In this article, writer and tutor Jonathan Barnes discusses the impact of generative AI on authenticity, individuality, and the future of creative writing.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your writing, and work at City Lit
I'm primarily a novelist, working in the fields of science-fiction and fantasy. I'm the author of six novels, often dealing with themes of nineteenth-century crime and horror.
In addition to this, I have written a good deal of audio drama (adaptations of classic novels as well as work in shared universes such as Doctor Who). I write regularly for the Times Literary Supplement, the Critic and the Spectator US, amongst others.
At City Lit, for the past ten years or so, I have taught a range of classes, from Ways Into Creative Writing to the year-long Masterclass. I used to teach a lot in person - nowadays it's mostly online.
What role does authenticity play in creative writing?
Authenticity is surely the goal of all good writers.
We are aiming to replicate life or at least a heightened version of life on the page and the route into that is generally imagination or transposed experience or, most often, a combination of the two.
Our role as teachers is to unlock this capacity in the members of the group, something which often comes about by starting with the students' own lives.
What does real creative growth look like in your classroom or workshops?
It's a slow and patient process, with some moments of breakthrough.
We tend to concentrate on the craft of writing - the diligent working away at a story idea or a text itself, as it gets incrementally better.
The support of the group is also vital to the development of each writer, and I work hard to foster a collegiate atmosphere which is supportive and nurturing while also providing acute critical feedback.
Do you think there’s a place for AI in creative writing whether for learning or creating?
Absolutely not. I think it's the enemy of creativity and the enemy of originality.
Is there a case that it could be used for research? Perhaps but - as with Google or any online search engine - there is a question of where the AI is acquiring the information.
I'm generally against the idea of writers consulting AI for its "thoughts" on creative work. There may be a case for it as a tool only but my instincts are to exclude it from the classroom entirely.
The old advice about switching off your phone/ the internet would seem to go double for AI.
What frustrates or worries you most about how AI is being positioned as a tool in creative writing?
It's not something I know a lot about since I haven't used it as a tool myself.
I know writers who have and who have found the process useful. That said, it's difficult not to conclude that there is something sinister in its ability to write and rewrite texts, especially in its slightly glassy-eyed "mimicry" of existing writers.
What would you say to a budding writer who is considering learning using AI?
I would advise them against it.
For all that it is surely here to stay, it cannot be a benign development for writers who are learning the craft. At best, it will teach unhelpful shortcuts - at worst it will stunt the development of any individual voice.
The thought of AI writing whole stories and books itself is an even more terrifying one.
So I'd say read as much as possible, keep attending the writing classes, find a mentor, go to retreats - anything other than using AI. It's one thing for business people to have AI answering emails on their behalf (though even that causes a shiver of unease) yet it's something entirely different for writers and artists to begin by using it as a crutch.
In your view, what’s at stake if more writers turn to AI instead of taking time to learn the craft?
Writing will suffer, fiction and art will suffer. And writers themselves won't learn the skills that are necessary to create compelling fiction with real longevity.
Final thought: Why do human-led creative writing courses still matter, maybe more than ever?
Writing classes are, in my experience, often more of an ongoing conversation than anything else. It's human interaction - boundaried, of course, but also full of messiness, different opinions, the odd clash and a lot of support.
None of this can be replicated by AI. Students learn but the tutor does as well. At their best, such groups are a little piece of civilisation and we must fight hard if need be to protect them.
Study Creative Writing at City Lit
Learn the art of creative writing from published writers in a range of courses designed to support and encourage your creativity.
