What trekking poles taught me about writing with AI

I recently hosted my "Write Smarter, Not Harder with AI" workshop for a small group of writers, and I am still smiling. The participants told me the workshop was incredibly valuable, and each one said that she can now see how to finish a book faster and with more confidence. Their enthusiasm and evident confidence made this teacher's heart sing.

When I hike in the Smokies, my trekking poles never carry me up the mountain. I still choose every step and do every inch of the climbing, but those poles help me travel with far less strain on my knees. AI works much the same way for writers, because your story, your voice, and your heart still lead every page while the right tools help you move with more speed and less struggle.

Carving out an afternoon to learn something new can feel like a luxury when your calendar is already full. I promise that the time pays you back, since a skill you learn once will serve you in every chapter, every book, and every dream that follows. The best results come when you pair tools with a guide who has walked this trail many times before. I have a blast showing writers, especially first-time authors, how to use AI wisely so their books still sound like them.

I would love to hear from you. Reply to this email and tell me one skill you want to learn this fall, whether that means using AI, outlining your chapters, or building a writing habit that sticks like trekking poles in East Tennessee clay. Your answer may shape my next workshop.

Books live forever!

Jody Dyer
Founder and CEO, Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media