Writers & Artists: Thriving in an AI-Powered Creative World

It’s time to get vulnerable.

No one I know would exactly call me mysterious. One-on-one, particularly over an alcoholic lubricant, I’ll gladly share details of the latest Hinge narcissist I parlayed with or whatever awkward run-in I had as a Hollywood Hopeful. I thrive on a good tête-à-tête. However, as I kept documenting these escapades a couple years back — I began to feel emotionally exhausted. So, I walked away from it. By then I found a cathartic replacement and worthy reprieve in screenplays.

Yet, even in fictional characters and sensationalized storylines, I found myself coming face-to-face with, well, me. My worldviews, scorned lovers, unexpressed angst, romantic desires, and unrealized dreams. All of my triumphs and trauma came with me — no matter the medium. The alternative… to leave ME out of my work… led to creativity lacking depth and heart.

And that’s the thing about art. It thrives on vulnerability. Whether we use our own name, a pseudonym, or a character — the “we” of it has to be there. In so many ways, AI has only increased the necessity of pouring the HUMAN into the things that we create. Anything lacking voice & vulnerability can be outsourced.

In part, this realization (along with time and a sprinkle of therapy), is why I’ve decided to find my…