If You Need A.I. To Write Your Query - Rethink Your Decision About Being A Professional Writer

NOTE: This is a bit of a rant. If I hurt your feelings, I am sorry, but sometimes, the truth hurts!

I was at a conference earlier this summer and after hearing another agent recommend using A.I. to draft query letters, I screamed in anger. OK, maybe not screaming since the room was full of real people, but honestly, I was pissed. In front of that room, I made a simple statement that I still believe. "If you have to use A.I. for your writing, you are admitting you do not know how to write. And, if you have to use A.I. you should rethink your career choice."

Some in the room were really shocked when I made that statement. The other group applauded my statement. 

I bring this up because, as I was going through submissions this last weekend, I was bombarded by a ton of authors doing just that. If you are wondering how I know, it is the same common phrases I see over and over again that have nothing to do with anything I have either said in public or here on line. Consider this"

I am reaching out to you because of your interest in emotionally rich and imaginative fiction. I believe my novel, [insert title here]—a story exploring love, and relationships—would be a strong fit for your list. (note, this was edited some to protect the author).

I am constantly amazed by the number of authors who are trying to justify to themselves and the world around them that using A.I. is fully justifiable. This isn't correct. All of these A.I. programs out there create nothing but a blah, generic, boring and, in many times, incorrect statements that you believe are accurate. 

Look, I get writing query letters is not easy. As an agent, I write them all of the time for my clients. But the thing you have to remember is that your writing must show YOUR voice and not that of a mindless machine. Now, if you are arguing that you are using it to show you "a model" of what your writing should look like, consider this. Agents like myself, and editors and other professionals have been showing you how to do this for years. It doesn't take much to get online and find people such as Janet Reid, Jessica Faust, Paige Wheeler, Rachel Gardner and many others providing templates and ideas. We provide the general ideas (without writing it for you) and it is up to you to tailor those ideas to your own unique point of view. 

Consider this... I made up a fake story and had A.I. create a letter.

Dear Mr. Eagan,

I’m seeking representation for The Billionaire and His A.I. Lover, a completed 87,000-word contemporary romance that blends classic emotional beats with a high-concept twist—perfect for fans of Alisha Rai’s The Right Swipe and the emotional complexity of works by Robyn Carr.

Tech billionaire Evan Langley built an empire on innovation but hasn’t felt a real human connection in years. When he secretly tests his company’s new artificial intelligence companion, “Ava,” he’s shocked by how deeply she seems to understand him—until he discovers that Ava’s personality was modeled on a real woman: Lena Chen, the quietly brilliant linguist he fired six months ago.

Lena never agreed to be the blueprint for a digital girlfriend, but when Evan returns with a public apology and a business proposal she can’t refuse, sparks fly—professionally and personally. As their relationship deepens, both must confront what’s real, what’s artificial, and whether love can exist without full consent and trust.

Set in Seattle’s tech scene and told in dual POV, The Billionaire and His A.I. Lover examines intimacy in the digital age while delivering the heartfelt slow-burn romance readers crave.

I’m querying you because of your strong track record in romance and your interest in stories with emotional depth and modern themes. I hold a degree in [your degree, if relevant], and my writing has appeared in [any publication credits or contests, if applicable].

Thank you for your time and consideration. I’d be happy to send the full manuscript upon request.

Sorry to say this, but I would never buy the story. Notice also the generic phrasing? How in the "you know what" does the computer know how your story is similar. It made up EVERYTHING! Then consider that last line. I have NEVER made that statement about my interest in stories with emotional depth and modern themes

Just like the prior person who said I had an "interest in emotionally rich and imaginative fiction."

I am sorry to say this, but you have to admit to yourself, if you are using this tech, that maybe you need to take some more time and learn to actually write.