How to Use ChatGPT for Writers

As a writer, I was swept up in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) excitement when OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022. The internet, especially professional digital spaces like LinkedIn, started asking questions and making assumptions—ChatGPT was going to put writers out of work; AI is going to steal creative jobs; bots will replace humans; and so on.

To get to know my competition, I dove into using ChatGPT and started exploring the opportunity that AI presented to me—because that’s what ChatGPT is…an opportunity! No, ChatGPT (or AI in general) is not going to replace creative jobs like writing and design. However, it is a new tool that can enhance and improve work…if you know how to leverage ChatGPT as a writer.

In this blog, I’m going to cover what ChatGPT is, how writers can use it to better their work, and how to get the answers you want out of ChatGPT.

What is ChatGPT?

Let’s ask it! According to ChatGPT, it is “a sophisticated program that uses machine learning to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives.”

In simpler terms, ChatGPT is a chatbot that uses its database to respond to your prompts. It’s important to know that the free, 3.5 version of ChatGPT cannot search the internet in real time; its knowledge is based on its last update (as of me writing this, the last update was January 2022). That means that if you ask ChatGPT who won the 2024 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Drama, it will not be able to tell you that it was Ayo Edebiri for the TV series The Bear.

How can writers use it?

So, it’s a computer that talks back to you…how is that helpful for writers? I’ve found a few favorite ways for ChatGPT to be my writing buddy.

• Proofreading: ChatGPT proofreads! Just copy and paste your text into the chat box and ask ChatGPT to proofread it for you. You can even ask it to edit it according to specific style guides. My caution here is to check what ChatGPT generates for you; it has a habit of changing a word here or there to “improve” the writing, so make sure to re-read to make sure it is still conveying the message and tone you want. You can also ask ChatGPT to provide a list of changes it made to your original text so that you can review them.

• Brainstorming: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked ChatGPT to find me a synonym for a word, or to come up with a title for a blog I’m writing. It’s an excellent brainstorm buddy, as long as you give it enough information (we’ll cover how to write prompts later). It’s also a great way to get the creative juices flowing when you’re just starting out with a project.

• SEO Keywords: SEO means search engine optimization. It’s the process of using frequently searched phrases in your writing to improve chances of it coming up in a search. Plug your copy into ChatGPT and ask it for SEO keyword recommendations based on the audience and topic. Optimizing writing using AI will improve the search rankings of your piece, so more people can read it!

• Grammar Advice: Language is so nuanced; you won’t have any trouble finding conflicting dictionary entries based on your region or style guide. When I’m not sure whether or not I should hyphenate a word, I ask ChatGPT. It’ll tell me which term or grammar rule is more common or popular, which is more grammatically correct, and which option style guides recommend (if you ask it for that). Remember to double check the answers it gives you!

• Outlining: Give ChatGPT some information and context for your article or paper, and ask it to write an outline. It will help you organize information in a way that makes sense for your reader. It might even illuminate aspects of your topic that weren't initially part of your planned blog content.

• Writing in Voice: You can ask ChatGPT to write in the style of different voices! Give it some writing and ask it to write it in the voice of Jack Sparrow. Now try it in the voice of someone else. While this is a super fun game I could play all day, you can use this for professional writing. Ask ChatGPT to write in a specific voice so you can speak your reader’s language.

Getting the most out of ChatGPT

Clearly, ChatGPT can be an incredibly useful tool for writers, but you have to know how to use it. The term for this is “prompt engineering.” Prompt engineers design the input to get the desired output from AI. In other words, they craft effective prompts to get the result they want from ChatGPT. By knowing how to word your requests, you’re effectively prompt engineering! 

• Be Specific: The more details you give ChatGPT, the better answer you’ll get. Asking it to write a LinkedIn post to celebrate a promotion will yield a much different response than if you asked it to write a short LinkedIn post announcing your promotion to Senior Prompt Engineer at your company that develops AI-focused solutions.

• Ask Follow-Up Questions: If you don’t get what you want on your first try, tell ChatGPT what went wrong and describe how you’d like it changed. It can refine its answer and help produce the answer you want.

• Provide Context: Writing without knowing key details (for example: the audience, goal, or length of the piece) can result in irrelevant copy. Add context to your prompt to get a better result.

• Use Examples: Adding examples to your prompt of what you’re looking for may help produce more relevant answers. For example, when I’m brainstorming names for a product, I give it an option that I’ve already come up with to set it on the right track. Once it gives me 20–25 options, I pick out 2–3 that I like and ask it to generate more options based on the ones I’ve selected to refine the results.

• Define Terms: When you’re getting into specifics, remember that ChatGPT is not trained in your specific industry. Define any terms or acronyms and provide additional details to give ChatGPT the information it needs to generate a good output.

How not to use ChatGPT

 We've established that ChatGPT is a pretty good writing buddy...but it is still AI. We naturally approach AI tools with caution, but here are a few ground rules to safely using ChatGPT:

• Always, always, always fact check: ChatGPT does not have current information, which means it is not the be-all and end-all search engine. You should always double check facts, answers, and information from ChatGPT against a credible source. Yes, it’s possible for ChatGPT to make mistakes!

• Don’t feed it any sensitive information: A lot is still unknown about what ChatGPT does with the information you give it. Never give ChatGPT any sensitive or confidential information, whether personal or business related. 

• Don’t copy and paste: ChatGPT is a tool, it is not a human writer. Using it to write blogs, articles, papers, or other content is a form of plagiarism, and also results in lower quality writing that’s often repetitive. ChatGPT is a great place to start your process, but is not a replacement for real, human skill. 

The best way to get better results from ChatGPT is to experiment! Spend time writing prompts, rephrasing requests, and testing its limits; as you get to know the program better, it will study patterns of inputs and train itself to give you the best results possible. Leveraging ChatGPT as a tool, rather than an opponent, is the first step to becoming a better copywriter.

How do you use ChatGPT? Let me know (and share your tips) in the comments!