I Wrote an Entire Book with AI. This is What Happened.
Education
Introduction
I recently completed writing an entire book titled Heirs of Dracula using AI, alongside a bit of my own editing. In this article, I’ll share my experience throughout the process, as well as my five biggest takeaways.
The Experience
Yes, I finished the book and even commissioned a cover for it, which means this artwork is not AI-generated. The novel is a Gothic fantasy set within my own world. I was thrilled with how it turned out and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I applied many of the techniques that I discuss on my channel, which meant that I didn’t need to edit as much as I anticipated. However, because this work involved AI, I needed to edit it quite a bit, bringing me to my first major takeaway.
Takeaway 1: Time Savings vs. Mental Effort
To be completely honest, using AI didn’t save me a significant amount of time. Many people have jumped into the AI writing craze believing it would free up hours in their schedule, allowing them to publish books weekly. My experience has taught me that while AI can assist, it primarily acts as a mental aid rather than a time saver. After struggling with severe burnout in the past, I found AI to be a tremendous support in helping me overcome that mental barrier, making the writing process feel more manageable.
Takeaway 2: Using Claude 2.0
During my writing journey, I discovered that Claude 2.0 was the best model for fiction at the time, though it certainly wasn't flawless. I often generated entire chapters in one go, feeding Claude story beats and then letting it craft the chapter. This worked, but I experienced challenges in getting the chapter to flow correctly. After Claude 2.1 was released, I faced difficulties with its performance, which created a bit of panic. For future novels, I plan to use a more interactive writing tool like Novel Crafter, writing the first 500 words myself before letting the AI take over. This approach should help the AI better match my writing style.
Takeaway 3: Strengths and Weaknesses
AI also proved itself effective in compensating for my weaknesses while enabling me to focus on my strengths. In the editing phase, I often improved the prose, but there were instances, particularly with dialogue involving beloved characters like Sherlock Holmes, where AI performed remarkably well. It almost made me realize the heights that AI can reach in certain areas, while still allowing me the room to flourish in places where I'm more skilled.
Takeaway 4: Unexpected Length
The final manuscript turned out to be shorter than anticipated. I had planned for approximately 75,000 words, but the final tally was just over 50,000 words. As I entered the editing phase, I considered whether the story felt rushed or if additional scenes were needed for depth. Because it mainly focused on a single viewpoint character, a shorter length may be acceptable, but I’m still deliberating on how to flesh it out further.
Takeaway 5: Emotional Significance
On the night I finished writing, I experienced a wave of emotion. After a live stream celebrating the completion of the book, it struck me how significant this achievement was for me, especially considering my past struggles with burnout. AI helped mitigate that dreaded feeling of facing a blank page, which can be particularly paralyzing when you're dealing with writer's block. The completion of this book was a triumph, and I was elated with both the process and the outcome.
The finished text will undeniably reflect my voice, given the extensive editing I performed. While some sections might remain untouched, especially those that I felt the AI executed better than I could have, the majority is a representation of my vision.
The book is not yet available for purchase, but once it is, you’ll be able to find it on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Keywords
AI, writing, book, burnout, Claude 2.0, editing, Gothic fantasy, emotional experience, mental effort, strengths, weaknesses.
FAQ
1. What is the title of the book you wrote? The book is titled Heirs of Dracula.
2. Did you use AI to write the entire book? Yes, I used AI for most of the writing process, supplemented by my own editing.
3. What were your main takeaways from this experience? I learned that AI is more of a mental aid than a time saver, that Claude 2.0 was a helpful tool, and that AI can compensate for weaknesses while enhancing strengths.
4. How long did it take you to write the book? I spent around 2 to 3 hours outside of live streams, with most of the work documented in those live streams.
5. Will the book be available for purchase? Yes, the book will be available for purchase on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble once it's released.
