In my last post, I described what it’s like to write with RPS Coach, the AI tool I trained using my own writing. The process is unbelievably effective, sometimes eerie, and surprisingly enjoyable.
If you missed it, here’s the short version: I upload what I’m writing and a style guide that describes my writing style. Then Coach imitates my tone, and together we polish things until we can’t remember who wrote what. See Writing with a Bot: I’m Pretty Sure I Wrote Most of This.
This post is about how you can use AI to improve your writing – not just fixing typos or generating generic text, but clarifying your thinking, sharpening your language, and expressing your ideas in your voice. You’ll probably write faster because it helps you think more clearly, offers better drafts, and keeps you moving when you get stuck.
You can benefit from AI even if you’re not writing a big article. Sometimes you just need help drafting a one-off email, organizing a rough idea, or fixing a paragraph that won’t behave.
Let’s Get Personal
To get the most from AI, create your own style guide. Upload your best work – pieces that reflect tone, structure, and substance you’re proud of. To load more than 10 documents in ChatGPT, use a zip file.
Your samples don’t need to be perfect. Choose work that sounds like you at your best – or, you might upload problematic writing and ask it to diagnose the problems.
Ask it to analyze the style and content. What do you do well? What could be stronger? What patterns does it find in your ideas, structure, and voice? When I did this, Coach gave me a short, remarkably accurate summary of my writing.
After you get your analysis, ask it to create your writing style guide. AI will give you a technical summary, and you should edit it, adding your own perspective reflecting:
- Your view about what it got right and what it missed
- Your writing values and priorities including your ideas, writing voice, and style
- Recurring issues to treat in particular ways
This becomes your personal writing profile and you’re ready to start collaborating. You’ve created your personal editor that really “gets you” and pushes you to produce your best work. Upload it whenever you start a new writing project.
RPS Coach will reflect your voice, not mine. My style guide isn’t in its permanent memory. I upload it each time.
You can use Coach to incorporate relevant ideas or publications from my work. (As always, trust but verify the references.)
Use AI as a Writing Partner, Not a Ghostwriter
AI can improve your writing in many ways including to:
- Focus on your main points
- Write with more clarity and control
- Craft your writing for your intended audiences
- Recognize and refine your habits as a writer
Working on a new article, essay, or blog post? Ask your AI tool to:
- Provide an outline based on your topic and audience
- Suggest possible opening paragraphs or section headings
- Generate alternatives for tricky sentences
- Identify redundant language or structural clutter
- Flag where your argument could be clearer
- Repeatedly review revised drafts until you’re satisfied
When used this way, AI doesn’t replace your thinking, it supports it. It gives you language to react to. It helps you clarify what you actually want to say.
Editing That’s Actually Fun. Really
We often spend more time editing than writing. That’s where AI really shines.
Don’t just ask it to “make it better.” Use specific prompts such as:
- “Suggest three variations of this paragraph – one more formal, one more conversational, one funnier.”
- “Help me explain this concept in plain English for non-lawyers.”
- “Give me five possible verbs to replace ‘address’ in this sentence.”
You can ask it to:
- Suggest clearer topic sentences or tighter conclusions
- Check for tone consistency throughout the document
- Break up long sentences
- Check for grammatical errors and typos
- Smooth awkward transitions
- Format citations
A Word About Your Voice
Some people worry that using AI will make their writing feel generic, fearing that everything will sound like a robot from hell.
That’s a real risk if you let the tool speak for you. But not if you’re feeding it your ideas, voice, and writing patterns.
You’re still the author. You’re using AI to look at your work with a stronger pair of glasses.
Complementing Human Feedback
Bots aren’t substitutes for getting feedback from colleagues. Humans still understand lots of stuff that the bots don’t. Humans know how particular audiences are likely to respond. Many humans are wise and generous, and receiving their feedback is a real gift.
Using AI can help you get the best possible feedback from colleagues. Providing well-edited drafts enables them to focus on the most important issues without being distracted by minor details.
Caution About Hallucinations in Research
Some tools will generate legal or factual content that sounds plausible – but may be inaccurate. Always verify anything you rely on.
Fortunately, there isn’t a right answer for the kind of AI responses described in this post. It’s acting as a coach, and it’s up to you to decide what is right (and write) for you.
In Sum
You don’t need to be a tech expert to get the benefit of writing with AI. Just be curious and open to experimenting.
Build your writing profile. Ask AI to help you write something new – in your voice and at your direction.
Ask for suggestions. If you don’t like what you get, ask again. Keep refining until it clicks.
After collaborating with AI, you’ll probably be amazed at how much better (and faster) you write.