The Author+ Writing Process

The Author+ Writing Process is a way of combining the elements of the traditional writing process with the benefits of AI, as it is developmentally and academically appropriate. 

The traditional approach to writing has taken on many forms in the past- carving, drawing, shorthand, paper, pencil, typing, digital, and so on. The writing process continues to evolve in its usefulness to human writers even as AI seems to be capable of fully taking over certain parts of the it without a "Human in the Loop". 

The composition of writing is the demonstration of thinking. In this way, there must always be a human writer in order for a work to be considered of enough significance to be worthy of copyright protection. This is the fundamental principle of Significant Human Authorship which is a direct result of legal precedent as it pertains to AI in writing and intellectual property rights. 

The Author+ Writing Process is a developing framework for integrating the functionality and usefulness of AI into a human-centered writing experience. 

Traditional Approach: Start by setting up a writing type-specific plan. For example, if you're writing  informational text, you might identify key themes or subtopics; for a story, you could outline character arcs and plot points. The goal is to structure your ideas based on the type of writing you're working on. 

Example:

• Topic: Frederick Douglass: The Life and Legacy of an Abolitionist
• Subtopics:
  1. Early life and escape from slavery (1818, Auld family, Anna Murray)
  2. Role in the abolitionist movement (Rochester, orator, __________)
  3. Impact on civil rights and lasting legacy (need to investigate more thoroughly)

AI Integration:

• Step 1: Scan your handwritten plan using an app like Google Lens or Adobe Scan to convert it into text.
• Step 2: Input the scanned plan into Notion or Google Docs.

AI Tool: 

Use ChatGPT or Perplexity to suggest additional points. For example, ask, “What are some key events in Frederick Douglass’ early life that shaped his beliefs on slavery?”

Outcome: You get AI-generated suggestions (e.g., "Douglass learned to read despite it being forbidden, which deeply influenced his views on freedom"), which you can decide to add to your plan.

Traditional Approach: Normally, you’d take your plan and start writing a first draft, either by hand or typing it out.

Example: Using your plan, you write a paragraph for each subtopic. For instance, for “Early life and escape from slavery,” you might begin: “Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 in Maryland, but he would become one of the most powerful voices for abolition after escaping in 1838.”

AI Integration:

• Step 1: Type your draft in a tool like Google Docs or writetogether.ai. Remember, AI is a tool, it is not a product generator!
• Step 2: Use writetogether.ai to enhance clarity or rephrase difficult sentences.

AI Tool: 

Ask writetogether.ai for help expanding on tricky sections. For example, “Can you help expand this sentence: ‘Douglass learned to read in secret, which transformed his outlook on freedom’ into a more detailed explanation?”

Outcome: AI helps you flesh out your ideas by suggesting sentences like, “His ability to read opened his eyes to the injustice of slavery, and he later described education as the key to liberation, both for himself and all enslaved people.”

Traditional Approach: You would review your draft for logical flow, ensure ideas are well-developed, and check if your arguments are convincing.

Example: You notice that your paragraph on "Douglass’ role in the abolitionist movement" feels incomplete. You’ve written: "Douglass became a key leader in the fight against slavery," but it needs more depth.

AI Integration:

• Step 1: Highlight areas in your draft that need further development.
• Step 2: Use writetogether.ai to identify weaker sections or get feedback on the structure.

AI Tool: 

Ask writetogether.ai, “Can you suggest key contributions Douglass made to the abolitionist movement that I can expand on?”

Outcome: AI provides additional details like his famous speeches, involvement with the North Star newspaper, and relationship with other abolitionists. This helps you enrich the paragraph with examples like, “Douglass not only delivered powerful speeches, but he also founded the North Star newspaper, a leading abolitionist publication that rallied support for the cause.”

Traditional Approach: In this phase, you typically focus on grammar, punctuation, and word choice, aiming for a polished, error-free final version.

Example: You might notice issues like sentence fragments or inconsistent tense throughout the essay.

AI Integration:

• Step 1: Run your draft through writetogether.ai for grammar and style improvements. It can help identify errors in sentence structure, offer better word choices, and ensure consistency.

AI Tool: 

Use writetogether.ai’s tone detector or paraphrasing tool to adjust the tone or rewrite awkward sentences.

Outcome: AI flags issues like passive voice or unclear transitions and suggests alternatives. For example, “Douglass' writings were influential in the abolitionist movement” might be revised to “Douglass' eloquent writings stirred the conscience of the nation and galvanized support for abolition.”

Traditional Approach: Once you’ve finalized the content and made edits, the next step is to format your essay for submission—whether as a printed copy, a Word document, or a presentation.

Example: Your essay is ready, but you need to add citations and make sure it’s formatted correctly.

AI Integration:

• Step 1: Use AI tools like EasyBib or CiteThisForMe to automatically generate citations and create a properly formatted bibliography.
• Step 2: Use Google Docs or Word’s formatting tools to ensure the essay follows any required guidelines (e.g., MLA or APA format).

AI Tool: 

You can even ask writetogether.ai for feedback on the flow or style of the entire essay. For example, “Does the essay sound formal enough for a high school assignment?”

Outcome: AI ensures your essay is polished, grammatically correct, and formatted properly for submission.