Writing: It’s Not Dead Yet

Last week, Fortune magazine released a list of the top 40 jobs most likely to be impacted (killed) by A.I. (link). Sitting high on the list, at #5: Writers and Authors. While that may be true from a professional standpoint, I am confident that no matter how good A.I. gets, writing will endure.

My story is not your normal, “I spent my life working to be a writer.” I didnt really even start writing until I turned 50, and that’s when I started blogging. I didn’t publish my first novella until I was 60. My first novel came at 63. Call me a late-bloomer.

During those years, I’ve watched the evolution of A.I. and writing. I am here to tell you that no matter how powerful A.I. gets, it can never tell YOUR story. Sure, it can draw on an almost infinite collection of other people’s stories and come up with a story of its own, but it can’t tell the story that has been bouncing around your brain as long for as you can remember.

One of my primary motivators in writing is simply proving to myself that I can do something. Could I write a blog that shares my thoughts, feelings, and testimony, and do it well enough to draw in readers? Could I write fiction? Could I write my favorite type of thriller novel? That’s what drives me to write.

Are you one of those people who has dreamed of writing a novel? You are not alone, but that’s where it usually stops. I’ve read statistics that say that out 1000 wannabe novelists, only 3 actually finish their book. (That’s a success in its own right.)

I think that as A.I. writes more and more content that we see everyday, there will eventually be a pendulum swing. This author nailed what I feel:

“As social media gets more toxic, more people are craving realness. They’re tired of polished personas and bot responses. They want genuine thoughts, experiences, and reflections — the kind only human writers can offer. And that, my friend, is our edge. In this new era, writing isn’t dead. It’s just becoming rare. And rare things are valuable.” (Jeeva Shanmugam)

I hope that is correct. In the meantime, I remind myself that I am not writing for fame and fortune (which is mostly a fool’s errand). I am writing for other reasons:

• I feel compelled to share MY thoughts and testimony with others.
• To do something with the stories that are constantly bouncing around my head. MY stories.
• To leave something behind after I’m gone. Even if it’s a few books on a shelf.
• To prove to myself that I can do it.

If any of those thoughts resonate with you and you’re unsure what to do, I have a suggestion: Attend the American Night Writer’s Conference in September. This particular organization and conference played a crucial role in guiding me along my journey as a writer. It is smaller than some of the others, it is LDS-centric, and it is all about writing.

I’ve been attending it for 10 years now, and it has been invaluable to me. It has taught me about the craft of writing and the business aspects, too. But my favorite part is becoming part of a community of writers that range from newbies with fears and hopes, to grizzled veterans with a lifetime of experience and battle scars to prove it. I felt accepted and welcome from the first moment I arrived. It is the most supportive and least competitive group of people I know.

This year’s Conference is in Mesa, Arizona, on September 18-20. There are classes, social activities, and keynote addresses from experienced writers. This year we have a homegrown success story, Tyson Abaroa, and an author who has years of clout in the industry- Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted.

While some of the workshops are already booked, there are still some tickets available. If you have that itch to be a writer, or want to be a better writer, or just want to hang out with a bunch of like-minded souls, this is the place for you. (Come find me and sit with me if you’re scared.)

Here is the link for more information, and I’ve attached a flyer that give more details.

I hope to see you there, because no robot can write YOUR story, and it’s time to get started on it.

Long live writing!