Good To Great AI-Assisted Writing
Finding My Balance
Time is our most precious resource as independent consultants. We wear all the hats: strategist, writer, accountant, business developer, and sometimes, therapist (for ourselves and occasionally clients).
And time is literally money for us, so gaining any time savings is a real win.
I've been using AI tools to help with my writing process. Stating the obvious, AI writing assistants are transforming how we create content across industries. Whether you're drafting emails, writing reports, or crafting creative pieces, understanding how to partner with AI can help you produce better work in less time.
But there's a significant difference between using AI tools and using them well. I wanted to share what I've learned. I also covered this at the Center for Digital Strategy's AI Summit last week, and you can watch the video of it here.
But before we get there...
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Now, back to AI writing...
When to Use AI vs. When to Write Myself
I've developed a simple framework for myself. I write when the content needs my unique perspective, personal experiences, or nuanced arguments. These are the elements clients hire me for. These are also the things AI isn't really built to do well.
I use AI for first drafts, formatting, organizing information, and generating variations. This approach saves me time without sacrificing what makes my work valuable.
The key is understanding where the line sits for the specific writing you want to do. If you're following the standard writing process, then I'd divide things up like this:
Thesis statement or narrative throughline: Me
Outlining: Usually me, sometimes the AI assistant if I have a bunch of information already at hand that is disorganized but could be used to create a good outline
First Draft: AI assistant
Revisions: Me and the AI Assistant
Final Draft: Me
What I've Learned About Working With AI
My mindset when working with an AI assistant is to put the relationship in the same mental model I use when delegating to a teammate. Good delegation is tricky but crucial to set someone else up for success. AI needs the same context and initial preparation to save you time.
Context matters more than anything else. I get better results when I provide background information, even if it's just bullet points or rough notes. The more the better. Crafting effective prompts, i.e. furnishing the right context, is perhaps the most crucial skill in AI-assisted writing.
Second, I created a simple style guide for myself. It includes preferences about sentence structure, point of view, and tone. This helps maintain consistency across all my writing. For example, I dislike using adverbs or adjectives. Most sentences work best with a strong verb. I also prefer two short sentences over one compound sentence. I have a style guide saved that I drop into an AI writing assistant every time I'm making something new.
Different content types need different approaches. A client report needs different instructions than a LinkedIn post or email. Similar to my style guide, I have best practices for my most common writing types ready to give to my AI writing assistant. For example, I have this ready when I'm using an AI assistant for LinkedIn posts as a format guide:
Strong Hook in the First Line
Storytelling or Relatable Insights
Clear Takeaway or Value
Conversational, Authentic Tone
Engagement-Oriented
Concise and Well-Formatted
Lastly, AI tends to summarize rather than create. I've learned to give explicit instructions when I need something more original. A common example is when I'm writing an email sharing something else I've written. AI will usually just bullet point out the thing I'm sharing. But that's not what I want! I want a new take on the thing I'm sharing, because my reader will hopefully read it and thus doesn't need the summary.
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My Process for Longer Documents
For longer documents like reports or proposals, I start by using AI to extract key information from source materials. This saves me a lot of time, since I usually remember the most important stuff, and AI can grab secondary details.
I create the narrative arc and outline. This is where my expertise and understanding of the client's needs come in. Deciding what frame or point of view to have on the writing is one of the most important decisions anytime you're creating something.
After I have that, I can use AI to generate individual sections. I give specific instructions based on my outline, and I furnish my AI assistant with details from the first step so it can enliven the section with texture.
Revision is key. I focus on improving transitions between sections and making sure the document flows naturally. I also fact check the piece and review all sourcing and attributions.
Social Media Content That Feels Authentic
For LinkedIn posts, I start with my core message or call to action. That's really my thesis statement. Giving the AI assistant a goal helps it to write to that end point.
I've found that providing examples of my successful posts helps the AI understand my style and also hit the main stylistic attributes that will drive engagement. AI assistants can be too constrained with this technique, though, and write a new post that is nearly word for word like the example. It's important to instruct the AI assistant to use the example post for inspiration. I usually will write, "Do not mimic this post word for word!"
The first line of a LinkedIn post needs to grab attention and stop the scroll. Most of the time, the first output I'll get from the AI assistant doesn't clear the bar. But this is where having an AI assistant is great. I generate multiple options and pick the one that feels most authentic and likely to work. Or I'll use the AI assistant to brainstorm ideas around themes, like "give me some first lines that will stop the scroll that are about the back-to-school season." Then I can tweak those a bit to find the right combination.
I always edit to eliminate language that sounds too polished or inauthentic. I've noticed this is one of the most common changes I'll make. AI assistants default to the median and try to please everyone, so their first draft usually sounds like a caricature of a diplomat with a degree in marketing. I want some sharp points and rough edges!
Finding Balance
I'm still learning how to balance efficiency with maintaining my authentic voice. Some days I get it right. Other days I have to start over.
I'd love to hear how you're navigating these tools in your own practice. What's working? What challenges are you facing? Reply to this email and let me know.
Finally, if you're wondering what tool I use — I use my company's platform! Chorus AI is a full suite marketing and development studio. We've created an experience that makes it fast and easy to overcome many of the imperfections in AI writing assistants. Let me know if you want to learn more.