NaNoWriMo’s Writing Contest and the Ai Writer Fallout

One of the first novels I wrote was during NaNoWriMo, inspired by all the energy of the participating writers. Many of these writers had never written a full-length novel, but this month of friendly competition gave them cause to. However, NaNoWriMo’s allowing the use of Ai to write complete novels for the competition has left a divide into which NaNoWriMo could sink.

Genuine Versus Ai-Generated

Writing a book takes time and dedication. It requires focus and an ability to write at a higher level than most other forms of writing. Those things noted, this is part of what makes the writing process both difficult and fun. Some argue it is also what separates the wanna-bes from the gonna-bes. NaNoWriMo is arguing that gaps in equity between writers make the use of Ai even more important.

In a post the NaNaWrimo organization has since clarified, the company argued that writers experience varying levels of education, especially related to writing. Because of this, writers from underserved communities might not have been privy to tools that would help that writer develop.

…writers with less capital have less polished manuscripts.

Although this is a legitimate argument that addresses a legitimate concern, Ai is a tool much like any other machine. Just because a person has a tool doesn’t mean they know how to use it. Writing is nuanced, and sometimes, Ai gets it wrong. Maybe there will come a day when Ai understands the nuances of language on a more than algorithmic level, but that isn’t the case now.

Furthermore, NaNoWriMo notes that writing a book could involve many other people, such as an “editor or proofreader”. While wealthier writers can drop a few thousand to have their manuscript polished by a professional editor, writers with less capital have less polished manuscripts.

It takes repeated revisions to get the words right, the aura to match or the setting to make sense.

Again, this is a good argument, but it is not a great one. There are communities where writers and readers come together for reviews. The reviewers do not offer any editorial advice specifically. But they do give feedback on what works and what could be better. This constructive feedback could take the manuscript to a higher level if implemented properly.

Moreover, writing is closer to an art than a skill when referring to fiction writing, and this is why some authors are disgruntled with NaNoWriMo‘s Ai support. It takes repeated revisions to get the words right, the aura to match or the setting to make sense. Sometimes, a writer gets an idea for dialogue while brushing their teeth. Or maybe they might finally think of a good inciting incident while drinking coffee. This is all part of the process, and “writers” who use Ai to write complete manuscripts might be bucking the line.

If writers who use Ai to write a significant amount of their novels are not truly writers, they cannot enter NaNoWriMo’s writing competition for writers.

Writers argue that those who use Ai to write entire novels are not writers. A person who asks Meta Ai to draw up a sketch of Ron O’Neil is not an artist.

Logically, if writers who use Ai to write a significant amount of their novels are not truly writers, they cannot enter NaNoWriMo’s writing competition for writers. In between then, someone will ask, “Well, what’s a writer?”

A Moral Standing

Many writers have been formally educated, and part of that education is learning a disdain for plagiarism. That is, passing off someone else’s work as your own or failing to give proper credit to the original writer. Although Ai is not technically “someone”, it is still an entity producing writing that some people are passing off as their own.

The writing process is long and grueling.

Writers take plagiarism seriously, and using Ai to write entire books crosses that line many would argue. They would further contend that it is amoral to use Ai in this way, and they have a point.

The writing process is long and grueling. An author might have four drafts of a manuscript before they feel comfortable allowing even a close friend to lay eyes upon it. At times, the process can be uncomfortable, forcing the writer to consider new angles or research a topic they’re not fond of.

What they produce is words retrieved by command.

In doing the previous, the writer grows both in knowledge and in skill. It’s why a writer can look back on a piece of work a year later and admit that it isn’t as great as they thought it was. The bad form is glaringly obvious at this distance.

The Ai writer does not experience that same growth, and they might not even have a basic grasp of writing. They produce nothing more than words retrieved by command. There is no human element in the mix.

Before getting a traditional book deal, many writers write four-to-six manuscripts.

If a person produced Ai-written books and sold them to their audience, writers might still have a problem with it but not as much. However, writing competitions should not be open to Ai-written work. Outsiders might say that writers have the same access to use Ai as others, so it’s their fault for not stepping into the 21st century.

Writers do have access to Ai tools, but writers also have access to a moral code. Before getting a traditional book deal, many writers write four-to-six manuscripts. When they finally get that book deal they’ve worked and hoped for, it’s usually after honing their skills in the recursive process of writing.

The Takeaway

NaNoWriMo is seemingly giving the green light to writing contestants to submit Ai-written books to the organization’s competition, and this isn’t sitting well with real writers. It doesn’t appear that the company is taking the concerns of real writers seriously and is instead focused on building revenue through relationships with Ai companies. Because of this, the strong community of writers NaNoWriMo has built over the years is disbanding. Writers have a moral code, and they will not compromise.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block. He also works an Adjunct College Professor. Join the email list to get notifications on new blog posts and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human.