Why Your Words Still Matter in the AI World

I recently read a piece of writing by a writer I respect that made my ink boil. The piece in question was about why writing books is ‘dead’ and why you shouldn’t even bother. How nobody actually reads anymore, so it’s pointless. Why blogs are ‘dead’, and how physical writing in notebooks is also ‘dead’. According to this author, words have no value and it’s all about pure content. 

I’m not about to call out who they are or discount their success and previous words of wisdom BUT I really don’t know where to start on all the points I disagree with.

Why Writing is Alive

I’ll start off with the part I do believe holds some truth –  content absolutely does and will make money online. Yes, the way we engage an audience has changed. But does writing content for the sake of content fulfil the soul? Do algorithm curated words and AI musings scratch the itch deep inside to truly connect with another human being? 

No, because they’re merely a tool. And one that should be used intentionally. Relying on AI to write the words for you is like presenting a cement mixer to a house buyer while leaving out the beautifully constructed building with all the memories, emotions, and experiences that will make a home.

Does making thousands online while reeling in the clicks and subs fill the writing sized hole inside you, or is it a deep sense of connection with the souls you helped, entertained, and connected with on the way?

If it’s one thing humans have done for thousands of years, it’s seek meaning and tell stories whether through drawings or the written word. We’re never going to stop doing that, because inside we’re still the same as we always have been. We want stories. We want connection. We want meaning. We want guidance. 

The Value of Words

While the writing world has definitely changed due to AI, and the way we write online has changed, I don’t believe for even a millisecond that writing books is dead. Or writing physically in notebooks. And I’m not even going to entertain the notion that people don’t read anymore, because that puts me and many others who devour books like cakes at a buffet straight in the bin. 

It’s certainly not true that words have no value, or that it’s worthless writing a book just because of the sheer amount of AI generated books making sales. By saying words are worthless, you may as well say that the human heart is worthless. Is fresh bread worthless because Hovis and Warburtons saturate supermarket shelves? 

What about the raw ingredients? Without those, you can kiss your bread goodbye, factory or handmade. 

AI can imitate, but it can’t resonate. At least not yet. It can’t feel or experience, only emulate and learn the countless words people have expressed over the years in the digital abyss. Content (for the sake of content) can attract and get clicks but not imprint on another’s subconscious or be remembered for years to come. 

Sure, if all you want to do is sell a bunch of words and make money, words by themselves are worthless – marketing is what’s going to get the engagement while the content itself is as shallow as a plant saucer. People can tell if you genuinely care about them, regardless of the content they consume. 

The Humble Notebook and Pen

As for handwriting in physical notebooks being ‘dead’, research has shown (as well as my own experience) that handwriting is more beneficial and helps retain information, as well as being beneficial for mental health. It also allows the brain to slow down as you write, and many writers will tell you that ideas written by hand were different and often deeper than those quickly typed out on a keyboard. 

I can tell you after decades of handwriting in journals, and then changing to digital for a few years, I had most of my breakthroughs with my physical entries. I also had the most article and story inspiration after handwriting in one of my beautiful notebooks versus yet another Google doc. 

Why We Write

I’m writing this under no illusions -I understand that most writers aren’t going to get rich and famous by publishing a novel or 2, or even having a whole portfolio behind them. But it’s possible. I know that most writers aren’t going to publish a few books and suddenly be able to stick it to their 9-5 (although that’s possible if you happen to go viral, viral often doesn’t equal long term success).

Writing success isn’t all sun, roses, and coconuts on the beach. It doesn’t work that way because writing is an endeavour of the soul. It’s more like walking barefoot across searing hot sand, hoping that the oasis in front of you isn’t a mere hallucination, but an abundant source of inspiration or success. And if it was a mirage? Well, you just carry on. Not for the treasure on the shimmering horizon but for the love and obsession with the words themselves, with the worlds they can create, the energy they can carry, and the message they can imprint. 

The reason most of us write isn’t to get rich or famous, but because our souls have something to share that we believe in. Whether that’s a story, a memoir, or a self-help book, the words in those books only have real value if they come from the heart. 

I don’t know about you, but if I’ve not written for a period of time, I’m not somebody you want to be around. I become agitated, restless and grumpy until I can release and articulate those words into something meaningful. Until I can express my soul in a way that others can connect with. 

Writing is an art form; a vessel of human experience and emotion that cannot be replicated because everyone is unique. Nobody and nothing else will write like you, and even if it did a damn good job, I’m confident that the feelings bled into every word wouldn’t hit the same.

You have a heart and a soul – express it in the way that only you can.