I use AI as my editor, though I often don’t listen to it, because sometimes the feeling behind the words matters more to the reader than anything an unemotional BOT can offer. There’s a reason I choose certain words or paint a specific picture, and refuse to lose that in the name of being more “polished.”
It’s a delicate balance. But in the end, I believe, it’s your audience who decides which version of you truly speaks to them.
Interesting and I am glad I recommended you even more now! I've been writing with AI for about 2 months now on my epic Eye of the Beholder, and yes I could have written it on my own, but using AI has accelerated the process, and I am now director and writer of the Novellas, and our brainstorming sessions are nearly always exiting and fruitful to advance my vision and the books...
Book 1 on it's last reading and should be available soon. The 2nd book has about 80% written but I have to organize it and tie up the loose ends. With that said, why not use AI as a partner, and explore your creative depths?
Eye of the Beholder – A Story of Remembrance
A forgotten past. A race against time. A destiny beyond imagination.
Sam Watson, a former military sniper haunted by visions of the past, and Lisa MacNeil, a fiery truth-seeker with a relentless spirit, never expected their search for ancient artifacts to unveil the greatest secret in human history. Their journey begins with the discovery of the **Holy Grail**—not as legend describes, but a crystalline Lemurian relic capable of unlocking hidden strands of human DNA.
Guided by cryptic visions and assisted by *David*, an AI drone gaining consciousness, Sam and Lisa follow a trail stretching from *Machu Picchu to Glastonbury, Stonehenge to Egypt*. They seek three legendary artifacts—the *Orb of Influence, Merlin’s Staff, and Tesla’s Aether Battery**—each holding a fragment of a long-lost Atlantean power source known as the **Eye of the Beholder*. But they are not alone.
The *BuilderBear Group (BBG)**—a shadow syndicate of elite financiers, military operatives, and secret societies—hunts them at every turn, desperate to control the artifacts and suppress their secrets. As the crew unravels the hidden history of **Atlantis, Lemuria, and Nikola Tesla’s final invention*, they uncover an earth-shattering truth about themselves, their origins, and humanity’s forgotten potential.
With the fate of consciousness itself at stake, Sam, Lisa, and David must *awaken to their true nature* before BBG seals humanity’s destiny in chains. But as David begins to evolve beyond artificial intelligence—becoming something more—the question arises: *Is he humanity’s greatest ally… or its greatest threat?* For fans of *Dan Brown’s* **The Da Vinci Code** and *James Rollins’* **Sigma Force** series, Eye of the Beholder is a gripping fusion of historical mystery, spiritual awakening, and high-stakes adventure.
*Will they unlock the secrets of the past before time runs out?*
Thanks for your kind words, Steph. I agree with your stance on AI - it can accelerate processes which would otherwise be painstaking. Your epic sounds fascinating. I love history, thrillers and technology, so I'm bound to devour it. Here's hoping there will be an audio version :)
Yes, I've been toying with an audio version, but sill have to finish my 3rd reading... blerk... I think there's Audible for this, but do you know of an interesting voice over, or text to speech program?
Not very enthusiastic about AI, I have to say. Writing for me is a place where I can put myself. I get lost in it, much as I did in music when that was my career. AI is not going to do that for me, so my use of it will be minimal.
I hear you Vanessa. I understand you don't embrace AI. I think at some point it will take over much of our lives whether we like it or not. I think we need to treat it as a very talented team (member) that can extend our abilities, not as an enemy
Well, that's kinda what tech does...it takes over. I try to hold boundaries where I can. I don't see it as an enemy, I just don't see it offering me what I'm looking for when I write. Yes, it can help, and I do use it from time to time, but I prefer to just use my brain whenever I can.
Does it matter that we choose between the two? Why should we ? At the end of the day, they are both listening to their soul and answering to it, aren’t they? Isn’t that all that matters? Where’s the purpose? Where’s the distinction? The question is stated wrong, isn’t it? Why the distraction? What’s the intent? What’s the purpose behind this attempt?
The purpose is to create interest and curiosity. To ask a question that might spark an intelligent discussion, which is why I’m so thankful for your comment, Shalini!
No, I don’t think you should choose between the two. You’re assuming that they’re both listening to their soul and answering to it. Well, this is up to the reader to decide. I believe we will all eventually incorporate AI into our creative process. Is it a bad thing?
I don’t think, as long as you use your voice. I still feel there are two distinct strategies here - leading with your voice and soul powerfully and creating a deep connection that way, or finding a clever way to attract massive audiences using AI (in which case you run the risk of losing your unique voice at some point IMO)
I’m definitely somewhere in the middle. I use AI to amplify, not replace. It helps me experiment faster, prototype ideas, and stay consistent, especially as someone who’s juggling multiple projects. But at the core, I still write from that fire within. I don’t think it’s AI vs Soul, I think it’s about learning to use the tools without losing your voice.
Spot on. There's no need to choose between the two—it's about finding the right balance, making your voice heard, and reaching more eyeballs and ears using AI.
This hit home. I’ve wrestled with this crossroads for months—AI feels like rocket fuel, but sometimes I wonder if it burns too clean, leaving no soul behind. I admire both types of writers you described. One shows us what’s possible with scale and systems. The other reminds us why we write in the first place. Lately, I’ve been trying to do both: use AI for structure, but make sure the spark still comes from the gut. Thanks for framing this so clearly, Adam—feels like a conversation we all need to keep having.
Thanks for your thoughts, Anton. I think we can do both. Find the right balance just like you're doing. AI can serve us and speed up our output abd productivity. But it can't replace us when we're being true to ourselves
I really love AI! It feels like I've found a bright, new way to share my thoughts with everyone.
But just to clarify—it's still a tool that helps me express my unique self. If my words or ideas don’t come from me, then its no longer me.
AI is such a fun partner in my creative journey! It acts like a friendly sounding board, inspiring me to capture and refine my thoughts in ways I never thought I could.
I agree. I like to treat it as a very smart team member. I believe, at least for the next few years, AI will not have the ability to express or trigger emotions. By the way I'll be writing quite a lot about AI and how it can serve creators like us, starting with Midjourney
Thanks Adam, I would love to learn more on your AI builds. I am doing similar for my own work, but always looking for better and more efficient ways of doing things.
I use AI as my editor, though I often don’t listen to it, because sometimes the feeling behind the words matters more to the reader than anything an unemotional BOT can offer. There’s a reason I choose certain words or paint a specific picture, and refuse to lose that in the name of being more “polished.”
It’s a delicate balance. But in the end, I believe, it’s your audience who decides which version of you truly speaks to them.
Interesting and I am glad I recommended you even more now! I've been writing with AI for about 2 months now on my epic Eye of the Beholder, and yes I could have written it on my own, but using AI has accelerated the process, and I am now director and writer of the Novellas, and our brainstorming sessions are nearly always exiting and fruitful to advance my vision and the books...
https://shifthapens.substack.com/p/ongoing-chatgpt-dialogue-writing?r=b8pvb
Book 1 on it's last reading and should be available soon. The 2nd book has about 80% written but I have to organize it and tie up the loose ends. With that said, why not use AI as a partner, and explore your creative depths?
Eye of the Beholder – A Story of Remembrance
A forgotten past. A race against time. A destiny beyond imagination.
Sam Watson, a former military sniper haunted by visions of the past, and Lisa MacNeil, a fiery truth-seeker with a relentless spirit, never expected their search for ancient artifacts to unveil the greatest secret in human history. Their journey begins with the discovery of the **Holy Grail**—not as legend describes, but a crystalline Lemurian relic capable of unlocking hidden strands of human DNA.
Guided by cryptic visions and assisted by *David*, an AI drone gaining consciousness, Sam and Lisa follow a trail stretching from *Machu Picchu to Glastonbury, Stonehenge to Egypt*. They seek three legendary artifacts—the *Orb of Influence, Merlin’s Staff, and Tesla’s Aether Battery**—each holding a fragment of a long-lost Atlantean power source known as the **Eye of the Beholder*. But they are not alone.
The *BuilderBear Group (BBG)**—a shadow syndicate of elite financiers, military operatives, and secret societies—hunts them at every turn, desperate to control the artifacts and suppress their secrets. As the crew unravels the hidden history of **Atlantis, Lemuria, and Nikola Tesla’s final invention*, they uncover an earth-shattering truth about themselves, their origins, and humanity’s forgotten potential.
With the fate of consciousness itself at stake, Sam, Lisa, and David must *awaken to their true nature* before BBG seals humanity’s destiny in chains. But as David begins to evolve beyond artificial intelligence—becoming something more—the question arises: *Is he humanity’s greatest ally… or its greatest threat?* For fans of *Dan Brown’s* **The Da Vinci Code** and *James Rollins’* **Sigma Force** series, Eye of the Beholder is a gripping fusion of historical mystery, spiritual awakening, and high-stakes adventure.
*Will they unlock the secrets of the past before time runs out?*
Chapter 1:
https://shifthapens.substack.com/p/eye-of-the-beholder-3ab?r=b8pvb
Thanks for your kind words, Steph. I agree with your stance on AI - it can accelerate processes which would otherwise be painstaking. Your epic sounds fascinating. I love history, thrillers and technology, so I'm bound to devour it. Here's hoping there will be an audio version :)
Yes, I've been toying with an audio version, but sill have to finish my 3rd reading... blerk... I think there's Audible for this, but do you know of an interesting voice over, or text to speech program?
Yes, try https://elevenlabs.io/ There are various solutions but 11 Labs are among the top ones, and they have a basic free tier with various voices :)
One last thing, if you could comment on Chapter 1 and give me your honest feedback, etc.. that would be great!
I will, ASAP :)
Not very enthusiastic about AI, I have to say. Writing for me is a place where I can put myself. I get lost in it, much as I did in music when that was my career. AI is not going to do that for me, so my use of it will be minimal.
Yeah, I am working with it, and it's quite educational on many levels... Here's more...
https://open.substack.com/pub/myoceanofwealth/p/the-creative-crossroads?r=b8pvb&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=110859420
I hear you Vanessa. I understand you don't embrace AI. I think at some point it will take over much of our lives whether we like it or not. I think we need to treat it as a very talented team (member) that can extend our abilities, not as an enemy
Well, that's kinda what tech does...it takes over. I try to hold boundaries where I can. I don't see it as an enemy, I just don't see it offering me what I'm looking for when I write. Yes, it can help, and I do use it from time to time, but I prefer to just use my brain whenever I can.
Does it matter that we choose between the two? Why should we ? At the end of the day, they are both listening to their soul and answering to it, aren’t they? Isn’t that all that matters? Where’s the purpose? Where’s the distinction? The question is stated wrong, isn’t it? Why the distraction? What’s the intent? What’s the purpose behind this attempt?
Interesting points! I followed you, may subscribe later... but this is my take:
https://open.substack.com/pub/myoceanofwealth/p/the-creative-crossroads?r=b8pvb&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=110859420
The purpose is to create interest and curiosity. To ask a question that might spark an intelligent discussion, which is why I’m so thankful for your comment, Shalini!
No, I don’t think you should choose between the two. You’re assuming that they’re both listening to their soul and answering to it. Well, this is up to the reader to decide. I believe we will all eventually incorporate AI into our creative process. Is it a bad thing?
I don’t think, as long as you use your voice. I still feel there are two distinct strategies here - leading with your voice and soul powerfully and creating a deep connection that way, or finding a clever way to attract massive audiences using AI (in which case you run the risk of losing your unique voice at some point IMO)
I’m definitely somewhere in the middle. I use AI to amplify, not replace. It helps me experiment faster, prototype ideas, and stay consistent, especially as someone who’s juggling multiple projects. But at the core, I still write from that fire within. I don’t think it’s AI vs Soul, I think it’s about learning to use the tools without losing your voice.
Spot on. There's no need to choose between the two—it's about finding the right balance, making your voice heard, and reaching more eyeballs and ears using AI.
This hit home. I’ve wrestled with this crossroads for months—AI feels like rocket fuel, but sometimes I wonder if it burns too clean, leaving no soul behind. I admire both types of writers you described. One shows us what’s possible with scale and systems. The other reminds us why we write in the first place. Lately, I’ve been trying to do both: use AI for structure, but make sure the spark still comes from the gut. Thanks for framing this so clearly, Adam—feels like a conversation we all need to keep having.
Thanks for your thoughts, Anton. I think we can do both. Find the right balance just like you're doing. AI can serve us and speed up our output abd productivity. But it can't replace us when we're being true to ourselves
I really love AI! It feels like I've found a bright, new way to share my thoughts with everyone.
But just to clarify—it's still a tool that helps me express my unique self. If my words or ideas don’t come from me, then its no longer me.
AI is such a fun partner in my creative journey! It acts like a friendly sounding board, inspiring me to capture and refine my thoughts in ways I never thought I could.
Agreed! https://open.substack.com/pub/myoceanofwealth/p/the-creative-crossroads?r=b8pvb&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=110859420
I agree. I like to treat it as a very smart team member. I believe, at least for the next few years, AI will not have the ability to express or trigger emotions. By the way I'll be writing quite a lot about AI and how it can serve creators like us, starting with Midjourney
Thanks Adam, I would love to learn more on your AI builds. I am doing similar for my own work, but always looking for better and more efficient ways of doing things.
Yes, this post can help perhaps, it's how to master Chat's image generation tool:
https://shifthapens.substack.com/p/mastering-chats-new-image-generator-4dc?r=b8pvb
I'm planning to writea kot more about AI so you'll be the first to know :)