is hard! Make it easier for yourself by creating a reference file of old photos, letters, and mementos to spark memories and help you recall details you might have forgotten. Create a digital archive of these items for easy reference as you write. The Library of Congress and Blurb offer thorough explainers on how to do this with an eye towards preservation.
Create a Labeling System: Some of us love this, others will hate it, but labeling your memories while you're writing will allow you to group related stories later, even if they didn't occur chronologically. To do this, label your writing documents with headers like "childhood," "first job," or "marriage." I wouldn't farm this one out to AI since it may apply a categorization system that you may not recognize.
Leverage Technology Wisely: While the NaNoWriMo controversy highlights uneasiness about AI in writing, non-generative AI tools can assist you without compromising your voice. Apps like Evernote or Microsoft OneNote can organize your thoughts while making your work accessible across devices.
Form Memory Clusters: Group your memories into clusters based on themes, locations, or relationships. This suggestion relies on you completing suggestion #3, labeling your memories. Forming memory clusters can help you see patterns in your life and encourage more thoughtful writing.
Set Up Regular Writing Sessions: Schedule regular writing sessions, even short ones. It's not about how much you write each day, but that you make time each day to write. Eventually, you will strengthen your writing muscles and spend more time each day writing your book. When you're just starting out, set a goal that seems too easy to achieve--like 5 minutes a day. Commit to five minutes a day for a whole week, then add a minute a day for the next week. You will make progress! There's no AI that can do this for you, it's all up to you to make this tip stick. (Shameless self-promotion time: consider signing up to receive weekly writing prompts from DIYBook and commit to responding to one prompt over the course of the week. You'll be amazed at how much progress you make!)
Whether you employ one or all of these tips, focus on authentic storytelling and use technology as a support rather than a replacement for your voice.
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