Understood and agreed.
And if a writer cannot be bothered to write for themselves, did they really have anything to say in the first place?
Also, readers deserve so much better!

I think a lot of writer spaces can make it sound that one is entitled to write a book and have it published. That’s just not how it is.
So how do we make space for things that need to be said and said well? When noise is cheap in a cacophonous culture, how do we all make space for good dialogue?

And to the second point, oh we need them more than ever! Because we ultimately should be looking for the books AI can’t write!
Your topic is a great example—a complex issue given a nuanced and experienced approach to invite those who don’t yet know into the conversation.

I am fearful of being simplistic in this conversation, but YES!
I find myself asking “does this need to be a book?” when looking at book proposals. Conversations with editor colleagues surround themes of “but has this been said too often.” AI could probably write that book and we don’t need it.

Now that I have seen three similar scenarios telling me there is a pattern, like the summoning of Beetlejuice, I have been called from the void (by me) to say something into the same void.
You can read my latest on Substack. I’d love to hear your thoughts:

open.substack.com/pub/lexdewee...

And not only that, I think those who do not see a problem here are missing out on the power their original words have to offer us all.

Across the whisper networks I have had access to, there have been various feelings or contradicting justifications for such action, but what has been clear to me is that many do not have an ethical framework for this.

In at least two of the instances, the writers did not feel there was any need to disclose this use of AI as a drafting source to their agent or publishing teams.

Read the essay on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/lexdewee...

Send it over! I was at lunch today with both him and our imprint’s other acquisitions editor talking about things we’d like to see and some promotion R&D I’ve been up to. Let’s see if we’re a good collaborative fit!

We just signed one this week and I am so thrilled, but also it feels like “how fast can you write it?”

And have you felt Jesus in this seashell masterpiece tonight?

And don’t forget purity culture’s favorite pal: the chastity belt

Alternatively, we have options for the coolest cat, Michelle Obama

Which bejeweled cat bag are you bringing to your next fancy party?

(Also you can read the essay here: lexdeweese.substack.com/p/building-a...)