Spiritual Writing AI: To Claude or Not to Claude

A Guide to Using Spiritual Writing AI Tools

While Preserving Your Authentic Voice

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous writer’s block, or to take arms against a sea of revisions with AI assistance? That’s the question plaguing today’s writers as the publishing industry grapples with artificial intelligence policies that seem to change with each passing fortnight.

The Stage Is Set

Amazon’s updated content policies now require disclosure of AI-generated content, and they reserve the right to reject books that do not meet their quality standards. This isn’t merely sound and fury—they’re actively monitoring manuscripts and may banish books that violate their content rules. Literary agents are proving cautious too, with some setting thresholds around less than 20% AI-generated content before they’ll consider representation. Some may reject manuscripts outright if they suspect significant AI involvement (crying, as Lady Macbeth did her sleepwalking scene in Shakespeare’s Macbeth), “Out, damned bot! out I say!”  

Independent publishers are following suit with policies as varied as characters in a Shakespearean ensemble cast. Some embrace AI as a useful tool, while others may ban it entirely—every publisher is different. But traditional publishers generally take a conservative approach, preferring manuscripts with minimal AI involvement—after all, “discretion is the better part of valor” 

All the World’s a Stage: Generated vs. Assisted

This distinction could determine whether your publishing dreams end in comedy or tragedy. AI-assisted means you authored your book and used AI to help with grammar, sentence structure, or clarity—like using ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or AutoCrit to polish your style and grammar—sort of like having Puck tidy up your prose. The thoughts, expertise, and voice remain entirely yours, with AI merely playing supporting cast. (Be cautious here, though, because if you use too many AI-suggested rewrites of sentences, you might be wandering into AI-generated terrain.)

AI-generated content means the AI created substantial portions from prompts—essentially ghostwriting your work. This is what makes publishers cry, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!” It raises questions about authorship authenticity that could doom your manuscript before the first act ends.

To Be or Not to Be: Strategic AI Guidelines

Use AI as your literary Ariel—a helpful spirit that can enhance your existing magic rather than creating it from thin air. It can help you overcome writer’s block, polish awkward sentences, or catch errors that escaped your notice. Many successful authors use AI for minor tweaks, making their prose as smooth as Hamlet’s soliloquies.

But beware: if AI is writing entire scenes, you’ve ventured into dangerous territory. As the Bard might say, “This above all: to thine own voice be true.” 

The Paper Trail: Method to the Madness

If you do use AI, and you want to find an agent or publisher, be wise. Document your AI use meticulously. Save original drafts, record exactly which tools you used, and prepare to demonstrate to a literary professional that your core content springs from your own well of creativity. This documentation will become your shield when publishers come calling.

Honesty: The Best Policy

When facing disclosure questions, remember that “the truth will out.” Publishers respect authors who can clearly articulate their creative process. Attempting deception often creates more mischief than honest disclosure ever could.

The Future’s Uncertain

These guidelines will continue evolving faster than plot twists in Twelfth Night. Stay informed, join author communities, and remember: no AI can replicate your unique voice and experience. After all, all that glisters is not gold—but your authentic voice? That’s pure treasure, whether you use Claude (or ChatGPT or others) or not. Like the dawn breaking over Verona’s ancient walls, your authentic voice will always shine brightest when it springs from your own heart and mind—and as surely as love conquers all in a Shakespearean comedy, your unique wisdom will triumph over any technological trend. So write boldly with your own pen, let AI polish the prose (only!), and trust that readers will always hunger for the authentic human story that only you can tell. Remember: every great story began with someone brave enough to believe their voice mattered. Today, let that someone be you.

Happy writing! 

Michael

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1 Hamlet, 2.1.

2 Macbeth, 5.5

3 MacBeth, 5.1. 

4 Henry IV, Part I, 5.4.

5 As You Like It, 2.7

6 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2.1.

7 Hamlet 1.4. 

8 Hamlet, 3.1.

9 In The Tempest.

10  A play on Polonius’ line to Laertes, Hamlet, 1.3.

11  Hamlet, 2.2.

12 The Merchant of Venice, 2.2.

13 The Merchant of Venice, 2.7.

14 Virgil, Eclogues, (Omnia vincit amor), 10.69..

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