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Wednesday, November 27, 2024

How to Improve Your Writing with AI: 7 Practical Tips for Better Content

Artificial intelligence (AI) is like any other tool—it’s incredibly useful when used wisely. With proper application, it can save you significant time and effort. However, AI-generated writing often feels robotic and lifeless. Here’s how you can turn AI into your personal assistant to become a better, more efficient writer.



Why AI Writing Feels Robotic

Have you noticed how polished English is becoming on social media and in workplace communication? Perfect grammar, flawless punctuation, and well-structured sentences seem to be everywhere. Yet, when you pay closer attention, it’s clear that much of this writing comes from AI tools.

AI-generated text has a specific signature:

  • Formulaic and flat tone: It lacks personal style or individuality.
  • Overuse of clichés: Common phrases are often repeated, making the text predictable.
  • Unnecessary elaboration: AI tends to stretch simple ideas, turning two sentences into six.

While AI writing can come across as mechanical, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it effectively. The key lies in editing, adapting, and giving it your personal touch. Here are seven strategies to use AI as your secret weapon for better writing.


1. Never Publish AI Text Without Editing

AI tools can help draft content, but they’re not perfect. Before hitting publish, thoroughly review and revise the AI-generated text. Identify and replace awkward sentences or overused phrases with ones that feel natural.

Pro Tip: Create a list of “forbidden words” or phrases you dislike and regularly encounter in AI outputs. Add these to your prompts when using AI to improve future results.


2. Develop Your Unique Writing Style

Your personal style sets you apart from others. Some writers prefer short, punchy sentences, while others favor long, flowing paragraphs. Whether you like starting sentences with “And” or writing one-sentence paragraphs, these quirks define your voice.

Analyse your best pieces to identify patterns unique to your writing. Then, teach these preferences to your AI tool, such as ChatGPT, by crafting specific prompts about sentence structure, vocabulary, and paragraph length. Fine-tune the output until it mirrors your style.


3. Understand Your Audience Inside Out

Successful writing connects with its readers. To achieve this, you must know your audience's desires, challenges, and preferences.

Map out your ideal reader:

  • What are their hopes and fears?
  • What language resonates with them?
  • What problems are they trying to solve?

Include these insights in your AI prompts to tailor your content. Writing that speaks directly to your audience will always feel authentic and engaging.


4. Repurpose Content Like A Pro

Why let your hard work go to waste? A single blog post can fuel a week’s worth of social media content. However, manual repurposing is time-consuming—this is where AI shines.

Design prompts for specific platforms. For example:

  • Convert a blog into 10 tweets.
  • Summarise an article into a LinkedIn post.
  • Adapt a professional email into an Instagram caption.

By building a system of reusable prompts, you’ll save time and maximise the impact of your content.


5. Stay True to Your Core Topics

Consistency is key to building a strong personal or brand identity. Choose 3–5 main themes that align with your expertise and values. Use these topics to create a clear boundary for your content.

Instruct your AI tool to stick to these core themes and ignore unrelated ideas. Regularly review drafts to ensure they align with your overall message and audience expectations.


6. Keep Your Ethics Intact

Plagiarism is a major issue in AI-assisted content creation. Some users pass off others' work—entire articles, social posts, even books—as their own. This is not only unethical but also harmful to your credibility.

Instead:

  • Write original drafts and use AI for refinement.
  • When referencing someone else’s ideas, give proper credit.
  • Build content based on your expertise and experiences.

Your original ideas will always carry more value than recycled content, and you’ll feel proud of your work.


7. Turn AI Into Your Personal Ghostwriter

The more you use AI, the better your results will get. Each draft teaches you something new, improving both your prompts and your final outputs.

Start small. Pick one type of content, like a social media post, email, or blog. Apply the tips above and review the outcome critically. Adjust your process until the writing feels completely yours. Over time, you’ll develop a seamless workflow for consistently high-quality content.


Learn Everyday by Mistakes

Bad AI writers don’t evolve—they churn out generic text without improvement. Good writers, on the other hand, experiment, refine, and push the boundaries of their tools. By treating AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement, you can elevate your writing to new heights.

Start today. Choose a project, refine your process, and watch your writing transform.

 

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