Taking a writing course in the age of GenAI

“Are you really taking a writing fundamentals course in the age of AI? haha” the critic in my head said when I was considering signing up for a writing course. This wasn’t the first time in the last 15 years that I considered taking a writing course. I’ve written technical documentation, mostly requirements for software developers, rarely or never published personal essays or opinions, outside of social media posts. I am now going back to the drawing board with humility to pick up the fundamentals of essay writing, so that I have AI at my service rather than being a slave to what it generates for me. 

I first took a writing course, on Cousera, in 2014-15 when I had to write essays for a college admission, in Europe. I understood the fundamentals in week-1 and dropped out soon after. With little training, I imagined I’d ace my essays. I barely practiced and still expected the essays to come out well, just as someone binges on clips about weight loss, starts eating salads and wonders why they are not losing weight like the person in the clips. Unsurprisingly, the essays were below par. The desire to write turned into a dream I never pursued until recently. 

I finally took a leap after a decade and signed up for a live cohort (online) to learn about essay and Opinion writing, from Gotham Writers, NYC. My jobs did allow me to write on a daily basis, but not the kind of writing that I desired. I worked with software developers to translate functional requirements to technical requirements. There was no room to express myself in writing, except on tickets where I annoyed the developers asking them to deliver this yesterday. The first class I attended already broke mental barriers and changed my mindset - especially around expressing opinions about mainstream topics, tools and tips from people who write for a living. 

Original writing in the age of AI or taking writing courses on AI that don’t accept AI submissions, still make sense to me. There’s no denying the fact that AI has made fundamental writing easier - draft a memo, summarize these notes, etc. However, what beyond that? Creativity, personal opinions - all these are diminished when you outsource your writing to AI. For instance, I started this essay with the idea of writing about taking a writing course as a tech professional in the age of AI. After outlining my ideas, I wanted to write about why I’d like to write in my original tone. I’d love to publish someday, at the very least, a memoir that my family and friends can read. I’d like to write to have a positive impact, one reader at a time. 

I’d like my writing to reflect me and convey the message clearly that I want readers to take away. It’s never too late to start writing, I’d have the same energy even if I rediscovered this passion in my late 40’s, 50’s etc. AI will be an ally not my master when I write my opinions. I don’t want my kids to pick my writing and be hooked instead of closing the window and feeling how unoriginal their father was.