Cool Your Jets About AI

Along with being an agent, I have been in the education community for a long time (sometimes I think too long). We have always talked about the issue of plagiarism in schools and yet, students, time and time again attempt to get away with plagiarism. What I have always found shocking are the number of teachers in a complete panic about this issue. How can we catch plagiarism? Arrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!

The deal is, any good teacher can spot some cheating in a heartbeat! It doesn't take rocket science. Student X, who can never spell their name correctly suddenly has a perfectly written essay, compound-complex sentences and a vocabulary far greater than Shakespeare. Red flags go off. And in a couple of minutes, any good teacher can spot those issues, do a search and find the issue.

But we still have teachers who seem to think we will develop some sort of technology that will miraculously catch all of these mistakes. Sorry to say this, but it is not going to happen. It still requires someone with a brain, reading the material.

Now, why am I bringing up plagiarism when the title of this post is about A.I.? It's simply because it is all the same thing. It requires someone with an intellect reading the book. The business of publishing is all about the quality of the writing. It is all about the author's voice and personality coming across in the writing. Sorry to say this, but a computer program is lacking that human component. 

Those of you who have followed this post in the past have heard me talk about what I am looking for in a story (as well as other editors and agents). We want a plot that is quality. We want characters that are real. We want writing that draws us into the story so we are feeling the emotions the characters are feeling. We want writing that does not look like you drafted it during a workshop where you are "putting things in the story" or "using plot devices" because someone told you it was a good idea. We are not looking for a formula. This is why I am always screaming to learn the craft of writing. 

I just read a post by a writer who also highlighted that A.I. is not going to be an issue simply because of sales. This author reminded us that we read "good" books and don't read "poorly written books." So many of us are now looking at the samples of the writing first before we decide to buy it. This is the same as when we go to a book store, pick up the book and scan the writing. That brief glimpse in the book told you if "the writing" was good or bad. My bet is, you did not buy the poorly written book. 

This A.I. thing, especially in schools, is something that a good reader can spot. If you are truly writing a good book, you have taken the time to learn to write, you are writing from the heart...and all of that other good stuff, you have nothing to worry. The authors thinking using A.I. is the short-cut are not in competition with you.