What does this say? AI Is Simply Your Sidekick, Not the Star
If you happen to’ve been scrolling LinkedIn currently, you would possibly’ve caught that OpenAI job submit for a Content material Strategist.
They’re on the lookout for somebody with 6–10 years of expertise to deal with voice, tone, search engine optimisation, and basically make ChatGPT.com’s content material stand out.
Wage as much as $393K 🤯. That’s 3x of what builders are paid within the US.
The corporate that’s bought everybody considering AI can crank out killer copy is out right here hiring a human to steer the ship. It’s humorous, proper? However it’s additionally a wake-up name.
I’ve been writing for years. Ghostwriting, constructing my very own stuff on Medium, and I’ve seen tech waves come and go.
Keep in mind when the web exploded? All of a sudden, you would discover data on something in seconds.
No extra library journeys or encyclopedia hunts.
However right here’s the factor: what you discovered wasn’t all the time spot-on.
Half the time, it was outdated, biased, or flat-out unsuitable.
You needed to dig, cross-check, and piece it collectively your self. The web sped up the search, but it surely didn’t change the considering.
AI’s the identical take care of creation. Instruments like ChatGPT allow you to spit out drafts, outlines, and even full items loopy quick. Sort a immediate, hit enter, and increase, phrases on the web page.
However accuracy? Context? That real-life taste that makes writing stick? Nope. AI pulls from patterns in knowledge, not from really dwelling the factor.
If you happen to’re writing about fixing a leaky faucet, AI would possibly checklist steps, but it surely hasn’t felt the frustration of a stripped screw or the satisfaction of a job achieved proper.
It hasn’t tasted dangerous espresso whereas brainstorming at 2 AM. That’s the place we are available in.
AI is your assistant helpful for grunt work, however you’re the one calling photographs.
This OpenAI gig proves it. They’re not letting AI run wild; they want a human to form it, take a look at it, and guarantee it drives actual outcomes, equivalent to visitors and consumer love.
If the kings of AI are betting on people for technique, why are we panicking? It’s not about AI taking on, it’s about us getting smarter with it.
Look, I’ve been utilizing AI in my workflow because it grew to become out there. It helps me brainstorm extra effectively or refine phrasing once I’m caught. However I by no means let it personal the ultimate product.
That’s the way you degree up with out promoting out. If you happen to’re a author, particularly in case you’re simply beginning out and feeling that AI dread, take a chill capsule.
Deal with it like a software, not a menace.
Under, I’ll define a 5-step framework to combine AI into your day by day routine. It’s stuff I’ve achieved myself.
No hype, simply what works in apply to write down higher, crank out extra, and yeah, pull in further money with out your stuff feeling robotic.
Step 1: Use AI for Mind Dumps, However Edit Like It’s Your Child’s Homework
First off, if you’re watching a clean web page, don’t sweat the beginning line. Pull up an AI software, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok, no matter’s free and fast, and dump your uncooked ideas as a immediate.
Say you’re writing about morning routines.
Immediate: “Give me a tough define on constructing a strong morning routine primarily based on these factors: espresso first, no telephone for 30 minutes, fast stroll.”
It’ll spit again a construction in seconds.
In apply, this implies you skip the “what do I say subsequent” stall.
However right here’s the important thing: deal with that output like a child’s first draft homework. Learn it line by line, cross out the tasteless components, and rewrite in your voice.
Add tales out of your life, like how skipping that stroll as soon as wrecked your day. Verify the details too; AI can typically combine up particulars. I do that for each submit: AI offers the skeleton, and I add the meat.
Why trouble? It speeds you up with out dropping soul. Freshmen waste hours outlining; this cuts it to minutes. For cash, it permits you to tackle extra gigs.
If a consumer requests a weblog submit, use AI to generate concepts, then refine and customise them. You’ll end quicker, cost the identical, and pocket extra per hour.
Simply keep in mind, if it sounds generic, scrap it.
Your readers spot fakes. I’ve turned down AI-heavy tasks as a result of they felt off; sticking to this method retains high quality excessive and purchasers coming again. Over time, you’ll practice your eye to identify AI fluff, making your edits sharper.
Intention for 60%-70% your phrases in the long run. That’s the way you construct belief and repeat work.
Step 2: Let AI Deal with Analysis Chores, Then Join the Dots Your self
Analysis can drag on without end, particularly in case you’re new and don’t know the place to look. Use AI to compile concise summaries from its current information. For a bit on distant work instruments
Immediate: “Listing 5 fashionable distant instruments with professionals and cons, primarily based on widespread consumer suggestions.”
It’ll provide you with a beginning checklist. Slack for chat, Trello for duties, and many others.
Virtually, this implies copying the knowledge into your doc as notes, fairly than copying and pasting it into your writing.
Now, go confirm. Learn G2 evaluations on Reddit or boards.
AI would possibly say Zoom is nice for the whole lot, however you recognize from utilizing it that audio glitches suck in huge conferences. Weave in these actual bits. I all the time add my ideas, equivalent to how I ditched one software as a result of it crashed throughout a pitch.
This step saves time on the hunt, letting you deal with insights. For freshmen, it builds confidence; you study what’s on the market with out having to scroll endlessly.
From a monetary perspective, it means dealing with advanced matters effectively.
If you happen to’re freelancing on Upwork, bidding on jobs that require analysis with AI will get you 80% of the best way there rapidly; your tweaks make it skilled. Purchasers pay for depth, not velocity, so that you ship each.
However widespread sense: AI’s information cuts off sooner or later, so double-check dates or information. I’ve caught errors equivalent to outdated statistics, hallucinations, and factually incorrect statements. Fixing them retains your rep strong.
Finish purpose? Your piece feels lived-in, not regurgitated. Do that, and also you’ll stand out in a sea of shallow content material.
Step 3: Take a look at AI for Variations, Decide the Finest, and Twist It Personally
While you’re drafting, AI’s good for spinning choices. Write a paragraph your self, then immediate AI:
“Give me 3 methods to rephrase this paragraph on why habits matter, retaining it below 100 phrases every. Grill this draft to make it higher.”
You’ll get tweaks. Perhaps one punchier, yet another story-like.
In actual life, this entails evaluating them aspect by aspect in your doc. Choose the strongest components, mix them along with your authentic, and add a private contact.
For habits, add: “I attempted this after bombing a deadline. Modified the whole lot.” Why? AI variations assist break ruts, however they lack your edge.
For brand new writers, this fights perfectionism; you see a number of paths with out overthinking.
It boosts your output, turning one concept into variations for weblog, e-mail, and social media.
Cash angle: Repurpose sensible. Write a core submit, use AI to adapt for purchasers or your e-newsletter.
Cost per platform with out ranging from scratch. I do that for my weblog posts. AI helps with variant copies for social media. High quality stays since you’re the filter.
Ditch something that’s bland.
Sense test: If it doesn’t sound such as you, redo.
Over weeks, you’ll get higher at prompts, making AI your silent companion.
This fashion, you produce extra with out burning out, and your distinctive voice shines, drawing loyal readers who’re prepared to pay for subscriptions or books.
Step 4: Use AI to Spot Weak Spots, Repair Them With Your Intestine
After a draft, run it via AI for suggestions.
Immediate: “Learn this draft on productiveness hacks. Level out repetitive components, unclear spots, and counsel fixes with out rewriting.”
It’ll flag stuff like “this sentence rambles” or “add examples right here.”
Virtually, be aware these in margins, then repair your self. Don’t let AI rewrite. Use your judgment.
If it signifies {that a} part is weak, take into consideration why. Maybe it will be simpler with a real-life instance out of your week, equivalent to a hack that failed hilariously.
I all the time learn aloud after; AI misses stream points. My favorite technique to edit mercilessly. Kill your darlings, they are saying.
Freshmen profit as a result of it teaches self-editing with out the necessity for knowledgeable mentor. You study patterns, like overusing “mainly.” For earnings, polished work lands higher gigs.
Purchasers discover clear copy; it results in upsells, equivalent to a collection of merchandise. I’ve used this to refine emails that convert subscribers to paid AI spots, and I tone them right down to a extra human method.
However confirm: AI suggestions will be off-base, like suggesting cuts that kill your hook. Belief your intestine; it’s your piece.
This step maintains top-notch high quality whereas streamlining the revision course of. Do it constantly, and also you’ll minimize enhancing time in half, releasing hours for extra paid work. It’s like having a free beta reader who doesn’t complain.
Step 5: Monitor AI’s Function in Your Course of, Modify to Preserve It in Verify
Lastly, log how you employ AI every session.
After writing, be aware: “Used for define, saved 20 minutes. Edited 80% myself.” Use a easy be aware app or sheet.
In apply, assessment weekly: The place did AI assist most? The place did it result in fixes? Tweak, perhaps restrict to analysis if drafts really feel stiff. This retains AI as an assistant, not a crutch.
For starters, it builds consciousness; you see you’re nonetheless the driving force. Cash comes from effectivity. Spot patterns like AI dashing analysis, so take research-heavy jobs.
I observe to make sure my voice dominates, which ends up in higher charges, as purchasers worth originality.
Frequent Sense: If logs present over-reliance, pull again; rewrite totally typically. To maintain your mind feeling alive.
This maintains high quality in the long run, stopping burnout and producing authentic output.
Over time, you’ll refine a workflow that scales output with out sacrificing high quality. Readers stick as a result of it’s you, not a machine. That’s the way you flip writing into a gradual earnings.
