Why You Should Almost Never Use AI to Write Anything Substantive

The author argues that using AI to write substantive texts—such as essays, reports, or novels—is generally unwise because the writing process is integral to thinking, AI-generated writing tends to be vague and subtly incorrect in ways that are hard to detect, and presenting AI-written text without disclosure is misleading. While AI can be helpful for tasks like brainstorming, editing, or data analysis, relying on it to produce core content can compromise clarity, accuracy, and intellectual rigor, and should only be done with clear labeling to maintain ethical transparency.

https://www.erichgrunewald.com/posts/why-i-think-you-should-almost-never-use-ai-to-write-anything-substantive/

Simon Willison on Technical Blogging

Simon Willison emphasizes the value of technical blogging as a means to clarify one's thinking, share practical knowledge, and contribute to the software development community. He highlights how writing about technical topics can deepen understanding and foster ongoing learning while building a public record of solutions and insights. This approach encourages a habit of continual reflection and knowledge-sharing integral to the creative and problem-solving process in technology fields.

https://writethatblog.substack.com/p/simon-willison-on-technical-blogging

What Happens to Our Blogs When We Die?

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Michael Harley explores the challenge of preserving personal blogs after the author's death, emphasizing that digital content risks disappearing without proactive measures. He focuses on safeguarding the core—the written words—by converting his blog posts to standard markdown stored in a separate git repository and periodically generating EPUB and printed book versions for offline longevity. Ultimately, he prioritizes creating durable, accessible formats and a clear handoff to family over relying on hosting services or automated systems that may fail.

https://michaelharley.net/posts/2026/08/06/what-happens-to-our-blogs-when-we-die/

2 Types of Content AI Can’t Create (And Why They Win)

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Content that AI cannot create falls into two main categories: strong opinion-based thought leadership and original research using proprietary data. AI cannot generate unique human perspectives rooted in personal experience nor conduct new primary research or access exclusive internal business data, making these content types crucial for differentiation and engagement. Additionally, formats involving live human interaction—such as webinars, panels, podcasts, and original videos—remain beyond AI’s capability, highlighting the need to integrate authentic human elements into content strategies to stand out in the AI-driven content landscape.

https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/content-ai-cant-make/

Forget Em Dashes: a Viral Report on AI-generated Writing Has Surprising New Clues

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A recent report by The Economist analyzed AI-generated writing by comparing it with human-authored texts, finding that conventional signs like frequent em dash usage are no longer reliable indicators of AI content. Instead, the report highlights that AI writing often features a lack of punctuation, with fewer commas, semicolons, and parentheses, and tends to overuse the word “and” in lengthy sentences. This insight challenges common assumptions and can help readers and platforms better identify AI-generated text amidst evolving language models.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91584243/how-to-identify-ai-generated-writing-viral-report-has-surprising-new-clues-economist

Vellumproof

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Vellumproof provides authors with a tamper-evident, timestamped record of every draft and writing session of their manuscript, creating a verifiable timeline that proves the work's human authorship and progression over time. Authors upload drafts in common formats, which are sealed and chained to prevent alteration, enabling publishers or contests to confirm authenticity via a shareable proof page without accessing the author's private files. The service prioritizes privacy, never sharing or using the prose to train AI, and offers a free first manuscript vault with ongoing paid options for multiple projects.

https://vellumproof.com/

Write Now with Scrivener, Episode No. 65: Lancali, Author of I Fell in Love with Hope

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Lancali, the pen name of Lou-Andrea Callewaert, authored the novel I Fell in Love with Hope, which explores adolescent experiences with chronic illness and emphasizes the importance of friendship over romantic love. Drawing on her own experience with an autoimmune disease, she chose to focus on the emotional realities of illness without typical romantic tropes, using tools like Scrivener to organize her writing chaos and appreciated the software’s stance against AI integration.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-65-lancali-author-of-i-fell-in-love-with-hope

If You Can’t Be Bothered Writing It, I Can’t Be Bothered Reading It.

Hannah Forsyth reflects on the importance of authentic authorship in writing and reading amid the rise of AI-generated content, emphasizing that writing is integral to learning, thinking, and personal development rather than mere output. She critiques the prevailing “thru-put” model of education that prioritizes quantity and metrics over meaningful learning, warning that reliance on AI for writing threatens both quality education and the relationship between reader and writer. Forsyth advocates for engaged, slower writing and teaching practices that value individual intellectual growth and authentic authorial voice.

https://crookedtimber.org/2026/08/04/if-you-cant-be-bothered-writing-it-i-cant-be-bothered-reading-it/

I’m Scared a Stranger Will Call My Novel AI, So I Built GitHub for Words (Meet VellumProof, Formerly WritHub, Lol)

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Worried about being mistakenly accused of AI authorship, writer Dylan created VellumProof, a version-control tool inspired by GitHub that tracks daily word changes in manuscripts to provide transparent proof of human writing effort. By storing detailed histories of word additions and edits, VellumProof helps authors document their creative process and defend the authenticity of their work. While not foolproof against cheating, the tool aims to support honest writers by offering clear, date-stamped evidence rather than relying on subjective impressions.

https://dylan.blog/2026/08/03/im-scared-a-stranger-will.html

The End of the Working Writer

The article explores the evolving landscape for professional writers amid technological advancements and shifting economic conditions, particularly focusing on how AI tools and changing publishing models challenge traditional writing careers. It highlights the need for writers to adapt their creative processes and professional strategies to sustain their work in a rapidly transforming industry.

https://tedthoughts.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-working-writer

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