The secret to writing in the age of AI

There’s a lot of buzz out there about AI.

Some are quick to hop on the hype train, convinced that the future of content creation is just a prompt away.

Others are ready for the robots to take over, although until I can get a Roomba that actually vacuums my entire house, I’m not convinced.

But if you're serious about writing and you're here because you want to be better, let me tell you this:

AI can’t replace the heart and soul of human storytelling.

Here's the deal: AI can crank out words.

It can fill pages with well-structured sentences.

What it can't do is create a real connection. It can’t deliver that gut punch that makes readers feel something or craft a story that sticks with someone long after they've closed the tab.

Why?

Because real writing moves people.

And our AI BS detector is on high alert.

We live in a time when audiences are sharper than ever. People are wising up to clickbait titles, growth hacks, and the empty promises that flood their feeds.

AI-generated content might sound smooth, but it’s often just another polished turd wrapped in a fancy bow (to put it bluntly).

The truth is, most people can spot it from a mile away.

People aren’t craving more surface-level content.

People are craving honesty.

They’re tired of the tricks, the schemes, the empty words. They want something real.

That’s where you come in.

Your superpower as a writer is simple: you’re not a robot.

You have emotions, experiences, fears, hopes, and a perspective on the world that no algorithm can replicate. AI can analyze data, but it can't bleed on the page. It can't look a reader in the eyes and say, "Yeah, I’ve been there too. And this is what I learned."

This is your edge. It’s what will keep your audience coming back, not because they’re being tricked into clicking but because they feel something when they read your words.

There’s this pressure to let AI erase your voice.

Maybe you've seen it: someone pastes their text into a tool, and it suggests a million ways to "improve" it. Spellcheck, grammar suggestions, and rewriting tools.

But all it does is make your words more….standard.

But here’s the thing: your goal isn’t to sound like everyone else.

Your job as a writer is to say what others are saying but in a distinct way.

Or better yet, say what others won’t say, but in a way that still feels familiar.

AI doesn’t know how to do that.

AI is great at making everything sound clean, polished, and—frankly—boring. It strips away your personality, your quirks, your unique perspective. Don’t let it do that to your writing.

Don't turn Shakespeare:

To be or not to be—that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And, by opposing, end them.

Into a standardized social post:

Do I keep going or just give up? 🤔 Is it braver to endure life's chaos and challenges, or to fight back and change things for good?

Here’s how to cut through the noise with YOUR voice:

1. Lead with your experience. Don’t just write about ideas. Write about your ideas. Bring your unique insights to the table. Write about what you know, what you've lived, and what you've learned.

2. Make it personal. People don’t want a polished essay from a machine. They want to connect with a human being. Share your struggles, your victories, your messy middle.

3. Use your voice. Don’t let AI water down your personality. If you’re witty, be witty. If you’re thoughtful, be thoughtful. Your voice is the one thing AI can’t copy.

4. Stand out with honesty. AI might know a lot, but it doesn’t know you. Be real. Be raw. Be honest. In an age of AI-generated content, your truth is what will set you apart.

God made you unique. Trust your voice and use it.

And now, we are moving to every writer’s biggest question, “Where should I be writing and publishing these short pieces? How do I find people in my niche, and how do I build a loyal audience?”

That’s how we will end this series tomorrow.

Write on 🤙

Payton

P.S. I want to help you write your best words in 2025. Good writing starts with good frameworks. I have boiled down the essential 7 guaranteed to hook readers.

P.P.S. Here is the lineup from this series.

• Day 1: How to Overcome the 10 Biggest Fears Writers Have

• Day 2: The Only Real Secret to Never Running Out of Ideas

• Day 3: Why You Need 1 BIG Idea

• Day 4: Where You Should Be Writing Online (Hint: Not a Blog!)

• Day 5: How to Make Writing Effortless, 250 Words at a Time

• Day 6: The Secret to Writing in the Age of AI

• Day 7: The 4 Best Digital Writing Platforms